Football.London

Hello and welcome to live coverage of Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham press conference ahead of this weekend's game against Bayern Munich.

It is Tottenham's last friendly of pre-season and they will be looking to get a result against the Bundesliga side after falling to a 2-1 defeat against them last Saturday.

The Bayern Munich showdown promises to be a very interesting day in N17 as the game will mark the return of Harry Kane and Eric Dier to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

As well as reflecting on the former Spurs duo, Postecoglou will be quizzed about the latest on the transfer front as the club look to strengthen ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Dominic Solanke will be a talking point given Spurs have made a transfer breakthrough for the Bournemouth ace, with Richarlison also likely to be up for discussion after committing his future to the club amid speculation over a move to Saudi Arabia.

Our Spurs correspondent Rob Guest is at Hotspur Way and is among those putting the questions to the head coach. Scroll down for the latest updates from the press conference.

Dominic Solanke has suffered an immediate blow even before his impending move to Tottenham.

Spurs are closing in on a deal to sign the Bournemouth striker for a club-record fee, football.london understands. Agreeing personal terms is believed to be a formality, with the 26-year-old extremely keen to make the move to north London.

Solanke's current contract at the Vitality Stadium, which runs until 2029, includes a release clause of £65million that can only be triggered by certain clubs. His move will give Ange Postecoglou his first natural No.9 after Harry Kane left for Bayern Munich last summer.

However, Solanke won’t get to actually wear the No.9 shirt following Richarlison’s decision to snub a move to the Saudi Pro League. The Brazil international has been linked with a transfer to Saudi Arabia in recent months after an injury-hit two years at Spurs.

Al Hilal were reportedly ready to bid for Richarlison, but the 27-year-old has revealed his desire is to stay in England and work towards winning back his place in the Brazil national team despite a 'big-money' offer.

“There has been an offer,” Richarlison told ESPN Brasil. “But my dream of playing for the Brazilian Selecao [national team] and in the Premier League speaks louder. The money is big but my dreams are bigger.”

Richarlison later posted an image on his Instagram story of him celebrating at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with the caption: “I am at home.”

Solanke, who has worn the No.9 at Bournemouth, has previously spoken of his desire to wear that shirt and follow in the footsteps of his football heroes. “Having been a striker all my life, my favourite number is the number nine,” he said following arrival at Bournemouth in 2019.

“Growing up, watching great players like R9 [Ronaldo], Ibrahimovic and Benzema to name a few, you always saw top players in that number so I’m delighted to get it.

“I’m really looking forward to the start of the season, I arrived midway through last season so it’s a fresh start for myself and everyone else in the squad. With the new number, hopefully I can score goals and make an impact, we’re looking forward to that first game.”

Available shirt numbers that Solanke could take at Tottenham are 11, 19 and 25 - a shirt previously worn by strikers Emmanuel Adebayor, Jermain Defoe and Bobby Zamora. The No 12 could also become available should Emerson Royal complete his move to AC Milan as expected.

Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on a deal to sign Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke, football.london understands.

The Cherries have agreed to sell their star striker for a club-record fee, with talks ongoing to finalise a deal. Personal terms are not thought to be an issue with the 26-year-old showing a big desire to play for the club.

Solanke's current contract at the Vitality Stadium, which runs until 2029, includes a release clause of £65million that can only be triggered by certain clubs. He will move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and give Ange Postecoglou his first natural No.9 after Harry Kane left for Bayern Munich last summer.

The former Liverpool and Chelsea forward arrives after scoring 19 goals in the Premier League last term. He played a key role in Andoni Iraola's side, helping them finish in the top half of the table.

It's believed that Bournemouth have been looking at Cameron Archer to fill his place, despite the youngster only recently re-joining Aston Villa for £7m after the buy-back clause in his Sheffield United contract was triggered following their relegation.

In an interview with football.london earlier this month, Postecoglou confirmed that Tottenham are focused on signing a new striker. "At Celtic, I had Kyogo, who was a sort of out and out number nine and in Japan, I've always had a striker.

"It just depends, like last year we had to be a bit creative, it's fair to say. You know but if Harry would have stayed I definitely would have used him! So I think for us what's more important is the type of striker we get.

"You know we play a certain way. We demand certain things from a physical perspective from the technical aspects of it that it's going be a striker that fits that mould. It's still the area of the park we're really probably the thinnest when I talk about squad-wise at the moment, so obviously that's a focus for us."

Richarlison is not planning on going anywhere in the final three weeks of the summer transfer window. The Tottenham striker has had a torrid time with injuries since moving to the club from Everton in a £60million deal in 2022.

The Brazilian did enjoy his best stint in a Spurs shirt last season, hitting a purple patch in December, January and the start of February when he scored nine goals in eight games.

But he only played eight more games after that, with his season cut short by injury, as has been the case for much of his time in north London.

Spurs have been linked with signing another striker this summer, having not replaced Harry Kane after he left the club for Bayern Munich in a £100million last summer. Dominic Solanke, Viktor Gyokeres and Jonathan David have all been linked with a move to N17.

But whoever comes through the door at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before Friday, August 30's deadline will have to do battle with Richarlison for the starting spot at the club. That is because the 27-year-old has no intention of leaving.

The Brazilian frontman has been linked with a mega-money move to the Saudi Pro League, with plenty of rumours flying around that he was the next player on their list to coax over to the Middle East.

In an interview with ESPN Brasil, Richarlison was asked about his plans for the transfer window, and Richarlison said: "The money is big but my dreams are bigger. An offer has arrived, but my dream is of playing for the Brazilian national team and the Premier League is louder. It’s decided."

Tottenham Hotspur have been given a huge boost to their hopes of signing Dominic Solanke. The 26-year-old striker has been heavily linked with a move to the Lilywhites this summer as Ange Postecoglou hopes to strengthen his frontline.

Solanke, whose contract at the Vitality Stadium expires in June 2027, featured 38 times for the Cherries in the Premier League last season, scoring 19 goals and providing three assists. Playing a key role in Andoni Iraola's side, the England international helped Bournemouth finish in the top half of the table, placing 12th.

After scoring as many goals as Ollie Watkins and Phil Foden last term, football.london understands that Tottenham shortlisted Solanke as a target. Earlier this summer, the Bournemouth owner revealed that the Cobham graduate has a £65m release clause his contract on the south coast.

The Cherries are bracing themselves for the striker's departure, football.london understands, and Spurs could potentially offer players in part-exchange deal for Solanke. It's believed that Bournemouth have been looking at Cameron Archer to fill his place, despite the youngster only recently re-joining Aston Villa for £7m after the buy-back clause in his Sheffield United contract was triggered following their relegation.

However, according to French newspaper L’Equipe, Iraola's side are ready to 'intercept' Stuttgart's bid to sign El Bilal Touré. The report states that the 22-year-old striker, who only joined Atalanta for £25m last summer, agreed personal terms with the Bundesliga side before a deal collapsed.

In an interview with football.london earlier this month, Postecoglou confirmed that Tottenham are focused on signing a new striker – but only one that fits his very specific mould. The Lilywhites boss said: "At Celtic, I had Kyogo, who was a sort of out and out number nine and in Japan, I've always had a striker.

"It just depends, like last year we had to be a bit creative, it's fair to say. You know but if Harry would have stayed I definitely would have used him! So I think for us what's more important is the type of striker we get.

"You know we play a certain way. We demand certain things from a physical perspective from the technical aspects of it that it's going be a striker that fits that mould. It's still the area of the park we're really probably the thinnest when I talk about squad-wise at the moment, so obviously that's a focus for us."

Postecoglou added: "Irrespective of the approach, I like to think I've always been pretty clear on what I want. I've had success for the most part of my career with transfers and, I mean, I thought last year's window was excellent."

It is once more a case of evolution not revolution at Tottenham. Having laid the foundations in Ange Postecoglou's first year in charge, the tools for success are in place for his second season, and it hasn't taken widespread movement to get things going.

Since the Australian arrived he has cut the squad down dramatically, shedding rotational players or outcasts. Lucas Moura, Davinson Sanchez, and Harry Winks gone. Ryan Sessegnon, Japhet Tanganga, Tanguy Ndombele, Eric Dier, and Joe Rodon out the door.

What is left is a more Postecoglou group that is taking on the mould of the manager more and more by the day. Timo Werner is not the flashy spark he once was but plays a role and that is what the head coach needs. Brennan Johnson cost a lot but represents a speedy wideman able to cut back and divert those low balls to the far post.

The shaky 2024 for Spurs - 8th in the Premier League, behind Crystal Palace, Manchester United, and Chelsea (but also ahead of Asto Villa left questions to be answered. The summer to date hasn't quite done that even if business has been ongoing

Archie Gray is a coup of a certain level but not necessarily all focused on the immediate future. The same is true of Lucas Bergvall, but neither player moves the needle forward dramatically for 2024/25. The squad improvement has come in how it shapes up.

Postecoglou no longer has a load to carry forward that he doesn't want. Although injuries meant those previously on the outside got more minutes, the plan is to be in a different place moving on. With three weeks left there is still work for Tottenham to do.

Despite the serious lack of incoming action it hasn't been for the want of trying. Here, football.london looks at how things might have played out in a different world.

Eze and Gallagher sign

Tottenham losing James Maddison to injury last season coincided with their drop-off. The lack of depth in midfield behind him, further fitness woes for Rodrigo Bentancur, and international commitments for Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr, it was often a patchwork selection in the centre of the park.

Not just for balance in a left-sided No.8 spot but also as the No.10, without Maddison Tottenham lacked balance and threat with the same quality. It's no surprise that they were one of the frontrunners to sign Crystal Palace attacker Eberchi Eze.

The Englishman entered the summer as one of three possible big-name sales at Selhurst Park. With Michael Olise leaving to join Bayern Munich there was just Eze and fellow Euro 2024 star Marc Guehi left. The former Chelsea academy centre-back is now in talks with Newcastle over a move there, leaving an exit for Eze more unlikely.

At a reported £60million, Eze is a natural fit for Tottenham. He can play wide but also centrally, often seamlessly transitioning from one to the other. He is an EFL graduate which fits into the Spurs model and is simply a standout player for what looks a reasonable price. It's not hard to see a world in which he moved from south to north London this summer.

If Eze was a real goer than Conor Gallagher might have felt like a done deal at times. Given the consistent flirting between Chelsea and selling their stand-in captain of last season, Gallagher to Spurs was more than a possibility throughout.

From late summer 2023 interest to January looks across the club, Gallagher being available and fitting the high-pressing Postecolgou style, all for a lower price than most due to his contract situation, made this window the final boss. His form in 2023/24 and Chelsea's bumped up price of £50million made a transfer tougher for Tottenham to complete.

Gallagher could be a very Spurs player though and with a willingness from both sides to entertain a move, it's certainly one that could have happened.

More sales

The work of Daniel Levy, Postecoglou, and Johan Lange together to get a streamlined squad has been extremely impressive at Tottenham. It is not done yet though.

Emerson Royal is a player they have been trying to shift for a while but have so far been unable to budge due to a difference in valuation with AC Milan. He is one who would ideally have left already, whilst the same is true of Sergio Reguilon, contracted until next year.

Although both could yet depart it is not ideal to have them on the books just over one week before the Premier League season starts. Giovani Lo Celso also have just 12 months left to run on his own deal.

Richarlison's possible exit (which will not be to Saudi Arabia, if at all) also hasn't helped things moving into the final month of the transfer window. He appears keen to stay but it has taken far longer to get to this level of certainty that hoped. In another universe a big bid has already come in and been accepted whilst Tottenham look at other strikers. Speaking of...

Solanke signs

This one may yet happen as Spurs consider their centre-forward options. However, Postecoglou would much prefer it if he could have signings done early in order to get them accustomed to his methods and plans.

This is natural at every club but with the demands on his strikers it is perhaps more important than in any other spot. Dominic Solanke certainly suits the characteristics desired and would be a great addition. For what could be £65million he is a lot of money but is Premier League-proven, continuing to grow, and would only be slightly more expensive than Richarlison with a better best season when joining.

Richarlison has stated he is very much at home at Tottenham Hotspur amid speculation regarding a big-money transfer to Saudi Arabia this summer. Joining Spurs from Everton two years ago, the Brazilian has endured a mixed time of it in north London.

After a really disappointing first season as a Tottenham player, Richarlison bounced back last term and was the club's second highest top goalscorer with 12 goals in all competitions. The attacker's game time was still limited, though, with four separate injuries forcing him to spend time on the sidelines.

Unable to make an appearance for Tottenham in pre-season so far as he looks to regain full fitness from a calf injury that saw his 2023/24 campaign end early, Richarlison will be hoping to return for the Lilywhites as soon as possible. Despite a real lack of numbers up front heading into the new season, the 27-year-old has been linked with a move away from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium amid interest from Saudi Arabia.

However, it is not a move the player is keen on. In an interview with ESPN Brasil, Richarlison was asked about his plans for the transfer window, and he said: "The money is big but my dreams are bigger. An offer has arrived, but my dream is of playing for the Brazilian national team and the Premier League is louder. It’s decided."

Following the ESPN Brasil interview that was published on Thursday afternoon, Tottenham's No.9 has sent a further message to Tottenham fans amid all the current speculation surrounding his future. It is one that will go down incredibly well with all supporters as well.

Taking to his Instagram Stories on Thursday, Richarlison posted a photo of him celebrating his goal against Brentford at the end of January. The image contained the words "I am at home".

Very much committing his future to the football club as he looks to continue his dream of playing in the Premier League, Richarlison could have more competition for a place up front in Ange Postecoglou's team before the month is out. Dominic Solanke is a player Tottenham are interested in and the Bournemouth man is odds-on to make the move to the capital before the end of the summer transfer window.

Once he is back to fitness, Richarlison will be determined to improve on the 12 goals he scored for Tottenham in 2023/24 and also help the club push for major silverware.

Richarlison is not planning on going anywhere in the final three weeks of the summer transfer window. The Tottenham striker has had a torrid time with injuries since moving to the club from Everton in a £60million deal in 2022.

The Brazilian did enjoy his best stint in a Spurs shirt last season, hitting a purple patch in December, January and the start of February when he scored nine goals in eight games.

But he only played eight more games after that, with his season cut short by injury, as has been the case for much of his time in north London.

Spurs have been linked with signing another striker this summer, having not replaced Harry Kane after he left the club for Bayern Munich in a £100million last summer. Dominic Solanke, Viktor Gyokeres and Jonathan David have all been linked with a move to N17.

But whoever comes through the door at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before Friday, August 30's deadline will have to do battle with Richarlison for the starting spot at the club. That is because the 27-year-old has no intention of leaving.

The Brazilian frontman has been linked with a mega-money move to the Saudi Pro League, with plenty of rumours flying around that he was the next player on their list to coax over to the Middle East.

In an interview with ESPN Brasil, Richarlison was asked about his plans for the transfer window, and Richarlison said: "The money is big but my dreams are bigger. An offer has arrived, but my dream is of playing for the Brazilian national team and the Premier League is louder. It’s decided."

Sir Alex Ferguson told Harry Redknapp to stop playing Gareth Bale during the Welshman's notorious winless run at Tottenham Hotspur.

Bale retired from football in January last year, after a legendary football career involving stints at Southampton, Tottenham, Real Madrid and Los Angeles FC. While he went on to win trophy after trophy after his record breaking £85.3m move to the Bernabeu, Bale's career threatened to spiral in his early years at White Hart Lane.

He endured a now notorious winless run of 24 matches, which saw Tottenham fail to win a match when he was on the field, either as a starter or a substitute. With all of the media attention and stick from opposition fans he was receiving. Bale was playing under huge pressure.

Redknapp arrived at Tottenham while the then left-back was enduring this difficult spell. He persisted with deploying Bale on a regular basis.

However, during a conversation with the legendary Manchester United manager, Ferguson told him to stop picking Bale, as he was evidently an unlucky presence within the team. Redknapp decided to ignore the Scotsman and put his trust in the ex-Wales captain. It proved to be the perfect decision.

Speaking to Mirror Football while visiting Kellogg's Football Camps – a UK-wide summer football programme for local kids – Redknapp said: "When I first got to the club, he had played 20 odd games and had never been on the winning team.

"I remember Alex [Ferguson] saying to me: 'I wouldn't pick him, Harry, he is unlucky' because he had played around 24 games and had never ever been on a winning team, since he had been at Tottenham, which is an incredible record.

"Not that it was his fault, it was just the way it had worked out. If he came off the bench, they didn't win, and if he started they didn't win.

"Eventually, we broke that voodoo and never looked back. His confidence grew and he became an amazing footballer."

Bale's career trajectory skyrocketed after Redknapp moved him from left-back to left-wing. In one of his most memorable performances in a Spurs shot, Bale scored a second half hat-trick against Inter Milan, soon after 10-man Spurs had gone in at half-time 4-0 down.

Looking back on that evening Redknapp said: "Over that period, he was the third-best player in the world, behind Messi and Ronaldo.

"He destroyed the best right-back in the world. Maicon was arguably the best right-back in the world at the time and Gareth almost finished his career.

"We brought them back to White Hart Lane and he destroyed them again. Maicon never recovered from that. Gareth just went on and got better and better. The whole world saw him that night and realised what a player that was."

The hard work continues at Hotspur Way as Ange Postecoglou and his coaching staff prepare the players for the start of the 2024/25 season. After finishing last term in fifth place, Tottenham will be hoping to move into the top four and also really push for a trophy as they bid to end the club's long silverware drought.

It has been a positive pre-season campaign for the team to date after winning four of their five friendly games. Losing to Bayern Munich in South Korea last weekend, Spurs now have the opportunity to get one over on the German side as they host Vincent Kompany's men at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a 5.30pm kick-off on Saturday.

Continuing to put in the hours on the training field, Spurs gave everyone a little glimpse of their preparations on Wednesday following the release of a training video. Here are four things football.london spotted from the latest training session.

Reguilon involved

Sergio Reguilon has played no part in Tottenham's pre-season games so far as his future quite clearly lies away from north London. Not involved in the matchday squad for the opening two friendlies against Hearts and QPR, the left-back and fellow Spaniard Bryan Gil were both absent from the travelling party for the tour of Japan and South Korea.

Tottenham confirmed in a statement at the time that the pair had been "granted permission not to travel in order to explore prospective transfer opportunities". Whereas Gil has returned to his home country to join high-flying Girona on a season-long loan deal, Reguilon has yet to see a move away from Tottenham come to fruition yet.

Now that the Tottenham squad are back training at their Hotspur Way base following their return from Asia, Reguilon is training alongside his teammates once again. In the short video clip posted on Spurs' social media channels, the ex-Manchester United loanee could be seen competing for the ball with Manor Solomon and Dejan Kulusevski.

Tottenham have seen a number of players head out of the door this summer and all parties concerned will be hoping that Reguilon can get his move sooner rather than later so that he can play regularly elsewhere.

Quadruple boost

A summer full of international football has meant that Postecoglou has not had a full complement of players available to him at the beginning of Tottenham's pre-season campaign. The vast majority of the Spurs team did return on day one after not playing at either Euro 2024 or the Copa America, with others then returning at different stages after having their summer break once their international football commitments had come to an end.

The last of the players to return are now back at the club and with their Tottenham teammates for the first time this summer. Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Rodrigo Bentancur and Giovani Lo Celso have all given Postecoglou a big boost going into the final two weeks of the pre-season training as they put the finishing touches to their summer preparations.

The quartet were spotted back on the training pitch at the club's Enfield base and they will be hoping to get some minutes in the tank this weekend when Bayern Munich make the trip to the capital.

Udogie trains

Postecoglou and the team have received another boost this week with Destiny Udogie making his comeback on the training pitch. Seeing his 2023/24 season cut short after undergoing surgery to his left quadriceps in April, the Italian has been working his way back to fitness ever since.

Joining the squad on the summer tour of Japan and South Korea but playing no part, Udogie is now back training with the first team ahead of their final summer friendly against Bayern. Now all Tottenham need to do is get Richarlison back involved once again as he himself tries to recover from a calf injury that saw him miss the final few games of last term.

"We've still got two weeks (until the first game of the season)," said Postecoglou in an interview with Tottenham's official website. "We'll get some players back this week - obviously the internationals will be back, Destiny (Udogie) is back training with us, Richarlison should be back in the week - so we'll get some of our top end players back into the group which I think will help.

"Once we get back we've got 10 to 12 days before our first game and we'll make sure we are ready."

Academy stars make their mark

It has been a very good summer for Tottenham's academy stars. Will Lankshear has made his mark in the first team with a couple of goals, Mikey Moore continues to excel and Alfie Devine has made a huge impression since returning from his year away on loan.

Jamie Donley has also enjoyed a very impressive summer and has really caught the eye when playing as a left-back, with George Abbott also performing well when minutes have comes his way. Tottenham do appear to have a lot of exciting talent coming through the system at present and the hope is that they will make the step up to become first-team regulars.

Lankshear, Moore, Devine and Donley could all be seen with the first team in their latest training session at Hotspur Way. Although Postecoglou's Spurs squad has been boosted by the return of five players in Van de Ven, Romero, Udogie, Bentancur and Lo Celso, the club's youngsters will be hoping that more pitch time comes their way this weekend when they take on Bayern Munich.