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Manchester United hit their lowest ebb last season, but Ruben Amorim has a vision and is convinced that the only way from here is up.

Amorim clearly wants to restructure his frontline, so as to turn a corner. Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha has already completed a £62.5m move to the Theatre of Dreams, and right-sided forward Bryan Mbeumo is in talks to follow.

However, replacing the much-maligned Rasmus Hojlund could be the crowning moment of United’s transfer window, with a new number nine desperately needed to front the team.

Hojlund has been hung up to dry somewhat, only scoring four goals across 32 Premier League matches in 2024/25, but then also missing just six big chances, as per Sofascore, so his problems lie in finding opportunities, rather than letting them go begging.

The 22-year-old Dane has been touted for a return to Italy this summer, two years on from his £72m move from Atalanta to Manchester. United, then, would need to find a replacement.

Man United open talks for new striker

As per a Spanish report, Manchester United have made their first move in an effort to sign Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike this summer, having established contacts with the Bundesliga outfit. Liverpool and Chelsea are already thick in the race.

Ekitike, 22, is one of the most sought-after forwards in Europe right now, and with United’s move for Viktor Gyokeres having hit a roadblock, this may be a stunning acquisition for the Premier League giants.

The sticking point? Die Roten would quite like to bank €100m (£84m) for the sale of their star striker, so the Red Devils will need to weigh up how to make this work.

Why Man United should sign Hugo Ekitike

Ekitike might be young, but he’s demonstrated over the past year an aptitude that places him right alongside the best forwards in Europe. Indeed, analyst Ben Mattinson has hailed him as “one of the best strikers out there” while he’s also been described as the “next Mbappe” by journalist Graeme Bailey.

Across all competitions in 2024/25, the Frenchman scored 22 goals and provided 12 assists for his teammates, proving himself not only to be a first-class shooter but also a dynamic forward capable of linking play together.

With Amorim’s attacking system likely to see Cunha and potentially Mbeumo flank him, this could be the perfect way to add colour to the team, certainly providing an upgrade on Hojlund.

Goals

0.30

0.51

Assists

0.06

0.29

Shots taken

1.65

3.74

Shot-creating actions

2.07

3.50

Touches (att pen)

3.78

6.73

Pass completion

76.9%

75.3%

Progressive passes

0.96

1.95

Progressive carries

1.20

3.04

Successful take-ons

0.33

1.90

Ball recoveries

1.71

2.75

As you can see, Ekitike is simply far superior to the Red Devils’ focal frontman, dwarfing him in regard to creative underlying numbers.

Moreover, Ekitike has actually demonstrated an even more clinical conversion rate than his beleaguered positional peer, scoring 16 goals in the Bundesliga last term and only missing 15 big chances, as per Sofascore.

His movements and intelligence denote his suitability as the frontman at a prestigious club like Man United, who will rise again after such struggles in recent years.

Flanked by Cunha and Mbeumo, Amorim would have created a robust and balanced front three by placing Ekitike at the front and centre.

Unfortunately for Hojlund, there may be no route back after his struggles, and change, for sure, will be a good thing heading into the new campaign.

Ekitike upgrade: Wilcox in constant contact to bring "monster" to Man Utd

Manchester United appear to be making positive moves over a deal to land a new striker for Ruben Amorim.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 14, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are in talks with the representatives of a forward once tipped to bag 40 goals per season, as chairman Daniel Levy and the Spurs recruitment team aim to make him their first signing of the summer window.

Ange Postecoglou praises Spurs squad ahead of Bodo/Glimt

The Lilywhites are set to take on Bodo/Glimt in their vital Europa League semi-final second leg this evening.

£8m manager "wants the Tottenham job" with Postecoglou under threat

The Australian faces a very uncertain future as he chases silverware.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 7, 2025

Ange Postecoglou and the squad travel to Norway knowing that, if they avoid a humbling defeat, Tottenham will book their place in the Europa final and present themselves with a golden opportunity to win the club’s first piece of major silverware in over 17 years.

Goals from Brennan Johnson, James Maddison and Dominic Solanke handed Spurs a crucial win at home in the first leg, and despite a late consolation goal from Ulrik Salnes, the 3-1 victory means Postecoglou’s side go into tonight with an important two-goal cushion.

However, Bodo/Glimt’s very impressive home record is a cause for concern for Postecoglou. The Aspymyra Stadion, located above the Arctic Circle in freezing-cold temperatures, has become an icy fortress for the Scandinavians, with Kjetil Knutsen’s side winning 28 of their last 34 European matches hosted on their artificial turf.

Postecoglou will be wary of this, but the Australian has praised his team’s mentality in Europe so far when it comes to these big knockout games.

“I think all the lads have done well and right through the campaign,” said Postecoglou on Tottenham’s European form.

“Particularly through the knockout stages in the second legs, whatever we’ve needed to do, they’ve done it, within the confines of our game plan and being organised, whether that was when we had to beat AZ at home and it could have got nervy and the boys handed that really well.

“We had to go to Frankfurt and win and tough venue and imposing atmosphere, and again I think the lads handled it really well, so it’ll be a similar sort of mindset tomorrow.”

Tottenham open talks with Mathys Tel over permanent deal

Bayern Munich loanee Mathys Tel will likely play a role in tonight’s clash, and behind-the-scenes, work has begun on making his stay at Spurs permanent.

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, writing in a piece for The Boot Room, Tottenham have opened talks with Tel’s camp and are suggesting they want the 20-year-old to remain in north London.

The club have an option to buy him worth around £45 million inserted into his loan deal, but it is believed they aim to whittle down this price tag and re-negotiate more favourable terms with Bayern.

For their part, Vincent Kompany’s side are open to selling him for good this summer, though it is unclear what their final demands would be for Tel at this point if they agree to make concessions on the initially agreed £45m fee.

Dubbed “very quick” and “strong” by ex-Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann, the tactician also once claimed Tel could become one of the best strikers in world football, all while backing him to eventually score “40 goals a season”.

Tel has taken a while to get going in a Spurs jersey, but immediate adaptation to Europe’s most competitive league can often be challenging. Despite his slow start, there is reason to believe the exciting starlet could go on to become an excellent player.

It might be over two decades since they won the Premier League, but Arsenal have had some sensational players represent them since then.

The likes of Cesc Fàbregas, Robin van Persie, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Alexis Sánchez were all near enough unstoppable on their day, even if they couldn’t deliver the club the biggest prizes.

However, perhaps the star who felt most likely to drag the North Londoners back to the pinnacle when he arrived was Mesut Özil.

The German playmaker was an unreal talent, but unfortunately, his Arsenal career fizzled out into nothingness, and now there’s a player in the current squad in danger of having the same happen to him.

Ozil's Arsenal career

On transfer deadline day 2013, Arsenal announced the shock £42.4m signing of Ozil – to fan delirium – and there was a level of hope that the former Real Madrid superstar would be the one to bring the glory years back to N5.

For the first few seasons, while there was no league title or European glory, the World Cup winner certainly delivered on his end of the bargain, racking up 61 goal involvements in his first three seasons and helping the club win some FA Cups.

However, as time passed, and especially after signing a new £350k-per-week contract, the former Werder Bremen gem seemed to become less and less effective.

In fact, once Arteta was appointed manager in 2019, the German superstar eventually saw himself frozen out of the team entirely, with fans and pundits alike lambasting his apparent lack of effort off the ball.

Eventually, after over a year of barely playing for the club, he left for Fenerbahçe for free in January 2021.

Ozil remains a popular figure with much of the fanbase today and left with an impressive tally of 44 goals and 75 assists in 254 appearances, but there is no denying that he left the club failing to achieve what many thought he would, and on a low rather than a high.

Unfortunately, a current Arsenal player might be falling down the same path this season, a player the boss should look to drop from the starting lineup for some time.

The Arsenal star emulating Ozil

On the back of Tuesday night’s defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, it would be easy to lambast the entire starting lineup for not playing well enough, but in retrospect, it wasn’t quite the battering some may try to portray it as.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Arsenal had their chances to score, and for much of the game, the likes of Declan Rice, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Bukayo Saka and David Raya did their jobs.

However, there was one starter who was as bad as everyone initially said: Martin Odegaard, who was anonymous at best and actively ruining attacks at worst.

The Norwegian fully deserved the 4/10 match rating he received from the Independent’s Jamie Braidwood, and the worrying thing is that it wasn’t a massively surprising performance either.

Yes, even though he picked up his second successive Player of the Year Award last season, the “frustrating” playmaker, as dubbed by podcaster Rohan Jivan, has been seriously poor all season, and as content creator Rimedi pointed out earlier this year, he’s just “not at the level.”

In all, the player who is supposed to be the team’s creative hub has amassed just 15 goal involvements in 39 games this season, which is undeniably underwhelming and feels eerily similar to Ozil’s slow decline.

As this collapse in form is showing no signs of reversing, Arteta should take him out of the team for the next game at least and start Ethan Nwaneri in the middle of the park, as he looked more likely to make something happen in just five minutes of action on Tuesday.

Appearances

39

Minutes

2982′

Goals

5

Assists

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.38

Minutes per Goal Involvement

198.8′

Ultimately, Odegaard is an incredibly talented player, but at the moment, he is not showing it, and therefore, he should be dropped and given time to figure out what’s going wrong, lest his Arsenal career end the same way Ozil’s did.

Better than Trossard: Arsenal want to sign 'one of the best in Europe'

The vastly experienced dynamo could be just what Arsenal need.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 30, 2025

It took him just 17 balls to pick up four West Indies wickets, and no matter the kind of pitch, this feat was impressive

Danyal Rasool18-Jan-2025Theatre actors have often spoken about guarding against losing respect for the art. Arriving on stage night after night to produce the same high standard of performance has a jading effect, and one where the performer has much more to lose than they have to gain. A good performance is just another day at the office, a bad one the stuff of bad reviews and blooper reels that acquire a life of their own – and with the threat of reputational damage. Especially when it feels as if people have been waiting to stick the boot in, anyway.That is what it must feel like to be Sajid Khan, who, unlike his partner-in-crime Noman Ali, identifies as something of a performer.The first Test against West Indies, in Multan, was something of a no-win situation, his success explained away as a masterstroke in pitch curation than the magic in his fingers. Surely, he can’t have been that good on his own merits, the reasoning goes, or why else was he omitted from Pakistan’s squad for the Tests in South Africa immediately prior?Related

Noman, Sajid share nine WI wickets as Pakistan dominate day two

Do well, and the theory gets even further validation; or don’t, and be written off as a one-series wonder. That was Sajid’s window of possibilities. So what might just be another low-profile Test to an observer was reputational to him. Pakistan’s selection panel had huge expectations of him; when Pakistan folded for 230 on the second day, Aleem Dar, now a member of the selection committee, reckoned it was near 400, factoring in the difficulty of the pitch. The expectation placed upon Sajid was clear.And Sajid knows the talk has to be walked to retain its potence. His in-your-face celebration rubbed a few players in the England camp the wrong way, and needs to be fed by regular wickets. Against West Indies, on Saturday, it took him just seven balls to get his first, what he later called “an offspinner’s dream wicket”, flighting the ball outside off stump, lulling Mikyle Louis into the drive, and sneaking through the gate and rattling the stumps.Eleven balls later, Sajid had four wickets to his name, West Indies’ top order being cut to ribbons. No matter the kind of pitch, this was impressive; it took West Indies’ collective spin attack nearly 62 overs to match what Sajid had managed in 17 deliveries. Indeed, if what Sajid was doing wasn’t exceptional, there would be no point in preparing these surfaces – because anyone could then match him toe-to-toe.West Indies, in contrast, have held off operating spin from both ends, preferring to give Jayden Seales a longer spell first. That may just have to do with Seales’ excellent showing in each innings – far superior, indeed, to anything a Pakistan seamer has managed in these conditions. But bowling wicket-taking spin with the new ball isn’t as easy as Sajid makes it look, either.

“As an offspinner, I have a bit of a complicated bowling style. I can’t introduce too many new things to it”Sajid Khan on his bowling

“I’ve worked with my head coach in Peshawar, Zohaib Khan, to prepare with the new ball,” Sajid said after the second day’s play. “I’ve bowled with him a lot with the new Dukes ball, and worked on it a lot. We used to work on bowling with the new ball for one to two hours on end. The plan was to keep the run-scoring tight. If I concede [runs] off a good ball, [Mohammad] Rizwan doesn’t mind. But the expectation is we’ll continue to hit good areas on this wicket.”Sajid has also continued to add arrows to his quiver. He comes in wider of the crease to exploit footmarks when required, or simply to change the angle to discomfit a batter. His action, which he admits is “difficult”, allows him to vary the pace and trajectory without letting batters pick it up, something he believes is essential to his game.”As an offspinner, I have a bit of a complicated bowling style. I can’t introduce too many new things to it,” Sajid said. “Every coach I work with has said my strength is my sleight of hand. Batters find it hard to read my flight or variation in pace because my front arm moves very quickly – even if I’m bowling in the nets to our own batters.”Sajid Khan removed West Indies’ top four•PCBNo matter the assistance from the pitch, though, there came a reminder that a drop in levels comes with consequences. With Pakistan hunting for the final wicket, the intensity dropped as Sajid went in search of his fifth, greedily flighting it and pitching it up to force the issue. But it wasn’t the right length, and was much too predictable; and though West Indies’ No. 10 and 11 batters were at the crease, Sajid was dismantled. Two sixes and four boundaries came off his final three overs, which leaked 37 runs to mar his figures slightly.Those overs, perhaps more than any of Sajid’s wickets, demonstrated the rarefied nature of his skill: it wasn’t just the pitch, but what he made the ball do on it, that was bringing him success. There will be times it doesn’t work, as is true for every skillset on any surface.For now, Sajid turns it on day-in and day-out, with no signs of losing respect for the art, or his hunger for more. And as he mentioned last year, while people have jumped at the chance to write him off in the past, his continued refusal to play to that narrative means the ink on those pens may have begun to dry.

Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper was the latest player to vent his frustrations at an umpire after some very questionable calls but somehow he was able to avoid being ejected for his actions on Sunday.

With the Phillies trailing the Angels by six runs, Harper worked a 3–0 count in the bottom of the eighth inning. A pitch that seemed to be out of the strike zone made it a 3–1 count and then a few moments later a similar pitch was called for strike three by Steven Jaschinski.

Instead of earning a walk, Harper headed to the dugout. But before he did that he shrugged his shoulders and waved his hand in disgust at Jaschinski two times.

This is often enough to get you tossed from the game:

The Phillies would go on to lose the game, 8–2.

Liverpool have now moved into pole position in the race for a Real Madrid attacker, amid Mohamed Salah offering himself to three Champions League clubs.

Salah may never play for Liverpool again after Slot comments

Arne Slot has now admitted that he doesn’t know if Salah will play for the Reds again, in the wake of the Egyptian’s bombshell interview after the 3-3 draw at Leeds United.

The manager said: “After tomorrow we will look at the situation. There is always the possibility to return for a player. I have no clue [if he has played his last game for Liverpool] – I cannot answer that question at this point in time.”

It remains to be seen whether Salah can return to the fold after AFCON, but one thing that is for certain is that he won’t be featuring against Inter Milan in the Champions League this evening.

In the wake of his comments about Slot, the forward has now offered himself to three Champions League clubs, namely Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, according to a report from Spain.

Of course, no Liverpool fan wants to see a club legend leave in this fashion, but if he does depart, Slot will need to bring in another attacker, and the Merseyside club are now leading the race for Real Madrid star Arda Guler.

That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states the Reds are now the frontrunners to sign Guler, despite Manchester United and Arsenal also stepping up their interest.

The Turk is viewed as the perfect addition to Slot’s attack, with the manager keen to bring in a creative forward, amid the uncertainty surrounding Salah’s long-term future, and the 20-year-old is capable of playing at both right-wing and through the middle. It’s previously been reported that Madrid values Guler as high as £130m.

Signing "magic" Guler could soften blow of losing Salah

The Liverpool talisman hasn’t reached his usual lofty heights this season, failing to make it off the bench in two of the last three Premier League matches, but it would still be a real blow to lose the 33-year-old, who has scored 250 goals since arriving at Anfield.

As such, fans will no doubt be hoping the Egypt international hasn’t played his last game for the Reds, and returns to action after he gets back from AFCON.

Gallery: How Salah interacted with Liverpool teammates in training on Monday

Mo Salah is unhappy with life at Liverpool right now.

ByFFC Staff 4 days ago

That said, Salah may find it difficult to force his way back into Slot’s plans, with Jamie Carragher recently branding his comments a “disgrace.”

New attacking options may be needed in 2026 regardless, with Federico Chiesa’s future also up in the air, and Guler could be a top signing, with scout Ben Mattinson praising the impact he’s made for Turkey.

Having registered three goals and seven assists for Real Madrid this season, the 26-time Turkey international clearly has the quality to succeed at Anfield, so it is promising news that Liverpool are leading the race for his signature.

كشفت تقارير صحفية عربية، عن اقتراب النادي الأهلي من حسم صفقة هجوم عربية لتدعيم صفوف ألفريق الأول خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية.

ويبحث الأهلي عن تدعيمات في خط الهجوم بعد رحيل وسام أبو علي إلى الدوري الأمريكي، وتراجع مستوى محمد شريف وجراديشار.

وبحسب صحيفة “الرأي” الأردنية، فإن يزن النعيمات مهاجم منتخب الأردن والعربي القطري، يقترب من الانضمام للأهلي بعد فتح مفاوضات خلال الفترة الأخيرة.

طالع.. عمرو الجزار: وقعت لـ الزمالك.. وكنت قريبًا من الأهلي

وأوضحت أن محمود الخطيب، رئيس الأهلي، كلف سيد عبد الحفيظ عضو مجلس الإدارة ومسؤول ملف كرة القدم في النادي بإنهاء المفاوضات مع النعيمات.

وأشارت إلى أن الأهلي على استعداد لدفع الشرط الحزائي في عقد المهاجم الأردني مع العربي القطري لحسم الصفقة في يناير المقبل.

ويقدم النعيمات مستوى رائع مع منتخب الأردن في بطولة كأس العرب الجارية وقاد النشامى للوصول إلى كأس العالم 2026.

Monterrey have reportedly opened formal negotiations with Sergio Ramos to extend his contract beyond December 2025. While no agreement has been reached, both parties are interested in continuing the partnership as Rayados enter a decisive stretch of the Apertura. Ramos’ leadership and experience have made his renewal a priority for the club as it plans for the 2026 project.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Ramos and Rayados move toward possible 2026 extension

  Although talks remain in the early stages, the intention from both parties is clear: they want the partnership to continue – according to ESPN.

  Ramos, who arrived in February 2025, quickly became the anchor of Rayados’ defense and one of the most high-profile signings in league history. His presence on and off the pitch has shaped Monterrey’s locker room identity, making his renewal one of the club’s key decisions heading into next year.

  Sporting president José Antonio “Tato” Noriega confirmed the discussions but emphasized that the team’s competitive priorities come first.

  “Of course there are conversations – that’s normal – but I’d rather not get into details because it distracts us from what matters most right now: the team,” Noriega said.

  He stressed that the club must stay fully focused as they prepare for a difficult Liguilla matchup.

  “This is the moment to close ranks. We’re facing a complicated rival in América. Any opponent would be tough, but América brings a different level of attention and pressure. We have to stay centered on that,” he said.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Ramos comfortable in Mexico and open to staying

  The length of the proposed extension remains one of the key items under negotiation. are considering at least one more season, though no final terms have been settled. The 38-year-old has expressed feeling settled both professionally and personally in Monterrey, enjoying the challenge of Liga MX and embracing a leadership role within the squad.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Rayados value his stability and experience

  Keeping Ramos would help Monterrey maintain continuity in defense. Since his arrival, he has played 23 Liga MX matches – starting all of them – and scored five goals, with only one red card.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  What comes next?

  With Rayados set to face América in the Apertura 2025 Quarterfinals – first leg at Estadio BBVA on Wednesday, second leg Sunday in Mexico City – formal renewal steps may be paused until after the postseason. If no agreement is reached, Ramos could become a free agent in January 2026, though both sides prefer to avoid that scenario.

German national team coach Julian Naggelsman has warned teenager Assan Ouedraogo to stay grounded after he became the second youngest goalscorer in Germany’s history. The 19 year-old found the net just two minutes after coming on as a substitute in Germany’s 6-0 win over Slovakia as they secured automatic qualification for the World Cup as winners of their qualifying group.

Oudregao's becomes the second youngest goalscorer

As per , Ouedraogo became the youngest debutant to score for Germany since Klaus Sturmer in 1954, finding the net at just 19 years and 192 days. His rapid rise continued after he was initially called up to the German Under 21 squad but was promoted to the senior team when Nadiem Amiri withdrew through injury. Ouedraogo seized the opportunity brilliantly, marking his first international appearance with a historic milestone.

Ouedraogo reflected on the proud moment and expressed his joy, saying: “Of course, I never imagined it would go so well, but I'm not complaining. I'm very proud of this moment and incredibly happy.”

His teammate David Raum felt that Ouedraogo first needs time to absorb everything that has happened around his call up and first goal, but insisted that he is worthy of praise. 

“I think the lad needs to let everything that's happened over the last few weeks sink in first, but he definitely deserved it and crowned his debut today with a very good performance,” he said.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesNagelsmann warns Oudregao to stay grounded

In an interview with , Germany coach Naggelsman said he is very pleased with Ouedraogo’s development, saying: "He's still very young, but I'm very happy with his development and hope he retains his humility. He needs to keep at it and continue in the same way."

Germany's qualifies for the 2026 World Cup after defeating Slovakia

Germany sealed automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup with an emphatic 6-0 victory over Slovakia, securing top spot in their qualifying group. An inform Nick Woltemade opened the scoring, continuing his impressive goalscoring run for the national team. Serge Gnabry soon doubled the lead, giving Germany full control of the match. Leroy Sane then stepped up with a brilliant brace, a significant moment for the winger after Nagelsmann had warned that chances to prove himself would be limited. Sane’s performance silenced his critics and reaffirmed his value to the squad.

In the second half, Ridle Baku added a fifth before Ouedraogo capped off the dominant display with Germany’s sixth, further overwhelming a Slovak side that had no response. The victory also served as a strong comeback for Germany, who had suffered a 2-0 defeat to Slovakia in their previous meeting in the qualifiers back in September. This commanding win not only avenged that loss but also showcased Germany’s growing confidence and momentum heading into the World Cup.

Nagelsmann praised his team’s exceptional work rate and mentality as they secured automatic qualification for the World Cup after a difficult start to the campaign. 

Reflecting on the performance, he said: “I'm really proud of the team. We had a bumpy start to the qualifiers, and today the pressure was on. It was a very good game. Every player played extremely well today and worked like a maniac. We got into the game really well defensively, thanks to a huge effort. We also scored some great goals and were very convincing in terms of our footballing ability; the team did a really, really good job.”

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gettyWhat next for Germany?

Having progressed as winners of Group A, Germany will begin preparations for the 2026 tournament in Canada, United States and Mexico. The pressure is on Nagelsmann's side to improve on their disappointing group stage exits of the last two editions of the tournament. They will take on Ivory Coast and Finland in March friendlies ahead of the competition.

Slovakia, meanwhile, will have to go through the play-offs after coming in second and three points behind Nagelsmann's team.

Tottenham Hotspur are now readying a January move for an “amazing” striker, who has been praised by Thomas Frank in the past.

Tottenham looking to sign new striker despite Richarlison returning to form

Frank managed to stave off some of the pressure by recording a 2-0 victory against Brentford on Saturday, which was his side’s first home Premier League victory since the rout of Burnley on the opening day of the campaign.

It was a comfortable win for Spurs, who never really looked threatened throughout the match, with the Bees recording an xG of just 0.29, and Richarlison continued his recent uptick in form, scoring his sixth Premier League goal of the season.

That said, some of Frank’s other attacking options haven’t been quite so prolific in front of goal, with Randal Kolo Muani still yet to open his account in the Premier League, while Dominic Solanke has featured in just three matches in all competitions, having struggled with an ankle injury.

As such, the manager may want to bring in a new striker during the upcoming transfer window, and a Premier League star has now entered the frame as a target.

That is according to a report from Football Insider, which states Tottenham are now readying a January move for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, with his future at Selhurst Park up in the air.

Palace may be forced to cash-in on the centre-forward, given that no progress has been made in negotiations over a new contract, and it has previously been revealed they could look to hold out for £44m.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke also added: “He’s under contract until 2027 but if he’s not going to sign a new deal by next summer, you would imagine Palace would be more increasingly open to selling Mateta to get a fee for him, rather than potentially letting him run down his contract.”

"Amazing" Mateta has earned move to top club

Lauded as “amazing” by Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, the Frenchman has been in impressive form this season, netting nine goals in 23 matches in all competitions, while also providing two assists.

The 28-year-old has now proven himself over a number of years in the Premier League, scoring a combined 30 goals across the 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns, meaning he has earned the opportunity to prove himself at a top club.

Tottenham determined to sign Barcelona star and ready to offer 'immediate leading role'

He’s been on fire for the Catalans.

ByEmilio Galantini 5 days ago

In fact, Frank was personally left impressed by the Palace star for his performance in a 2-1 defeat against Brentford last season, describing him as “very hard to handle.”

As such, Tottenham should definitely look to capitalise on the Eagles’ stalling contract negotiations by pursuing a move for Mateta in the upcoming transfer window.