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Everton are still in pole position to sign Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto ahead of Napoli and need around £20m to sign the Italy international.

Are Everton signing Wilfried Gnonto?

The Toffees and Sean Dyche appear to be on the search for attacking reinforcements after making a head start on their summer business.

Ashley Young was the first to sign for the club ahead of Dyche’s first full season in charge, arriving on a free transfer, whereas Villarreal’s Arnaut Danjuma has put pen to paper on a season-long loan deal.

Gnonto has been one of a number of attackers who have been linked with a move to Merseyside, and reports earlier this month claimed that Everton actually have had an opening £15m offer turned down by Leeds. However, it looks as if the club only need to increase their initial bid by 33% in order to get a deal over the line.

Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke provided an update he's heard regarding Gnonto on Wednesday morning. He stated that despite interest from Serie A champions Napoli, Everton are still leading the way to sign the forward due to the Italian side needing to raise money before they can make a move in what is a boost for Dyche and the Toffees.

An offer in the region of £20m should be enough for the Whites to accept, as the Championship side would be making a profit after spending just £4m on the forward just last summer.

Dyche believes Gnonto could be a key player for the upcoming campaign due to his versatility across the front line.

Where does Wilfried Gnonto play?

Gnonto is just 19 years of age, but he has already made over 100 senior appearances at club level, while also representing his country on 12 occasions. He has made 10 or more appearances as an attacking midfielder, right-winger, left-winger and second striker, proving that he would offer a versatile option going forward.

The youngster has caught the eye in England as well, with Gary Neville waxing lyrical over Gnonto during a Premier League match against Aston Villa earlier this year.

“To see someone so mature, so young is very unusual in that position. Sometimes you see potential and talent but watching him so closely, his understanding of where to be, his choice of pass, when to run with it, his awareness of teammates, really good honestly.”

Meanwhile, Leeds coach Michael Skubala hailed Gnonto as a "special player" and football talent scout Jacek Kulig said he is a player who has "electric pace, stature, low centre of gravity, mobility, bravery and a powerful finish".

You’d like to think that Gnonto will only improve with age as well, but despite still being a teenager, he’d arrive with a fair amount of experience. It looks as if a move could be one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks, and Everton may want to act fast before Napoli have the time to get the funds together to make a move of their own.

Tottenham Hotspur have "burst into the bidding" to sign Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie and they could hijack Serie A giants Juventus, according to reports.

Who will Spurs sign?

Alongside the possible addition of a central defender or two, which is rumoured to be a major priority for Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou, the north Londoners could also sign a new midfielder.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who has been a regular at Tottenham since he joined from Southampton in 2020, is realistically heading towards the exit door as Atletico Madrid push to sign him.

The La Liga side recently had a bid rejected for Hojbjerg, according to The Times (via SB Nation), but it is believed there is still confidence a deal can be struck for the Dane.

If he departs N17, Spurs will apparently scour the market for a replacement, leading to links with the likes of Chelsea's Conor Gallagher and, of course, Kessie.

The Ivorian, who only joined Barca last summer as a free agent last summer from AC Milan, has struggled for consistent starting places and there is a strong belief Xavi could let him go.

Tottenham are one of the sides to have been linked with a move for the 26-year-old who was once a San Siro star, and journalist Jordi Battle has an update on the matter.

The reporter, writing for Mundo Deportivo, claims Spurs have "burst into the bidding" for Kessie despite Italian giants Juve also making a push.

Massimiliano Allegri's side have made a proposal to the African to join them on loan with an option to buy, but Tottenham could hijack them as they storm into the race.

This comes as Barca apparently work to release Kessie this summer.

What's been said about Franck Kessie?

The former Milan star has been praised by sections of the media, including former Spurs keeper Paul Robinson, who once called Kessie an "amazing player" when commentong on his previous links to Tottenham.

"Kessie would fit the bill," said Robinson to Football Insider.

"He is strong, quick and effective at both ends of the pitch. He ticks a lot of boxes.

“There is no doubting that he is an amazing player. The question is, would he come in and command a starting spot? Hojbjerg and Bentancur have done extremely well. [Yves] Bissouma has struggled to get a look in at times.

“Would Kessie upset that midfield? Maybe but I don’t think it’s a certainty. It’s really important that Spurs sign better than what they already have."

Former Italy striker Antonio Cassano, meanwhile, showered with Kessie praise during his arguable peak years so far at Milan – even comparing the player to Man City legend and former Spurs coach Yaya Toure.

“I want Kessie in my team, he scores, he assists, he has personality," said Cassano.

"He has quality, he doesn’t lose the ball, he is intelligent. I’m watching him carefully, against Roma he was devastating.

“He reminds me of the Yaya Touré of the best times. He is a different player, but in terms of impact. He is holding Milan’s midfield alone.”

Liverpool could still potentially make three more signings in the summer transfer window, according to an encouraging update from Sky Sports reporter Melissa Reddy.

Who have Liverpool signed?

The Reds endured a painful 2022/23 season, finishing fifth in the Premier League and looking a million miles away from the team that almost won the quadruple the previous year.

It was clear that major summer surgery was required within the squad, particularly in midfield, and they have already undergone dramatic change. Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai are Liverpool's two signings so far, coming in from Brighton and RB Leipzig respectively, but Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all moved on to pastures new.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

With the start of the new Premier League campaign edging closer all the time, more additions are required in the coming weeks, in order to have the depth required to challenge across four competitions. More midfielders are imperative, with Romeo Lavia and Andre looking like the current primary targets, while a left-sided centre-back would also be a shrewd addition.

Are Liverpool making more signings?

Writing on Twitter, Reddy explained that there is a chance that Liverpool could still sign two midfielders this summer, as well as bring in a new central defender to battle for playing time with the current options:

"Was part of my reporting yesterday that in an ideal situation, it would be a controller and a progressive destroyer (plus a defender). Might be a case of holding on one of the profiles if there's confidence better can be found. But they're currently working on multiple solutions."

Liverpool fans will certainly be buoyed by this update, with the Reds' transfer dealings going quieter of late, aside from players such as Fabinho and Henderson leaving.
It will simply be unacceptable if FSG don't provide the funds to bring in at least one more midfielder and a centre-back, although a second signing in the middle of the park feels fairly crucial, in order for Jurgen Klopp have a plethora of options.
There is a complete lack of a No.6 at the club currently, with Curtis Jones taking up that role in a few pre-season friendlies, so a couple of additions who are experts in front of the defence, as is the case with Lavia and Andre, makes complete sense.
After such a disappointing summer transfer window last time around, it is vital that Liverpool nail their business this time, in order to prevent a repeat of last season's woes and to go into the campaign as genuine Premier League title challengers.
If Lavia and Andre both came in, and someone like Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio, for example, it would complete a hugely productive time of things in the transfer market, but fans will be concerned that the Reds could again not quite have the squad they desire once the end of August arrives and the window shuts.
The next couple of weeks are going to be crucial, with a fast start to the season required, rather than limping out of the blocks like they did last season.

Manchester City begin their bid for a fourth Premier League title in a row this evening when they visit Turf Moor to take on Burnley.

Pep Guardiola has strengthened his side by adding Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol during the summer transfer window, and it appears as though the Spaniard is looking to bolster his attacking options by making a move for Rennes winger Jeremy Doku.

Could Manchester City sign Jeremy Doku?

According to The Telegraph, Guardiola has identified Doku as a target and a move is being ‘strongly considered’ before the end of the transfer window in a few weeks.

The Ligue 1 side have valued the 21-year-old at between €50m-€60m (£43m-£52m) and this shouldn’t present any real problem for City as they look to fill the void left by Riyad Mahrez.

The Algerian winger departed the Etihad side following a hugely successful five-year stint in Manchester, winning four league titles along with the Champions League during that time.

Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli met their asking price of £30m and although this is an excellent piece of business considering he is 32 years old, Guardiola is now eyeing up a replacement.

How good is Jeremy Doku?

Mahrez did make 36 starts across all competitions last season, scoring 15 goals and grabbing 13 assists and these totals could be difficult to replace.

The left-footed winger primarily operated on the right wing, cutting inside on a regular basis and Doku also features on the right flank.

The Belgian starlet burst onto the scene with Anderlecht in his homeland before making the move to Rennes in 2020 and the youngster has already racked up an impressive 131 senior appearances, registering 35 goal contributions along the way.

Doku showed a growing maturity by ranking third across the whole squad last season with regard to overall Sofascore match rating (7.15/10) and for big chances created (six), while topping the pile for successful dribbles per game (3.3), showing that he can terrorise defenders with his dribbling ability while having the quality to set up chances for others.

In contrast, Mahrez succeeded with just 0.8 dribbles per game, while creating only three more big chances throughout the league season than Doku, and it’s evident that he could be an ideal long-term successor to the former Leicester City winger.

Doku has certainly made a major impact in terms of his performances compared to positional peers over the previous 365 days. During this time, the 14-cap Belgian ranks in the top 1% across the top five European leagues over a wide range of attacking metrics, including progressive carries, progressive passes, touches in the attacking penalty area, shot-creating actions and non-penalty goals.

This clearly indicates that he is a player who is ready to make an impact in the City starting XI straight away, while he has the attributes to develop into a truly world-class player under the tutelage of Guardiola.

Hailed as a “menace” by U23 scout Antonio Mango earlier this year, Doku has emerged as one of the most highly rated attackers on the continent and judging by his recent statistics, he would fill in the void left by Mahrez with ease.

West Ham United are still very active in the transfer market as they attempt to strengthen their squad before the window closes and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

Who is Anthony Martial signing for?

According to talkSPORT's transfer expert Alex Crook, West Ham are now interested in signing Manchester United striker Anthony Martial.

As per a report written for the broadcaster, Crook claimed that after submitting offers for both Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire, the Hammers are now looking to steal away a third Red Devils mainstay with Martial named as a target.

Crook notes that talks are in the early stages and Erik ten Hag may not be particularly keen on parting ways with the goal-scorer, due to a shortage of out-and-out number nines at Old Trafford.

United fear they are unlikely to get a big fee for the forward, as West Ham monitor the French forward's situation in the northwest.

How many goals has Anthony Martial scored?

There is no doubt that David Moyes and the West Ham hierarchy desperately need to step up their pursuit of their transfer targets with only a few weeks remaining to secure much-needed new additions in key positions.

Indeed, Declan Rice's £105m move to Arsenal is the most high-profile departure for the Irons, but they have also lost Manuel Lanzini and Gianluca Scamacca, whilst Lucas Paqueta and Michail Antonio's futures hang in the balance with both players keen for a move away.

As a result, the signing of Martial could be a great piece of business for Moyes as he looks to improve and bolster the attacking threat for the east Londoners, with the Man United striker a worthy heir to Antonio should he leave this summer.

The Frenchman has been a regular for the Red Devils over his long-standing tenure, scoring 88 goals and registering 53 assists over 298 appearances with a goal contribution delivered every 135 minutes played – an output that would be a major asset for West Ham this season.

When comparing Martial's output with Antonio's last season, the 27-year-old comfortably outperformed the West Ham all-time top-scorer in a number of key attributes including shots on target rate (46.2% v 33.3%), pass completion (80.2% v 53.4%), shot-creating actions per 90 (2.58 v 1.92), goal-creating actions per 90 (0.46 v 0.44) and successful take-ons (53.8% v 40%), as per FBref.

The £250k-per-week ace has been the recipient of high praise over his career so far, with Man United legend Paul Scholes hailing Martial for his talent last term:

"Every United fan knows he has real talent. But we just need to see it more often.

"The lad’s got real ability. He’s been quiet for 18 months, we’re not sure what happened to him, injuries, confidence, but the lad has got ability, we need to see more of it. He can score a lot of goals."

Now that young goal machine Rasmus Hojlund has joined the Manchester giants, it could mean that Martial will struggle for game-time this season under Ten Hag, so a move to West Ham presents an attractive opportunity to earn first-team football consistently.

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for West Ham to secure a deal for Martial this summer, as he could certainly ease the blow of losing Scamacca and offer Moyes a potential replacement for Antonio.

Leeds United are considering a move to sign Genk forward Joseph Paintsil this summer, and fresh reports have revealed how much it will take to bring him to the Championship.

Who is Joseph Paintsil?

Paintsil is naturally a right-winger who has plied his trade at the Cegeka Arena since 2018 having moved there from Tema Youth, and during his five years at the club, he’s gone on to become a regular feature of Wouter Vrancken’s first team having made 143 appearances.

The Ghana international still has another three years remaining on his contract with the Belgian Pro League outfit, but after emerging as his club’s second top-performing offensive player last season, he’s been highlighted as a player that Daniel Farke wants at Elland Road.

With Jack Harrison having completed a season-long loan to Everton, not to mention the uncertainty surrounding the future of Wilfried Gnonto despite him returning to training, the boss will need to enter the market to bolster his wide areas, and the 25-year-old could be the perfect candidate if the following update is to be believed.

Are Leeds signing Joseph Paintsil?

According to Sky Sports' Transfer Centre, Leeds are "interested" in securing the services of Paintsil before September 1st.

Genk would reportedly "consider" listening to offers in the region of €10m (£8.5m), but the attacker is just "one of a number of forwards" that the 49ers are looking at enticing to Yorkshire, with Swansea City striker Joel Piroe amongst those candidates.

Reliable journalist Sacha Tavolieri previously claimed that Southampton held talks regarding a swap deal for Farke's target, but with a deal having failed to materialise on the south coast, this could give chiefs the perfect chance to jump in and hijack the move right from under their second-tier rivals' nose.

How many goals has Joseph Paintsil scored?

In the Belgian Pro League last season, Paintsil clocked up a remarkable 28 goal contributions (14 goals and the same number of assists) in 30 appearances for Genk which shows just how prolific he can be in the final third, so should the hierarchy convince him to join it could be a massive coup for Leeds.

The CAA Stellar client also recorded a total of 63 shots over the course of the previous campaign which was more than any other of his fellow teammates, via FBRef, and this kind of form saw him receive an outstanding eight man-of-the-match awards from WhoScored.

Read The Latest Leeds Transfer News HERE…

The Acca native, who has the versatility to operate in seven different positions across the pitch, has additionally been dubbed a “superb” player by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and considering how much of a difference-maker he is, he deserves all the plaudits he gets.

The Whites are reportedly firmly in the mix to sign Piroe this summer despite him attracting significant interest from several other clubs, though if the pursuit of Paintsil develops, the two of them could be following in each other’s footsteps to LS11.

Everton have entered negotiations regarding a deal to sign West Ham United's Maxwel Cornet, but a reliable journalist has revealed that a deal taking place is likely to depend on one particular condition.

Where is Maxwel Cornet from?

Cornet was originally born in Bregbo, Ivory Coast, but completed his move to the London Stadium from Burnley last summer. It’s fair to say that his debut season with David Moyes’ side didn’t go as well as hoped having fallen significantly out of favour in the capital.

The Irons’ left-winger was handed just two starts last term in the Premier League, and since the start of the new campaign, he’s only played one single minute of football which shows that he’ll have to complete a move elsewhere before tomorrow’s deadline should he want to receive more regular game time.

The Toffees were first linked with a swoop for the 26-year-old back in 2022 having held talks to sign him when he was on the verge of an exit from Turf Moor, however a deal failed to materialise at the time because he chose to put pen to paper in E20.

However, The Daily Mail’s Lewis Steele recently reported that Sean Dyche has brought the attacker back onto the club’s list of targets having managed him during his time in Lancashire, and it would appear that he’s set to be successful in his pursuit of his former player.

Are Everton signing Maxwel Cornet?

Taking to X, Mike McGrath confirmed that Everton have opened talks with West Ham over a temporary move for Cornet, with his club already in negotiations to secure his replacement to allow him to move to Goodison Park. He wrote:

"Everton are exploring deal for West Ham forward Maxwel Cornet. West Ham working on Filip Kostic deal for similar position, allowing Ivory Coast international to be loaned to #EFC."

Expanding in his column for The Telegraph, the reporter claimed that the two parties are in ongoing discussions, with an official opening bid being prepared by the hierarchy on Merseyside.

How many goals has Maxwel Cornet scored?

Since the start of his career, Cornet has clocked up 97 contributions (61 goals and 36 assists) in 331 appearances which shows how prolific he can be, but there’s also so much more he can bring to the final third alongside hitting the back of the net.

Sponsored by Adidas, the left-footed ace possesses excellent versatility having been deployed in a remarkable eight different positions since first bursting onto the scene, including everywhere across the frontline, three roles in the midfield and even at left-back.

Read The Latest Everton Transfer News HERE…

West Ham’s £65k-per-week earner was also part of the side that helped Moyes win the Europa Conference League, not to mention that he has previous experience competing in the Champions League, as per Transfermarkt, so he will know what it takes to be successful and have a winning mentality.

Furthermore, Cornet, who has been dubbed a “cheat code” by journalist Josh Bunting, shares the same agent, Unique Sports Group, as Dwight McNeil, so this existing connection that his representative has to the club is likely to help them in their pursuit ahead of tomorrow evening’s deadline.

Nottingham Forest have officially submitted a complaint to the referees’ body PGMOL after expressing their “anger” at the standard of officiating from Stuart Attwell and his team against Manchester United – though the issue stems from an incident which occurred a few seasons ago.

Why are Nottingham Forest upset with Stuart Attwell?

On Saturday afternoon in the Premier League, things started so well for Steve Cooper and his team at Old Trafford as they raced to a 2-0 lead inside four minutes thanks to goals from Taiwo Awoniyi and Willy Boly.

From there, however, the game only went downhill for the away team. Indeed, Christian Eriksen pulled one back by tapping home Marcus Rashford's low cross in the 17th minute and shortly after halftime Casemiro had made it 2-2.

Then, in the 67th minute, drama struck as Joe Worrall was sent off for a challenge on United captain Bruno Fernandes. Referee Stuart Attwell adjudged the defender to be the last man – although Willy Boly seemed to be covering – and VAR backed the on-field call, leaving Forest down to ten men.

Man Utd then found a winner thanks to some helpful refereeing again when Rashford was brought down by a small touch from midfielder Danilo, allowing Fernandes to make it 3-2 from the penalty spot.

You can see the highlights below:

Nottingham Forest complain to PGMOL

Manager Cooper was unhappy with those two aforementioned key decisions and also wanted a red card for Scott McTominay late in the game for a high foot on Cheikhou Kouyate (via ESPN).

As a result of Forest's anger, as per The Telegraph, owner Evangelos Marinakis and his head coach are still furious about the incident and have now submitted an official complaint to PGMOL after expressing their “anger” at the performance of Attwell and his team.

What's more, the report also notes that the Greek businessman is now ready to take action over what he believes to have been consistently poor standards.

The club's concerns over Attwell's display are understood to stem from his performance in a Championship game against Bournemouth back in the 2021/22 season former forward Sam Surridge was not awarded a penalty after an incorrect offside decision went against him – you can see the footage via Sky Sports.

Speaking to the press immediately after the Man Utd game, Cooper was clearly furious, saying (via Yahoo): "In games like this you need things to be how they should. I am not going to talk too much as I don't want to get into trouble but I was surprised how quickly the decisions were made.

"You just bite your tongue in terms of what [you] really feel but of course they were defining moments."

What's more, of course, this isn't the only time some big calls have gone Man United's way at Old Trafford already this season. After all, goalkeeper Andre Onana somehow avoided punishment when crashing into Wolves forward Sasa Kalajdzic inside his own box in the club's 1-0 home win to kick off their season.

It'll certainly be interesting to see how the PGMOL respond to this criticism from Nottingham Forest and if it results in an apology or if they back the decisions made by Attwell and his team at Old Trafford over the weekend.

Manchester United perhaps failed to have the transfer window that so many supporters were hoping for, having to rely on just a few major signings as opposed to the overhaul that was required.

Erik ten Hag hasn’t been helped with an indifferent start to the season which has seen the club secure two tight Premier League wins against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest, with a defeat to Tottenham Hotspur sandwiched in between.

With the Dutchman looking to bolster his midfield with the signing of Sofyan Amrabat, could he have perhaps been slightly more ambitious in terms of his transfer business?

What will Sofyan Amrabat offer Man United?

The Moroccan midfielder enjoyed a solid campaign for Fiorentina last term, leading them to the Europa Conference League final, while he also shone for his country at the 2022 FIFA World Cup as Morocco became the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of the competition.

In Qatar, Amrabat ranked first across the squad for accurate passes per game (38.3) while also ranking third for tackles per game (2.3) and eighth for interceptions per game (0.9), showcasing his abilities on the world stage.

These performances perhaps gave Ten Hag an inclination of just how effective he could be, however, should he could have made a more concrete effort to sign someone who has already shone in the Premier League – Joao Palhinha.

How good is Joao Palhinha?

Before the summer transfer window, United had been showing an interest in signing the Portuguese midfielder from Fulham, however, a move didn't materialise and he ended up nearly joining Bayern Munich in a £55m deal, only for a move to fall through late on during deadline day.

In truth, this represents a missed opportunity for the Red Devils, particularly considering how impressive Palhinha has been since moving to Fulham last summer.

Last season in the top flight, the 28-year-old showed his expertise at winning the ball back by making 147 tackles, the highest total in the league and for context, Moises Caicedo was second with 100, indicating how impressive Palhinha was.

He was even hailed as a “tackling machine” by teammate Harrison Reed, drawing praise from his fellow players for his displays in his maiden season in England.

He also led the way in terms of tackles per game (4.2) across the whole league, while winning 59% of his total duels, demonstrating his physicality, and it went a long way to securing Fulham a surprise top-half finish.

The £50k-per-week star would’ve been the perfect Casemiro heir for Ten Hag, with journalist Zach Lowy even lauding him as “Casemiro-esque” prior to his move to Fulham.

The Brazilian has shone at Old Trafford since joining from Real Madrid in 2022 and last term he ranked first across the whole United squad for tackles per game (3.2) and won 55% of his total duels, showing the similarities between the two.

WhoScored even states that Palhinha and Casemiro both excel at tackling and aerial duels, showing their solidity in the heart of the pitch, and he could have been the perfect heir for the United gem, especially as the 6 foot 2 brute is currently hitting his stride.

Tottenham Hotspur have produced plenty of top talents from their infamous academy, with their most outstanding graduate having recently flown the nest, seeking silverware that the Lilywhites just could not offer.

Harry Kane played 430 games for the north London outfit, having worked his way up from an unknown youngster to score 278 times and shatter numerous records.

He departed as both England and the club’s all-time top scorer, with it largely expected that he would have surpassed Alan Shearer’s Premier League tally too had he stayed.

But few could fault his decision to leave, and the £100m gained marked a remarkable fee for someone of his age. The 30-year-old will forever be a Spurs legend, having written himself into their history books, and it will take some beating to come even close to the legacy he has left.

However, that’s not to discount the wealth of talent they currently boast, with Ange Postecoglou likely enthralled about both the present and the future of his new club, given their fine start to life under his leadership.

He will hope to borrow from the successes of the last few regimes whilst eliminating the blunders, with Mauricio Pochettino’s youth production certainly a trait worth maintaining.

However, there was another outstanding factor of the Argentine’s reign that the 58-year-old coach would certainly not mind emulating, the partnership of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld.

How good were Alderweireld and Vertonghen?

The centre-back pairing that Pochettino assembled helped forge the outstanding foundation for the success he would earn, although he failed to claim that elusive trophy.

Having inherited Vertonghen, who moved to north London in 2012, the former Southampton manager already had one-half of that famed duo before he even started building.

However, just one year into his reign, the combination was completed. Alderweireld unified an all-Belgian backline that would stay together until 2020, helping lead the Lilywhites to a Champions League final and even throw their name into a few Premier League title races.

Standing at 6 foot 2 and 6 foot 1 respectively, they balanced each other out with technical prowess, a touch of pace at times, and impeccable positioning to thwart opposition attacks. However, should forwards back off these two, it would often prove catastrophic, as their quality allowed them to thread passes from deep.

Such a trait is imperative in the modern game, and with both boasting it, they were unsurprisingly dominant for years.

Former Spurs academy graduate Alton Thelwell would emphasise this point, noting: “Both of them have been exceptional. They complement each other very well and literally they’re all-round quality defenders. They read the game well, they get on the ball and they play the Tottenham way.

"Vertonghen likes to pass the ball with elegance – he’s like the Rolls-Royce of defending. He gets on it with his left foot, he’s got excellent ability and the same goes for Toby as well. I’d say he’s probably a bit more tenacious than Vertonghen but overall they’ve got all the attributes that you want.”

The pinnacle of their partnership arguably came around 2016, with Alderweireld's throughout the 2015/16 season. The 34-year-old maintained an impeccable 7.28 average rating, buoyed by his six goal contributions, 1.7 interceptions, 1.2 tackles and mammoth 7.5 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

To compare this with Vertonghen’s 2016/17 campaign, it is clear to see the similarities that made them so great.

He too would post a 7.31 average rating of his own, with his 85% pass accuracy feeding into his 1.3 interceptions, 1.3 tackles and seven clearances per game, via Sofascore.

Vertonghen would remain complimentary of his teammate and compatriot even in the final few years of their partnership, with the 150-cap titan claiming: “Whenever we play we understand each other. When I left for Tottenham, Toby left for Atletico [Madrid] and Southampton but we found each other quite quick after that, so no stress.

“We've been playing together for a long time and we know how to play together, but I don't want to speak about this because it might sound disrespectful to whoever is playing next to me or next to Toby in other situations.”

Clearly one of the finest centre-back partnerships the club and potentially the division has ever seen, should Postecoglou manage to create a couple of heirs from the academy, the potential is there for him to surpass Pochettino’s tenure with ease.

Within the academy, two defenders stand out as potential candidates to step up and become stars to uphold their backline for the next decade.

One such name, in Alfie Dorrington, has been at the club since he was 13. The other, in Ashley Phillips, was snagged from Blackburn Rovers just this summer for a mere £3m.

Who are Ashley Phillips & Alfie Dorrington?

With physicality hardly a problem for the teenage monsters, their presence within such an illustrious setting will do their development no harm as they seek to reach the technical level to one day emerge into the Premier League.

Saying that, the former Rovers ace already recorded 15 senior appearances for the Lancashire outfit, and across his eight Championship appearances last term the 18-year-old maintained an 83% pass accuracy alongside his 2.3 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

Despite his inexperience, he still garnered plenty of praise from former boss Tony Mowbray: “He's 6ft 4', he's fast, mobile and can pass it really well. He can use both feet, he's composed. Ash is just a phenomenal young boy; if you were to create a defender in the mould of how you would want one, this kid has got every attribute."

Not to mention that he also branded him “aggressive”, as if to highlight his mental toughness too.

Meanwhile, Dorrington has been a mainstay for the U21s for years now despite his youth, and in the Football League Trophy has offered enough to suggest Vertonghen and Alderweireld's legacy may be replicated sooner than we think in north London..

His 6.85 average rating during the 2022/23 run of the competition was largely upheld by the one tackle and 7.5 clearances per game he managed, via Sofascore.

Respected journalist Alasdair Gold even outlined the 18-year-old as one of the U21s most likely to push towards the senior squad, as he told football.london: “I think Alfie Dorrington stands a better chance now of making some headway with Davinson Sanchez and Japhet Tanganga heading off.

“The young centre-back is a real talent and he's been training with the first team at times and will continue to do so this season and that can only help his development.”

Fans love to see academy graduates rise up to stake a first-team starting claim, so should both Dorrington and Phillips emerge at the same time, they will hope to copy the exceptional Belgian partnership that underpinned the last truly successful regime.