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There are only two current Tottenham Hotspur players who started Mauricio Pochettino's final game: Ben Davies and Son Heung-min.

The former has been a reliable if unspectacular servant to the club and will be remembered fondly by the fans, but the latter has been a bonafide star, an icon of the club and the Premier League.

However, the South Korean joined the club a decade ago and will turn 33 in the summer, and while his numbers are still decent, he clearly cannot impact games in the same way anymore.

He is simply a victim of time, with research from The Athletic revealing that wingers see a dramatic decline in their ability to beat defenders when they reach 30 years old.

So, if Ange Postecoglou wants to take the club forward next season, he should be looking at a long-term replacement for the club legend, and based on recent reports, Daniel Levy and Co may have identified just the player.

Tottenham's winger search

According to a recent report out of Spain, Spurs are incredibly keen on Feyenoord's Brazilian dynamo Igor Paixão.

In fact, alongside the Lilywhites, the report has revealed that North London rivals Arsenal, as well as Newcastle United, Liverpool and Bournemouth, have made contact and expressed their interest in signing the goalscoring wideman.

Fortunately, while the number of interested parties is far from ideal, the Dutch giants reportedly value the 24-year-old maestro at just €30m, which comes out to about £25m.

It could still be a difficult transfer to get over the line, but with how well Paixão has played this season, it's one Spurs should fight for, especially as he could be the perfect upgrade on Son.

How Paixão compares to Son

Now, when we get down to it, there are two key areas in which Paixão has an advantage over Son, and the first is longevity.

The second area where the Feyenoord star, whom U23 scout Antonio Mango has described as having a real "eye for goal", has the edge is raw output.

For example, in 38 appearances this season, totalling 3176 minutes, the "quality" Macapá-born winger, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored 11 goals and provided 15 assists.

That means he is currently averaging a goal involvement every 1.46 games, or every 122.15 minutes, which is an undeniably impressive level of output.

In contrast, the former Bayer Leverkusen ace has scored 11 goals and provided 11 assists in 40 appearances, totalling 2835 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.81 games, or every 128.86 minutes.

While that's still an impressive level of productivity from the Chuncheon-born icon, it's still less than his potential competition and, given where he is in his career, we'd be stunned if he was able to match it again next year.

Ultimately, Son is undeniably a modern-day great for both Spurs and the Premier League as a whole, but he is much nearer the end of his career than the start, and while he's plying his trade in a non-top five league at the moment, Paixão looks to have the raw ingredients to be an effective upgrade on the 32-year-old.

Therefore, Levy and Co should do what they can to bring him to N17 before one of their rivals beat them to his signature.

It started with the appointment of Ange Postecoglou and the sale of Harry Kane in 2023, but the rebuilding of Tottenham Hotspur still has a long way to go.

For all his faults and the incredible number of injuries the Australian has had to deal with during his time in North London, he has been able to turn what was a terribly dull team under the previous managers into one capable of playing exciting football.

However, to ensure he can kick on with his process next season, Daniel Levy and Co have to continue to back his vision by signing the players he wants, like Micky van de Ven, Dominic Solanke and Lucas Bergvall, but also shipping off those who don't have a long-term future in the side.

One of the players in the second camp is Son Heung-min, and while the club may be tempted to go out and splash the cash on his replacement, they might not need to, as Hotspur Way could have already produced one.

Why Son's time is coming to an end

So, before the torches and pitchforks come out, it has to be said that Son is not only an icon for Spurs but also for the Premier League as a whole.

However, just because he has been a sensational player for the Lilywhites for nearly a decade now does not mean he is irreplaceable.

In fact, the reason the club need to think about his heir is because of how long he's been playing.

The South Korean superstar is set to turn 33 in the summer, and while he has still been surprisingly productive this term, racking up 22 goals and assists in 40 appearances, most fans will attest to the fact that he's no longer as dynamic on or off the ball as he used to be.

Now, this is not a slight on the Chuncheon-born star's ability, but a simple fact that he's another footballer who's set to be the victim of time, with research from The Athletic in 2021 revealing that wide players hit their peak at 26 years old and then suffer a steep drop-off in their ability to take defenders on when they hit 30.

Unfortunately, this struggle to beat opposition defenders is reflected in the 32-year-old's underlying numbers, as according to FBref, Son sits in the bottom 46% of attacking midfielders or wingers in the Premier League for total successful take-ons, and the bottom 27% for the percentage of his take-ons that end in success, all per 90.

In all, the Spurs captain should be considered one of the best wingers the Premier League has seen, but it's becoming increasingly apparent that he's beginning to lose some of what made him so dangerous.

The good news, however, is that the club might already have the perfect heir to take his place in a year or two.

The talent who could replace Son

While the likes of Mathys Tel, who can play out wide or down the middle, and Wilson Odobert could undoubtedly prove to be brilliant wingers for Spurs, the true heir to Son might well come from Hotspur Way.

Mikey Moore hasn't been able to play as much first-team football as some of the club's other exciting teenage talents this season, like Archie Gray and Bergvall, but when he has stepped on the pitch, he has looked tremendously impressive.

For example, it was against AZ Alkmaar in the league phase of the Europa League that the promising prospect really announced himself as a future star, as while he didn't score or provide an assist, he was a constant thorn in the side of the Dutch team.

Whenever he had the ball on the left, he would run at his opposing defender, and it was this impressive showing that led to James Maddison describing him as "fearless" and comparing him to Neymar Jr.

On top of standing out at the senior level, the 17-year-old dynamo has been nothing short of phenomenal for the North Londoners' junior sides.

For example, in 34 appearances for the Lilywhites' various youth sides, the teenage force of nature has scored 21 goals and provided 15 assists, resulting in a simply sensational average of 1.05 goal involvement every game.

Ultimately, with the incredible Moore, Spurs can rest easily, safe in the knowledge that when Son eventually hangs up his boots or takes a more significant step back, they already have the perfect homegrown replacement to step in and step up.

Tottenham Hotspur have endured an inconsistent season, and their managerial situation has now become a point of contention with the campaign drawing to a close.

Ange Postecoglou speculation runs rife at Tottenham Hotspur

Who would be a manager? Ange Postecoglou has recently become the latest Premier League boss to come under scrutiny due to his side's inconsistent campaign, which has left their potential destiny hinging on the outcome of Spurs' Europa League exploits.

Incredibly, Tottenham could secure Champions League qualification if they can navigate their way to trophy glory in Bilbao. However, the Lilywhites must overcome Eintracht Frankfurt, followed by one of Bodo/Glimt or Lazio, before potential final opponents emerge from the other side of the draw.

Domestically, their form contradicts the likelihood of that sequence of events unfolding. In the Premier League, Spurs have taken 34 points from 87 available and crashed out of both cup competitions, leaving Postecoglou's future in North London hanging in the balance amid rumours that Daniel Levy is starting to do his due diligence on a potential succession plan.

Fulham's Marco Silva and Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola have emerged as frontrunners for the role. Noise is part and parcel of every manager's duties, but it has created an unwanted sideshow for the Australian as he looks to deliver the first piece of silverware since 2008 in N17.

Injuries have also hampered his mission to take Tottenham forward, and on that basis, there is an argument for giving the former Celtic manager more time to implement his masterplan.

Nevertheless, Levy and ENIC may have seen enough as a high-profile manager has entered the frame to step into the Spurs hot seat.

Mauricio Pochettino could make exciting Tottenham return

According to reports in Spain, the Tottenham board is seriously considering a reunion with Mauricio Pochettino, with Postecoglou's future in North London becoming increasingly uncertain.

The outlet states the prospect of the Argentinian returning appeals to all parties, and he could be the new face of the Spurs project due to his strong rapport with supporters and at board level.

Recently, Pochettino revealed he would be keen to come back to North London one day, stating: "Look, when I left the club I always remember one interview I said I would like one day to come back to Tottenham and that is of course.

"I am in the USA, I am not going to no, I'm not going to talk about that, but what I said then still after six years or five years, I still feel in my heart that, yes, I would like one day to come back."

Pointing out his current engagement as head coach of the United States national team, it remains to be seen whether he would be open to swapping Stateside life for another crack at Premier League football following his latest club spell in charge at Chelsea. Earning recognition for his sterling work, Pochettino was previously labelled one of the 'top managers in England" by Pep Guardiola.

While the prospect of leading the Stars and Stripes out as one of the host nations in next year's World Cup is enticing, could the thought of a sensational rescue mission at the side where he shot to global prominence as a manager carry a little bit more weight? Only time will tell.

Through to the Europa League quarter-finals but with little hope of salvation through the Premier League, the international break perhaps came at the right time for Tottenham Hotspur.

Look, 13th in the standings with just nine games left to play, it would take a miracle for Ange Postecoglou to fashion qualification. However, just two rounds lie between the Lilywhites and a European final. It's doable, for sure.

However, with rumours simmering concerning Ange's future at the helm, there's little question that Spurs need an upswing, one that goes beyond that of the current campaign and is sustained across a number of seasons.

Spurs transfer news

Whatever happens, Tottenham are going to aim for reinforcements in the transfer market this summer. In fact, plans have already been drawn up, with AfricaFoot reporting Spurs have initiated contact with Wolverhampton Wanderers for the potential transfer of Rayan Ait-Nouri.

While Daniel Levy's outfit have proposed a £30m offer, it has been rejected by the Old Gold. Nonetheless, it makes a comment on Tottenham's strategy, with things set to change at the rear.

Indeed, if Ait-Nouri is to sign for the Lilywhites, it's going to spark something of a shake-up within Postecoglou's defensive flanks. There's one man in particular who will be sweating, especially after his recent performance with his country in the Nations League.

Spurs' 4/10 star struggles once again

Plenty of Tottenham players have struggled to get going this season, with injuries and subsequent struggles for lasting form ravaging Postecoglou's second season in charge.

Pedro Porro epitomises the issues, albeit having avoided fitness problems. Instead, he's been played with immense regularity, and it's taken a toll, with defensive struggles now seeping onto the international stage in Spain's 2-2 draw with the Netherlands on Thursday evening.

Having allowed Liverpool's Cody Gakpo space to drive a low equaliser after Nico Williams' early opener, Porro set himself on unsteady footing. His defensive frailty was clear, with creativity also at a low ebb, losing the ball 15 times without creating a single key pass.

GIVEMESPORT certainly weren't impressed, handing the 25-year-old a 4/10 match rating and noting his lack of physicality.

With Tottenham ramping up efforts to sign Ait-Nouri, Djed Spence is surely going to see more game time on the right flank going forward, and with that in mind, perhaps Porro's place in the starting line-up is beginning to look somewhat uncertain, especially as he's been linked with a move away from N17 this season.

Porro has been a mainstay through the Postecoglou era, showed promise before. But it's all unravelled this season and a summer sale is beginning to look like a real thing.

His performance for Spain left plenty to be desired, but with Tottenham getting ready to sign Ait-Nouri, Spence is surely going to be returning to the right flank of the backline.

What does that mean for Porro?

Tottenham Hotspur have been blessed with some sensational goalscorers over the years.

The likes of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min helped to shape the Premier League in their pomp, and while he's not quite on their level, Dominic Solanke looks like he could be a reliable source of goals in the years to come.

Moreover, the North Londoners have had their fair share of incredibly underrated strikers pull on the shirt, from Robbie Keane and Peter Crouch to the exceptional Jermaine Defoe.

In fact, the latter might just be one of the most underappreciated forwards in Premier League history, and it looks as if Ange Postecoglou may have his own version of the Englishman in his squad today.

Defoe's Spurs career

Tottenham signed Defoe from West Ham United for just £7m, including add-ons, in February 2004, with then-acting manager David Pleat waxing lyrical about the then-21-year-old, describing him as "exceptional".

The Englishman would finish his first campaign in North London with seven goals in 15 league appearances.

Over the next four years, he would amass a brilliant haul of 64 goals and seven assists in 177 games across all competitions when he made a shock move to Portsmouth in January 2009.

In a 2020 interview with Football FanCast, the prolific forward revealed that it was a falling out with then-boss Juande Ramos which forced him to leave the club, but fortunately for Levy and Co, he was back again just a year later for £15m when Harry Redknapp took charge of the club.

The Beckton-born dynamo spent the next five years in N17 before finally leaving for good in February 2014 to join MLS side Toronto FC.

However, after spending just 11 months with the Canadian outfit, he'd return to Britain and spend time playing for Sunderland, Rangers, and Bournemouth before retiring in March 2022 at 39 years old.

In all, Defoe made 363 appearances for Tottenham, totalling 22989 minutes, in which he scored a total of 143 goals and provided 29 assists, which comes out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 2.11 games, or every 133.65 minutes.

He might not have been the most celebrated centre-forward of his era, but he was an undeniably effective one, and now it looks like the club could have a new version of him in the squad.

Spurs' new Defoe

So, while Solanke is now Spurs' starting number nine and could be for some time, he is obviously nothing like Defoe.

However, Mathys Tel, on the other hand, is and could become the club's new version of the English striker should they activate the £45m option to buy in his loan deal in the summer.

Before the pitchforks come out, there are a couple of reasons why the Frenchman could develop in a similar way to the former Lilywhites ace, and the first is his physical attributes.

Like the 57-capped international, the Bayern Munich loanee is quite diminutive, and while that certainly has some drawbacks in a league as physical as the Premier League, it also has its benefits.

For example, the Sarcelles-born phenom has already shown himself to possess a healthy amount of pace and athleticism, which, as he gets more and more used to playing in Postecoglou's system, could help him get past opposition defences in a way akin to Defoe in the past.

The second reason is that while he's struggled to find the back of the net this term, the "mind-blowing" forward, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, was simply sensational last year and showed that he can be an incredibly efficient attacker.

In 41 first-team appearances, totalling just 1406 minutes, he scored ten goals and provided six assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.56 games, or more impressively, every 87.87 minutes.

Ultimately, it might be an early call that could backfire down the line, but based on his form last season and physical characteristics, Tel could very much be Spurs' new Defoe.

Their Premier League position might suggest otherwise, but Tottenham Hotspur are blessed with a number of incredibly talented players.

From the likes of Djed Spence, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero at the back to Dominic Solanke and Son Heung-min in attack, there is talent throughout the Lilywhites' squad.

That is especially true in the middle of the park, as Lucas Bergvall, James Maddison and Pape Matar Sarr all possess game-changing qualities.

Yet, perhaps the club's best player is none other than Dejan Kulusevski, and in an exciting development, it appears as if Hotspur Way could be about to provide Ange Postecoglou with a homegrown version of the Swede.

What makes Kulusevski so great?

So, when it comes down to what makes Kulusevski such an incredible player, there are a couple of core reasons, with the first being his positional versatility.

The former Juventus star was initially signed as a winger back in 2022 and has played off the right more than anywhere else for the North Londoners, but, especially this year, he's thrived in several other positions, notably midfield.

In all, the Stockholm-born star has played 70 games as a right-winger for the Lilywhites, 40 games in attacking midfield, five in central midfield and up top, two off the left and in right-midfield, and he's even made one appearance as a second striker.

The second reason the 25-year-old is such an incredible player for Postecoglou and Co is that, on top of being able to fill in all over the pitch, he's got the ability to produce as well.

For example, in 42 appearances this season, the "world-class" ace, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored ten goals and provided ten assists, making him the second-most productive player in the squad, behind only his captain.

In short, Kulusevski is not just one of Spurs' best players but one of the league's best players, so it's good news that Hotspur Way might be brewing their version of the Swede.

Spurs' homegrown Kulusevski

While the most-talked-about academy product at Spurs this season has been the incredible Mikey Moore, it could be the lesser-known Luca Williams-Barnett next season.

It's the 16-year-old phenom who could well be the club's own Kulusevski, and there are a few reasons why.

The first is that like the Swedish international, the promising teenager can play in a handful of positions, from attacking midfield to either wing, up top and even left-midfield, lending credence to academy expert and pundit John Wenham's description of him as a "cheat-code."

However, the second and undoubtedly more important similarity to the former Juve star is that he's already proving to be an incredibly effective attacking outlet for the youth sides.

For example, in just 24 appearances for the U18s, totalling 1887 minutes, the unreal talent, whom analyst Ben Mattinson described as "a name to keep an eye on," has scored 20 goals and provided ten assists.

That means he's averaging 1.25 goal involvements every game, or one every 62.9 minutes, which is the sort of form that could see him propelled into the first team next season.

Ultimately, while this season has been a disaster, Spurs have several incredibly talented players in their senior squad, and if Williams-Barnett continues on his brilliant trajectory, then there is every chance he could be playing alongside Kulusevski next year.

It's set to be a vitally important summer for Tottenham Hotspur this year.

After a campaign that has been defined by an incredible number of injuries and the emergence of several incredible youngsters, Daniel Levy and Co have to make some big investments in the upcoming transfer window to ensure Ange Postecoglou, or whoever is in the hot seat, can take the club forward next season.

However, while sorting out the right incomings is going to be of paramount importance, it will be just as crucial to keep a hold of the team's best players.

Unfortunately, this could be a problem for the North Londoners, as recent reports have touted one of their stars with a move to Real Madrid, a move reminiscent of Gareth Bale's in 2013.

Tottenham Transfer news

According to a recent report from Spain, Cristian Romero could be on his way to Real Madrid this summer.

The report has revealed that the Argentinian international has not hidden his interest in playing for the Spanish giants and that should they come in for him at the end of the season, he'd 'be willing to take the step.'

The one piece of good news to come from the report is the claim that while Los Blancos like the player, he is only seen as one of a few options at the moment, although the fact his contract expires in two years makes a move for him more realistic than some of their other targets.

While Romero has been out of action for much of this season, his importance to Spurs cannot be underestimated, so losing him to Real would be a disaster, similar to the loss of Bale over a decade ago.

Why Romero's exit would be a Bale repeat

So, there are a couple of reasons why losing Romero this summer would be very reminiscent of Bale's departure in 2013, with the most straightforward being that both players would have gone to Real Madrid.

The second similarity would be their respective importance to the North Londoners.

For example, in his final campaign for the Lilywhites, the Cardiff-born phenomenon was a force of nature, scoring 26 goals and providing ten assists in just 44 appearances, which came out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.22 games.

Now, it's probably fair to say that the former Atalanta star does not have quite the same impact on the team as the Welsh icon did, but that doesn't mean he's not incredibly important, and if Lionel Messi thinks he's "the best defender in the world," he's got to be up there with some of the best in the league.

For example, he's one of the club's co-vice captains, and across his 115 appearances for the team, he's scored seven goals, provided one assist and averaged 1.69 points per game, which is an average significantly reduced by the limited appearances he's made across this dismal campaign.

In fact, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that the team have struggled so dramatically in defence during the season he and Micky van de Ven have been out of action for significant amounts of time.

Finally, while Levy and Co would likely receive a sizable fee for the World Cup-winning "monster," as dubbed by journalist Charlie Eccleshare, it seems unlikely that they'd be able to sign a defender as good as him and could end up wasting the money on several players as they did in 2013.

Ultimately, Romero is obviously not on the same level as Bale, but were he to leave Spurs for Real Madrid this summer, his move would certainly mirror the Welshman's.

Tottenham Hotspur are now trying to sign a "frightening" striker, and they hold an advantage over rivals Arsenal in the race for his signature, according to a report.

Tottenham step up striker pursuit after Craven Cottage nightmare

It was a toothless attacking performance from Tottenham at Craven Cottage last weekend, with striker Dominic Solanke having a particularly poor game, squandering the two big chances his side managed to create in the match.

Spurs' other striker options include Richarlison, who has struggled with injuries for large parts of the current season, and Mathys Tel, who is yet to find his best form since arriving on loan from Bayern Munich, failing to score in the Premier League.

As such, it is little wonder Ange Postecoglou is keen to bring in a new striker this summer, and a number of targets have been identified, with it recently emerging that Lille's Jonathan David is one of the names under consideration.

Other options include Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, with Tottenham looking at some big-name strikers ahead of the summer transfer window, but they may also be keen on a more long-term addition to the frontline.

According to a report from The Boot Room, Spurs are now trying to sign Leeds United striker Harry Gray, younger brother of Archie, who is attracting widespread interest despite being just 16 years old.

The teenage striker is also being targeted by Newcastle United and Arsenal, but the Lilywhites could hold a key advantage over their rivals in the transfer battle.

There is a feeling Gray may want to play for the same club as his brother, and Archie may be able to convince his younger sibling about the move, having emerged as a first-team regular himself since moving to north London.

"Frightening" Gray showing promising signs

While the forward is yet to make his first-team breakthrough at Elland Road, there is every indication he could do so in the near future, given the high praise he received from former Spurs man Aaron Lennon.

"He is ridiculous. He's frightening. He's a No 10, No 9. I don't want to talk about him too much because I think everyone will want him, he's that good. He's probably the best I've seen in years."

Lennon is also quoted as saying: "He finishes off his left foot as good as any senior pro I've seen."

They might not have won anything, but Mauricio Pochettino's peak Tottenham Hotspur team was packed with talent.

The North Londoners were blessed with some truly sensational players from front to back during that period.

Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Dele Alli were scoring for fun, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld created one of the best defensive pairings in Europe, and Hugo Lloris was, more often than not, a rock at the back.

However, perhaps the most underrated player - among non-Spurs fans - of them all from that period was the incredible Mousa Dembélé, and it looks as if Ange Postecoglou may have just uncovered his own version of the Belgian.

Mousa Dembélé's Spurs career

In the summer of 2012, after spending just over two seasons with West London side Fulham, Dembélé completed a £15m move to Spurs.

The former AZ Alkmaar star made an instant impact in North London, scoring on his debut - against Norwich City - and ending his first campaign at the club with 42 appearances across all competitions.

Already an established part of the first team, the Belgian "monster," as dubbed by Eric Dier, took yet another step forward when Pochettino joined the club in May 2014.

Under the Argentine's leadership, the Antwerp-born dynamo turned into one of the very best central midfielders in the Premier League, someone capable of winning the ball in his own half and carrying it all the way up the pitch for someone else to finish.

His immense abilities weren't lost on his teammates or manager either, with Kyle Walker describing him as "the best player I've ever seen play football" and Pochettino claiming that he was a footballing "genius."

In all, the 37-year-old made 249 appearances for the Lilywhites, scoring ten goals and providing ten assists, before moving to the Chinese Super League in January 2019 and retiring four years later.

Dembélé was an utterly sublime footballer, and while the club haven't been able to replace him, Postecoglou may have just stumbled upon the club's next version of the Belgian.

Spurs' next Dembélé

Now, we are aware that such a label can be both a blessing and a curse for players, but we reckon Lucas Bergvall has more than enough talent to make good on it.

The young midfielder was signed from Swedish outfit Djurgårdens for around £8.5m last winter but didn't officially join the squad until last summer, and while it took him some time to get up to speed in the first team, he has recently been one of the club's most impressive players.

Like Dembélé, the young Swede is seemingly a natural in a few positions in midfield, making 34 appearances in central midfield, 16 in attacking midfield and 13 in defensive midfield.

Moreover, while each role requires something a little different from the 19-year-old, be that a dangerous final ball from the ten position or a brilliant interception at the base of midfield, he's shown one quality that the Belgian star was known for: ball-carrying.

According to FBref, the "generational" talent, as dubbed by journalist Mitch Fretton, sits in the top 3% of midfielders in the Premier League this season for total carrying distance, the top 5% for successful take-ons, the top 7% for progressive carrying distance, the top 10% for carries and more, all per 90.

Finally, while the "uber-complete" teenage phenom, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, certainly has what it takes to play in the number ten position in the future, it does seem like Postecoglu and Co will be able to get more out of his incredible skillset by playing him in the middle of the park, where Dembélé used to boss games.

Ultimately, while he's still incredibly young, and a lot could happen over the coming years, it looks like Spurs might just have their next genuinely great central midfielder in Bergvall.

As Tottenham Hotspur line up their second raid on Elland Road in as many summers, Leeds United chiefs have been forced to ponder their stance over the future of one young gem.

Leeds looking to avoid second Spurs blow

After missing out on promotion last season, Leeds were picked apart. Crysencio Summerville swapped Yorkshire for West Ham United, Georginio Rutter then followed him to the Premier League courtesy of Brighton & Hove Albion before Spurs dealt Leeds the ultimate blow by signing Archie Gray.

Now, almost a year later, the Whites are desperately hoping to avoid a repeat. Now sat top of the Championship on goal difference alone and just two points ahead of Burnley in third, Leeds have just eight games to hold their nerve and secure promotion.

Failure to secure a place in the Premier League would undoubtedly prove costly in the transfer window once again. Already, names such as Pascal Struijk have been linked to the top flight, and he could yet be joined by another young gem.

According to The Boot Room, Tottenham have now set their sights on signing Harry Gray this summer in what would be a repeat of their deal for older brother Archie last year.

Unlike last summer, however, Leeds chiefs are reportedly confident that they'll manage to keep hold of Gray and fend off any interest from Spurs in their young striker.

That will certainly be music to Daniel Farke's ears too, given that he was recently full of praise for the teenager. The former Norwich City boss told reporters: "With Harry Gray, before a player really makes his first step into the spotlight I'm always careful about praising him too much. He's with us and trains well and develops well.

"He's been back in team training for several weeks [since the injury] and is progressing. We will look carefully and we won't rush it too much. We're happy we have him. He's in the category of Sam Chambers who can play an important part in our future."

Leeds must secure promotion to keep Gray

Whilst those at Elland Road are reportedly confident that they'll keep hold of Gray this summer, promotion to the Premier League will end any doubts over his future once and for all. It's then that the 16-year-old could eventually come up against his older brother should he continue to develop into the player that many believe he'll become in Yorkshire.

Still just 16 years old, Farke is right to be cautious when it comes to the forward's first-team opportunities, whether in the Premier League or the Championship. The German will be well aware of the talent that he has on his hands, but know just how important patience is with young players.

As for Gray himself, staying put at Leeds looks set to be his best option. The chaos at Spurs has helped his brother gain key game time, but those minutes have often come out of position in a struggling side.