Tottenham Hotspur

The Premier League season is fast approaching and clubs are continuing their pre-season preparations.

Here's a look at some of the teams in action on a busy Saturday.

All times BST

We asked for your views on Dominic Solanke, who may soon be joining Tottenham.

Here are some of your comments:

Artur: I'm really excited about Solanke. Think he fits our system really well and Ange would really like him. He presses well and can finish well so I think he's worth the money.

Andy: I don't think Solanke is worth the money suggested. One good season last year is all he's had. He hasn't attracted much interest in the past. Liverpool let him go for a reason, give Will Lankshear a chance.

Martyn: If Ange says he's the right man then that's good enough for me. No transfer is guaranteed, but he's proven in the Premier League, won't need to adapt like a more glamorous sounding foreign player and most importantly wants to join us.

Matty: Two words... Toney please. Solanke is a one-hit wonder.

Ian: We were desperately missing a number nine last season, even playing Son out of position. This is a step in the right direction. It's a shame we won't break the bank for once for an Osimhen-type player to make a statement of intent.

Richard: All you can really say is that he is a striker and he is English. Big money signings and Spurs usually represent a big red flag, but if he carries last year's form into this, he could work out. 50/50 in my opinion.

Sources say the deal to take Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth to Tottenham is now done. It is a total package of £65m.

Image source, Getty Images

Ange Postecoglou says Tottenham have not been looking to replace Harry Kane as the club closes in on a deal to sign Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth.

Spurs' record goalscorer Kane departed last summer for Bayern Munich and Richarlison struggled for consistency amid injury issues last season.

"I don't think we've been looking to replace Harry," Postecoglou told the media before Spurs' final pre-season friendly at home to Kane's Bayern on Saturday.

"I think I said a number of times last year that you can't replace a generational player and there's a reason they stand apart. It's fair to say front third is an area we really believe we need to reinforce this year. We've been working hard to try to get the right kind of players into those areas we need for another challenging season ahead.

"We're back in Europe, which means more games, and the one thing coming out of last year when we had disruptions in terms of injuries or suspensions there was a real drop off and we want to try to mitigate that this year by having a stronger squad to cope with everything we do."

Brazil forward Richarlison turned down a move to Saudi Arabia this summer and Postecoglou says another striker would not be added in place of the 27-year-old.

"This is not about replacing Richy, for us, it is about adding to our squad," he added.

"We want to get stronger from every transfer window we've had and from my perspective, I'd say Richy is part of what we want to build here. Last year, when he played, he was very, very good for us and hopefully this year we keep him healthy and he plays more.

"Having more quality and depth in that front third means we hopefully protect our players a bit more and cover our absences when they are not there. I am sure every player here wants us to get better.

"If you want to be a club that challenges for trophies, you need to be a strong squad and that means having good quality players all over the park."

Image source, Getty Images

Dominic Solanke, Bournemouth's top scorer from last season, has been heavily linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur.

Cherries boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking about the potential move and says: “I know talks are ongoing.

“But right now he is our player. That is what I know. I cannot tell you much more.

“Obviously for us, Dom is a very, very important player. But I cannot tell you how this is going to finish.

“Everyone focuses on the goals he scores. He scores a big percentage of our goals."

Solanke scored 19 Premier League goals last season, 13 more than the previous term as his increased output helped Bournemouth finish 12th in Iraola's first season in charge.

“But he gives us much more than goals. He is very complete. He helps us in all the phases of the game. He would be a big miss, obviously," Iraola continued.

“He is someone who has been very involved. He played all the games in the past season. He scored a lot of goals. But if this happens, it has happened in other positions. We have to trust the people inside the club. I am sure they will be ready.

“But I repeat, right now, today, in this moment, Dom continues with us.”

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Dominic Solanke has been widely touted as one of the most improved players in the Premier League last season - an accolade which has resulted in plenty of transfer interest for the striker.

Tottenham are in pole position to sign the centre-forward, after the club failed to replace Harry Kane - their all-time record goal-scorer - in the transfer market last summer.

Finding a player to fill the boots of Spurs' former captain is much easier said than done though, with boss Ange Postecoglou stating: "Another Harry Kane does not exist" after his eighth Premier League game in charge of the club.

Interestingly, Tottenham scored more Premier League goals without Kane last season than with Kane the season before - scoring 70 goals in 2022-23 compared to 74 goals in 2023-24.

Their top Premier League scorer in 2023-24 was Son Heung-min with 17 goals, compared to Kane with 30 goals in 2022-23, so it is clear the North London club are still missing their talisman.

Postecoglou also seems to have changed his mind on bringing in a new centre-forward to provide a bit more firepower in his attack, and he will be hoping that Bournemouth's Players' Player of the Season Solanke will be able to deliver.

Having set the Championship alight in 2021-22, scoring 29 goals and registering seven assists in 46 appearances, the Englishman then had a slower start to life in the top-flight, scoring just six goals and registering seven assists in 33 appearances in 2022-23.

But the 26-year-old found new levels in the Premier League last season - scoring 19 goals and registering three assists in 38 appearances - helping Bournemouth to their best top-flight finish since 2016-17.

Iraola was asked about Solanke's rapid turnaround in form in February but the Basque boss did not want to take any credit for his improvement, replying: "I don't think we have improved him. He is the same player."

Understandably, Solanke has caught the eye of Postecoglou but Bournemouth's £65m release clause on their star-man means he will be a costly purchase for any club.

His numbers point to an upward trajectory however, so might the money offer value for a player who seems to be rapidly improving?

Dominic Solanke is reportedly on his way to Tottenham, who are in advanced talks with Bournemouth about signing the striker.

Solanke scored 19 Premier League goals last season as the Cherries finished 12th.

If Solanke is wearing the Spurs shirt when they begin their league campaign at Leicester on 19 August, how will you feel?

Let us know your thoughts here, external

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham are in advanced talks with Bournemouth over a £60m deal for striker Dominic Solanke.

Solanke has a release clause in his contract, as confirmed by Bournemouth owner Bill Foley in his interview with BBC Sport in Santa Barbara last month.

It is understood he is attracted by the prospect of playing European football.

If the deal goes through it would represent a club record sale for Bournemouth, exceeding the £40m they received from Manchester City for defender Nathan Ake in 2020.

Solanke joined Bournemouth from Liverpool for £19m in 2019.

It is understood Liverpool have a substantial sell-on clause.

Foley said last month he hoped the 26-year-old would stay but Bournemouth had "two or three candidates lined up" as potential alternatives.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

When I spoke to Bournemouth owner Bill Foley in Santa Barbara last month about striker Dominic Solanke, he confirmed the striker had a release clause - and it was "roughly" £65m.

He also said that while he did not think Solanke would leave, Bournemouth had "two or three candidates lined up" if the worst happened.

I wonder if Ivan Toney or Dominic Calvert-Lewin are on the list?

Number nines are in vogue at the moment. Toney and Calvert-Lewin are in that category. The same is true of Chelsea's Armando Broja, Tottenham's Richarlison and Romelu Lukaku of Chelsea.

The problem is all of them are expensive - and not all of them score that many goals.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma believes Ange Postecoglou to be "one of the best coaches in the world" and credits him with taking his game to the next level.

The 27-year-old said he is playing his best football under Postecoglou, who enters his second season at Spurs after narrowly missing out on Champions League qualification by finishing fifth last season.

When asked about the Australian's impact on the squad, Bissouma told BBC Sport: "He is one of the best coaches in the world. As a coach, he is top and as a human he is unbelievable. He is like a dad for us.

"We are working hard for him and really enjoy spending our time with him. We are working again and going again and we'll see [where it takes us]."

Bissouma added: "I am playing my best football with him and he has given me the opportunity to do that.

"He has given me confidence and happiness - it is amazing for me and I am really happy playing for him. But there is also more to come."

Bissouma scored a sensational goal away at QPR during Spurs' pre-season schedule, which has seen them play three matches in the UK and three in Asia.

He said: "It was a good goal, good for my confidence, but it was just a pre-season game. I am trying to get more assists and score more goals to make my team win.

"The most important thing is try to make my team win and playing how the coach wants - whether I score or not."

That coaching may also benefit new midfielders Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, both 18, who have come into the squad this summer.

"I love them, they are fantastic, amazing footballers and so mature," said the former Brighton player. "They don't look the way they are. As one of the oldest men in the changing room, my role is to show the best example. They are going to be top."

Spurs start their Premier League campaign at Leicester on 19 August, but first play a second consecutive friendly against Bayern Munich.

Bissouma was guarded when asked if Spurs can go one better and at least qualify for the Champions League through a top-four finish.

"We just want to be ready to fight again as we know how hard the Premier League is," he concluded. "We don't want to talk too much but we want to work and be ready for the season.

"The objective stays between us and we are just working hard to have a great season this year."

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Right now, brinkmanship is the name of the game. There have been times when some clubs sorted their transfer business early in the window and everyone wondered why so few others followed their lead. Put simply, it isn't in the selling clubs' financial interest, and it usually isn't in the moving player's financial interest either, to go early.

A selling club wants a bidding war to up the price and they don't mind a bit of panic buying when the window is creaking ever nearer the sill. If you still haven't signed that star player who you think, hope or maybe even actually believe, will make all the difference, clubs can get twitchy and make rash costly decisions.

I have watched it happen from within. Good intentions and a willingness to stick to a pre-arranged budget, suddenly evaporates when clubs are bounced into making these calls. There is also a bit of pride in there too. "We aren't losing out on our first choice to that lot!" is a common refrain, especially when it's to one of your close rivals.

As for the moving player, or more specifically his agent, last-minute brinkmanship is the dream scenario. Playing two or three suitors off against each other (and you don't even have to tell the truth of what you are being offered elsewhere) means you can exaggerate as much as you like to up the ante.

So that is why the deals go to the wire, and why they are so lucrative. It is also why I never have too much sympathy for a player, when a huge deal falls through at the last moment. Greed can push it too far in the end and it can all come crashing down, which is why they call it brinkmanship! If you dance on the edge of a volcano you might just fall in.

Image source, Getty Images

Harry Kane and Eric Dier will be presented with commemorative gifts by Tottenham club ambassador Ledley King before Saturday's pre-season friendly between Spurs and Bayern Munich.

Both players will be returning to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first time since leaving Spurs for German side Bayern last season.

The club said: "We have not previously had the opportunity to bid farewell to two players who have made such a significant contribution to our club in recent years."

Kane is Tottenham's all-time record goalscorer with 280 goals in 435 appearances for Spurs, while Dier made 365 appearances for Tottenham after joining in 2014.

The presentation is planned to take place 15 minutes before the 17:30 BST kick-off.

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham striker Alejo Veliz has joined La Liga side Espanyol on a season-long loan.

Veliz, who signed from Rosario Central last summer, has made eight appearances to date for Spurs.

The 20-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan in Spain with Sevilla.

Tottenham are interested in Bournemouth forward Dominic Solanke, but a move for Englishman could be dependent on the future of 27-year-old Brazilian striker Richarlison. (Standard), external

Spurs are preparing themselves for a huge offer for Richarlison from the Saudi Pro League. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham have secured the future of exciting teenage winger Mikey Moore.

Moore, 16, will sign professional terms on a new three-year deal Spurs when he turns 17 on Sunday.

The salary is believed to reflect Moore's status as one of the best talents to emerge from the academy in recent years and the length of contract is limited by Fifa regulations for players under 18.

Spurs have kept Moore amid significant interest from rivals.

Moore broke the record to become the club's youngest ever player when making his debut against Manchester City on 14 May.

He has since made another substitute appearance and played a substantial role during Ange Postecoglou's pre-season fixtures, which included a tour in South Korea and Japan.

"Mikey has been fantastic since we brought him in," Postecoglou said after the Vissel Kobe game.

"He's earned his spot on the roster at the moment, he did at the end of last year. He got a run with the first team because we could see in training that he was handling himself really well and that's followed through into pre-season training.

"All we can do is keep allowing him to develop. We have to remember that last year he had some injuries and he is only 16, but yes, super exciting."

Moore is also an active youth international with England's Under-17s.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

I would argue that the most interesting teams to watch over the next couple of weeks are both from north London. Spurs must surely give Ange Postecoglou access to the style of player he wants. At Arsenal their interesting silence might actually be them working assiduously in the background to get the striker they so clearly need.

They aren't far away from Manchester City now and if they could just get someone who scores, was technically gifted and could adapt to the Gunners' style quickly, then Pep Guardiola would really have something to worry about. Then again, I thought exactly the same thing at the same time last season and the opportunity slipped through their fingers.

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Image source, Getty Images

Romania defender Radu Dragusin told Tottenham fans the players would be training at "full throttle" as they continue preparations for the new season following a 2-1 friendly defeat to Bayern Munich in Seoul.

Having had an extended break after Romania's run at Euro 2024, the defeat to Bayern in from of 67,000 fans at Seoul World Cup Stadium was the 22-year-old's first start of pre-season.

"I want to thank all the fans that welcomed us in an incredible way that we felt very much appreciated and welcome here and I want to thank them all," Radu told the Tottenham website., external

"I was excited to come back to meet the guys, to meet the staff to start training but it’s normal. We train at the highest level possible, it’s normal for it to be hard.

"We have a couple of weeks left until the first game in the Premier League and we go full throttle.

"I feel the guys are in a great condition. As I said, I’m also trying to reach that condition. I’m working everyday. We are going to be 100% come the start of the season to achieve something important."

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's friendly game between Tottenham and Bayern Munich.

Here are some of your comments:

Paul: The loss does not make us a poor team, just like the wins before did not make us a great team. It’s all about fitness. The meltdowns I am seeing are laughable, with calling players out, etc. It’s a friendly, just chill and relax. Next weeks game will be completely different and for a start we will have our defenders back. Postecoglou is the man to take us forward.

Colin: Very concerned about lack a of transfers in key places. I know it was only a friendly but the first half looked like boys against men. The second half, with the youngsters, was a far better performance. Let's hope we can bring some quality in before the start of the season because when we lose the ball we are wide open at the back and easy to score against.

Michael: It was a very enjoyable match. I am not sure you can take too much from an obviously under strength defence. Djed Spence looked OK out of position, with just the one faux pas. Bayern goals had an element of fortune. Advice to Ange - don't send the kids out on loan, play them. A season's experience in the Premier League works wonders.

Simon: Completely underwhelming in all aspects. Levy has not supported the manager this window, leaving him high and dry with a squad arguably worse than last season. But the manager is totally naive tactically as well.

John: This has highlighted that when we play a top side we need a class striker, so come on Ange, get us Ivan Toney!

Eddie: Vicario needs to be coached on actually catching a football. He always parries or palms the ball away even when there is no pace on the shot. It will be interesting to see if he, and his defenders, have been coached on defending corners this coming season. Some talented kids in the squad but loads to work on defensively.

AC Milan have made a bid worth 15m euros (£12.78m) plus add-ons to sign Brazilian defender Emerson Royal, 25, from Tottenham. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Juventus want to offload eight stars in a summer overhaul, including 26-year-old Italy forward Federico Chiesa, who has been linked with Tottenham. (Mail), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column