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Tottenham fared pretty well last season without Harry Kane, despite not signing a direct replacement for their all-time record goalscorer following his departure to Bayern Munich. A new number nine is on Spurs' list of transfer priorities this summer, however.

Boss Ange Postecoglou has made it clear that he intends to add a centre-forward to his squad. The Australian put his faith in captain Son Heung-min during his first season in charge – and the South Korean star repaid that by netting 17 times in 36 appearances in all competitions.

Richarlison chipped in with 12 goals over the course of the campaign, but Dejan Kulusevski (8) was the only other Spurs player to score more than five. Another reliable finisher certainly wouldn't go amiss.

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Could Dominic Solanke be that man? According to The Telegraph, Spurs are trying to sign the 26-year-old from Bournemouth.

Solanke impressed with 21 goals at an average of one every other game for the Cherries last term. Nineteen of those came in the Premier League, where he finished as the joint top English scorer alongside Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins and Manchester City's Phil Foden.

The former Liverpool and Chelsea man, who earned his sole England cap to date in a 2017 friendly against Brazil, is believed to have a release clause of around £65m. He joined Bournemouth from the Reds for £19m in January 2019 and has scored 77 goals in 216 outings overall.

Solanke to Tottenham, then? Would it be a good move? FourFourTwo has its doubts...

There's no doubt that his 2023/24 form was impressive, and it could be the start of a sustained spell of consistent Premier League goalscoring. At £65m, though, there would appear to be better options for Spurs.

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Tottenham are reportedly out of the race to sign one of Spain's Euro 2024 winners

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In the year since Harry Kane swapped north London for Bayern Munich, the number nine has become something of a problem position for Tottenham.

Spurs often deployed Son Heung-min as their central forward last season, with Ange Postecoglou also able to call on the likes of Richarlison or Timo Werner.

But all three often look more comfortable when starting from the wing and fresh reports are now indicating that Tottenham could be about to address the issue with a big money signing.

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Tottenham targeting former England youth international

Despite missing out on Champions League qualification last season, Tottenham have still proven they can attract top quality players over the summer.

Highly rated Swedish youngster Lucas Bergvall joined from Djurgarden and has already impressed supporters in pre-season.

Archie Gray has provided an addition boost to the midfield ranks after making a £40million switch from Leeds United.

But Postecoglou now appears ready to add some goalscoring firepower to his squad in the hope of securing a top-four finish.

According to prominent journalist, Fabrizio Romano, Spurs are exploring a deal for striker Dominic Solanke.

The Bournemouth forward could cost £65million - believed to be his release clause - with the Cherries unlikely to let one of their most prized assets depart without a fight.

Solanke has scored 29 Premier League goals in his career, the majority coming for Bournemouth last season when finding the net on 19 occasions, helping his side to a 12th place finish.

Romano reports Spurs are exploring the possibility of bringing in a new winger as well as a forward before the start of the new season, with Solanke fitting the bill as a potential long-term replacement for Kane.

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Tottenham have enjoyed a busy summer in the transfer market so far as the club look to back boss Ange Postecoglou ahead of his second season in the Spurs hot seat.

Despite narrowly missing out on the Champions League spots last season, Spurs’ fifth-place finish showed plenty of promise and the club appears determined to kick on again next season.

Spurs have looked to youth so far in the window, signing 18-year-olds Archie Gray, Lucas Begvall and Yang Min-hyuk, while also landing Timo Werner on loan for another season.

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Recent reports had suggested that Spurs’ next target would be Juventus and Italy forward Federico Chiesa, with the club said to be looking at bringing the 26-year-old to north London in something of a cut-price deal.

Chiesa is now into the final 12 months of his deal in Turin and appears not to be part of new boss Thiago Motta’s plans, leading to speculation that Spurs were among a host of suitors for the Euro 2020 winner, including Chelsea and Roma.

But transfer expert Fabrizio Romano now reports on X that Tottenham and Juve are not in talks for the former Fiorentina man, who has struggled to recapture the form that saw him named as part of the Euro 2020 ‘Team of the Tournament’ since he suffered an ACL injury in January 2022.

Romano adds that while ‘no talks or negotiations’ are taking place for Chiesa, Tottenham’s work in the transfer window is not yet done, as he reports that the Premier League side ‘will sign one more player upfront’ this summer.

In FourFourTwo’s opinion, declining to make a move for Chiesa, who is valued at €35million by Transfermarkt, is a sensible course of action for Spurs. With just 14 goals in 70 appearances for Juventus over the past two seasons, Chiesa would represent something of a risk - albeit one with a high ceiling if he would be able to recapture his previous form.

Given Spurs’ summer moves so far for young players, who are yet to prove themselves in the Premier League, a more dependable and experienced forward would make more sense.

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Harry Redknapp exclusive: ‘Daniel Levy never really interfered at Spurs – these days managers are relying on a head of recruitment’s judgement. No one used to sign players for Sir Alex’

Chelsea and Tottenham target breaks transfer silence amid Champions League 'dream'

Tottenham have enjoyed a busy summer in the transfer market so far as the club look to back boss Ange Postecoglou ahead of his second season in the Spurs hot seat.

Despite narrowly missing out on the Champions League spots last season, Spurs’ fifth-place finish showed plenty of promise and the club appears determined to kick on again next season.

Spurs have looked to youth so far in the window, signing 18-year-olds Archie Gray, Lucas Begvall and Yang Min-hyuk, while also landing Timo Werner on loan for another season.

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Recent reports had suggested that Spurs’ next target would be Juventus and Italy forward Federico Chiesa, with the club said to be looking at bringing the 26-year-old to north London in something of a cut-price deal.

Chiesa is now into the final 12 months of his deal in Turin and appears not to be part of new boss Thiago Motta’s plans, leading to speculation that Spurs were among a host of suitors for the Euro 2020 winner, including Chelsea and Roma.

But transfer expert Fabrizio Romano now reports on X that Tottenham and Juve are not in talks for the former Fiorentina man, who has struggled to recapture the form that saw him named as part of the Euro 2020 ‘Team of the Tournament’ since he suffered an ACL injury in January 2022.

Romano adds that while ‘no talks or negotiations’ are taking place for Chiesa, Tottenham’s work in the transfer window is not yet done, as he reports that the Premier League side ‘will sign one more player upfront’ this summer.

In FourFourTwo’s opinion, declining to make a move for Chiesa, who is valued at €35million by Transfermarkt, is a sensible course of action for Spurs. With just 14 goals in 70 appearances for Juventus over the past two seasons, Chiesa would represent something of a risk - albeit one with a high ceiling if he would be able to recapture his previous form.

Given Spurs’ summer moves so far for young players, who are yet to prove themselves in the Premier League, a more dependable and experienced forward would make more sense.

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Harry Redknapp exclusive: ‘Daniel Levy never really interfered at Spurs – these days managers are relying on a head of recruitment’s judgement. No one used to sign players for Sir Alex’

Chelsea and Tottenham target breaks transfer silence amid Champions League 'dream'

Harry Redknapp has voiced his concerns over the lack of input managers have in signings in the modern Premier League – insisting Sir Alex Ferguson would not have tolerated it.

Liverpool introduced a five-man transfer committee in 2012, comprising of manager Brendan Rodgers, the head of recruitment, the chief scout, the chief executive, plus the club’s director of technical performance.

Mauricio Pochettino left Chelsea in May amid friction over who decided which players to sign – co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart held a lot of the sway.

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Manchester United have also reportedly been introducing a structure that reduces the manager’s power over transfers, handing it to other figures at Old Trafford – the club recently recruited Dan Ashworth as sporting director, and Jason Wilcox as technical director.

Redknapp says he didn’t have to deal with such things during his own managerial career, including in his four-year spell at Spurs under chairman Daniel Levy.

“At Tottenham, Daniel never really interfered,” Redknapp tells FFT. “Although, like everybody, he might try harder to get a lad if he fancied them! He might say, ‘Oh, we couldn’t quite get the deal done, Harry...’

“But, in the main, he was as good as gold to deal with. If we could afford it, great. If we couldn’t afford it and couldn’t spend the money, that was how it was with Daniel.

“It’s different now, players are picked by the head of recruitment or whatever they call them – they used to be called a scout. Back in the day, no-one signed players for Alex Ferguson, he signed his own players.

“No-one would have had any input, he wouldn’t have been listening to heads of recruitment or anybody else. I’m sure David Gill, who was a fantastic chief executive, would never have tried to tell Alex who he should sign.

“Now a manager is relying on other people. If their judgement is no good, you haven’t got a chance. The players come from abroad, so when have you got a chance to go and watch them play? You’re playing Saturday or Sunday, they’re playing Saturday or Sunday, so you’re relying on other people.

“I heard a chief executive saying recently they have a six-man committee, and the manager is a sixth of the committee. ‘Does he have the final say?’ he was asked. ‘Oh no, he wouldn’t have the final say, he has one sixth of the say’.

“But who are these other people? Faceless people we don’t know, choosing the players you’re signing. That’s how difficult it’s become.”

There’s been an increasing trend for clubs to appoint a ‘head coach’ rather than a ‘manager’ – Enzo Maresca arrived at Chelsea with that title this summer.

“The players are bought by other people and really all you’re doing is coaching, but if players are no good, you can’t coach them,” Redknapp says.

“When are you coaching them? You’re playing Saturday or Sunday, you play again Tuesday or Wednesday, you have a day off Thursday, you have a warm down, when are you doing all this super coaching?

“People sometimes say ‘He’s a great coach’, but I’ll be honest, I haven’t seen many great coaches. I’ve seen great football people, great managers, I haven’t seen many great coaches.

“What is a great coach? What are they doing that’s so different? I don’t know. Getting the best out of people, picking the right people, putting them in the right positions. It ain’t rocket science.”

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One of Chelsea and Tottenham's rumoured transfer targets has opened up on his future. In a potential blow to both London rivals, the player in question appears to have committed to his current club for the time being.

The Blues and Spurs have both been linked with Nottingham Forest defender Murillo, who was one of his side's standout performers on the way to Premier League survival last season. And there seems a good chance that he will continue to star for the East Midlands side in 2024/25.

The 22-year-old Brazilian – who joined Forest from Corinthians towards the end of last year's summer transfer window – has stressed the need to carry on getting regular playing time. He hasn't categorically quashed talk of a switch to Stamford Bridge or the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium however, revealing his "dream" of playing Champions League football.

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In an interview with The Telegraph, Murillo acknowledged that he might be better off spending at least another campaign at Forest. He said:

"I need regular game time and really feel that with Forest I’m in the best place for my career at the moment. Staying here for another season will enable me to mature as a player and eventually become better prepared if the chance ever comes to play at another level one day."

He went on to admit, though: "Of course, I want to eventually play in the Champions League. When I was growing up, I’d play video games and play with all those teams. Whenever I hear that classic music before the games, it moves me, and it would be a dream to play in that competition."

Murillo joined Forest for around £15m and almost immediately established himself as a key member of the team. His accomplished defensive displays played an important part in securing a 17th-placed Premier League finish.

The Sao Paulo-born star has four years left to run on his contract with the two-time European champions. Transfermarkt currently values him at just under £30m.

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Tottenham, meanwhile, are said to be closing in on their latest signing of the window

Tottenham Hotspur look set to mark their second campaign under manager Ange Postecoglou with the addition of a highly rated continental forward this summer.

The former Celtic boss oversaw a mid-season injury crisis, to guide the club to a respectable 5th place finish, just two points below fourth-placed Aston Villa.

One of the biggest issues surrounding the Lilywhites last season was the inconsistent form of their forwards, with Richarlison and failing to provide a constant stream of goals while Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson both struggled to tie down their spot in the lineup.

Tottenham targeting Italian ace

In an attempt to bolster their firepower, Tottenham look set to launch a bid for Juventus star Federico Chiesa, who looks set to be available on a cut-price deal.

The Italian international has been a household name for a number of years despite Juventus' struggles in recent seasons, playing a star role in Italy's 2021 European Championship success.

Comfortable off both the left and right wing, Chiesa offers an elite level attacking talent with versatility to add some much-needed depth for the North London outfit.

According to Italian outlet Calcio Mercato, Chiesa will reject interest from Napoli in favour of a move to Tottenham, who are set to launch a €35 million bid.

This report supports claims earlier in the window that the forward would be available on the cheap due to his contract expiring next summer, having previously been linked to Manchester United and Chelsea.

Tottenham have enjoyed a bright start to this summer's window, signing highly coveted youngster Archie Gray from Leeds while shifting a number of players who had fallen out of favour over the past few years.

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Despite missing out on a place in the top four last season, Tottenham’s first season under Ange Postecoglou showed plenty of promise.

Tottenham’s fifth-placed finish was a significant improvement on the previous campaign in which they missed out on the European spots altogether, ending up eighth in the table.

The Australian boss quickly developed a rapport with the fans and the club now look to be backing him ahead of his sophomore campaign, with another young talent set to sign.

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Already this summer Spurs have spent £35m to bring in 18-year-old Archie Gray from Leeds United, while another teenager in Lucas Bergvall has also been signed from Swedish side Djurgarden for a fee of £8.5m. Now, according to the BBC, a third 18-year-old is set to arrive, as the club close in on the signing of winger Yang Min-hyuk.

The teenager is set to ‘imminently’ complete a move from South Korean side Gangwon, for whom he turned out 24 times for last season, scoring seven times and become the youngest K League goalscorer since 2013 in the process.

Yang has started every match for Gangwon so far this season and is in the Team K League squad who will face Spurs in Seoul next week as part of the Premier League’s pre-season tour. He is then set to link up with Tottenham in January, following the end of the K League season.

The youngster will then become the third South Korean player to join Spurs, following on from current captain Son Heung-min and Lee Young-pyo. With Son having just turned 32 this month, Spurs will be hoping that Yang can continue the Korean legend’s legacy.

Yang is valued at just €1.2m by Transfermarkt, but in FourFourTwo’s opinion, his promising performances in the K League are clearly enough to convince Spurs of his potential, as the club look to continue to direct their efforts in the transfer market to the future.

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Arsenal begin steps to sign Euros winner - and gazump Spurs: report

Tottenham agree deal for Euros winner: report

Arsenal could be set to pull the rug from under their north London rivals Tottenham and hijack their move for a key summer target.

The two rivals have both identified a new striker as a key summer priority during the transfer window, with Arsenal looking to take the goalscoring load off centre-forwards Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah, while Tottenham are looking to ease their over-reliance on Son Heung-min’s goals from midfield.

Ange Postecoglou’s search for a new frontman has taken him to Serie A this summer, but dispatches from Italy suggest that hesitation on Spurs’ part could open the door for the Gunners.

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Reports had suggested that Spurs were closing in on a bargain move for Italy striker Federico Chiesa, who is now in the final year of his Juventus contract. A fee of around €20-25 million had been mooted, but SportMediaSet now claim that Spurs are yet to make contact with the Turin side about a move.

They add that Chelsea, another side to be linked, have also not yet entered negotiations, while Arsenal have taken the first steps towards taking advantage of the situation by getting in contact to enquire about the conditions of a deal.

Juve are showing no signs of offering the 26-year-old a contract extension as new boss Thiago Motta gets to work in Turin, with Chiesa failing to find the form that made him an integral part of Italy’s Euro 2020 victory following a number of injury issues.

Chiesa is valued at €35million by Transfermarkt, but in FourFourTwo’s opinion, could prove to be something of a bargain for the right team if he is able to rekindle his 2020/21 form.

Given Arsenal’s title ambitions, a move to the Emirates may not be the right fit though, as Mikel Arteta will be looking for more of a statement signing up front and one that can be relied upon to score the goals which could make the difference in next season’s title race.

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Tottenham have already moved to back manager Ange Postecoglou in the transfer market this summer as the Australian prepares for his second season in north London. Still, more firepower could soon be on the way.

Spurs made a splash by spending £35million to bring in teenager Archie Gray from Leeds United. Lucas Bergvall has joined from Djurgarden, while Timo Werner has signed up for another year on loan from RB Leipzig.

And it now looks like the club are closing in on a fourth signing of the summer. Now, Postecoglou is set to address Spurs’ goalscoring issues, after the team scored fewer goals than another side in the top seven last season.

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Tottenham look set to take advantage of a transitional summer at Juventus, where new manager Thiago Motta looks to improve on the Old Lady’s third-placed finish last season, by closing in on a move for forward Federico Chiesa.

The 26-year-old is in the final year of his contract in Turin and with no sign of an extension coming, reports in Italy claim he will be leaving the club, which saw the likes of Spurs, Roma and Chelsea linked with a move.

But the latest reports suggest that both Roma and Chelsea are now out of the race to sign the Italy international, clearing the way for Spurs to seal a €25m move for the forward.

And according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has already reached an agreement with the player’s representatives over a four-year deal worth around £97,000 per week, but he is not the only forward linked with a move to the club.

That’s because Bournemouth forward Dominic Solanke is said to be the club’s ‘top target’, as per TEAMtalk. The report states that the Cherries have ‘fears’ that the one-time England striker, who they have valued at £65m, could leave this summer.

In FourFourTwo's view, Chiesa may well have agreed a move in principle, but that doesn't mean the deal is quite over the line. Spurs will have to agree a fee before the Italy international arrives – and with a surplus of players in attacking areas, Daniel Levy may look to move on a squad player before bringing in another one.

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