Football League World

Birmingham City almost signed Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2009.

The Welshman had yet to even feature in a league game for Spurs in which they had won, despite making 24 appearances in the Premier League at this stage of his career.

Bale had been utilised at left-back, and had struggled to make a strong impression in Harry Redknapp’s side, with the team coming eighth in the table in the 2008/09 campaign.

This led to speculation over his future at the London outfit, with Birmingham setting their sights on his signing after they gained promotion to the top flight with a second place finish in the Championship.

Here we look at how much this proposed deal for Bale almost cost before it failed to come to fruition.

Birmingham City’s proposed Gareth Bale deal

It was reported by the Daily Mail in the summer of 2009 that Birmingham were aiming to spend £3 million to sign Bale from Spurs ahead of their return to the Premier League.

It was understood that Alex McLeish was being given a budget of around £40 million to spend in a bid to remain in the top flight, and that around £3 million of that was being set aside to sign the left-back.

However, a deal failed to come to fruition as Bale remained at White Hart Lane beyond that summer, going on to become an icon of the club.

A move worth £3 million would have represented a major loss by Spurs if it had come to pass, with the Guardian reporting in 2007 that they had agreed a £10 million deal to sign the player from Southampton.

Of course, Bale went on to become a world record signing by Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013, with the deal amounting to £85 million, per the BBC.

The Welshman was converted into a forward after remaining at Spurs, and went on to win three La Liga titles and five Champions Leagues during his time in Spain.

Birmingham’s 2009 transfer window

While the deal to sign Bale didn’t come to fruition, Birmingham still invested in the side following promotion.

McLeish added the likes of Roger Johnson, Scott Dann, Craig Gardner, Míchel Madera, Barry Ferguson and Jay O’Shea.

Grégory Vidal and Lee Bowyer also arrived as free agents, with loan deals for Giovanny Espinoza, Teemu Tainio, Joe Hart and Christian Bénitez also being agreed.

This proved a successful haul of summer signings, with the team enjoying a strong first campaign back in the Premier League.

The Blues won 13 of their 38 fixtures, ultimately finishing ninth in the table, with an impressive 50 points to their name.

They finished just 13 points behind Liverpool in seventh, which proved the gap to European qualification that season.

McLeish’s side earned high points that included a five-game winning run from 21 November to 15 December, going a total of 12 fixtures unbeaten around this period as well.

However, their time in the top flight came to an end just 12 months later, coming 18th in the table in 2011, just months after winning the EFL Cup against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium.

Notts County must surely be kicking themselves over their 2019 deal to sell youth academy product Kion Etete to Tottenham Hotspur.

The young striker had made just five senior appearances as a 16-year-old for Notts before he left the club for a big Premier League switch.

The Magpies received a fee believed to be in the region of £200,000 for his services and, while this was welcome money at the time, they could have earned themselves a significantly bigger payday if they had held onto him and allowed him to develop.

At the time of Etete’s sale, the world’s oldest football club found themselves in a relegation battle at the foot of League Two, as well as being embroiled in issues off the pitch.

It may have seemed like the correct decision at the time, but looking back, they should have held onto their homegrown talent for another couple of seasons at least.

Notts County never got to see the best of Kion Etete due to his age

When Etete first broke into the first team as a 16-year-old at Meadow Lane, the Magpies were locked in a relegation battle at the foot of League Two.

Harry Kewell’s side had notched just three wins from their opening 15 league games by the time the striker made his senior league debut, in what was a difficult environment for a young and inexperienced player to walk into.

Nevertheless, Etete received praise from Kewell following his debut, with the Australian boss describing the youngster as “excellent” after he came on for the final 20 minutes of a 2-2 draw at Port Vale.

The frontman made just three further league appearances all season, as Notts’ struggles continued.

The Nottingham outfit were ultimately relegated at the end of the season, losing their Football League status for the first time in their then-157-year history.

With relegation confirmed and the club fighting for its very existence off the pitch, Etete was sold to Tottenham in the summer of 2019.

The striker followed in the recent footsteps of Dongda He and Jack Bearne in moving to a Premier League side (Wolves and Liverpool respectively) after graduating through Notts’ academy.

With the club’s precarious position behind the scenes, it is likely that Etete was sold out of necessity. Had the Magpies had more security over their future, they surely would have held onto the youngster for another few years and had the possibility of netting a bigger fee further down the line.

Kion Etete has gone on to become a capable striker in the EFL - could Notts County have held onto him for longer?

Since Etete’s departure from Meadow Lane, he arguably hasn’t gone on to have the career that many would have expected.

While he didn’t have much opportunity to show what he could do in NG2, whenever a player breaks through to play first-team football at the age of 16, they are clearly a very promising talent.

After notching nine goals and three assists in just 21 games in the PL2 in 2020/21, Etete spent the following campaign out on loan in the Football League.

First, he spent time in League Two with Northampton Town, before stepping up to the third tier with Cheltenham, where he hit three goals and two assists in 13 games.

The 6ft 4in forward then joined Cardiff City for a fee believed to be in the region of £500,000 ahead of the 2022/23 season, bringing his spell at Tottenham to a close before he had managed to make a senior appearance.

While has never been a prolific goalscorer, Etete has become a useful option for the Bluebirds in recent years, but has made just a sole appearance in the FA Cup this season after struggling with a hamstring injury.

The frontman signed a new deal in South Wales back in January, and is currently out on loan at Bolton in League One.

While Etete’s career so far perhaps hasn’t lived up to expectations since he left Notts, they must surely regret the fact they sold him so cheaply.

That decision was arguably indicative of a period of mismanagement at the club, which ultimately saw them lose their EFL status.

German side RB Leipzig are reportedly front-runners to sign in-demand Southampton winger Tyler Dibling in the upcoming summer transfer window, with Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur both also believed to be interested in a move for his services.

Dibling has enjoyed a breakout season in the Premier League with the Saints, despite their struggles that have seen them become the earliest team ever to be relegated from England's top flight this month.

The 19-year-old signed his first professional contract at St Mary's in February 2023, and made his debut for the first-team later that year, but did not have much of an impact that season as they were promoted out of the Championship.

He has been a revelation throughout this campaign, however, with consistently standout performances that have reportedly alerted some of Europe's biggest and best clubs to his potential availability this summer.

The Bundesliga has provided a real path to success for numerous young English talents in recent years, and Dibling could become the latest of those to ply his trade in Germany if new reports are to be believed.

RB Leipzig lead the way for Tyler Dibling's services - Bayern Munich are also interested

Dibling has registered four goals and three assists in 33 appearances in all competitions for Saints this season, and his quick, direct playing style has seen him earn plaudits throughout English football, while his trademark low socks have seen him compared to fellow English winger Jack Grealish.

Tottenham Hotspur were reported to have had a £35 million bid for his services rejected in the January window, while the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle United are all said to have him on their radar as the summer approaches.

Despite those links, Sky Sport Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has now claimed that RB Leipzig are ahead in the race for the 19-year-old's signature, with German giants Bayern Munich also believed to be interested.

Plettenberg also claims that his potential price tag will be a lot lower than what has already been mooted, after Southampton were reported to be demanding a staggering £100m for his services last month.

Dibling is relaxed about his Saints future, but a Championship return seems unlikely

It is clear that a real race is on to secure the services of one of England's newest rising talents in Dibling this summer, but while interested clubs continue to plan for the transfer window, the 19-year-old will be focusing on ending the campaign on a high after such a dismal season for all connected to Southampton.

The Saints have broken all kinds of records on their way to being relegated with seven games still to play, but their main current goal will be to avoid becoming the worst team in Premier League history, with two points needed from their last six outings to eclipse Derby County's record lowest total of 11 points in 2007.

Dibling himself has been one of the few shining lights for Southampton, and he is sure to net them a healthy fee when he does move on. Despite many supporters' hopes that he could stick around for their return to the second-tier, it seems unlikely, after the aforementioned Plettenberg also reported that a move away from St Mary's is planned for him this summer.

The 19-year-old has previously played down such links, telling BBC Radio Solent back in February that he "(doesn't) really change" in the face of interest from big clubs that are playing at the highest level.

He will no doubt be relaxed with the situation at hand, as, despite going through a tough time with his teammates on the pitch, he is set to be able to take his pick from some of the world's best teams in terms of who he wants to join this summer, which is a fairly impressive decision to get to make at his age.

Leeds United have been dealt a potential hurdle in their pursuit of a permanent agreement for Tottenham Hotspur loanee Manor Solomon, who is reportedly set to attract increased interest from top-flight clubs.

That's according to a recent report from football.london, where it was revealed on Tuesday afternoon that Solomon is poised to garner added top-flight interest in the coming weeks amid Leeds' bid for promotion to the Premier League.

Leeds have recovered from an alarming late-season slump to return to winning ways by taking maximum points from their last two matches against Preston North End and Middlesbrough, extinguishing a run of three successive draws.

A dramatic implosion down the road at Yorkshire - and promotion - rivals Sheffield United, meanwhile, has seen Leeds return to the top of the league table, albeit tied on points with second-placed Burnley, with just four matches to spare as decisive fixtures against Oxford, Stoke, Bristol City and Plymouth Argyle await.

Leeds' efforts to resign Solomon, who has starred on loan this season, will undoubtedly hinge upon the outcome of their promotion bid, which is set to be decided in the coming weeks.

This weekend's action could well prove instrumental as Leeds will travel to Oxford, who beat the Blades at home earlier this month, in pursuit of yet another victory, and they will take a monumental step towards promotion if Chris Wilder's side drop points against 22nd-placed Cardiff City at Bramall Lane.

Tottenham Hotspur's Manor Solomon receiving increased interest amid Leeds United transfer pursuit

As per the aforementioned report by football.london, further interest in Solomon's signature is "expected" to arise from Premier League and overseas clubs.

For now, at least, it remains unclear just who these clubs could be, but Everton have previously been linked to the Israeli international.

It's said that Solomon will be open to making a permanent switch to Elland Road this summer after enjoying a productive loan spell with Daniel Farke's team, but Leeds are reportedly set to wait until the outcome of their promotion bid is decided before making a decision on whether to bring the winger back to the club.

Leeds would likely find it difficult to complete a move for Solomon if they fail to reach the Premier League this season, which means the remaining four matches will surely be crucial in the context of their pursuit of the ex-Shakhtar Donetsk and Fulham attacker.

Manor Solomon's 24/25 form for Leeds United

It would be no surprise to see Leeds setting their sights on making Solomon's stay in West Yorkshire a permanent one considering just how well he has performed under Farke this term.

Solomon endured a slow start to his Leeds career but has come alive in recent months, with his white-hot form keeping the likes of Willy Gnonto and Largie Ramazani out of Farke's side.

A haul of eight goals and nine assists from just 35 appearances has cemented Solomon's reputation as one of the very best wide-men on offer in the second-tier. His tricky, direct dribbling has made him a routine hassle for opposition defenders, even if the Elland Road faithful are still torn, and while Solomon has come under fire for falling short of making meaningful contributions against some of the top sides at this level, he has been an undoubted success overall.

Solomon is going to have a huge role to play as Leeds look to see out the remainder of the season and clinch promotion, and if all goes according to plan, he could well be returning to the club on a permanent basis in the not-too-distant future.

However, increased interest in his services hands a clear hurdle to Leeds, who will have to leverage their relationship with Spurs - having successfully brokered a number of deals, including those for Archie Gray and Joe Rodon, with the North London side in recent times - and hope that Solomon prefers a return to Elland Road above all else, in order to get the deal over the line if and when promotion is sealed.

Tottenham Hotspur will land extra millions in their bank should Burnley make it back to the Premier League later this season, thanks to a clause inserted in Marcus Edwards' loan move to Turf Moor.

Edwards came through the Spurs academy, but after playing just once for their first-team, the attacker made the jump to Portuguese football, linking up with Vitoria de Guimaraes in 2019 at the age of just 20.

Two-and-a-half years later, Edwards made another move, this time further up the Primeira League ladder with Sporting CP, and despite benefitting from that move, Spurs remained locked in for any potential further activity for the tricky playmaker.

Tottenham would benefit from Marcus Edwards, Burnley permanent transfer thanks to 35 per cent clause

It's somewhat unusual for a club to have a hefty sell-on clause for a player's second transfer after they've left the club, but Spurs remained locked in to Edwards' future when he traded Vitoria for Sporting.

And they're potentially set to benefit from that, as per a report from Portuguese outlet Record, who claim that the Premier League side still own 35 per cent of Edwards' rights.

That means should Burnley - the club that the 26-year-old signed for on loan in the mid-season transfer window - are to return to the top flight of English football at the first time of asking, in which they are then reportedly obligated to buy Edwards for €11 million (£9.4 million), then Spurs and chairman Daniel Levy will take €3.85 million (£3.3 million) of that thanks to the fact they negotiatied a position to stay in the deal.

Whilst that kind of figure is by no means huge, it will be much-welcomed money for Spurs this coming summer, as they won't land a European financial windfall next season unless they win the UEFA Europa League.

Burnley FC could be sitting on a pot of gold with Marcus Edwards

Since arriving in early February in Lancashire, Edwards has been a revelation out on the right flank for Burnley and Scott Parker.

Whilst his goal and assist numbers - just one of each in the Championship - may not paint the most positive of pictures, he has been a regular starter since late February, and it speaks volumes that with the creative winger in the starting 11, the Clarets have not yet lost in league action.

With Manuel Benson continuously troubled by injury and fitness issues, Burnley were missing a diminutive left-footed player to cut in from the right in the first half of the season, but they finally landed one in Edwards - sometimes things are better late than never.

And should Burnley win promotion this season, they will get to keep Edwards permanently - if his good performances continue, Alan Pace could potentially double his money and then some, if he proves up to the levels of England's upper echelons.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

As Yang Min-hyeok continues to grow into life in the Championship, his recent performances have raised a key question for Queens Park Rangers: should the club secure his return on loan for the 2025/26 season?

The 18-year-old winger arrived at Tottenham Hotspur at the turn of the year after an impressive breakout season at Gangwon FC, where he registered 12 goals and six assists in his debut K League campaign.

While Spurs may look to integrate him more formally into their setup, QPR supporters and observers alike see clear value in offering the teenager a full season to continue his development in West London.

Queens Park Rangers is the “perfect place” for Yang Min-hyeok’s development

Football League World spoke with resident QPR expert Louis Moir on Yang’s progress with the Hoops, and whether or not the club should make moves to bring the attacking player back next season.

“I mean I’ve said since the day we signed him and the first game we saw of him, I really like the look of him.” Moir told FLW.

“I think he’s a big, big talent. Obviously there’s been times in some games especially games where he’s started where at times he maybe hasn’t coped with the physicality side of things.”

“Especially in the Championship, he’s been dispossessed, he’s been knocked off the ball easily but no, I think it’s his first time playing in England. He joined Tottenham, gets loaned out, and is playing in the Championship as a young teenager. You know, he’s going to take time to adapt.”

“So, I’ve been really impressed with him overall. More recently he’s been coming on, making a big impact for us as a sub, and I think now with him doing that, he deserves a start really.”

“To be starting on that right hand side and I hope - will it happen, I’m not sure - Tottenham probably want to loan him out again, so he can get a full season in him on loan, and I think we’d be perfect for him if we could maybe take him back on loan for next season."

“I’d be delighted with that. Hopefully there’s something that can be done there, because to have someone with his quality and ability on that right hand side, who can also do a job in the middle as a number 10, he can pick the ball up in tight spaces and drive at the opposition in that way as well.”

“I’d be looking at getting him on loan again if possible for next year, and you’d think with the more experience he’ll get for us towards the end of this season, then next season he’ll be a much better player for it. Hopefully, he’ll still be at the club next year.”

Tottenham Hotspur should let their star continue to break through at Loftus Road

Yang Min-hyeok’s time at QPR has been a promising first step into English football. Despite the physical challenges of the Championship, he’s adapted admirably, growing into games and becoming a reliable spark off the bench.

His technical quality, versatility, and willingness to take on defenders have endeared him to the QPR fanbase, and he’s quickly established himself as a popular figure at Loftus Road.

With Spurs likely to consider another loan move to aid his development, QPR feels like the ideal environment for Yang to continue building on his progress.

He’s already laid the groundwork with a half-season of adaptation and has the support and trust of both fans and staff. Allowing him to return to West London next season would be a smart, mutually beneficial move - giving Yang a platform to thrive, and giving the Hoops a rising talent who’s only getting better.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Young QPR winger Emmerson Sutton is quickly becoming one of the standout talents in the club’s academy, with his performances at youth level turning heads beyond the Loftus Road faithful.

The 18-year-old, who joined the R’s as an Under-12, has been a key figure in the Under-18 squad and has also gained experience with the Development Squad this season.

Sutton’s growing reputation bloomed when he netted a hat-trick in the FA Youth Cup against Arsenal, and his ability has not gone unnoticed.

Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, and Newcastle United have all previously shown interest in the young forward before he committed his future to QPR by signing his first professional contract in January.

Football League World spoke with resident R's expert Louis Moir on the club’s exciting prospect.

The Queens Park Rangers wonderkid who’s always scoring “worldies”

“I think the wonderkid at the moment at QPR has got to be Emmerson Sutton,” Moir told FLW.

“Obviously he’s not been featured yet in the professional set-up, in terms of the first team, but it’s not been long since he signed a professional deal at the club and he’s definitely the name that’s coming out of that youth team at the moment.

“It seems like every other game, or every game recently, he’s always scoring goals and, most notably, he got a hat-trick against Arsenal youth in the cup, and every time I see these goals for the youth team, they’re always like worldies as well.

“He seems to have a cracking strike on him, he looks quick, he looks technical, he looks direct.”

“The way he’s going at the moment, he could well be finding himself being involved in the first team set up, whether that’s on the bench or potentially getting minutes depending on what happens with us at the end of the season.

“I think it’d be good for him. I think he might deserve it. He could well be that next talented youngster coming through, but you don’t want to speak too soon - you say you’re going to sell on for millions in the future, but you know, with what he’s showing at the moment, he looks really exciting.”

“And hopefully continues to develop and progress and we get to see him in the first team, because there’s even been rumours of big clubs looking at him and wanting to snap him up early.”

“If he’s living up, or if he lives up to that hype I think we could have a real player on our hands. Emmerson Sutton - I really want to see him in the first team set up.”

Marti Cifuentes should take a chance on emerging QPR wonderkid

With QPR unlikely to be in serious danger of relegation or mounting a push for promotion as the season winds down, this presents the perfect opportunity for head coach Marti Cifuentes to give Sutton a clear route into the first-team squad.

As Moir suggests, his form at youth level has been too impressive to ignore, and beginning to introduce him to senior football now could accelerate his development.

Sutton himself has spoken about how seeing the pathway of players like Kieran Morgan, Alfie Lloyd, and Rayan Kolli has given him belief that he can break through.

Given the previous interest from the Premier League elite, it would be a significant statement from QPR to integrate Sutton into the first team rather than risk losing him before he reaches his full potential.

Cifuentes has the chance to make a bold call - one that could benefit both Sutton and the club in the long run.

Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie believes Southampton have set their reported asking price of £100million for Tyler Dibling way too high, instead using Leeds United’s sale of Archie Gray last summer as a better reference point.

After missing out on promotion to the Premier League to Southampton last May, Leeds sold Gray to Tottenham Hotspur for a reported £40million in the 2024 summer transfer window.

Whilst Hendrie is a fan of the winger, he believes that Southampton would only receive up to half of their apparent valuation.

Tyler Dibling turning heads after breakthrough Southampton season

After being handed his senior debut in the EFL Cup last season, a campaign where he made just two total appearances, Dibling has broken into the Southampton first team to establish himself as a Premier League regular.

That has seen the winger linked to other Premier League clubs such as Manchester United, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as interest from the continent in the form of Bayern Munich.

As such, Saints have slapped a huge asking price on their starlet, with reports suggesting they want £100million for Dibling.

Dibling has already left Southampton once before, briefly joining Chelsea’s academy for a handful of months before returning to the south coast after failing to settle in London.

Chelsea paid £1.5million for Dibling when he was 16 - but now Saints want over 60 times that fee to allow the 19-year-old to leave the club for a second time.

Exclusively speaking to Football League World, Lee Hendrie used the sale of Archie Gray as a reference when talking about the possible sale of Dibling.

He stated: “Do I think Tyler Dibling is worth £100million?

“I think if you look at what Leeds got for Archie Gray, £40million, then I think £100million is absolutely astronomical.

“It really is. I just think that, yes, he is a very good player, talented and has got youth on his side, but that is a huge, huge fee.”

There are further similarities between Gray and Dibling, with the youngsters highly rated by fans years before their senior debuts.

Both players were named on the bench for Premier League fixtures when they were just young teens, with legendary Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa including a 15-year-old Gray in a matchday squad, whilst Dibling was named amongst the substitutes as a 16-year-old.

Reports suggest that after a breakthrough season, Dibling will make a multi-million-pound move away – just as Gray did following his first year as a regular starter for Leeds.

Gray started all but six games of Leeds United’s 46-match-long Championship campaign last term, paving the way for his £40million to Spurs.

Hendrie continued: “I think you’ve got to be really proven that you can go and produce and do what’s expected of you at that sort of fee.

“We know there are lots of young players sometimes it's difficult for them to actually do that, so I think it's a massive fee.”

Pundit Lee Hendrie makes Tyler Dibling evaluation

After downplaying Southampton’s chances of receiving £100million for their talented youngster, Hendrie suggested a more realistic transfer fee.

Hendrie’s valuation was more in line with the money Leeds received for selling Gray last season.

However, Southampton might be able to demand more than the £40million Spurs paid for Gray, thanks to the fact that Dibling will have a season of Premier League football under his belt.

That being said, Saints’ position is slightly undermined by the fact that Dibling is yet to sign a new contract despite previous negotiations.

Dibling’s current deal expires in 2026, but Southampton hold the option to extend it by a further year.

“I would say maybe a £40 million or £50million fee is probably the going rate these days,” Hendrie added.

“But £100 million is just way, way too much.”

Djed Spence has opened up on Neil Warnock’s comments about the player following his loan move from Middlesbrough to Nottingham Forest.

The defender struggled under the veteran coach at the Riverside, which led to Warnock claiming that Spence could be either playing in the Premier League or in non-league in five years’ time.

The former Middlesbrough full-back went on to help Forest gain promotion to the Premier League through the play-offs, contributing two goals and four assists from 39 Championship appearances.

His performances earned him a big money move to Tottenham Hotspur, where he has become a regular presence in Ange Postecoglou’s side, earning Europa League experience as part of the London outfit.

Djed Spence makes Neil Warnock claim

Spence has claimed that he found Warnock’s comments to be strange, and that he struggled to take it on board.

However, the 24-year-old revealed that he held discussions with the manager in which he often showered him with strong praise.

"If I'm honest I didn't take it on," said Spence, via the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast.

"I don't know.

“I had a lot of conversations with him to be fair, and he always said he'd seen a lot of players and you can be the best.

“He made that comment, I'm either going to be non league or whatever he said.

"It's a weird one because if I go in and do rubbish and become non league, he was right.

“If I go on and become the best, he was right. It's a weird comment.

“He's alright, man, he's alright."

Djed Spence since leaving Middlesbrough

It was reported by Sky Sports in the summer of 2022 that Spurs agreed a deal worth up to £20 million to sign Spence from Middlesbrough following his strong Forest loan.

However, he was unable to make a mark at the club under Antonio Conte, leading to a loan move to French side Rennes in the 2022/23 campaign, where he made eight appearances.

Loan moves to Leeds United and Genoa also led to underwhelming results, before returning to Spurs under Postecoglou.

Spence has made 16 appearances in the Premier League this season for the London outfit, with the team currently 14th in the table.

Spence sale worked out for Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough made the right decision to cash in on Spence given how much he struggled, even in the Championship, in the years since.

But he is now finding his feet in the Premier League, and has proven a useful part of the side under Postecoglou.

Warnock was ultimately right that he had the potential to play at the highest level, and the player deserves a lot of credit for working hard and constantly improving even with the many setbacks he’s suffered.

If he can keep up his current form, then he could become a key presence for Spurs over the next few years.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly submitted a £38m transfer bid for Sunderland's Chris Rigg during the international break, according to Fichajes.

That offer far exceeds what West Ham United are willing to pay, with Graham Potter's side eyeing a £10m move for the teenager, as per The Sun (print edition; 23 March, page 55).

The report by the tabloid indicates that the Black Cats are looking for around £20m for the midfielder, meaning Spurs have bid significantly above his valuation.

Spurs to steal march on West Ham for Chris Rigg

Rigg is one of several Sunderland players linked with a summer move away from the club and looks set to be one of their most in-demand talents.

On Sunday, it was revealed by The Sun that the Hammers are interested in a potential move for the 17-year-old but are seeking a deal for half of the player's asking price.

Furthermore, the report claims that the Hebburn-born youngster is eager to play in the Premier League to further his development.

That potential deal would almost certainly not be entertained by the Wearsiders, considering Rigg's substantial potential and the stature of clubs already linked with his services.

However, reports that Spurs have bid almost double the player's valuation suggest that Ange Postecoglou's side are serious admirers of Rigg.

Tottenham have shown that they are keen to acquire young English talent and paid around £30m to sign Archie Gray from Leeds United last summer and also spent £25 to secure French Under-21 international Wilson Odobert.

The North London outfit's bid for Rigg shows that they are set on following on from last summer's transfer strategy and consider the teenager a serious talent.

Sunderland will find it hard to resist Spurs' bid

Sunderland are braced for a host of bids for their talented young squad and failure to secure promotion looks set to spell the end of Rigg's future at the Stadium of Light.

The midfielder enjoyed an emphatic start to the season and, after securing his place in Regis Le Bris' starting eleven, he went on to play a key role in the club's early season form.

Although recent performances have not been up to scratch, it has been a phenomenal season for the 17-year-old, who has four goals and one assist to his name so far.

The club are in a strong selling position, considering he has over two years remaining on his current contract and the fact he seems extremely happy on Wearside.

However, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and co will have a decision to make if reports of Spurs' bid are true and a fee of £38m may well be too hard to resist.

Rigg is an academy product, meaning however much he is sold for will be deemed pure profit for the club and the reported figure seems like a fair price.

Of course, some will argue that the club should be seeking closer to £50m for the midfielder, but £38 for a Championship player would be hard to turn down.

If reports of Tottenham's bid are true, then the Black Cats are going to find it extremely difficult to hold on to Rigg unless they can secure promotion to the Premier League.

However, considering how many clubs have been linked with the teenager, their £38 bid could be about to be blown out of the water.