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Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Brighton and Hove Albion all dispatched scouts to France to watch the same player this week, according to reports.

HITC write that a fleet of Premier League scouts visited Lens on Thursday evening for their Conference League qualifier first leg against Greek outfit Panathinaikos. The hosts ran out 2-1 winners despite being reduced to ten men midway through the first half.

The focus of their attention was midfielder Andy Diouf, the left-footed ball-carrying midfielder who helped France to claim Olympic silver under the now-resigned Thierry Henry earlier this month.

VIDEO How Arne Slot Has ALREADY Transformed Liverpool

Andy Diouf attracting more and more suitors after Olympics showing

After spending time in PSG’s academy as a youngster, Diouf wound up at Rennes for the final years of his football education and made a handful of appearances for the first team.

He then went out to Swiss side Basel, first on loan and them permanently after an option to buy was taken up last summer – but was immediately snapped up by Lens, for whom he played 30 games in all competitions last season.

Diouf is particularly noted for his ability to carry the ball long distances and beat opponents to get into or around the box. He has previously been linked with Liverpool, too, just to add another Premier League club onto an already lengthy list.

Some inference has been drawn that Tottenham would welcome another option in midfield following Oliver Skipp’s £20m sale to Premier League rivals Leicester City – though you could also argue that they’ve sold Skipp because there wasn’t really a first-team place for him.

But Diouf’s obvious ability and widespread interest suggest that lots of clubs think he might be a bit good, and we are led to believe football clubs like having good players. It’s kind of their whole thing.

Diouf has another four years to run on his current deal, so he is unlikely to come cheap - especially considering Lens have commanded big fees in recent years for Seko Fofana, Lois Openda and Elye Wahi.

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Tottenham have had a busy summer in the transfer market, as the club move to back manager Ange Postecoglou following his first season at the club.

The Australian led Spurs to fifth in the Premier League last term, a marked improvement on the club’s eighth-placed finish 12 months earlier.

England striker Dominic Solanke has been the club’s biggest signing so far this summer when he joined in a £65million deal from Bournemouth, while the club have also signed 18-year-olds Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Yang Min-hyeok as they keep one eye on the future.

VIDEO How Arne Slot Has ALREADY Transformed Liverpool

But the team’s next signing could be a player who was once seen as Chelsea’s next big thing, as Spanish outlet Sport claims that Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen is a target for the north London side.

The report says that new Barca boss Hansi Flick is well stocked at centre-back and will look to move either Christensen or Eric Garcia on this summer as they look to reduce their wage bill and free up funds to register new signings.

Danish international Christensen joined Chelsea as a 16-year-old in 2012, making a first-team debut in 2014 before spending two years on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach. He then returned to Chelsea as a part of the first-team squad and had made 161 appearances for the Blues by the time Barcelona signed him on a free transfer in 2022.

Sport claim that Spurs are ‘on the lookout’ for Dane and also credit Manchester United with an interest in the 28-year-old, who shares an agent with Ilkay Gundogan, Christensen’s Barcelona teammate who is set to rejoin Manchester City.

Barcelona are said to have set a €25million asking price for the player, which is considerably short of his €40million valuation on Transfermarket. In FourFourTwo’s opinion, Christensen could be a shrewd signing for Spurs at the €25million asking price.

The Dane has plenty of Premier League experience and has been a regular at the back for Barcelona, with Spurs in the position of being able to take advantage of the Catalan side’s precarious financial position as we enter the final week of the window and they become increasingly desperate to move players on.

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Dominic Solanke to replace Harry Kane in the England team following his move to Tottenham Hotspur, says former Three Lions captain

Tottenham's best homegrown players

Former England striker Alan Shearer believes Dominic Solanke could be the man to take Harry Kane's place in the national team setup if he lives up to his potential following his big-money move to Tottenham.

Solanke had been unable to make a serious mark in earlier spells at Chelsea and Liverpool, and spent two year in the Championship after joining Bournemouth in January 2019 and suffering relegation the following season.

The 26 year old has been well and truly found his feet since, however, racking up an impressive 73 goals in 170 appearances in all competitions last season, including averaging a goal every other Premier League game in an ever-present season for Bournemouth last term.

VIDEO Why Signing Archie Gray Was A Masterstroke By Spurs

Shearer: Solanke could displace Harry Kane for England

That led Tottenham Hotspur to splash out a reported £55m-65m for Solanke's services earlier this month - and speaking to Betfair, Shearer said: "I'm really looking forward to watching Dominic Solanke this season because he'll want to carry on from a great season with Bournemouth last year. I'm sure he'll get more chances at Spurs. I hope he does well.

"Solanke could be the missing piece in Spurs' puzzle. He knows what it's like to be at a big club and he's in his prime now, he's experienced and given his form last year that should give him great confidence.

"Also, knowing that someone is prepared to pay that much money for him will help. Players act in different ways, but he may well love and embrace the fact that someone is prepared to pay for that him and give him great confidence. I think he'll do really well.

"There was pressure on Harry Kane at the Euros, I know there were six guys that won the Golden Boot with three goals, but he was one of them despite him not being anywhere near his best.

"So he won't be ready to give up the England shirt anytime soon, but with lots of international football to come, whoever wants to try and take the England shirt away from Harry Kane will have to go out and score goals.

"Solanke is someone who can do that and he has a great opportunity to do it now at Spurs."

Solanke currently has just one senior England cap to his name, earned in a November 2017 friendly against Brazil shortly after his move to Liverpool.

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Tottenham Hotspur were the first English club to win a league and cup double in the 20th Century.

Spurs won the First Division title and the FA Cup under Bill Nicholson in the 1960/61 season and in 1963, the Lilywhites became the first English club to win a European trophy – the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

The 1970s, 1980s and 1990s brought additional silverware and, although recent times have been more difficult, Tottenham remain one of the nation's biggest and most successful sides.

Spurs have been blessed with some special players over the years and here is a look at some of the finest footballers who came through the youth ranks at the north London club...

Steven Caulker joined Tottenham as a 15-year-old after impressing for local club Hounslow Borough and signed professional terms in July 2009.

The centre-back played 28 times for Spurs in the 2012/13 season and was also capped by England, scoring on his debut against Sweden. But he was sold to Cardiff City in the summer of 2013 and never played for England again, later going on to represent Sierra Leone.

Phil Beal joined Tottenham's youth team from Surrey Boys in 1960 and made his first-team debut for Spurs three years later.

A versatile player who could operate in central defence or in midfield, Beal went on to make over 400 appearances for the Lilywhites up until 1975, winning two League Cups and a UEFA Cup in that time.

The son of a professional boxer, Ted Ditchburn joined Tottenham as a member of the groundstaff in 1937 and signed professional terms two years later.

After a brief spell at Spurs' nursery side Northfleet United, the goalkeeper went on to make over 450 appearances for the north London club, winning the Second Division title in 1949/50 and the First Division the following season. He also earned six caps for England.

Quinton Fortune began his professional career with Tottenham between 1991 and 1995, but the South African midfielder never made a first-team appearance for Spurs.

After leaving Tottenham, Fortune had spells at Mallorca and Atletico Madrid, later returning to England where he spent seven seasons with Manchester United. A squad player at Old Trafford, Fortune did not play enough games to be awarded a Premier League winners' medal in 1999/2000 or 2002/03, but did receive one by special dispensation in the second of those campaigns after playing in nine of the required 10 games. He won 46 caps for South Africa.

Paul Miller joined Tottenham as an apprentice at the age of 16 and went on to make over 250 appearances for the north London club.

The versatile defender was part of Spurs' FA Cup-winning teams in 1981 and 1982 and scored a vital away goal as the Lilywhites beat Anderlecht to claim the UEFA Cup in 1984.

Born in Edmonton, Tony Marchi joined Tottenham as a 14-year-old and went on to play for Spurs across two long spells – either side of a period in Italy with Vicenza and Torino, on loan from Juventus.

Marchi was often back-up to Danny Blanchflower and Dave Mackay at Tottenham, but was part of the team which won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1963 and made 260 appearances in total, scoring seven goals.

Troy Parrott joined Tottenham as a 15-year-old, but the Dublin-born striker was unable to make much of an impression, making just four first-team appearances at Spurs.

A Republic of Ireland international since 2019, Parrott was loaned out to five different clubs and after a strong spell at Excelsior in the Netherlands, he signed permanently for fellow Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in 2024.

For a period in the mid-2010s, Tottenham had one player named Kyle Walker and another called Kyle Walker-Peters – and both men were right-backs.

Born in north London, Walker-Peters joined Tottenham as a 16-year-old in 2013 and was part of the England team which won the Under-20 World Cup in 2017. After just 24 appearances for Spurs between 2017 and 2019, KWP joined Southampton on loan and made the move permanent in 2020. He was capped twice by England in 2022.

Luke Young came through the youth system at Tottenham and went on to make 76 appearances in all competitions for Spurs.

Sold to Charlton Athletic in 2001, the defender played over 200 times for the south London club and won seven caps for England in 2005. He was also on stand-by for the 2006 World Cup, but withdrew due to an injury. The centre-back later had spells at Middlesbrough, Aston Villa and QPR.

Jake Livermore was part of Arsenal's academy as a youngster, but joined Tottenham as a 16-year-old in 2016 after leaving the Gunners.

The midfielder made over 50 appearances for Spurs between 2010 and 2013, before lengthy spells at Hull City and West Brom. He also won seven caps for England.

Ryan Mason joined Tottenham's academy at the age of eight in 1999 and went on to make his first-team debut nine years later.

The midfielder was sent out on loan several times over the next few seasons and did not establish himself at Spurs until 2014/15. He made 70 appearances in total and was capped once by England before joining Hull City in 2016, but a fractured skull in January 2017 prematurely ended his career and he returned to Spurs as a coach in April 2018.

After impressing at youth side Fields United in the mid-1970s, Mark Falco joined Tottenham as a junior and went on to score 89 goals in 236 games for Spurs.

A UEFA Cup winner in 1984, Falco scored his penalty in the shootout success against Anderlecht. The striker left Tottenham to join Watford in 1986 and later had spells at Rangers, QPR and Millwall.

Ian Walker won the FA Youth Cup with Tottenham in 1990 and was back-up to Erik Thorstvedt in his early career at White Hart Lane.

But the Watford-born goalkeeper took his chance following an injury to the Norwegian and went on to make over 300 appearances for Spurs. A League Cup winner in 1999, Walker was capped four times by England. He was sold to Leicester in 2001 after losing his place to Neil Sullivan.

David Howells joined Tottenham's academy at the age of 12 in 1980 and made his first-team debut for the club at 18 years old.

The midfielder racked up 335 appearances for Spurs and was part of the team which won the FA Cup in 1991. After 13 seasons at White Hart Lane, he left to join Southampton in 1998 but retired just two years later due to a persistent knee injury.

Micky Hazard grew up in Sunderland but signed for Tottenham after being spotted by a Spurs scout, joining as a 16-year-old after two years of training with the north London club during the week.

Often back-up to Glenn Hoddle, the midfielder made 170 appearances for Tottenham across two spells, starting and finishing his career at White Hart Lane. Hazard was in the team for the 1982 FA Cup win and the 1984 UEFA Cup victory, setting up goals in both legs of the final against Anderlecht. He also played for Chelsea, Portsmouth and Swindon.

Kerry Dixon is best remembered for his time at Chelsea in the 1980s and early 1990s, when he scored almost 200 goals in over 400 games for the Blues.

But Dixon began as an apprentice at Tottenham. Released as a youngster, he worked his way up again with spells at Chesham United, Dunstable and Reading before signing for Chelsea in 1983. He won eight England caps, scoring four goals, and was part of the Three Lions' squad at the 1986 World Cup.

Spotted playing for his local boys' club, Mel Hopkins joined Tottenham as an apprentice at the age of 15 and went on to make over 200 appearances for Spurs.

A member of the double-winning side in 1960/61, Hopkins moved to Brighton in 1964. The left-back also won 34 caps for Wales and was part of the team which reached the last eight of the 1958 World Cup, losing narrowly to eventual champions Brazil.

Stephen Carr was born in Dublin and signed for Tottenham as a 15-year-old following a trial from Irish side Stella Maris.

The right-back made over 250 appearances for Spurs between 1994 and 2004 and scored a couple of blockbuster goals in that time. He went on to play for Newcastle and Birmingham and won 44 caps for the Republic of Ireland.

Andros Townsend joined Tottenham's academy at the age of eight and went on to make 93 appearances for the north London club between 2009 and 2016.

Loaned out nine times during his Spurs career, the winger eventually joined Newcastle in 2016 and later had a long spell at Crystal Palace. He won 13 caps for England, scoring three times.

Harry Winks grew up a Tottenham fan and joined the north London club at the age of five after impressing at a summer camp run by a Spurs academy coach.

The midfielder made his debut in 2014 and went on to play over 200 games for Tottenham, impressing on the team's run to the Champions League final in 2019. After a spell on loan at Sampdoria, Winks left to join Leicester City in 2023. He was capped 10 times by England between 2017 and 2020.

Jamie Redknapp joined Tottenham as a youth player but turned down a contract from the north London club, preferring to begin his professional career under his father Harry at Bournemouth.

The midfielder moved to Liverpool soon afterwards and spent 11 years at Anfield. He joined Spurs in 2002 but made just 49 appearances in two-and-a-half seasons at White Hart Lane. In a career interrupted by injury, he also played 17 times for England.

Ron Henry spent his entire career at Tottenham between 1952 and 1966, helping Spurs win the double in 1961, another FA Cup in 1962 and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup the following year.

Ever-present in the double-winning season, Henry made over 280 appearances for Tottenham in all competitions and the left-back was capped once by England.

Born in Hull, Nick Barmby joined Tottenham as a 16-year-old after leaving school in 1990 and became an important player for Spurs at the age of 18.

Barmby made his debut for Tottenham in September 1992 under Terry Venables and later became one of Ossie Ardiles' "famous five" attackers in 1994/95. Missing his northern roots, he signed for Middlesbrough in the summer of 1995 and went on to play for Everton, Liverpool, Leeds and boyhood club Hull City. He won 23 caps for England, scoring four goals.

Eddie Baily joined Tottenham as a 14-year-old in 1938 and went on to be a key player as Spurs won the Second Division title in 1949/50 and the First Division the following season.

One of the best inside-forwards of his era, Baily scored 69 goals in 325 games for Spurs before spells at Port Vale, Nottingham Forest and Leyton Orient. He also won nine caps for England, scoring five goals.

Chris Hughton joined Tottenham at the age of 13 in 1971 and made his first-team debut in 1979, two years after signing professional terms.

After starting out as a winger, Hughton became a dependable full-back and helped Spurs win two FA Cups and a UEFA Cup in the early 1980s. He made almost 400 appearances for the north London club before short spells with West Ham and Brentford. Born to an Irish mother and a Ghanaian father, he became the first mixed-race player to represent the Republic and went on to win 53 caps.

Peter Crouch joined Tottenham at the age of 14, but made minimal impact in his first spell at the north London club and was sold to QPR after a couple of stints out on loan.

The beanpole striker went on to play for Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Southampton, Liverpool and Portsmouth again before returning to White Hart Lane in 2009. He famously scored the goal which sealed Spurs' first-ever qualification for the Champions League in 2009/10 and helped the Lilywhites to the quarter-finals in the following season before a move to Stoke City in 2011. Crouch also impressed for England, scoring 22 goals in his 42 appearances for the Three Lions between 2005 and 2010.

Bill Nicholson dedicated much of his life to Tottenham, representing the north London club as a player, a manager and a scout.

After joining the groundstaff as a teenager, Nicholson briefly represented Spurs' nursery team Northfleet Town, before spending his entire career with the Lilywhites. A key member of the famous Push and Run team which won the title in 1950/51, the wing-half was capped once by England and scored in his only appearance. Later, he managed Spurs for 16 years, winning the First Division, three FA Cups, two League Cups and two European trophies in the club's most glorious era. He passed away in 2004 at the age of 85.

Tottenham fans adored Sol Campbell and were desperate for the defender to stay as his contract ran down in the 2000/2001 season. Instead, he did the unthinkable, moving to Spurs' fierce rivals Arsenal. For free.

Since that act of betrayal, the former England centre-back has rarely been mentioned in a positive light again by Spurs supporters. That's football rivalry. But for more than eight years and over 300 appearances, Campbell was immense for Tottenham. A League Cup winner as captain in 1999, the defender went on to enjoy huge success at Arsenal and also earned 73 caps for England. Love him or hate him, he's one of the best players to come through the youth system at Spurs.

Graeme Souness is usually associated with Liverpool, having won three European Cups and five First Division titles in a glorious six-year spell with the Reds, but the former Scotland midfielder started out at Tottenham.

Souness signed for Spurs as a 15-year-old in 1968 and helped the club win the FA Youth Cup in 1970, but he quickly grew frustrated at a lack of first-team opportunities in north London. After one substitute appearance, he joined Montreal Olympique on loan and later signed for MIddlesbrough in 1972. His move to Liverpool came in 1978, before spells at Sampdoria and Rangers. He won 54 caps for Scotland and is considered one of the nation's best-ever players.

Steve Perryman came through the youth ranks at Tottenham and went on to rack up a club record 866 appearances in all competitions between 1969 and 1986.

A midfielder who later played in defence, Perryman memorably scored both goals in a 2-1 win over AC Milan in the UEFA Cup semi-finals in 1972. He won two UEFA Cups, two FA Cups and two League Cups during his Spurs career and later played for Oxford United and Brentford. He was capped once by England.

Ledley King played for famous youth side Senrab FC and joined Tottenham as a trainee at the age of 15. He would never play anywhere else.

A commanding centre-back who started out in midfield, King helped Spurs fans get over the loss of Sol Campbell to north London rivals Arsenal, going on to captain the club and turning in imperious displays week after week. Chronic knee problems restricted him hugely later in his career, but he continued to impress – even without training during the week. A one-club man, King skippered Spurs to League Cup success in 2008 and made 323 appearances in all before retiring in 2012. He was capped 21 times by England.

Harry Kane had a short spell at Arsenal's academy at the age of eight, but was released by the Gunners and also snubbed by Tottenham.

But the striker signed for Spurs as an 11-year-old after impressing with Watford and eventually established himself – following several spells away on loan – with 31 goals in 51 games in the 2014/15 season. Kane went on to net 280 goals for Tottenham in 435 appearances and overtook the legendary Jimmy Greaves to become the club's all-time top scorer in his final season before leaving to join Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023. A Tottenham legend affectionately called "One of our own" by Spurs fans, his time at the north London club ended without a team trophy.

Glenn Hoddle came to the attention of Tottenham as a talented 11-year-old and went to train with the club on the advice of striker Martin Chivers.

The midfielder had signed by the age of 12 and made his debut as a 17-year-old in 1975. He went on to make 490 appearances in all competitions, scoring 110 goals, and winning two FA Cups and a UEFA Cup before moving to Monaco in 1987. Nicknamed "The King of White Hart Lane", the gifted midfielder was named Tottenham's best-ever player in a vote by players, managers and supporters in 2016. He won 53 caps for England.

Roman Abramovich was a tough taskmaster during his ownership of Chelsea between 2003 and 2022 - so much so, that he blocked former Blues striker Carlton Cole from joining Tottenham Hotspur in 2006.

Having spent time away from Chelsea on loan spells at Wolves, Charlton and Aston Villa, Cole returned to Chelsea in the summer of 2005 ready for more first team opportunities at Stamford Bridge. With Didier Drogba the starting striker in Jose Mourinho's team, though, his game time was limited to just 12 matches across the 2005/06 season.

At the age of 23, Cole knew he had to move on in order to play regular first team football. Tottenham showed an interest, but Abramovich attempted to persuade him into joining CSKA Moscow in Russia. Cole wasn't sure, so the the Chelsea owner simply blocked a north London switch.

VIDEO: Why Dominic Solanke Is Tottenham's Best Signing In Years

"After 2005/06, I knew I had to crack on somewhere else to get more games," Cole exclusively tells FourFourTwo. "Spurs came in for me as Martin Jol was really fond of me. I went to Spurs’ training ground, met everyone and did my medical. Apparently I had a problem with my knee, but I think [Spurs chairman] Daniel Levy was wheeling and dealing – he told Chelsea he wanted money off the original price.

"That alerted the big boss, Roman Abramovich, and I received a call to say I had to meet him at Stamford Bridge. Over a coffee, Abramovich said he wanted me to sign for CSKA Moscow. I was like, 'I don’t think I want to go to Russia.' And then Roman said to me, through his translator, 'Well, you’re not going to Spurs. I don’t do business with them. So, get that out of your head.'

"I sulked like a teenager for weeks, even though I was 23 at the time. I was disappointed, because I felt I could’ve made a difference in that Tottenham team."

Instead, Cole ended up joining West Ham United for an undisclosed fee. He ended up staying nine seasons at the Hammers, playing close to 300 games for them in total and scoring 68 goals.

His form between 2009 and 2010 earned him seven England caps, too, so clearly the move worked out well enough for Cole.

He only ever won the Championship play-offs, however - had he joined Tottenham, he might well have been a part of the team that ended up defeating Chelsea in the 2008 League Cup final.

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‘Mourinho didn’t want me to get a Premier League winners’ medal – all I needed was to play in two games, but Jose felt I wasn’t deserving of a medal’: Ex-Chelsea striker opens up low point of career

Tottenham Hotspur have suspended one of their first-team stars after a video emerged of the alleged player inhaling nitrous oxide.

Spurs, who begin their 2024/25 Premier League campaign with a trip to Leicester City on Monday, say the player in question will miss just one game after a video was leaked online. The 27-year-old has since apologised for a “severe lack of judgement” given the “health risks involved”.

In the UK, nitrous oxide, commonly referred to as laughing gas or nos, is categorised as a Class C drug. Since 2023, using it recreationally has been illegal, with a maximum two-year prison sentence.

VIDEO: Why Dominic Solanke Is Tottenham's Best Signing In Years

"He has responsibilities," manager Postecoglou spoke following the internal suspension Yves Bissouma will now serve. "He has responsibilities to the club, he has responsibilities to his teammates, he has responsibilities to supporters and everyone associated with the club and he's failed in those duties. There's got to be sanctions for that.

"He won't be available for Monday. We've suspended him from Monday's game. Beyond that, there's some trust building that has to happen between Biss and me, and Biss and the group. That's what he needs to work hard at from now on, to win that back.

"That's got nothing to do with one game. He may be suspended for one game but he has to earn that. The door is open for him and hopefully we can help him to realise that the decisions he makes impacts more than just him and allows him to make better decisions moving forward."

Bissouma played 28 times for the Lilywhites last season, starting 26 games in the Premier League. Postecoglou also cleared up what the Mali international must now do in order to force his way back into his plans.

"Behaviour, mate. It’s quite simple," said the Greek-born Australian. "It’s him making better choices moving forward and behaviour. He’s obviously disappointed and he was very apologetic, not just to me but to the club and to everyone involved. But that’s just the first part of the process, the next part is behaviour now.

"Making sure that he does the things he needs to do, like for all of us. We all make mistakes. It is how you find your way back from those mistakes and what you do is far more important than what you say."

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Dominic Solanke could make his Tottenham Hotspur debut on Monday – and club legend Teddy Sheringham believes he could make a real impact in North London.

Solanke has joined Tottenham from Bournemouth for £65m, after netting 19 Premier League goals for the Cherries last season, and is in line for his first appearance for his new club when they travel to Leicester for their opening match of the campaign.

The 26-year-old will be following in the footsteps of many fine forwards at Tottenham – among them Sheringham, who is excited about the signing.

“When Tottenham signed Solanke, I was delighted,” Sheringham said, speaking to onlinepoker.ltd.

“That’s the kind of signing that I think the club needed and it’s something I like to see.

“He’s a player that’s coming into his prime as a striker. He’ll be 27 in September, he just had a brilliant season for Bournemouth where he scored 19 goals and got three assists.

“Solanke has qualities that I like. He’s not a big typical centre forward that bullies players with strength, he’s cuter than that.

“I think he’ll develop into an even better player under Ange Postecoglou, and you would expect him to score more goals in a Tottenham side that creates plenty of chances then he did at Bournemouth.

“He played well against Spurs for Bournemouth last season. Ange obviously noted that.

“I’m excited for the fans because they need someone to finish off a lot of the good football that we played last year, and I’m pleased that we’ve brought him in before the season starts.

“Solanke’s signing is a massive boost to the club’s hopes of challenging for the title this season. That will certainly be the aim, it will be difficult of course, but he will also massively help with the battle for the Champions League as well.”

James Maddison was one of Spurs’ biggest signings last summer, and made an instant impact before injury derailed his season, and he ended up missing out on England’s squad for the Euros.

Sheringham hopes Maddison and Solanke will link up well – believing the latter could have a similar impact to when Spurs brought Jurgen Klinsmann back for a second spell in 1997.

Back then, the German was filling the void left by Sheringham’s departure to Manchester United, and scored nine goals in 15 league games during the second half of that season.

“I think for James Maddison, he will definitely be playing with a point to prove this season after missing out on a place in the England squad,” Sheringham said.

“I have no doubt that he will be looking at a new managerial change at England and thinking that he wants to be part of that future.

“Of course, to do that, he needs to get back to his best playing for Tottenham. I think he will have a massive amount of hunger to show what he’s all about as a player this season, so maybe missing out on the Euros will be a blessing in disguise for him and for Tottenham.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the response he shows in the opening game against his old club Leicester.

“I also want to see what Solanke’s arrival does for his game. They’re obviously good mates, they’ve played together with the England youth teams, and I think that’s a key relationship for Tottenham this season.

“Solanke could be the perfect foil for Maddison. I can see Maddison creating a lot of things for Solanke, and he would have been waiting for the club to sign a top striker to finish off all the cute little balls that he can play.

“The signing of Solanke is a bit like when the club signed Jurgen Klinsmann to replace me. It was a big one, and I hope that it gives everyone a massive lift at the football club.

“If Solanke starts finishing all the chances that Maddison can create for him, then all of a sudden everyone is talking about Maddison and England again.”

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The Tottenham squad for the 2024/25 season is in place and ready to go, as Spurs look to secure Champions League qualification for the first time since 2022.

The official party line will be to challenge for the Premier League title, but, after last term’s collapse and eventual fifth-placed finish, Champions League football is more realistic. Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs are a fluid, exciting unit when on form but can be porous as sponge when not – the north Londoners conceded 61 league goals last season, only six fewer than 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.

Results against direct rivals need to improve, particularly at home: Spurs’ 12 defeats in 2023/24 included backyard reverses to Aston Villa, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City – each dealing a key blow to their ambitions and boosting a competitor’s. Playing free-flowing football is nice, but fans demand greater consistency.

Premier League seasons consist of 38 games. Last time out, Spurs entered November top of the table and unbeaten, with eight victories, two draws and 26 points taken from a possible 30… then an implosion at home to Chelsea on matchday 11 obliterated their form.

Long-term injuries (sustained during that fiery derby clash) to James Maddison and Micky van de Ven contributed to a five-game winless streak from which the side never truly recovered. Spurs ultimately missed out on Champions League football.

If Postecoglou’s side can start just as strongly and maintain that standard this season, they’ll be challenging for more than just European qualification. But can they avoid collapse when inevitable injuries and suspensions strike?

Tottenham squad for 2024/25

Tottenham squad for 2024/25: Ange Postecoglou's full team

GK: Guglielmo Vicario

GK: Fraser Forster

GK: Brandon Austin

GK: Alfie Whiteman

DF: Sergio Reguilon

DF: Radu Dragusin

DF: Emerson Royal

DF: Destiny Udogie

DF: Cristian Romero

DF: Pedro Porro

DF: Djed Spence

DF: Ben Davies

DF: Ashley Phillips

DF: Micky van de Ven

MF: Oliver Skipp

MF: Yves Bissouma

MF: James Maddison

MF: Archie Gray

MF: Lucas Bergvall

MF: Giovani Lo Celso

MF: Pape Sarr

MF: Rodrigo Bentancur

MF: Alfie Devine

FW: Son Heung-min

FW: Richarlison

FW: Timo Werner

FW: Dejan Kulusevski

FW: Brennan Johnson

FW: Manor Solomon

FW: Dane Scarlett

FW: Dominic Solanke

Tottenham squad numbers for 2024/25

Tottenham manager

Ange Postecoglou

Ange Postecoglou made an instant impact after arriving at Spurs from Celtic one year ago, making shrewd signings, implementing a high-octane style of football and wooing a beleaguered fanbase with his no-nonsense personality. The Australian’s dogmatic, attack-no-matter-what philosophy has been widely lauded, though recent jibes about the club’s ambition will have some fans worried.

Tottenham's key player

Son Heung-min

Son Heung-min hit 17 goals and 10 assists in the top-flight last term to help fill the goalscoring void left by Harry Kane. Tottenham’s skipper is now the club’s fifth-highest scorer, with 162 strikes, and remains their most potent attacking threat. Arsenal fans aside, who doesn’t love the South Korean?

One to watch

Micky van de Ven

Micky van de Ven became the quickest Premier League player in history when clocking a top speed of 37.38km/h against Brentford in February, leapfrogging Man City and England speedster Kyle Walker to top spot. The Dutch defender enjoyed a stellar debut campaign and will be desperate to avoid injury and contribute even more this time around.

The mood

Grumbles around exorbitant ticket prices, Daniel Levy’s perceived penny-pinching and a lack of silverware persist, but the current mood is far better than it ever was under Postecoglou’s predecessors Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho. On their day, this team is capable of serving up the type of football worthy of the club’s magnificent stadium. Whisper it, but there’s belief around Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Most likely to...

Leak goals at set pieces. Spurs were among the worst sides in last season’s Premier League when it came to defending dead balls, leading to questions over a lack of dedicated set-piece training. Postecoglou claimed he had “no issue” with the worrying statistics. "Eventually I will create a team that has success and it won't be because of working on set pieces," he sniffed. “I'm just not interested in it. I never have been.”

Least likely to...

Win anything. Since Spurs lifted the 2008 League Cup, 64 of their players and coaches have won more than 200 trophies… at other clubs after leaving Tottenham.

View from the stands

Ricky Sacks (@RickySacks)

Dominic Solanke will lead the line for Tottenham Hotspur next season, after completing a record £65 million move from Bournemouth.

But Ange Postecoglou is also keen to add more creativity to his midfield, ensuring a steady supply of chances for the team's new focal point.

In addition to Solanke, Tottenham have already signed young prospects Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Yang Min-hyuk this summer.

VIDEO: Why Signing Archie Gray Was A Masterstroke By Spurs

According to TEAMtalk, Spurs are looking to bring in Ebere Eze from Crystal Palace, who scored 11 goals and assisted four more in the Premier League last season. Since moving to Palace four years ago, Eze has shown that he can unlock stubborn defences with his exceptional dribbling and passing ability.

His performances have become much more consistent, leading to interest from the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal, who released him as a youngster. Eze started his career at Queens Park Rangers and soon developed a reputation as one of the Championship's most exciting talents.

He is comfortable playing out wide or through the middle, so would give Postecoglou plenty of options if he opted to join Tottenham.

“He’s a great talent,” former club legend Chris Waddle recently told the Mirror. “I think he’d mainly be used in a wide role. He’s got pace, grace and balance. The Spurs fans would love to watch him. He’s definitely a Tottenham player. He would be a great addition."

After making his debut last year, Eze was part of the England squad that reached the final of the Euros, coming off the bench against Denmark, Slovakia and Switzerland. The 26-year-old is under contract at Palace until 2027 but they could be tempted to cash in for around £60 million.

Their other creative spark, Michael Olise, has been sold to Bayern Munich and they would be wary of losing both players in the same transfer window.

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Tottenham have made Dominic Solanke one of their biggest-ever purchases after agreeing a transfer fee in the region of £65m with Bournemouth.

The former Chelsea and Liverpool centre-forward is a belated replacement for Harry Kane, who they sold to Bayern Munich last summer.

Like most Premier League clubs, Tottenham’s record with spending this kind of money has had its hits and misses over the years. Here’s the current top ten and how they got on at the club.

VIDEO Why Signing Archie Gray Was A Masterstroke By Spurs

Tottenham's 10 biggest signings: 10. Archie Gray (£30m, 2024)

Well, the jury’s out, naturally, given that the Leeds United youth product has only just made the move to the club this summer.

A versatile utility player most at home in central midfield but with experience at full-back, the dynamic youngster is part of the famous Gray family with links to Elland Road going back to the 1960s.

Gray has taken the step up from Championship level after establishing himself as a key player for Leeds last season, with their defeat to Southampton in the play-off final allowing Tottenham to swoop to give the 18 year old the Premier League move he presumably wanted.

The France international was already well-known to English fans when he made the move from Newcastle United in summer 2016 following the Magpies’ relegation to the Championship.

Sissoko had a tough time getting into the side in his first season at Tottenham but found his stride in 2017/18 and improved even further in 2018/19, when he was briefly considered one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. Sissoko helped Spurs reach the Champions League final and won Spurs’ player of the year award.

After recovering from several months out with a knee injury midway through the 2019/20 season, Sissoko returned to the line-up but fell out of favour as Jose Mourinho’s side laboured, and was sold to newly-promoted Watford for £3m in summer 2021. Not a bad investment by any means.

The Dutch centre-back looks an absolute steal for Spurs so far following his arrival from German side Wolfsburg last summer.

Van de Ven has brought both pace and positional sense to a Spurs back line that has needed it in Ange Postecoglou’s unique brand of attacking football, and was one of the Premier League’s shrewdest signings last season.

Still just 23 years old, van de Ven still has plenty of good years ahead of him, and will be hoping to maintain the kind of form that saw him awarded the club’s player of the season award in his debut campaign.

That figure is slightly more complicated than that, as it includes the €5m initial loan fee Tottenham paid to bring the former Manchester City full-back in from Sporting, with a €40m obligation to buy in the summer.

Porro struggled to impress as he took his earliest steps at Tottenham, but has gone from strength to strength since then, starting all but three of Spurs’ Premier League games last season.

The Spaniard started the campaign in fine form for assists, notching up seven in his first 20 appearances, and when that dried up he become a goal threat instead, ending the campaign with three strikes in seven games. At 24, Porro looks like being been money well spent for Tottenham.

God, Spurs spent quite a bit last year, didn’t they? Again capitalising on a Premier League side’s relegation, Spurs held off interest from Newcastle United to land Maddison from Leicester City.

The attacking midfielder’s first season mirrored Tottenham’s as a club: an absolutely sensational start, with three goals and three assists in his first nine appearances, followed by a less convincing rest of the campaign.

In fairness to Maddison, he at least had a serious ankle injury to excuse him. Losing him midway through a 4-1 defeat to Chelsea proved to be an inflection point in Spurs’ season, and while Maddison’s stats on his return were respectable, he was unable to match the bar he had set for himself. The summer break may well have done him a lot of good, you suspect.

You wonder how much that transfer fee motivated Spurs to keep Davinson Sanchez around for six years, like stubbornly using a car you’re not quite happy with for years just to feel like you’ve got your money’s worth out of it.

Sanchez was not horrendous, but nor was he quite up to the standard Tottenham would have hoped for when they sanctioned what was then a club-record fee for the Colombian centre-back’s services, despite an initial strong start.

The shift away from a back three to a four was particularly deleterious to the erratic Sanchez’ form, and he left for Galatasaray in 2023 having played a diminished role following Mauricio Pochettino’s departure.

Another successful loan-to-permanent deal, with Romero coming in from Atalanta on a season-long loan in 2021 – though in his case the permanent move appears to have been an option, rather than an obligation.

Triggering that clase proved to be a no-brainer for Spurs, and he has proven to be well worth the money… despite a disciplinary record that would make Patrick Vieira blush.

Romero has attracted transfer rumours since playing a key role in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup win, which have only amplified further after adding the Copa America this summer to boot. Real Madrid have been linked for ages…

Another of those big-money arrivals in the same summer Spurs sold Kane, the Welshman had played a starring role in an eccentric Nottingham Forest side to help them get promoted and then stay in the Premier League.

It didn’t take long for talk of a potential big move to turn into reality, with Spurs splashing out to bring in Johnson.

So far he’s been more or less exactly what you would have expected for a winger taking another step up in level after being signed aged 22: occasionally brilliant, occasionally anonymous. His five-goal, 10-assist contribution last season was a promising start to build on, though.

The Brazilian has admirably made no secret of his struggles off the pitch during his first campaign at Tottenham, where he struggled to justify the hefty fee Spurs had paid to bring him in from Everton: just one goal in 27 Premier League appearances.

But last season was a return to exactly the kind of numbers that led Tottenham to sign Richarlison, as he chipped in with 11 goals and four assists.

The bulk of those goals came as part of a sensational run of form from December to February, but an injury-hit end to the season put an end to that. Richarlison has turned down a move to Saudi Arabia to stay and fight for his place at Tottenham.

Ah, well, never mind, eh?

The midfielder remains the club’s record arrival five years on from arriving to bolster a side of Champions League finalists, but had fallen out of favour before the end of his first season at the club.

Ndombele showed some signs of improvement the following season, but a loss of fitness and form soon saw him return to disappointing sorts.

Spurs tried to cut their losses from 2022 with loans to Lyon, Napoli and Galatasaray, with a smaller and smaller number attached to the option-to-buy clause in each case; none of them bit, and Ndombele left as a free agent earlier this summer.

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