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9 players who rejected Tottenham including Ballon d'Or winner and Premier League great

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Mathys Tel has done a U-turn and signed for Tottenham on loan after reportedly turning down the club in the closing days of the January 2025 transfer window. But the French forward wouldn’t have been the first to decide against a move to Spurs.

For whatever reason, Tottenham have failed to attract the calibre of player needed to ascend to the next level but that certainly isn’t for a lack of trying. Whereas Daniel Levy has been a roadblock with his strict financial dealings, there have been many reasons why players have avoided a move to North London.

Here are eight players who rejected a move to Spurs during the Daniel Levy era.

Fikayo Tomori

Beginning with a very recent rejection, the AC Milan centre-back was targeted to help end their defensive crisis that has left 18-year-old midfielder Archie Gray to play a significant role in the absence of both Cristian Romero and Micky van den Ven – with the added headache of Radu Dragusin suffering an ACL injury.

Tomori, a star figure in the Rossoneri’s Scudetto triumph in 2022, has started just 10 league games this season in total. Never given a fair chance at Chelsea, Spurs tried to bring him back in January 2025 only to be rejected. The 27-year-old may secure an exit in the summer but it is unlikely to be Spurs he links up with – especially considering he came through Chelsea’s academy.

Willian

“He got the call from Abramovich, and off he went to Stamford Bridge. He hates Tottenham, he hates Tottenham…”

His rejection was so famous that it sparked one of Chelsea’s most memorable chants.

A star at Anzhi Makhachkala and Shakhtar Donetsk before that, Willian had his choice of multiple clubs. He was at Spurs’ training ground, set to put pen to paper when he was told of an offer from Chelsea. He later called it the ‘best decision of his career’ and after winning the Europa League, the Premier League twice, the FA Cup and the League Cup, it’s safe to say he won’t have any regrets.

Marcus Rashford

Having been made available during this window, many clubs were alerted to the news given Rashford’s past form and quality. Spurs inevitably asked the question and hoped to be in the running but fell away in the home stretch as he agreed a deal with Villa, rejecting Spurs.

At this moment in time, with the promise of Champions League knockout football, Villa’s offer was evidently more appealing. If it was a few seasons ago, then Spurs would have surely been the right choice for Rashford. A blow to miss out on a player who you can imagine thriving under Postecoglou.

READ NEXT: 7 forgotten Tottenham academy graduates who became cult heroes elsewhere

TRY A QUIZ: Can you name these Tottenham academy graduates from their Wikipedia career page?

Eden Hazard

The Lille winger had every club in Europe after him in 2012 after he had just starred in Ligue 1 for three years. With offers on the table from multiple English clubs, Hazard took his time and evaluated the landscape, even before the summer window had even opened.

Harry Redknapp claimed to have Hazard in his hotel room for over an hour but following Chelsea’s Champions League win, which relegated fourth-placed Spurs to the Europa League and simultaneously confirmed Chelsea’s place in the competition for the following year, he opted to sign for the European champions, confirming his move with a now-famous tweet.

Axel Disasi

Chelsea have been looking to offload the French centre-back in the January window but haven’t been able to find a suitor as of yet. Spurs, needing a centre-back, threw their hat into the ring but the former Monaco defender was quick to dismiss his current employer’s London rivals.

The latest news suggests that there is no wiggle room or chance of a turnaround with Spurs reportedly ending their interest in the defender and Aston Villa moving to sign him on loan. Let’s see if he and Rashford can kick over the next few months under Unai Emery.

Rivaldo

Heading back to 2002, Spurs were looking for a big statement signing and the Brazilian superstar was available on a free transfer. It is said that Spurs were close to completing a deal but he opted for AC Milan.

He even sent a letter explaining why he chose the Italian club, which was a touch of class, but no matter how close he was, this one always seemed like a pipe dream.

David Raya

This is certainly an interesting example of one who got away from Spurs. After being told it was £40million or no deal by Brentford, Raya was then able to leave to join Arsenal for a fee of around £27million.

A frustrating deal for multiple reasons, losing a player of his quality to their North London rivals hurt and it was made all the worse given how Guglielmo Vicario has struggled with injuries across his time at the club.

Randal Kolo Muani

In another recent deal that went askew, the Paris Saint-Germain forward was there for the taking after being told he was allowed to leave in a temporary loan deal by the French club after falling out of favour with Luis Enrique.

He opted for Juventus, a club with strong prestige, a young and progressive manager and a team still in the Champions League rather than join struggling Spurs. Having netted three goals in two games so far, we can’t imagine he’ll be looking back with any regrets.

Can you name these Tottenham academy graduates from their Wiki career path?

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Tottenham’s academy has produced some sensational players over the years, including some modern-day greats of the game. But can you tell us the Spurs academy graduate from their career path?

That’s the challenge we’re setting you here in the latest edition of our Wikipedia footballer quiz.

You know the drill by now; below you’ll find 10 screencaps of a footballer’s Wikipedia career path section. Your task is to tell us which player it is. This week’s theme is that they all came through the youth ranks at Spurs.

While we’ve left out mega-obvious answers such as Harry Kane here, there are some big names you really ought to know.

There are also less distinguished players in here. Most you’ll have to piece together from their career paths elsewhere, while one Spurs legend in particular you’ll have to work out entirely from the dates, appearances and goals.

To answer the question, all you need to do is to type their name. The surname will suffice. The score to beat from the Planet Football office for this one is 8/10.

If this puts you in the mood for another quiz, have a go at naming every manager to take charge of Tottenham in the Premier League.

If you enjoy our quizzes, head to our new Football Games home where you can search an archive of over 1,000 quizzes and play them all in beautiful full-screen mode.

Good luck, and don’t forget to tweet us your scores @planetfutebol.

The bonkers Premier League table since Tottenham beat Man City 4-0

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Since beating Manchester City back in November, Tottenham have only won one of their last 11 Premier League matches and have slipped to 15th in the table.

During their last 11 league matches, Spurs have averaged a mere 0.45 points per game which if averaged over an entire season would be worth just 17 points.

While injuries have crippled Ange Postecoglou’s side in recent months, a number of their fit senior players have also dramatically dropped off.

“It’s just injuries,” is what Postecoglou told reporters when discussing Tottenham’s dismal run of form.

“I mean you can walk outside and say, ‘Jeez it’s really bright’, and say to yourself maybe it’s not the sun. But it is the sun, mate, we’ve just got injuries.

“Every decision that is made is from me. I am responsible for this.

“If you want a head on a stick, take mine, but I am absolutely 100 per cent confident that we are in a better place as a football club today than when I started.”

Tottenham’s latest defeat against fellow strugglers Leicester City was particularly painful as Postecoglou’s side slipped to their fourth consecutive loss in a row.

Deafening boos rang around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at full-time as Leicester claimed their second away win of the season.

“We are going to look at a lot of things, but in terms of effort I can’t ask anymore of this group, things just didn’t go our way today,” Postecoglou told Sky Sports at full time.

“The players are giving everything they can. That is all we can ask for as a football club and me as a manager. They are trying their hardest and that is all anyone can ask for.

“I know it will turn. We’ll get some players back, we were short again today but in the next couple of weeks there’s some really important players coming back that I know will help this group.”

READ NEXT: 7 forgotten Tottenham academy graduates who became cult heroes elsewhere

TRY A QUIZ: Can you name Tottenham’s top ‘not Kane or Son’ scorer for every season since 2010?

Since getting the better of Man City at the Etihad, only Southampton have accumulated fewer points than Tottenham in the Premier League.

During that run of form, Spurs have still averaged 1.73 goals per game, but worryingly, they’ve also conceded an average of 2.2 goals per game.

To illustrate just how poor Spurs have been in recent weeks, this is what the Premier League table looks like since they beat Man City 4-0 back in November:

Note: each team has played 10 games unless otherwise stated.

7 forgotten Tottenham academy graduates who became cult heroes elsewhere

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Tottenham have produced plenty of world-class players over the years, although not all of them make the grade at the club.

For every Ledley King or Harry Kane, there are countless examples of other Spurs academy graduates who forge a career for themselves elsewhere.

We’ve looked through the players Spurs have produced in the past and have found seven of them who became cult heroes elsewhere.

Quinton Fortune

Fortune had the misfortune of joining Manchester United shortly after they won the treble, meaning there was little room in the first team for him.

Nevertheless, he proved to be useful to the club, providing cover all over the pitch. He spent seven years there, making 126 appearances and playing in three title-winning campaigns.

But it’s little known that the South African began his career at Spurs, spending four years in the youth team before making his name in Spain with Mallorca and Atletico Madrid.

Cameron Carter-Vickers

Formerly a perennial loanee, going out on loan to no fewer than seven clubs while on Tottenham’s books, it never looked as though USMNT international Carter-Vickers was ever going to break through and stake his claim at his parent club.

He never made a Premier League appearance for Spurs and his only opportunities came in the various cup competitions.

However, the defender made a big step up during his final loan away, playing a vital role as Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic took the Scottish title back from Rangers.

Carter-Vickers remains an important player at Parkhead and has helped Celtic cement their status as the dominant force in Scottish football.

Marcus Edwards

Another Englishman impressing abroad, Edwards made headlines back in 2022-23 by scoring against boyhood club Tottenham in the Champions League for Sporting Lisbon – and almost nabbed a Puskas-worthy second in the same match.

Away from the spotlight of the English media, the 26-year-old – once compared to Lionel Messi by Mauricio Pochettino – has quietly developed into a very good player out in Portugal.

There have been plenty of Premier League links over the past few years, including a move to Crystal Palace and a romantic return to Spurs, but a player of Edwards’ ability is too good to be sitting on an English bench.

Troy Parrott

Despite being highly rated by Spurs fans and coaches, Parrott was never able to break into the first team and his time with the club was spent out on a series of forgettable loans in the EFL.

But his final loan spell, in the Eredivise with Excelsior Rotterdam, was the striker’s lightbulb moment; despite their relegation, Parrott scored 17 goals and earned himself a permanent move to AZ Alkmaar.

The Republic of Ireland international hasn’t looked back since. Parrott scored four times in AZ’s 9-1 rout of Heerenveen in September 2024 and currently has 12 goals in 26 appearances for his new club.

READ NEXT: Where are they now? Jose Mourinho’s Spurs XI which thrashed Man Utd 6-1 at Old Trafford

TRY A QUIZ: Can you name Tottenham’s top 30 goalscorers in the Premier League?

Adam Smith

A stalwart of Bournemouth’s rise from the nether regions of the Football League to part of the Premier League furniture, it sometimes feels like Smith will simply carry on playing forever.

But the defender actually started out at Spurs; his sole Premier League appearance came under Harry Redknapp in 2012 and Smith needed to cut his teeth at perennial second-tier menaces Leeds United and Millwall.

While few have yearned for the 33-year-old to return to Spurs over the previous decade, Smith’s career is testament to the belief that there is the right club for every player.

Kyle Walker-Peters

Walker-Peters was on the fringes of Tottenham’s first team throughout his time in north London, making 24 appearances in all competitions, including the Champions League.

In January 2020, the full-back joined Southampton on loan and made the move permanent that summer.

He has since established himself as a solid Premier League full-back, making over 140 appearances for the club and helping the Saints win promotion in May 2024.

QUIZ: Can you name every player Mauricio Pochettino signed for Tottenham?

John Moncur

A proper throwback, even during his 90s pomp, Moncur became a cult hero at both Swindon and West Ham for his commitment, occasional flashes of brilliance and maverick personality.

But the midfielder came through the ranks at Spurs, making a handful of appearances before Glenn Hoddle bought him to Swindon in 1992.

9 English clubs who are most desperate to win a trophy: Newcastle, Spurs, Leeds…

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Manchester City and Liverpool have hoarded silverware in recent years as clubs across the rest of the country have enviously watched on.

Even as they’ve otherwise struggled, Manchester United have lifted both domestic cups in back-to-back seasons and Chelsea’s Champions League victory remains fresh in the memory. Even West Ham have got their mits on European silverware.

But where does that leave everybody else? We’ve identified the nine clubs in the country who are most desperate to win something.

Tottenham

A lot of people scoff at Spurs’ inclusion in the Premier League’s “big six”, given how little they’ve got to show for it in their trophy cabinet going back to their 2007-08 League Cup under Juande Ramos.

But over the past 15 seasons, Spurs have finished in the Premier League’s top six more frequently than Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United.

They’ve got the stadium of an elite super-club and have finished runners-up in both the Premier League and Champions League.

But it’s now four successive defeats in major finals since they last won one, and with every passing year it gets harder to shake that Spursy tag. What it would mean to stop being nearly men.

Arsenal

“We won the Charity Shield twice, no? So we’ve won three trophies,” Mikel Arteta responded when recently quizzed over Arsenal’s trophy record during his tenure.

Sorry Mikel, counting the Community Shield is a bit too late-period Mourinho. You don’t want that.

Still, Arteta does have a real trophy under his belt as a manager, and the 2020 FA Cup was an against-the-odds triumph. Four seasons without silverware is nothing compared to the other clubs in this list.

But it looks as though a third successive second-place finish in the Premier League is in the offing this year. Arteta has built a brilliant team, one that has notched mammoth points tallies to push Manchester City all the way in the past couple of years.

The only thing missing from this project is something tangible to show for it, but as things go in football that’s pretty damn important.

Pointing to annual league tables and being oh-so-close while enduring trophyless campaigns? Arsenal are in danger of becoming everything they derided at Pochettino-era Tottenham if they don’t lay their hands on silverware soon.

Newcastle United

With apologies to Shola Ameobi, Albert Luque and the rest of the Magpies’ 2006 squad, the Intertoto Cup (obviously) doesn’t count.

So you have to go all the way back to 1955 for Newcastle’s last major honour, their FA Cup final victory over Manchester City. Nobody under the age of 69 has seen the club win a proper trophy. That’s mad.

It’s been long overdue for Newcastle to put their hoodoo to bed for as long as we can remember. Is this their year?

QUIZ: Can you name every English club to win a major trophy since Newcastle last did?

Aston Villa

Unai Emery has worked wonders to turn Villa from lower-half stragglers to a Champions League side capable of mixing it with Bayern Munich and Juventus.

Given that, we feel a bit churlish pointing out that last season was a bit of a missed opportunity to go and emulate their claret and blue brethren, West Ham, and get their hands on the UEFA Conference League trophy.

They’re a genuinely quality side and with Emery’s track record for European knockouts, they ought to have beaten Olympiacos in the semis.

There have been defeats to Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City in domestic cup finals over the past 25 years, but their last major honour came from beating Leeds in the 1996 League Cup final, when it was sponsored by Coca-Cola.

Fulham

Arguably the biggest club in England to have never won a major trophy, the Cottagers are starting to establish themselves as a secure top-flight force once again after a period of yo-yoing.

Marco Silva has done a wonderful job at Craven Cottage, keeping Fulham competitive and improving them even after losing important players like Aleksandar Mitrovic and Joao Palhinha.

He’s got little left to prove, but a cup run would be welcome given that their Premier League status is already pretty much sealed for another year.

They reached the League Cup semis last term and the FA Cup quarters the year before, but little can compare to the unforgettable 2009-10 Europa League campaign.

READ NEXT: Ranking the most successful managers in football history by trophies won

TRY A QUIZ: Can you name every club to win a title in Europe’s major leagues since 1990?

Crystal Palace

Fans of clubs across the country would kill to trade places for the humdrum, midtable existence of Crystal Palace.

But you can see why things get almost existential after 11 successive seasons of unflinchingly finishing somewhere between 10th and 15th with a points tally always, without fail, somewhere in the 40s. Is this living?

Palace’s run to the 1990 FA Cup final, and Alan Pardew’s infamous dance in 2016, will live long in the memory. Those heartbreaks mean that making it one step further will be all the more meaningful, should it ever happen.

Brighton

The last of the Premier League’s quartet of ‘never won a major trophy’ clubs we’re including (sorry Brentford, we’re patronisingly classing you as still just ‘happy to be here’ for another season or two) here.

Brighton, like their aforementioned M23 rivals, are now firmly ensconced in the Premier League’s warm midtable bosom.

After the Chris Hughton years of consolidation, they’ve since made great strides forward, astutely appointing a series of forward-thinking coaches in the dugout and even qualifying for Europe.

The Seagulls came agonisingly close to making the FA Cup final in 2023 after losing on penalties to Manchester United.

But deeper forays into the latter stages of the domestic cups ought to be expected now they’ve shown they’ve got what it takes to mix it with the big boys.

Leeds United

We know what you’re thinking. Walk before you can run. Leeds ought to focus on getting back (and established this time) in the Premier League before they can harbour any delusions of grandeur over lifting silverware.

To be fair, that’s exactly what the club hierarchy are doing. It’s been ages since the Yorkshire club went on any kind of cup run, even underwhelming under Marcelo Bielsa when they finished ninth in the top flight.

But for a club of a city of that’s home to a million people, 33 years – since the ’92 league title – is an age without silverware. Bringing home a first FA Cup since 1972 or a first League Cup since 1968 would mean everything.

Bradford City have been in a major cup final more recently than Leeds. That can’t be right, can it?

Sunderland

Sunderland fans already have bragging rights over Newcastle United, having seen their club lift a major trophy more recently than their hated local rivals.

But given the famous 1973 FA Cup final was over a half-century ago, it’s fair to say the sheen is fading. Can you really brag if you’re a 50-year-old Wearsider who wasn’t actually alive for Jim Montgomery’s miracle double-save?

The Black Cats were close to a more up-to-date reason to boast back in 2014. They were leading Man City at half-time in the League Cup final at Wembley but Yaya Toure’s outrageous long-range strike inspired a 3-1 comeback for Manuel Pellegrini’s heavy favourites.

Like Leeds, Sunderland’s second-tier status absolves them of any urgency of delivering silverware. But that didn’t stop them in ’73, did it? Have some belief.

Comparing Postecoglou’s last 10 Tottenham results with Conte, Nuno, Mourinho & Pochettino's

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Ange Postecoglou is facing the pressure at Tottenham after their recent results have left them increasingly adrift in the race for Champions League qualification.

Having come from behind, Spurs were unable to hold onto their lead against Wolves on Sunday and ended up drawing 2-2. It’s now just one win from their last seven Premier League outings, a run of form that leaves them languishing in the bottom half of the table.

The recent form leaves Postecoglou second in the bookmakers’ odds for the next Premier League manager to be sacked. He’s under no illusions himself over what a continuation of this form would mean for his future at the club.

“The reality is there is no job security,” the Australian told reporters at a press conference back in October.

“I don’t know what job security looks like. What is the average tenure of a manager these days?

“If you think I’m going to be around for five years that is highly unlikely.

“If you worry about those things and I think you end up chasing your tail a little bit and probably making decisions for the wrong reasons.”

But how likely is it that Postecoglou will be replaced in the Tottenham dugout in the coming days? We’ve taken a look at how Spurs’ recent record under the 59-year-old compares with the final days of his predecessors.

READ NEXT: The Premier League ‘big six’ head-to-head table of 2024-25 so far

TRY A QUIZ: Can you name every manager to take charge of Tottenham in the Premier League?

Here’s how Postecoglou’s recent results compare to Conte’s, Nuno’s, Mourinho’s and Pochettino’s before they left Tottenham:

Ange Postecoglou

Position in table: 11th

Points off top four: 11

Cup status: Semi-finals of League Cup, 9th in Europa League table

Last 10 results in Premier League:

Won: 3

Drawn: 2

Lost: 5

Goals scored: 23

Goals conceded: 18

Goal difference: +5

Points: 11

Antonio Conte (March 2023)

Position in table: 4th

Points off top four: (two clear of fifth)

Cup status: Out of League Cup (second round), out of FA Cup (fourth round)

Last 10 results in Premier League:

Won: 4

Drawn: 1

Lost: 5

Goals scored: 15

Goals conceded: 15

Goal difference: 0

Points: 13

Nuno Espirito Santo (November 2021)

Position in table: 8th

Points off top four: 5

Cup status: Conference League group stage (four points from three games), League Cup Quarters

Nine results in Premier League:

Won: 4

Drawn: 1

Lost: 4

Goals scored: 18

Goals conceded: 10

Goal difference: +8

Points: 13

Jose Mourinho (April 2021)

Position in table: 7th

Points off top four: 5

Cup status: League Cup final, eliminated in FA Cup fifth round, eliminated in Europa League Round of 16

Last 10 results in Premier League:

Won: 4

Drawn: 2

Lost: 4

Goals scored: 18

Goals conceded: 15

Goal difference: +3

Points: 14

Mauricio Pochettino (November 2019)

Position in table: 10th

Points off top four: 3

Cup status: Eliminated in League Cup third round, Champions League group stage (two wins, one draw, one defeat)

Last 10 results in Premier League:

Won: 2

Drawn: 4

Lost: 4

Goals scored: 13

Goals conceded: 14

Goal difference: -1

The most box office sides in Premier League history by goals per game: Big Ange’s Spurs 6th…

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Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham have been ridiculously entertaining so far this season, but they don’t quite top the list of the Premier League’s all-time most entertaining sides when it comes to most goals (scored and conceded) per game.

So far this season, Spurs have scored 39 goals and conceded 26 from just 18 outings. But that (somehow) doesn’t see them top this list.

Here are 10 sides who have averaged the most goals per game in Premier League history:

Carlo Ancelotti’s Blues became the first top-flight team to reach a century of league goals since Tottenham in 1962-63, winning the Premier League title in distinctly different style to Jose Mourinho’s defensively dogged side from six years earlier.

That year Chelsea conceded 32 goals – more than twice as many as they did in 2004-05 – but that didn’t much matter because they were a force to be reckoned with going forward, reaching an eventual tally of 103 goals by mauling Wigan Athletic 8-0 on the final day.

Welcome to the Premier League, Big Ange.

In fairness to Postecoglou, he inherited a side that averaged only marginally fewer goals per game (3.5) the year before, mostly under the helm of Antonio Conte – a coach with a reputation as much more of a defensively sound pragmatist.

Shipping lots while scoring plenty just appears to be a recurring theme in the recent History Of The Tottenham.

Yet continuing to score an impressive number of goals (76) while conceding bagfuls (61) is a bit of a head-scratcher after losing all-time top goalscorer Harry Kane while investing in new goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and centre-back Micky van de Van.

It’s just who we are, mate.

Postecoglou’s Tottenham, surprisingly enough, were not the goaliest(?) side of 2023-24. In fact, they were only fourth in terms of goals per game, while West Ham that season (60 goals scored; 74 conceded) only just miss out on cracking this top 10.

The 2023-24 season broke records in terms of goals per game with 1,246 goals scored across 380 games, an average of 3.28.

Scrappy upstarts Luton Town made their fair share of contribution to the goal fest, marking a spirited fight against the drop with a series of absorbing, high-scoring encounters. The Hatters scored 52 but were always unlikely to stay up conceding 85.

Liverpool memorably punctuated Manchester City’s era of dominance in 2019-20, marching relentlessly to the title that memorably lockdown-delayed year.

Pep Guardiola’s men were well off the pace that year, ending up 18 points behind, but while they were flawed they were anything but boring.

City scored 102 goals that year and conceded 35. Their first six games – including a 5-0, a 4-0 and an 8-0 that season featured 30 goals and they never really let up from there.

Most of the sides that make up this list either scored bagfuls or were hopeless defensively, with a liberal sprinkling of goals at the other end, but last season Unai Emery’s Aston Villa can be filed alongside the side they beat to Champions League qualification – Tottenham – in being relatively balanced between the two.

Villa conceded a mammoth tally of 61 goals last season, exactly as many as Spurs, but scored two more goals (76) and picked up two more points to pip Postecoglou’s men to fourth place.

*Ongoing

Are you not entertained?

Big Ange has doubled down on the all-out attacking tactics and we’re here for it. Recent results – including a 3-4 against Chelsea, 5-0 against Southampton 3-6 against Liverpool – suggest this rollercoaster is only going to get wilder. Strap in.

What were they putting in the water bottles last season?

It wasn’t Tottenham, nor Luton, nor even Villa that offered the biggest guarantee of goals last season.

No, it was Sheffield United – and those goals invariably tended to end up in the back of poor Wes Foderingham’s net.

Former boss Chris Wilder returned to Bramall Lane amid the club’s sorry fight against the drop, but he found himself unable to shore things up at the back.

The Blades ended up breaking the Premier League record for the most goals conceded in a Premier League campaign with a whopping 104.

They also scored 35, giving their matches an average of 3.65 goals last term.

READ NEXT: The Premier League all-time table: Liverpool ahead of Chelsea…

TRY A QUIZ: The Ultimate Premier League Nostalgia Quiz: Can you name these 30 Barclaysmen?

Manuel Pellegrini’s title-winning City were one goal short of matching the goals record set by Chelsea in 2009-10 but they also conceded 37 goals.

Results that year included a 4-1 victory in the Manchester derby, a 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa, a 6-0 mauling of Tottenham, a madcap 6-3 win over Arsenal an instant classic 3-2 loss away to Liverpool. That’s box office alright.

The only side from the first 10 years of the Premier League to feature in a top 10 dominated by the goals explosion of recent years, Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United threw off the shackles after their treble triumph the year before.

That year the title-retaining Red Devils had the worst defensive record of any side in the top six with 45 goals conceded, but they compensated for that at the other end with an outrageously free-scoring attack.

Ninety-seven goals scored was a mammoth tally in that era, with on-fire strike partnership Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole contributing 20 and 19 respectively. The likes of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham and Paul Scholes chipped in with a healthy number, too

READ: The most boring teams in Premier League history: Arsenal, Leeds, Man City…

As mentioned above, eventual champions Manchester City were box office in 2013-14. But the runners-up were also appointment viewing.

Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool had that wonderful combination of a hapless defence and irresistible attack, resulting in them scoring 101 goals and conceding 50.

Luis Suarez was particularly bright that year, notching 31 goals and 11 assists in just 33 appearances. But the Reds also boasted Daniel Sturridge in the form of his career, Steven Gerrard and Philippe Coutinho were close to their peaks, and a young Raheem Sterling was emerging on the scene.

At the other end, they had Simon Mignolet between the sticks and a backline often consisting of Martin Skrtel, Jon Flanagan, Glen Johnson and a slightly past-it Kolo Toure.

No wonder their games were pure chaos.

Can you name Tottenham’s 13 biggest Premier League victories?

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Tottenham have enjoyed some thumping victories in the Premier League era – but can you name every match where they won by five or more goals?

Some sides have come away from north London with a humiliating hiding, while Spurs also aren’t immune from recording eye-watering scorelines away from home either.

We’d like you to name their 13 biggest Premier League victories and you’ve got 10 minutes to do so. We’ve given you the season, scoreline and whether the game was home or away as your clues.

Once you’ve completed this quiz, have a go at naming Tottenham’s 25 most expensive sales in history.

If you enjoy our quizzes, head to our new Football Games home where you can search an archive of over 1,000 quizzes and play them all in beautiful full-screen mode.

Good luck, and don’t forget to tweet us your score at @planetfutebol.

Where are they now? The first 5 Tottenham players sold by Jose Mourinho

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Jose Mourinho’s spell at Tottenham between November 2019 and April 2021 was the least successful of his managerial career – but what became the first Spurs players sold by the Portuguese manager?

Mourinho took over from Mauricio Pochettino and dragged Spurs into the Europa League, followed by a season of rancour and inconsistency that saw Daniel Levy pull the trigger days before the League Cup final against Manchester City.

As ever, Mourinho needed to imprint his stamp on the team and did so by getting rid of five players between taking charge and the summer of 2020. Here’s what happened following their departures.

Paris Maghoma

Maghoma came through the academy at Spurs and was a regular in the Premier League 2 in the first half of the 2019-20 season.

He joined Brentford B on a permanent deal in January 2020 and remains in west London today after loan spells with Wimbledon, MK Dons and Bolton.

The midfielder made his Premier League debut for the Bees in their defeat to Aston Villa in December 2024 and is thought of highly by Thomas Frank.

Christian Eriksen

Eriksen was one of the best technical players that Spurs have had in the Premier League era. The Denmark international produced a total of 90 assists during his Tottenham career which is some going.

After leaving Tottenham, he managed to get his hands on some silverware with Inter Milan before making his Premier League return with Brentford and Manchester United.

Age seems to be catching up with Eriksen in 2024 and he’s expected to leave United next summer. But considering he literally died during Euro 2020, all of this is just an unexpected and delightful bonus for a wonderful player.

Tashan Oakley-Boothe

A month before helping England win the under-17 World Cup in 2017, Oakley-Boothe was handed his Tottenham debut as a late substitute in a League Cup victory over Barnsley.

But the midfielder never kicked on from there and that short cameo ended up being his only appearance for Spurs. He left for Stoke City in 2020, before a brief spell with Blackpool in 2023-24.

Now aged 24, Oakley-Boothe is playing in Portugal’s top flight for Estrela da Amadora.

READ NEXT: Where are they now? Tottenham’s 8 wonderkids from Football Manager 2015

TRY A QUIZ: Can you name every player Jose Mourinho used as Tottenham manager?

Victor Wanyama

Wanyama was a classy operator at Spurs, making 97 appearances for the club and chipping in with the odd thunderb*stard to endear himself to the supporters.

But his final year at the club was ruined by injuries and Mourinho took the unsentimental decision to offload the midfielder to CF Montreal in March 2020.

Since leaving the Premier League behind, Wanyama has established himself as a key performer for the MLS side. He’s already racked up 133 appearances for the club which was more than he managed at Tottenham, Southampton or Celtic.

QUIZ: Can you name the 16 players who are their nation’s only Premier League representative?

Luis Binks

Binks left Spurs in February 2020 and made the surprise move to MLS side Montreal Impact, who were then managed by Thierry Henry

“Some could see why I’ve done it, but some were saying, ‘Why has he done that?’” Binks said shortly after arriving.

“I’ve got no regrets about coming to play first-team football at the age of 18. It’s better than playing Under-23 football in front of, I don’t know, 200 people.”

“I’m happy with my decision. I’m working under the coaching staff, playing with players that are so experienced in Europe and MLS. It’s a no-brainer to come here, really.”

His time in the States was punctuated by loans back to Europe with Como and Coventry City. Binks joined the latter club permanently in 2024 and has made 14 appearances this season.

The 5 academy kids Tottenham let go in the summer – & how they’re faring elsewhere

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Tottenham’s academy has produced several brilliant footballers in recent years, with the likes of Harry Kane and Marcus Edwards flying the flag abroad.

But Spurs also released a few of their homegrown talents over the summer of 2024, as Ange Postecoglou shuffled his squad to help the club return to the Champions League.

We’ve taken this opportunity to check in on how they’re all faring since leaving the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Japhet Tanganga

One of the few beneficiaries of Jose Mourinho’s scorched-earth approach to managing Spurs, Tanganga played a series of games in the 2019-20 season before injuries stalled his progress.

In truth, the defender was probably not up to Tottenham’s standards but that didn’t stop the feeling of sadness when he made his loan move to Millwall permanent in the summer of 2024.

Tanganga has found a home from home in south London, regularly starting matches as Millwall push for an improbable promotion to the Premier League.

Charlie Sayers

After catching the eye at Southend United, Sayers was bought by Tottenham in December 2021 but was mainly limited to under-18 and under-21 football.

Upon being released last summer, the full-back was subject to interest from numerous EFL clubs but chose to move north of the border and signed for Scottish Championship side Patrick Thistle.

He has made one league appearance and one Scottish Challenge Cup appearance as he adjusts to life in Irn Bru territory.

Billy Heaps

Heaps was released by Spurs over the summer following the conclusion of his three-year scholarship with the club.

Originally plucked from Stevenage, the midfielder regularly turned out for Spurs’ under-18 side, but has been unable to find a club over the past six months.

Still, Heaps is only 19 and we’re sure somebody will take a chance on the youngster sooner rather than later.

READ NEXT: Where are they now? Tottenham’s 8 wonderkids from Football Manager 2015

TRY A QUIZ: Can you name Tottenham’s top 30 goalscorers in the Premier League?

Kieran Morgan

Following 10 years on the books at Tottenham, Morgan moved across London this summer and signed for Championship side QPR.

A player who is comfortable in possession and also likes to carry the ball forward, the defensive midfielder was originally intended for QPR’s under-21 side but has made eight first-team appearances as the west Londoners struggle at the bottom of the second tier.

His composure under difficult circumstances has impressed the Loftus Road faithful and Morgan scored his first career goal in a 1-1 draw with Coventry in October.

“He played fantastic. He has a big personality,” QPR boss Marti Cifuentes said afterwards.

“That’s a little bit of the trend he has been showing since he joined in the summer. He came here at 17 years old and now he’s 18.

“He’s been showing a lot of good things and getting some minutes these last games because that is what he has been pushing for. We felt that today he could be a part of the team and he has done very well.

“I am very happy for him with the way he played and the personality he showed, playing against a team at the top of the table, asking for the ball all the time, being crucial in our build-up play and crucial in how we attack in the last third.

“Very, very good signal for not only him but for the club that we have the possibility to give opportunities to academy players and that they can perform at this level.”

QUIZ: Can you name every player Ange Postecoglou has used at Tottenham?

Han Willhoft-King

Willhoft-King joined the Tottenham academy aged six, progressing through the ranks being named by The Guardian as the best player in his age-group at the club in September 2022.

But he turned down a contract offer from Spurs two years later and was snapped up by Manchester City over the summer.

The midfielder, who is eligible for England, China, Chinese Taipei, Germany, India, Indonesia and the USA at international level due to his family heritage, has made one PL2 appearance for City this season but there are high hopes for his future.