TEAMtalk

Pundits appear to have criticised Ange Postecoglou over his handling of exciting Tottenham attacking talent Mikey Moore in recent outings after reacting to the FA Cup defeat at Aston Villa.

Spurs crashed out of their second cup competition in the space of just four days after going down to a 2-1 loss at Villa Park, a game in which Moore was handed another start but hauled off at half-time.

It’s the second time that has happened to Moore in his last two starts, having also been taken off in the much-needed Premier League win at Brentford. But in the case of the Villa loss, it was down to Postecoglou getting his midfield set-up wrong again and being forced into a change.

The home side had so much room to play in the opening period of the cup contest as Tottenham‘s three-man midfield of Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall and Dejan Kulusevski failed to have any impact on the game.

That forced Postecoglou to turn to turn to Yves Bissouma off the bench, with Moore hooked having arguably been one of the team’s better players in a poor opening period.

And Sky Sports and BBC Sport pundit Micah Richards was not particularly impressed with how the 17-year-old talent was treated.

Speaking alongside Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer on The Rest Is Football podcast following another early substitution, Richards has explained why Moore had been thriving in Europe but hadn’t quite found his comfort zone against Premier League sides just yet.

He said: “Mikey Moore, unfortunately, I think he’s been taking off at half time in his two last games. He’s doing really well in Europe, but he’s finding it difficult.

Lineker replied: “He did hit a great cross for Son’s chance, though. That was a really good ball in his, you know. And he’s only 17, isn’t he?”

Richards: “But he’s really good, but because Spurs have been struggling, he’s not been able to show his best self.

“And when you’re playing in sometimes a lesser team in Europe, he looks really good. So I was gutted when he got brought off at half time.”

Shearer critical of Tottenham midfield set-up

Former Newcastle and England striker Shearer was particularly critical of Tottenham’s midfield balance at Villa Park, something that has been a major issue for much of the season.

Central midfield has been the least affected of all the injury issues that Spurs have endured this season, but it’s arguably been the biggest problem for Postecoglou – given his side’s failure to control games at all in the middle of the park.

The Tottenham boss has tried numerous different combinations in his engine room but nothing has really worked, a clear indication that he probably doesn’t have the right personnel on board to implement what he wants from his midfield.

And Shearer added, when speaking abot that particular issue: “You’re right about the midfield. I made the point in core comms about how easy it was for Villa to just play right through the middle of Tottenham, because there was no bite in there.

“So he had to do something at half time and change that.

“And it was a bit harsh on young Mikey Moore, but someone had to come off, because they had to stiffen up in the midfield, because it was too easy for Aston Villa.”

One answer could eventually be Archie Gray playing as a No.6 but defensive woes mean he continues to operate at the back. Indeed, it’s very likely that Tottenham address their midfield in the summer, whether Postecoglou is in charge or not.

An option to buy Real Betis Johnny Cardoso remains in play early in the summer, with a deal being struck for the USA international as part of Giovani Lo Celso’s return to Spain.

Tottenham have been warned as to why they should not even try to bring back former fan favourite Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager, as the pressure continues to mount on Ange Postecoglou.

It was very clear to hear Spurs fans chanting Pochettino’s name as Spurs crashed out of their second cup competition in the space of just four days to compound what is turning into a disastrous campaign.

The 2-1 loss at Aston Villa came off the back of a 4-0 rout at Anfield on Thursday night as Postecoglou‘s claim that he “always wins a trophy in his second season” is now down to just one chance – the Europa League.

The way that Tottenham were largely outplayed by a Villa side who, like Tottenham, were also missing some key players through injury was a telling factor in Postecoglou’s inability to outmatch a rival manager – in this case Unai Emery – as has been the case for much of the season.

The north London outfit currently sit 14th in the Premier League, 10 points above the drop zone, and face a Manchester United side just above them at home on Sunday in what is likely to be a pivotal game for Postecoglou’s future – if he lasts out the rest of this week.

But former Celtic striker Chris Sutton, having previously backed Posteecoglou, thinks Tottenham should re-hire Pochettino on a short-term deal, given that he previously elevated the club from a dark place.

While there is no questioning that if Pochettino did return to Spurs, it would give their supporters an incredible lift after the club’s collapse this season, former centre-back Ramon Vega has explained why the Argentine will not take the role.

Vega wrote on X: “There’s no point in calling for [Mauricio] Pochettino. 1. He is already contracted and committed to the US Men’s national team and it would be disrespectful both to the US Men’s national team and to him. 2.

“He was sacked without proper support after achieving the remarkable feat of reaching the Champions League final in Madrid.

“This was a significant opportunity to establish a real football project, but the board missed the chance and failed to support him. We are currently facing the revolving issue for years a lack of genuine support in the football department. Changing Ange [Postecoglou] will not solve anything. The solution lies in changing the mentality and commitment at the top regarding football.”

Vega’s comments referring to things ‘at the top’ are clearing regarding Daniel Levy’s overall running of the club and the failure to support Pochettino after the Champions League defeat and let him try and build a new team – as well as everything that has since followed.

Levy backed Postecoglou in January

Levy did at least show some commitment to Postecoglou in the winter window with the additions of Antonin Kinsky, Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel – although the latter two did come in the final days of the window when it was clear and obvious that an injury-plagued Spurs squad needed help sooner than that.

Injuries have certainly been the main factor behind the club not pulling the trigger on the manager for now but, bar the recent win over Brentford and qualification for the knockout phase of the Europa League, things have been on a downward spiral for a number of weeks.

However, for his part, Postecoglou is continuing to fight and praised his players again for their efforts in the loss at Villa.

Speaking after the game, he told reporters: “People can judge me. They can say I’ve done a bad job, I’m not up to it or whatever. That’s fine.

“What I’m saying is you can’t be critical of our players’ performances at this time.

“If you want to measure anything on what they’re doing at the moment, other than the extreme situation they’re dealing with, then I think your analysis is skewed and it’s not objective.

“If it’s to get rid of me that’s fine. Good on you. Go for it a million times. But in terms of this group of players, what they’ve given over the past two and a half months has been outstanding.”

Latest Tottenham news: Tel hint over Spurs future / Teenage striker fight

Tottenham legend Harry Kane has hinted that new boy Mathys Tel could extend his stay in north London beyond the summer after revealing a phone conversation between the pair after the Frenchman completed his initial loan switch on deadline day.

Daniel Levy and co. were only able to sign Tel on loan for now, due to the player’s reluctance to sign permanently, although they do have a £45million option to buy come the summer.

And, despite reports that Tel is already lining up a move to Man Utd instead when the season ends, Kane has revealed how excited Tel was to seal his switch and the immediate impression Tottenham had made on him – hinting at an extended stay in the process.

Meanwhile, Spurs are reportedly in danger of losing one of their top academy attacking stars as Serie A heavyweight duo Juventus and AC Milan prepare to make their moves for the teenager.

Ange Postecoglou has hit out at the perceived media agenda to force his sacking at Tottenham in the wake of Sunday’s FA Cup exit at Aston Villa with five candidates to replace him in the dug-out named and a popular pundit claiming the Aussie must “get out now” and is “out of his depth”.

The 59-year-old has endured a hugely difficult second season at the helm with Tottenham sitting 14th in the table and just 10 points clear of the relegation zone after a wretched run of form. And having lost six times in 11 matches since the turn of the year, Spurs’ chances of trophy success have also blown up in their face after they crashed out of both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup in a matter of days.

Tottenham, of course, are still very much alive in the Europa League and their decent form in that competition is perhaps the one saving grace in an otherwise awful season which has seen the pressure build on Postecoglou‘s shoulders with each passing week.

And with the top four and two domestic cup competitions now out of the question, Paul Robinson revealed over the weekend that he expects Tottenham chiefs to hold talks over dismissing the manager on Monday morning.

Talks of Postecoglou being fired also ramped up on Sunday after a report named five contenders to replace him with Andoni Iraoli, Thomas Frank, Edin Terzic, Kieran McKenna and, perhaps more remarkably, Mauricio Pochettino, all in contention to step into the hotseat.

All the same, Postecoglou is far from happy about what is being written and said on his future, accusing the media of having some sort of agenda against him.

“I don’t care how people judge me but don’t judge this group of players,” Postecoglou said. “People can say I have done a bad job or that I’m not up to it and that’s fine.

“Look at what this group have been doing for two-and-a-half months. It can’t be that people think (the injury situation) is an excuse.”

At the perceived agenda against him, he added: “That’s just not anywhere near close to objective analysis. That’s just agenda-driven stuff. If it’s to get rid of me that’s fine. Good on you. Go for it a million times. But what this group has given is outstanding. Credit to them.”

Pundit claims Postecoglou is ‘out of his depth’ as sack talk heats up

One of the Australian’s biggest critics this season has been former midfielder turned pundit Jamie O’Hara and he was quick to turn the screw once again in the wake of Sunday’s cup exit at Villa Park.

Taking to his X account, O’Hara suggested time was now up for the former Celtic manager.

“It’s time to go now Ange is out of his depth, [Unai] Emery is on a different planet compared to him and his players bopped us off the park should of been 5, we’re like reserve team playing in academy games that don’t matter, it’s crazy.”

Despite that, an unrepentent Postecoglou insists the schedule, coupled with his injury crisis, had left his squad on the brink of breaking point, and even responded to Tottenham’s latest loss by pinpointing Liverpool’s exit at the competition to Championship Plymouth.

“How did Liverpool do today?” he said. “And they made those choices for one game. We have been asking teenagers to play in Europe on Thursdays and the Premier League on Sundays since November.

“I think this group of players will be an outstanding team. I have no doubt about that.”

Per our understanding, the Spurs board are now starting to ask questions of the manager and do find themselves in a dilemma over their struggles. On the one hand, there is sympathy at the situation and a question as to whether any manager in the world would fare better given their current injury situation.

But on the other, there is an acceptance that the current situation is not good enough, with questions seriously being raised over recent performances, particularly Thursday’s crushing 4-0 loss at Liverpool.

Latest Tottenham transfer news: Tel fears eased; Milan, Juve eye star teen

Meanwhile, suggestions that Mathys Tel’s time at Tottenham could be short-lived and that the teenage forward is already eyeing his next move have been allayed after Harry Kane detailed the player’s excitement at sealing his move to north London.

The 19-year-old was reported to be wanting to use his time on N17 as a stepping stone for another club, though those fears have now been eased somewhat by Kane.

Elsewhere, Spurs could face a future fight to retain the services of Ellis Lehane amid claims the teenager is being tracked by both AC Milan and Juventus.

Lehane has scored six goals in 10 games for Tottenham’s Under-18s side this term and has also featured three times in Premier League 2, though is is claimed that interest from Italy has now forced the youngster to consider his options.

And finally, Tottenham are continuing to ‘aggressively pursue’ the summer signing of Southampton winger Tyler Dibling and have also reportedly joined the race for a Crystal Palace talent with a clear vision for the future in mind.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly in danger of losing one of their top academy attacking stars as Serie A heavyweight duo Juventus and AC Milan prepare to make their moves for the teenager.

The north London outfit have made their focus in recent times on developing and signing younger talent for the most part, especially since Ange Postecoglou walked through the door just over 18 months ago.

That path has led to some success but also created major issues, given the number of senior players are currently injured as the club’s injury crisis continues.

The likes of Will Lankshear and Mikey Moore, two academy graduates, have burst onto the scene and been thrust into first-team action, while recent additions Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Mathys Tel, Wilson Odobert and Yang-Min Hyeok are all under the age of 20.

Tottenham also announced the deadline day signing of highly-rated Republic of Ireland Mason Melia, although the forward cannot officially sign until January 2026.

However, they are concerned about losing one of their own as the Daily Mail reports that Juventus and Milan are keen on teenage forward Ellis Lehane.

The 18-year-old is highly thought of behind the scenes at Spurs, who consider him a ‘key part of their future plans’, and they are known to have rejected an offer from Lecce in the just concluded winter window.

Lehane has scored six goals in 10 games for Tottenham’s Under-18s side this term and has also featured three times in Premier League 2.

The report states Lehane will be considering his options, given the amount of interest shown in his services by some of Europe’s elite clubs – despite Spurs’ emphasis on pushing younger talent through quicker than before.

Lehane will have seen Lankshear, Moore, Dane Scarlett and Damola Ajayi all score their first senior goals for the club under Postecoglou this season in a clear nod towards the future from Tottenham.

Latest Tottenham news: Tel hint over extended stay / Double summer coup eyed

Tottenham legend Harry Kane has hinted that new boy Mathys Tel could extend his stay in north London beyond the summer after revealing a phone conversation between the pair after the Frenchman completed his initial loan switch on deadline day.

Daniel Levy and co. were only able to sign Tel on loan from Bayern Munich for now, due to the player’s reluctance to sign permanently, although they do have a £45million option to buy come the summer.

And, despite reports that Tel is already lining up a move to Man Utd instead when the season ends, Kane has revealed how excited Tel was to seal his switch in a hint that he stay at the club for longer.

Meanwhile, Tottenham are pursuing the summer signing of Southampton winger Tyler Dibling and have joined the race for a Crystal Palace talent with a clear vision for the future in mind, according to reports.

Tottenham’s board are reportedly considering ‘five’ names to replace Ange Postecoglou as the new manager of the club as the pressure continues to grow on the Australian amid claims that the players have ‘quit’ on him.

The 59-year-old is currently overseeing the club’s worst Premier League season in recent times as they languish down in 14th place, with 13 defeats from their 24 games to leave them just 10 points above the relegation places.

The cup competitions have been a different story altogether, with progress secured in the Europa League and Tottenham still in the FA Cup as they head to Aston Villa on Sunday, although Thursday night’s shocking performance at Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg would have left a bitter taste in the mouth of all Spurs fans.

There were plenty of calls for Postecoglou‘s head after the 4-0 rout at Anfield as a Tottenham team still missing a number of key performers completely collapsed and surrended arguably the club’s best hope this season of ending their 17-year wait to win a trophy.

Indeed, some pundits are now convinced that Postecoglou’s players have given up on their manager – normally the first sign that the axe is on the way for the man in charge, no matter the clear circumstances that have caused so many of Tottenham’s issues this season.

“Anyone who has played the game will tell you most of those Spurs players quit, gave up,” former Watford striker Troy Deeney wrote in The Sun. “Not on each other or themselves, but quit on the manager, the fan base, everything.”

Deeney also claims that he saw just one player put himself forward for media duties at the end of the game, further evidence that Spurs stars have given up on their under-fire manager.

Indeed, another negative result at Villa in the FA Cup is likely to bring about a major meeting next week to discuss Psotecoglou’s future, with only the club’s successful Europa League run and the fact that key injured should be returning soon keeping him in a job.

To that end, the Daily Mirror claims that five names are currently under consideration to be the new man at the helm in north London, with several of them already known to TEAMtalk – as we’ve mentioned on numerous occasions.

Five names in the mix for Tottenham job

So let’s take a good look at the list of names that The Mirror has put forward for discussion.

Andoni Iraola

Bournemouth’s Spanish coach has emerged as one of the most sought-after coaches in the Premier League after guiding the Cherries to seventh spot in the table this term.

Indeed, Iraola has led the south-coast outfit to wins against Spurs, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle in a remarkable campaign so far, while he also guided them to the FA Cup fifth round after an impressive 2-0 win at in-form Everton on Saturday.

What’s even more impressive is that the Spaniard has done that during a severe injury crisis that has seen Bournemouth lose both of their main strikers in Evanilson and Enes Unal.

As TT has previously reported, Iraola is right near the top of Tottenham’s list to replace Postecoglou – although it will be an expensive job trying to prize him away from the Cherries.

According to the Express, he is currently one of the leading favourites with the bookies to take over should Postecoglou’s tenure come to an end – though it’d likely cost a pretty penny to buy him out of his Bournemouth deal.

Thomas Frank

Praise for the Brentford manager has not stopped since he guided them to the top flight in 2020/21 season, with his attacking style of play well suited to the Tottenham ethos.

It’s also common knowledge that the Dane is looking to eventually move on and challenge himself at a bigger club. Indeed, speaking back in December last year he shared his criteria for considering an exit: “I think the club you’re going into, can you instantly improve it? Is there low-hanging fruits, or is it difficult to raise the bar? And is their finances good? Can you get the players in and out you want to? I think that’s the key.

He also reflected on his future aspirations by saying: “I think there’s a part of me that thinks that one day, maybe I need to try something different. Is that a bigger club, Champions League, bigger challenge? I don’t know.”

Champions League is most definitely a push for Tottenham at the moment, unless they win the Europa League, and while Frank is a name most certainly in the mix, it must also be pointed out that Postecoglou actually did the double over the Bess this season.

That being said, TT have reported on numerous occasions that Frank is well liked by Tottenham chiefs.

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Edin Terzic

The highly-rated German-Croatian coach is currently without a job since his departure from Borussia Dortmund last summer, having led them to the Champions League final in the 2023/24 season.

As we’ve reported previously, Terzic is very much a name on Tottenham’s radar if they decide to pull the trigger on Postecoglou – links that were only magnified by the Besiktas president in his search for a new manager recently.

Serdal Adali, speaking to Turkish TV network Tivibu Spor last month, revealed: “Edin Terzic was one of our foreign alternatives. In the meeting, he said he was expecting an agreement with Tottenham. That book is closed.”

The Turkish outfit ended up moving for former Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer instead as Terzic remains on the market.

Mauricio Pochettino

However unlikely this might seem, Pochettino remains a name that will not go away due to his affinity with the club.

The Argentinian was ousted by Levy in late 2019 following a downturn in results, even though he had led Spurs to a Champions League final just months before.

In a chat with BT Sport back in November 2022, Pochettino aired his hope for a future comeback: “Deep in my chest, my soul, my heart – I am sure that we will cross [paths] again. My dream is to be back and to try to finish the work that we didn’t finish.”

Despite a recent stint at bitter rivals Chelsea and the fact that he is currently in charge of the United States national team, Pochettino remains a name to watch.

Kieran McKenna

The outsider of the group but again, a name that TT has mentioned before when it comes to potentially taking the reins in north London.

McKenna has certainly turned heads at Ipswich, earning promotion to the Premier League after a 22-year hiatus and clearly showing his managerial prowess.

Despite Town’s current predicament, sitting in 19th with just a trio of victories – one of which was at Tottenham – McKenna’s seven-year history with Spurs’ academy and a return to the club in 2015 as an Under-18s coach mean he knows the club inside out.

At this stage, he’s a long shot but the fact that Tottenham’s squad is one the youngest in the Premier League and he has a history of working well with younger players does make him a serious option going forward.

Tottenham are pursuing the summer signing of Southampton winger Tyler Dibling and have joined the race for a Crystal Palace talent with a clear vision for the future in mind, according to reports.

The big topic at Tottenham right now is how long Ange Postecoglou will stay in his job as head coach after suffering a damaging 15 defeats this season. But while the Australian’s fate is in the balance, Spurs seem to have some transfer plans in the pipeline for the summer regardless.

Dibling was someone they looked at in January, but the attacking midfielder stayed at Southampton. With relegation a real threat for Saints, though, he could easily come back into view in the summer.

And Spurs will be there in the race for his signature, judging by the latest update from Football Transfers. It’s claimed that Tottenham view Dibling as a ‘key’ target within their ongoing vision of making signings for the future.

In fact, the report says Spurs are making an ‘aggressive push for young talent’ and have also joined the race for Crystal Palace midfielder, Adam Wharton.

Tottenham have been holding internal talks about their moves for both players, who could become priority targets in the next transfer window.

However, Spurs will have to work hard to sign them, since there is plenty of competition from elsewhere for Dibling and Wharton.

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Tottenham’s rival suitors for Wharton

TEAMtalk can verify Wharton is a target for a number of clubs. This week, sources confirmed Manchester City are likely to sign another midfielder in the summer – following on from their capture of Nico Gonzalez from Porto this month – and that Wharton is on their shortlist.

We are also expecting Manchester United and Newcastle to watch Wharton over the second half of the season.

Wharton will cost a large fee due to his contract with Crystal Palace lasting until 2029.

Dibling, meanwhile, is under contract with Southampton until 2027. They stood firm to keep him in January, but might not have as strong a position if they suffer relegation under Ivan Juric.

Tottenham transfer roundup

Another player known to be on Tottenham’s shortlist is one of Wharton’s teammates at Crystal Palace: Marc Guehi.

Spurs made a move for Guehi before the deadline, but Palace didn’t want to sell at that stage, forcing Postecoglou’s side to settle for Kevin Danso instead.

Guehi remains on the radar for the summer, but the latest report revealed Chelsea are confident of re-signing the defender.

Tottenham have also tentatively been tipped to bring a Bayern Munich attacker back to the Premier League – but maybe not the one they’d dream of.

And Spurs are still in pole position to complete a deal for Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso, despite the latest twist.

Dibling turning heads at Southampton

Born in Exeter in February 2006, Dibling signed a professional contract with Southampton in October 2021 and made headlines a few months later after scoring a hat-trick in a Premier League 2 game against Newcastle.

Chelsea fought off competition from Newcastle to sign the left-footed right winger in the summer of 2022, but he failed to settle in west London and quickly returned to Southampton.

The 18-year-old made five first-team appearances in all competitions in 2023/24 and was handed his first-ever Premier League start in a 3-0 defeat against Man Utd.

“He’s a really, really talented player,” Southampton’s then-manager Russell Martin said after the game, where Dibling won a penalty.

“We have to manage the expectation and his load because he came off with cramp. He’s an outstanding young man and an outstanding talent, we love working with him.”

The England Under-19 international – who grew up idolizing Eden Hazard – is renowned for his dribbling skills and has impressed his team-mates at St Mary’s.

“When I saw his first session, I thought ‘he’s not 18’,” Yuki Sugawara said of his first impression of Dibling.

“I asked ‘how old are you?’ Then he said 18. I said ‘what the f*** is that?’ He’s really crazy (talented), you know?

“But for sure he will be one of the best players in the Premier League and in the world, I think, because his mentality is so cool. Everything will be top level.

“He’s still young, he needs to learn a lot of things, but he just needs to focus on the process and what he wants to be. Then I think he’s going to be a top, top player.”

Ange Postecoglou has been warned he could only have one game left to spare himself from the sack with one former Tottenham star fearing Daniel Levy could hold a meeting to sack the struggling Aussie as soon as next week.

The 59-year-old was somewhat unfortunate not to lead Tottenham back into the Champions League after they finished fifth and narrowly missed out to Aston Villa. This season, though, has been a thoroughly different situation and a dour run of results has seen Spurs lose seven of their last 13 matches in all competitions – including Thursday’s humiliating 4-0 routing to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg.

That defeat, which saw Spurs fail to register a single shot on target on the opposition’s goal, has seen the pressure piled back on Postecoglou, who has faced of questions over his future this season.

And with the club way out of this season’s UCL race – Tottenham are currently 14th in the Premier League and nearer the bottom three (10 points clear) than they are the top four (16 points adrift) – pressure has been firmly placed on their ability to win a cup instead.

However, with the League Cup avenue having been shut down, extra emphasis will now be placed on the FA Cup, though a tricky trip to take on Aston Villa in the fourth round on Sunday is far from the easiest of assignments.

Should Spurs lose, former player Paul Robinson fears the club will meet to discuss the Aussie’s future.

“I think they’ll be having that conversation on Monday,” Robinson told Tottenham News. “Spurs have a very difficult game against Aston Villa and a week is a long time in football. How they played against Liverpool was extremely disappointing – they were tactically inept again.

“It was one of the poorest performances I’ve seen. It’s disappointing in a semi-final not to have a shot on target, which a lot was made from. But I didn’t expect them to get a result against Liverpool.

“I’ve always said that the thing keeping Ange in the job was the first 10 games at the start of last season, which a lot of people are hanging their hats on, the fact they’re in all the cups and how well they’re doing in the Europa League.

“But this week, they’re out of the EFL Cup, and they could be out of the FA Cup on Sunday if they play like they did against Liverpool. The conversation about Ange’s future really starts to heat up next week. They’ve got no chance of getting Champions League football.”

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When Tottenham could decide to sack Postecoglou revealed

Robinson feels it is only their decent run of form in the Europa League that has kept Postecoglou in his job so far and feels this season has been nothing short of a disaster.

“If they get knocked out of the FA Cup, take away the Europa League, and this season has been terrible. A week is a long time in football so I hope the conversation is different after a resounding win against Aston Villa.

“It’s not only season-defining but the pressure is going to mount on Postecoglou even more.”

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has also been critical of Postecoglou, though feels he was let down by his players on Thursday night as they once again failed to perform in big games.

The Liverpool legend said: “Ange Postecoglou is a manager who is just trying to find something – and what he’s trying is not working.

“It was never in doubt before the game. It’s Tottenham. When did Tottenham ever win a big game? When did Tottenham ever go anywhere and surprise you and win against the odds?

“Whenever Tottenham go into a big game they never believe that they are going to win. Not one of those Tottenham fans tonight would have believed.

“When I look at those three Spurs midfield players, I thought they were a disgrace no matter who the manager is.”

Despite the growing criticism, our sources have previously insisted that no decision on the former Celtic boss’ future will be made mid-season, though a review of his performances will be held once the current campaign is over.

Having chopped and changed several managers on a frequent basis since dispensing of Mauricio Pochettino’s services in the autumn of 2019, Levy knows he cannot afford to axe another manager mid-season, fearing such an act would reflect badly on him and his judgement.

There is also a strong element of sympathy from the Spurs board at the injury crisis Postecoglou has faced this season, feeling it is unfair to judge the manager against the lack of options he has had at his disposal over the majority of the season.

Whether that stance has changed in the wake of Thursday’s loss – or could do if they suffered the same fate at Villa Park – remains to be seen.

But either way, Postecoglou needs some positive results – and probably a trophy win – to keep the wolves from his door.

Latest Tottenham news: Kevin Danso’s response; Mathys Tel claims

Despite the pressure building on the manager, one of his most recent signings, defender Kevin Danso, has offered some words of encouragement for the Tottenham faithful, offering a 64-word response to their Carabao Cup mauling and in response to strong criticism from former midfielder Jamie O’Hara.

Meanwhile, the loss on Thursday has also provoked some worrying reports to emerge over the future of Mathys Tel.

Spurs won the race to sign the Bayern Munich forward before the transfer window closed earlier this week, the player handed an immediate debut in that loss at Anfield.

Now, though, it is claimed that Tel wants to use his short time with Spurs as a platform to help him secure a move to one of their Premier League rivals.

Elsewhere, our Tottenham expert has run the rule over SEVEN players fighting for their futures at N17 in the wake of the frenzied sack speculation mounting on Postecoglou’s head.

New Tottenham signing Kevin Danso sent out a classy response to the club’s fans after a demoralising night on Merseyside which saw him concede four goals on his debut and miss out on a place in the Carabao Cup final.

The 26-year-old Austria international was snapped up by Spurs from Lens last weekend, with Ange Postecoglou’s side beating Premier League rivals Wolves to the loan transfer that also includes a £21million obligation to buy in the summer.

The addition of Danso was much-needed as Cristian Romero and Micky ven de Ven continue to sit on the sidelines, while Radu Dragusin suffered an ACL injury in the recent Europa League win over Elfsborg.

It was somewhat surprising to see him given a starting nod for the game at Anfield, given how well Ben Davies and Archie Gray played together in the 2-0 win at Brentford last weekend.

Unfortunately for Tottenham and the under-pressure Postecoglou that decision backfired as the north London crashed to a 4-0 defeat in one of the worst performances of the season, with Danso not making a particularly strong impression on his debut.

Indeed, outspoken former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara let rip at the result and gave his initial thoughts on both Danso and fellow new boy Mathys Tel.

Speaking to talkSPORT after the game, O’Hara said: “Shocking night for Spurs at Anfield, they didn’t have a shot on target, all hope is lost, it doesn’t look like we’ll win a trophy this season unless he pulls out some sort of miracle.

“Terrible game, terrible game. The players haven’t been up to standard, and in terms of transfers, you know, he got Mathys Tel over the line and Danso tonight wasn’t convincing with what he might be.”

However, taking to social media platform X on Friday morning, Danso commented: “Yesterday marked my debut for @SpursOfficial in the @Carabao_Cup , and though we fell short against a strong side, I couldn’t be prouder to have worn this shirt for the first time.

“The loss stings, but I truly believe in this team and our journey ahead. I want to thank everyone at the club, and every single fan for the support! Onwards and upwards. COYS.”

Postecoglou gives his verdict on Danso display

The Austrian now has a couple of days to work on his partnership with Davies prior to Sunday’s FA Cup trip to Aston Villa, with both Van de Ven and Romero not yet ready to return.

Danso actually looked quite comfortable prior to Yves Bissouma’s mistake that led to the first Liverpool goal and Postecoglou admitted afterwards that he was pleased with how both new boys did in trying circumstances.

Tel was forced to come just before half-time after Richarlison went down with a calf injury and is in line to start his first gamee for the club at Villa Park.

Speaking about the pair, Postecoglou said: “Yeah they did OK. Kevin was really positive, as was Maty. It’s hard, you know, throwing guys in after their first trainings sessions, it’s not ideal.

“That’s part of our dilemma at the moment of trying to get some fluency and consistency but also knowing we have to keep tinkering with the starting line up to account for everything going on. But I thought they acquitted themselves well.”

Latest Tottenham news: First dibs on Kane return / Sane move lined up

Tottenham reportedly have ‘priority’ to land Harry Kane if he looks to leave Bayern Munich as a result of a clause included when he left the north London club in 2023.

A bomb was dropped on February 5 that Bayern Munich striker Kane can return to England for a heavily-discounted sum soon. In both January 2025 and 2026, he’d have been able to activate a clause to leave in the summer which follows.

For the coming summer, with the clause not activated, Kane will not be on the move, but if in a year’s time, if he decided it’s time to go back home, he’ll cost just £54million (€64.6m/$67m).

That’s likely to pique the interest of a number of clubs, but Kane’s former side Tottenham, for whom he bagged 280 goals in 435 games, are at the head of the queue. Indeed a Telegraph report has revealed how when selling the striker to Bayern in 2023, Spurs included a clause which gives them priority over the re-signing of the superstar.

Meanwhile, Tottenham are planning to bring Leroy Sane back to the Premier League, with a report claiming that Spurs are already in talks as chairman Daniel Levy plans a smart deal with Bayern Munich’s stance on keeping the winger also being revealed.

Chelsea believe they will win the race for Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi despite interest from other major clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is set to have his price tag reduced, as per reports.

Since leaving Chelsea for Palace in July 2021, Guehi has established himself as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League and as an important player for the England national team. With Guehi refusing to extend his Palace contract beyond June 2026, top clubs are vying to sign him.

Newcastle United submitted several offers for the defender last summer, the last of which totalled £65million (€78m / $80.8m). However, Palace rejected all such proposals.

In the recently closed January window, Tottenham launched a late £70m (€84m / $87m) bid for Guehi, but this was snubbed too.

GiveMeSport have now provided their take on the 24-year-old’s situation. They state that Chelsea are ‘confident’ Guehi will re-join them this summer, even if there is a fierce battle for his services.

The Blues know that Guehi still loves the club, having come through their academy before leaving in search of first-team football.

Chelsea think that Guehi will choose to join them over Spurs if it comes down to the two London clubs during the next transfer window.

Enzo Maresca’s side ‘touched base’ with the 22-cap England international in January, via his representatives and intermediaries. But Chelsea decided to wait until the summer to make a concrete move, knowing that Palace would not sell.

Even with Guehi entering the final year of his contract this summer, Palace are expected to hold out for at least £70-75m (up to €90m / $93.2m) when selling him in six months’ time.

While Chelsea and Spurs are thought to be Guehi’s main suitors, Chelsea must also watch out for other interested parties.

It was claimed on Wednesday that Manchester United and Liverpool are preparing bids of their own for Guehi.

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Marc Guehi in, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall out?

While Guehi could soon return to Stamford Bridge, midfielder Dewsbury-Hall is destined to leave in the summer.

West Ham United and Everton were keen on signing the Chelsea flop in January, but he instead remained in West London.

According to Football Insider, Chelsea are expected to lower their asking price for Dewsbury-Hall in the coming months in order to facilitate his exit.

Chelsea have previously looked to make back the £30m (€36m / $37.3m) they originally spent on Dewsbury-Hall, though no club has wanted to match that fee so far.

Interested sides have been put off by the 26-year-old’s recent struggles and Chelsea will therefore have to sell him for a reduced price, potentially below the £20m (€24m / $24.9m) mark.

Maresca knows Dewsbury-Hall well after they worked together at Leicester City last season. However, Dewsbury-Hall has never been close to getting into Chelsea’s first-choice midfield.

Chelsea transfers: Disasi explainer; Liverpool interest

Meanwhile, sources have provided TEAMtalk with an inside look at how Aston Villa signed Axel Disasi from Chelsea.

Spurs had reached an agreement to pay Chelsea a £5m loan fee for the centre-half, but the player wanted to wait and see if Villa matched such terms.

TEAMtalk understands that Chelsea right-back Malo Gusto is a candidate to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool.

Liverpool recruitment chiefs have added Gusto to their shortlist after being impressed by his form since moving to Chelsea.

Chelsea are in a strong negotiating position as the Frenchman’s contract runs until summer 2030, which means it will cost Liverpool a huge fee to snare him.

Mathys Tel made his Tottenham debut on Thursday but things didn’t go as planned, as Spurs lost 4-0 to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg.

The 19-year-old striker was chased b y Arsenal and Manchester United in January but Spurs ultimately won the race for his signature, after agreeing to pay Bayern Munich a €10m (£8.3m, $10.4m) loan fee.

Tel’s loan deal gives Tottenham the option to buy him for around £45m in the summer, but the forward can also say no to a permanent deal, despite already pre-agreeing a long-term contract with the North London side.

According to a surprise claim from journalist Christian Falk, Tel could look to leave Tottenham in the summer, with a move to Man Utd or a return to Bayern suggested.

“There were also talks with Manchester United [in January] who were interested in Mathys Tel’s signature. Tel was certainly open to the move, but United weren’t prepared to pay the loan fee Bayern Munich were demanding at the time,” Falk told CaughtOffside.

“So, you see, there was a huge difference to the offer Tottenham came to the table with. Whether Tel stays with Bayern beyond the summer or moves on, it’s entirely up to him. If he can make the step to United, he would like to do it. If he sees a chance at Bayern Munich, perhaps he would also stay, but I think it’s hard for him, as he didn’t make it under Vincent Kompany.

“So, I think if he is performing very well, he will stay in the Premier League. If he doesn’t, he has to go back to Bayern and start again.”

Mathys Tel was very interested in joining Man Utd – sources

TEAMtalk transfer insider Ben Jacobs confirmed earlier this week that Tel was ‘open’ to joining Man Utd when they showed interest in him close to the winter transfer deadline.

The Red Devils had to factor in the overall cost of any Tel deal and consider their own PSR (Profitability and Sustainability Rules) situation. Eventually they left the race. It was the same story with Christopher Nkunku, who would have been costly on a loan, plus the player was reluctant to leave on a temporary deal at the time of their approach.

Ange Postecoglou ultimately held a direct call with Tel and that played an important role in the youngster deciding to get on the plane to North London.

The youngster played the full second half against Liverpool on Thursday but his impact on the game was limited, but in fairness the whole Spurs team were poor.

With Richarlison picking up a calf injury at Anfield, Tel and Dane Scarlett are Tottenham’s only fit striker options for their FA Cup game against Aston Villa on Sunday.

The Bayern loanee therefore has an opportunity to nail down his spot in the Tottenham starting XI, with the promise of game time being another key factor in him deciding to join Tottenham.

With Postecoglou under serious pressure and Spurs 14th in the Premier League table, there is pressure on Tel to start scoring goals quickly for the North London club.

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