Published Jun 2, 2026, 4:13 PM GMT+1

Matt is the senior editor of Football FanCast.

Having graduated from the University of Huddersfield in 2018 following a course in Sports Journalism, he began at Snack eight months later as part of the writing team. Although a huge Arsenal fan, Matt has covered a wealth of clubs from Leeds United to Celtic, Rangers and various teams within the EFL. His footballing knowledge covers vast reaches. After a spell as assistant editor on Football FanCast, Matt became chief editor of the site in late 2021.

Matt's experience also counts work at GIVEMESPORT and the Press Association, where he was featured on Sky Sports & The Daily Mail. He is also the former Arsenal and Premier League editor at VAVEL. Matt has added experience in club media, having worked with Chesterfield FC during the 2017/18 season.

He has also interviewed some iconic figures from the world of football including the great Arsene Wenger, Ray Parlour, Alan Smith, Lucy Bronze and Steph Houghton.

Matt further boasts a love for broadcast media, his voice has been heard across Love Sport Radio, Arsenal Fan TV and various football podcasts.

In their bid to avoid being there again next term, the Lilywhite are already set to welcome in a set of new signings. According to reports, deals are edging ever closer for Liverpool's Andy Robertson and Bournemouth's Marcos Senesi.

Both players are out of contract with their respective clubs and will be heading to Spurs on free transfers. Talk about shrewd work.

That said, they will also need to spend to meet their ambitions. In that regard, Savinho looks like the most likely to arrive.

Spurs could sign £26m star alongside Savinho

One of the biggest early sagas of this current transfer window revolves around Manchester City's Savinho.

A year ago, Spurs lodged a series of bids to sign the Brazilian but he ultimately stayed at the Etihad. However, after a campaign in which he struggled for game time, he could well leave City behind.

Tottenham are hot on his trail again and the latest on that is that club-to-clubs have begun over a move. Should they welcome Savinho, as well as Robertson and Senesi, it would be a great first step in the right direction. Signing Premier League-proven players makes a lot of sense.

Speaking of which, a deal remains on the table for Joao Palhinha. Some reports from Portugal this week sparked fears that the midfielder would not be returning to north London next season following his loan spell from Bayern Munich.

As Fabrizio Romano reported on Monday evening, Sporting are interesting in re-signing the Portuguese star but the likelihood is that he comes back to Spurs on a permanent move.

Romano said: "Palhinha gives priority to Tottenham as the feeling with Roberto De Zerbi is very good. If deal can’t be agreed with Spurs, Sporting are keen and ready to act."

Why Palhinha would be a better signing than Savinho for Spurs

Spurs were riddled with injuries for a consecutive season and it played a huge part in their demise. Yet, the feeling is that once everyone is fit, they have a pretty decent set of options in wide areas.

Whether Dejan Kulusevski kicks a ball again in Spurs colours very much remains to be seen but in Savinho's favoured position on the right flank. De Zerbi does already have a cracking set of options.

If there is one area of the pitch they are well stocked, it's in those wide areas. Sure, Tottenham could do with more quality but in Mohammed Kudus and the aformentioned Kulusevski, those are two exceptional options on the right of the forward line.

Sourcing a replacement for the injury-stricken Xavi Simons will be required but he doesn't operate in the same space as Savinho so even in that regard, he would not fit the bill.

Then, there are the numbers. The Brazilian may have only started seven top-flight games in 2025/26 but he only scored once all season for Pep Guardiola's men. There is plenty of potential to extract from the winger but he doesn't feel like the ceiling raiser De Zerbi needs in attack.

Palhinha may well operate in a totally different area of the pitch but he would certainly be a better use of funds this summer. After all, the 30-year-old is already a cult hero in these parts after his goal against Everton on the final day of the season secured their safety.

Not too known for his goalscoring, it was the midfielder's efforts in patrolling the game in front of the defence that won him so many plaudits.

There were not many good things to come out of this dire season for Spurs but Palhinha was certainly one of them. He may not be a spring chicken anymore but he has long been one of the game's best holding midfielders, a tough tackling "monster" in the words of recruitment analyst Marcus Bring.

This season, no player made more tackles (4.51) per 90 than Palhinha in the entire Spurs squad. In fact, no player completed more tackles in the entire league. His tally of 6.43 ground duels per 90 was also the most of any player in the side.

He may lack the progression to really surge through the centre of the pitch and De Zerbi does need to address that this summer but as far as holding midfielders go that Tottenham can attract to the club, there are very few better.

Palhinha is the glue that binds the centre of the pitch together and for a fee of £26m, which is the price Spurs are set to pay to sign him permanently, it would be a brilliant piece of business. This is a no-brainer for the hierarchy.