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Xabi Alonso will have big Chelsea team decisions to make ahead of a busy week that starts with a London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

With a week to prepare for the derby and 10 players from his last starting XI available, it would make sense for Alonso to stick with the winning formula against Tottenham.

However, Wednesday’s Carabao Cup fourth-round trip to Liverpool may give the Chelsea manager some incentive to tinker with his line-up.

Liverpool themselves are preparing for a big match against third-placed Brighton, so Andoni Iraola will have just as tough calls to make.

The question is how Alonso can manage his key players while staying competitive on both fronts. A different Chelsea line-up? Go all out and hope these players can put the game to bed early against Spurs so the key players can be subbed out in the second half?

The latter is likely the sensible choice since a top-five finish, which would secure Champions League qualification, should be Chelsea’s primary objective this season. Alonso should also be confident in his squad depth after a relatively successful summer window.

Mike Penders will almost certainly start in goal, replacing the injured Emiliano Martinez, who recently underwent jaw surgery following a collision in last weekend’s win over Everton.

Alonso already expressed his confidence in the young goalkeeper ahead of his first Premier League start against fierce London rivals.

The back three of Levi Colwill, Maxence Lacroix, and Josh Acheampong are also expected to keep their spots in the starting XI.

Pedro Neto, who played a starring role against Everton with a brace of goals, will likely continue to play the hybrid wing-back/winger role on the right flank. While on the left, Pep Chavarria’s expected injury absence virtually confirms Jorrel Hato’s starting role.

Midfield is where Alonso may consider some rotation. Moises Caicedo, who struggled with calf issues earlier this season, and 36-year-old Jordan Henderson are unlikely to be able to play three games a week.

Romeo Lavia had a strong international break with Belgium and must be hungry for more opportunities to prove himself after overcoming years of injury struggles.

That said, Henderson is arguably the safer bet for Saturday given his form, and Lavia will likely get his chance against Liverpool instead alongside Valentin Barco.

The front three are of course expected to remain unchanged.

As important as it is to reserve the front three’s energy for the upcoming games against Liverpool and Manchester United, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, and Joao Pedro are on such an outstanding run that hurting their momentum is arguably a worse scenario than some tired legs.

Tottenham Hotspur are ready to pounce on a potential market opportunity at Stamford Bridge as the September 1 deadline edges ever closer.

Since the Clearlake Capital-Todd Boehly ownership took control of Chelsea in 2022, they have made no secret of their willingness to do a deal if the price is right and it is in the best interests of the club.

In recent weeks, Chelsea have made Mykhailo Mudryk available for a loan move after his appeal against a four-year doping ban was partially upheld, and the ban was lifted on July 31. The 25-year-old had been serving the suspension since December 2024.

Mudryk was suspended in December 2024 following an adverse finding in a routine urine test, which later revealed the presence of a low concentration of meldonium, a banned substance. The winger played 22 minutes across three pre-season matches before being left out of the matchday squad for the final pre-season friendly against Real Sociedad.

The Ukrainian international now looks set to reunite with former boss Roberto De Zerbi, after Tottenham accelerated their efforts to sign the winger on loan.

De Zerbi's presence could prove crucial for Mudryk, with the Italian coach having already worked with the winger during his time at Shakhtar Donetsk. A move to Tottenham would therefore allow Mudryk to work under a manager familiar with his strengths and help him rediscover his best form.

After giving 'total priority' to Spurs and informing Chelsea that he wanted to move to north London for the season, David Ornstein has confirmed that a deal has now been agreed.

Even before his suspension, Mudryk struggled to find consistency and momentum during his time at Stamford Bridge. In 73 appearances for the Blues, he has managed just 10 goals in all competitions, with the majority of those appearances coming from the bench since joining in January 2023 for an initial £62 million, with a further £26.5m in add-ons.

No replacement is expected at Stamford Bridge, with the likes of Morgan Rogers, Jamie Gittens and Geovany Quenda ahead of him in the pecking order. With no European football, it would be difficult for Mudryk to break through and earn regular, much-needed minutes, which is why a loan move could make sense for both parties, particularly given his relationship with De Zerbi.

Tensions between Chelsea and Tottenham have relaxed in recent years. Just last year, Matt Law reported that 'bridges have been built in the relationship between Chelsea and Spurs'. With both Mudryk and Tosin Adarabioyo set to make the move across London, it appears that the relationship is firmly back in place.

Mudryk's potential move has had wider implications. The Athletic has confirmed that a permanent deal for Tosin Adarabioyo has been agreed, which Fabrizio Romano reported was an ultimatum from Spurs: if they signed Mudryk, they'd complete the double deal.

Tosin has also agreed personal terms and been given permission to undergo a medical.

Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a deal to sign Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo on a permanent basis, according to reports.

The 28-year-old is available to leave Chelsea before Tuesday's transfer deadline, with Xabi Alonso deciding on the defenders he wants to take into the 2026-27 season with him.

Tosin has been left out of all three of Chelsea's matchday squads against Fulham, Luton Town, and Brighton and Hove Albion, suggesting he is surplus to requirements.

After arriving from Fulham on a free transfer in the summer two years ago, Tosin's time at Stamford Bridge looks set to be coming to an end after 70 appearances in all competitions for the club.

He has received plenty of interest from the Premier League and abroad, including Benfica, but it is Spurs who are set to win the race for the central defender.

As reported by David Ornstein, after stepping up their interest, Roberto De Zerbi's side are finalising a deal for the Blues defender, as they seek a replacement for Kevin Danso, who has recently asked to leave the club.

Personal terms have been agreed, and Tosin will now undergo a medical to finalise his exit from Chelsea.

"Danso came to me two days ago and he said he wants to leave," De Zerbi confirmed after Spurs' 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United.

It's been a challenging start to the season for Spurs after their big summer spending in the transfer window, as they look to improve on their 17th-place finish last term, which saw them avoid relegation by two points.

With Tosin joining for free, Chelsea are likely to only demand a small fee for the defender, which has likely helped Spurs swiftly finalise a deal before the deadline. The move also appears attractive to Tosin, who would not be required to relocate.

Chelsea have already sold Trevoh Chalobah to Como on a permanent deal this summer, while Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile have left on loan deals to Crystal Palace and Napoli, respectively.

Meanwhile, Spurs have agreed a deal to sign Mykhailo Mudryk on loan, as reported by David Ornstein. It will see him reunite with De Zerbi, who he worked with during their time at Shakhtar.

Spurs were not the only club interested in the 25-year-old, who has returned to action this summer after his doping case was resolved. Leeds United, Coventry and Brentford had also been linked.

However, Mudryk was open to reuniting with De Zerbi for the season. Chelsea will hope Spurs can offer him the game time he wants in the Ukrainian's first full season back.

Tosin and Mudryk are two of several players Chelsea are looking to offload. Dario Essugo could also leave on loan. Kendry Paez's River Plate loan move has been terminated. Marc Guiu is finalising a permanent move to RB Leipzig.

Emiliano Martinez's signing from Aston Villa could spell the end for Robert Sanchez at Chelsea. Sanchez was left out of the squad against Brighton, so he will be looking for a new club to ensure he gets minutes this season.

Meanwhile, Enzo Fernandez's future still remains unclear amid interest from Manchester City.

It's a busy end to the summer window for Chelsea, who will hope they can agree on a deal with Spurs to reduce Alonso's defensive numbers even more. Spurs will be desperate to improve their defensive record after a poor start to the new campaign. Could Tosin make an impactful difference? Only time will tell should a deal materialise.

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On the latest edition of Last Word On Spurs, we’re joined by Tottenham Hotspur youth expert John Wenham of Lilywhite Rose for an in-depth discussion on the next generation emerging from the Spurs academy.

John gives us the inside track on the young players Tottenham are currently developing, as we assess the winners and losers from the recent pre-season tour and identify the academy prospects worth keeping a particularly close eye on as the new campaign approaches.

We debate whether Tottenham’s increasing focus on first-team development over academy progression represents a genuine concern for the long-term future of the club, before turning our attention back to the immediate issues facing Spurs.

With attacking options currently looking a concern, we discuss what Tottenham Hotspur have to do in the remaining days of the window and examine the future of captain Cristian Romero, amid reports that he could be open to a move to bitter rivals Arsenal this summer.

We also debate whether Lucas Bergvall could leave the club before the transfer deadline and whether Spurs would be making a major mistake by allowing Djed Spence to depart, with reports suggesting his representatives are exploring the possibility of a move to Manchester United.

Finally, we assess the job Roberto De Zerbi’s has done to date and whether there is any genuine pressure on the Spurs head coach given the amount of money spent by the Club this summer, and look at what Tottenham can realistically achieve ahead of the upcoming season. You can find John's platform on the following locations:X: @Lilywhite_RoseTikTok: @Lilywhite_Rose Insta: @Lilywhite_Rose

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Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly set to lose highly regarded coach Stuart Lewis, with the club’s First Team Academy Transition Coach expected to take up a new role with Ipswich Town this summer.

The news was first reported by Tottenham Hotspur Academy expert Lilywhite Rose on X, formerly Twitter; he revealed that Lewis is leaving Spurs to continue his coaching career at Portman Road. The position at Ipswich has not yet been confirmed by either Premier League club, but his departure marks the end of a long but successful association with Tottenham Hotspur.

Lewis joined the club’s Academy as a teenager and earned a professional contract, but later built a senior career across the Football League and non-league football, notably with Wycombe Wanderers, making over 100 appearances for the club.

He later returned to Tottenham as a coach before becoming Under-16 coach in 2019. His work at that level earned him promotion to Under-18 coach in the summer of 2021, when Spurs praised his role in developing several Academy players.

It was during his time leading the Under-18s that Lewis established himself as one of the most respected figures within Tottenham’s youth system.

The standout achievement arrived during the 2022/23 season when his young Spurs sides completed an unprecedented Premier League Cup double. Tottenham first won the Under-17 competition before defeating Aston Villa 3-1 at Villa Park to lift the Under-18 Premier League Cup just two weeks later.

Lewis added another trophy in April 2025, guiding Tottenham to Under-17 Premier League Cup success with a thrilling victory over Charlton Athletic.

Lewis worked closely with a talented generation that included Mikey Moore, Jamie Donley, Will Lankshear, Alfie Dorrington, Damola Ajayi, Callum Olusesi, Luca Williams-Barnett and others who went on to train with, appear for or establish themselves around Tottenham’s senior squad.

His work was formally recognised in July 2025 when he was promoted to First Team Academy Transition Coach. The role was created to help young players bridge the gap between academy football and the Premier League, while strengthening links between Tottenham’s youth and senior departments.

His expected move to Ipswich offers the next stage of his career, with Tottenham Academy expert Lilywhite Rose sighting a "well-deserved promotion" when replying to questions about Lewis' exit. The report was also backed by Tottenham insider, Szyexcl.

Tottenham Hotspur will be losing a coach who is widely respected from within and among the Academy players, past and present, dreaming of making it into the Tottenham Hotspur First Team

Reports have emerged over the past 24 hours that Celtic are ready to intensify talks to sign Alfie Devine from Tottenham Hotspur. Martin O'Neill is believed to be a fan of the midfielder.

So much so that O'Neill was spotted in attendance watching Preston North End's game last season. Since then, speculation about a move for Devine have not gone away.

Until very recently, Preston North End were in the driver's seat though as they had an option to buy included in the deal. And it had looked like they were intent on trigerring it.

But for one reason or another, it did not end up happening. Now, the option to buy has expired. So, Devine's future is up in the air. Celtic are in the mix to sign him. But what do Tottenham Hotspur want to do?

According to a report from Football Insider, Celtic have been told Tottenham Hotspur will accept offers between £4-6 million for Devine this summer.

That seems like a transfer fee that Celtic are very capable of meeting. And with O'Neill believed to be a fan of Devine, they should do their best to make the deal happen.

To be very honest, that feels like a reasonable figure as well. Devine is a Tottenham Hotspur player.

On top of that, he also proved himself in the Championship last season. Across all competitions, he scored eight goals and provided a further eight assists for Preston North End.

So, it is easy to understand the valuation. And it is not like Celtic have not spent that kind of money on players in the past. The club need to show that they are ready to back O'Neill, even on a one-year deal. Signing Devine would be a statement of intent in that regard.

Midfield is the one area which could be most severely affected for Celtic in this summer transfer window.

Arne Engels has been tipped to make a Scottish record exit. Celtic already turned down an offer in the region of £25 million in the summer. Clubs are still interested this summer.

Benjamin Nygren is also expected to draw interest. And when asked about a potential move, he did not rule it out.

Reo Hatate barely featured towards the end of last season and is expected to depart this summer. It is the same for Paulo Bernardo.

So, Celtic's midfield department could be significantly weakened in the summer. Signing someone like Devine could go a long way in filling any voids which may end up appearing as a result of potential departures. Now, it remains to be seen whether the Hoops are up for it or not.

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Manchester United have found some form since the arrival of Michael Carrick as the interim manager of the club. Finally, there is some positivity around the club after years, and if things continue in this manner, they might hand the job to the Englishman on a permanent basis.

Of course, it might be a bit too early to think that far into the future. There have been plenty of false dawns at Old Trafford over the years. Let's not get ahead of ourselves.

The objective for Manchester United right now has to be building on their newfound momentum and continuing to produce results. Wins over Man City and Arsenal are impressive, but it is just as important to get the better of teams in the lower half of the table, something that they have struggled to do at times.

Tottenham Hotspur are a team that has looked completely out of sorts lately, and Thomas Frank's position at the club has to be up in the air.

Ange Postecoglou was sacked in the summer despite winning them the Europa League, the club's first trophy since 2008. In the Premier League, they had finished 17th. Frank is not doing much better than him though, with Spurs currently sitting in 14th.

One thing Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur side always seemed to do was give Manchester United a tough time. Frank will be hoping to carry on that tradition when the two teems meet at the weekend.

For Manchester United, there seems to be a worrying update as two of their players have seemingly missed training heading into the weekend.

According to Steven Railston in an update earlier today, it looked like like Mason Mount and Matthijs de Ligt were absent from training.

Mount missed the Fulham game after picking up a knock and De Ligt is still recovering from a back injury. The Dutchman last played against Crystal Palace on November 30.

Mount's time at Manchester United has been filled with injury problems. We have never really seen the form that he showed at his best at Chelsea, playing an integral part in their Champions League win in 2021, even providing the winning assist against Man City in the final.

He looked like a midfielder who could produce 20-plus goal contributions a season on a consistent basis while also giving a lot on the defensive side of things. But unfortunately, with the amount of injuries he has dealt with over the last three or four years, he will never reach his true potential.

As for De Ligt, he is another who looks unlikely to meet the expectations that were set for him early in his career.

He had been a standout for Ajax in their historic run to the Champions League semi-finals under none other than Erik ten Hag. Since then, he has had failed spells at Juventus and Bayern Munich. And his time at Manchester United seems to be headed in that same direction. This is his third injury since joining the club in 2024.

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