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Tottenham Hotspur are looking to spend in the January transfer window, and the £35m sale of Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace already highlights the focus on making improvements in the final third.

There has been a marked lack of creativity and verve at Tottenham this season, with Thomas Frank yet to establish the framework that secured comparative riches with Brentford at the Gtech, rising from the Championship in 2021 and plying their way through four comfortable campaigns in the Dane’s system.

Spurs need a winger, for sure, but a lot has been left to be desired at number nine too, with Dominic Solanke struggling for fitness all year and Richarlison ebbing and flowing in front of goal.

Spurs could sign a striker in January

ENIC Group have provided Frank with the funds to seal a number of signings this winter. They have made inroads across recent weeks from a defensive standpoint, but Spurs’ attack simply isn’t clicking together.

Creativity is at a low ebb, to be sure, but there doesn’t appear to be much faith in the goalscoring options at number nine, with Solanke, Richarlison and loanee Randal Kolo Muani paling in comparison to Harry Kane – he’s the club’s record goalscorer, but that hardly needs mentioning.

Tottenham are in for the long haul, and Porto’s Samu Aghehowa could be the perfect up-and-coming forward to drive Frank’s project forward. As per Caught Offside, the Spaniard remains on the Londoners’ list after interest last year, though his employers do not want to sell at the campaign’s midpoint.

Valued at £87m, Samu has established himself as one of the most exciting and prolific attacking prospects in Europe over the past year-and-a-half, and Chelsea and Manchester United are among the other top clubs to have registered their interest of late.

What Samu would bring to Spurs

Samu scored plenty of goals for Porto last season, and journalist Zach Lowy remarked that he has the potential to become “one of the best strikers in Europe”.

Reared in Spain, Samu joined Porto from Atletico Madrid in 2024 after coming close to moving to Stamford Bridge and signing for Chelsea. That might have been a mistake; having remained in Iberian territory, he has fostered his qualities and grown into a complete forward.

Could the 21-year-old become the next Kane, with that in mind?

Replacing the England skipper has been a tough task for the Lilywhites, but Samu might just have what it takes to replace the world-class ace, who now leads an ambitious Bayern Munich project.

Tottenham’s All-time Record Scorers

Player

Apps

Goals

Harry Kane

435

280

Jimmy Greaves

376

266

Bobby Smith

316

211

Heung-min Son

454

173

Martin Chivers

350

167

Data via Transfermarkt

Kane is a superstar, and he was the poster boy for so many years down N17. Solanke and the like all have attributes worth writing home about, but none come close to Kane’s depth and consistency, and that’s where Samu could come in.

Powerful, tall and tenacious, Samu appears tailor-made for Premier League football, especially now that he’s riding the crest of a wave, nine goals from 14 Europa League appearances for Porto and 28 from 44 in the Portuguese top flight.

This is much better than Solanke’s efforts, having only featured twice in the Premier League this season. His injury-affected Spurs career is unfortunate, but Frank and co need to be ruthless going forward, lest the outfit continue to flatter to deceive.

He’s not just a flashy goalscorer. As per data platform FBref, Samu ranks among the top 16% of strikers in Liga Portugal this year for shot-creating actions and the top 5% for successful take-ons per 90.

Whereas last year he served as something of a target man, now his physicality and athleticism and dynamism have been allowed to develop.

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In this, he shares something with Kane, who is one of the deadliest frontmen of his generation but is also remarkably unique, with the vision of a natural-born number ten and the intelligence of an elite midfield general.

As we all know, it’s not easy to replace a centre-forward of Kane’s standing, but Samu is the full package and he has what it takes to become a superstar in the Premier League.

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Birmingham City would surely jot down this summer transfer window as a resounding success.

Chris Davies’ Blues have continued to flex their muscles after emphatically securing promotion out of League One, as seen in 11 brand new signings joining the building so far, with £10m solely splashed out on the potent services of ex-Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi.

Splashing this excessive amount on Kyogo to join hasn’t stopped them from adding in more lethal attackers, however, as Marvin Ducksch now attempts to make a name for himself in England, after becoming well-known as a goalscoring menace with Werder Bremen.

Ducksch's reputation at Bremen

With Jay Stansfield also at their disposal, Birmingham have quite the attacking arsenal as they prepare to be in and around the promotion spots in the Championship come next May.

This unbelievable attacking firepower was on full show last time out in the second-tier, as both the aforementioned Stansfield – and reserve figure Lyndon Dykes – scored late on to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory on the road at Blackburn Rovers.

Ducksch is quite the steal too – even if he was nowhere to be found at Ewood Park – when you weigh up his blistering exploits in the Bundesliga and beyond, with a ridiculous 220 goals coming his way from 459 appearances up and down the various German leagues.

With 110 assists also next to his name, it’s clear that the Dortmund-born star will be a team player for the cause, with Davies hopeful his new number 33 will soon be fit and firing, despite a delayed start to injury.

Of course, there will be a worry in the air about whether their new £1.7m recruit will be able to show off this same clinical edge in the hustle and bustle of the Championship, with Ducksch only ever plying his trade in his native Germany, before this daring next step.

To lessen that worry, perhaps, Davies and Co. could still be prepared to explore a move for this EFL-ready marksman before deadline day comes around.

Why Che Adams would be an upgrade in Ducksch

Birmingham fans are always kept on their toes when it comes to who their side is looking to bring in.

Ducksch signing for the club was only ever made public knowledge after the Blues lost out on the coveted signature of Chuba Akpom, meaning there must surely be other transfer targets tucked up the second-tier side’s sleeve.

Che Adams might well be one name they have at their back of their head, still, with Football League World revealing earlier this week that Birmingham still held an interest in their former attacker, right up until Ducksch putting pen to paper on a move.

He likely wouldn’t come cheap, considering his £13m market valuation, as per Football Transfers, but if Davies wants a last-minute roll of the dice that enables him to win a Championship-calibre attacker, going back in for the ex-Southampton forward could be an ingenious late move.

Adams vs Ducksch – 24/25 League stats

Stat (per game)

Adams

Ducksch

Games

36

32

Goals

9

8

xG

8.92

10.11

Goal frequency

295min

304min

Goals per game

0.3

0.3

Big chances missed

13

11

Goal conversion

14%

11%

Sourced by Sofascore

After all, if Adams is capable of picking up from where he last left off in the second tier with Birmingham, he would surely be more of an immediate rip-roaring success than Ducksch, with a deadly 22 league strikes registered across his final Blues season.

Even last term, as indicated in the table above, he shone in his debut campaign for Torino, having outscored his German counterpart concerning league goals, while totalling 14 goals and assists in all competitions.

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The Scotland international also dazzled during his last campaign at Championship level, too, with the “terrific” – as he was once labelled by Scottish legend Ally McCoist – forward’s electric 15 strikes helping the South Coast side clinch promotion.

With the upward trajectory Birmingham look to be on, Adams might well feel he can secure another promotion if he returns to St. Andrew’s imminently, as his goalscoring magic potentially rips up the Championship once more.

Ducksch will also likely chip in with the goals to try and make back-to-back promotions an unbelievable reality, but he could be unfortunately moved to the background if the ex-Blues youngster does return home to be Davies’ leading man up top.

Further lauded as being “amazing” by former Saints boss Russell Martin to work with, landing the services of Adams would really show the rest of the division how serious Birmingham believes they can jump up to the Premier League.

It does feel like a tall order to pull off so deep into the window, but never rule out the audacious from happening at St. Andrew’s.

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Leeds United are interested in signing a “great” new player this summer and have already made contact, according to one Sky Sports reporter.

Leeds preparing for Oxford with Championship promotion a real possibility

The Whites have just four Championship fixtures remaining and are currently top of the table on goal difference ahead of Burnley.

More importantly, though, the gap to third place Sheffield United now sits at five points with the Blades losing their last three games against Oxford United, Millwall and Plymouth Argyle. Leeds still have to travel to both Oxford and Plymouth, with a clash with the former up next on Good Friday.

Championship run-in

Leeds (88 pts)

Sheffield United (83 pts)

Burnley (88 pts)

Oxford United (a)

Cardiff City (h)

Watford (a)

Stoke City (h)

Burnley (a)

Sheffield United (h)

Bristol City (h)

Stoke City (a)

QPR (a)

Plymouth Argyle (a)

Blackburn Rovers (h)

Millwall (h)

A third win in a row for Daniel Farke’s side will see them need a maximum of four more points to guarantee promotion, with the manager looking for his side to be more ruthless in front of goal after the 2-1 win over Preston North End last time out.

“It feels pretty good after an exhausting week with three difficult games. It was a priceless three points for us. It was a really good performance and we could have made life easier by taking a few of our chances, it must have been one of our highest expected goals of the season. We should have scored six or seven.”

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Joel Piroe is currently without a goal in his last eight Championship games, however, with Leeds close to promotion, transfer targets are being identified.

The club are unsure if Piroe and Patrick Bamford are Premier League quality, but someone who the Whites do like is a Germany international who plays in midfield.

Leeds in contact to sign Borussia Monchengladbach captain Weigl – Sky Sports

According to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg, Leeds have made initial contact over a deal to sign Borussia Monchengladbach captain Julian Weigl.

Weigl earns a minimum of £50,000-a-week in Germany and has worked under Farke before, with the pair still having a “good relationship”.

The 29-year-old, who can play as a holding midfielder, central midfielder or even as a centre-back, would only move to Elland Road if Premier League football is on offer, Plettenberg adds.

Reports elsewhere from Sky Germany have said it would be an “expensive deal” for the Whites to sign Weigl, who Farke praised back in 2023.

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“Julian is a great footballer and person. He could enrich many teams with his qualities.”

Now, it looks as if a reunion between the pair could be on the cards, making this one to keep an eye on.

Manchester United’s transfer business has left a lot to be desired in recent years, especially during the tenure of Erik ten Hag, who tried to return to the glory days back at Old Trafford.

The Dutchman spent over £600m on new additions during his time in charge but failed to recruit the talent that was able to help his quest of taking the Red Devils back to the top of the Premier League.

In his final season at the helm, the 54-year-old won the FA Cup but was unable to secure a top-four finish in the league, ending 2023/24 in eighth place.

He lost his job just a handful of matches into the current campaign, with his new additions unable to have the desired effect – ultimately costing him his job.

There are various options to choose from, but countless of his additions have bled the club dry, looking nowhere near value for money given their excessive transfer fees.

Ten Hag’s worst signings as Man United manager

Winger Antony followed boss Ten Hag from Ajax during the summer of 2022, costing a mammoth £86m – the second-highest transfer fee the club have paid for a player after Paul Pogba.

Undoubtedly, high expectations were placed on the 24-year-old’s shoulders after his move, but he’s since only scored 12 times in his 89 appearances – an average of one goal every seven matches.

His antics and showboating haven’t gone down well with the United faithful, often seeing him come under fire, restricting him to only three league appearances this season to date.

Casemiro was another expensive addition, costing £70m from Real Madrid during the same transfer window, looking to add quality to the midfield department, but the move hasn’t gone as either party would’ve expected.

He may have made over 100 appearances for the Red Devils, but having often been at fault for goals by making individual errors, he appears to be coming towards the back end of his career at the age of 32. no sell-on fee expected from their big-money investment is expected.

He’s not the only midfielder to fail to make the grade in the North West, with new boss Ruben Amorim needing to part ways with one of Ten Hag’s additions in January.

The Man Utd player who Amorim needs to sell in January

Denmark international Christian Eriksen joined on a free transfer in the summer of 2022, after leaving Brentford at the end of the previous season – looking to provide experience at the heart of the United side.

The former Tottenham star is now 32, and like Casemiro, coming to the back end of his days at the top level, leaving new boss Amorim to make a call on his future in Manchester.

He’s only made one appearance since the 39-year-old’s appointment, coming during his first outing at Ipswich Town, failing to appear in another game since – dropping rapidly down the pecking order.

Former Sporting Director John Murtough dubbed the Dane as “one of the best” upon his transfer, heaping high expectations after his transfer to Old Trafford.

He may have made 86 appearances since then, but with his contract expiring at the end of the campaign, Amorim may look to offload the experienced talent before his deal runs out.

Eriksen’s Premier League stats for United (2024/25)

Statistics

Tally

Games played

9

Pass accuracy

89%

Chances created

14

Tackles won

3

Duels won

12

Recoveries made

24

Times dribbled past

5

Stats via FotMob

His £150k-per-week wages have failed to be reflected by his importance since the appointment of the new boss, desperately struggling to make an impact on the first team.

The upcoming window may represent the last opportunity to recoup any form of transfer fee, whilst also fitting in with the current cost-cutting operation in place at Manchester.

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He’s been a solid squad member, but if the club are to improve and reach the next level, Amorim will need to be brutal with his decision-making of the current crop of players.

Eriksen is one that could be sacrificed, potentially allowing for needed improvement across the board, and giving the new boss the best possible chance of being a success during his tenure in Manchester.

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After earning promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking last season, Leicester City are ready to make a move for a player with no shortage of experience in the English top flight.

Leicester look to make early moves in the transfer market

With Steve Cooper now in the dugout at the King Power Stadium, the higher ups at Leicester have worked quickly to help bolster their new manager's side.

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The Foxes' first deal of the summer saw experienced attacking talent Bobby De Cordova-Reid join on a free transfer from Fulham. Penning a three-year deal at the club, the Jamaica international will play a key role in Cooper's side next season.

Following the acquisition of De Cordova-Reid, Leicester have gone on to make further additions in the form of Caleb Okoli and Michael Golding. The former arrives in a rumoured £11.8 million move from Europa League winners Atalanta whilst Golding joins the Foxes in a £5million transfer from fellow Premier League outfit Chelsea.

With Leicester's summer business looking far from over, the club have continued to work on bringing further new players to the club. The latest name linked with a move to the Midlands is Lens striker Elye Wahi who is also attracting interest from the likes of West Ham and Chelsea.

The Foxes are clearly on the lookout for new forward players after failing to negotiate a new deal for Kelechi Iheanacho. With the Nigeria international signing as a Sevilla player earlier this week, Leicester have now identified an experienced Premier League attacker as their top target this summer.

Ayew at the top of Leicester's striker shortlist

As first report on the X account of Standard Sport journalist Dom Smith, Leicester have made a formal bid for Crystal Palace striker Jordan Ayew. Smith claims that the Foxes have made the 32-year-old their number one target for the remaining weeks of the transfer window.

Ayew's name will be a familiar one to much of the King Power faithful with the Ghana international spending the majoirty of his career playing in England. Across spells with Swansea City, Aston Villa and the aforementioned Palace, Ayew racked up 274 total appearances in the Premier League, scoring 37 goals in the process.

The 32-year-old's most recent season at Selhurst Park saw Ayew feature 35 times in the league, contributing four goals and seven assists in the process.

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Whilst the signing of Ayew may not appear all that glamorous at face value, the Ghanaian is still a more than capable top flight operator who is often lauded as one of the hardest working players in the division. Speaking on the player's work ethic back in 2019, former Palace boss Roy Hodgson was quick to praise Ayew's work rate: "For Ayew on all-round performance, it was his best performance. His work rate and efforts in the game at Southampton in midweek was fantastic,

"In this game again, you see the man has super-human powers in terms of the effort he puts in. Today I thought he succeeded with the ball as well."

With Leicester in need of players with proven Premier League pedigree, they could certainly do a lot worse than signing Ayew this summer.

The future of young defender Djed Spence has taken a twist this week, as Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou makes a final decision on his plans for the player.

Spence unfavoured by Conte and Postecoglou

The 23-year-old signed for Spurs from Middlesbrough in the summer of 2022, following a very impressive loan spell at Nottingham Forest where he stood out in their push for Premier League promotion.

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A hot commodity back then, Spence arrived in north London with a stellar reputation, and some supporters believed he could thrive as a wing-back in then-manager Antonio Conte's three-at-the-back system.

However, it really didn't turn out that way, as the Englishman was given barely any opportunities by Conte to impress – with the tactician branding Spence a club signing rather than his own.

Djed Spence's best Serie A games for Genoa on loan this season (at least 45 mins)

Match Rating (via WhoScored)

Juventus 0-0 Genoa

7.16

Empoli 0-0 Genoa

7.08

Salernitana 1-2 Genoa

6.41

Genoa 2-3 Monza

6.38

Genoa 2-1 Lecce

6.16

“Spence is an investment of the club. The club wanted to do it," said Conte on Spence.

“I said ‘OK, this player is young but he showed he can become a good, important player for us’. The club decided to buy him The club was very clear with me and said we reached an important achievement and … now we want to continue to grow. To grow together with ambition."

The defender, following Conte's exit, was given a second chance to impress at Spurs with the arrival of Postecoglou. The Lilywhites head coach, though, wasn't impressed either.

Spence was shipped out on a temporary spell to Leeds United during the first half of this season, which didn't work out, and he now finds himself back out on loan at Genoa in Serie A.

There are some Tottenham supporters who believe he could still come good, but according to football.london journalist Alasdair Gold, a decision has already been made on Spence's future this summer.

Spence decision made as Tottenham green-light summer exit

According to the reliable correspondent, Spence will be allowed to leave Tottenham with Postecoglou deciding he's part of his plans, alongside fellow full-back Sergio Reguilon.

Spurs will be in the market for a new full-back this summer, according to various reports, so this could be the right decision – as getting in ahead of a potential new arrival and the in-form Pedro Porro is arguably too much to ask of Spence.

This end to his career at N17 is a real shame, especially given the hype around him just two years ago.

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"He has been the standout player in the Forest side and we are talking about a full-back," said former Forest star Brian Laws.

"Full-backs do not tend to get many headlines. He grabs them by the handful. In every single game, he has a positive impact. He has power going forward, he has electric pace, he has an abundance of skill, he can drop his shoulder, step over, go inside or outside — he is a major threat."

Four wins from five and their place confirmed in the Scottish Cup final, it's fair to say that Rangers have got off to a good start under new boss Philippe Clement. The former AS Monaco man has breathed new life into the Scottish Premiership giants, who may yet have a say in Celtic's pursuit of a third consecutive title and a first since the return of Brendan Rodgers.

With games coming thick and fast, Clement will simply be hoping to see the Gers continue their fine form and unbeaten run for as long as possible. That may prove more difficult, however, after recent injury news emerged to deal the new manager a frustrating blow.

Rangers injury news

Clement has already had to deal with several Rangers injuries during the early days of his tenure. The Belgian has been without John Souttar, Borna Barisic, Dujon Sterling, Nicolas Raskin and Rabbi Matondo at various stages in what has been a difficult few weeks when it comes to finding consistent options. Those absences make Clement's start all the more impressive, however, and beg the question as to just how good the Gers will be when the new manager has a full squad available.

The answer to that question looks unlikely to come anytime soon, though, with Clement confirming more Rangers injury news. The manager said, via Four Lads Had a Dream: “Ahead of Prague, You want to build from game to game, you want to give players a chance but we miss a few from the European squad. One player is unavailable but I will not tell you who. Minor [injury] but may not make it Thursday or Sunday.”

With that said, only time will tell just who it is that Rangers will be missing for their next Europa League clash, as Clement continues to remain coy over his squad's availability.

Rangers team news vs Sparta Prague

With the chance to potentially move top of Group C with a win over Sparta Prague, Clement must get his Rangers selection right from the players that he has at his disposal. The new boss has already faced the Czech Republic side in charge of the Gers, of course, when they held them to a 0-0 draw in Prague in just his second game in charge. Now on four points, two points adrift of group leaders Real Betis, Rangers have the chance to lay down a marker halfway through the group stage.

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Having eased past Hearts to progress into the final of the Scottish League Cup last time out, the likes of Danilo and Ryan Jack could keep their starting place, whilst Cyriel Dessers may well get an opportunity to feature at some stage.

If the Scottish giants can go one better than their previous away day by defeating Sparta Prague, then it will show just how much they've improved in such little time since the arrival of Clement. Even without what is currently an unknown injury, the Gers have the opportunity to make it six games without defeat under their new boss.

Manchester United transfer target Leon Goretzka would prefer to stay put at Bayern Munich beyond the summer transfer window, according to an update from journalist Ben Jacobs.

How much does Leon Goretzka earn?

The midfielder, who currently earns £231,000 per week at Bayern, has enjoyed an excellent career to date, becoming a key player for both the Bundesliga giants and Germany.

Goretzka, who has been called a "goal threat", has been a hugely effective box-to-box player for a number of years now, racking up 179 appearances for Bayern, and scoring 34 goals and registering 35 assists in that time. There is also an impressive tally of five Bundesliga titles and one Champions League crown to show for his efforts, summing up the success he has enjoyed since arriving from Schalke back in 2018.

At international level, the 28-year-old now has 53 caps to his name, more than holding his own alongside likes of Toni Kroos, Ilkay Gundogan and Joshua Kimmich.

Goretzka's current deal doesn't expire until the summer of 2026, but he has been linked with a move away from Bayern, with United emerging as potential suitors for him.

Could Man Utd sign Leon Goretzka?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs provided a key update on Goretzka's future, admitting that remaining at Bayern would be his preferred option:

"Goretzka has been looked at by several clubs. But when those clubs have explored the possibility of a deal, they get some hope on the Bayern side that a negotiation or conversation could happen, but they get less hope on the player's side because he is still intimating that he wants to stay."

Goretzka has been a top-level player for a long time now, and he is someone who could add so much to United's midfield, combing defensive intelligence, physicality and an eye for goal in the final third.

He could be a lovely foil for Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, coming in as an upgrade on Fred and Scott McTominay, and a younger alternative to Christian Eriksen, although it looks as though a move is looking out of the question.

There would be a risk element in the Reds signing the Germany international, however, with his recent injury history a long way from being perfect, which would be a plus point if United missed out on him.

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Ultimately, the positives outweigh the negatives with regard to United's pursuits of Goretzka, though – former Reds manager Ralf Rangnick once called him "the best box-to-box player in the world "- so it would be preferable to see a move materialise. If it doesn't, it would be no disaster and alternative options should be looked at instead.

Whatever happens, it is vital that at least one new midfielder arrives at Old Trafford between now and the beginning of the 2023/24 season, with more quality and depth required there if United are to become genuine Premier League title challengers in the coming campaign.

Fiorentina and Morocco hero Sofyan Amrabat looks increasingly likely to make the switch to United, which could be an exciting piece of business, but Goretzka would still be a better option, should his current mindset change.

Liverpool have struggled to maintain their high standards this season and Jurgen Klopp will surely already be looking to the summer to find ways to improve his squad ahead of next season.

The Reds are looking less and less likely to qualify for Champions League football next season due to their inconsistent performances in the Premier League that have left them now 13 points adrift of the top four with just nine games left to close the gap.

Indeed, it is not ideal for the club to miss out on playing its part in the prestigious European competition, but it now presents a harsh wake-up call to the reality of the rebuild and refresh of the squad that is desperately needed at Anfield.

The Liverpool recruitment team will be expected to invest heavily in new additions when the transfer window opens in a few weeks' time with the midfield the likely focus, but the defensive positions could come under question too, following a real struggle to dominate opponents on numerous occasions from the back-line.

It will cost nothing short of a fortune for FSG to repair the damage that has been chipping away at Anfield due to a lack of reinvestment in midfield positions since the signing of Thiago Alcantara back in 2020.

However, Klopp could already have a fantastic option to add to the depth of his midfield personnel next season, as Tyler Morton has been shining out on loan with Blackburn Rovers and could be ready to follow in the footsteps of Stefan Bajcetic by becoming a regular player in the team.

How is Tyler Morton doing out on loan?

The 20-year-old dynamic midfielder signed a brand new five-year deal back in January 2023 half-way through his season-long loan in the Championship at Ewood Park.

Morton has been a breakthrough talent after being a promising product of the Merseyside giant's academy and making nine appearances in the senior team before continuing his development with first team football at Blackburn Rovers, and the opportunity has paid off massively so far.

Over 37 Championship appearances, Morton – once hailed "class" by journalist Leanne Prescott – has delivered two assists, created seven big chances and tallied up an 82% pass completion rate, as well as averaging 1.2 key passes, 57.4 touches, 1.6 tackles and 3.1 duels won per game, proving he has been a huge presence on the pitch and influential in progressive play delivering creativity in advanced areas.

Whilst the level of his contribution next season will be determined by Liverpool's ability to secure the transfer targets they are looking at this summer, there is no doubt that combining Morton's progressive and creative play with Bajectic's pace and incisive passing range into the attacking third could be a huge asset to the Merseysiders next season.

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With that being said, it is obvious that the future is bright for Morton and his talents are clearly valued by the club due to being retained for the next half a decade, so it will be interesting to see whether he will be given the opportunity to finally break into the senior team next season to inject another youthful perspective into the centre of the pitch.

Everton have reportedly reignited their interest in signing Southampton striker Che Adams.

The Lowdown: Summer talks

It was reported during last summer’s transfer window that the Goodison Park outfit were in talks to sign the Scotland international, who was valued upwards of £25m by the Saints.

Instead, they signed Neal Maupay from Brighton and Hove Albion, who has only managed one goal in 15 games across all competitions since his arrival.

The Latest: Adams interest reignited

As per Football Insider, Everton have now ‘reignited their interest’ in signing Adams as they target two attacking signings after letting Anthony Gordon depart for Newcastle United.

The two attackers in mind are an ‘orthodox’ centre-forward who can ‘spearhead’ the attack, and a ‘pacy’ winger’, with Adams firmly on their list.

The Verdict: Avoid

It is easy to see why Everton may be interested in Adams, given that he can play both as a striker and out wide. However, the one thing they need most is goals, given that they are the second-lowest scorers in the Premier League with just 15 to their name.

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As hard as Adams works, with former Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl hailing the 26-year-old’s ‘fantastic’ attitude in the past, he is simply not a proven goalscorer at this level. He has netted just 24 times in three-and-a-half seasons in the top flight, with only four of those coming in the current campaign (Transfermarkt).

This could be a simple deal to pull off, given that Adams shares the same agent as summer arrival Dwight McNeil and the Newcastle-bound Gordon, but with only a couple of days left in the transfer window, the Toffees should be looking elsewhere for now.