FootballFanCast.com

Tottenham Hotspur and technical director Johan Lange by extension are ready to green-light an exit for a "key" £60 million player this summer.

Players who could be sold or loaned out by Spurs

A succession of players have already departed N17, either on loan or temporarily, as Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou attempts to rebuild the squad ahead of the Australian's second full season in charge.

Ryan Sessegnon, Japhet Tanganga, Eric Dier and Ivan Perisic were first out the door at Tottenham, following the expiry of their contracts at N17, with Spurs also electing to terminate Tanguy Ndombele's contract one year before it was due to expire.

The former club-record signing has since joined OGC Nice in Ligue 1, and Wales international defender Joe Rodon soon followed Ndombele. The centre-back put pen to paper on a £10 million move to Leeds, as English sensation Archie Gray moved in the opposite direction for around £40 million.

A few more players could be set to join the aforementioned players in seeking pastures new. Indeed, uncertainty currently surrounds the likes of Giovani Lo Celso and Bryan Gil, with both men scarcely getting a chance under Postecoglou last season.

Meanwhile, both Milan and Borussia Dortmund have been chasing a deal for Emerson Royal, who was forced to play second-fiddle to Pedro Porro for the majority of 2023/24 - or fill in for injured first-teamers in makeshift roles.

There is also the matter of striker Richarlison. The Brazilian, who's reportedly attracting interest from Saudi Arabia and PIF, actually finished last campaign as Tottenham's second-highest goalscorer in all competitions.

He chalked up 12 goals and registered another four assists, largely due to an impressive mid-season purple patch, but Tottenham remain in the market for a prolific new striker to replace Harry Kane regardless. The Lilywhites' rumoured hunt for a centre-forward casts doubt on Richarlison's future, with HITC now providing an update on the 27-year-old.

Lange ready to green-light Tottenham exit for Richarlison

The outlet backs Saudi interest in the former Everton star, and they go one step further by writing that Tottenham are ready to green-light Richarlison's sale this summer.

It's added that they would want £60 million to reach a deal, which is the same price they paid to bring the "key" forward from Goodison Park two years ago. Richarlison has personally told the Saudi Pro League he'd be open to joining one of their clubs as well, so it's a move that could get his approval.

The South American endured a regrettable first full season under Antonio Conte at Spurs, but rediscovered his best form in flashes last season working with Postecoglou.

All in all, Richarlison has racked up 15 goals and eight assists across 66 appearances in all competitions since putting pen to paper on a move from Merseyside.

It's set to be a big transfer window for Tottenham Hotspur this summer as Daniel Levy and Co look to land the right players for Ange Postecoglou's exciting project.

The Australian managed to bring the team back into European football last season, but a collapse towards the end of the campaign meant it was the Europa League, not the Champions League.

To take that next stop, the North Londoners will need to sign some quality additions over the next couple of months, and based on recent reports, that may well happen.

The latest star touted for a move to N17 is an incredibly exciting winger who would help bring more goals to the side and challenge Brennan Johnson for a spot in the starting lineup.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Tottenham are interested in signing Juventus and Italy star Federico Chiesa this summer.

The 26-year-old's £150k-per-week contract expires next summer, and according to the report, the Lilywhites have matched the €6m-per-year offer the Old Lady have made him, which converts to around £5m.

However, it's claimed that the winger wants a wage of closer to €8m-per-year - £7m - and, according to reports earlier this week, it'll cost North Londoners around £25m if they want to prise him out of Turin a year early.

It could be a complicated deal to get over the line, but given Chiesa's quality, it is one worth pursuing, especially as he could be a fantastic rival for Johnson.

How Chiesa compares to Johnson

So, if Spurs can get their hands on Chiesa this summer, he'd likely come in primarily to play off the right of a front three, as that is the position he has played most in his career.

In which case, Johnson would be one of his main competitors for a place in the starting lineup, but how do they compare?

Well, when it comes to their raw output last season, the Welshman just about edges it, scoring five goals and providing ten assists in 38 matches for the Lilywhites, equating to a goal involvement on average every 2.53 games.

In contrast, the "unstoppable" former Fiorentina ace, as dubbed by Giorgio Chiellini, scored ten goals and provided three assists in 37 appearances, producing a slightly worse average of a goal involvement every 2.84 games.

However, when it comes to their underlying numbers, the tables turn, and it's the Italian "wizard", as dubbed by football media personality Roger Bennett, who comes out ahead.

For example, while the former Nottingham Forest ace produces a higher non-penalty expected goal and assists figure, more actual assists, higher passing accuracy and more goal-creating actions, he's comfortably second best for actual non-penalty goals, progressive passes and carries, shots and shots on target, key passes and shot-creating actions, all per 90.

Ultimately, if Chiesa is available for the reported fee, then Spurs cannot afford to miss out. While he might not be clear of Johnson, for example, he is clearly talented and could push the other wingers in the team to improve, if not outright replace them in time.

The transfer window has been open for over a month now, and while Tottenham Hotspur have already made one exciting addition to the team in the shape of 18-year-old Archie Gray, they need to do more.

Fortunately for Ange Postecoglou and the fans, it would appear that Daniel Levy and Co have been hard at work over the last few weeks as there has been a relatively constant stream of links to stars across the continent, and while a number of said links are clearly bogus, there are a few that seem more concrete, notably including one to Pedro Neto.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers ace looks set to leave the Old Gold this summer, and the Lilywhites appear to be one of the leading candidates to secure his services.

This would be exciting in and of itself, but recent reports have revealed that the club are also targeting another attacking ace and someone who could be unreal alongside the Portuguese ace.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham have maintained their interest in Brentford striker Ivan Toney.

The story claims that with 12 months remaining on his current £20k-per-week deal, the England international is all but guaranteed to leave the Gtech Community Stadium, and this presents the Lilywhites with an opportunity.

The article does not mention a potential price the North Londoners may pay to get this deal over the line, but a separate report from the Sun this week revealed that the Bees are ready to reduce their asking price to less than £50m in a bid to prevent him from leaving for free next year.

Even at this reduced price, signing Toney would still represent a significant investment from Spurs, but given his record in the Premier League and the potential partnership he could form with Neto, it's one well worth making.

Why Toney would be great with Neto

Now, the main reason Toney would be such an incredible player to sign alongside Neto is relatively simple: his output.

The Englishman had a lacklustre campaign last season, mostly because he only returned from an eight-month betting-related football ban in the new year and was evidently not up to speed.

However, when looking at his first two years following promotion from the Championship, it is abundantly clear that the "unplayable" number nine, as dubbed by Alan Shearer, is elite.

For example, in 2021/22, he scored 14 goals and provided six assists in 37 appearances, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 1.85 games.

A year later, he scored 21 goals and provided five assists in 35 appearances, equating to an even more impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.34 games.

Now, imagine the 28-year-old goalscoring "monster", as dubbed by his manager Thomas Frank, alongside Neto, who, in just 24 appearances last season, scored three goals and provided 11 assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.71 games and could therefore form a very intimidating partnership with the Bees ace.

Moreover, according to FBref, which compares players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, the Old Gold star sits in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers for assists, so the Englishman can expect an incredible level of service from the wings, especially if Son plays on the other side.

Ultimately, while it wouldn't be cheap, signing Toney for close to £50m would represent good value based on his goalscoring record, and if Spurs can partner him up with Neto, Postecoglou may well have one of the best attacks in the country at his disposal next season.

Tottenham are believed to be in constant talks with a forward who's scored an impressive 149 career goals despite being relatively young, and chairman Daniel Levy could well sign him for a cut-price £20 million.

Spurs target Harry Kane replacement as Postecoglou eyes new striker

It's been nearly a year since club-record goalscorer and Lilywhites legend Harry Kane left N17 in a multi-million pound deal for Bayern Munich, with Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou managing to do well in his first season without the England star.

Son Heung-min and Richarlison scored 29 goals between them in all competitions last season, helping to fill the void left by Kane's departure, as Tottenham sealed qualification for the Europa League next term.

Postecoglou's fluid attacking system allowed Spurs to maintain their effectiveness going forward without Kane, for the most part, but it is believed that the north Londoners wish to replace their ex-superstar with an out-and-out striker this summer.

Spurs are also targeting a star new winger, with both Wolves winger Pedro Neto and Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze firmly on their radar (Fabrizio Romano). However, a new vocal point up front to replace Kane could also be on the agenda.

Surprisingly, Levy and technical director Johan Lange have even been linked with a move for marquee striker Viktor Gyokeres this week. The Sporting Lisbon star could be available for a fee lower than his £84 million release clause, prompting Spurs interest in signing Gyokeres as they consider a move.

He racked up an incredible 43 goals in 50 appearances across all competitions last season, so the Swede could still come at a premium, even if it is lower than his release clause. This will be the case for top-class goalscorers across the market, but one prolific striker who is both proven and attainable for a good price is Lille star Jonathan David.

The Canada international, who has been one of Ligue 1's best marksmen for a few years now, boasts 149 career goals in total for both club and country. David's contract, which expires next year, means he could also be available for around £20 million.

Tottenham in constant talks with David as they consider bid

According to Football Insider and journalist Wayne Veysey, Postecoglou's side are beginning to up the ante in their pursuit of David after being previously linked.

Indeed, as per their sources, Tottenham are in daily contact with David as they consider a bid for him. The 24-year-old is fresh off the back of another productive season in France, with only Kylian Mbappe scoring more Ligue 1 goals than him last season.

It was a Premier League campaign of two halves for Tottenham Hotspur last season.

Ange Postecoglou led them to a ten-game unbeaten streak at the start, but a cavalcade of injuries and a general loss of form towards the backend saw them slip out of the Champions League places, although Europa League qualification was secured.

Perhaps the star who encapsulated this Jekyll and Hyde year more than any other was James Maddison, who went from being one of the most creative players in the league to not even making the England squad come May.

However, the Englishman is still an incredibly talented player, and based on recent reports, Daniel Levy and Co could be about to sign someone who could help get the best out of him again.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham have maintained their interest in LOSC Lille star Jonathan David.

With just 12 months remaining on his deal with the French side, the report claims he is all but guaranteed to leave this summer, which has caught the attention of clubs across the continent, including Spurs.

A separate story from Football Insider earlier this month revealed that, due to his deal expiring next summer, the Canadian international would be available for as little as £25m.

The growing interest from other sides could make signing David a slight challenge, but considering his record, reasonable fee, and potential ability to revive Maddison's form, Levy and Co cannot afford to miss out on his signature.

Why David would be a great signing for Maddison

So, when it comes to the reasons why David would be an excellent signing for Spurs and Maddison in particular, it all boils down to one thing: his output.

Last season, only Son Heung-min and Richarlison reached double digits for goals scored across all competitions, and as the player who should be the team's primary striker, the Brazilian could only muster a measly 12.

A situation like this is never going to see the former Leicester City ace reach his full potential, as with an attack as profligate as this, he'll need to create far more chances for every goal they do put away.

This is where the "mind-blowing" Canadian poacher, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, would come in.

In his last four seasons of club football, the 24-year-old has scored 84 goals and provided 18 assists in 183 club appearances, which equates to an average of a goal involvement every 1.79 games - a genuinely impressive level of consistency.

It's not just at club level where the New York-born poacher has shone either, as in 54 senior caps for Canada, he has scored 28 goals and provided 16 assists, meaning he's currently averaging a goal involvement every 1.22 games at international level.

Just imagine a striker as effective as the Lille ace in front of the Lilywhites' ten, who, even though he struggled towards the backend of last season, still ranks in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe's top five leagues for shot-creating actions and progressive passes per 90, per FBref.

Ultimately, while David might not be a big-name striker outside of Ligue 1, his incredible and consistent record of scoring goals and providing assists make him an excellent candidate to come in and lead Spurs' frontline next season, and at the same time, he appears to be the perfect forward to rejuvenate and revive Maddison's form in North London.

Tottenham Hotspur made their first real signing of the transfer window two weeks ago when they brought in Archie Gray from Leeds United, and while it was an excellent move, they're going to need more than just the 18-year-old to kick on next season.

It has been widely reported that Ange Postecoglou is desperate to sign a new number nine this summer, and when Son Heung-min and Richarlison were the only players in the squad to reach double digits for goals last season, it's not hard to understand why.

The good news is that, based on reports, it looks like Daniel Levy and Co have identified the dream striker signing and could even secure his services for a cut-price fee - oh, and he's been compared to Son, which isn't too bad.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham could make a surprise move for Sporting CP's star striker Viktor Gyokeres this summer.

The report has revealed that the Swedish international, who has a €100m release clause in his contract - £84m - could, in fact, be available for a cut-fee price, which would prompt the North Londoners to spring into action.

However, the one concern for the Lilywhites is that, according to reports from earlier this week, fierce rivals Arsenal have maintained their interest in the prolific poacher, and so, should his price come down, they may have to fight them for his signature.

That said, if Spurs have the opportunity to secure Gyokeres' services for even fractionally less than his £84m release clause, they should take it. He could be transformational under Postecoglou, and the comparison to Son is a nice bonus.

Why Gyokeres would be a great signing and his comparison to Son

So, before looking at Gyokeres' incredible form last season and why he'd be unreal under Postecoglou, where does this comparison to Son come from?

It stems from FBref, which compared him to players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, created a list of the ten most comparable forwards, and then named the South Korean at the top of that list.

It's easy to understand this ranking when you look at how similar some of their underlying numbers are for specific metrics, such as assists, progressive carries, crosses into the penalty area, shot-creating actions, goal-creating actions, tackles won, and ball recoveries, all per 90.

That said, while his similarities to the Lilywhites' captain are certainly a nice bonus, they won't be the main driver behind the North Londoners' desire to sign him; that would be his incredible form from last season.

In 50 appearances for the Portuguese side, the "remarkable" marksman, as Estoril manager Vasco Seabra dubbed him, scored a frankly outrageous 43 goals and provided 15 assists, meaning that he averaged a goal involvement every 0.86 games.

Now, just imagine a striker that prolific playing in a Postecoglou system where everyone is looking to get forward and be progressive - goals galore.

Ultimately, even if Spurs can't get a cut-price deal, Gyokeres is such an incredible striker that it may well make sense for them to go big and activate his release clause, although, maybe look for that cheaper price first though.

Following the conclusion of the Euros and Copa América over the weekend, the transfer window is in full swing, and while things have been unusually quiet thus far, Tottenham Hotspur have already made their first major signing.

Daniel Levy and Co welcomed in the young Archie Gray from Leeds United a couple of weeks ago, and in his first friendly for the club last night, he impressed.

He started in defence as Ange Postecoglou's side ran out 5-1 winners against Scottish side Hearts, and while the former Peacocks gem did brilliantly, academy star Mikey Moore stole the show.

The young attacker is tipped to have a massive future ahead of him, but as things stand, another emerging talent at the club is worth even more.

Mikey Moore's valuation

Now, as Moore is only 16 years old, his first-team debut only came at the end of last season, and to date, he has a whopping 3 minutes of experience under his belt.

However, the fact that he was even given a chance to play at his age is a testament to his potential and incredible record at youth level.

For example, in just 24 appearances for the Lilywhites U18 side, the "outstanding" prospect, as talent scout Jacek Kulig has dubbed him, has scored 19 goals and provided 13 assists, meaning he has averaged a goal involvement every 0.75 games - outrageous.

He's been just as effective for the junior national sides as well, as in 12 appearances for the U17s, he's scored ten goals and provided four assists, proving that he can perform regardless of the team he's in.

This rapid rise from an unknown youth product to the next big thing in N17 has understandably impacted his valuation, and according to Football Transfers, he is now worth about €5m, which converts to around £4m.

It's undoubtedly an impressive fee for a youngster with essentially no first-team experience, but another up-and-coming youngster in the Spurs squad is worth even more.

Lucas Bergvall's valuation

The player in question is Swedish wonderkid Lucas Bergvall, who joined Spurs for about £8.5m this year, and we're sure his price tag is a lot higher now.

The "astounding" 18-year-old talent, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, enjoyed a positive season with Djurgarden in his homeland last year, in which he made 19 first-team appearances, scoring six goals and providing five assists, equating to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.72 games.

Described as having "decision-making to a supreme level" by Mango, the young Swede was heavily linked to La Liga giants Barcelona before opting to join the Lilywhites, and there is genuine hope in Sweden that he could be their next global superstar.

A clear indication of just how highly thought of he is in the Scandinavian country is the fact that, despite being just 17 at the time, he made his senior debut for the national team against Estonia in January this year.

Ultimately, both Moore and Bergvall look destined for enormously successful careers with Spurs, but given his experience, it's easy to see why the Swede cost £8.5m, although that fee may look like a bargain very soon.

Tottenham could make a "surprise" bid for one £84 million striker, following manager Ange Postecoglou's warning to Daniel Levy and Johan Lange.

Spurs targeting new attacker after Gray and Werner deals

The Lilywhites have moved to seal a season-long loan extension on Timo Werner's deal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and one which includes a new £8.5 million option to buy.

The German bagged two goals and three assists in the Premier League during the second-half of 2023/2024, helping Spurs qualify for the Europa League, and this has seemingly done enough to convince club chiefs that he's worth keeping around.

Meanwhile, the Lilywhites thereafter sealed a £40 million deal for one of England's brightest young talents in Archie Gray. The former Leeds United gem swapped Elland Road for N17 with Joe Rodon heading the other way, and Gray made his debut on Wednesday evening in Tottenham's 5-1 pre-season friendly win at Hearts.

Gray and Werner are by no means Spurs' only bits of summer business, though, as it is believed a few more players could depart north London before summer deadline day on August 30.

Tottenham are also in the market for at least one new attacker, with many interesting names linked. This potential new arrival could be in the form of a new winger or striker, as the likes of Pedro Neto, Eberechi Eze and others attract interest from Spurs.

"There is appreciation from Spurs for Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace - and also with all of the other options we always mention here like Pedro Neto, this is absolutely confirmed," said Fabrizio Romano recently.

"So Tottenham like Eze and like Pedro Neto, and they have decided how much they want to spend in that position. So there is internal conversation, but they will bring in one more player in that position for sure - one more offensive player."

Postecoglou is also believed to be keen on replacing Harry Kane, nearly a year after he joined Bayern Munich in a multi-million pound deal.

Tottenham could make surprise bid for Viktor Gyokeres

Spurs have been linked with the likes of Brentford star Ivan Toney and Lille striker Jonathan David, with both expected to move on for cut-price fees considering they're in the final years of their contracts.

One striker thought to be well out of their price range is Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres, who is commanding a release clause of around £84 million.

However, according to GiveMeSport this week, Tottenham could now make a "surprise" move for Gyokeres, with the report claiming he could leave for less than his exit clause.

After a debut campaign full of ups and downs, Ange Postecoglou will be under more pressure to deliver with Tottenham Hotspur next season, whether that be through qualification for the Champions League or winning a domestic trophy.

However, while the buck will ultimately stop with the Australian, he needs Daniel Levy and Co to do their jobs this summer and bring in the right players to help him move the team forward, and that includes signing a new striker.

Fortunately, that looks like it may happen, as the latest player touted for a move to N17 has been in fine form in recent seasons, has been compared to England's OIlie Watkins and would be unreal alongside Son Heung-min.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from journalist Ben Jacobs via GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham are still looking for attacking reinforcements this summer and remain interested in RB Leipzig's star striker Loïs Openda.

While a player as talented as the Belgian will surely attract interest from all over the continent, the most significant barrier to Spurs securing his services in the coming weeks is the price.

According to reports out of Germany back in April, the former RC Lens star has a €80m - £67m - release clause set to activate next summer, but if clubs wish to sign him this year, they'll have to stump up €100m, which converts to around £84m.

It would be a record-breaking fee for the Lilywhites, but given his impressive form and even his comparisons to Watkins, it's potentially worth paying to land such an exciting striker.

How Openda compares to Watkins and why he'd be unreal alongside Son

So, before getting onto the key reason OPenda would be such a great teammate for Son, let's take a look at this comparison to Watkins, which stems from FBref's comparison of strikers across Europe's top five leagues.

They have ranked the Englishman as the number one most comparable striker in those competitions, and this can be seen best in how closely they rank for several underlying metrics, such as expected assists, progressive, key and live passes, shot-creating actions and successful take-ons, all per 90.

To rank so closely with the Premier League's fourth top goalscorer last season is definitely a positive indication of the 24-year-old's quality, but the main reason he'd be so good alongside the Lilywhites captain stems from another set of statistics: his output.

In 48 appearances last season, the goalscoring "dream", as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, put the ball in the back of the net 28 times and provided seven assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.28 games for Leipzig.

Now imagine a striker who is that prolific and creative alongside a club captain who scored 17 goals and provided ten assists in just 36 appearances last season - unreal.

You can already see the former Bayer Leverkusen ace reaching the levels he did when he last had a dangerous striker alongside him in Harry Kane, and while nobody can truly replace the Englishman at present, the Belgian could get pretty close.

Ultimately, it would require a record-breaking transfer, but if Spurs want to push up the Premier League table next season, signing a striker like Openda to play with Son is undoubtedly the best place to start.

It's been over a month since the transfer window swung open in mid-June, and since then, Tottenham Hotspur have been relatively quiet, bar their £30m signing of Archie Gray from Leeds United.

However, while the Lilywhites have refrained from bringing anyone else into the club as of yet, they have been linked with a host of players, including England's Eberechi Eze and Canada's Jonathan David.

That said, they could soon welcome in their second signing of the summer, as recent reports have linked them to an incredibly talented winger who has won comparisons to Son Heung-min. However, this potential transfer could spell trouble for Dejan Kulusevski.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Italy, Tottenham are one of several sides interested in signing Juventus' Italian winger Federico Chiesa this summer.

The report claims that the Lilywhites have already contacted the Turin-based outfit about the Italian's future but may have to compete with Manchester United and Roma for his signature.

While the interest from the Red Devils and the Giallorossi is far from ideal, the good news is that the report has claimed the former Fiorentina star is valued at just under €30m, which converts to around £25m.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Chiesa's reasonable price, comparisons to Son and his potential to replace Kulusevski, one Daniel Levy and Co should be pursuing.

How Chiesa compares to Son and Kulusevski

So, before we see how Chiesa's recent record stacks up to Kulusevski's, let's first look at this comparison to club captain Son.

It originates from FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues before then creating a top ten list of the most comparable players for each one, and in the case of the Italian, they have ranked the Lilywhites ace as the seventh most similar forward.

This comparison is best seen through a number of their most similar underlying numbers, such as, shots on target, key passes, passes into the penalty area, interceptions, successful take-ons, carries and ball recoveries, all per 90.

A ball recovery is defined by the number of loose balls recovered by a player.

So, now that his similarities to the South Korean superstar have been cleared up, how does the Juve ace stack up against the player he could replace in North London?

Well, when it comes to the most critical aspect of a modern-day winger, their output, it's the Genova-born star who comes out on top.

In 37 appearances for the Old Lady last season, the "unstoppable" wideman, as former teammate Giorgio Chiellini dubbed him, scored ten goals and provided three assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 2.86 games.

In contrast, the Lilywhites Swedish star scored eight goals and provided three assists in 39 appearances last season, equating to a slightly less impressive average of a goal involvement every 3.54 games.

Moreover, it was the same story the season prior, as while both wingers produced ten goal involvements, the Swede did so in 37 games, while his potential replacement did it in just 33 appearances.

Ultimately, Kulusevski is a talented player and an excellent winger to have in the squad, but based on the last two seasons, it appears that Chiesa would be an upgrade, at least from an attacking perspective anyway. The fact that he's available for a reasonable price and has won comparisons to Son is just the icing on the cake.