FootballFanCast.com

After a few weeks of relative silence, Tottenham Hotspur made their first big splash in the transfer window this week.

Ange Postecoglou looks set to welcome Leeds United's highly-rated wonderkid Archie Gray in a £30m deal to become the club's first permanent signing of the window.

However, there's no rest for the wicked, and based on recent reports, the latest player touted for a move to the club plays in a position Gray starred in last season and could be the perfect rival for Pedro Porro.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Italy, Tottenham are one of several clubs keen on Fiorentina's exciting young right-back, Michael Kayode, and have already seen an offer rejected.

The report claims that Aston Villa have also made an unsuccessful bid for the 19-year-old talent.

The good news for the Lilywhites is that the Serie A side would supposedly listen to offers in the region of €25m, which converts to around £21m.

It wouldn't be a cheap transfer to get over the line, but given his age and the way he's spoken about, it's a transfer worth pursuing, especially as he could rival Porro for a place in the team.

Why Kayode would be a good rival to Porro

Now, at just 19 years old and with one full season of topflight football under his belt, it would be incredibly unfair to expect Kayode to come into the Spurs team and immediately dislodge Porro after an impressive season in which he returned 11 goals and assists in 37 games.

However, he could provide a challenge and, in turn, become Postecoglou's goto backup for the right-back position ahead of Emerson Royal - should he not leave, that is.

Moreover, respected data analyst Ben Mattinson described the youngster as a full-back who was "complete defensively" last year, suggesting that he could be the perfect complement to Porro's slightly more attacking and expressive nature when the club needs to defend a lead.

Mattinson goes on to expand on what makes the Italian such a "1v1 & duel monster," explaining that he "jockeys attackers to delay the threat & force a decision," which is an impressive skill to master for a player of his age.

With that said, how do his underlying numbers currently stack up to the Lilywhites' two right-back options?

Well, the clear winner is unsurprisingly the former Sporting CP ace, but in a positive sign, the Fiorentina star comes out ahead in several metrics, including progressive carries, crosses into the penalty area, and successful take-ons. He's also dispossessed the least and makes the fewest errors that lead to a shot, all per 90.

Moreover, when looking at his numbers in comparison to Royal's, he does come out on top in the majority of statistics, suggesting that he would, at the bare minimum, be an upgrade on the Brazilian.

Ultimately, signing youngsters from other leagues is always going to be a gamble, but with how he is spoken about and the impressive underlying numbers, Kayode looks like he'd be a great signing to come in and really push Porro over the coming years.

Tottenham are set to take "concrete steps" over signing a £24 million forward likened to club legend Gareth Bale soon, coming after claims he could "easily" play for Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Spurs to make attacking signings after Werner and Gray

This week, Spurs sealed their second signing of the summer transfer window with the arrival of 18-year-old sensation Archie Gray from Leeds United.

The versatile midfielder, who can be deployed in the middle of the park and out wide as a right-back, starred under Daniel Farke in the Championship last season - making 52 appearances in all competitions for Leeds, who narrowly missed out on Premier League promotion.

Emerson Royal continues to be targeted by AC Milan, with some reports previously claiming that Gray could be a replacement for Royal as the exit-bound Brazilian may well swap north London for the San Siro.

Before sealing a deal for Gray, which is an excellent coup by chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange, Spurs' first signing of the window came in the form of a season-long loan extension for Timo Werner.

The German agreed to prolong his stay at N17 after bagging two goals and three assists for them towards the back end of last season. However, Tottenham are expected to make more attacking signings on top of Werner in the coming weeks.

Spurs want to replace Harry Kane with a prolific goalscorer, and Postecoglou is believed to be targeting Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace for the wide area. Forward solutions could come from abroad as well, with a new report linking Tottenham to Galatasaray star Baris Yilmaz.

Tottenham set to move for Baris Yilmaz after Euro 2024

The Turkey international winger, who scored seven goals and provided 12 assists in all competitions last season, is a crucial asset for Galatasaray boss Okan Buruk.

As expected, the 24-year-old was called up to represent his country at Euro 2024, and his form hasn't gone unnoticed at Spurs. According to Haber, Tottenham are set to take concrete steps over signing Yilmaz after the tournament finishes, with Man United and Brighton also in the mix.

Galatasaray value their star at around £24 million, with former Turkish international Selcuk Inan even claiming Yilmaz, who's been likened to Gareth Bale due to his strength and speed by his former coach Ilker Puren, could play for Real Madrid or Barca.

“I think Baris Alper Yılmaz can play very comfortably for many teams in the Premier League at the moment. He’s a very special player,” he was quoted as saying in the Liverpool Echo.

“We worked a lot together. If Barıs Alper improves himself with his final ball, he can easily play for the best clubs in the world such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool and Arsenal.

“He’s a player with a lot of potential. Hopefully, he will get that chance and represent them.”

It's been over two weeks since the transfer window swung open, and while there hasn't been much in the way of movement for English clubs in that time, Tottenham Hotspur are starting to stir.

Ange Postecoglou's side have been linked with a plethora of talented players in recent weeks, be that Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace or Riccardo Calafiori of Bologna, but in the last 36 hours or so, they have made a significant move to bring in their first permanent signing of the window: Archie Gray.

The move received the Fabrizio Romano "here we go" seal of authenticity yesterday, and while the Englishman is undoubtedly an exciting addition, the club already have a player who can play in one of his positions, and he's worth millions more than the 18-year-old gem.

Pedro Porro's Tottenham career

The player in question is none other than Spanish right-back Pedro Porro.

The 24-year-old dynamo joined Spurs from Portuguese giants Sporting CP on an initial loan deal in February last year before he was signed permanently for a hefty fee of around £39m.

In his first half-season in North London, the Don-Benito star was a reasonably regular face in the team, but of his 17 appearances under then-manager Antonio Conte, 13 were starts as a right-sided midfielder or right wing-back, where he scored three goals and provided three assists.

However, following the appointment of Postecoglou last summer, the "titanic" defender, as dubbed by The Athletic's former Spurs correspondent Charlie Eccleshare, moved back into a more traditional right-back role, where he started 37 times, scoring four goals and providing seven assists to average a goal involvement every 3.36 games for the Australian.

This imposing form has seen the 5 foot 8 dynamo become an integral part of the Lilywhites' starting lineup over the last 12 months, so while Gray spent the majority of last season playing there, he'll have a serious fight on his hands if he's expecting to stay on the right side of defence.

Moreover, the teenager may cost a lot, but Porro is worth even more.

Porro's valuation in 2024

Gray's move to North London is set to cost Daniel Levy and Co a cool £40m or so once they dot the i's and cross the t's, and while that's a significant amount of money, it's still less than the valuation of Porro.

According to the CIES Football Observatory, the Spaniard's conservative valuation is €52m, which is around £44m, but his higher valuation comes in at a whopping €66m, which is £56m, or £16m more than the club are set to pay Leeds for their exciting wonderkid.

Now, there are a couple of reasons why the former Sporting man is valued so highly, and the first is quite obvious: he's just that good.

His tally of 11 goal involvements in 37 games last season is imposing, and according to FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues, he's in the top 5% of full-backs for total shots, the top 7% for blocks, and the top 8% for non-penalty expected goals and assists, all per 90.

The second reason for his significant value is that his £85k-per-week contract is set to run until summer 2028, meaning the club is not under any pressure to sell or renew at the moment.

Ultimately, Gray looks like he will be a tremendous signing for the club regardless of where he plays, but Spurs are also fortunate to have such a valuable player in Porro at the club.

The transfer window is now in full swing, and after an eventful first Premier League season in charge that ended with Europa League qualification, Tottenham Hotspur are starting to back Ange Postecoglou.

The Lilywhites look set to spend £40m on Leeds United's incredibly exciting youngster Archie Gray in what would be their first permanent transfer of the window.

However, based on recent reports, Daniel Levy and Co aren't quite done yet, and the latest player touted for a move to N17 could be the perfect rival for Dejan Kulusevski.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Turkey, Tottenham Hotspur are among several Premier League clubs keen on Galatasaray star Barış Alper Yılmaz.

Alongside the Lilywhites, the report claims that Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United are interested in the 23-year-old dynamo.

According to the report, the three clubs will take concrete steps to land the talented player once he returns from Euro 2024, although any move will cost at least €30m, which converts to around £25m.

It could be a complicated deal to get over the line, but based on his performances last term, it could be one worth pursuing, especially if he can challenge Kulusevski or form a partnership with Gray.

Why Yılmaz would be a good signing

If Levy and Co want to bring Yilmaz in as a potential rival to Kulusevski, how does he stack up to the Swede? Well, from a pure output perspective, rather well.

In 55 appearances last season, he scored seven goals and provided 12 assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 2.89 games for the Turkish giants.

In contrast, the former Juventus man scored eight goals and provided three assists in 39 games for the North Londoners, which equates to a goal involvement every 3.54 games.

Interestingly, even when breaking it down to minutes per goal involvement, the Turkish international comes out on top.

His grand total of 3490 minutes last season means he produced a goal involvement every 183 minutes, while the Spurs ace's 2964 minutes of first-team football means he produced one every 269 minutes.

If the 23-year-old does make his way to N17 in the coming weeks, he could well be the club's second permanent signing behind Gray this summer, and there is every chance the pair could form an effective partnership for Postecoglou on the right flank.

The young Englishman may be a central midfielder, but his versatility and skillset saw him start 30 games at right-back for Leeds last season, and due to his relative inexperience, that is now his most played position in senior football.

So, if he is deployed there in North London and the Rize-born star can maintain his impressive form ahead of Kulusevski, the Lilywhites could have a new-look right flank.

After last season saw Tottenham Hotspur rely heavily on Son Heung-min for goals, the club have now made contact to bring in a highly-rated attacker this summer.

Ange wants attacking signings this summer

Whilst the arrival of Ange Postecoglou looks to have brought fresh life to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it is clear that the club need to bring in new signings this summer to support his style of play.

Most important to this will be the arrival of more attacking players to reduce Spurs' reliance on their star men. Throughout last season's Premier League campaign only two of the Lilywhites' squad scored more than ten goals with the aforementioned Son's 17 joined by Richarlion's 11.

In an attempt to rectify this issue Spurs have entered the market for a number of fresh faces. Recent reports are suggesting that Spurs are in the front row to sign Icelandic talisman Albert Gudmundsson. The Genoa striker has long been linked with a move to N17 with a fee in the region of £30 million cited.

Whilst one eye at Spurs looks for a striker, the club are also entering the market for a new wide player as they take initial steps to sign a Champions League winner.

Spurs make move for Real Madrid man

As first reported by Sport Witness, the Spanish press are claiming that Spurs have made an initial approach to sign Real Madrid’s Brahim Díaz.

The 24-year-old is set to face fierce competition in the Los Blancos attack with the impending arrivals of Kylian Mbappe and Endrick likely to force Diaz out of Carlo Ancelotti's side. With this in mind, it appears that Madrid outfit are looking to let the Morocco international leave during the summer window.

Sport Witness goes on to state that both Spurs and Roma have made offers for Diaz but they’ve been turned down by the Spanish champions. The report claims that the deal could be for a temporary loan with Ancelotti reportedly not eager to lose the player premanently this summer.

Diaz's current deal at the Bernebau runs until the summer of 2027 with the winger pocketing a reported £119,000 weekly wage as per capology. With the attacker tied down in Madrid for the foreseeable future, it is unlikely that he will be desperate for a permanent move away during this window.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a succesful season during his most recent campaign with Madrid, contributing 12 goals and 9 assists as Los Blancos sweeped up both domestic and continental trophies.

Diaz caught the eye of the wider footballing world during this season's Champions League. Whilst Real Madird went on to win the competition, the Morroccan's personal highlight came in the round of sixteen when the winger scored the only in his side's first leg win over RB Leipzig.

Speaking on Diaz's goal, Owen Hargreaves sang Diaz's praises, with the two-time Champions League winner telling TNT Sports: "It was Messi-esque. Because of the way he can dribble and his low centre of gravity, it was just breathtaking. One of the best goals you’ll see all season. The quality of this goal is really astonishing.”

With Postecoglou's love for attacking football well known there would be few better additions to his side than Diaz, even if it is only for a season.

It's set to be a massive summer for Tottenham Hotspur as the North Londoners look to build upon Ange Postecoglou's mixed but ultimately successful first campaign with the club.

The Australian guided the Lilywhites to a Europa League place in the first season without talisman Harry Kane and now has a solid base on which to rebuild the team.

Interestingly, while the club have been linked to plenty of established names in the last few weeks, such as Eberechi Eze, the player set to be the club's first permanent signing of the window, is an up-and-coming youngster who could develop into something extraordinary and the ideal teammate for James Maddison.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent announcement from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham have reached an "agreement in principle" with Leeds United over 18-year-old Archie Gray.

The Peacocks' young star was heavily touted for a move to West London outfit Brentford in recent days, but following the collapse of their proposed transfer, the Lilywhites appear to have swooped in for what will be their second deal of the summer following Timo Werner's loan move was extended.

According to the Italian journalist, the transfer is set to cost the North Londoners a significant sum of around £40m, with defender Joe Rodon going the other way for around £10m in a separate transaction.

While it's certainly not cheap, it could prove value for money if Gray can fulfil the massive potential many believe he has, and develop into an incredible midfield partner for Maddison in the coming campaigns.

Why Gray would be a great teammate for Maddison

Now, at just 18 years old, it would be somewhat unfair to expect the Leeds ace to come straight into the first team and set the world alight, but if there was a young English midfielder to do that, it sounds like it would be Gray.

Described as a "future £100m CM" and a star who "ticks every box" by data analyst Ben Mattinson, it would be fair to say the youngster has a fair bit of hype surrounding him, but based on his impressive performances for the Peacocks last season, it's not entirely unjustified.

The Durham-born prospect made 52 first-team appearances in 2023/24, and while he is primarily a central midfielder, he demonstrated his impressive versatility by starting 30 games at right-back for Daniel Farke, in which he chipped in with two assists.

It's this experience of playing in a more defensively-minded role that could see the "ridiculous" talent, as dubbed by Mattinson, thrive alongside Maddison in the middle of the park, as the former Leicester City star could maraud further up the pitch with fewer concerns over the stability of the unit behind him.

Likewise, of his 52 senior appearances, ten of them have been starts in central midfield, and according to Mattinson, he has the "mental, physical and technical" qualities to thrive as an eight as well as a six, so he could also add an extra attacking element to the North Londoners' midfield depending on where Postecoglou opts to play him.

It may not feel international escapades are dominating the footballing stratosphere at present but clubs are working night and day to identify and secure signings ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur, despite having a slow start to the window, have been doing exactly that, with technical director Johan Lange re-signing Timo Werner on loan for the forthcoming year, with a buy option included.

Moreover, Spurs have moved to close in on talented Leeds United star Archie Gray after the 18-year-old's £35m transfer to Brentford fell through. The Athletic's David Ornstein has confirmed that discussions are underway and all parties are optimistic that a move will be completed.

Gray is not the only midfielder being fought for, however, with another report suggesting that Daniel Levy could be ramping up the gas in the market...

Spurs transfer news

Chelsea are close to sealing the signing of Keirnan Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester City, landing the midfielder for a fee of £30m.

According to The Times, Tottenham might have received a major boost in their long-time pursuit of Conor Gallagher following the aforementioned deal, with Enzo Maresca's side bloating their midfield with Dewsbury-Hall's arrival.

Gallagher has just one year remaining on his deal at Stamford Bridge and could be sold to avoid them losing him for nothing if terms cannot be agreed upon this summer. Tottenham are reluctant to meet Chelsea's £50m valuation but recent events suggest an agreement could be around the corner.

Why Spurs should now sign Conor Gallagher

Tottenham were impressive last season... in parts. There's no question that Ange Postecoglou will demand further improvements from his team, though, and bringing in a player such as Gallagher could make all the difference.

As the table shows you above, Gallagher was immense last term, calling upon his all-action skill set to make a marked impact in Chelsea's first team. Mauricio Pochettino called the 25-year-old "priceless", but that notion appears to have left with the Argentine, for Dewsbury-Hall is headed toward west London with haste.

It looks like Yves Bissouma will retain his No. 6 spot at Spurs but Gallagher - and Gray - could aid him, though the Chelsea man's finest football is found when he plays with unfettered freedom, allowed to roam and strut his stuff across the park.

He would serve as the conduit between the engine room and those plying their trade further forward. He would enhance James Maddison, stabilising the ground from which the playmaker can launch balls forward; he would provide energy and lift the tempo to provide Heung-min Son with the security to dart up the pitch and unleash shots on goal, or pick out peers with stunning passing bred from inborn effective movements.

But most of all, Gallagher could be the key to unlocking fellow Lilywhites transfer target Eberechi Eze, who, according to talkSPORT, is seriously being considered down N17.

With a £60m release clause, the nimble England star would be a brilliant addition to Postecoglou's squad, ranking among the top 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League last season for goals scored and shot-creating actions, and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

Eze's silky, sharp and stylish approach would offer something new at Tottenham, with his elite ball-carrying ability and ever-improving shooting skills marking him as a special talent capable of lifting the roof at the club. He's also positional fluid, with his ability on the left perhaps coming in handy if Son is called upon up front again.

Gallagher covered so much ground for Chelsea in the Premier League last season and his unceasing energy levels would be perfect for Eze, allowing him to roam forward and take on defenders with the knowledge that one of the division's most robust forces protects him from the centre.

Moreover, the £50k-per-week west Londonder would also provide the Eagles phenom with a constant flow of creative support. In turn, Eze would showcase his dynamism and tenacity by chipping in across all areas for Tottenham - he averaged 5.0 ball recoveries, 1.3 tackles and won 6.1 duels per top-flight fixture last season, as per Sofascore.

With Postecoglou seeking to implement an aggressive, front-footed, and fluent style, such signings could make all the difference. Both excel in their trade but possess a melange of skills to free them from being pigeonholed into any one category. Instead, they would charge the Spurs squad and fling it into the upper echelon of the Premier League hall.

Highlights

Tottenham eyeing a cut-price deal for Lille's Jonathan David.

David's goalscoring record and ability to create space make him an attractive target.

Spurs could land their own version of Newcastle's Alexander Isak with David.

Tottenham Hotspur have been quiet this summer, biding their time as players perform on the international stage and Ange Postecoglou rolls out pearls of wisdom in the Euro 2024 punditry room.

Last week, The Athletic reported that while central midfielders Archie Gray (Leeds United) and Conor Gallagher (Chelsea) are on the radar, and now, David Ornstein has confirmed that the Leeds prodigy is closing on a move to the club after Brentford's offer was rejected.

Johan Lange is seemingly biding his time. Spurs are not beset by any PSR struggles, nor are they content with their first-team squad. It's all about the right opportunity.

Centre-forward is also a position of note, and given a certain striker appears to have been transfer-listed for an affordable price, that golden chance might just be materialising.

Spurs eyeing striker

Harry Kane's 2023 sale to Bayern Munich did not see a direct, high-profile replacement brought in. Instead, Postecoglou bolstered across the park.

Now, though, according to 90min, Tottenham are one of the teams interested in a cut-price deal for a marksman, with LOSC Lille slashing their asking price for Jonathan David to just £20m, should the structure of the package be deemed sufficient.

David is one of Ligue 1's foremost marksmen but is entering the final year of his contract; he has made it clear he will not renew terms. Chelsea, Manchester United and West Ham United are among the other suitors and Tottenham must act quickly to get it over the line.

Jonathan David's goalscoring ability

David is currently performing for Canada at the CONMEBOL Copa America and scored once from three matches in the group stage as his nation reached the knockout phase for the first time in their history.

It's this fact that might slow down the process of the 24-year-old's transfer, though he will be attentive to the market speculation and ready to move when possible.

And with such a stunning goalscoring record, it's no wonder that Tottenham have a vested interest. Across four campaigns in the French top flight, David has scored 71 goals and added 11 assists across 141 matches. Such success has led him to be described as "one of the best strikers in the world" by media personality Tony Marinaro.

Moreover, David's recently-concluded campaign was one of much success on an individual level, having plundered 26 goals and added nine assists from 46 matches across domestic and continental competition.

He's a deadly marksman, and while Tottenham boast the likes of Heung-min Son and Richarlison up front, David would offer the kind of out-and-out striking qualities to provide Postecoglou with the added dimension needed to improve, especially with Europa League football just around the corner.

Why Jonathan David is perfect for Spurs

David is tried and tested, an unerring shooter. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 16% of centre-forward across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored per 90, as well as the top 3% for pass completion.

This crisp ball-playing ability would be perfect for Tottenham, for Postecoglou's fluid, fast-and-forward-moving style of football requires a certain degree of sharpness in that regard.

The Canadian is a wonderful goalscorer but he's so much more, regarded as an instinctive distributor and a natural connector of play, thriving when bouncing against his peers, creating space, making things happen.

His deadliness in front of goal, coupled with his dynamic and exciting approach in the final third, could see David shaped into Spurs' very own Alexander Isak, with the sought-after Newcastle United talisman one of his most comparable players, according to FBref.

The Magpies signed Isak from Real Sociedad in 2022 for a club-record fee of £63m, and while he endured an injury-disrupted first campaign, the 24-year-old has been emphatic in front of goal over the past year, posting 25 goals from 36 starting appearances in all competitions.

It's an impressive haul, made all the more so by Isak's ability to finish his dinner when served in front of him. Indeed, as per Sofascore, the Tyneside sensation bagged 21 times in the Premier League last term, missing just 21 big chances in the process.

The season before in the Premier League, despite his injury struggles, Isak notched ten goals from 17 starts, missing five big chances.

Let's have a look at how that compares to Lille's attacking star. David, over the past two Ligue 1 campaigns, has scored 43 goals from 66 starting displays, missing just 34 big chances in that timeframe. That, truly, is the mark of a natural goalscoring machine.

Of course, movement plays a part too: the £120k-per-week forward ranks among the top 17% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes, the top 14% for progressive carries and the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90.

But David, inside a new system - inside Postecoglou's system - could see himself flowering into a player of similar quality, indeed already recognised for his likeness to one of the Premier League's most formidable forwards.

Flanked by the creativity of Son - who created the fourth-most number of big chances in the Premier League last term, with 20 - and the progressive energy of the indefatigable Dejan Kulusevski, David will succeed.

Supercharged by the ball-threading brilliance of James Maddison, who finished the season poorly but is one of English football's finest playmakers, averaging 2.7 key passes per game for the Lilywhites last year, David will thrive.

In 2022, David said: "I don't know if I can find myself anywhere other than the Premier League" during an interview. The time, surely, is right to grant him his wish, and given the swarm of interest in his signature, Tottenham should swoop and they should do so with haste.

Postecoglou could now land his own version of Newcastle star Isak by securing a deal to sign the Copa America star ahead of the likes of Chelsea and United before the 2024/25 campaign gets underway next month.

As Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's future in North London continues to be thrown into doubt, Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly leading the race to sign a midfielder who would be an ideal replacement for the Dane.

Tottenham transfer news

The Lilywhites are yet to complete their first move of the summer, but Ange Postecoglou will be well aware of the need for reinforcements after his side missed out on a place in the Premier League's top four last season, with Aston Villa causing the shock of the season by qualifying for the Champions League. With that said, the Lilywhites have already been linked to a number of names.

Among those includes Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze. The England international is currently away on international duty in Gareth Southgate's Euro 2024 squad but may have arguably the most important decision of his career so far when he returns to club action later this summer. The Lilywhites could certainly do with the added creative spark that Eze would bring, especially in an impressive partnership with James Maddison.

That said, before the attacking midfielder, the North London club could first turn their attention towards a replacement for Hojbjerg, who has been linked with a summer exit.

According to TuttoJuve, Spurs are now leading the race to sign Youssouf Fofana this summer in a deal that could be worth a reported €30m (£25m). The AS Monaco midfielder has also attracted the interest of Juventus, Arsenal and Manchester United but all three top clubs coulld lose out to Spurs, who may well get an ideal replacement for Hojbjerg and a player who could slot in next to Rodrigo Bentancur next season.

For just £25m too, Fofana may quickly become one of the summer's bargain buys as Spurs look to bridge the gap between themselves and Champions League qualification.

"Magnificent" Fofana could be a major upgrade on Hojbjerg

Replacing Hojbjerg with a player of Fofana's calibre is the type of deal that should take Spurs up to the level that they so desperately need to be at under Postecoglou. The Australian already showed glimpses of what he is capable of building in North London last season and with players who suit his system, he should only build on the foundations put in place during his debut campaign.

Fofana's ball recovery ability would be his most important trait under Postecoglou, with the former Celtic boss often asking his players to press high and excel in transition - something a player like Fofana knows exactly how to do.

Earning plenty of praise during his time at Monaco, Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig previously dubbed Fofana "magnificent" in 2022.

Now, it's Spurs who could benefit from Fofana's magnificence, reportedly leading the race to secure their first signing of the summer.

The transfer window has been open for over two weeks now, and while things have been relatively quiet for Tottenham Hotspur, the links keep coming.

Be it Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze, Feyenoord's Santiago Gimenez or Bologna centre-back Riccardo Calafiori, Daniel Levy and Co seem to be busy at work looking to bring in the right players to help Ange Postecoglou lead the team back up the Premier League next season.

However, while Calafiori looks like an excellent player, the Lilywhites already have an exciting up-and-coming defender at the heart of their defence, and he's worth considerably more than the Italian.

Micky van de Ven's Tottenham career

The player in question is Dutch defender Micky van de Ven, who, despite only joining Tottenham last summer for £43m from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, has already become one of the most exciting centre-backs in the league.

In all, he made 29 appearances for Postecoglou's side last season, in which he scored three goals, and had he not suffered two hamstring injuries, he likely would have made far more.

His debut campaign with the club was so impressive that the Official Supporters' Clubs gave him the Player of the Season award.

Alongside his brilliant positioning and quick thinking, one of the Dutchman's biggest assets is his speed.

In a game against Brentford in February, he registered the fastest sprint in Premier League history at 37.38km/h, which really makes talent scout Jacek Kulig's description of the player as a "complete & dominant" centre-back hard to disagree with.

If that wasn't enough, the 23-year-old can also fill in at left-back when required, which is what he did for the final two games of last season against Manchester City and Sheffield United.

In all, Van de Ven is one of the most exciting defenders around, so it shouldn't be a surprise that his valuation is significantly higher than Calafiori's.

Van de Ven's valuation in 2024

Following a brilliant campaign with Serie A side Bologna, in which the club qualified for the Champions League, Italian centre-back Calafiori has been linked to several clubs this summer, including Spurs.

According to reports, the 22-year-old will be available for around €40m, which converts to about £34m.

However, based on his recent performances for the national team at the Euros, that price could rise slightly before the end of the summer.

That said, even if it does increase somewhat, his valuation is unlikely to get close to Van de Ven's.

According to the CIES Football Observatory, the Lilywhites star is worth between €61m and €77m, which converts to £52m and £65m, or at least £18m more than the Bologna ace.

This impressive price tag is likely down to his brilliant displays last season, as mentioned above, and the fact that his £50k-per-week contract is set to run until the summer of 2029.

Ultimately, signing Calafiori looks like a great idea, but the club should be glad that they already have an exceptional player in Van de Ven and a player who could remain among the Premier League's best centre-backs for years to come.