The Guardian

Ange Postecoglou could not hide his smirk when the question came about whether his record of second‑season success is about to continue in north London. “Dunno,” the Tottenham manager said. “I expect what I expect all the time, mate. To do my job and see what that brings. But I would suggest that it’s not by accident. We’ll improve and see where that takes us.”

After a summer of relative calm in comparison with his arrival before the start of last season, there was a clear sense of optimism as the straight‑talking Australian, who was one of the more insightful pundits employed by ITV at Euro 2024, laid out his expectations for the new campaign in the buildup to their opening match, against Leicester on Monday night.

This time last year, amid the emotional departure of Harry Kane to Bayern Munich, it was all about steadying the ship after the stormy reign of Antonio Conte. But with a replacement for the club’s record goalscorer now secured in the form of Dominic Solanke – signed from Bournemouth for an initial club‑record fee of £55m that could rise to £65m – and a fully fit squad at his disposal, it is no wonder that Postecoglou fancies Spurs’ chances of improving on the fifth‑place finish of last season.

While it may be stretching things to imagine that they can go all the way, as Postecoglou was able to achieve in the five previous jobs where he lasted longer than 12 months, there is certainly expectation that Tottenham can sustain a serious challenge for a top-four finish. Starting with his first senior post at South Melbourne and encompassing his spells in charge of Brisbane Roar, the Australia national team – who he led to Asian Cup glory in 2015 – Yokohama Marinos and Celtic, winning league titles in Postecoglou’s second season at clubs has become a habit for the 58-year-old coach. But he will know that translating that to the Premier League will be his toughest assignment yet given the competition.

Not that Tottenham can be accused of failing to spend big to back their manager: the purchase of Solanke and the teenagers Wilson Odobert, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall meant they have outlaid significantly more than £100m on new players after the departure of several more experienced faces such as Eric Dier and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. But it is in Solanke, whose transfer is the Premier League’s most expensive this summer, that Postecoglou has placed most faith as the 26-year-old tries to fill the shoes of Kane after scoring 19 goals for Bournemouth last season.

“My role in all signings is pretty small – I just make the decision. I’m the one that says yes or no,” Postecoglou said on the influence he had on the move. “They’re here because I want them here and Dom certainly fits that. I thought he did well against us [last season] and gave us some problems that a lot of other strikers in the league maybe didn’t give us. His mobility and his movement was really impressive. It’s no secret that we love to press and he has a great work ethic. And he can score goals. He’s a presence and he scores different types of goals. I think the way we play suits him.”

Perhaps more important, Postecoglou also sees Solanke’s determination to return to the highest level after starting his career at Chelsea and then moving to Liverpool as a positive.

“I really like where he was in his career,” he said. “I’m a big one on understanding people and their motivations – obviously he was an outstanding young player and he went to some big clubs where it didn’t work out for him. But what do you do in that scenario? Do you think: ‘Well it’s never going to happen for me’? Or do you try to work your way back up? He’s done remarkably well to get himself back to a position where he’s scored 19 goals in the Premier League last year. It’s a fair feat and he’s got himself back to a big club. I love that aspect because I know he’s got the right kind of mentality.”

Freeing Son Heung-min from the central role he struggled with last season was high among Postecoglou’s priorities this summer, with the arrival of Solanke and return to fitness of Richarlison after he had surgery on a pelvic injury over the summer giving Spurs plenty of firepower.

“As much as the injuries at the back last year cost us, I still felt it was up front that we were most short and the area that we needed to improve on,” said Postecoglou. “Richie when he played was outstanding but he had a lot of injuries so we had to play Sonny inside. It was Brennan [Johnson]’s first year at the club. Going into the season having Dom and Richie there with that real physical presence will be important. I think we look a much better team with Sonny out on the left. That’s the exciting bit – we’re looking for improvement in the final third and I think we have by bringing Dom in.”

The Tottenham midfielder Oliver Skipp is undergoing a medical at Leicester City on Sunday for a move worth more than £20m.

If the transfer is completed in the next 24 hours, as expected, then Skipp will be leaving Spurs after 16 years. The 23-year-old joined their academy aged six but has been used sparingly in the first team with his game time limited. Skipp, who spent a season on loan in the Championship at Norwich in 2020-21, has made 40 league starts for Spurs and 37 substitute appearances.

Leicester have struggled to bring in reinforcements since promotion to the Premier League but are poised to make Skipp their sixth summer signing. Coincidentally, Spurs visit Leicester on Monday in their season opener. Harry Winks is expected to face his former club but Skipp’s move will not be completed in time for him to do so.

“Every season you want to reinforce, you want to strengthen,” the Leicester manager, Steve Cooper, said on Friday. “It’s been a slow market. Once I knew this week that there wouldn’t be any additions for Monday, I put that to one side and focused on Monday. That’s the only thing we can influence.”

Leicester’s most recent acquisition was a loan deal for the Brighton midfielder Facundo Buonanotte, who made 13 top-flight appearances last season. Abdul Fatawu, Caleb Okoli, Michael Golding and Bobby Decordova-Reid also arrived this summer.

Tottenham have signed the Australia defender Clare Hunt from Paris Saint-Germain on a three-year deal until 2027. Hunt, who was part of the Matildas squad that reached 2023’s World Cup semi-finals and played every minute of her national team’s Olympics campaign in France this summer, has been given the No 15 shirt in the north London club’s squad.

“I was drawn to Spurs for the way that they play, the club culture that is here,” the 25-year-old told Tottenham’s media channels. “It feels like an environment where I can contribute and add value to this club, so I’m really excited to get started.

“The league has so much exposure, there’s some of the best players in the world competing here and to play alongside them and against them, week in, week out, will help me develop as a person and as a footballer.”

Liverpool also completed the signing of a centre-back on Friday, confirming the addition of Wales’ Gemma Evans from Manchester United for an undisclosed fee.

The 28-year-old’s move sees her reunite with Liverpool manager Matt Beard, with the pair having worked together previously at Bristol City.

Evans spent one season with Manchester United, making 19 appearances for Marc Skinner’s side in all competitions.

“It’s a massive move for me,” Evans said. “Last season was a difficult year for me as I had to learn to be a teammate in a different way on the field, so it’s so exciting to be at Liverpool and working with Matt again, and I’m properly looking forward to getting ready to go.

“I want more game time and I want to prove the ability I think I have. I haven’t been able to showcase that last season, so I want to meet my standards again and hit the floor running.”

Beard added of Evans, who has been given Liverpool’s No3 shirt: “She is a talented player, has got great experience playing in the WSL and international football with Wales, so with her personality as well coming in I think it’s a great fit for us.”

Tottenham have completed the signing of the French winger Wilson Odobert from Burnley on a contract until 2029.

Odobert made 32 appearances and scored four goals for Burnley last season after a move from Troyes, but was unable to keep them in the Premier League. His impressive performances had seen him linked with a move to Ipswich, but Spurs have swooped to sign him for a fee reported by French media to be €37m (£31.5m).

The highly-rated 19-year-old, who scored in Burnley’s Championship victory at Luton on Monday, will wear the No 28 shirt at Spurs. He joins Dominic Solanke, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall as the club’s fourth major summer arrival and will add depth to Ange Postecoglou’s attack with a Europa League campaign to come this season.

Tottenham begin their Premier League campaign at promoted Leicester on Monday, and Postecoglou could call on Gray to play as a holding midfielder in the absence of Yves Bissouma, who has been given a one-match ban by the club.

“Archie has settled in really well,” Postecoglou said on Friday. “We’ve asked him to play different positions [in pre-season], but he’s handled it really well.

“Part of the attraction of bringing someone like Archie to our club is he can play more than one position, so when it’s required, we can use him in those areas,” the Tottenham head coach added. “He is going really well, I am really happy with him and he has every chance to play on Monday.”

Ange Postecoglou has said Yves Bissouma must earn back his trust after confirming the Mali midfielder has been suspended by Tottenham for their opening game of the season against Leicester on Monday after he was seen inhaling laughing gas last weekend.

The 27-year-old described his actions as a “severe lack of judgement” and apologised after a video emerged on Saturday night of him inhaling from a balloon believed to contain nitrous oxide – widely known as laughing gas. Tottenham announced they had opened an internal investigation and Postecoglou said on Thursday the former Brighton midfielder had been handed a one-match suspension as punishment.

“There are still sanctions involved and some of those are educational. He is a footballer with responsibilities,” said the Spurs manager. “He won’t be available on Monday. We’ve suspended him from Monday’s game. He needs to build that trust back with both me and the group. The door is open for him and we can help him realise the decisions he makes impact the group.”

Asked how Bissouma can regain his trust, Postecoglou said: “Behaviour, mate. It’s that simple. It’s about making better decisions. He was very apologetic to me, the club and everyone involved but that’s just part of it. I think the best way is awareness and education, and understanding the ramifications of making those kinds of decisions.

“There is a responsibility in what you do. He’s made a poor choice. But within that context, we all make mistakes, there should always be an opportunity there for rehabilitation and redemption for every human being, including footballers. That’s up to Biss now.”

Aside from Bissouma, Postecoglou expects to have almost a full squad to pick from for the meeting with newly promoted Leicester after the Brazil forward Richarlison made his return to full training. The new £55m signing Dominic Solanke is expected to make his debut, while Archie Gray could be in contention to start in midfield in Bissouma’s absence having played in several different positions during pre-season.

“Great kid, strong mindset,” said Postecoglou of the 18-year-old signed from Leeds. “Part of the attraction was that he can play in more than one position. He has a big chance to play on Monday.”

Ange Postecoglou confirmed Tottenham Hotspur have suspended midfielder Yves Bissouma for their opening game of the new Premier League season after footage emerged appearing to show the midfielder inhaling laughing gas. The 27-year-old won’t be available for selection against Leicester after posting a video of himself on social media which showed him inhaling from a balloon. Bissouma has since apologised, but Postecoglou said 'He has responsibilities. He has the responsibility of the club, he has responsibilities to his team-mates, he has responsibility to our supporters, everyone associated with the club. And he’s failed in those duties'.

Tottenham suspend Yves Bissouma for season opener over laughing gas video

Guardian writers’ predicted position: 4th (NB: this is not necessarily Sachin Nakrani’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)

Last season’s position: 5th

Prospects

Is there a club that spark greater existential debate than Tottenham? After all, what is their purpose? It doesn’t appear to be winning trophies given they’ve now gone more than 6,000 days without doing so. Perhaps it’s purely to entertain – “to dare is to do”, and all that – but, if so, then what was with hiring mangers for whom playing exciting, appealing football appeared to be anathema?

Regardless, here they are, ready to start all over again, and what feels clear is that Spurs’ primary objective for the new season is securing a top-four finish for the first time in three years, thereby reestablishing their place among Europe’s elite. An eye-catching stride has been made with the signing of Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth for an initial £55m, the striker, who scored 21 goals last season, 19 of which came in the Premier League, arriving alongside two highly rated 18-year-olds in Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall. All exciting additions to an exciting, talented squad but further incomings feel necessary, most notably a high-class winger, with a left-back and centre-back also required to bolster resources, which is especially important given Spurs’ return to European competition and the demands that come with that.

Tactically Tottenham are, to use that most modern of football phrases, in a good place. There is collective buy-in to the bold, positive approach Ange Postecoglou established in his debut campaign, providing as it did a much-needed contrast to the negative drudgery of the Mourinho and Conte years and almost proving enough to secure a top four finish. For that to happen this time, the most obvious thing the manager needs to sort out is how his players defend at set pieces given how bad they were at it last season. Worryingly, displays during pre-season, most notably in defeat to Bayern Munich at the weekend, suggest little to no improvement has been made in that regard.

And then there is the pursuit of a first piece of silverware since 2008. The Carabao Cup, the FA Cup, the Europa League; it’s fair to presume Tottenham fans would take any of them at this stage.

The manager

“I adore him,” the Spurs-supporting football writer Harry Sherlock says of Postecoglou and there is little doubt most fans feel the same. The Australian revitalised the club after his arrival from Celtic, on and off the pitch, albeit the “mates” became increasingly laced with simmering fury as the campaign went on, with Postecoglou well and truly boiling over after the 2-0 loss to Manchester City in May, a result that all but ended Tottenham’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League but was nonetheless cheered by practically everyone associated with the club, inside and out, given it also all but ended Arsenal’s hopes of winning the title. “The foundations are really fragile [here],” Postecoglou said in reaction to the widespread glee in his only misstep when it came to the feelgood connection he more than anyone had reestablished to that particular part of north London.

Off-field picture

Tottenham are in healthy financial state, and in light of ownership troubles elsewhere there appears to be newfound respect and appreciation within the fanbase for Daniel Levy’s steady stewardship of the club, albeit the relationship has been strained by the 6% increase in season-ticket prices for the new season, with concessions also removed for new senior season-ticket holders – those aged 65 and above – from the 2025-26 campaign. The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust has described the first move as “unacceptable” and the second as a case of the club “pulling the rug out from under the feet of pensioners after years of loyal support”.

Breakout star

Who needs signings when you’ve got exciting academy talent, and there is growing belief at Tottenham that they have nurtured another star in Mikey Moore. The forward scored 19 goals and provided 13 assists at under-18 level, leading to his senior debut as a substitute in May’s defeat to City, in the process becoming Spurs’ youngest player to appear in the Premier League at 16 years, nine months and three days. Moore then shone for England at the European Under-17 Championship in Cyprus before further impressing for his club during pre-season, leading to praise from Postecoglou and the signing of a first professional contract. “It’s an unreal feeling,” said Moore of the deal. “It’s a big step, but all the boys have welcomed me in. It’s now about me trying to prove myself. I’ve done nothing yet.”

The A-lister

James Maddison was “devastated” by Gareth Southgate’s decision to omit him from England’s squad for Euro 2024 but that at least meant he had the summer off and the chance to fully recharge before a crucial second season at Tottenham. His first started brilliantly before an ankle injury sustained in November curtailed his momentum. The 27-year-old returned in the new year but was largely poor during the remainder of the campaign. Spurs need Maddison to again be the creative heartbeat of the team, otherwise the £40m spent on signing him from Leicester is increasingly going to look like a waste of money.

What they did this summer

The Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma has apologised after he was recorded inhaling nitrous oxide. Bissouma reportedly uploaded clips of himself using the class C drug, widely known as laughing gas, on to Snapchat at the weekend.

. “I want to apologise for these videos. This was a severe lack of judgment,” the Mali international said. “I understand how serious this is and the health risks involved, and I also take my responsibility as a footballer and role model very seriously.”

Tottenham said: “We are looking into the events. This will be dealt with as an internal matter.”

Nitrous oxide was made a class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act last November, as part of the government’s antisocial behaviour action plan. Possession of nitrous oxide, where a person intends to wrongfully inhale it for a psychoactive effect, is now an offence but it is still possible to use the gas for legitimate reasons, such as in catering or pain relief during labour.

Bissouma joined Tottenham in 2022 and has made 56 appearances for the club, including 26 starts last season.

Meanwhile, the Spurs defender Emerson Royal is in Italy to complete a medical with a view to a permanent move to Milan.

It may have been the second match in a glamour friendly double header, but this game carried greater significance for Tottenham fans. Harry Kane loomed large over proceedings: as the massed crowds in white shirts funnelled out of White Hart Lane station and down Whitehall Street, they could not help but be reminded of their all-time record goalscorer as they shuffled past the enormous mural of his face gazing searchingly back at them.

He was an inescapable presence on his first return to the club since leaving for Bayern Munich last summer, his likeness emblazoned on half-and-half scarves, his name on the back of home and away shirts alike. When his name was first read out among the Bayern substitutes, there was a swell of noise that belied the half-empty stadium.

When Kane and Eric Dier, also making his first return since moving to Bayern, were presented with ceremonial gifts by Ledley King before kick-off, fans rose in unison for a standing ovation. Ange Postecoglou spoke before the match about recognising the pair’s contributions and giving them “a proper farewell”; as the first summer for several years in which speculation over Kane’s future has not dominated the agenda, there was no hint of the bubbling angst which accompanied his drawn-out exit.

This was also a reminder of how quickly the game moves on. When Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Dominic Solanke were introduced to the crowd – with Solanke’s £55m transfer from Bournemouth announced earlier in the day – nostalgia made way for a crackle of excitement. While Postecoglou insisted that Solanke cannot be expected to replace Kane like for like, he will be tasked with making the centre-forward role his own after a season in which Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison rotated through the middle. Solanke was restricted to a smile and a wave at his unveiling, having not yet trained with his new teammates, but the thunderous roar in response suggested his signing has met with approval.

Amid the swirling mix of old flames and new beginnings, there were familiar limitations. Having lost the first of two pre-season fixtures against Bayern in Seoul last weekend, Spurs took the lead within a minute after Kulusevski won a bouncing ball in midfield, freed Brennan Johnson and bundled in the return. By half-time, they were 3-1 down after soft goals for Dayot Upamecano and Thomas Müller at set pieces and a rocket from Serge Gnabry. While it pays not to read too much into pre-season results, lax defending for all three goals may cause some concern.

Gray and Bergvall entered the fray after half-time along with another new signing of sorts in Timo Werner, whose loan from RB Leipzig was extended in May. Gray showed the versatility which helped him stand out at Leeds last season, giving a mature performance at right-back while marauding into midfield when Spurs got a handle on possession. Bergvall looked sharp in the middle of the park, producing a smart assist for Kulusevski to make it 3-2. The move started with Bergvall winning the ball high up the pitch and ended with him threading through his teammate with a delicate touch. Spurs fans will hope to see that combination many times over this season.

As for Kane, he had to settle for bystander status until he replaced Joshua Kimmich on 80 minutes. Again, fans rose to their feet all around the ground to applaud, answering Postecoglou’s call for a belated show of love for a player whose legacy at the club is almost too vast to reckon with. When Kane left for Bayern he would not have imagined that, a year on, he would still be chasing an elusive first league title despite another excellent individual season, again a beaten finalist at the Euros, the clock essentially wound back three years. The game moves on, except when it doesn’t.

Kane has another shot at a title with a side strengthened by some new faces of its own, not least Michael Olise and João Palhinha, the latter making a steady second-half cameo as Bayern saw out the win. Embarking on a lap of honour after the match, receiving and returning the applause, Kane can make a fresh start in the glow of a warm send-off.

As for Spurs, there are high hopes for three recruits who, with an average age of 21, have been trusted with shaping the future. Having made it through his first season with a Kane-shaped hole in his side, Postecoglou has more of the materials needed to build anew.

Tottenham have completed the signing of Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth on a six-year deal. Spurs have been on the hunt for attacking reinforcements all summer and after Solanke emerged as the club’s preferred candidate, advanced talks began with the Cherries before an agreement was reached on Friday afternoon.

The deal could eventually be worth £65m, with Tottenham spending an initial £55m and a further £10m included in the transfer as add-ons.

Bournemouth’s owner, Bill Foley, had confirmed earlier this summer that Solanke’s contract included a release clause in the region of £65m and his exit is a club-record sale, bettering the £40m they received for Nathan Aké from Manchester City in 2020.

If Solanke can be a success in north London, his move would surpass Spurs’ £63m record deal for Tanguy Ndombele in 2019. Postecoglou gave approval for Tottenham to pursue Solanke after the best season of his career. He scored 21 goals in all competitions for Bournemouth last term – including 19 in the Premier League – but also caught the eye with his pressing statistics and link-up play for Andoni Iraola’s side.

His transfer to Spurs will give Solanke another opportunity at a top-six club, after he progressed through Chelsea’s academy before he departed for Liverpool in 2017. While chances were limited for Solanke at Anfield and he left in 2019, he has been a key figure in keeping Bournemouth in the Premier League during the past two seasons but was eager to grasp what he views as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in signing for Tottenham.