Harry Kane is one of the best strikers around and a total machine in front of goal.
Since his debut with Tottenham, the England captain has gone from strength to strength and marked his 100th cap with two fantastic goals in a 2-0 win over Finland.
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Kane is one of the world’s best strikers and one of the Premier League’s greatest-ever forwardsCredit: Getty
On the international stage, Kane has become his country’s top goalscorer and still has a few more years at the highest level to extend that record and add to his cap tally, with Peter Shilton’s record 125 appearances well within reach.
He became the first England player since Wayne Rooney to reach 100 appearances against Finland, and was presented with a special golden cap by Frank Lampard.
His career has been incredibly successful from a personal perspective but hasn’t lived up to its potential in terms of trophies.
The England striker has yet to win a major honour at club or international level, but he will hope with his country and Bayern Munich, that’s going to change at some point.
Despite this, Kane has still racked up insane numbers across his career.
Here is a full breakdown of his career record so far…
Harry Kane career statistics
Tottenham – 435 appearances – 280 goals – 61 assists
Before Kane’s breakthrough at Tottenham, he had four separate loan spells with Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich and Leicester.
None of these moves were failures, but no one would have predicted what Kane would become based on these temporary deals.
The striker didn’t exactly rip up any trees.
Of course, we all know how things worked out for Kane, but it’s strange to see how average his loan spells were.
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Kane’s loan at Norwich didn’t work outCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Tottenham
By the time Kane left Tottenham, he was the club’s record goalscorer and the second-top Premier League scorer, with Alan Shearer the only player ahead of him.
Kane made his debut for Tottenham in 2012 under Andre Villas-Boas, but it wasn’t until the 2013/14 campaign that he scored his first Premier League goal in a 5-1 win over Sunderland.
He followed that up with two more and in the next season, he was a starter, and that was it.
Kane scored 21 league goals that season and never bagged fewer than 17 for the rest of his time at Spurs.
Unfortunately, Kane never won a team trophy but has three Premier League Golden Boot awards to show his prowess as a goalscorer.
Ultimately, Kane left Spurs in the summer of 2023 to fulfil a desire to win major honours after going close with Spurs numerous times.
But he will always be a Tottenham legend and did everything he physically could to make the club successful.
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Kane is Tottenham’s record goalscorerCredit: Getty
Darren Bent admits he would rather have Jamie Vardy’s club career than Harry Kane’s
Bayern Munich
It was a dream start to life in Bavaria on an individual level for Kane, who even smashed a few Bundesliga records in his first season at the club.
He became the quickest player in history to score 17 goals, doing so in just 11 games, and at one point looked like he could even break Robert Lewandowski‘s record of 41 goals in one season.
While Kane only scored 36 goals in the end, he nonetheless finished the season as the Bundesliga top scorer.
However, Bayern’s Bundesliga title hopes were shattered with a 3-0 defeat to eventual champions Leverkusen in February, and European success ultimately proved too much of an ask.
Even though the England skipper was lethal in the Champions League last season, scoring eight goals and setting up a further four, his side were knocked out by eventual winners Real Madrid.
But Kane moved to Bayern to win the big trophies, and UEFA‘s premier competition is a definite possibility for Kane in the future.
Having won the Champions League and its predecessor (the European Cup) six times, Bayern will be on the hunt again as they also look to reclaim the Bundesliga.
Agonisingly for Kane, last season was the first time since the 2011/12 season that Bayern have not been the German league champions.
But Kane will no doubt continue to destroy goalscoring records for every minute he’s in Germany as he looks for that elusive trophy.
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Bayern fans loved Kane from the moment he set foot onto the pitchCredit: Getty Images
England
Kane is England’s record goalscorer, and by the time he finishes, it’s hard to see how anyone will even come close to his record.
He has 68 goals for the Three Lions and with plenty of years still potentially left in the tank, 100 international goals isn’t out of the question.
He made his Three Lions debut in a 4-0 win over Lithuania as a substitute and scored just 79 seconds into it.
From there, he’s gone from strength to strength and has made 87 starts for England, while he’s captained his country 73 times.
Of course, after another heartbreaking result at Euro 2024, he’s yet to win anything with England, but there have been countless icons who all share the same fate.
Certainly, it doesn’t lessen Kane’s international achievements.
Euro 2024 saw him become the first England player to lead out the Three Lions in four major tournaments and also steal the record for the most capped England player at the European championships.
Regardless of silverware, when he finally retires, Kane will be an England legend.
The 2023-24 summer transfer window has drawn to a close, with some clubs nailing their business while others have fallen well short of the mark as financial regulations heavily influence the Premier League’s spending habits.
Unlike windows of the past, where the Premier League attracted some of the biggest names in Europe, this year has felt a little different, with clubs focused more on ensuring safer financial practice as opposed to nailing their big money signings.
We saw less deals akin to the ones that brought Erling Haaland to Manchester City and Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea in recent seasons, and more like Elliot Anderson’s to Nottingham Forest and Conor Gallagher’s to Atletico Madrid: transfers done to appease accountants more than managers.
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The strict Premier League crackdown on its Profit and Sustainability rules in recent seasons, exemplified by Everton and Forest’s respective points deductions, appear to have frightened clubs.
This was highlighted in the 10 days preceding the June 30 accounting deadline when six clubs – Forest, Newcastle, Chelsea, Everton, Aston Villa and Leicester – sold 15 players for a grand total of £323 million ($631.8 million AUD) in a late attempt to meet PSR requirements.
According to a report from The Athletic, those 15 deals accounted for 16% of the Premier League’s spending this window, with some of those clubs enacting creative accounting to ensure their books comply and a costly points deduction is avoided.
Though this did not slow Premier League spending, with 14 clubs parting with over $150 million on players during the window, but did create a strange spending environment that will surely become a mainstay in the coming seasons.
Changed spending conditions have coincided with changing spending habits, which have been on show throughout the window and go in part to explaining the business of some sides.
The average age of the league’s 10 most expensive signings this season is 23.3 years old, highlighting how clubs are targeting younger players with high potential and resale value, as opposed to proven products in the prime of their careers.
Foxsports.com.au rates every Premier League team’s summer dealings in our Transfer Report Card!
Arsenal
Biggest signing: Riccardo Calafiori ($81.3m from Bologna)
Total spend: $186.5 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Emile Smith Rowe ($65.8m to Fulham)
Total income: $161.4 million (AUD)
Having finished second last season, Mikel Arteta’s side needed a strong transfer window to strengthen their side and solidify their title push. They did just that.
Riccardo Calafiori arrives after a strong season with Bologna and a good Euros campaign with Italy to strengthen one of Arsenal’s problem areas last season – left back, with the Italian’s ability to seamlessly invert into midfield key to Arteta’s tactical shape. Mikel Merino provides midfield strength, and allows Arsenal to push Declan Rice into a deeper role whenever required, while the move to permanently sign David Raya, and sell Aaron Ramsdale, cleared up one of the biggest clouds over the club’s 2023-24 season.
Raheem Sterling’s deadline day arrival from Chelsea is a great move, providing cover on both wings as well as title-winning experience. If Arteta can get the Englishman to perform at his best, like he did when the pair were at Manchester City, it’ll provide Arsenal with an additional goal scoring threat this season and afford Bukayo Saka a chance to rest his legs after an intense year.
Fighting off interest in Leandro Trossard from the Saudi Pro League is shrewd too given the Belgian’s impact off the bench and versatility, which will come in handy given Gabriel Jesus’ recent injury record.
Crucially in modern football the sales of Emlie Smith-Rowe and Eddie Nketiah, which will appear as pure profit on the club’s books, ensure they remain compliant with the Premier League’s strict PSR rules.
Where some feel Arsenal’s window missed the mark is their failure to bring a world class No.9 in, with Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney but avoided for various reasons. Arteta has faith in Kai Havertz, who scored eight goals in 13 games as striker last season, with Trossard, Jesus and Sterling as cover.
Grade: B+
Arsenal’s Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori challenges for the ball with Brighton’s Paraguayan attacker Julio Enciso during a English Premier League match between the Emirates Stadium.Source: AFP
Aston Villa
Biggest signing: Amadou Onana ($96.8m from Everton)
Total spend: $295.8 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Moussa Diaby ($97.7m to Al-Itthad)
Total income: $271.2 million (AUD)
Villa were dealt a massive blow this window in losing Moussa Diaby and Douglas Luiz, two of their strongest performers last season.
The club signed Belgian holding midfielder Amadou Onana from Everton, with the 23-year-old already hitting the ground running by scoring twice in his first three games. Onana adds size, power and strong ball-winning skills to Villa’s midfield, though lacks the passing range and set-piece threat of Luiz.
Not to worry Villa fans, given the club already possesses Youri Tielemans, one of the Premier League’s strongest passers and a set piece specialist to rival the best of them.
Ian Maatsen, who was key in Dortmund’s run to last season’s Champions League final, gives good depth at left back, though there are concerns about the drop off between right back Matty Cash and his understudy, particularly with injuries in central defence not allowing Ezri Konsa to shuffle across.
Diaby’s loss is massive, even if the Frenchman’s performances tailed off at the end of last season, but Unai Emery already has the pieces to compensate for his departure.
Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barenechea, both signed from Juventus as part of the deal to send Luiz the other way, are young and unproven but could become integral cogs in the Villa machine once they return from their respective loans.
Villa haven’t just signed Ross Barkley is an underrated piece of business. The former Chelsea man provides Emery with experience and brilliant midfield cover following an impressive Premier League season with Luton Town.
Omari Kellyman, Tim Iroegbunam and Cameron Archer’s sales will go towards balancing the club’s books, even if the latter was re-signed from Sheffield United before being sold to Southampton, while Philippe Coutinho’s loan move to Vasco da Gama lightens the club’s wage bill.
Grade: B
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: New signing Ian Maatsen acknowledges Aston Villa fans after the team’s victory against West Ham United FC (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Bournemouth
Biggest signing: Evanilson ($61.3m from Porto)
Total spend: $172.3 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Dominic Solanke ($106m to Tottenham Hotspur)
Total income: $110.3 million (AUD)
There was no more important player to Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth side last season than striker Dominic Solanke, who finished the campaign with 19 goals and three assists.
Brazilian striker Evanilson joins for a club-record fee having scored 13 Portuguese league goals last season for 3rd placed Porto.
An unknown quantity in England, Evanilson has all the makings of a well-rounded striker and joins a side that had more shot creating actions last season than Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, though it will be hard for the striker to have link up play as exceptional as Solanke.
First-choice goalkeeper Neto joins Arsenal on loan, with Kepa arriving from Chelsea to replace the Brazilian, marking a significant downgrade in the club’s goalkeeping ranks. The Spaniard is a gamble for Iraola’s side given his failure to set the Premier League alight, weak shot stopping and shortcomings when competing for crosses.
19-year-old Spanish-Dutch defender Dean Huijsen has all the makings of a serious transfer coup, with multi-Premier League winning manager Jose Mourinho once describing the centre back as “one of the highest-quality prospects in European football at this age level.”
Grade: C-
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: AFC Bournemouth’s Evanilson during the club’s Premier League match against Newcastle United. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Brentford
Biggest signing: Igor Thiago ($58m from Club Brugge)
Total spend: $169.5 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Ivan Toney ($77.4m to Al-Ahli)
Total income: $129.7 million (AUD)
Sometimes a transfer window is less about what you gain and more about what you lose.
In letting Ivan Toney walk, Brentford offloaded a player who evidently did not want to be at the club for some time, at a significant fee that allowed them to invest in the future of their club by bringing several talented youngsters in, such as Fabio Carvalho, Sepp van den Berg and Gustavo Nunes.
Not only does Toney’s transfer have significant financial benefits for the Bees, but it should also create a harmonised Brentford squad this season.
Igor Thiago was signed as Toney’s replacement after 29 goals in the Belgian league last season but is currently sidelined with a knee injury. Bryan Mbeumo and Yoanne Wissa have led Frank’s line brilliantly to begin the season, with the club’s ability to hold on the latter arguably their most important piece of business.
Keep an eye on teenage left back Jayden Meghoma, viewed by many good judges as one of England’s brightest young prospects. Injuries could pave the way for the flyer to break into Thomas Frank’s side at left back at some point this season.
Grade: B
Brighton
Biggest signing: Georginio Rutter ($77.4m from Leeds United)
Total spend: $381.2 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Deniz Undav ($49.7m to VFB Stuttgart)
Total income: $90.4 million (AUD)
Only Chelsea spent more money than Brighton, which comes as a surprise given the South Coast club’s highly successful ‘moneyball’ style tactics in recent years.
Those tactics are still at play, with the club not splashing huge cash on a big name signing this summer. Instead, they’ve picked up several highly promising footballers who add to 31-year-old coach Fabian Hurzeler’s squad.
Georginio Rutter, Matt O’Riley, Mats Wieffer, Ferdi Kadioglu and Brajan Gruda all have the makings of quintessential Brighton signings and will no doubt be sold for triple their purchase price in 18 months.
Over the opening three games of the season, fresh faced winger Yankuba Minteh has been incredibly impressive, playing with little fear and plenty of creativity and drive, frightening opposition left backs with his relentless attack.
Billy Gilmour’s deadline day move to Napoli weakens the club’s holding midfield stocks, which took a hit earlier in the window with Pascal Gross’ departure to Dortmund. Hurzeler has said as much in recent days, noting the club “don’t have enough players at (No.) six.”
Grade: B
Right winger Yankuba Minteh during Brighton’s Premier League win against Everton. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Chelsea
Biggest signing: Pedro Neto ($104.6m from Wolves)
Total spend: $400.6 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Conor Gallagher ($65.9m to Atletico Madrid)
Total income: $303 million (AUD)
Deep breath in. And another. 11 players arrived at Stamford Bridge over the summer, bloating Enzo Maresca’s first team squad out to a whopping 30, with a further 12 out on loan.
“You want to ask about where Joao Felix is going to play, I’ve got another question – where’s he going to get changed at the training ground?” Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher questioned.
“How are all these players in one dressing room? How are you putting on a training session?”
The Conor Gallagher and Raheem Sterling sagas were sour, and typified the current Chelsea regimes cold, and seemingly senseless, approach to business, but the deals to offload Ian Maatsen, Romelu Lukaku, Lewis Hall and Omari Hutchinson were savvy moves that will go towards balancing the club’s books.
In amongst the madness of moving on Sterling and Gallagher, uncertainty around Trevoh Chalobah’s future, the lack of resolution around Ben Chilwell’s situation, and signing three left wingers, there is some small semblance of method.
Chelsea have made their intentions clear with their business; they are backing Maresca in the market and signing players whose profile fits his needs.
There is little risk to the Jadon Sancho deal, while Joao Felix’s signing could be viewed differently if the Portuguese star hits the heights expected of him when he burst onto the scene six years ago.
And yet, despite these faint glimmers of hope there is still the overwhelming sense of restlessness at the Bridge, not only given the way the club has conducted business this summer, and the enormous squad size, but also given the club spent more money than any other Premier League side while failing to address their widely perceived problem area: striker.
Toney and Osimhen were both on the table, though moves for either failed to materialise, with finances key to this. A lack of depth in holding midfield remains a concern for Maresca with Romeo Lavia’s injury history meaning the club are a Moises Caicedo injury away from a near unpluggable hole in their midfield.
Grade: B-
New signing Jadon Sancho is presented to the Chelsea fans before his side’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Crystal Palace
Biggest signing: Eddie Nketiah ($48.3m from Arsenal)
Total spend: $130.7 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Michael Olise ($87m to Bayern Munich)
Total income: $174 million (AUD)
Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace shocked the Premier League at the back end of last season, winning six of their last seven from 14th to 10th.
The pre-season expectation was for them to build on this, even with Michael Olise’s big money move to Bayern Munich removing one of the stars of last season from the fold.
Joachim Andersen left for Fulham not long after, and things could’ve gone from bad to worse if Newcastle’s aggressive pursuit of captain Marc Guehi paid off.
It didn’t, and Palace’s defence was stronger for it. Trevoh Chalobah arrived on loan from Chelsea, while the promising French Maxence Lacroix joined from Wolfsburg, further strengthening Glasner’s backline.
Japanese international Daicha Kamada and Senegalese winger Ismaila Sarr strengthen his frontline, so too does the signing of Eddie Nketiah – who just feels like a Crystal Palace player.
While they’re yet to reap the rewards on the field, Palace have had one of the better windows in the Premier League, defined not so much by who they brought in as much as who they didn’t lose – Guehi, Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton.
Grade: B+
Everton
Biggest signing: Jake O’Brien ($33m from Lyon)
Total spend: $83 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Amadou Onana ($96.8m to Aston Villa)
Total income: $133.6 million (AUD)
Much like Palace, Everton’s best bit of business in the summer window was not allowing their most important defensive cog to leave the club.
That Jarrad Branthwaite remained at Everton is a massive win for Sean Dyche, even if the defender has missed the opening games of the season through injury.
The 22-year-old was ranked sixth for clearances and seventh for interceptions last season and was a key reason behind Everton keeping 13 clean sheets, second only to Arsenal.
However, the Toffees lost Amadou Onana to Everton, denting their midfield stocks for perhaps the most important Premier League campaign in the club’s recent memory.
Iliman Ndiaye, Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom headline a suite of creative signings that have their work cut out for them in trying to inspire a side that scored just 40 goals last season.
There’s no doubting Everton have made some smart additions. Whether they’ll be what’s needed to keep them away from the relegation fight is a question only time has the answer for.
Grade: D+
Amadou Onana traded Everton for Aston Villa this transfer window. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Fulham
Biggest signing: Emile Smith Rowe ($65.8m from Arsenal)
Total spend: $173.7 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Joao Palhinha ($81.9m to Bayern Munich)
Total income: $112.9 million (AUD)
One of the smaller Premier League clubs who executed a smart summer window that leaves their squad stronger this year than when it ended last season.
Of course Joao Palhinha’s departure to Bayern Munich leaves a massive hole in Marco Silva’s midfield – no player made more than his 152 tackles last season. Not signing a replacement may come back to bite them, though Harrison Reed, Sasa Lukic and new signing Sander Berge are more than capable in that role.
At the back Joachim Andersen rejoins from Palace, softening Tosin Adarabioyo’s departure, while Jorge Cuenca offers Silva an additional left footed centre back following Tim Ream’s departure.
In attack, Fulham’s have invested plenty in Emile Smith Rowe, a brilliant attacking talent who’s been stifled by injuries and falling out of Mikel Arteta’s favour in recent years. The winger/attacking midfielder has hit the ground running, scoring in Fulham’s 2-1 win over Leicester City, and could be viewed as a bargain in coming seasons if he can match, or exceed, the 10 goals he scored for the Gunners in 2021-22.
Reiss Nelson provides depth out wide following Willian’s departure for Olympiakos and could potentially push Alex Iwobi into a central midfield role he excelled at for Everton a few seasons ago.
While their business hasn’t set the world alight, it’s quietly done what it’s needed to do: make up for their outgoings and strengthen where possible.
Grade: B-
Fulham attacking midfielder Emile Smith Rowe joined the club this summer for $65.8 million from Arsenal. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Ipswich Town
Biggest signing: Omari Hutchinson ($42.6m from Chelsea)
Total spend: $205 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: George Edmundon (loan to Middlesbrough)
Total income: N/A
Only two players contributed more than Omari Hutchinson’s 16 goals in Ipswich’s promotion campaign last season. A deal to bring the England youth international back to the club is massive towards their bid to stay up, with the attacking midfielder showing lots of promise in the season’s opening games.
Jack Clarke, Jacob Greaves and Liam Delap all have the potential to be great signings, especially for the price tag they were collected at, and could all benefit from Kieran McKenna’s brilliant management, while signing last season’s Championship top scorer Sammie Szmodics for just over $17 million is smart business.
This quartet are good enough to cut it in the Premier League, but also have the added benefit that, in the event of relegation, Ipswich can extract a high resale value or utilise their talents to earn promotion back to the top flight.
The deal to bring Kalvin Phillips on loan from Manchester City has rocks or diamonds potential. At his best Phillips is a brilliant defensive midfielder with an exceptional passing range and wonderful ability to bait and beat opposition presses. At his worst he is injury riddled, just ask Manchester City, and error-laden, just ask West Ham.
Ipswich will be praying he’s more of the former, especially considering the 28-year-old’s experience keeping freshly promoted sides in the Premier League.
Grade: C
Omari Hutchinson during Ipswich’s Premier League match against Liverpool FC. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Leicester City
Biggest signing: Bilal El Khannouss ($38.7m from Genk)
Total spend: $153.2 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall ($58.1m to Chelsea)
Total income: $58.1 million (AUD)
A few seasons ago the Foxes had a reputation as one of the savviest market operators in Europe. Deals for N’Golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez, Youri Tielemans, Wilfred Ndidi, Wesley Fofana and Ricardo Pereira were struck with little interjection from other clubs and to great benefit for Leicester.
Relegation zapped that reputation. And while it will be hard to replicate their previous market success there are at least several positives to take from Leicester’s transfer window.
Bilal El Khannouss arrives from Genk as the Belgian league’s Young Player of the Season and an Olympic Bronze medallist who was involved in nine goals last season. The Moroccan’s stats may fail to flatter, but he’s a highly technical and intelligent footballer who glides across the park and could provide some necessary creative spark.
That creative spark takes on greater importance without Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, the attacking lynchpin around which the club won promotion last season. Dewsbury-Hall’s move to join Enzo Maresca is the club’s only major outgoing – a big plus in their bid to keep their top-flight status intact.
Dewsbury-Hall’s is also major for Leicester given the fee he collected will register as pure profit on the clubs’ books, an important factor given they had significant financial restraints throughout the window.
Elsewhere, Oliver Skipp is a reliable Premier League footballer signed at a good price, while making Abdul Fatawu’s loan permanent is savvy too. Both will be crucial for Steve Cooper this season.
Where their window fell short is really strengthening at striker, especially considering Jamie Vardy’s age and recent injury history and the departure of Kelechi Iheanacho to Sevilla.
Odsonne Edouard has Premier League experience, and was once a prolific goalscorer at Celtic, yet found the net just 21 times in his 103 Palace games. Given the importance of reliable goalscoring in staving off relegation.
Grade: C
Liverpool
Biggest signing: Federico Chiesa ($19.4m from Juventus)
Total spend: $19.4 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Fabio Carvalho ($43.7m to Brentford)
Total income: $102.6 million (AUD)
This summer always loomed as the end of an era at Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp’s time at the club had drawn to a close, with Dutchman Arne Slot taking the reins of Anfield.
Immense change was expected, with new personnel viewed as a guarantee in order to assist Slot’s transition in the Liverpool managerial role.
Yet, for much of the window Liverpool were the only club in Europe’s top five leagues to have not signed a single player. That was until Giori Mamardashvili was signed from Valencia before being immediately loaned back to Spain, while a bargain move for Federico Chiesa is as risky as it is promising given the Italian’s recent injury history.
Their lack of market activity has not significantly impacted Liverpool, who have begun the season brilliantly.
Even more impressive is the club’s failure to panic once Martin Zubimendi informed them he would remain at Real Sociedad. The Spaniard, who impressed in the Euro final, was billed as the No.6 the Reds desperately needed, with many doubting who would be shoehorned into the role in his place.
Enter Ryan Gravenberch, who has done so seamlessly, bringing a unique profile into the defensive midfield role and justifying Liverpool’s lack of panic in the market.
Fabio Carvalho, Sepp van den Berg and Bobby Clark all left for good deals given their experience, while Stefan Bajcetic’s loan to RB Salzburg will be beneficial to the club in the coming seasons.
Thiago retired and Joel Matip was released, with the club opting not to dip into the market to replace the experienced Cameroonian centre half. A move for Frenchman Castello Lukeba never materialised, meaning the club only have four recognised central defenders, which could prove their Achilles heel down the line.
Liverpool great Jamie Carragher believes the club “are still short – not in terms of numbers but maybe in terms of quality – at centre-back and in holding midfield,” though credited them for not panic buying, which rarely ever works.
Grade: C+
(FILES) Liverpool new signing Federico Chiesa celebrates scoring a goal for Juventus. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)Source: AFP
Manchester City
Biggest signing: Ilkay Gundogan (Free from FC Barcelona)
Total spend: $40.7 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Julian Alvarez ($125m to Atletico Madrid)
Total income: $264.6 million (AUD)
When Julian Alvarez traded Manchester for the warmth of Madrid and the intensity of Diego Simeone, there was a sense that this may be the season City finally trips up.
At times filling in for both Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, the Argentine World Cup winner played the fifth most minutes for Pep in the Premier League last season, scoring 11 and creating eight.
Where exactly would City find a player capable of filling in for both their striker and chief creator? The answer, it seems, had been hiding in plain sight.
Released from the final two years of his Barcelona contract, former City captain Ilkay Gundogan has been deployed as a false nine many times for Guardiola but is naturally a brilliant creative midfielder. There is arguably no better Alvarez replacement in world football.
The German headlines a quiet summer of incomings for City, which includes tricky Brazilian winger Savinho – who joined from Girona and has already shown what a delight he is with the ball at his feet. Both are smart additions that boost an already exceptional squad.
Even still, City enter the campaign without a recognised back up striker on their books.
For any other side this would be deeply concerning. For City, it’s a problem, given Haaland’s relatively good injury record, without yet being a major issue, yet.
Pep noted as much, stating the club’s choice not to replace Alvarez could be a “problem” that may turn into a “mistake” but believes the club have enough players in house who can fill in for Haaland, including Gundogan, Phil Foden and youngsters James McAtee and Oscar Bobb.
Where City were smart this window is their ability to offload unwanted, but talented, academy products for strong fees that allow them to clean their books.
Liam Delap, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Tommy Doyle all permanently moved away from the Etihad. Offloading Joao Cancelo’s contract from the club’s books can also not be understated.
Grade: B-
lkay Gundogan re-joined Manchester City from FC Barcelona on a free transfer this summer. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Manchester United
Biggest signing: Lenny Yoro ($101.4m from LOSC Lille)
Total spend: $354.4 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Scott McTominay ($49.9m to Napoli)
Total income: $164.5 million (AUD)
As has been the case for the last decade, it’s incredibly hard to get a read on whether or not United’s transfer window has been good.
On paper they’ve brought in good players. Lenny Yoro has massive wraps on him and may just be the best centre back at his age group, Joshua Zirkzee is a unicorn of a striker as capable of dropping deep and creative as many attacking midfielders, and Manuel Ugarte appears the kind of no-nonsense midfield anchor they’ve been crying out for.
Matthijs De Ligt was once Europe’s finest young centre half but has failed to impress at two of the continent’s biggest clubs. He arrives with a major question mark. While at just over $25 million, Noussair Mazraoui has all the makings of a bargain.
And yet there is an element of groundhog day about this window. United have had good windows in the past. Remember 2021, When the club signed Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo? Or 2022, when Casemiro, Antony and Lisandro Martinez arrived at Old Trafford? Or last year, when Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund joined?
All of these windows were rightly perceived as great windows on face value of the signings. And the same can be said for this window. All of United’s deals look good on paper, but that matters for very little if the club’s form doesn’t turn around.
Where United, and their restructured footballing ownership, deserve credit is offloading Mason Greenwood to Marseille, clearing the club of the winger’s baggage. Allowing Aaron Wan-Bissaka to move to West Ham is also smart given he doesn’t fit the profile of an Erik Ten Hag fullback.
At nearly $50 million, the club would have been foolish to reject Napoli’s offer for Scott McTominay, though his passion and versatility could well be missed dearly.
Grade: B-
Manchester United’s new signings (L to R) Matthijs De Ligt, Leny Yoro (using crutches due to a metatarsal injury), Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraoui acknowledge the fans prior to United’s clash with Fulham. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Newcastle United
Biggest signing: Lewis Hall ($54.6 million from Chelsea – loan move made permanent)
Total spend: $74.2 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Elliot Anderson ($68.3 million to Nottingham Forest)
Total income: $132.8 million (AUD)
Arguably no Premier League club had their hands tied behind their back by financial constraints more than Newcastle United.
Manager Eddie Howe described it as “challenging,” before sharing his hopes the club’s minimal business helps them strengthen in future windows.
Out went Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh, both of whom would have pushed for a place in Howe’s squad, and potentially starting XI, with Anderson’s move to Forest facilitated purely for financial reasons.
The club’s financial constraints meant they were limited in their ability to dip into the transfer market, with Lewis Hall’s loan move being made permanent and William Osula’s signing the only two the club splashed cash on.
Lloyd Kelly adds much-needed defensive depth, and will be a valuable squad player once everyone is fit, but is hardly a signing to set the world alight.
It would be harsh to judge Newcastle’s incomings too severely due to the club’s financial constraints, though questions need to be asked about their failed pursuit of Palace centre back Marc Guehi, as well as their inability to offload Kieran Trippier – who begins the season as Howe’s right back deputy.
Clearly the money was there, just not used in ways that strengthen the players at Howe’s disposal. What did strengthen Howe’s side was keeping Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak, which is about the only commendable business Newcastle conducted.
At best, Newcastle will reflect on this window as one that boosted their squad and brought in two fine young talents. At worst, it will be seen as a failure that failed to achieve anything other than balance the club’s books.
Grade: D+
Nottingham Forest
Biggest signing: Elliot Anderson ($68.3 million from Newcastle United)
Total spend: $175 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Moussa Niakhate ($52.8 million to Lyon)
Total income: $88.9 million (AUD)
Dare we say it… did Forest have a strong transfer window?
Considering the club have had an even more scattergun approach to transfers in recent years than even Chelsea, their activity was measured, geared towards strengthening Nuno’s squad as opposed to signing as many players as possible.
Elliot Anderson is a wonderful footballer, Nikola Milenkovic has been impressive in recent seasons for Fiorentina, Jota Silva has massive wraps as an elusive winger with goal scoring nous, while James Ward-Prowse’s loan adds depth, experience and set piece threat to Nuno’s midfield.
Murillo, Morgan Gibbs-White and Anthony Elanga remain at the City ground, highlighting how their astute incomings came without expensive outgoings.
Given the club targeted seven goalkeepers throughout last season, and current No.1 Matz Sels had the lowest save percentage (57.4%) of all 25 goalkeepers in the Premier League last season, not bringing in a new goalkeeper is the one glaring negative against Forest’s window.
The club lagged in their attempt to sign Aaron Ramsdale, who joined Southampton instead, saw their advances for Neto knocked back, missed out on Sam Johnstone to Wolves, failed in their attempt to bring French international Brice Samba back to the club and were unwilling to meet Liverpool’s valuation for Ireland international Caoimhim Kelleher.
Another clear area the club were attempting to strengthen but failed to do is up front, with their pursuits of Eddie Nketiah, Yoane Wissa, Omar Marmoush, Evanilson and Santiago Gimenez all ending in nothing.
While this is disappointing for Forest fans, their manager reportedly has no qualms with Sels as first choice keeper, while New Zealand international Chris Wood has begun the season in red-hot scoring form.
What isn’t disappointing for Forest fans is the fact their club didn’t panic buy when missing out on their targets and instead stuck the course with what they had and trusted Nuno to get the best out of them.
Grade: B-
Elliot Anderson joined Nottingham Forest from Newcastle just before the June 30 PSR deadline. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Southampton
Biggest signing: Aaron Ramsdale ($35.2 million from Arsenal)
Total spend: $205.4 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Carlos Alcaraz ($29.7 million to Flamengo)
Total income: $82.5 million (AUD)
For much of the window, Southampton seemed to sign players with one eye on remaining in the Premier League and another on gaining promotion in the event they’re relegated this season.
Given last season’s promoted contingent – Burnley, Luton Town and Sheffield United – all went straight back down at the end of 2023-24, this business approach is as smart as it is sad.
Aaron Ramsdale’s signing late in the window shows the hunger is there for Russell Martin’s side. He headlines a savvy window for the Saints, who also made Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Flynn Downes’ loan moves permanent, while Ben Brereton-Diaz should add goals.
Goals will be a problem for Southampton this season given Adam Armstrong’s never scored more than two Premier League goals in a single season, and Brereton-Diaz has the potential to provide a threat upfront after scoring six times in 14 Premier League games on loan at Sheffield United last season.
There is hope Cameron Archer can blossom into a reliable Premier League striker, which is why the Saints paid Villa $29 million for his services, even if he’s scored more than 10 goals in a season once in his career.
At the very least, should Southampton fail to find the goals they’ll need to survive, their signings this window have a high enough ceiling to serve them well in the coming years.
Grade: C-
Ange bullish wins will come soon | 00:25
Tottenham Hotspur
Biggest signing: Dominic Solanke ($107m from Bournemouth)
Total spend: $234.8 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Oliver Skipp ($39 million to Leicester City)
Total income: $114.6 million (AUD)
12 months after Harry Kane moved to Bayern Munich, Spurs have finally landed on their replacement for the England captain.
In Dominic Solanke, Ange Postecoglou has a striker moulded similarly to Kane as you can get on the market. A career-high 19 goal haul last season is the headline figure for the former Bournemouth man, but his link up play and ability to drag opponents out of position and bring teammates into play is among the best in Europe.
An early injury setback following a disappointing debut has soured the early weeks of Solanke’s time at Spurs but Postecoglou has made it no secret that he feels the 26-year-old will succeed at the club.
“He is a presence and scores different types of goals. I think the way we play suits him,” the Spurs coach said.
Elsewhere, the club brought in Archie Gray, Wilson Odobert and Lucas Bergvall in, all three of whom are fine young footballers with the potential to grow into exceptional players around which Spurs’ side can be constructed.
18-year-old Gray in particular marks a significant transfer coup, with the 2023-24 Championship Young Player of the Season already a fine holding midfielder, and capable right back, who was highly-rated by former Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa.
Last season, Gray led Leeds in tackles, was ranked third in tackles and won possession back more often than just about anyone at the club.
Away from new signings, Spurs were able to offload several high-wage, low performance players, namely Tanguy Nbombele, and find new homes for footballers who don’t suit Postecoglou’s style, such as Eric Dier, Emerson Royal and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
For his part, the Australian described the club’s activity as a “real positive” but noted there were shortcomings with their activity.
“We know there’s still some areas where I look at squad management and we can improve. Again, it’s got to be the right person, the right player and right person,” Postecoglou said, before hinting at potential reinforcements joining the club in January.
One area the club are undoubtedly assessing depth options for is defence. Last season, Spurs’ campaign was derailed by injuries and suspensions to Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie.
At present, Spurs have just four centre backs on their books, with one of those being Ben Davies – who began his career at left back. Depth in this area is a must if Spurs are to blossom in the coming seasons, with a potential January defensive signing on the cards, one in a similar mould to Radu Dragusin.
Grade: B
Spurs record signing Dominic Solanke joined Spurs from Bournemouth during the summer window for $107 million. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
West Ham
Biggest signing: Max Kilman ($78.2 million from Wolves)
Total spend: $247.5 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Flynn Downes ($35.2 million to Southampton)
Total income: $81 million (AUD)
It’s almost impossible to ignore West Ham’s business and suggest the club aren’t the winners of this year’s summer transfer window.
And the fact they’re the winners is not because they’ve signed a lot of players (nine). If that were the case Chelsea would’ve won by many country miles.
No, it’s the type of players the Hammers have brought in. Good players, with a clear place in the squad, that add value to Julen Lopetegui’s side while coming at largely affordable prices.
Picking up Max Kilman from Wolves is such astute business; only three players made more clearances last season and only four won a higher percentage of their tackles.
He is one of several defence reinforcements joining the Hammers, alongside Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who’s defensive excellence compensates for his offensive limitations, and Jean-Clair Todibo, who joins on a loan with an obligation to buy.
Given the two-time French international was on the radar of many clubs, including Manchester United, West Ham’s ability to sign him represents a significant transfer coup.
Last season’s Championship Player of the Season Crysencio Summerville bolsters an already stacked attack line. The Dutchman’s importance could grow depending on the outcome of an FA investigation into Lucas Paqueta’s potential betting breaches.
Spanish international Carlos Soler and Argentinian midfielder Guido Rodriguez provide depth to Lopetegui’s midfield too, especially with James Ward-Prowse’s loan to Forest.
West Ham’s smart signings have been counteracted with necessary outgoings, including Said Benrahma, Thilo Kehrer, Maxwel Cornet and Nayef Aguerd, all of whom had rather forgettable spells with the Hammers.
Grade: A+
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Biggest signing: Andre ($41 million from Fluminese)
Total spend: $120.3 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Pedro Neto ($104.6m to Chelsea)
Total income: $192 million (AUD)
Club captain, gone.
Best player, gone.
Fair to say, it hasn’t been the best window for Gary O’Neil’s Wolves. Max Kilman left for West Ham and Pedro Neto for Chelsea, significantly weakening the manager’s defensive and creative options.
“Those guys, we need to replace them,” O’Neil told Sky Sports. That they didn’t could prove damning for the club, even if they have faith in the in-house options they have to make up for their two big losses.
Andre, signed from Fluminese, shapes as smart business, with the ball-winning midfielder a wild success in his homeland. He adds to a strong midfield contingent at the club.
Tommy Doyle’s return is positive after he impressed on loan last season, with Jorgen Strand Larsen has already shown his immense presence up top.
Sam Johnstone is a fine goalkeeper, but is he better than Jose Sa? While question marks remain about the rest of the clubs’ signings, many of whom have high ceilings while lacking Premier League experience.
Speaking to Sky Sports, O’Neil indicated earlier in the window that the club needed to look at bringing in players capable of helping them win now.
“Recruitment has been asset-driven and we are hopeful that we can balance that slightly, to get some that are Premier League ready,” he said.
For the large part the club didn’t, and if their start to the season is anything to go by that strategy will do more short term harm than long-term good.
The Premier League has played host to countless iconic strikers, from legends of the game to cult heroes and one-season wonders.
It makes for an extremely difficult task when it comes to whittling down the list for the greatest forwards of the Premier League era.
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Haaland is one of the best strikers in the world right now and not just in the Premier LeagueCredit: AFP
But, as is often the case with lists centred around a hotly-debated topic, some big names will inevitably be omitted.
That’s exactly what happened when former Premier League striker Darren Bent revealed his list of the greatest forwards to have played in the top flight.
Bent knows what he’s talking about when it comes to goals, having scored 106 in the Premier League across stints at Ipswich Town, Charlton, Tottenham, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Fulham.
He revealed his selections for his top ten Premier League strikers when it was put to him that Jamie Vardy was worthy of a spot in the top ten list for greatest goal-getters.
After all, the Leicester man is 37 years old and still scoring and set a record of scoring in 11 straight games when Leicester won an unlikely title in 2016 and he won the Premier League Player of the Season.
As good as he is, though, Vardy doesn’t make the cut. Making a list of the best ever is harder to do than you might think.
The inclusion of Drogba may have raised some eyebrows given the Chelsea hero finished with 12 or less Premier League goals in seven out of his nine seasons in the top flight.
However, Bent, who came up against Drogba several times in his career, believed the Chelsea great was more than worthy of a spot in his list.
“I played against Drogba in his pomp,” Bent said on talkSPORT Drive.
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Drogba was a driving force for ChelseaCredit: AFP
“I think too often people look at his numbers and go, ‘How can he be up there?’
“But he was strong, powerful, could score goals. He was the centre forward when Chelsea had all the success. He was one of the main players in that team.”
Bent, a passionate Arsenal fan, then addressed the absence of Van Persie, who scored 144 goals in 280 Premier League appearances.
Rio Ferdinand reveals Sir Alex Ferguson hammered Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney for not passing to Robin Van Persie at Manchester United
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Van Persie scored a total of 132 goals for Arsenal and 58 for Man United and was the 14th highest Premier League scorer of all time
“I know there’s people that I’ve left out, like Van Persie,” Bent said.
“Maybe that’s a bit personal because of the way he left Arsenal.”
Bent also explained why he left out Michael Owen, who was the last English player to win the Ballon d’Or.
“With Owen, when he first burst onto the scene, I’ve never seen anything like it, other than Rooney,” he explained.
“I was like, ‘Oh my goodness gracious.’ Michael Owen was incredible, but I look towards the hamstring injuries.”
Darren Bent’s top ten Premier League strikers
Thierry Henry – 175 goals (Arsenal)
Alan Shearer – 260 goals (Blackburn and Newcastle)
Harry Kane – 213 goals (Tottenham and Norwich City)
Wayne Rooney – 208 goals (Everton and Man United)
Sergio Aguero – 184 goals (Man City)
Ruud van Nistelrooy – 95 goals (Man United)
Ian Wright – 113 goals (Arsenal and West Ham)
Andy Cole – 187 goals (Newcastle, Man United, Blackburn, Fulham, Man City, Portsmouth and Sunderland)
Luis Suarez – 69 goals (Liverpool)
Didier Drogba – 104 goals (Chelsea)
Bent acknowledged Owen had won the Ballon d’Or but still feels Henry deserved his spot on the list considering he if often labelled the greatest ever Premier League player.
ERLING HAALAND
However, Bent may be forced to revise his list by the end of the season if a certain Norwegian maintains his frightening goal record.
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland bagged his second hat-trick of the 2024/25 Premier League season as his side overcame West Ham last weekend.
Haaland’s three strikes took his league goal tally to 70 goals from 69 games, but that’s not the only stat that emphasises how absurdly good he is.
The 24-year-old has the best goals-per-minute average in Premier League history with a goal every 80 minutes.
To put it in comparison, City legend Sergio Aguero is second with an average of a goal every 108 minutes.
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After his hat-trick against West Ham, Haaland’s Premier League stats are phenomenal
Additionally, Haaland has scored just six fewer goals than Everton have scored since he moved to City in 2022.
Given Haaland is only in his third season at the Etihad Stadium, it may be a little premature to make any declarations about whether he will be the greatest Premier League striker of all time.
But for former Newcastle and Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew, Haaland is undoubtedly in the conversation.
“If you’re going to say to me he is better than Ian Rush, he is better than Kenny Dalglish, Alan Shearer, Gary Lineker, of course you’ve got to look at him and go, ‘Well, he’s definitely in the conversation,’” Pardew told talkSPORT.
“I mean, it’s too early to say whether he’s going to be the best of all time. We’re talking about real top of the tree stuff, but he’s in the conversation.
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Haaland scored his second hat-trick of the season against West HamCredit: Getty
“He’s on course to really break some records.”
Should Haaland maintain his stunning average for minutes per goal, it will take him approximately 169 games to equal Shearer’s record of 260 Premier League goals.
Even if he does not surpass Shearer’s tally, Haaland is well on his way to cementing himself in the conversation of the Premier League’s greatest strikers.
For Bent, that means he’ll have to revise his list once more.
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Gary Lineker highlighted a key difference between Erling Haaland and Harry Kane as he labelled Manchester City’s star as the ‘perfect striker’.
Ironically, Kane was set to be Sergio Aguero’s successor in Man City’s attack in 2021, but the then-Tottenham striker’s big money move never materialised.
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Haaland has got another season off to a flyer, water is wetCredit: Getty
Now, Kane is starring for Bayern Munich and Haaland, who signed for Man City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, is already having a third stunning season in a row for Pep Guardiola’s side.
The Norwegian bagged a hat-trick against Ipswich on Saturday in his side’s 4-1 win, a game Lineker and his The Rest Is Football podcast co-hosts Alan Shearer and Micah Richards discussed on this week’s episode.
Ex-City star Richards brought up Kane dropping deeper and getting involved in play for England at Euro 2024, before highlighting Haaland is not interested in doing that, opting to stay high up the pitch instead.
And Lineker believes this allows Haaland to be more profitable in front of goal.
The former England striker said: “I thought it highlighted as well the importance of the way Haaland plays and plays so high.
“Because if he constantly spins behind, defenders will get nervous so they drop a little bit deeper.
“Therefore, your midfield players will have more space behind.
“Whereas if he did drop 20 yards into midfield, then he actually crowds it out more so there’s no space for those midfield players.
“So it’s very important.”
And he thinks if Kane adopted Haaland’s positioning, he’d bag more goals.
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Kane has 45 goals in 47 appearances for Bayern but Lineker suggested the England captain could get moreCredit: Getty
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Lineker was full of praise for HaalandCredit: YouTube
He continued: “I think we did talk about this in the summer with England, because Kane likes to drop.
“But if he can stay higher, then you can create a little bit of space in behind. I think he does that brilliantly and he’s that perfect striker where he’s patient enough.
“He doesn’t care if he touches it ten times or 50 times in the game. He cares about how much he touches it into the back of the net.”
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Kane’s goal return last term was nothing to sniff at, though.
The England captain scored a whopping 44 goals in 45 games in all competitions in his debut campaign in Germany.
He’s already got off the mark this season, netting against Ulm in a 4-0 win in the first round of the DFB Pokal. He also registered two assists in the 3-2 win over Wolfsburg on Sunday.
Haaland, meanwhile, scored 38 times in 45 games last season and has four to his name this campaign already.
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Cole Palmer has joined an exclusive Premier League club after tearing Wolves apart on Sunday.
The Chelsea star was in electric form at Molineux, bagging an unbelievable four goal contributions before the 63rd minute.
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Palmer was on fire at MolineuxCredit: Getty
After Nicolas Jackson’s early goal and Matheus Cunha’s equaliser, Palmer scored his first goal of the season just before half time.
Wolves then levelled the score again through Jorgen Strand Larsen to make it 2-2 – but after the break, Palmer turned things up a notch.
The England international set up all three of Noni Madueke’s goals, with the winger netting his first ever senior career hat-trick.
Madueke – who had rattled Wolves fan with an X-rated Instagram post earlier that day – pointed at Palmer as he celebrated to praise him for his role in his treble.
As a result of his three assists for Madueke, Palmer is now one of five players to have assisted each goal for a teammate’s hat-trick in Premier League history.
Mike Newell set up Alan Shearer’s Blackburn hat-trick against Coventry in 1995.
Stan Collymore did the same for Robbie Fowler against Arsenal in the same year with Liverpool.
Thierry Henry assisted Freddie Ljungberg’s treble against Sunderland in 2003.
The last Premier League player to achieve the feat before Palmer was ex-Tottenham striker Harry Kane in 2020.
He set up Heung-Min Son three times against Southampton, as well as scoring one himself in the 5-2 win over the Saints.
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Palmer has written his name in Premier League history alongside Arsenal icon Thierry HenryCredit: Getty
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Palmer played a huge role in Chelsea’s win once againCredit: Getty
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He was running rampant in Wolves’ half
Palmer has now netted a whopping 26 goals and grabbed 18 assists for Chelsea since signing from Manchester City last summer.
The forward joined for a fee of £42.5million.
Joao Felix came on to score Chelsea’s sixth goal of the afternoon on his second debut for the Blues, firing home ex-Wolves star Pedro Neto’s cross – as if Wolves needed more salt rubbed into their wounds…
Speaking about Palmer, Madueke said after the game: “He is cold and I am fire, so… it mixes well!
“He has always got the ability to play the right pass at the right time.
“So we can say it’s brilliant!”
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UK football experts are backing Ange Postecoglou to lead Tottenham back to the Champions League promise land — but not all are convinced with backfire fears raised over his stunning, public swipe of the club’s fans last season.
Postecolgou’s second Premier League season in charge kicks off at newly promoted Leicester City on Monday (Tuesday morning AEST) and many experts are confident that it will be the beginning of a top-four campaign.
But The Daily Mail’s Nathan Salt believes Postecoglou may come to regret his comments following his side’s 2-0 loss at home to champions Manchester City in the penultimate game of last season.
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The former Celtic boss is well versed in passionate derbies but he expressed his disappointment with some Spurs fans wanting their team to lose to City to prevent rivals Arsenal from winning the league.
Salt wrote that Postecoglou has now added more pressure onto his own shoulders which could heavily impact the upcoming campaign.
“Something feels off, 7th,” Salt said.
“Ange Postecoglou publicly called out Tottenham and their supporters for a ‘fragile’ mentality at the back end of last season and the need to win a trophy only becomes of greater importance after such a barb from the boss.”
The Australian was heaped with praise for implementing an attacking style last season but his side ran out of steam late to finish fifth and miss out on a Champions League berth by two points.
Postecoglou demanded the signing of a proven Premier League goalscorer and his command was fulfilled when they signed Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth for an initial £55 million ($106.5 million).
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Solanke scored 21 goals last season, including 19 in the Premier League, and will join Son Heung-min, Richarlison and Timo Werner in attack – who all attempted to fill the void left by Harry Kane up front at times but Son in particular is arguably more suited to playing on a flank.
Postecoglou’s attacking style ensures that Spurs create plenty of chances and having another accomplished finisher inside the box has filled many pundits with confidence that they will pile on the goals.
Manchester United and England legend Gary Neville tips Tottenham to be the beneficiaries of a potential Liverpool slide following Jurgen Klopp’s departure from Anfield and join Manchester City, Arsenal and his former club in the Champions League spots.
“I think that Tottenham fell away badly (last year) but they’ve got something,” Neville said on the Stick to Football podcast. “I think they’ve got something and I’m going for Tottenham (above Liverpool).”
The Guardian’s football writers agreed that Tottenham will finish fourth with deputy football editor Sachin Nakrani praising Postecoglou’s tactics as the reason why Spurs can improve.
“Tactically Tottenham are, to use that most modern of football phrase, in a good place,” Nakrani said.
“There is collective buy-in to the bold, positive approach Ange Postecoglou established in his debut campaign, providing as it did a much-needed contrast to the negative drudgery of the Mourinho and Conte years and almost proving enough to secure a top four finish.”
A focus of Spurs’ off-season squad management has been cleaning out players that do not suit Postecoglou’s style of play.
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In addition to Solanke, highly-touted 18-year-olds Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall have been signed while Werner’s loan deal has been extended for another season and South Korean winger Yang Min-hyuk will join Tottenham in January after the K League 1 season.
Meanwhile midfielders Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Marseille) and Eric Dier (Bayern Munich), as well defender Emerson Royal (AC Milan) and winger Ivan Perisic (Hajduk Split) are among 15 players to have been loaned, sold or released to find new homes where they are more suited.
The formation of the squad to Postecoglou’s liking led to the Telegraph’s Matt Law – two of the Telegraph’s six experts predicted Tottenham to be in the top four – to suggest that more players will be out the door in the coming weeks.
“The plan is for more exits before the transfer window shuts and just who leaves may dictate any remaining incoming business,” Law said.
The addition of European football – the Europa League – to Tottenham’s schedule this season has raised concerns about clearing out too many players and their squad depth however.
Spurs battled to cover their injuries in the second half of last season – particularly in defence where at times they played without a recognised centre back – and Europa League games on a Thursday night demands greater squad flexibility.
The Guardian’s Sachin Nakrani believes they need to add in “most notably a high-class winger, with a left-back and centre-back also required to bolster resources”.
The need for further defensive signings combined with Postecolgou’s aggressive playing style sometimes leaving them exposed at the back are the main reasons the detractors are not tipping improvement from Spurs.
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Defending set pieces continues to be a struggle and Bayern Munich exposed it once again in their pre-season friendlies.
“Spurs conceded 16 times from set pieces last season, which put them level with Burnley and Aston Villa,” The Athletic’s Jay Harris said.
“Only Luton Town, Sheffield United (both 19) and Nottingham Forest conceded more (23). Bayern exposed this weakness twice on Saturday. It is a problem that refuses to go away.”
The Independent’s writers were split 50/50 on whether Tottenham would improve this season and assistant sports editor Karl Matchett has his concerns about Spurs’ defending despite predicting them to be in the top four.
“I’m leaning (towards) Tottenham, as they have really good attacking depth, but Newcastle will also be back in the hunt this year if they land Marc Guehi and another attacker,” Matchett said.
“They maybe aren’t as good overall as Spurs, but can be defensively more resolute and importantly have no European midweek football, which given their injury issues last year will be a huge differentiator for that squad. Spurs are ‘better’ but that doesn’t always mean they’ll finish ahead. Villa will drop off a bit with Champions League to deal with, United and Chelsea are nowhere near it right now.”
Harry Kane finally won a trophy at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – but he showed his class and loyalty to Spurs in refusing to lift it.
The 31-year-old returned to his former stomping ground in north London on Saturday where he was part of the Bayern Munich side that won the Visit Malta Cup.
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Kane returned to Spurs on Saturday where he was treated to a brilliant receptionCredit: Getty
After 14 trophy-less years spent with Spurs, he picked up a pre-season piece of silverware after helping his side win 3-2.
Kane came off the bench in the second half where he was given the captain armband’s on his Tottenham return – a year after he departed in a deal worth more than £100million.
He came close to getting on the score sheet – firing narrowly over the bar – with first-half goals from Dayot Upamecano, Serge Gnabry and Thomas Muller proving to be the difference.
And he had the chance to lift the trophy on the pitch following the five-goal thriller – but decided against doing so to once again show why he is so loved by Spurs fans.
He was caught on camera removing his armband, while shaking his head towards Joshua Kimmich, insisting he couldn’t possibly do so out of his love for the Premier League side.
As a result, Bayern’s usual skipper Manuel Neuer hoisted aloft the trophy, with Kane seen clapping during the presentation.
Though he did get his hands on some form of silverware – along with Eric Dier – who followed Kane to Bavaria in January.
The duo were presented with special commemorative gifts by fellow Spurs icon Ledley King in a ceremony prior to the kick-off.
Both men were treated to a rapturous applause from the home faithful, with Spurs’ all-time top scorer Kane soaking in the atmosphere.
But it was his wholesome decision to turn down lifting the trophy that sent social media into meltdown.
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Kane removed his captain’s armband to avoid him lifting the Visit Malta Cup
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He was unwilling for the first trophy he lifts at Tottenham to be as an opposing player
One Spurs supporter posted: “Big respect to him, he knows it’s wrong at our ground plus he knows what he will get on social media for lifting a friendly trophy.”
Another posted: “Loyalty is rare in football nowadays fairs to Kane.”
A third added: “This is nothing but total class and respect from a legend of our club and a legend of a man.”
Harry Kane, who was captain of Bayern Munich, refused to lift the pre-season trophy against his former club Tottenham today pic.twitter.com/I7uiGW0FRq
This fan then messaged: “He’s genuinely a really good bloke and I’m proud he’s one of our own.”
Meanwhile another simply stated: “Ultimate respect to him.”
Kane was quick to show his gratitude to his adoring fans after the match, as he said: “I am so used to coming here as the home player.
“[I’ve] been here so many times before so it was strange and putting this shirt on, being in the away dressing room, but I like to enjoy these occasions.
“I had an amazing career at Spurs, so many great memories and just great to see the fans again, so many players and staff I have a lot of relationships with.
“The game itself, I probably shouldn’t have been playing. I only trained yesterday but I was always going to play 10 minutes and it was good.
“Everything was really rushed through last year, so we didn’t have a chance (to say goodbye), but it was great way to say thank you to all of them.
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The England international was presented with a special gift by King before the pre-season clashCredit: Getty
The reception I got was amazing and great to clap them around the pitch after, those who stayed behind and I will always be thankful for every Spurs fan for the support they’ve given me through my whole career. It’s been incredible.
“I just appreciate them seeing me and me seeing them again.”
The Australian manager of Premier League side Tottenham wanted a new star striker, 12 months on from the departure of legendary club and England captain Harry Kane.
Now Spurs are on the brink of signing their number one target – Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth – according to widespread reports.
Solanke has a £65 million ($A126m) release clause, but a deal could be struck for slightly less according to some reports. Regardless, it will smash Bournemouth’s club record.
Solanke, a Chelsea academy product who struggled to impress at Liverpool, enjoyed the finest season of his career, with 19 Premier League goals seeing him unlucky to miss out on an England call-up for the Euros.
Just as impressive as his goalscoring form was his link-up play, crucial to Postecoglou’s free-flowing attacking approach.
Ange Postecoglou has landed his top target.Source: Getty Images
Postecoglou said on Friday: “I have always felt that if you get the recruitment right then whoever it is hits the ground running.
“We signed Mickey van de Ven three days before the first game last year against Brentford and we threw him straight in. He literally hit the ground running.
“We are trying to identify players who fit into our style of football. There will be a bit of adjustment but hopefully they will already have those qualities to come into the group and contribute straight away.
“That is my expectation when we sign someone. They will be ready to contribute from the moment they arrive.”
Yet he emphasised that any new signing would not bear the weight of replacing club legend Kane.
“We showed last year that we were still a threatening team going forward without Harry. We are talking about a generational talent here, he was never going to be replaced, but invariably there will always be comparisons,” Postecoglou added.
“It’s pretty evident from the way we play that we are never going to be reliant on one player. When we are up and running we can score from many different areas.
“Hopefully the striker, when he is playing in our system, is a beneficiary of that as well as a contributor.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s overfull squad looks set to be stretched even farther with the club set to sign winger Pedro Neto from Wolves.
Neto is excellent in one-on-one situations against fullbacks.Source: Getty Images
It would be their ninth arrival of the window, with the club desperately needing to offload some of their almost 45 contracted players.
Chelsea reportedly agreed a deal worth up to £54m ($A105m) for Neto, and are also closing in on the signing of striker Samu Omorodion from Atlético Madrid for a reported £34.5m.
24-year-old Portuguese international Neto has struggled with injuries over the last three seasons but boasts plenty of talent and impressed at the Euros.
Kane and Dier will face their former club in a friendlyCredit: Getty
However, the main storyline is undoubtedly the return of Kane and Dier to north London for the first time since their departures last season.
The duo will be presented with a commemorative gift by legendary Tottenham defender Ledley King prior to the contest, with the ceremony to take place 15 minutes before kick-off at 5:30pm.
“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,” a Tottenham statement read.
Tottenham also encouraged fans to arrive early and be in their seats to witness the ceremony take place.
The fixture will be the second friendly between the two teams, with Bayern running out 2-1 victors over Tottenham last Saturday at the Allianz Arena.
Dier came on in the 55th minute of that contest in place of Korean centre-back Kim Min-Jae, but Kane was not involved.
There is also no guarantee Kane will take part in the second friendly against his old club given the lower back injury he had prior to Euro 2024.
Kane has refused to divulge whether he went into the tournament hampered by the injury as the England skipper turned in uncharacteristically lacklustre performances throughout.
England’s run to the final also meant Kane has returned to Bayern’s pre-season camp significantly later than his teammates, meaning he could end up taking part in just two friendlies.
After Saturday’s friendly against Tottenham, Bayern will face Austrian outfit WSG Tirol on Tuesday before their 24/25 season officially begins with a DFB Pokal clash against second-tier side SSV Ulm 1846.
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Kane joined Bayern Munich last summerCredit: Getty
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Dier made 20 appearances for Bayern last seasonCredit: Getty
Kane moved to Bayern for an eye-watering £82million the day before Tottenham took on Brentford in its 23/24 Premier League opener.
The 31-year-old also holds the honour of being Tottenham’s record goal scorer with 280 from 435 appearances.
Dier made four appearances for Tottenham under Postecoglou before he departed to the Bundesliga heavyweights in the January window.
The duo made a combined 800 appearances for Tottenham but were unable to help the club lift its first trophy since the 2008 League Cup.
Tottenham are set to break new ground by offering a record wage for teenage starlet Mikey Moore.
According to reports, the 16-year-old has agreed to sign his first professional contract at the club which will be finalised on Sunday – his 17th birthday.
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Moore is set to commit his future to SpursCredit: Getty
Moore is highly thought of at Spurs, and this is reflected in the three-year deal he is soon to sign, reports The Athletic.
Having starred at academy level and during pre-season so far, it has been said the north Londoners are offering the forward a bigger salary than they ever have done for a player turning 17.
The contract length is the largest contract allowed by FIFA regulations for players under 18, and Tottenham will hope it helps to deter some of Europe’s biggest clubs to ensure one of their own stays put.
Moore has made a big impression since breaking into Spurs’ first team at the end of last season, becoming the club’s youngest ever Premier League player when he made his debut against Man City in May.
The Tottenham academy product made one further league appearance, coming off the bench late in their final game against Sheffield United.
This summer, he has starred for Ange Postecoglou‘s side in pre-season, with goals against Hearts, Vissel Kobe and a Japanese youth international side.
After his strike against J League Kobe, an 88th-minute winner, Moore drew praise from his manager: “Mikey has been fantastic since we brought him in.
“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.”
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The 16-year-old has made the transition into men’s football look effortlessCredit: Getty
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Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is a fan of the talented teenagerCredit: AFP
Postecoglou later added: “We have to remember that last year he had some injuries and he is only 16, but yes – super exciting.”
Prior to rejoining Spurs for pre-season training in July, Moore had been in red-hot form for England‘s Under-17s in their European Championship campaign in Greece.
The starlet netted four goals in as many games before England suffered penalty heartbreak to eventual winners Italy at the quarter-final stage.
All signs seem to suggest that Moore is more than ready to make the step up into first-team football.
The Spurs ace previously boasted a stunning record for the club’s youth teams, with 19 goals and 13 assists in 24 appearances at U18 level, having broken into that team at the age of 15.
He would go on to become the youngest player to break into the Tottenham U21s side, and has 18 goals in 31 games for the Three Lions at U15 to U17 level.
With Spurs currently without a homegrown star following Harry Kane‘s exit to Bayern in 2023, fans will no doubt be keen to have one of their own deliver match-winning performances once again at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
