All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Despite coming off a sensational result in the Europa League, Tottenham Hotspur returned to their lacklustre form at home to Nottingham Forest on Monday night.

It was their 18th defeat in the Premier League and leaves them just a point above West Ham United in 17th place, so it’s not much of a surprise to see stories about Ange Postecoglou’s future returning.

One of the names most heavily touted to replace him at the end of the season is Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, who has managed to lead the Cherries up to eighth place, partly thanks to their brilliant attack.

On top of being linked with a new manager, the North Londoners have also been linked with a plethora of exciting players, including one who’d be perfect under Iraola, were he to get the job.

Tottenham want to sign Premier League attacker

With how terribly this season has gone for Spurs, it’s unsurprising that they have been linked with so many players in recent weeks, such as Matheus Cunha.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The North Londoners are reportedly willing to pay up to £75m to land the Brazilian star ahead of the other interested parties, and while that’s an enormous sum of money, it might be worth it, as he’s managed to amass a tally of 16 goals and four assists in 31 games this year, despite playing for a bottom half side.

A slightly cheaper target the club have supposedly been looking at has been Tyler Dibling.

The Southampton gem could be available for around £35m in the summer, and while he likely wouldn’t make an instant impact on the first team, he would be yet another tremendously exciting youngster on the club’s books.

However, if instant impact is what the fans are after, then the links to Marcus Rashford should excite them.

According to a recent report from Football Transfers, Spurs have now rekindled their interest in Premier League star Marcus Rashford, who has found some form of late on loan with Aston Villa.

The report claims that the 62-capped Englishman ‘is expected to leave Manchester United during the upcoming summer transfer window’ and that should the Villans decide against paying £40m to sign him, the North Londoners will step in.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given his immense quality, it’s worth fighting for, especially as he could be incredible under Iraola.

Why Rashford would be a great signing for Spurs

So, the first thing to say is that, regardless of who is in the hot seat next season, Rashford would be a good addition to Spurs’ squad, and the last few months have shown that.

For example, since moving to Villa, the Manchester-born monster has been electric, scoring four goals and providing six assists in 17 appearances, totalling just 940 minutes.

That means the often “unplayable” 27-year-old, as dubbed by analyst Raj Chohan, is currently averaging a goal involvement every 1.7 games or every 94 minutes, which is the sort of output the Lilywhites could really do with.

Appearances

17

Starts

10

Minutes

940′

Goals

4

Assists

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

94′

However, there is every chance that, under Iraola, he could be even better.

Now, this is obviously all theoretical at this point, but we know from this season that, when he has a summer to prepare his players, the Spaniard can extract some seriously impressive attacking numbers out of his frontline players.

For example, Justin Kluivert has produced 21 goal involvements compared to 11 last year, Antoine Semenyo has produced 16 compared to 11 and even Dango Ouattara has managed 13 compared to just three last year.

So, if he’s been able to improve those players that much within the space of just a season, imagine what he’d be able to do with a player as talented as Rashford.

Appearances

34

37

35

Minutes

2297′

3182′

2121′

Goals

13

10

9

Assists

8

6

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.61

0.43

0.37

Minutes per Goal Involvement

109.38′

198.87′

163.15

Appearances

36

36

32

Minutes

2093′

2307′

1383′

Goals

9

8

1

Assists

2

3

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.30

0.30

0.09

Minutes per Goal Involvement

190.27′

209.72

461′

Ultimately, while this might be a complicated transfer to get over the line, Spurs should do all they can to get it done, especially if they hire Iraola.

Their new Lucas Moura: Ange has struck gold on "generational" Spurs talent

The promising youngster could be great for Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 23, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur slipped to their 17th defeat in the Premier League this season when they were beaten 4-2 by Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.

Ange Postecoglou’s side were well beaten by the Old Gold, who moved to within two points of Spurs, and they remain sat in 15th place in the top-flight.

There was a small positive to come out of the match, though, as Brennan Johnson continued his recent form with an assist for Mathys Tel’s strike.

Why Spurs need more from Brennan Johnson

The Wales international has now produced two goals and one assist in his last two Premier League matches, but that comes off the back of two goals and zero assists in his previous nine games in all competitions.

Inconsistency is the word. Spurs need consistency from their forward players if they want more success as a team moving forward, which is why they need Johnson to improve his output on a week-to-week basis.

The former Nottingham Forest forward, who has provided 11 goals and three assists in the league, has not been reliable on a consistent basis, instead delivering goals and assists in purple patches.

Whilst Postecoglou and his team will look to work with Johnson to improve the consistency of his output on the wing, Spurs could have an upgrade on the Welsh attacker brewing in the form of Min-hyeok Yang.

Why Yang could be a future Johnson upgrade

The 18-year-old winger was sent out on loan to Championship side Queens Park Rangers in January and has already shown glimpses of his quality at that level, despite his age and inexperience.

Yang, who talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed could be “something special”, has started six of his 12 appearances in the second tier for QPR and contributed with two goals and one assist so far.

Appearances (starts)

12 (6)

xG

1.22

Goals

2

Big chances created

3

Key passes

6

Assists

1

As you can see in the table above, the teenage wizard is unfortunate to only have one assist to his name because he has created three ‘big chances’ for his teammates, and they have only taken one of them.

Johnson, meanwhile, has only created four ‘big chances’ in 29 appearances in the Premier League this season, which suggests that he has struggled to consistently create high-quality opportunities for his fellow attackers.

This suggests that Yang, who also scored 12 goals and provided five assists in 38 games for Gangwon in K League 1 in 2024, is a forward who has the potential to offer more creativity than Johnson.

His goal return for Gangwon last year, and his two goals in six starts for QPR, also suggest that he could provide a decent goal threat from a wide position as well, just as the Welsh ace does.

Yang is five years younger than Johnson and, therefore, has more time ahead of him to develop and improve as a player before making his breakthrough in the first-team with Spurs.

Tottenham should aim to send the teenage starlet out on loan, whether that is back to the Championship or to a top-flight side in Europe, to continue his development in the 2025/26 campaign.

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Hopefully, Yang will be able to play week-in-week-out to hone his goalscoring and creative talents to eventually emerge as an upgrade on Johnson, based on the potential he has already shown in his short career to date.

Manchester United are now set to make an approach for an “immense” defender, with Ruben Amorim believed to be a big fan, according to a report.

Man Utd pursuing defensive reinforcements

Amorim has made it clear that he will not compromise on his style of play, having implemented a three-at-the-back system ever since arriving from Sporting CP, which means the manager may need to recruit another centre-back in the summer transfer window.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapie is one of the names on the shortlist, with Man United looking to hijack Real Madrid’s move for the defender, while they have also sent scouts to watch Fiorentina’s Pietro Comuzzo in action.

Comuzzo is being targeted as a potential replacement for Lisandro Martínez, who may not be back until 2026, which underlines the need for a new centre-back to be brought in prior to the start of the 2025-26 campaign.

Man Utd make contact for "unbelievable" £62m star as agent flies for talks

The Red Devils have set their sights on a striker, whose agent is set to fly to England for talks.

ByDominic Lund Apr 8, 2025

According to a report from Football Transfers, not only is Amorim concerned by Martinez’s injury woes, but the manager also has doubts over whether the Argentine is suitable for his three-at-the-back system.

As such, the 40-year-old wants to bring in a new centre-back this summer, and he has demanded the signing of Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio.

Amorim knows Inacio well from their time working together in Portugal, and he remains a huge admirer, with Man United expected to make an approach of some description over the next few weeks, although there are yet to be any formal talks.

The Portuguese defender is protected by a €60m (£52m) release clause in his contract, but there are indications he could be available for as little as €35m (£30m), which would make him a relatively low-cost addition to the squad.

"Immense" Inacio impressing in Portugal

Sporting are once again challenging for the Liga Portugal title this season, and the 23-year-old has been one of their most important players, making 22 appearances, during which time he has picked up three goals and three assists.

Not only is the Portugal international a threat going forward, but he is also strong defensively and solid in possession of the ball, as showcased by his performance on some key metrics over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Blocks

2.22 (99th percentile)

Tackles

2.04 (84th percentile)

Passes attempted

88.70 (97th percentile)

With Amorim having doubts over whether Martinez is capable of playing in a three-at-the-back system, it would make sense for the manager to bring in a player he can trust, and the “immense” Sporting star is showing signs he could be a success at Old Trafford.

The only doubt over the signing of Inacio will be the fact he is yet to prove himself in a major European league, unlike some of the other players on Man United’s shortlist, such as Hincapie and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite.

Manchester United’s wait for back-to-back Premier League wins continues, with the Red Devils having slipped to a 13th top-flight defeat of the season away to high-flying Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night.

Frustratingly for Ruben Amorim, his side had largely put in an encouraging performance at the City Ground, albeit while being undone on the counter in the early knockings of the game, as former United man Anthony Elanga – perhaps inevitably – converted following a stunning surging run from his own half.

The visitors were largely untroubled otherwise, although – as has been the norm in 2024/25 so far – they simply failed to offer the cutting edge at the other end of the pitch, with the decision not to start Rasmus Hojlund having certainly backfired.

The Danish number nine did provide a much needed focal point when he was introduced as Joshua Zirkzee dropped into a deeper role, although it wasn’t until the last-gasp introduction of makeshift striker, Harry Maguire, that United actually came close to drawing level, with the towering centre-back having notably been denied on the line by opposite number Murillo.

As it is, Amorim will be left to reflect on another night of what might have been for his stuttering side, with the Portuguese simply needing to find a way to get his attacking unit, including Alejandro Garnacho, firing once again.

Alejandro Garnacho's game in numbers vs Forest

The Argentine starlet – who was awarded a remarkably harsh 2/10 match rating by Express journalist, Alex Turk – may not have been at his sparkling best, yet once again, he offered the only real threat in the final third for the away side.

Yes, the end product is lacking, having now scored just twice in 28 games since the change in the dugout, yet the 20-year-old was a real livewire in the second half, in particular, having notably racked up four key passes as he looked to make things happen for his side.

On another day, the United academy graduate could have got himself on the scoresheet more than once after lashing over the bar on a few occasions, having also seen one volleyed effort squirm agonisingly past the post late on.

Minutes played

86

90+

Touches

48

82

Goals/Assists

1

0

Pass accuracy

79%

94%

Key passes

0

4

Successful dribbles

6/9

2/5

Successful crosses

0/3

0/7

Duels won

9/15

4/13

Possession lost

18x

18x

Shots off target

0

3

Shots blocked

0

3

There remains a feeling that Garnacho “should be on the bench” once Amad Diallo returns from injury, in the words of writer Zach Lowy, yet at present, the ex-Atletico Madrid man remains the only spark in a lifeless United forward line.

Indeed, time and again the youngster was an outlet down the left flank, having notably taken the ball in his stride beautifully following a lofted pass over the top from Bruno Fernandes, only to see his eventual effort denied by the sliding Ryan Yates.

Nothing came off in the end for Garnacho, but he certainly wasn’t the major villain, having hardly been afforded much support by the sluggish Patrick Dorgu behind him.

The Man Utd star who had a night to forget

Considering that the promising Dane previously saw red and set up a goal for the opposition in the same half against Ipswich Town, it says a lot that this latest outing was perhaps his worst in a United shirt to date.

Indeed, that 45-minute showing against the Tractor Boys had shown signs of promise as he charged up and down the left flank, before being dismissed, although on his return from that suspension, the 20-year-old was far more muted.

Like Garnacho, the January arrival failed to keep pace with the electric Elanga for what proved to be the game’s only goal, having also been rather subdued going forward.

What was particularly frustrating on the night was Dorgu’s at-times casual and wayward passing, having given the ball away on 16 occasions – or every five minutes – including in the build-up to Leny Yoro’s perfectly timed challenge on that man Elanga.

As The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell noted, that breakaway for the hosts had come after Dorgu “gave [the] ball away sloppily”, a moment that only epitomised what was a disappointing 90 minutes for the £30m man.

The aforementioned Turk also agreed, after handing the wing-back a measly 4/10 match rating, albeit while suggesting that he was ‘snubbed far too often’ by Garnacho ahead of him.

Whether that is the case or not, Dorgu’s own performance certainly deserves scrutiny, with it perhaps surprising that Amorim did not introduce a potential replacement in Harry Amass off the bench, particularly considering the 18-year-old had been kept out of Monday’s FA Youth Cup semi-final defeat to Aston Villa.

Chalkboard

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

With the Manchester Derby next on the agenda, it may not be too much of a surprise to see Dorgu find himself back on the bench, with either a change in role for Mazraoui required, or a bold first start for the teenage Amass.

Man Utd may have found the next Pogba who "belongs to a different era"

Man Utd could have the new Paul Pogba in their ranks at Old Trafford

ByRobbie Walls Apr 1, 2025

Rangers are now reportedly ready to grant Danny Rohl’s transfer request after the German commenced a personal scouting mission ahead of January.

Rangers must be "ruthless", says Rohl

As Old Firm rivals Celtic closed the gap on Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership, Rangers stuttered for the second-consecutive outing in midweek – drawing 2-2 against Dundee United. Just when Rohl was looking for a reaction, he watched on as the Gers were forced to salvage a point courtesy of Nedim Bajrami’s late penalty.

Disappointed by yet more dropped points, the Rangers boss told reporters: “We are disappointed because it’s just one point. We put everything on the pitch until the end, that’s why we deserve a point.

“When I see how many chances we create, we should win this game. If we can bring this together in the future with a clean sheet, we win games.

“We are disappointed, but I see a step forward today from my group. We had more tempo, better decision-making, our body shape between the lines. We sped up our games in the right moment.

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ByDan Emery Dec 3, 2025

“I’m not happy because you have to win, there’s no question. We have to be ruthless in both boxes. I am convinced that more goals will come. At the moment it is hard work.

“Of course, the last two results are not what we want. They are two different results. The weekend [at home to Falkirk] was a boring draw, today it was an entertaining draw, but for both you get just one point.”

It’s become clear in the last week that those at Ibrox must back Rohl when the January transfer window swings open. Without sporting director Kevin Thelwell, there’s also every chance that the German will have greater control on arrivals and that could see Youssef Chermiti replaced.

Rangers ready to grant Rohl request

As reported by TeamTalk, Rangers are now ready to grant Rohl’s request for a new No.9 to replace summer flop Chermiti. The Gers boss has commenced a personal scouting mission in recent weeks and recruitment chiefs have held talks with agents in the Netherlands and Belgium on the hunt for a crucial addition.

Alongside a new striker, Rohl has reportedly asked the 49ers to sign a dynamic central midfielder and a versatile full-back in an attempt to add quality in depth.

It comes as no surprise that Rohl has set his sights on a striker. It would instantly make up for Thelwell’s mistake in the summer, which saw Chermiti arrive for as much as £8m to make the forward one of Rangers’ most expensive ever signings. That alone perfectly sums up the disaster that was the sporting director’s time in Scotland.

It’s also not a great shock that Rohl’s after a dynamic midfielder in 2026, given that Nicolas Raskin could still leave the club amid interest from the Premier League. Losing the Belgian would be a major blow, but the sale would also fund a much-needed overhaul when the winter window swings open.

Rohl must now ditch Rangers dud who was the "shining light" under Martin

They’ve had a few disappointing results, but this season is shaping up very nicely for Chelsea.

Enzo Maresca’s side are second in the Premier League, with a chance to cut Arsenal’s gap to three points on Sunday, and have just demolished Barcelona in the Champions League.

The Blues were superb on Tuesday night, and while being a man up certainly helped, they were without a doubt the better side.

One of the most impressive performers for Chelsea was Estevao, who outshone fellow wonderkid Lamine Yamal, and so fans should be excited that they have someone on loan showing shades of the Brazilian in their game.

How Estevao outshone Yamal

While it felt early to be comparing Chelsea’s new wonderkid to someone who just finished second in the Ballon d’Or, that was exactly what was happening before Tuesday night’s game.

However, that added pressure certainly didn’t seem to bother Estevao, as he was sensational throughout the encounter and put in a far better performance than Yamal.

For example, on top of scoring the all-important second goal for the hosts, the 18-year-old didn’t give the visitors’ backline a moment’s rest.

In his 83 minutes of action, he created one big chance, played three key passes, produced an expected assists figure of 0.35 and completed two dribbles, one of which led to the goal.

On the flipside, the Spaniard looked nothing like the superstar winger fans have become so accustomed to seeing.

He was practically anonymous for most of the match, and when he did try to do something, he was more often than not locked down by Marc Cucurella, who was named Man of the Match.

By the time the Barça star was taken off, he had failed to score, lost the ball 21 times, played just two key passes and come out looking second best in the battle of the teenage wonderkids.

In all, it looks like Chelsea have a truly special talent on their hands in Estevao, and in even more good news, they’ve got another stellar prospect out on loan with shades of the Brazilian in his game.

The Chelsea gem with shades of Estevao to him

The scary thing for opposition fans and teams is that Chelsea’s bet on young, up-and-coming talent is starting to pay off, and it could see them really kick on in the coming years.

Chalkboard

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

Estevao is obviously going to be a huge part of that, but another youngster who could be right there with him, and even has shades of the Brazilian to his game, is Kendry Páez.

The Blues signed the Ecuadorian gem over two years ago, but, due to rules on players under 18, he couldn’t join the squad until the summer.

However, instead of keeping him on the bench or in the youth side, the club opted to send him out on loan to Strasbourg for the season, where he has played 531 minutes of first-team football across 14 appearances so far.

Now, it’s important to say that, given Estevao’s extraordinary talent, it’s unlikely that the Guayaquil-born prospect will be as good as him.

However, he certainly shares some traits with him and could still develop into a world-class player.

For example, despite being so young, the “pure quality talent,” as dubbed by Jacek Kulig, racked up a tally of eight goals and five assists in 41 first-team appearances for Independiente del Valle last season.

Appearances

70

Starts

43

Minutes

4062′

Goals

13

Assists

6

Points per Game

1.84

Furthermore, in the words of respected analyst Ben Mattinson, the 18-year-old is “a left-footed magician who can play as a 10 or RW and has the intelligence to control and decide games,” which certainly sounds like the former Palmeiras gem.

Likewise, while he is capable of playing a killer pass or recycling possession to help the team, Mattinson also points out that he’s more than happy to “take on a couple players and get off shots.”

Finally, like Brazil’s next great superstar, the Strasbourg ace has already established himself on the international scene, amassing 23 senior caps for Ecuador, in which he’s scored two goals and provided three assists.

Ultimately, while he might not quite reach the level of Estevao, Paez has the potential to get incredibly close, and that would still make him a world-class player for Chelsea.

Liam Delap says Chelsea have a youngster who's "so raw" but "so exciting"

The striker made the comments after the Blues’ 3-0 rout against FC Barcelona in the Champions League.

ByDominic Lund Nov 26, 2025

Newcastle United now hold strong interest in signing Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, who has received high praise from England manager Thomas Tuchel.

Alan Shearer recently spoke about just how happy he is Anderson has been able to kick on since leaving his boyhood club due to PSR issues, saying: “It was the best thing. Although it was tough for Newcastle and it wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for PSR.

“But it was the best thing that happened to him, to get out and play. He wasn’t going to get in Newcastle’s midfield. You’ve got to give him credit. He wouldn’t be far away now [from getting in Newcastle’s midfield], I agree with that.”

With the likes of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes to choose from, Eddie Howe has some quality midfielders at his disposal, but it will no doubt be frustrating to have lost their academy graduate, who has since gone on to attract attention from a number of Premier League clubs.

The likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United have all been credited with an interest in the Whitley Bay-born midfielder, and reliable reporter John Percy has now dropped an update on his future at Forest…

Newcastle hold strong interest in signing Elliot Anderson

According to Percy, Newcastle now hold strong interest in signing Anderson, but would-be suitors will have to spend big to get a deal done, with the Tricky Trees looking to hold out for over £100m, including installments.

Sean Dyche’s side are unwilling to sanction a departure this winter under any circumstances, meaning a move will have to wait until next summer, at which point the central midfielder will be in high demand, with Man United also very keen.

The Telegraph report also relays comments from England boss Tuchel, who said: “Anderson is a key player for us at the moment,

“He is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, that’s why he is with us and starting for us.

“He is an elite player with the right attitude and a lot of talent.”

The 23-year-old has emerged as an important player for the Three Lions as of late, recently putting in a solid display as Tuchel’s side cruised to a 2-0 victory against Serbia in their penultimate World Cup qualifier.

As such, while it will sting to shell out around £100m for a former youth player, Newcastle should definitely pursue Anderson next summer, particularly considering there are now doubts over Joelinton’s future…

Newcastle hold internal talks to sign Ederson amid Joelinton concerns Newcastle now hold internal talks to sign Ederson amid Joelinton concerns

The Magpies are looking to upgrade their midfield, as there are now doubts over the Brazil international.

1 ByDominic Lund Nov 5, 2025

Tottenham chiefs are believed to be assessing their options ahead of the looming January transfer window, which opens in just over a month’s time, and Thomas Frank reportedly wants to reinforce his attacking options.

On the pitch, all eyes turn towards this weekend’s looming North London derby as Frank’s side dream of their first Premier League win at the Emirates Stadium since 2011.

Frank also heads into his first derby clash as Spurs boss in testing circumstances, nursing a crippling injury crisis as he also navigates an inconsistent run of form. With as many as 11 first-team players currently sidelined, the Dane’s squad depth is pretty stretched for one of the Premier League’s most high-stakes fixtures.

Dejan Kulusevski

Knee

29/11/2025

James Maddison

ACL

01/06/2026

Radu Dragusin

Knee

22/11/2025

Ben Davies

Thigh

23/11/2025

Kota Takai

Ankle/Foot

23/11/2025

Mohammed Kudus

Knock

23/11/2025

Randal Kolo Muani

Jaw

23/11/2025

Yves Bissouma

Ankle/Foot

23/11/2025

Lucas Bergvall

Concussion

23/11/2025

Dominic Solanke

Ankle

23/11/2025

Archie Gray

Calf/Shin/Heel

23/11/2025

via Premier Injuries

His preparations took another worrying turn when midfielder Pape Sarr limped off during Senegal’s friendly against Brazil, though his international manager, Pape Thiaw, then provided a reassuring update which suggested the knock wasn’t serious.

The injury list makes for grim reading. Randal Kolo Muani, Archie Gray, Ben Davies, Radu Dragusin, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Yves Bissouma and Kota Takai are just some of the names on Tottenham’s large absentee list, with a good few not expected back in time for the Arsenal clash.

Solanke is apparently “unlikely” to make his return against Mikel Arteta’s side as the striker continues his recovery from minor ankle surgery, while Kolo Muani fractured his jaw against Man United, and it remains to be seen how long the summer signing will be out for.

Mohammed Kudus should recover from a knock to face Arsenal, offering some attacking relief, while Lucas Bergvall could return after completing concussion protocols following his head injury against Chelsea — even if he was sent home from Sweden international duty after a ‘setback’.

Taking into account the club’s fitness issues which have plagued the Lilywhites since the start of Ange Postecoglou’s final season in charge, it is no surprise that they’re considering moves in the winter transfer market to reinforce Frank’s options.

Tottenham tried and failed to sign Man City winger Savinho in the summer, and it is believed that another wide-forward is very much still on the agenda at N17.

Takefusa Kubo could be tempted to join Tottenham in January

Real Sociedad star Takefusa Kubo is a player who’s long been linked with a move to Spurs.

Some reports even suggest that the north Londoners have made ‘several’ failed attempts to sign the Japan international, but they’ve been given some encouragement in the build up to January as it is claimed that Kubo is keen on Spurs as a landing spot.

His contract reportedly includes a £52 million release clause, and journalist Pete O’Rourke has told Football Insider that Kubo could still be intrigued by a move to Tottenham this winter amid Sociedad’s worrying form which sees them hovering just three points above the relegation zone.

O’Rourke also calls Kubo a “top player” who’d tick a lot of boxes for Frank.

The 24-year-old, who left Real Madrid after successive loan spells away to join Sociedad permanently in 2022, averaged more successful take-ons per 90 than any of his teammates in La Liga last season (WhoScored), and more than any Tottenham player managed in England that campaign too.

Predominantly a right-winger, Kubo appears unlikely to threaten Kudus’ place in the side given his exceptional start, but can operate as both a central attacking playmaker and even a second-striker, which may well appeal to Frank.

The presence of a release clause means that Spurs can bypass negotiations with Sociedad by triggering it and entering talks with the player himself.

Kubo’s signing could also open up commercial opportunities in the Asian market, something which Tottenham have missed since club legend and South Korea icon Son Heung-min departed for Los Angeles FC in the summer.

Make no mistake, this could be one to keep an eye on, and Kubo has been tipped to become an eventual superstar by those who’ve worked with him.