Aston Villa hold transfer ace over Spurs for player Gary Lineker branded 'extraordinary'

Tottenham Hotspur are 'leading' the race to sign Hull City star Jaden Philogene according to reports but could be trumped by Aston Villa this summer.

Spurs are keeping tabs on Philogene who has had an impressive season with the Tigers in the Championship following a permanent departure from Villa Park. The 22-year-old has got eight goals and six assists for Hull who are in pursuit of a play-off spot after signing Fabio Carvalho and Ryan Giles from Liverpool and Luton Town this January.

A report from TEAMtalk says that Spurs have been making 'regular checks' on Philogene and have now made him their priority. Spurs' recruitment team have been tasked with identifying wingers to sign in the summer and despite Antonio Nusa and Johan Bakayoko being of interest, Philogene fits the profile as to what Spurs are looking for in a player and could now step up their efforts to bring him to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs and Villa are currently involved in a race to secure Champions League football this season and the two clubs could be involved in a transfer battle this summer too. Depending on if Hull are promoted to the Premier League or not, Villa have a buy-back clause on Philogene at around £15m.

Should the Humberside club not be promoted then Hull would be free to sell him at a price that they would be content with, and Villa would then have to match or better whatever the paying club offers. Hull currently occupy one of the four play-off spots with 12 games remaining in the 2023/24 Championship season. Addressing the matter, vice-chairman Tan Kesler said at a fan's forum: "I’ve been open from the beginning and also you need to know that if we [are] promoted Villa have agreed to a buy back but only if we [are] promoted and we’re in the Premier League.

“They still have to agree with the player and – and this is very important – they still have to match if we receive another offer [from a rival club].

“I think, when the time comes, it would be a hefty deal for Villa to get him back, but they’re our friends so I’m not saying anything that I shouldn’t be saying here."

Philogene went viral earlier this month as he scored a Rabona goal that some have called to win the Puskas award. England football legend Gary Lineker said that his effort against Rotherham United was 'extraordinary'. The goal did come under some controversy though with some believing that it should be regarded as an own goal for Cameron Humphreys, but the dubious goal panel awarded the effort to Philogene.

"What I want to do is finish with what could be, what definitely, surely must be a Puskas contender for Goal of the Year," Lineker said. "An ex-Aston Villa man as well, Micah, we sent you the clip of the goal because you hadn't seen it, it's from Jaden Philogene who plays for Hull City.

"It's an extraordinary goal. He nutmegs someone (Rathbone), and then he chops back and then the most audacious Rabona in the top corner. What a goal, eh, Micah?

Richards, who played for Villa from 2015 to 2019 responded to Lineker and said: "Ahh, it was ridiculous.

"When you showed it to me this morning, I was like, 'wow' - that's what I like, though, a little bit of freedom, a little bit of flair to even try it. The audacity to do that, the confidence to do it is what I liked and the execution was just sublime, what a goal that was. To get a nutmeg, chop and Rabona in one goal, it's got a chance.

"Puskas? It's won it, it has to. To get all three, like you said, it's so difficult to do. It's controlled, he meant to do it, you know? When someone tries a meg (nutmeg) or a chop and it gets a little bit of a ricochet, but everything was clean and tidy, it was fantastic."