Tottenham transfer chief Johan Lange has his eyes on a “very rare” forward who’s just broken a 52-year record, with the club expected to go for a new attacker and centre-back in the January window.
Tottenham expected to make two January signings to back Thomas Frank
Spurs boss Thomas Frank has made a solid start to his reign overall, despite some concerns from supporters over their displays against lesser sides they’re expected to beat.
Going into their gritty 2-1 win at Elland Road prior to the international break, which ended Leeds United’s year-long unbeaten run at home in the league, the Lilywhites had just escaped Bodo/Glimt with an undeserved share of the spoils after being largely dominated by the Norwegian minnows.
|
Leeds United 1-2 Tottenham – best players |
Match Rating |
|---|---|
|
Mohammed Kudus |
8.4 |
|
Mathys Tel |
7.8 |
|
Noah Okafor |
7.0 |
|
Sean Longstaff |
7.0 |
|
Jayden Bogle |
6.8 |
|
via WhoScored |
|
They were also forced to come back and rescue draws against struggling Brighton and Wolves in their last two Premier League matches, but these results also taught us that the north Londoners are beginning to display a real resilience to crumbling that almost entirely evaded them last season.
This was evident against Leeds on a very rainy afternoon where the boisterous home crowd piled pressure on Frank’s side, but goals from summer signings Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus sealed a hard-fought three points for Spurs after Noah Okafor’s brief equaliser.
All the signs so far suggest that, while Tottenham are still a work in progress, they could have a bright future under Frank if the Dane is sufficiently backed in the transfer market.
Spurs did just that in the summer, even if they did fail to sign another wide player and centre-back after late summer links with Man City duo Savinho and Manuel Akanji, who’s since joined Inter Milan on loan with a buy option.
Savinho has just penned a new contract as well, ending all hope of Spurs striking a mid-season deal for the Brazilian.
However, it is believed that Lange and the recruitment team are still looking to bolster Frank’s wide area and the centre of Tottenham’s defence (TEAMtalk) — coming after suggestions that ENIC and the Lewis family could pump more money into the club for transfers and wages (Kaveh Solhekol).
Tottenham target Rayan breaks 52-year record as Lange plans bid
One of their reported attacking targets is Vasco de Gama sensation Rayan, who is viewed as one of Brazil’s rising star prospects.
The 19-year-old has scored 14 goals in all competitions across the Brazilian domestic campaign so far, and according to O Gol, his recent brace in a 4-3 win over Vitoria made history.
Rayan has now become the youngest Vasco player to reach 10 goals in the Brazilian top flight since Dinamite in 1973, and if he continues on this current trajectory, it’s surely only a matter of time before the Premier League beckons.
According to other recent reports from South America, Tottenham are expected to make an offer for Rayan, who has a £35 million release clause in his contract, with Spurs also sending scouts to watch over the teenager as he continues to impress.
Vasco manager Fernando Diniz has already made emphatic claims about the versatile attacker’s game-changing ability, sending a message that could perk the ears of supporters.
“Rayan is a player with enormous game-changing ability, one of the biggest in the country,” Diniz said.
“He is only 19, still learning to understand his own potential. There is a long road ahead, but he is a rare, very rare player.”
Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray could be joined by another unstoppable youngster, but the tantalising exit clause in his deal will also have other elite sides taking notice.
