TEAMtalk

Former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Paul Robinson believes that Daniel Levy struck a tremendous transfer blow for the club over the summer that could have different implications in N17.

It was a busy summer for the north London club as a plethora of first-team stars moved on, while the likes of Dom Solanke, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Wilson Odobert all arrived – but it’s the potential addition of a USA star that has got Robinson excited.

When Tottenham sold Giovani Lo Celso to Real Betis, they also agreed on an option to buy USMNT midfielder Johnny Cardoso next summer as part of the Argentine’s return to his old club.

Spurs are said to have an option to buy Cardoso for £25m next summer but will also get a sell-on clause for the player if they decide against activating the clause.

The likes of Aston Villa, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid are all thought to be weighing up a January move for the 23-year-old, but Robinson thinks the deal that Levy struck for the club has left them in ‘win-win’ situation.

When asked about Spurs’ agreement for Cardoso, Robinson told Football Insider: “They’re in a win-win situation at Tottenham. You either get a top player in great form, who’s almost doubled his value over the last six months, or they get a share when he’s sold for a fortune.

“It’s very much a Daniel Levy deal. It’s incredible. They get first dibs on a player, and if he doesn’t sign for them, they get a percentage of his sale. He’s still only 23, got 17 caps for the USA and he’s got room to get better.

“He’s been playing very well for Betis this season and he’s clearly a good player. The Premier League is very different to LaLiga with the pace of the game, but he’s definitely an option for them.”

Cardoso not a guaranteed Tottenham starter

Robinson, however, does not think that signing a new defensive midfielder should be a priority for his old club.

Indeed, the former England stopper questioned where Cardoso would fit in under Ange Postecoglou, given the other options that Postecoglou has in the middle of the park.

Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur have been alternating the No.6 role for Spurs this season, although the former is set for an extended run in the side after Bentancur’s seven-match ban.

And speaking about the Tottenham engine room, Robinson added: “There’s an abundance of talent in that Tottenham midfield, but he’s [Cardoso] playing well and he’s put in a couple of man-of-the-match performances.

“It’s an interesting one to keep an eye on, but does he start for Spurs? He’d be a good player for the squad but I’m not sure where he fits in.

“But the deal is one I don’t think we’ve ever seen before.”

Latest Tottenham news: Chase is on for Bournemouth defender / Spurs eye League One hitman

Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City are considering moves for Bournemouth centre-back Illia Zabarnyi, sources have exclusively revealed to TEAMtalk.

The 22-year-old has settled well in the Premier League after he secured a difficult move from Dynamo Kyiv, playing a pivotal role in Bournemouth’s rise under manager Andoni Iraola, with the Cherries currently just four points outside the Premier League top four.

And TEAMtalk can reveal that Zabarnyi’s fine performances have caught the attention of several clubs, with Chelsea, Tottenham and Man City among those keeping close tabs on his situation.

Meanwhile, Tottenham and Leicester are reportedly keen on the signing of Stockport loanee Louie Barry, who will command a fee in the region of £12.5million amid his mega form in the third tier.

Barry has been sent out on various loans from Aston Villa in recent seasons with differing success but the frontman has been a great asset for Stockport over the last two seasons, starting with nine goals and four assists in League Two last season, and following it up in League One with 11 goals already.

That makes him the top-scorer in the division and some big clubs, including Tottenham, have taken notice.

Tottenham and Leicester are reportedly keen on the signing of Stockport loanee Louie Barry, who will command a fee in the region of £12.5million amid his mega form in the third tier.

Barry has been sent out on various loans from Aston Villa in recent seasons with differing success. Spells at Ipswich, Swindon, MK Dons and Salford returned just nine goals in more than 70 games.

But Barry has been a great asset for Stockport over the last two seasons, starting with nine goals and four assists in League Two last season, and following it up in League One with 11 goals already.

That makes him the top-scorer in the division, and some big clubs have taken notice.

Fichajes reports that Tottenham and Leicester are competing to sign the 21-year-old.

Both are said to be eager to sign the striker, who it’s said will command a fee in the region of €15million (£12.5m/$16m).

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Barry no stranger to big clubs

Barry is no stranger to lining up for and against big clubs. At Aston Villa, his one senior goal came against Liverpool, in a League Cup match, with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane among the opposition.

That was not long after he has returned to England from Barcelona, whose academy was briefly blessed by Barry, the striker playing three times in the UEFA Youth League, assisting once.

But having only just gotten up to speed in the lower divisions, a move to actually play in the Premier League seems premature.

The rumour may be one that has to be taken with a pinch of salt, anyway, as Fichajes state ‘Stockport County has been clear regarding the interest in their young forward’ while suggesting it is them who want to make £12.5million.

That is of course not the case, given he’ll return to Villa at the end of the current campaign. If the Villans thought there was a chance that Barry could make the step up to the Premier League soon, they would surely keep him for themselves, rather than sell to a rival side.

Tottenham round-up: Huge return on cards

Spurs are also being linked with the return of Harry Winks, as they’re said to be keen on bringing him back to the club, in a move which would represent a net loss of £22million.

Meanwhile, winger Wilson Odobert is preparing to have surgery, and that could prompt Tottenham to move for a new winger, with Jack Grealish and Takefusa Kubo among those on the radar.

The club are also on the hunt for centre-back Jonathan Tah, though it’s believed Chelsea are ahead given negotiations have begun.

And it’s believed manager Ange Postecoglou could lose his job before the end of the season, with Paul Robinson feeling failure to qualify for European competition could cause the boss an issue.

Barry’s goalscoring form

Barry is already in the best season of his senior career in front of goal. His 12 goals in all competitions this term have beaten last season’s tally of nine, and have come in just 17 games.

Barry hammered in the goals as a Villa academy player, netting 13 times in PL2 in 2020/21, as well as scoring five goals alongside four assists in six FA Youth Cup games in that same season.

Apart from the last couple of campaigns, which have been in England’s bottom two divisions, the forward has struggled to match show that sort of form in senior football.

Continuing to be loaned out by Villa may well be the best course of action for the 21-year-old at the moment, with a lot of time still to make it in the higher divisions.

New Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has reportedly identified Galatasaray winger Yunus Akgun as a key target ahead of the January transfer window, with the player he’ll replace already clear.

The Portuguese coach will take charge of his first Premier League fixture when the Red Devils face Ipswich Town on Sunday and supporters will expect him to get off to a winning start.

Akgun can play as a left and right winger or as a number 10 and his versatility and form has caught Amorim’s attention. He’s managed six goals and two assists from 16 matches this season – including one brilliant strike against Tottenham in the Europa League.

Akgun was on loan at Leicester City last season, where he scored two goals and made four assists in 29 appearances.

According to Turkish outlet Sabah, Amorim included the versatile attacker in his transfer shorlist at Sporting CP and has continued to maintain interest after arriving at Old Trafford.

Amorim ‘added Akgun the to his wish list as soon as he moved to Man Utd‘, with the manager providing a ‘positive opinion’ on the player.

The report claims that Man Utd’s scouts have begun tracking Akgun due to Amorim’s request and will continue to keep an eye on his performances ahead of the January transfer window.

Amorim is expected to axe Antony in January

Akgun, 24, is under contract with Galatasaray until 2026 and there is no mention in the report of whether the Turkish club or the player are open to doing business with Man Utd.

Akgun did, however, say in an interview during his time at Leicester that he is keen to test himself in the Premier League, before the Foxes decided not to trigger their option to buy him permanently after his loan ended.

“I came to the UK to play for Leicester believing and hoping and knowing that we will play in the Premier League,” Akgun said in December.

“My main aim, obviously, is for us to become champions here at Leicester and go up to the Premier League. I will be doing my best to help make that happen.”

Sources have revealed to TEAMtalk that Amorim is keen to strengthen his squad with a new winger – with the manager prepared to sanction the departure of Antony in January.

We understand that he is interested in bringing Sporting CP wingers Marcus Edwards, Pedro Goncalves and Geovany Quenda with him to Old Trafford, but he has already pledged not to raid his former club in January.

Sources have been unable to confirm Amorim’s reported interest in Akgun, suggesting that Sabah’s claims are wide of the mark. However, with the forward set to enter the final 12 months of his contract next summer a switch to the Premier League isn’t out of the question.

Man Utd latest: ‘Enquiry’ made for Prem star / Gyokeres boost

Meanwhile, Man Utd sporting director Dan Ashworth has drawn up a shortlist of left-back targets as the Red Devils look to bring in more cover for injury-plagued duo Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.

As previously revealed, Man Utd have shown interest in re-signing former player Alvaro Carreras, while they are also keeping close tabs on Bournemouth star Milos Kerkez.

Recent reports suggest that Man Utd have made an ‘enquiry’ for Kerkez to gauge his interest in a potential switch to Old Trafford, although the Red Devils could face competition from Liverpool for his signature.

Man Utd have also received a boost in the race for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, who the Portuguese have ‘no option’ but to sell at the end of the season, as per former Premier League star Jose Fonte.

“Portuguese clubs have got no option but to sell for the right price. We need to sell. Portuguese clubs have to sell one or two players every season,” Fonte said in a recent interview.

“That’s what people in the various federations are trying to do. Sporting will listen and they will probably have to sell Viktor Gyokeres because Portuguese clubs have to raise big money every year.”

DON’T MISS: Ruben Amorim in-tray: Seven key issues for new Man Utd head coach to address

Ange Postecoglou “could lose his job” at Tottenham before the end of this season if he fails to meet two targets, with a former Spurs player insisting he remains safe for now but having provided an insight into the ruthless thinking of chairman Daniel Levy.

The affable Aussie quickly won hearts and minds of the Tottenham faithful and the media last season in the wake of his straight-talking demeanour to the media and for his attack-minded brand of football that had Spurs top of the Premier League table last season after 10 games. Having won eight and drawn two of his first 10 matches at the helm, the 59-year-old has written his name into the history books for topping Jose Mourinho at Chelsea to enjoy the best start ever made by a new coach in Premier League history.

Ultimately, a devastating injury and suspension list over the autumn and winter not only saw their fine form tail off, it also saw them finish in fifth, narrowly missing out on a return to the Champions League.

This season though has not gone quite so well. Spurs currently sit 10th in the table, having lost as many games (five) as they have won. And three losses in their last five games have seen the pressure ramped up on Postecoglou.

And speculation over his future has not been aided by allegations that he has fallen out with at least four senior players this season.

Nonetheless, former Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson insists it is too soon to consider axing Postecoglou now. But in an interview with Football Insider, he has explained why he thinks patience with him could run out before the season is over if two big targets look likely to be missed.

“He’s under pressure now,” Robinson began. “But I think he’s bang under pressure at the end of the season if they fail to make it into the Champions League or Europa League again.

“They’re being beaten too easily and they’re too susceptible defensively.

“Ange has earned the right to have time, but they don’t seem to be learning from their mistakes.

“At the end of the season, yes, he’s bang under pressure if they don’t achieve what they want to achieve, but at the moment, he’s okay.

“In February, if they drop out of the cup competitions and it doesn’t look like they’ll compete for European places, he could lose his job before the end of the season.”

Tottenham trouble for Postecoglou as report names four stars who have ‘fallen out’ with manager

Postecoglou desperate to avoid ‘Aussie Jesse Marsch comparison’ with clever media ploy

Postecoglou sack: Journalist dismisses axe claims as Levy insight is revealed

Our sources insist that having backed the manager heavily in the market over the summer, Tottenham chief Levy is not yet panicking over their place in the Premier League and with the feeling they believe they are not too far short, performance-wise, of where they expect to be.

And while the loss of the in-form Rodrigo Bentacur to a seven-game suspension for a racist slur towards Son Heung-min will hit them hard, Spurs would have been third heading into the latest international break had they managed to beat Ipswich last time out.

That is a synopsis backed by Evening Standard journalist Dan Kilpatrick, who last week launched a strong defence of Postecoglou.

“So I don’t know what Levy and the board are thinking. To be honest, I think all the noises from the club, that they sort of accept that this is a medium-term venture,” Kilpatrick said on the Tottenham Way podcast.

“I mean, they’ve talked about being successful in the here and now, but they’ve also talked about building a squad, that they want to be successful in four or five years.

“And that’s been obvious in the age profile of the players they’ve signed, the three teenagers over the summer, two more coming next year.

“So, I think that there is a kind of commitment to see this through, or at least keep saying where it goes. But again, I can understand anyone associated with Spurs who’s losing a bit of patience or getting frustrated.”

Robinson, meanwhile, insists the pressure at Tottenham will never go away and even winning a trophy might not be enough with a top-six finish usually needed to secure Europa League football, his minimum target.

“He’s stuck with this style when it doesn’t necessarily suit some of the players in his side,” Robinson stressed.

“But he’ll always be under pressure at Tottenham because the stigma surrounding the need to win a trophy is not going to go away.

“It’s the stick used to beat them with by every other club, so if he wins a trophy and doesn’t reach European football, would that be enough?

“I’m not convinced. I think European football is vital for Tottenham and where they are as a club.

Latest Tottenham transfer news: Bergvall exit claims / stunning midfielder return talk

Meanwhile, journalist Tobias Hellgren has explained why Postecoglou is of the opinion that summer signing Lucas Bergvall is not yet suited to the higher intensity Premier League matches are played and that a January loan exit could be sanctioned for the Swedish teenager.

His place in the side could potentially be taken by the return of Harry Winks, if another report is to be believed.

The 28-year-old was sold by Postecoglou in his first season at the helm, but his form for Leicester – particularly this year in the Premier League – has seen a surprise report claim the Tottenham boss is now ‘determined’ to bring the 10-times capped England international back to north London.

A more realistic signing is perhaps that for USMNT star Johnny Cardoso.

Spurs already have a deal in place to sign the Real Betis midfielder in 2025 and now a report claims Postecoglou and Co are ready to bring forward their plan to sign the midfielder in the wake of interest from Premier League rivals Aston Villa.

Chelsea are reportedly ‘leading the race’ for Bayer Leverkusen star Jonathan Tah in a major blow to Tottenham, who are also very interested in the defender.

Tah, 28, is due to be out of contract with Leverkusen at the end of this season and will be able to open pre-contract talks in January with non-German clubs ahead of a free transfer next summer.

The German international played a major role in Leverkusen’s title-winning 2023/24 campaign and has started all of their Bundesliga matches so far this term.

According to CaughtOffside, Chelsea are now favourites to sign Tah after ‘entering into active negotiations over a deal’ as they ‘look to beat rivals’ to his signature.

The Blues are ‘making early efforts to try to move into a strong position for Tah’, who is also attracting interest from Tottenham, Manchester United, Newcastle, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Real Madrid.

Leverkusen are keen to convince Tah to sign a contract extension before the January window opens but his agent has already said ‘he’ll join a big club’ next season.

The fact that Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso is expected to leave to join Real Madrid next season also isn’t helping the Bundesliga champion’s chances of tying Tah down to a new deal.

EXCLUSIVE: 11 transfers the ‘Big Six’ Premier League sides could make in January: Amorim chases Liverpool target; Arsenal battle for Spain star

Chelsea to rival Tottenham for Bundesliga colossus

The report claims that Chelsea have made Tah ‘one of their top targets’ as Enzo Maresca looks to strengthen in defence, with the manager not convinced by the likes of Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi.

However, Tottenham are not willing to give up in the race for Tah without a fight. As we reported on Thursday, Spurs have also opened talks with Tah’s entourage as they try to gauge his interest in a switch to North London.

Ange Postecoglou wants more competition for Cristian Romero, who has been heavily linked with Real Madrid of late, as well as Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin, with back-up centre-back Ben Davies well down the pecking order.

At 6ft 4in, Tah is also a dominant force in the air and would strengthen a Tottenham side that has problems with set-pieces since Postecoglou took over at the club.

With that in mind, we could see London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham go head-to-head in the race for Tah, with both clubs expected to officially open talks with him in January.

But this is a fast-moving race and other sides could also make contact with the defender’s agents ahead of the winter transfer window.

Chelsea round-up: Badiashile to Juventus? / Dewsbury-Hall could leave

Meanwhile, recent reports suggest that Chelsea could part ways with Badiashile as early as January, with Juventus considering a move for the Blues’ defender.

Chelsea paid £35million to sign Badiashile from Monaco in January 2023, but the Frenchman has struggled to establish himself as a first-team regular under Maresca.

Indeed, the 23-year-old has featured just once in the Premier League so far this season under Maresca and has mainly found himself as an unused substitute on matchdays.

Juventus are currently in the middle of a defensive crisis, with both Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal recently suffering long-term injuries.

The Turin-based outfit are looking to bolster their beleaguered defensive ranks in the new year and are interested in signing Badiashile on either a loan or permanent deal, with Chelsea ready to negotiate his exit.

In other news, a report has linked Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall with a shock move away from Stamford Bridge. It’s claimed that Chelsea have have greenlit a January exit for midfielder. Manchester United and Tottenham are interested, but Aston Villa are reportedly first to open talks.

Fabrizio Romano claimed last week that Chelsea are open to letting summer signing Dewsbury-Hall go ALREADY, putting Man Utd and Spurs on red alert.

A temporary spell away via the loan route was cited as the likeliest outcome. Man Utd and Tottenham were named as the star’s ‘most high-profile suitors.’

But according to a separate report out of Spain, Aston Villa have jumped the queue by opening talks over a loan swoop that would contain an option to buy.

DON’T MISS: Nine jobs Ruud van Nistelrooy could take next after emotional Man Utd exit

A Swedish journalist has offered insight into why he believes Ange Postecoglou harbours doubts over a recent Tottenham signing.

Tottenham pulled off what appeared to be a major coup when convincing Lucas Bergvall to reject Barcelona in favour of signing for Spurs at the beginning of 2024.

The Swedish midfielder, 18, was viewed as one of the game’s fastest rising talents at the time and Tottenham wrapped up an agreement worth £8.5m. Bergvall signed on the dotted line on deadline day in the January window ahead of linking up with his new Tottenham teammates six months later.

But fast forward to the present day and Bergvall is yet to start a Premier League match this season. He has featured heavily in the Europa League, though Postecoglou recently spoke of “levels” after the youngster struggled against Galatasaray.

And according to Swedish journalist Tobias Hellgren, Postecoglou is of the opinion Bergvall is not yet suited to the higher intensity Premier League matches are played at.

‘There is something else to interpret in Ange’s words as well: he is simply not convinced of Bergvall’s current ability,’ Hellgren told Fotboll Skanalen.

‘Now he has returned to the fact that the Swede has “more to learn” so many times that everyone has understood that he thinks so. Subtly, Ange probably wants to convey instead that Bergvall is not quite ready – yet – for the high-tempo, heavy metal-like football that is at the top of the Premier League.

‘Bergvall received two clear clearances against Manchester United and was the first to smoke at the red card against Qarabag. Being “easy to sacrifice” is often a good indicator of how high you stand with your coach.’

Loan exit if Bergvall doesn’t improve?

Hellgren went on to state that while it’s too early to talk about Bergvall requiring a loan move, a temporary spell away could become a requirement if the midfielder’s situation does not quickly improve.

‘We are in November, and it is far too early to start talking about a loan,’ added the Swedish reporter. ‘On the one hand, there is value in just being in Tottenham’s environment, on the other hand there may be openings further on with injuries and suspensions.

‘But the situation probably needs to start getting better for Bergvall pretty soon so that the loan discussion is not seriously brought up. Because right now his “status in the hierarchy” meter is pointing down.

‘And Postecoglou’s latest outing does not suggest that a complete turnaround on that point is to be expected shortly.’

Latest Tottenham news – Odobert, Winks, Postecoglou

In other news, Tottenham have confirmed winger Wilson Odobert has undergone surgery to repair a hamstring injury. No timescale has been put on Odobert’s return.

Elsewhere, a surprise report in Spain has remarkably claimed Tottenham are hopeful of re-signing Harry Winks from Leicester City.

Finally, Football Insider claimed Postecoglou has fallen out with four high profile Spurs stars at varying stages this season. The quartet are Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie and Rodrigo Bentancur.

Explaining why, it was claimed ‘sources say his straight talking in public and behind the scenes has had a negative reaction in the dressing room and has sewn the discord at the heart of the team’s wild swings in form.’

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that Wilson Odobert has undergone surgery on his right hamstring after a series of injury setbacks, which could prompt the club to step up their chase for a new winger in January.

Odobert has been incredibly unlucky with injuries since joining Spurs from Burnley over the summer, making only five appearances for the club in all competitions so far this season.

The 19-year-old was out for a month with his hamstring problem earlier in the campaign, only to return against AZ in the Europa League and be forced out of the game with a recurrence of the same problem.

And now Tottenham have confirmed that Odobert has been forced to have surgery on the issue but have not given a timescale on his return.

A statement on their official website read: “We can confirm that Wilson Odobert underwent surgery to his right hamstring yesterday (Saturday 16 November).

“The 19-year-old will continue to be closely monitored by our medical team to determine when he can return to training.”

The news will come as another blow to Ange Postecoglou, with Spurs having been hit hard by injuries for much of the season so far. Indeed, the Australian was keen to utilise Odobert in a rotation with sipper Son Heung-min and Timo Werner wide on the left as the club continue to balance domestic and European action.

With no timeframe on Odobert’s return and Son himself also spending time on the sidelines, there is every chance Tottenham will move for a new winger in January – with Manchester City’s Jack Grealish and Real Sociedad sensation Takefusa Kubo both reported to be on their radar.

Tottenham considering January winger raid

Odobert’s prolonged absence, to add to concerns over Son, leaves Spurs light on options on the left wing – so perhaps it’s not that surprising to see the club once again being linked with Jack Grealish.

The England forward, who has been sidelined with a groin issue for the last three weeks, was a major target for Tottenham back in 2019 and was keen on a move that was quickly put to bed by his then employers Aston Villa.

Two years later, Grealish moved to City in a record £100million deal, but he has struggled to show his best form despite the club’s unparalleled trophy success during that time.

There is no mention of what sort of fee could be involved, although Grealish remains under contract until 2027 so won’t come cheap despite his overall lack of productivity at City.

Meanwhile, Tottenham and Bayern Munich have reportedly joined Liverpool on the hunt for Takefusa Kubo, who Real Sociedad could find it ‘difficult to retain’.

Former Real Madrid man Kubo is into his third season with Sociedad. Now with 25 goals in his La Liga career, the Japanese international has been a consistent performer for his current club every season.

That has piqued the interest of some clubs in other big European leagues.

Liverpool have been linked for a while, but Fichajes reports that Tottenham and Bayern Munich are both now interested in his talents, as well as the Reds.

Spurs are said to want to add versatility and depth to their attack, and feel the speed and dribbling ability of Kubo make him a fantastic asset for Ange Postecoglou’s system.

The winger has a €60million (£50m/$63m) release clause, and as a result, it’s believed that will make him ‘difficult to retain’ for Sociedad.

If it came down to a choice between the pair, then Grealish is the more natural fit on the left but Kubo is six years his junior. And, given Postecoglou’s admiration for Asian players, a move for Japan star Kubo appears to make more sense, while also fitting in with Tottenham’s current policy of bringing in younger players.

Latest Tottenham news: Spurs eye shock Winks return / Greek striker on Ange’s radar

Tottenham are reportedly entertaining the option of bringing a former midfielder back to the club in the January transfer window for what could represent a potential £22million loss on his original sale.

Leicester City star Harry Winks is being linked with a sensational return to north London after being the standout performer for the Foxes so far on their return to the Premier League.

Indeed, Spanish outlet Fichajes reports that Spurs are ‘determined’ to bring Winks back to the club and are willing to pay a whopping £32m (€38m/$40m) for his services – a deal that would see them net a loss of £22m on the original transfer.

Tottenham are reportedly entertaining the option of bringing a former midfielder back to the club in the January transfer window for what could represent a potential £22million loss on his original sale.

Leicester City star Harry Winks is being linked with a sensational return to north London after being the standout performer for the Foxes so far on their return to the Premier League.

The 28-year-old quit Tottenham for Leicester after Ange Postecoglou’s arrival in the summer of 2023, moving to the then Championship side for a fee of just £10m (€11.6m/$12.2).

Winks played a pivotal role as the Foxes bounced straight back to the Premier League last season and has arguably been their best player back in the top flight as Steve Cooper’s men currently sit 15th in the table – three points above the relegation places.

And now, Spanish outlet Fichajes reports that Spurs are ‘determined’ to bring Winks back to north London and are willing to pay a whopping £32m (€38m/$40m) for his services – a deal that would see them net a loss of £22m on the original transfer.

The report adds that Tottenham have been impressed with the maturity Winks has added to his game and his growth as a player after several seasons of struggle previously in the capital.

It’s certainly no secret that Postecoglou wants another body in midfield, given how he has seemingly failed to settle on a regular three in his engine room, and Winks would certainly bring more of a box-to-box presence in there.

Still, that £32m figure being reported does appear too excessive for a player who will turn 29 in February next year and who failed to convince Postecoglou he was worthy of keeping around in the first place.

The argument that Winks should never have left

On the face of it, cashing in on Winks in 2023 made a lot of sense for a player who had been loaned out to Sampdoria the season before and had made 34 Premier League appearances across the previous two campaigns in north London.

However, there is a strong argument that Posteecoglou should have given the England midfielder a chance in pre-season prior to the 2023/24 campaign to fully make his mind up on the player.

Winks, instead, joined the Foxes on July 1 2023 and went on to score twice in 45 Championship appearances playing both as a defensive midfielder and a No.8 in Enzo Maresca’s team before the Italian quit for Chelsea.

In terms of what Postecoglou wants from a midfielder playing in his complex system, Winks has so many of the attributes that could see him be a success at Tottenham again.

His energy levels are off the charts, his movement is excellent off the ball when it comes to creating angles to receive possession, he can drive the length of the field with good pace and is particularly strong on the press.

Indeed, you could argue that is more adept than the likes of Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur at certain aspects named above, although he is not really a goal or assists machine.

It certainly would have been interesting if Postecogou had actually kept Winks around, although we could still see him back in the white of Tottenham – if the rather fanciful report from Fichajes has any substance.

Latest Tottenham news: Senior stars fall out with Postecoglou / Spurs step up Cardoso pursuit

Ange Postecoglou has ‘fallen out’ with ‘at least four’ of his ‘senior stars’ at Tottenham this season, a new report has claimed, though supporters should not fear that claims of the alleged bust-up will hasten speculation over his future in N17.

Meanwhile, Tottenham are expected to speed up their pursuit of Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso in reaction to Aston Villa joining the race for the USMNT star.

When selling Giovani Lo Celso to Betis in the summer, Tottenham secured the right of first refusal on signing Cardoso. As such, they have the chance to bring him to the Premier League – or they could even earn a portion of the fee if Betis sell him elsewhere.

Ange Postecoglou has ‘fallen out’ with ‘at least four’ of his ‘senior stars’ at Tottenham this season, a new report has claimed, though supporters should not fear that claims of the alleged bust-up will hasten speculation over his future in N17.

The Aussie boss was seen as a breath of fresh air upon his appointment by Spurs last summer, with his straight-talking demeanour quickly winning over fans and media alike, while his style of football was seen as pleasing on the eye and having established Tottenham as the early pacesetters in last season’s Premier League with eight wins and two draws from their first 10 games.

But fast forward a year later and the situation at the club is very different, with the club suffering three defeats in their last five Premier League games to leave them a lowly 10th in the table. And with Tottenham doing very Spursy things by allowing Ipswich to claim a 2-1 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last time out – the Suffolk side’s first Premier League win in over 8,000 days – evidence is starting to grow that all is not well at the club.

More evidence that cracks are starting to show in the Postecoglou regime has seemingly gathered pace amid a damaging new report from Football Insider that the 59-year-old has fallen out with at least four senior stars this season.

They name Italy internationals Destiny Udogie and Guglielmo Vicario and South American pair Rodrigo Bentancur and Cristian Romero as the quartet among those who have been upset by Postecoglou.

Their report goes on to add that ‘sources say his straight talking in public and behind the scenes has had a negative reaction in the dressing room and has sewn the discord at the heart of the team’s wild swings in form’.

Furthermore, they claim questions over Postecoglou’s future are starting to be asked and a failure to improve over the next few weeks could negatively impact his future.

‘Pressure will now intensify on Postecoglou following the international break, with Tottenham set to face Man City next week (23 November).

‘Senior Spurs sources have told Football Insider that the next month is pivotal to his future in north London, with an improvement required to cement his medium-term future at the club.’

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Indeed, the possibility of Tottenham sacking Postecoglou has, somewhat surprisingly reared its head over the past week, even though a win over Ipswich would have thrust the club into the top three had they managed to claim a win over Ipswich.

And wins at Manchester United, combined with home successes over Manchester City (in the Carabao Cup) and Aston Villa have shown what the side are capable of.

Furthermore, despite their 3-2 loss at Galatasaray thanks to an inspired performance from Victor Osimhen, Spurs are also well on track to progress to the next round of the Europa League.

That competition remains hugely important for Postecoglou, with the manager making no secret of his wish to lift a trophy at Tottenham – the club last lifted silverware in 2008, some 16 years ago – and with Spurs also knowing success in the Europa League offers a guaranteed pathway to the Champions League, which has been set as a target for Postecoglou by chairman Daniel Levy this season.

Nonetheless, despite their recent struggles, Alan Shearer insists it is far too soon to begin speculation over Postecoglou’s future.

“Typical Spurs though, isn’t it? My goodness me. They beat City at home, they beat Villa at home with a great win, and then you got Ipswich at home. Ipswich turn you over,” Shearer said on The Rest is Football podcast.

“I don’t think so [Postecoglou under pressure]. No, I think you just look at it like that, he took responsibility, didn’t he?

“He said it’s his fault, his problem. He’s got to sort it out. But when you see them in the second half against Villa and then beating City, it’s just, it’s the inconsistency again. How long have we been saying that about Spurs?”

Evening Standard journalist Dan Kilpatrick also insists Postecoglou is not in any immediate danger of being axed.

“So I don’t know what Levy and the board are thinking. To be honest, I think all the noises from the club, that they sort of accept that this is a medium-term venture,” Kilpatrick said on the Tottenham Way podcast.

“I mean, they’ve talked about being successful in the here and now, but they’ve also talked about building a squad, that they want to be successful in four or five years.

“And that’s been obvious in the age profile of the players they’ve signed, the three teenagers over the summer, two more coming next year.

“So, I think that there is a kind of commitment to see this through, or at least keep saying where it goes. But again, I can understand anyone associated with Spurs who’s losing a bit of patience or getting frustrated.”

Latest Tottenham transfer news: Greek striker targeted / USA midfielder to sign

Meanwhile, Tottenham are hurtling towards their first signing of 2025, with a move for Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso set to be sped up in relation to speculation that Aston Villa have joined the hunt for his signature.

Spurs negotiated a crafty agreement to give themselves first dibs on the USMNT star in 2025 as part of the arrangement that allowed Giovani Lo Celso to rejoin the LaLiga side.

But in recent weeks the player has also been linked with a move to Unai Emery’s side and that interest has seemingly convinced Levy to push through his signing with details on the fee Spurs will pay also coming to light.

Elsewhere, Spurs are being linked with a move for Greek striker Stefanos Tzimas, who has caught the eye during a loan spell with Nurnberg.

That temporary switch is set to be made permanent next year, but the German side are eyeing an instant profit and with Spurs one of three Premier League sides being tipped to move for the teenage prospect.

And finally, Tottenham have reportedly joined Liverpool in the hunt for Takefusa Kubo, who it’s claimed Real Sociedad could find it ‘difficult to retain’ next year.

The Japanese winger is highly rated by the LaLiga side but his big-money release clause is understood to have caught Spurs’ attention.

Tottenham are expected to speed up their pursuit of Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso in reaction to Aston Villa joining the race for the USMNT star.

When selling Giovani Lo Celso to Betis in the summer, Tottenham secured the right of first refusal on signing Cardoso. As such, they have the chance to bring him to the Premier League – or they could even earn a portion of the fee if Betis sell him elsewhere.

But with recent reports claiming Aston Villa are also keeping tabs on Cardoso, Tottenham might need to make a decision about whether to take their opportunity to sign him sooner rather than later. And according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, it’s likely that Tottenham ‘don’t want to miss out’ on Cardoso and will make full use of the deal Daniel Levy has smartly agreed.

“He really had them over the barrel on this one,” O’Rourke told Football Insider. “If he does well at Betis, I’m sure Spurs will maybe take up their option of signing him on a permanent basis, especially if they see one of their rivals Aston Villa showing a bit of interest.

“They might think, ‘right, we need to get this deal done’, because they don’t want to miss out on him.

“But whatever happens, Spurs have got every corner covered. They’ll either make money if they sign him or if they don’t they’ll make a bit of profit from his transfer fee.

“Smart piece of business by Daniel Levy and we shouldn’t be surprised, he is very good in his negotiations that he gets a deal like this. I haven’t seen too many deals like this in the transfer market.”

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Tottenham’s agreement for Cardoso explained

Tottenham’s agreement with Betis for Cardoso means they will be able to sign him for a fixed fee of €30m (£25.1m/$31.6m) when they desire.

Alternatively, they will be entitled to a percentage of the transfer fee Betis receive if he is sold to another club.

Betis president Angel Haro confirmed in September: “It would be interesting for everyone, it would mean that we would also have a capital gain.

“In short, if there is an operation in which a capital gain is produced for Betis, Tottenham would have a percentage of it. There is also an option to buy for them, but it would be high and positive for us if it were to happen.”

The percentage of the profit Tottenham would earn if someone like Aston Villa bought him instead is yet to be disclosed, but it might not matter anyway if they do activate their move for him.

Tottenham transfer roundup

Cardoso is not the only player who could be on his way from La Liga to Tottenham. Speculative reports from Spain have claimed Spurs have also joined the race for Real Sociedad winger Takefusa Kubo.

He would be available to buy for €60m (£50m/$63m) thanks to his release clause, but Tottenham are not the only side in the hunt for him.

It is an interesting development, though, while Son Heung-min’s future is under discussion. The latest on that front is that Spurs are expected to activate their option to renew the captain’s contract until 2026 – but then it might be goodbye.

And as their attack evolves, they have also been linked with an in-form striker who is quickly outgrowing the German second division.