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Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou provides update on Rodrigo Bentancur’s injury

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Tottenham’s preparations for the FA Cup clash against Tamworth took an unexpected turn as manager Ange Postecoglou provided an important update on Rodrigo Bentancur.

The midfielder, who has been a vital part of the squad, is now set to miss some crucial games due to a recent injury.

The Lilywhites are coming off a morale-boosting victory against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final, breaking a four-match winless streak.

However, with several key players already sidelined, Bentancur’s absence adds to Tottenham’s growing list of unavailable stars.

As the team gears up for a string of high-stakes matches, Postecoglou’s latest comments have given fans a clear picture of what to expect.

While James Maddison and Pape Matar Sarr return from suspension, Bentancur’s situation requires a more cautious approach.

Ange Postecoglou delivers update on Rodrigo Bentancur’s injury

Rodrigo Bentancur sustained a head injury during a recent match while attempting a diving header, sparking immediate concerns about his health.

Postecoglou confirmed in his press conference that the midfielder suffered a concussion but reassured fans that the issue was not severe.

Speaking to the Tottenham media team, Postecoglou said: "It looks like a concussion but nothing more than that, he was in the hospital, obviously, and they did all of the tests in terms of checking, making sure everything is okay.

"And all good. He is back home. He is fine. He is feeling good. We'll obviously follow the protocols now. I think it is a couple of weeks where you have to make sure everything is okay."

As a result, Bentancur will miss the FA Cup tie against Tamworth, the North London Derby against Arsenal, the Premier League fixture at Everton, and potentially the Europa League encounter with Hoffenheim.

Tottenham will monitor his progress closely as he follows the required concussion protocols.

Who else is on Tottenham’s injury list?

Tottenham’s injury woes continue, with Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Ben Davies, and Destiny Udogie all unavailable for selection.

The club recently ended their winless streak with a spirited performance against Liverpool, thanks to a decisive goal by Lucas Bergvall.

Meanwhile, Tamworth, Tottenham’s FA Cup opponents, are struggling in the National League and have failed to win in their last three games.

Despite their challenges, Spurs must now navigate this period with a depleted squad, making Bentancur’s absence even more significant.

With high-stakes fixtures ahead, Tottenham will need to rely on their depth and resilience to maintain momentum in Bentancur’s absence.

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Spurs have sent reps to France for three different players

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According to San Diego based transfer journalist Dean Jones, Spurs have sent reps to France to look at three different players - Angel Gomes, Andy Diouf, and Randal Kolo Muani.

Transfer journalist gives a Tottenham Hotspur window update

Speaking on the Ranks FC podcast, where Jones said Spurs need to "win the transfer window" more than any other club, he said the following: "They are on the, I say on the verge of signing Kolo Muani [not quite that far], but they are in the discussion to sign Kolo Muani, which is an initial loan deal. PSG want there to be some sort of obligation to sign Kolo Muani for around 60 million Euros.

They [Tottenham] aren't going to do an obligation, because they don't want to get burned on it, and there's a chance he's like Timo Werner or something. I know Werner hasn't got an obligation, and it's just as well, because they wouldn't be very happy with that, and you know don't really know that Kolo Muani is definitely going to fit in.

But if there's an option in it [the loan], I suppose they're definitely open to the idea of signing him. Whereas some of the other teams in for him, like Juventus, aren't so much." After some talk about Kolo Muani being in an important stage of his career, he finished the discourse on him with: "At least we know Tottenham are going to go and look for a player in their attack."

"They're also looking at central midfielders [as well as attackers], I don't think it's going to be anyone earth shattering. They've looked at Angel Gomes, who obviously becomes a free agent in the summer.

I think primarily that's what they're trying to trigger at the moment, just to get him in as that free agent to come in the summer - but I know there's also been some inclination as to like, but what about now? What about if you came now? Because obviously he wouldn't cost that much to get in now.

Ultimately, Jones did not elaborate who the said inclination to move a deal to January is from, i.e from the fanbase or the club, but he reports his inside information, so you can have at least cautious optimism that he meant from the club regarding that.

He continued: They've also looked at a few others [in France]. There's another player in Ligue 1 called Andy Diouf that they've been scouting for quite a long time." When his co-host said he "likes Diouf a lot", Jones continued: "Do you? I mean, I've never seen him play, but I've written about him a lot because Tottenham have been tracking him, for, well, they've probably been tracking him for a long time.

Tottenham sense an opportunity in both of those players that are playing in Ligue 1, to go and get them right now, before others get on board. And I know they've had representatives in France this week for all three of those deals - Kolo Muani, Gomes, and Diouf - and it's because they're having to move fast, becase I think they just know that this is desperate times, desperate measures, and that it seems like they're trying to support Ange Postecoglu."

An encouraging update, even if not anything crazy. There has been plenty of noise around Kolo Muani this month, and Gomes in recent months. Let's see what happens with those two and Diouf over the coming weeks. It feels like the possibility could be Kolo Muani, and then one of Gomes or Diouf. To sign all three, including two midfielders - to go along with Antonin Kinsky, and a potential defender? Feels a bit unlikely - but two of those players, Kinsky. and a defender feels possible.

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FC Barcelona’s free transfer bid for Tottenham captain ruled out

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Tottenham supporters were left wondering about Heung-Min Son’s future at the club earlier this season, as the South Korean star’s contract was approaching its final months.

With Barcelona reportedly eyeing a potential move for the Tottenham captain, Spurs were under pressure to make a decision.

However, recent developments have made one thing clear: Son’s stay at North London is secured for the foreseeable future.

Tottenham Hotspur have officially triggered the option to extend Heung-min Son’s contract by another year, ensuring he will remain at the club until at least the summer of 2026.

With his current contract set to expire in June 2025, this move has effectively removed any chance of Son leaving for free in the near future.

FC barcelona targeted Heung-Min Son as a free transfer option

There had been mounting speculation that Barcelona could swoop in for the striker once his contract entered its final six months.

According to The Sun, the Catalan club, facing financial constraints, were reportedly eyeing free transfer options for next summer, and Son was one of their top targets.

However, Tottenham’s decision to extend the player’s contract means that Barcelona, or any other club, will now be unable to secure him for free.

Tottenham’s move was somewhat expected, as Spurs were always likely to extend Son’s contract. Even if the club were looking to sell, extending the deal would help maintain his value.

With the extension in place, it’s unlikely that any club would be able to land the 32-year-old for free before 2026.

A strategic move by Tottenham

While this contract extension removes the threat of a free transfer, it’s likely that Tottenham could still enter into talks with Son regarding a longer-term deal.

His form on the pitch has fluctuated this season, but Son remains one of the club’s most influential players. A new two- or three-year deal could be on the horizon, offering both Son and the club more stability.

In terms of statistics, Son’s impact on the pitch is undeniable. Despite his struggles at times, he remains a key figure in Tottenham’s attack, contributing with goals and assists in crucial moments.

As for Barcelona, they may have to look elsewhere for a forward, with Tottenham locking in Son for at least the next few years.

The extension ensures that the club retains a pivotal player for the upcoming seasons, with the possibility of further negotiations down the line.

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Negotiations between Tottenham and Randal Kolo Muani appear 'all but sealed'

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Tottenham Hotspur are edging closer to completing a deal for Paris Saint-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani.

The French forward has been a top target for the North London club, who are looking to strengthen their attack this month.

Following a series of discussions, it seems the move could be finalised sooner than expected.

In recent weeks, the transfer saga surrounding Kolo Muani has generated significant buzz, with several outlets confirming that Tottenham have been in talks with the player.

The 26-year-old is highly regarded, and Spurs have made him their primary striker target for this window.

Tottenham is close to securing Randal Kolo Muani

Reports now suggest that the deal could be almost done, with personal terms said to be close to being agreed upon.

The latest reports indicate that Tottenham are working diligently to wrap up the signing of Kolo Muani. According to TBR Football and quoted by The Spurs Web, Spurs have been 'pushing hard' to finalise the deal over the past 48 hours.

The club’s technical director, Johan Lange, is reportedly leading the charge and is determined to bring the striker to Tottenham, believing that he could play a pivotal role in leading the team into a new era.

An agreement with Kolo Muani himself seems to be 'all but sealed,' with discussions having been described as fruitful.

However, despite the progress with the player, negotiations with PSG are still to be initiated. While the French champions are open to loaning the striker out, they are seeking a deal that includes an obligation to buy.

The deal with PSG: What’s next?

Tottenham, for their part, is reportedly open to such an arrangement but would prefer the obligation to be conditional, based on the striker’s performance targets.

It’s clear that Tottenham are keen on adding Kolo Muani to their squad. However, there are still important details to be ironed out with PSG.

The Parisians are willing to loan the player, but they are eager to include a clause that would see the deal become permanent under certain conditions.

Tottenham’s stance on the matter is that the obligation to buy should be linked to specific performance goals.

Kolo Muani has shown his quality in recent seasons, and it’s no wonder that Tottenham are pushing so hard to land him.

If the deal goes through, the 26-year-old could be an exciting addition to the squad and help bolster the team’s attacking options for the remainder of the season.

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Target dates set for three Spurs players

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According to WeAreTottenhamTV, there are target return dates for Tottenham Hotspur duo Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero. The former is targeting a return on the 27th of January, whilst the latter is targeting a return on the 20th of January.

Targets set for three different Tottenham Hotspur players

During the Carabao Cup victory over Manchester City back at the end of October, we saw van de Ven pull his hamstring around ten minutes in, having been deployed at left-back for that game. The defender's 79 minutes played in the defeat to Chelsea on the 8th of December, is the only game he has played since then. Taking that game out, he has been out of action for longer than the hamstring injury that kept him out of action for two months last season.

As for Romero, he picked up a foot injury on international duty, when Argentina lost to Paraguay. His 15 minutes in that defeat to Chelsea, are, again, the only minutes he has played since that game. Pretty suboptimal all round.

So, should van de Ven be available from the 27th - he would miss the games against Tamworth, Arsenal, Everton, Hoffenheim and Leicester, with a view to being back for the Europa League game against Elfsborg on the 30th of January.

Then, should Romero be back for the 20th, he would also miss the games against Tamworth, Arsenal, and Everton - but could in theory be back for the Europa League game against Hoffenheim on the 23rd of January.

It cannot be overstated enough how important is that they are 100% back. Spurs cannot risk aggravating their injuries by bringing them back too soon. This is not saying Ange did this in the game against Chelsea, it is not worth bringing that divided debate up again, it is just simply crucial that it does not happen on this occasion.

They are, undoubtedly, the club's best centre backs, and in turn, best duo - but would you rather lose them for an extra couple of games - or an extra couple of months? It is so important that they are both available for the Carabao Cup semi final second leg against Liverpool. Whilst Radu Dragusin and Archie Gray performed admirably in the first leg, this is the club's biggest game for years, and they will need their best available XI for the game.

Also, it was also suggested that Wilson Odobert is targeting a return on the 10th of February. Now that seriously is one not to rush. That cameo against AZ Alkmaar is his only appearance since the middle of September. Spurs are going to need depth in the business end of the season, including Odobert. This one feels ambitious, given some other reports.

Finally, whilst Guglielmo Vicario's return is TBC, "likely February" was also reported, so let's see.

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Spurs evaluating three midfielders this month

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As per a recent report from sports journalist Rudy Galetti, Spurs are evaluating midfielders; Johnny Cardoso, Nicolo Fagioli, and Davide Frattesi in this January transfer window.

Spurs looking at three midfielders during winter window

All three players have been linked to a move to North London before this window. In December, we saw links to Frattesi and Fagioli, whilst there have been clear links to Cardoso, due to Spurs having an option to buy the player for a little over 20 million this summer, in an agreement reached during the sale of Giovani Lo Celso to Real Betis at the end of the summer transfer window.

Howver, there has been interest in Cardoso from other clubs this window, which may force Spurs' hands to make sure nobody gets there before they can. The midfielder has been seriously impressive for Betis this campaign, and was particularly singled out for praise after a performance in his side's win over high flying Atletico Madrid.

Out of the three players mentioned, the USMNT international is the closest fit to what this current Spurs side need. He is the closest profile to a defensive midfielder, who is capable of winning the ball back and has good off the ball stats. Whilst they are fine players, they are more box to box, number eight type of players, which is not the biggest priority for Spurs at this moment in time.

Let's look at the defensive stats. In La Liga, Cardoso makes; 1.7 interceptions per game, 1.9 tackles per game, 4.8 ball recoveries per game, and 2.6 clearances per game. In Serie A, Frattesi makes 0.1 interceptions per game, 0.6 tackles per game, 1.6 ball recoveries per game, and 0.1 clearances per game.

Finally, also in Serie A, Fagioli averages; 0.1 interceptions per game, 0.9 tackles per game, 2.2 ball recoveries per game, and 0.3 clearances per game. To caveat, Cardoso does play 67 minutes per game, Frattesi 43, and Fagioli 37 - but even if you were to make it per 90, the former is clearly the best midfielder off the ball of the 3.

That is more so what Spurs need. They already have a lot of technical ability in the midfield, and the plan long term will be to move Archie Gray there, having currently covered at centre back for so long. If they were to go for either of the two Italian midfielders, Frattesi would feel the most useful, given his goalscoring ability from midfield. As good as he is, Fagioli just really struggles to fit.

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Slavia Prague show nothing but class to Tottenham and Antonín Kinský

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Last night, Antonín Kinský made his Tottenham Hotspur debut. During and after the match, his former club Slavia Prague showed nothing but class and humility.

Tottenham Hotspur beat Liverpool at home in the first leg of the EFL Cup semifinal. Not only did Tottenham beat Liverpool late-on, but they kept a clean sheet in the process.

Heading into the match, it would have been easy to write off the chances of a Spurs clean-sheet. This is because Ange Postecoglou had to operate a makeshift back-four considering the injury crisis at the back. Furthermore, there was a debut for young goalkeeper Antonín Kinský.

That said, new goalkeeper Antonín Kinský quickly proved that in the best possible way, he is not fazed by the big occasion and he will play in his usual manner regardless of the pressure.

Slavia Prague show nothing but class to Tottenham and Antonín Kinský

It is clear that Antonín Kinský had an incredible support network by him during his former days at Slavia Prague. This is because before, during and after Kinský's Tottenham debut, the official Slavia Prague X account was flooded with supportive messages for their former goalkeeper.

The club posted a picture of Kinský in action on the TV and captioned the post with a heartfelt "Come On You Slavia King". Then, the English account posted a message in support of Kinský, claiming that Spurs fans should treat themselves to a "Gin and Toník".

And we are sure that after the impressive Spurs performance last night, many gin and tonics were drunk by the home support. Well, not *too* many considering it was a school night... But it's still Christmas, right?

Slavia Prague showing support for their former player is incredible to watch and a reminder of what this sport is all about. It is now clear why Kinský was comfortable performing on the big stage due to the support network at his former club.

Now, Kinský is in safe hands going forward. Ange Postecoglou is an excellent man-manager and hopefully the Czech goalkeeper is a big part of the young network of Spurs players who are tipped for great things in the future.

The second leg of the EFL Cup semifinal against Liverpool will be played on February 6th. Tottenham head into this match with a 1-0 advantage, courtesy of fellow young player Lucas Bergvall.

And, in the next game, Tottenham face Tamworth away from home in the FA Cup. This might be another opportunity for Kinský to establish himself in England.

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Ange Postecoglou fires Lucas Bergvall

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Ange Postecoglou has said that he won't be happy if he has to watch another Tottenham manager reap the rewards of Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray.

Last night, Tottenham Hotspur beat Liverpool in the first leg of the EFL Cup semifinal tie. It was a tightly-contested game, with Spurs managing the game efficiently and capitalising when it mattered the most.

Of course, there were some controversial calls from the referee - But would it really be a cup game if this wasn't the case? No matter which way you look at it, the fact of the matter is that Tottenham scored one more goal than Liverpool. That's all that matters.

And the goal was scored by none other than Lucas Bergvall. The young sensation who has taken the world by storm since joining Spurs produced a huge moment in front of the home support.

Ange Postecoglou fires Lucas Bergvall-related warning to Tottenham

Speaking after the match, Ange Postecoglou spoke highly of both Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, both players he orchestrated signing in the summer transfer window. However, he hopes that it's him who reaps the reward of signing them both in a few years time, nobody else.

In his own words, Ange Postecoglou said: “I'm so happy they're at our football club and you know, in two or three years' time, I just pray to God I'm the beneficiary of their talent, mate, because if somebody else is getting it, I won't be happy.”

Well, Ange Postecoglou might be changing the minds of those Tottenham fans who were before on the fence about him being the boss. If Tottenham make it to the final to face either Newcastle or Arsenal, then it'd be a real opportunity to break the trophy hoodoo.

While some of the results this season might have been frustrating for Tottenham fans to witness, it is pretty hard to ignore the immense progress Ange Postecoglou has made since joining the club.

Both Gray and Bergvall played the entire match against Liverpool last night. Gray kept a clean sheet in the defence, showing his versatility at a young age, while Bergvall provided a constant threat going forward.

While there was excitement around their transfers at similar times, nobody (not even Postecoglou) would have anticipated them to have made the impact they have already made on this young Spurs team.

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Match Report: Tottenham Hotspur 1

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On Wednesday evening, Spurs welcomed Liverpool to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first leg of the 24/25 Carabao Cup semi finals.

For the task at hand, Ange opted for a line up of; Kinsky; Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Spence; Bentancur, Bissouma, Bergvall; Kulusevski, Solanke, Son.Â

After around six minutes, a cross/shot from Son was diverted goalwards by Dragusin, whose effort was well saved down low to Alisson’s right. Amidst that attack, Bentancur reportedly fainted — with a break in play of nearly ten minutes. Subsequently, Johnson replaced the Uruguayan, with Kulusevski moving into midfield.Â

Near the halfway stage of the first half, a low cross from Son found Solanke six yards out, but the striker deflected the ball onto his own knee, and the ball went wide. Replays suggest it may have been offside in any case.Â

Soon after the half hour mark, Bissouma found himself in the book, after a foul on Diogo Jota. From the free-kick, Liverpool had their first opening of the game, but Alexis Mac Allister headed straight at Kinsky when he may have done better.

With a couple of minutes of normal time remaining in the first half, Liverpool sprung a quick break, with Bergvall doing superbly to cut out a low cross into the box. After a whole 11 minutes of stoppage time, the sides went into the break at 0-0.

Just after ten minutes into the second half, Bergvall successfully pressed Alisson, but Porro’s first shot was denied by a Van Dijk block, and on the second attempt, the defender fired wide, having been found by Bergvall again. Huge opportunities wasted.

Midway through the second half, substitute Darwin Nunez had a great chance after being superbly found by Mohamed Salah, but Kinsky made himself big and got in the way of the forward’s effort on goal.

With twenty minutes to go, a raking effort from Trent Alexander-Arnold was cleared off the line by Dragusin. You’re lying if the right-backs goal against Spurs in January 2021 did not play through your mind as he shot.

Just after, Son’s race was run, as he was replaced by Werner — Kulusevski therefore took the captains armband for the remainder of the game

With a little under a quarter of an hour to go, Solanke thought he had put Spurs ahead, after slotting past Alisson through on goal, but he was adjudged to have been offside. Would have counted last round, a shame.

There were five minutes of normal time remaining, when Spurs took the lead. Porro played a ball in behind, which found Solanke, who superbly held the ball off of a strong, fresh, Konate, before perfectly laying the ball off to Bergvall, who swept the ball into the near post. Superb goal. Brilliant finish, and absolutely outstanding centre-forward play from Solanke.

Three minutes into stoppage time, Kinsky had to make another big save from Nunez, denying the forward’s flick towards goal from close range. Really promising debut from the 21-year old goalkeeper.

That would be that. Despite nine minutes of stoppage time, Spurs held on superbly. Sure, there were nerves whenever Liverpool had the ball late on, understandably. Mainly from the part and parcel emotion of being a football fan, however. They weren't really cutting their hosts open. If you were a neutral watching that, you wouldn't have expected an equaliser to come.

What a win, what a team. COYS.

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Tottenham presented with opportunity to secure Ko Itakura's signature

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Tottenham’s search for defensive reinforcements continues amid a challenging season plagued by injuries.

With several key players from their backline sidelined, the club is exploring multiple options to strengthen their squad.

Among the names being linked is Ko Itakura, a versatile Japanese defender currently impressing in the Bundesliga.

Spurs fans will be eager to see how the club navigates this January transfer window, especially with reports suggesting Itakura might not be the first-choice target.

However, his profile and availability make him a compelling candidate for a team desperate for stability at the back.

Tottenham eye January move for Ko Itakura

According to insider Paul O’Keefe, Tottenham have been offered the opportunity to sign Ko Itakura, who currently plays for Borussia Monchengladbach.

While the 27-year-old isn’t the Spurs’ primary target, he is seen as a backup option if moves for Patrick Dorgu or Abdukodir Khusanov fail to materialise.

Itakura’s experience and versatility make him a valuable prospect. The Japanese international has represented his country 35 times and plays primarily as a right-footed centre-back but can also operate as a defensive midfielder.

Despite once being on Manchester City’s books, he never made a senior appearance for the Premier League champions, instead gaining valuable experience through loan spells at FC Groningen and FC Schalke.

Since joining Gladbach in 2022, Itakura has established himself as a key player, featuring in 64 matches, scoring five goals, and providing three assists.

This season, he has been a standout performer, playing every minute of Gladbach’s Bundesliga campaign so far.

With just 18 months left on his contract and no option for extension, the defender could be available at a reduced price, making him an attractive option for Spurs.

What Ko Itakura Could Bring to Tottenham

Tottenham’s defensive woes have been highlighted by injuries to Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Ben Davies, and Destiny Udogie.

Itakura’s availability and proven track record in a competitive league position him as a logical short-term solution.

Ko Itakura's stats from the 24/25 season:

* Data provided by Sofascore.

His consistency, combined with his ability to play out from the back, aligns with Ange Postecoglou’s football philosophy.

While Tottenham appear to have other priorities in this window, the potential addition of Itakura could provide much-needed depth and reliability.

With Transfermarkt valuing him at an affordable fee, the decision may come down to timing and Tottenham’s ability to fend off interest from other suitors.

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