Here, we examine the present performance of the players whose names have been connected with a transfer to Tottenham over the summer.
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium experienced a lot of alteration in the summer of 2023. Following Antonio Conte’s resignation at the end of March, N17 appointed Ange Postecoglou as head coach. There were also a number of important arrivals and departures on the transfer front.
once significant conjecture over a transfer away once the England captain had entered the final 12 months of his contract, Harry Kane’s high-profile departure to Bayern Munich became the main topic of conversation. Spurs were very active in adding players to their squad before the striker left, signing Guglielmo Vicario, Ashley Phillips, Micky van de Ven, Manor Solomon, James Maddison, and Alejo Veliz while also making the loan agreements for Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski permanent.
Postecoglou then added to his roster on the last day of the transfer window when Tottenham finalised a £47.5 million agreement to acquire Brennan Johnson from Nottingham Forest. The Lilywhites were linked with a wide range of players as is the case every transfer window as they sought to improve their playing roster.
But how exactly have some of those players who have been connected to a transfer to Tottenham performed for their current teams this season? Below, football.london looks.
Raya, David
Tottenham was particularly interested in a move for Raya because they were always looking for a replacement for Hugo Lloris as the club’s indisputable No. 1 custodian in the summer. The custodian reportedly wanted to transfer to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium across the capital, but the Lilywhites were unwilling to overpay for a player who was entering the final year of his contract, with Brentford ready to pay £40 million for the Spaniard.
Raya eventually moved to north London, but Empoli decided to go with Vicario instead of paying a high price for the former Blackburn Rovers player. Raya then went to the Emirates Stadium. In his first three games, he sat on the substitutes’ bench and observed The 27-year-old will be hoping to get more playing time for Arsenal once domestic football starts following the current international break.
E. T. Tapsoba
The Bayer Leverkusen defender Tapsoba was another player who was frequently mentioned in transfer rumours to Tottenham. In the midst of all the talk around the Burkina Faso star, Spurs decided to go with fellow Bundesliga defender Micky van de Ven.
After making four appearances last season, the 24-year-old has continued to play a significant role for Leverkusen this year. He scored once in their 8-0 DFB-Pokal first-round victory over Teutonia Ottensen. After Davinson Sanchez’s permanent departure, Spurs still need to add a defensive player, so a transfer for Tapsoba seems increasingly unlikely given that he recently extended his contract with Leverkusen by five years.
Adarabioyo Tosin
Adarabioyo is one guy Tottenham might be able to get in January on the cheap. The Fulham defender is still employed at Craven Cottage despite spurned transfers to Monaco and Spurs.
The 25-year-old hasn’t been included in the Fulham lineup for four of their five games this season; his lone appearance came in the 2-2 tie with Arsenal last month’s final minute. Given that the player will be entering the final six months of his contract in January, Daniel Levy and Spurs may be able to work out a very favourable agreement for him.
Schurrs, Perr
Torino ace felt the need to expand their defensive alternatives. Before the deadline, Perr Schurrs was one of the defenders Tottenham was considering. However, the Dutchman never received a transfer and is currently playing for the Serie A team in Turin.
Schurrs, who has participated in each of Torino’s three league games so far this season, scored in their 4-1 loss at AC Milan despite playing in all three.
Lenglet, Clement
Lenglet played frequently during his loan season at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and rumours of another possible transfer for him persisted throughout the summer. The player, who had no future at Barcelona, ultimately received his transfer on deadline day after joining Aston Villa on a season-long loan agreement.
Two days after joining the Midlands club, the 28-year-old was on the Villa bench, but he didn’t play when they lost 3-0 at Liverpool.
Kelly, Lloyd
Lloyd Kelly was mentioned in connection with a very last-minute deal to Tottenham in the last hours of the summer transfer window. Tottenham may reconsider a bid for the defender in January, but they may now have to compete with Liverpool and Newcastle for his signing. It may have been too late for the center-back to transfer from the south coast to north London.
Similar to Adarabioyo, who will be in the final six months of his contract at the beginning of the new year, Tottenham might save millions. Kelly has played for Bournemouth thus far this season in three games, one of which was Tottenham’s 2-0 victory over Bournemouth at the Vitaly Stadium at the end of August.
Gallagher, Conor
Gallagher initially appeared likely to depart Chelsea during the summer transfer window since Mauricio Pochettino was planning to make some significant changes in the midfield. However, after the transfer window closed, Gallagher is still a member of the Blues. Spurs were interested in the midfielder, and there was discussion of a deadline-day transfer across the capital, but the fact that Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was unable to leave Tottenham effectively put an end to Gallagher’s chances of joining the Lilywhites.
Barnes, Harvey
Both Maddison and Harvey Barnes were in the news after Leicester City was demoted to the Championship due to a double move to Tottenham. Spurs only signed Maddison from the Foxes despite having a keen interest in Barnes.
Instead, towards the end of July, the winger moved to Newcastle United for a sum that is estimated to be around £39 million. In an effort to establish himself as a regular in Eddie Howe’s starting XI, the 25-year-old has so far had to wait his turn on the St. James’ Park bench.
He had a goal and an assist in his 22 minutes on the pitch as they thrashed Aston Villa, making the best possible debut in the north east.
With a transfer from Barcelona being rumoured in the final few days of the transfer window, Ansu Fati Fati was on the minds of all Tottenham fans. In reality, the youngster did secure a loan move to the Premier League, but he went to Brighton & Hove Albion rather than Spurs.
Fati has already made three appearances this year after starting off the bench in Barcelona’s first three La Liga games, but he was absent from the Brighton lineup last weekend when they defeated Newcastle United. The 20-year-old will be looking towards a potential debut against Manchester United when domestic football resumes next weekend. He did not work in the days before to his Brighton move.
Tottenham supporters wanted the club to do a deal with Gent for highly-rated forward Orban because they felt the team needed to strengthen their attack after Kane left for Bayern Munich. The young Belgian player caught many people’s notice earlier this year when he scored a stunning hat-trick in only three minutes and 25 seconds against Istanbul Basaksehir in a Europa Conference League match.
The 21-year-old continued to score goals this year, finishing the 2022–23 season with 20 goals and two assists from his 22 outings across all competitions for Gent. Orban has scored six goals in his first nine games of the current season, including a hat trick during their Europa Conference League qualifying match opposed to Pogon Szczecin.
Orban has had a very strong start to the season, and if he keeps up his present pace, he may very well surpass his 20-goal total from the previous year. If he does that, several clubs might be interested in signing him when the transfer window reopens at the start of January.
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