In exactly a month’s time the transfer window reopens and a flurry of transfer battles are hopefully ignited to get us through a cold, wet January.
One of the more exciting dealings could see a tug-of-war between Premier League rivals Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur battling it out for 17-year-old striker Adil Taoui, currently of Ligue 1 side Toulouse.
Footmercato speculate that the deal would be around the €5million (£4.4million) mark to prise the young striker away from Les Violets, who is contracted at the club until the end of the 2020/21 season.
The forward has occasionally featured for the Toulouse reserve and under-19 sides, and has registered two goals and an assist so far this season.
He has had further success with the France national team Under-16s, bagging three goals from eight caps.
Spurs are probably in the more dire need of his services, with England captain Harry Kane set to become only recognised out-and-out striker available for selection with Fernando Llorente speculated to leave the club in January and misfit Vincent Janssen still out with injury.
Manchester City themselves are leading the way once again in the Premier League, unbeaten in their opening 14 games, in a run that included a win at Wembley over Spurs. Tottenham currently have their own European qualification spot, in third.
Taoui may be in the enviable position of choosing under whose tutelage the next stage of his playing career will be under, with two of the very best managers in the game supposedly registering their interest, despite him not yet being selected for Alain Casanova's Toulouse first team.
Pep Guardiola hasn’t been well regarded for nurturing young players within his Manchester City, with his main incentive being immediate success with some prized, high-profile, mega-money signings, which may sway Taoui’s decision for Mauricio Pochettino preference and a residency at the New Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
