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Tottenham news: How Man City could have left Spurs £120m short

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Tottenham news: How Man City could have left Spurs £120m short - BBC
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Imagine a world where Manchester City had not used "sham contracts" to build a team capable of winning three Premier League titles, one FA Cup and three EFL Cups.

If City were the winners, then there had to be losers - and not just those teams who finished runners-up or lost cup finals.

The potential impact runs much deeper and includes missed Champions League qualification, relegation and Premier League prize money.

"We have lived through a period of deception," former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino said last month. "No type of punishment will make it possible to repair what was done."

You can see his point. Spurs finished one place outside the Champions League positions in four (although one only was under Pochettino) of the eight seasons in which City qualified for Europe's elite competition.

BBC Sport took City's earnings from the Champions League in the following season, and deducted Tottenham's Europa League prize money.

Over the four seasons Spurs missed out, Manchester City earned £148.2m from the Champions League, with Tottenham taking £29.9m from the Europa League.

The 2014-15 campaign led to the biggest deficit, as City finished second in the Premier League and Tottenham came fifth. City received £71.2m for reaching the Champions League semi-finals in the following season, but Spurs were only paid £17.7m from the Europa League - a difference of £53.5m.

Spurs also finished behind City in the Premier League table six times, with the cumulative prize money difference worth £6.6m.

The north Londoners did benefit in the 2013-14 season, as they only qualified for Europe because City beat Sunderland in the final of the EFL Cup.

Spurs gained £5.1m from their 2014-15 Europa League campaign which would not have been possible without City's success.

Taking into account all competitions, that produced a net financial loss for Spurs of £119.9m.

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Tottenham news: Should Spurs have let Lankshear leave?

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Tottenham news: Should Spurs have let Lankshear leave? - BBC
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Leaping high, six yards out, to nod in Tommy Conway's cross from the left wing, Will Lankshear notched his ninth goal in 12 games for Middlesbrough.

It is that positioning, finishing and poacher's instinct, earning Boro a 1-0 win against Wolves on Saturday, that has made Lankshear an instant hit at Riverside Stadium – and a cause of lament at Tottenham Hotspur.

Lankshear joined Boro from Spurs in the summer on a five-year contract in a deal that could rise to a club record buy of £20m.

Since then, he has scored as many goals in all competitions as Spurs' combined team. His old side, despite snatching a draw at Manchester United a few hours after Lankshear's latest winner, remain in the Premier League relegation zone while Boro sit in the Championship's automatic promotion places.

Dominic Solanke's last-minute goal at Old Trafford was the first league goal scored by a Tottenham forward in five months.

It is enough to make Spurs fans despair.

"A lot of fans are wondering why he was sold," Ali Speechly, co-chair of the Women of the Lane supporters' group, told BBC Sport.

"It was likely to do with money - his sell-on price is relatively high, so let's cash in on him.

"I was definitely disappointed. Given how badly we have started this season, as a fan it feels like the wrong decision."

Amid a multi-million pound summer splurge, Spurs allowed Lankshear to leave for an initial fee worth about £10m, with an additional £10m due in add-ons based on various clauses.

Lankshear scored 23 goals for Tottenham's U23 team in the 2023–24 Premier League 2 season and played for the senior side in the 2024-25 Europa League campaign – most notably scoring then getting sent off against Galatasaray.

A 6ft 2in English striker with a deadly finishing touch, who came through at Spurs before learning his trade in the Football League. Remind you of anyone?

"I can understand the comparisons with Harry Kane," former Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson told BBC Sport. "He has headed down a similar career path to Harry and, physically, he has a similar stature as well.

"Like Kane, he looks like a player who is developing a little later, compared to others who are Premier League regulars before the end of their teens."

Tottenham do not have the right to immediately bring Lankshear back next summer. Clauses in the deal give them the right to be notified of and match any future accepted bid that Middlesbrough receive, and Spurs will get 20% of any profit on any future sale.

They have first refusal rather than a guaranteed, pre-set buy-back, but there remains a feeling Boro are enjoying Lankshear while they can.

Read more on Lankshear here

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Tottenham news: Shakhtar Donetsk CEO plans Spurs talks over Manor Solomon fee

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Tottenham news: Shakhtar Donetsk CEO plans Spurs talks over Manor Solomon fee - BBC
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Shakhtar Donetsk chief executive Sergei Palkin is seeking an amicable agreement with Tottenham over compensation for winger Manor Solomon.

The Ukrainian champions previously threatened legal action after losing the Israel international in 2023.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a Fifa ruling allowed foreign players at clubs in both countries to suspend their contracts immediately.

It meant Spurs were able to sign Solomon on a free transfer, despite Shakhtar believing the forward had a market value of 20m euros (£16.9). The club had paid 6.5m euros (£5.5m) to sign him from Maccabi Petah Tikva in January 2019.

Asked whether Shakhtar were due compensation after Spurs sold Solomon to West Ham for an initial £5m this summer, Palkin said: "We had arguments and discussions with Tottenham.

"Verbally we agreed that when they sell the player they will pay us part of the sale. Now we will come to them officially with our suggestions and our view of the situation.

"If we have problems in these discussions and negotiations we will go to some intermediaries."

Asked who those intermediaries would be, Palkin added: "I don't know yet. Maybe the European Club Association or Cas (Court of Arbitration for Sport). It depends.

"If they are friendly and we agree, then this issue is closed. It's better to do it in a friendly way."

Spurs have been contacted for comment.

Meanwhile, Mykhailo Mudryk, now on loan at Spurs from Chelsea, began his career at Shakhtar and remains the club's record sale after moving to west London for an initial £61m in 2023.

Palkin remains in close contact with the Ukraine international, who is looking to get his career back on track in north London under his former Shakhtar coach Roberto de Zerbi.

Palkin added: "I told him that Tottenham was the best solution for him.

"De Zerbi knows him very, very well. When we signed De Zerbi, the first player he called was Mudryk. He knows everything Mudryk can do.

"Mudryk gave everything to become fit and train at a high level. He's a hard worker. I believe he will be rewarded for that."

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Man Utd 1-1 Tottenham: Fan views on Premier League game

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Man Utd 1-1 Tottenham: Fan views on Premier League game - BBC
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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Manchester United and Tottenham.

Here are some of your comments:

Man Utd fans

Steve: It's plainly obvious that Tielemans is not the right midfield partner for Mainoo. Man Utd need someone with a bit of pace and energy to accompany Mainoo to have an effective midfield platform. Baleba or Santos would both provide this and I am not sure why Carrick doesn't see this.

Dave: Only one team in this game and it wasn't United. Absolutely rubbish, embarrassing, everything too slow. I think it's time for Carrick to walk.

Chris: Some big changes are needed from Carrick in the next games. Martinez is a liability in defence with both goals in the last two games a result of his poor defending. Tielemans shouldn't be in midfield as he got caught out too many times. Yoro needs to start in the centre to add more composure and presence - he had a good game versus Spurs. Baleba was bright and positive when he came on so he should start with Mainoo in midfield. Big games ahead for Michael Carrick!

Hugo: Very poor performance. We had no control in first half. It was lucky they were not four goals down by half time. Total lack of quality in the play. It was slow, with no drive or energy and poor passing all over the pitch. Is it lack of confidence? Or bad tactics and understanding of what they are doing.

Tottenham fans

Errol: I thought we dominated the first hour of the game and could have scored five goals if we had taken our chances. We showed plenty of character and determination too after going a goal down and then down to 10 men. Hope we can take this performance into our next game and finally get three points.

Chris: An encouraging performance by Spurs. We now need to start scoring more goals.

Geoff: Gritty to get the equaliser, but poor finishing after a promising and dominant start... again.

Martin: We should have been two or three up at half time. The game should have been over. We were so dominant but it's goals that count. We should have won that game.

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Tottenham analysis: Could late draw at Man Utd be a turning point?

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'First time we played like a team' - could this be a turning point for Spurs? - BBC
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Despite the late elation sparked by Dominic Solanke's 92nd-minute equaliser, Tottenham remain in the relegation zone with just three points from their opening six matches.

It is just the fourth time the club have failed to win any of their opening six games of a league season, after 2008-09, 1955-56 and 1912-13.

Spurs have often looked lively in attack this season, but they have lacked conviction in front of goal and only 19th-placed Coventry have scored fewer goals than Tottenham's three.

However, Tottenham fans can take belief from their overall performance at Old Trafford as they ran Manchester United ragged in the opening half with fluid, high-tempo football.

"For the first time this season we showed we are a team," boss Roberto de Zerbi said.

"We played for the team-mates, we played together, we stayed inside of the game in every situation and we attacked as a team and defended as a team."

The Italian manager added on Sky Sports: "I'm very happy because I've seen the right spirit, the right character and I want to start from this character, this reaction, this behaviour."

Tottenham spent more than £250m on new talent over the summer - adding 10 players to their squad.

But their poor start has prompted the club to organise a warm-weather training camp in Spain in the hope it will provide a chance for their new-look squad to bond.

"Now the target is to build the team," De Zerbi said.

"We are a great group of players but we are not a team yet; to be a team is to play for the team-mates, suffer together, attack together."

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Will Lankshear: The 'Kane-esque' striker Spurs may regret letting go

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Will Lankshear: The 'Kane-esque' striker Spurs may regret letting go - BBC
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Leaping high, six yards out, to nod in Tommy Conway's cross from the left wing, Will Lankshear notched his ninth goal in 12 games for Middlesbrough.

It is that positioning, finishing and poacher's instinct, earning Boro a 1-0 win against Wolves on Saturday, that has made Lankshear an instant hit at Riverside Stadium – and a cause of lament at Tottenham Hotspur.

Lankshear joined Boro from Spurs in the summer on a five-year contract in a deal that could rise to a club record buy of £20m.

Since then, he has scored as many goals in all competitions as Spurs' combined team. His old side, despite snatching a draw at Manchester United a few hours after Lankshear's latest winner, remain in the Premier League relegation zone while Boro sit in the Championship's automatic promotion places.

Dominic Solanke's last-minute goal at Old Trafford was the first league goal scored by a Tottenham forward in five months.

It is enough to make Spurs fans despair.

"A lot of fans are wondering why he was sold," Ali Speechly, co-chair of the Women of the Lane supporters' group, told BBC Sport.

"It was likely to do with money - his sell-on price is relatively high, so let's cash in on him.

"I was definitely disappointed. Given how badly we have started this season, as a fan it feels like the wrong decision."

Amid a multi-million pound summer splurge, Spurs allowed Lankshear to leave for an initial fee worth about £10m, with an additional £10m due in add-ons based on various clauses.

Boro saw off competition around the Championship, and in Europe, to sign the 21-year-old who impressed at Oxford United in the second tier last season, scoring 12 league goals on loan for a relegated side.

Good form for a young player, but not so compelling he had to go straight into the Spurs first team.

"If you are a young kid at a club where you are not getting any first-team football and you get the opportunity to go and play men's football, you should go," former Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson told BBC Sport.

"The academies are great and Premier League 2 is a great feeder for the first team, but if you are 21, 22 or 23 and still mostly playing in the under-23s then you have missed the boat.

"Getting first-team football is the best grounding you can get for a young footballer, getting the opportunity to play in the first team, regardless of what league it is. Will has been given this opportunity, and he is taking it."

Lankshear scored 23 goals for Tottenham's U23 team in the 2023–24 Premier League 2 season and played for the senior side in the 2024-25 Europa League campaign – most notably scoring then getting sent off against Galatasaray.

But amid a churn of players and managers at Spurs, he has moved on – and Boro fans couldn't be happier.

Middlesbrough have built a reputation in recent years of providing a springboard for promising youngsters. Most notably, Morgan Rogers spent six months at Riverside Stadium before joining Aston Villa, and the rest is history.

Not only that, but Boro - who missed out on promotion last season after scoring only once in three play-off games - badly needed a skilful, physical presence who could finish the multitude of chances made by Kim Hellberg's creative but blunt side.

"Boro was a team that made a boatload of chances, and he knew he would be able to get on the end of them," BBC Tees commentator Mark Drury told BBC Sport.

"But what people have been impressed with is his instinctive finishing - one touch, just being in the right place. It's simple but not a lot of people know how to be there at the right time, to give yourself the highest percentage chance.

"He's taller and stockier than he might look from the sidelines, and he is only 21. He seems to have the all-round package - good with both feet and in the air."

A 6ft 2in English striker with a deadly finishing touch, who came through at Spurs before learning his trade in the Football League. Remind you of anyone?

"I can understand the comparisons with Harry Kane," said Robinson. "He has headed down a similar career path to Harry and, physically, he has a similar stature as well.

"Like Kane, he looks like a player who is developing a little later, compared to others who are Premier League regulars before the end of their teens.

"You look at him and the career path he is on; it is a very similar one to the one Harry Kane has been on, and that is a big positive. There is no substitute for playing in the first team somewhere, regardless of what level you are playing at."

Like Kane, Lankshear also had early career setbacks. Initially at Arsenal's academy, he was released and signed with Sheffield United before being picked up by Spurs for £2m when he was 17.

He also had hit-and-miss loan spells. An unremarkable stint at West Brom was followed by a more fruitful spell with Oxford.

"Harry Kane didn't always have brilliantly successful loan spells, they are not always a marker of a player," says Speechly.

"He didn't do anything remarkable, but it is unfortunate as we are not scoring goals. It is painful to see.

"I don't think we will ever get another Kane, but there are definitely similarities. He is a real poacher and has a strong work ethic. It is very Kane-esque."

Tottenham do not have the right to immediately bring Lankshear back next summer. Clauses in the deal give them the right to be notified of and match any future accepted bid that Middlesbrough receive, and Spurs will get 20% of any profit on any future sale.

They have first refusal rather than a guaranteed, pre-set buy-back, but there remains a feeling Boro are enjoying Lankshear while they can.

"It's just the reality of life, definitely in the Championship but certainly in the Premier League," said Drury. "There is always a pecking order.

"Lankshear seems to have all the tools, including attitude, to make the best of the talent he has got. If he continues at this rate of progress, it would be no surprise to see him in the Premier League - hopefully with the Boro."

Such has been Lankshear's form, there has even been talk of a step up from the England under-21s, for who he scored on his debut last month.

Referencing potential punishments for Manchester City, England manager Thomas Tuchel said he was open to calling up players outside the Premier League, external.

If he is succession planning for 33-year-old Kane, given a paucity of top-flight options, a Lankshear call-up may not be so far-fetched.

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Toby Alderweireld was murdered on The Traitors Belgium

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'The Traitors murdered me!' - BBC
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Match of the Day: Man Utd 1-1 Tottenham - Danny Murphy looks at Red Devils' midfield issues

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Match of the Day: Man Utd 1-1 Tottenham - Danny Murphy looks at Red Devils' midfield issues - BBC
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Spurs: Fan says response after red card 'builds mentality'

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Spurs: Fan says response after red card 'builds mentality' - BBC
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Premier League: Manchester United 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur - Roberto De Zerbi on 'I kissed him!' - De Zerbi's unusual reaction to Rodrigo Bentancur red card

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'I kissed him!' - De Zerbi's unusual reaction to Bentancur red card - BBC
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