Tottenham transfer news: Luis Suarez and Marco Asensio targetted, update on Dembele, and more, 21st December 2017

And the merry-go-round continues. December is a real festive month for football fans. No, not because of Christmas or New Year’s Eve—it is the Boxing Day games and the January transfer window that comes after.

As there are only around 10 days to go before the transfer window opens again, the rumour mill is spinning and churning out stories that excites fan and entices them to hope for their team to sign some great players, who will help them achieve glory by the end of the season.

Today’s focus is on Tottenham Hotspur—an ambitious club who are currently faltering against the tide of the financially stronger teams. Sitting 6th in the league table, it has become of utmost importance for the club to sign well in the January window.

And here are some of the rumours surrounding the Lilywhites…

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#5 Mousa Dembele to Milan

Alright, folks, this is a bit of a stretch, but it comes from a good source. According to the usually reliable Alfredo Pedulla, who posted this on his own website, Milan are apparently keen on bringing the Spurs midfield maestro to the club in order get them out of the rut that they have been going through this season.

Despite strengthening in the summer with some great players like Andre Silva and Leonardo Bonucci, the Milan club are in a quagmire and have already sacked the coach with whom they started the season, Vicenzo Montella.

Gennaro Gattuso was brought in to the club as the manager and he has not been able to inspire the club to put up good performances and have, as a result, targeted Dembele.

However, it is unlikely that Spurs would let go of the player in the middle of the season despite Dembele having an injury-ravaged campaign thus far.

#4 A versatile player from Florence

Chiesa is a man in form

Spurs are a good team, they have established that very well. However, they always lack something—a very minute thing—that doesn’t allow them to reach the pinnacle.

Last season, and even the season before—and even now, for that matter—they lacked a player who could score the goals in the absence of Harry Kane. This season, though, they are also lacking the penetration ability that they had in the last two seasons (that may sound wrong, but I swear I didn’t have ill intentions… okay maybe I did).

And to solve that problem, they are now looking at Fiorentino forward-cum-winger-cum-midfielder Federico Chiesa. As per the Sun, Spurs are acquiring the signature of the Italian, who is valued at £53 million by his club, and is on the radar of clubs like Paris-Saint Germain, Roma, Juventus and Napoli as well.

Too steep for a 20-year-old with half-a-season worth’s good, no? Ah, well, welcome to modern day football.

#3 The left-back’s chase

Sessegnon is an incredible talent

After Danny Rose openly criticised the club for signing relatively unknown players instead of internationally acclaimed players, his time with the North Londoners became shortlived. As a result, Spurs are now looking for options at left-back as they have embraced themselves with the reality of Rose leaving the club somewhere down the line.

The first left-back to have been linked with them is Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon, who is playing in the Championship with Fulham. According to Fulham journalist, Ryan O’Donovan, the 17-year-old is still courted by the Lilywhites, who had seen a £25 million bid rejected in the summer.

The other left-back they have been linked with is Alex Grimaldo of Benfica. The former Barcelona full-back joined the Portuguese giants in 2016 after failing to nail down a spot in the Barcelona and has somewhat resurged his career in Portugal.

According to TalkSport, Manchester United will make a £50 million bid for Danny Rose and the best value for money player that Spurs could sign as a replacement is the Spaniard, who is rated at somewhere around £20 million.

#2 Someone from Hugo’s old home

Cornet is a blazing winger

It is absurd that Spurs still try to sign wingers from France despite failing with the likes of Clinton N’Jie and Kevin-Georges N’Koudou. Maybe they believe that someday, they will finally be able to hit gold in the French Ligue 1.

And this time, they are looking at Lyon youngster, Maxwel Cornet, who has a release clause of only £7 million, something which can easily afford with relatively less risk involved. The 21-year-old is a speed-gun that can outpace any defender—much akin to what N’Koudou could do—and has raw power to outmuscle his direct opponent.

However, Spurs aren’t the only club interested in the Lyon man as Borussia Dortmund are also interested in the winger and will provide tough competition to the English outfit.

#1 The big names

The long-shot hitman

And now for the big names, the ones that will capture the imagination of the fans no matter how much they outwardly deny it. According to Don Balon, Spurs are targeting Luiz Suarez as a replacement for Harry Kane, who is being linked with a move to Real Madrid.

Speaking of Real Madrid, a big player from the club is also being linked with the Lilywhites. Bookmarkers, Ladbrokes, have kept Spurs at 12/5 favourites for the signature of the talented Spaniard. The 21-year-old has played a lot more games for the Blancos this season and is seen as one for the future at the Bernabeu.

However, his transfer fee and potential wages, just like Suarez’s, will be a cause for concern for the North London outfit. Do you want to listen to my advice? Just plug in the headphones and listen to some Ne Obliviscaris and forget that you ever read this rumour.