Tottenham Hotspur can complete a perfect summer transfer window by signing Crystal Palace star Daniel Munoz.

Tottenham stunned their Premier League rivals by wrapping up six quick signings early in the window, and now they are working hard to get at least three more over the line before the September 1 deadline.

Spurs have now agreed a deal worth up to £85m to sign Manchester City winger Savinho, while they are also working on a deal to sign his club teammate, Omar Marmoush, having already agreed personal terms, as Roberto De Zerbi looks to add a new striker to his squad.

The Italian coach still wants another wide player even if he lands the City duo in the coming days, with Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo his top target.

The north London outfit might have to be patient in their pursuit of the Netherlands international however, with the Reds not being open to a sale until they land two new wingers themselves, as they target moves for PSG duo Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye, as well as making a bid for Brighton and Hove Albion attacker Yankuba Minteh.

Tottenham’s squad would be close to De Zerbi’s dream if he lands all three, but there is still one gaping hole in the team, and that is competition for Pedro Porro in the right-back spot.

Spurs had more than adequate cover for the World Cup-winning full-back in Djed Spence, but the Englishman has completed a move to Inter Milan this summer.

While Porro is an outstanding player who has just signed a long-term contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, his main back-up to his position as things stand is Archie Gray, who is a central midfielder by trade.

Tottenham Must Seal Daniel Munoz Deal

via Reuters

Tottenham have been linked with new right-backs in recent weeks, but interest has almost taken a back seat as they look to tie up a trio of attacking signings.

Should De Zerbi get the three players the club are currently working to sign, every summer addition will arrive in north London with Premier League experience.

It is a pattern that has continued with right-back links too, with Nottingham Forest’s Neco Williams and Crystal Palace’s Daniel Munoz two players mentioned.

Top Spurs source Paul O’Keefe confirmed earlier this month that the club admire Eagles star Munoz, who has shone at right-back and right wing-back for the south London outfit in recent seasons.

The Colombia international has made more than 80 English top flight outings for Palace since completing a £7m move to Selhurst Park, and has established himself as one of the best in his position in that time.

Munoz may be 30 now, but there are few better options that De Zerbi and Tottenham could sign now to back up a World Cup winner, who offer real quality when they do come into the XI.

Given his age and the fact he has two years remaining on his contract at Palace, there will be an expectation that he wouldn’t cost the world either.

Now they need to get the deal done to complete the perfect summer window.

Manchester United are preparing to take on Hull in their first Premier League game of the season on Saturday afternoon, and Michael Carrick has some big decisions to make.

The Red Devils have had a busy summer with four new arrivals, including a midfield rebuild that has seen Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, while a deal is close to being agreed with Brighton to bring in Carlos Baleba too.

But with a little over a week remaining of the transfer window, there is also a belief that there could be more signings on the way, including additions in the forward department.

Man Utd’s pre-season didn’t go massively to plan. The team won just two of their six games within the 90 minutes, and had many players joining up late with the squad as a result of their participation at the World Cup.

• 0-1 vs Wrexham
• 5-0 vs Rosenborg
• 2-1 vs Atletico Madrid
• 1-1 vs PSG
• 1-1 vs Leeds (won 5-4 on pens)
• 2-4 vs AC Milan

But one of the bigger stories from the team’s preparation was the fact that starting striker Benjamin Sesko hasn’t featured for a single minute in any of the games as he continues to recover from an injury picked up at the end of last season.

While he has since returned to training and could be in the squad against Hull to pick up some minutes, it’s highly unlikely that he’ll get the nod from the start. That would normally mean the backup striker, Joshua Zirkzee, would get the nod to step into the starting lineup. However, that seems unlikely too, with Bryan Mbeumo more likely to get the number nine role.

Mbeumo was the club’s top scorer last season in all competitions, and also during pre-season with three goals, and Carrick showed last season that he is a fan of using the Cameroonian in a central position too.

With Matheus Cunha, Amad, Patrick Dorgu, and Marcus Rashford all available to play on the wings too, it means the team wouldn’t be lacking in attack should the manager choose to go with that once again.

But it does mean that he clearly doesn’t believe in Zirkzee to lead the line for his team, and that is likely to be the end of the Netherlands international’s Old Trafford career.

Zirkzee Future in Carrick’s Hands

REUTERS

Zirkzee’s arrival from Bologna two summers ago was seen as a shrewd signing, but he has struggled with the pace and physicality of the Premier League.

In pre-season, however, he has been impressive, scoring against Rosenborg and Leeds with two well-taken strikes. He links up well with the other forwards in the squad, and holds the ball up well too, while technically he is one of the best at the club.

But after missing out on a spot in the World Cup squad due to a lack of game time, Zirkzee needs regular minutes if he is going to stay. If he isn’t going to be selected when Sesko is out injured, then the chances of regular minutes looks slim.

There is strong interest from Italy in his signature, and an exit would look inevitable if Carrick decides to ignore him as an option once again on Saturday.

Toni Kroos doesn’t think Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi should win the Ballon d’Or this year because of their ‘average’ seasons at the club level.

Mbappe and Messi were at the top of their game at this summer’s World Cup, going toe-to-toe in the Golden Boot race. They starred for their nations, with France losing to eventual winners Spain in the semi-finals, who also defeated Argentina in the final.

The attacking duo earned plaudits throughout the tournament in which Mbappe pipped Messi at the top of the goalscoring ranks. The Real Madrid forward bagged 10 goals while the Inter Miami star finished with eight.

Kroos on Ballon d’Or: Surprise Name Beats Mbappe and Messi

Left: REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

Right: REUTERS/Lee Smith

Mbappe failed to get his hands on the World Cup for the second time in his career after Madrid’s disappointing season. The 27-year-old’s club finished the campaign trophyless for just the sixth time in the 21st century.

Messi also missed out on glory as his nation lost its crown in bitter fashion, and speculation is growing over his future in the sport. The 39-year-old did get his hands on silverware with Inter Miami, captaining the Herons to the MLS Cup back in December.

While the pair are considered contenders in the race for the Ballon d’Or, Kroos has ruled both of them out along with England’s World Cup hero Jude Bellingham and Barcelona’s new boy Rodri. He believes the award should go to a Champions League winner:

“The Ballon d’Or should go to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. He probably won’t win but he’s the number one without hesitation. The best World Cup players: Messi, Jude (Bellingham), Mbappe, Rodri had average club seasons. Kvara was the best player from currently the best club in the world.”

Kroos’ comments are bound to set tongues wagging, given Khvicha Kvaratskhelia wasn’t even at the World Cup after Georgia failed to qualify. He stayed at home while his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Fabian Ruiz became a world champion.

Kvaratskhelia’s absence during the tournament will harm his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or. He wasn’t able to showcase his world-class ability on the biggest stage in football.

That said, Kvaratskhelia enjoyed yet another stellar season at the Parc des Princes, helping Enrique’s side win the continental treble. The 25-year-old winger flourished and proved his worth as one of, if not the best, left-wingers in world football.

Kroos Not The Only One Backing Kvaratskhelia

The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place in London this year and we will find out who is deemed the best player in the world on October 26th. If history repeats itself, it will be either a World Cup winner or a Champions League winner who earns football’s most prestigious individual award.

Kvaratskhelia certainly has support and Unai Emery, like Kroos, reckons he deserves to finish at the top of the podium. The Aston Villa boss said ahead of his side’s UEFA Super Cup defeat to PSG:

​”Kvaratskhelia is the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or in my opinion. He is fantastic… Of course, his impact was fantastic two years ago at Napoli and now at PSG. He was one of the best players who was not at the World Cup, and he is fit. The decision isn’t mine, but I think he can win this trophy.”

AC Milan legend Clarence Seedorf echoed Emery’s stance on the Georgian with a massive endorsement:

“Kvaratskhelia is the best player in the world and he’s only going to get better. … He carries the team in certain moments so I like his intelligence. He’s unbelievable.”

As for Kvaratskhelia’s own manager, Enrique has given his own verdict and believes another PSG star should be crowned the Ballon d’Or winner. It’s proving to be one of the toughest races to call in years, given the lack of Parisian representation in Spain’s World Cup-winning team.