The signing of Conor Gallagher was a surprise one for Tottenham Hotspur. While the midfielder has been noted as a long-term target for Spurs dating back to the Daniel Levy era, their transfer radar looked as though it was aimed in the direction of finding a new winger.
Brennan Johnson left early in the month, moving to fellow London side Crystal Palace, and then Mohammed Kudus picked up an injury.
It was a big benefit for Thomas Frank that Kudus’ Ghana did not qualify for AFCON but they won’t see much of him in the early stages of 2026 anyway.
Having suffered a quad injury, Frank confirmed last week that the former West Ham United man won’t be seen again until after the first international break of the year, meaning he will be absent until April.
How Spurs can upgrade on Kudus
Gallagher’s arrival is a signal of intent from the Lilywhites. Last summer, they famously missed out on the acquisition of Eberechi Eze when their rivals Arsenal hijacked a move at the 11th hour.
This time, it’s Spurs doing the hijacking. It looked as though Villa had agreed a deal to bring the England international to Villa Park, only for Tottenham to swoop in and seal a move themselves. He was officially announced on Wednesday afternoon.
Frank and Co are ready to make a splash in the transfer market this winter and Gallagher isn’t the only big-money addition in their crosshairs.
Indeed, according to a report from TEAMtalk, they have identified three leading targets. Two of them include Monaco winger Maghnes Akliouche and Club Brugge’s Christos Tzolis.
The other primary target is said to be RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande. The Bundesliga winger is one of the big talking points of the winter window with the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool also said to be interested.
However, it’s Spurs who had already begun exploring a move for the Ivory Coast international after his stunning start to the campaign in Germany.
While unlikely to be available this winter, a summer move could be on the cards. They will have to pay a premium though with prior reports suggesting Leipzig could demand over £100m to sanction a sale. That would smash Spurs’ club-record fee, £65m on Dominic Solanke.
How Yan Diomande compares to Mohammed Kudus
While Spurs missed out on Eze in the summer, the addition of Kudus was an exciting one. He’s a Premier League-proven talent and he has arguably been Frank’s most dangerous player in 2025/26.
The Ghana international hasn’t scored many goals, finding the net on just three occasions in all competitions but he does have six assists to his name. No Spurs player has more this term.
So, with Kudus out, they need a replacement and in Diomande they’d find a big upgrade, someone who stacks up well in comparison to a former target in the shape of Antoine Semenyo.
“Diomande reminds me of Semenyo,” the Athletic’s Seb Stafford-Bloor said back in November. “Physically similar, but with all the same skill and touch. Excellent, excellent player.”
That already sounds rather exciting, doesn’t it? Well, wait until you see how Diomande and Kudus compare throughout the ongoing season.
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Diomande – selected similar players |
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|---|---|
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Player |
Club |
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Nico Williams |
Athletic Club |
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Khvicha Kvaratskhelia |
PSG |
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Bradley Barcola |
PSG |
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Matheus Cunha |
Man Utd |
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Maghnes Akliouche |
Monaco |
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Provided by FBRef. |
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Kudus has been a fabulous signing for Frank’s side but the Leipzig winger – who can play on either side of the attack – could well be an even better addition.
He’s one of the most sought-after players in Europe for a reason and the numbers showcase why.
Diomande is streets ahead of his Spurs counterpart for shot accuracy, dribbles and take-on success, meaning he’s not only more deadly but he’s far more efficient with his actions.
According to data supplied by FBref, the 19-year-old ranks very highly compared to positionally similar players in Europe’s top five leagues over the last 365 days.
He sits within the top 7% of wingers for goals scored, while ranking as highly as the top 3% for progressive carries and top 5% for goal-creating actions.
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.
Already one of the most dangerous wide players on the continent at such a young age, this would be an almighty coup if Spurs could seal a move. Similar to Semenyo and an upgrade on Kudus, he ticks plenty of boxes.
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