While much of the chatter surrounds the thought of Ange Postecoglou leaving Tottenham Hotspur behind this summer, that shouldn’t derail their plans in the transfer window.
Indeed, while much of the blame for finishing 17th in the Premier League has been sent in the direction of the Australian, the player squad needs improving significantly too.
Dominic Solanke failed to truly get going in a Spurs shirt after signing for £65m last summer, while Heung-min Son’s best days clearly look as though they are behind him, scoring just once since Christmas.
Despite Kevin Danso permanently arriving in a £21m deal, the Lilywhites also need to drastically improve at the back, perhaps not just tactically but also from a personnel point of view. In the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, they shipped a staggering 65 goals, a tally only worse than Wolves and the three relegated sides.
So, who could they turn to?
Spurs confident of signing Premier League winner
Once the manager situation has been resolved, the first order of business for Daniel Levy and Co should be to strengthen the first-team squad.
Adding more bodies to their forward line would tick plenty of boxes as far as the fans are concerned, with one option reportedly Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku.
Reports have indicated in recent days that they’ve had contact with the Blues regarding a summer deal.
Not just content at improving their options in central areas, they could also sign a new winger. The most heavily tipped option at the moment is Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane.
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The German is out of contract at the end of the month and will be available to sign on a free transfer unless he pens new terms in Bavaria.
According to Foot Mercato, Bayern sent an improved contract offer to the former Manchester City star earlier this week but with no resolution forthcoming, Spurs are now believed to be ‘confident’ of signing him.
Postecoglou’s side are set to face competition from other English clubs, including Arsenal, while Saudi and Turkish sides are also looking at Sane.
How Leroy Sane could replicate Gareth Bale at Spurs
What is there to say about Gareth Bale that hasn’t already been said? After two spells in north London, the Welshman is an iconic figure.
From that ridiculous volley against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium to that remarkable hat-trick in the San Siro against Inter Milan in the Champions League, very few have been quite as skilled as he.
Across those two spells, he featured in 237 games, scoring 71 goals in the process.
A left-footed whizz with the ability to create something out of nothing, there are certainly similarities between Bale and Sane.
We’re not for one moment suggesting that the Germany international will be as good as the Welsh sensation but the way they manipulate the ball and attack their full-backs is certainly similar.
Described as a “superstar” by scout Antonio Mango, Sane has certainly proven that out in Munich, where he has 61 goals and 55 assists in 220 games to show for his efforts. 13 of those goals came this term while he also found the net on ten occasions last season, registering 13 assists.
”Leroy is always dangerous, but in the last two or three weeks he has really been consistent. That’s the difference between scoring ten goals in a season and scoring five goals in a season. He’s in good form.” – Harry Kane on Sane in April 2025.
Like Bale, he’s a duel threat, someone capable of scoring and creating chances. He’s also devilish when cutting inside from the right onto his favoured left foot, just as Bale was all those years ago.
To get a greater sense of how similar they are, we’ve compared the two players during their respective peaks.
Goals
0.53
0.37
Assists
0.26
0.38
Shot on target %
41%
38%
Key passes
1.37
2.09
Passes into final 3rd
1.97
1.81
Progressive passes
3.55
4.21
Shot-creating actions
3.04
4.64
Successful take-ons
1.41
3.05
Progressive carries
3.78
3.99
Analysing the numbers, Bale was clearly a more prolific player in front of goal but where Sane makes up for that is in terms of his creation.
He’s registered more assists per 90 minutes across the peak of his career to date, and while both wingers love to take on the opposition full-back, it’s the Bayern star who comes out on top in this regard.
He succeeds with far more take-ons but they are quite evenly matched for progressive carries.
A carry is considered progressive if the ball is moved towards the opponent’s goal at least 10 yards from its starting point or is carried into the penalty area.
Sane is, of course, now heading towards the later stages of his career but for a 29-year-old Premier League winner on a free transfer, you can’t really go wrong here.
It would add trophy-winning experience to the squad and it would provide an additional threat. He’s an immediate upgrade on the departing Timo Werner and he’s a different sort of right winger to the pacey right-footed Brennan Johnson.
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