Last Word On Sports

After the appointment of Thomas Frank, optimism was high for the 2025/26 season, but it’s been a huge disappointment for Tottenham Hotspur. The club are currently languishing in 14th in the Premier League, 9 points ahead of West Ham in the relegation zone. It’s clear improvements are needed if the club are to challenge in cup competitions. After the conclusion of transfer deadline day on February 2, Fabrizio Romano revealed on the Here We Go Podcast that Tottenham Hotspur turned down the opportunity to sign former Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran on loan.

Tottenham Hotspur Need Further Improvement Despite Recent Manchester City Draw

Tottenham Turn Down Opportunity to Sign Duran

Tottenham’s season has seen very few high points, and currently, they have zero wins in their last five league games, but they did show some heart last time out. They were 2-0 down at halftime, before a Dominic Solanke brace rescued a point for Thomas Frank’s team.

Will Spurs be able to kick on after the battling point against Manchester City, or was it just a small stop towards more misery for the North London club?

Despite the Europa League win last season, it was a disastrous season for Spurs and all associated with the club. This season hasn’t been much better, but the club have at least qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League.

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Speaking on the Here We Go Podcast, Romano revealed that Tottenham Hotspur turned down the chance to sign Colombian striker Jhon Duran on loan.

Thomas Frank’s team have been ripped apart by injuries, but Frank ultimately decided against signing the former Aston Villa hitman. Duran showed in his time at Villa that he knows where the goal is, scoring 20 in 78 games, and was seemingly keen on moving to North London.

The 22-year-old is currently at Fenerbahce, on loan from Al-Nassr. He has five goals in 21 games in all competitions for the Turkish club.

Romano revealed: “Tottenham were offered the possibility to sign Jhon Duran on loan from Fenerbahce, who is on loan from Al-Nassr.” Despite the offer, the club decided to persevere with Randal Kolo Muani, deciding not to end his loan deal.

Romano Reveals Details On Duran Offer

Delving deeper into the offer, Romano said:

“He was offered to Tottenham as a last-minute chance for Spurs. The club decided against it.

“It was a possibility that was offered because some people in the industry thought that Tottenham were going to break the loan for Randal Kolo Muani to go to Juventus from Paris Saint-Germain.

Read More: Who could anchor Manchester United’s midfield after Casemiro’s exit?

“So that was a possibility, but Tottenham decided to continue with Kolo Muani. He started the last two games, so they decided to trust the player and turn down the opportunity to sign Duran, who was keen on this possibility.”

With Spurs’ injury problems, were they right to say no? Or was this an error from the club?

Featured Image Credit:

IMAGO / Depositphotos

Tottenham Hotspur endured a disappointing 2024/25 season, despite winning the Europa League under Ange Postecoglou. A change was made, with Thomas Frank replacing the Aussie manager, giving Spurs fans optimism ahead of the 2025/26 season. It has ultimately been a season to forget for Frank, with the club languishing in 14th position. Reports suggest Frank’s position is under threat, but it appears a new player will be joining the club, with Souza posting a farewell message to Santos, suggesting the transfer is nearing its completion.

Tottenham Hotspur Endure Disappointing Season

Spurs Close to Signing Souza from Santos

This season has been nothing short of a disaster for Spurs, with only one win in their last five league games. A disastrous last-gasp defeat at home to West Ham has left the North London club in crisis, with speculation regarding Thomas Frank’s future only increasing.

Read More: Wolves Planning For The Future Despite Relegation Fears

It has been reported that Tottenham chief executive Vinai Venkatesham arrived at the training ground early on January 18, as speculation has intensified regarding Frank’s future.

Whether Frank remains in charge for the upcoming Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund on January 20 remains to be seen.

Souza Posts Farewell Message

Fabrizio Romano and others have heavily reported that Souza to Spurs is a done deal. It is understood that the player has completed his medical, but Brazilian media have reported that Santos did not hold 100% rights to the player, meaning the deal has taken longer to complete.

Any potential issues appear to have been solved, with the player posting a farewell message via his personal Instagram account:

“After 10 years of defending this shield, the time has come for a new challenge.

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“The last year was intense, of growth and overcoming, but even in the difficult moments, I felt the affection and support of the Santista cheerleading. This will never be forgotten.

“I walk out with my head held high, grateful for all that I have experienced and for the certainty that this story was built with truth.

“Thanks for everything, Santos is a pride that not everyone can have!”

Souza will bring plenty to a struggling Spurs team. Despite his young age, he is physically robust and very offensive-minded. His speed and dribbling ability could make him a huge outlet for the team. He is a work in progress defensively, but attacking-wise, he will bring a lot to Spurs and excite the Tottenham Hotspur faithful.

Featured Image Credit:

IMAGO / Sebastian Frej

Tottenham Hotspur have suffered a difficult 2025/26 so far, with manager Thomas Frank under pressure following the club’s terrible run of form. Most recently, the North London club lost 2-1 to Aston Villa in the third round of the FA Cup. It appears the they are ready to make a move in the January transfer window, with David Ornstein reporting that Spurs are closing in on a deal to sign Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid.

Tottenham Hotspur Endure Difficult Start to 2025/26 Season

Spurs Target Conor Gallagher

Spurs currently sit 14th in the Premier League, losing more games than they have won. There have been very few positives for Thomas Frank’s team in the first half of this season. The Tottenham supporters are reportedly planning a protest ahead of their home game against West Ham, with the Supporters’ group Change For Tottenham frustrated at the way the North London club is run.

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Players look disinterested, while the manager appears short of ideas. Despite this discontent, it appears the board have sanctioned a move for Conor Gallagher, with the club said to be nearing a deal to sign England international and Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher. Spurs made a proposal of £34.6 million, which they expect to be accepted by the Spanish club, with Gallagher keen on the move.

What Conor Gallagher Would Bring to Spurs

Gallagher excelled at Chelsea, with his immense work rate making him a firm fan favourite. He’s known for his combative nature and ability to win the ball back for his team, helping them transition from defence to attack.

Read More: Wolves Tie Down Youngster Alan Shearer Praised As ‘Absolutely Outstanding’

The England international has only started four times in the league for Diego Simeone’s team. Should the deal be completed, Spurs will get a player with an exceptional will to win, who has performed at the highest level.

Is Gallagher what Spurs need?

Featured Image Credit:

IMAGO / Sport Image

AFC Bournemouth face Tottenham Hotspur in midweek action, after a satisfactory performance in which they narrowly lost to league leaders Arsenal at the weekend. This match takes place at 19:30 GMT on December 7 from the Vitality Stadium. Here is our AFC Bournemouth predicted lineup vs Tottenham Hotspur.

AFC Bournemouth Predicted Lineup Vs Tottenham Hotspur

How Bournemouth Have Lined-up Recently

Bournemouth have lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation this season.

In goal is Serbian shotstopper Djordje Petrovic. Currently, Alex Jimenez and Adrien Truffert form an attacking pair of full-backs. Marcos Senesi has been joined by James Hill at centre-half recently, though Bafode Diakite provides an alternative option.

Read More: ‘Working on a Deal’: Arsenal ‘Hold Talks’ for Highly Rated Striker

Alex Scott and Marcus Tavernier played in the deeper midfield roles against Arsenal, with Justin Kluivert the number ten. However, the Dutchman is now out injured.

David Brooks and Antoine Semenyo play on the wings, often interchanging the left and right sides throughout the match. Evanilson is Bournemouth’s number nine, though he is under threat from the young Eli Junior Kroupi, who has the highest minutes per goal in the league this season.

Bournemouth Injuries to Consider

Andoni Iraola has a number of injuries to deal with at the moment.

Tyler Adams and Ben Gannon-Doak have all been out for the long term and are not expected to return in the near future.

Read More: New Chelsea Manager Announced

Iraola broke the “very bad news” of Kluivert requiring surgery on Thursday, though revealed no timescale for his return. Veljko Milosavljevic has returned to training but is not quite ready yet, whilst Ryan Christie continues recovery.

AFC Bournemouth Predicted Lineup Vs Tottenham Hotspur

GK: Djordje Petrovic

LB: Adrien Truffert

CB: Marcos Senesi

CB: James Hill

RB: Alex Jimenez

CM: Alex Scott

CM: Lewis Cook

AM: Marcus Tavernier

LW: David Brooks

ST: Evanilson

RW: Antoine Semenyo

A dominant performance from Spurs in the first half today led to them going in at halftime a goal up against Sunderland, thanks to a close-range effort from Ben Davies. However, after a poor first-half showing, the Black Cats improved and scored a deserved equaliser thanks to Brian Brobbey, who smashed the ball into the net from inside the area.

Therefore, a final score of 1-1 was a fair result. We take a look at what Thomas Frank and Regis Le Bris have said following the game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

What Was Said Following the Tottenham Hotspur vs Sunderland Game

Thomas Frank Pleased With First Half

Speaking after the game, Spurs boss Thomas Frank was pleased with his team, especially in the first half, but admitted that they lacked cutting-edge quality. He said: “Pleased with the first half. I think we showed a lot of good intentions, a lot of good play. We came in some very good offensive situations where we lacked the cutting-edge quality.

“I think the big headline is we didn’t score the 2-0 goal. We didn’t kill the game off. Two-nil, then we are out of sight.”We gave nothing away throughout the game.

“I think first half was very good, I think we were totally dominant. Second half, not as dominant, but we still get into some very good situations, have some good counter-attack situations where we need to get more out of it. You can’t rely on in the Premier League just to win 1-0.”

Regis Le Bris on What Was Said at Halftime

Speaking in the post-match press conference, Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris explained what he said at halftime after what was a disappointing first 45 minutes.

He said: “We had a lack of energy and just one needle down, it was possible to switch on, which probably we were a bit lucky because in a Premier League game, when you don’t play at your best, you should be punished. And it wasn’t the case, so we were still alive.

“And we said, just switch on, do simple things well, because I think tactically we were OK. It was just a question of being more composed with the ball, the ability to win the first contact, because they went direct, as expected, against our man-for-man press. And we didn’t win the first contact, the second ball, so the balance of the game was like that. And we had the character and the quality to switch on, and I think it’s positive.”

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Featured image courtesy of IMAGO / Action Plus

Here are the confirmed lineups plus the latest injury news for the Premier League clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland. Both managers give their thoughts too.

The Black Cats come into this game after an impressive performance against Manchester City in a 0-0 draw, which preserved their unbeaten home record. Spurs also drew their last game, a 0-0 at Brentford, but are inconsistent at home, having suffered five defeats so far this season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Read More: Top Three Sunderland Moments From 2025

Tottenham Hotspur vs Sunderland: Team News and Confirmed Lineups

Tottenham Team and Injury News

Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, and Destiny Udogie are out through injury

Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr are away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Xavi Simons is suspended as he serves the final game of his three-match suspension following his red card against Liverpool.

Lucas Bergvall is a doubt, having missed the Brentford game, but could feature.

Sunderland Team and Injury News

Dan Ballard was a doubt, having missed the last two games with an ankle injury, but appears to have made the squad.

Long-term absentee Aji Alese is still out but has returned to training.

Brian Brobbey is a slight doubt, having come off in the game against Manchester City. He is expected to be part of the squad.

Habbib Diarra, Bertrand Traore, Chemdine Talbi, Reinildo, Noah Sadiki, and Arthur Masuaku are away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Tottenham Confirmed Lineup

Will appear here at 1:45 pm

Sunderland Confirmed Lineup

Will appear here at 1:45 pm

Sunderland travel to Tottenham, having begun 2026 with an impressive performance in their 0-0 draw with Manchester City. Spurs also drew their last game 0-0 at Brentford, leaving them 13th in the Premier League table and six places below their visitors ahead of the weekend fixtures. Here is the latest team news for both sides, along with their predicted lineups.

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Tottenham Hotspur vs Sunderland: Team News and Predicted Lineups for January 4th

Tottenham Team News

Lucas Bergvall is a doubt, having missed the draw at Brentford with a muscular injury. However, Thomas Frank is hopeful he will be available. Dominic Solanke, who has been missing since August, has returned to light training and could be back by the end of the month.

Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, and Destiny Udogie are long-term injury concerns. Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr are away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Xavi Simons serves the final game of his three-match suspension following his red card against Liverpool.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Thomas Frank said this about Bergvall and Solanke. “Lucas Bergvall is a doubt, but we hope he’ll be ready.” On Solanke returning: “The thing I need to know about, of course, is when he’s out there on the pitch with pictures, then that’s positive. To say mid-Jan, end of Jan, or 25 Jan, I will not do that. I will very much look forward to naming the dates when he’s involved in the squad.”

Sunderland Team News

Dan Ballard has missed the last two games with an ankle injury, but could return to the squad and possibly make the substitutes bench. Long-term absentee Aji Alese has returned to training, but is still some way off from returning. Brian Brobbey came off in the game against Manchester City but is expected to be part of the squad; however, he may have to settle for a place on the bench.

Habbib Diarra, Bertrand Traore, Chemdine Talbi, Reinildo, Noah Sadiki, and Arthur Masuaku are away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris said in this pre-match press conference that he is expecting another tough challenge. “We are expecting another tough challenge in a great stadium. It’s exciting for the squad, but we have to recover quickly after Thursday’s game against Manchester City.”

“Thomas Frank is a great manager who has worked at a high level for a long period of time. They have many good players and are well organised, but probably a bit inconsistent. We can’t expect gifts from them, so let’s focus on ourselves. Football is so unpredictable, so the most important thing is for us to play our game.”

Oxford United have boosted their midfield options with the arrival of Spurs youngster, Jamie Donley.

The 20-year-old has joined the U’s on loan until the end of the season but the club have an option to make the deal permanent.

Read More: Three Talking Points as Oxford United Lose at Ipswich

Oxford United Sign Tottenham Youngster

Jamie Donley Joins the U’s

Highly-rated and capped at international level with Northern Ireland, Jamie Donley has already spent time on loan in the Football League.

The attacking midfielder scored eight goals and registered ten assists for Leyton Orient as they reached the League One playoff final last season. He joined Stoke in the summer but hasn’t had as many minutes as he would have liked, with just six appearances in all competitions and four in the league, all from the bench.

Donley has also turned out four times for the Tottenham first team and he’ll now join up with Spurs teammate Will Lankshear and Northern Ireland colleagues, Ciaron Brown and Brodie Spencer, as the U’s look to avoid relegation from the Championship.

What Was Said

Speaking after completing the move, Donley said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for me and one I’m determined to make the most of.

“I want to influence games and be decisive in the final third, but that all starts with hard work. I take real pride in working for the team and doing the basics right.

“My loan experiences have taught me a lot. I’ve had big highs and challenging moments but those are what shape you as a player. I feel ready to come here, compete, and show what I can bring.

“First and foremost, I’m here to fight for the badge. When I get on the ball, I want to be positive, take responsibility and create moments that help the team win.”

Featured image courtesy of IMAGO / Focus Images

Crystal Palace enjoyed a memorable start to the 2025/26 season, before falling away, and currently find themselves in 11th place in the Premier League. It appears the Eagles are looking for attacking reinforcements in the January transfer window. According to Fabrizio Romano, Palace have been given permission by Tottenham Hotspur to discuss personal terms with Welsh international Brennan Johnson, with a “deal at final stages.”

Fabrizio Romano gives latest on Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace

‘Deal at Final Stages’ for Brennan Johnson to Join Crystal Palace

Welsh international Brennan Johnson joined Spurs on September 1, 2023, and enjoyed an impressive 2024/25 season, which saw the Welsh international score 18 goals in 51 games in all competitions. Despite that form, under the new Spurs manager, Thomas Frank, Johnson has found his game time limited.

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The deal appears to be at the final stages for the Welsh international to join Palace, with the player receiving permission to discuss personal terms with the South London club. Johnson will not be in the Spurs squad to face Brentford, adding fuel to the fire that a deal is close.

Johnson Set to Meet Oliver Glasner Ahead of Palace Transfer

A report from BBC Sport reveals that Johnson will meet Palace manager Oliver Glasner before finalising a move to Selhurst Park.

Despite agreeing on a few details of a £35 million deal with Spurs, Palace are waiting for the final green light to complete the deal. The meeting between Johnson and Glasner looks like the major final step needed to complete this deal.

Wales international Johnson showed his value last season and was vital for Spurs in their successful Europa League campaign, scoring 5 in 13 games.

Read More: Thomas Frank Addresses Players’ Mentality Following 2-1 Defeat Against Fulham

Signing a player of Johnson’s quality would be a huge boost for Crystal Palace.

Will Spurs regret losing Johnson? And what does the Welsh international bring to Selhurst Park?

Featured Image Credit:

IMAGO / Colorsport

These are the Tottenham vs Liverpool confirmed lineups for their Premier League clash. This will see two relatively under fire managers collide as both teams started the campaign hot and have fallen away due to inconsistencies and poor runs of form. Thomas Frank appears to be in the midst of a worse skid while Arne Slot has slightly got a handle on things, it will be interesting to see who can pull through in this one and make a big step forward.

Read More: Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs Tottenham for December 20

Tottenham vs Liverpool Confirmed Lineups for Premier League Tie

Tottenham Team News

Gulielmo VIcario starts in goal with Cristian Romero, Micky Van de Ven, Djed Spence, and Pedro Porro at the back. Archie Gray and Rodrigo Bentacur come into midfield with Xavi Simons, Lucas Bergvall, and Mohamed Kudus supporting Randal Kolo Muani up front.

Notable Changes

Looks like a 4-2-3-1 with on change from the defeat to Nottingham Forest as Simons likely pushes wide to make room for Bergval, Richarlison is the one dropping out.

Liverpool Team News

Alisson starts in goal with Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez, Ibrahima Konate, and Connor Bradley in the back line. Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister are in midfield with Dominik Szibiszlai, Curtis Jones, and Florian Wirtz supporting Hugo Ekitike up front.

Notable Changes

One change from the win over Brighton with the same shape. Bradley returns at full-back with the same midfield shake-up, presumably. This sees Mac Allister move forward ahead of a pivot to both press high and defend as a three, something similar to what Aston Villa employed for parts of last season.

Tottenham Premier League Squad

Guglielmo Vicario

Antonin Kinsky

Brandon Austin

Luca Gunter

Radu Dragusin

Kevin Danso

Destiny Udogie

Cristian Romero

Pedro Porro

Djed Spence

Kota Takai

Ben Davies

Micky van de Ven

Malachi Hardy

Jun’Ai Byfield

James Rowswell

Joao Palhinha

Xavi Simons

Yves BIssouma

James Maddison

Archie Gray

Lucas Bergavll

Mohammed Kudus

Dejan Kulusevski

Pape Matar Sarr

Rodrigo Bentacur

Callum Olusesi

Rio Kyerematedn

Luca Williams-Barnett

Richarlison

Mathys Tell

Dom Solanke

Brennan Johnson

Wilson Odobert

Randal Kolo Muani

Dane Scarlett

Tynan Thompson

Yusuf Akhamrich

(both squads via Premier League site)

Liverpool Premier League Squad

Alisson Becker

Giorgi Mamardashvili

Freddie Woodman

Arman Pecsi

Kornel Misciur

Joe Gomez

Virgil van Dijk

Ibrahima Konate

Milos Kerkez

Conor Bradley

Giovanni Leoni

Andy Robertson

Jeremie Frimpong

Rhys Williams

Calvin Ramsay

Carter Pinnington

Amara Nallo

Wellity Lucky

Wataru Endo

Florian Wirtz

Dominik Szoboszlai

Alexis Mac Allister

Curtis Jones

Ryan Gravenberch

Trey Nyoni

Stefan Bajcetic

Kieran Morrison

Tommy Pilling

Michael Laffy

Alexander Isak

Mohamed Salah

Federico Chiesa

Cody Gakpo

Hugo Ekitike

Kaide Gordon

Trent Kone-Doherty

Kayrol Figueroa

Rio Ngumoha

Jayden Danns

Stay tuned for the Tottenham vs Liverpool confirmed lineups.

Featured Image Credit

IMAGO / Pro Sports Images