Spurs target “will fly to England on Monday” to sign for Tottenham, it’s a Dele repeat

For Tottenham Hotspur, the hope going into January was simple: a calm, controlled month with minimal drama. Ideally, Thomas Frank would guide the team away from danger, avoid any fresh injury setbacks, and perhaps even welcome one or two smart additions to strengthen the squad.

Instead, the opening weeks of 2026 have been anything but serene for the Lilywhites. Spurs have stumbled through a difficult run of form, crashing out of the FA Cup and winning just one of their last seven matches in all competitions. Momentum has evaporated at precisely the wrong time, leaving both players and supporters frustrated.

To make matters worse, the timing of Brennan Johnson’s move to Crystal Palace could hardly have been more damaging. Frank has publicly backed the club’s decision to sell the winger, stressing the financial logic of the deal, but on the pitch his absence is being sharply felt — especially now that Mohammed Kudus has been sidelined until April with a quad injury. Spurs suddenly find themselves short of attacking options, which almost guarantees a busy — and perhaps frantic — end to the transfer window.

How Tottenham’s January window is shaping up

With Johnson now gone and Kudus unavailable for months, Spurs are under pressure to bring in at least one attacking reinforcement. They have been linked with RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, but the German side’s reported £100m valuation makes that move appear increasingly unrealistic.

 

Another long-admired target, West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen, is also believed to be on the club’s radar. However, even in the event of West Ham being relegated, the fee required to prise him away from the London Stadium would be enormous. Because of this, Tottenham’s recruitment team may have to look towards smarter, lower-cost options rather than headline-grabbing stars.

Their first meaningful move of 2026 looks exactly like that: a value signing with huge upside.

In recent days, the name energising Spurs fans has been Brazilian full-back Souza. Reports last week revealed that Tottenham had reached an agreement with Santos to bring the teenager to North London for around £13–15 million. That deal has now progressed rapidly, with journalist Ben Jacobs stating that Souza is set to fly to England to complete his medical and sign a five-year contract.

 

This is not a signing that will dominate global headlines on day one — but Tottenham have been here before. Dele Alli remains the standout example of a bargain signing who exceeded every expectation.

Why Souza could follow Dele Alli’s Spurs success story

In recent seasons, Tottenham have increasingly focused on building a young, hungry squad capable of growing together. Despite managerial changes behind the scenes, the club has assembled a core of exciting prospects who look capable of shaping Spurs’ future.

In midfield, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, both just 19, already appear to have the tools to become long-term Premier League regulars. In the academy, Luca Williams-Barnett continues to receive glowing reviews and even made his senior debut at just 16 years old. Now, Souza joins this wave of emerging talent aiming to replicate the trajectory once followed by Dele.

Back in 2015, Spurs signed Dele from MK Dons for just £5 million. At only 18, he was immediately loaned back to continue his development, but his rise afterwards was rapid. He went on to make 269 appearances, scoring 22 goals in the 2016/17 season alone, and became one of the most thrilling young players in English football before his career sadly lost direction. For a modest fee, Spurs received extraordinary value — and Souza may be about to write a similar story.

Souza arrives at 19 years of age, roughly the same stage of development as Dele upon joining Spurs. He lacks experience in English football — but what he does possess is quality, resilience, and maturity. South American football expert Tim Vickery recently praised the signing as “terrific business,” highlighting Souza’s physical strength, technical ability, and willingness to both defend and attack. He shone in a Santos side battling relegation, a situation that demands mental toughness beyond his years.

Why Souza looks ready for the Premier League challenge

The Premier League demands extreme physicality, tactical intelligence, and relentless energy — especially from full-backs. Modern defenders are expected not just to stop attacks, but to initiate them, overlap aggressively, and progress play at every opportunity. Souza appears to fit that mould perfectly.

Although he plays a different position to Dele Alli, they share a similar mentality: both look to make something happen quickly, take risks, and drive the team forward. Both arrived for comparatively small fees, both carry high ceilings, and both possess the confidence to seize their moment.

Tottenham have recruited several promising youngsters since Dele’s famous arrival eleven years ago, but Souza stands out as one of the most intriguing. As Vickery noted, he is already on Carlo Ancelotti’s radar for the Brazilian national team — and players do not attract that level of attention at 19 unless they are genuinely special.

If his development continues on its current path, Spurs may once again look back and realise that a relatively small transfer fee bought them a player capable of transforming their future.