What will be important this season is what happens on the pitch, but there is already a different feel to Tottenham Hotspur, with the feeling that they could once again become a force to be reckoned with under manager Roberto De Zerbi.
Spending £185m on Sandro Tonali and Matheus Fernandes suggests Spurs are not hanging around this summer after a series of setbacks a year ago.
Indeed, in 2025, for example, the signing of Morgan Gibbs-White hit a snag, while the north Londoners also lost out to Manchester United and Arsenal in the race for Brian Mbeumo and Ebelesi Eze, respectively.
There were whispers at the time that the Lilywhites were preparing to sign Morgan Rogers, but the Englishman could well prove to be another runaway.
Circumstances surrounding Spurs’ interest in Rodgers last summer
With no attacking recruits yet to arrive in the N17 this summer, there is talk that Spurs intend to take on Arsenal for Rodgers, with the move expected to accelerate after the World Cup.
The North London pair have since struggled at the hands of rivals Chelsea, with the Blues spending an eye-watering £117m to sign the 23-year-old from Villa Park.
The surprise switch comes a year after Tottenham were said to be a “dream target” for the former Middlesbrough man, with some even claiming a deal could even be struck ahead of deadline day.
This is a view backed up by transfer official Fabrizio Romano, with the Italian outlining that Rodgers was definitely on the agenda last year, although Villa never looked like they would be keen to sell him.
Instead, manager Unai Emery persuaded the powerful forward to stay for another year, a decision that proved fruitful as Rodgers led the Midlands side to Europa League glory and a top-five finish, ensuring a break from Champions League football for a team that won’t be competing in Europe at all next season.
It remains to be seen whether such a move would benefit both the player and Chelsea, but in any case, this big deal would likely have reduced Spurs’ own shortlist of attacking targets.
Thankfully, there is one player on that list who could be another upgrade to Rodgers, who is valued at £117m.
How the Spurs could sign Morgan Rodgers to an upgrade deal
Rodgers’ move to Stamford Bridge, along with Elliott Anderson’s £116m move to Manchester City, shows just how expensive this summer has become in terms of transfer fees, and it is certainly difficult to find value on the market.
In fact, reports suggest it could cost Spurs more than £90m to sign Bournemouth sensation Eli Junior Crupi. The Frenchman has just had a solitary season in the Premier League.
ENIC may be better off turning his attention elsewhere, with Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford outlined in the iPaper as he continues to be a long-term target.
Rashford vs Rodgers – World Cup | ||
|---|---|---|
rashford | Statistics (*per game) | rogers |
6(3) | Game (start) | 7(3) |
1 | the goal | 0 |
1 | assist | 1 |
229 | minutes per goal | Not applicable |
3 | missed a big opportunity | 0 |
3 | A big opportunity has arisen | 2 |
0.7 | Key pass* | 1.0 |
87% | Pass accuracy* | 83% |
0.8 | It was successful. dribble* | 0.7 |
1.5 | Total Win Duels* | 2.4 |
The suggestion is that both Arsenal and Chelsea were monitoring his situation, with Spurs ready and willing to make a £40m move for the 28-year-old before his release clause expired.
Earlier this summer, the Lilywhites were said to be willing to pay a fee for Rashford rather than take him on loan, and it was thought they would make a “big play” for the Englishman.
With the potential signing of a United returner, there is a good chance that ENIC could land a serious coup, but doubts remain as to whether Rashford will rejoin the team under manager Michael Carrick after an 18-month loan spell.
Although he is in exile at Old Trafford, the forward’s talent is clear, having flashed alongside Rodgers and others at the World Cup and scoring a memorable win against Croatia in the group stage opener.
That early impact came after a fine season at Barcelona, but there was some surprise when the Catalan giants chose to invest in Anthony Gordon instead given Rashford’s potential in 2025/26.
Although not always a consistent starter under manager Hansi Flick, the Manchenian finished the season with 28 goals and assists in all competitions, ahead of Rodgers himself who contributed 26 goals at Villa Park.
Rashford is five years older than his compatriot, but his wealth of experience has impressed, with 89 goals in 297 Premier League games, while Rodgers has scored just 21 in 85 games in the competition.
In Europe, Rashford has scored 29 goals and provided an assist in 48 games in the Champions League, as well as 23 goals and provided an assist in just 42 games in the Europa League. For comparison, Rodgers has played just 27 games across the two competitions, scoring 15 goals and providing an assist.
Rodgers is certainly on the right track, but he was only active in the Championship until January 2024, having been allowed to leave Manchester City for just £1m six months ago.
In Rashford’s case, since he burst onto the scene in February 2016, he has gone from being a genuine teenager to now a player with a decade of impressive experience under his belt for both club and country. In Gordon’s opinion, he is undoubtedly “one of the best players in the world.”
He has scored 19 goals in 78 games for England, equaling 138 goals in 426 games for Manchester United. Of course, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing in recent years, but Rashford has proven in the past that he is a true superstar. As for Rodgers, on the other hand, his time at the elite level is really just beginning.
