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Reputed transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has given an update on Tottenham’s stance when it comes to the long-term future of on-loan winger Mathys Tel, who has struggled to make an impact during his time in north London so far.

Spurs beat Premier League rivals Manchester United to the capture of the young French forward late in the winter window transfer, with Tel changing his mind over a move after rejecting their initial approach a week before his eventual arrival.

There was certainly plenty of noise surrounding the move for a player who has plenty of admirers in Munich, with Tottenham also having a purchase option which includes a six-year contract with a fee of £45.7million (€56m / $61m).

Tel made his Tottenham debut in the 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg and has scored just once in six appearances since.

Indeed, it’s fair to say that his performances so far have largely been underwhelming, although he did have some bright moments in Sunday’s Premier League loss at Fulham.

But, despite those struggles, Romano has given an update on how likely Tottenham are to take up that permanent option on the 19-year-old as the weeks count down until the summer window opens.

Romano told GiveMeSport that Spurs are actually pleased with the loanee, who has every chance of earning a stay – assuming he wants to – after his initial deal ends.

He said: “For Mathys Tel, they’re very happy with the boy, with the attitude, with the potential they see in this boy, and that’s why they were fighting for weeks to sign him in January.

“At the moment, their indication remains, as Postecoglou always says, that they trust him also for the future. Then let’s see what happens.”

That news is somewhat surprising, given the fact that Tel has yet to register a single goal or assist in the Premier League for the club and has often looked a little lost in the games he has played so far.

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Tel caught up in row with Tottenham fans

Meanwhile, Tel ended up at the centre of a row with Tottenham fans after the loss at Craven Cottage over the weekend.

The defeat at their London rivals was their 15th in the league this season and leaves Ange Postecoglou’s men currently sitting 14th in the table, with the pressure continuing to increase on the Australian.

Indeed, speaking after the contest, Postecoglou acknowledged his side’s struggles, telling the BBC: “It’s been a difficult campaign for sure. But I feel we’ve lost too many games that we should have got stuff out of, and this was one of those games.

“It’s another international break we go into off a loss and you feel that. We just need to make sure we’re ready for when we come back.”

Some fans are not buying Postecoglou’s rhetoric, however, and have clearly had a enough – with Tel filmed speaking to a section of the away support in what was a heated exchange after Sunday’s clash.

Shouts of “it’s not good enough” could be heard from several supporters in footage shared to social media.

Tel was then seen responding by telling them “we need to be together” as he tried to calm the situation down, acting way beyond his 19 years in the process.

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Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is reportedly lining up a stunning raid on a Premier League rival to secure the club their next manager, as pressure continues to mount on Ange Postecoglou in north London.

Spurs’ disastrous season domestically continued on Sunday as they crashed to a 2-0 defeat at London rivals Fulham, their 15th league loss which leaves them sitting 14th in the table with nine games to go.

Judging by his team selection prior to the game at Craven Cottage, Postecoglou appears to have placed all his eggs in the Europa League basket ahead of a two-legged quarter-final against Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Australian left out the likes of Micky van de Ven, James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall and skipper Son Heung-min as Tottenham were comfortably beaten in the end, with former Spurs star Ryan Sessegnon grabbing the home’s second.

That defeat left more calls for Postecoglou’s head, while the Tottenham chief admitted that the amount of times his side has lost this season has been unacceptable.

The latest setback has once again sparked talk over who could take over, with TT previously confirming that the likes of Andoni Iraola, Thomas Frank and Edin Terzic are all firmly in the mix.

And, according to a fresh report from GiveMeSport, it’s Bournemouth chief Iraola who is Levy’s choice to replace Postecoglou, if he decides to pull the trigger.

The Cherries are enjoying a superb campaign under the Spaniard and went unbeaten against Tottenham twice this season, winning on the south coast and earning a recent draw in north London in a game where they largely outplayed the hosts.

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Bournemouth plotting move to fend off Tottenham interest

The report adds that contact has already been made with Iraola, despite Bournemouth planning to hold discussions over an improved contract for the 42-year-old.

There have been suggestions that Iraola would be open to the possibility of heading to the capital, if the opportunity presents itself, with Tottenham’s hierarchy confident that his head will be turned enough to make the switch.

GMS adds that Cherries owner Bill Foley is poised to hold face-to-face talks with Iraola to understand his plans for the future, with a lucrative new contract on the table to fend off Spurs’ interest.

Iraola was appointed as Bournemouth head coach in June 2023 and is reported to have a release clause of £5million written into his contract, which would present no issues to Tottenham.

As for Postecoglou, he will continue to play on his own words that ‘he always wins a trophy in his second season’, as success in the Europa League would mean direction qualification for next season’s Champions League.

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Whether or not Ange Postecoglou is getting the best out of Tottenham Hotspur’s players can be seriously questioned, according to an outspoken pundit who believes the axe is bound to fall on the Australian tactician on one condition.

Spurs lost 2-0 to Fulham on Sunday afternoon, which leaves them 14th in the Premier League table. There is no realistic danger of relegation, but Postecoglou’s side have been stuck in the bottom half of the table since October and there doesn’t look to be any way out.

Postecoglou has been under pressure for a while, but has constantly defended himself by citing the number of injuries he has had to deal with.

Still, the scrutiny is on and Postecoglou is clinging onto the hope of winning the Europa League to stay in his job.

After the Fulham defeat, former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara reiterated it will be over for Postecoglou as soon as they’re knocked out in Europe.

“A really poor performance again from Spurs,” O’Hara said on Sky Sports. “They’ve been inconsistent all season. Lacklustre in possession, no real edge to our game, no bite.

“Fulham are a good side, and they’re well organised, but you’ve got to take the game to them. I understand we’ve got the Europa League, and we have put all of our eggs in that basket, but the Premier League is bread and butter.

“The standard of the performances in the Premier League this season is nowhere near good enough, and I think Ange is clinging onto his job right now. We’ve got to play Frankfurt in the quarter-finals [of the Europa League] – they’re a good team, they’re fourth [in the Bundesliga] at the moment.

“That is a tough game. I think if we go out then, it’s probably ‘see you later’ to Ange Postecoglou at Spurs. I don’t see a way back. Is he getting the best out of these players now? We’re getting players back fit.

“The second goal we conceded today – I’m a massive fan of Djed Spence, I really like him, he’s done really well since he’s come in – but the defending for the goal is absolutely shocking.”

Spurs begin Postecoglou replacement search

Even ahead of Spurs’ defeat to Fulham, and their recovery against AZ in the Europa League before that, sources revealed to TEAMtalk that the search is already underway for Postecoglou’s replacement.

Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola is admired in north London, as is former Borussia Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic.

A surprise candidate could be Russell Martin, who was sacked by Southampton earlier this season.

But Postecoglou’s future hinges on how far he can take Spurs in the Europa League. If he can win the whole thing, it would significantly boost his chances of staying next season, since Spurs have been without a trophy since 2008.

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Further pressure has been heaped on Ange Postecolgou after Tottenham were beaten 2-0 by Europe chasing Fulham on Sunday, leaving Spurs 13th in the Premier League table.

The London side have failed to win in their last three league matches. Calls for Postecoglou to be sacked have been rife for months, but now they could ramp up once again.

Former Tottenham man Ryan Sessegnon ironically sealed the win for Fulham with a goal in the 88th minute, eight months on from leaving Spurs as a free agent.

Perhaps the only thing saving Postecoglou at the moment is the fact that Tottenham remain in the Europa League, after coming from behind to beat AZ Alkmaar 3-2 across two legs.

That is a view held by one Spurs supporter, who told BBC Sport that Postecoglou could have no complaints if chairman Daniel Levy was to axe him.

“How long are we going to chase that particular ghost?” said Jon.

“I fully expect Ange to be sacked when we inevitably limp out of Europe and when we do, can anyone argue that he won’t fully deserve it?”

And on X, some Spurs fans have been venting their frustrations at just how bad things have got under Postecoglou.

“Let’s just all be honest now. Ange Postecoglou is the worst manager this football club has ever had. By a million miles,” posted Sussex Tottenham.

Similarly, one by the name of Matt said: “Ange Postecoglou is the worst spurs manager in my lifetime. End of conversation.”

Ange Postecoglou: ‘It’s been a difficult campaign’

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day following Tottenham’s defeat, Postecoglou described the game as ‘tight’ and said Spurs were the ‘better team’ in the second half, before they ultimately conceded two goals.

“It was a tight game, it always is when you play here [at Craven Cottage],” Postecoglou said.

“I thought for the most part we were pretty comfortable. We had a big chance to go ahead and then we conceded a really soft goal and the game got away from us.

“Both goals were pretty soft. At the very least you want to stay in the game. I thought in the second half we were the better team and had the best chances up to that point. So to concede is very disappointing.

“It’s been a difficult campaign for sure. But I feel we’ve lost too many games that we should have got stuff out of, and this was one of those games.

“It’s another international break we go into off a loss and you feel that. We just need to make sure we’re ready for when we come back.”

Tottenham have begun looking at potential new managers – sources

Tottenham will play Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League quarter-finals after the international break, with the first leg to take place on April 10th. The result of that match could have big ramifications for Postecoglou.

TEAMtalk insider Fraser Fletcher reported that the Spurs hierarchy are yet to make a final decision on whether Postecoglou will continue as manager next season, but winning the Europa League would put him in a much stronger position.

We understand that Tottenham have already begun looking at managerial targets as part of normal succession planning.

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is one name on their shortlist, along with former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic, who is a free agent.

Perhaps most interesting though is that recently sacked Southampton manager Russell Martin is also being ‘evaluated’ by Spurs, per sources.

Martin would be open to taking on a new challenge in the Premier League and could yet prove a surprising name to watch in the summer.

He helped Southampton seal promotion from the Championship via the play-offs last term but was ultimately relieved of his duties in December, following a 5-0 loss to Tottenham.

Ultimately, though, his appointment may be seen as somewhat risky given Saints picked up just five points from 16 Premier League games under Martin. His possession-based style wasn’t the right fit for Southampton in the top flight but Tottenham do remain admirers of the 39-year-old.

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Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly learned what it will take to prise Jobe Bellingham away from Championship promotion hopefuls Sunderland in the summer transfer window.

The 19-year-old younger brother of Real Madrid and England superstar Jude Bellingham is making a big name for himself with a Blacks Cats side who currently sit fourth in the table under Regis Le Bris and are firmly in the mix for a Premier League return.

Bellingham has scored four goals and added three assists in 34 Championship appearances for Sunderland this season, with all his appearances coming in the starting XI and also in a multitude of different positions.

Indeed, the teenager can operate in three different central midfield roles, from acting as the defensive pivot to also featuring as a No.10.

His impressive form has seen the likes of Tottenham and Chelsea, amongst others, register an interest in a player who still has three years remaining on his contract on Wearside.

And now Football Insider has revealed that Sunderland will be looking to recoup a fee of at least £20million, if they do decide to cash in on one of their top talents.

That plan could change though, if the Blacks Cats actually secure promotion for a player who is also on the radar of Borussia Dortmund – given the links his brother Jude had with the Bundesliga giants.

The report adds, however, that the England Under-21 international has not yet made a final decision on whether he will leave the club if they stay in the Championship.

Bellingham moved to Sunderland from Birmingham for just £1.5m in the summer of 2023, and the teenager now boasts a total of 11 goals and four assists in 81 games for the Black Cats in all competitions.

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Tottenham midfield set for revamp

Spurs are set for a busy summer and are expected to make a number of alterations to their squad after a season of struggle domestically.

Despite their midfield being the least hit area by injuries this term, it’s expected to be a part of the pitch where Ange Postecoglou brings one or two players to freshen things up – assuming he keeps his job.

Yves Bissouma will almost certainly be moved on after continuing his hugely underwhelming form in a Tottenham shirt, having previously looked so good at Brighton.

Recent rumours also suggested Rodrigo Bentancur could be considering his future, despite the club being keen on handing the Uruguay international a fresh contract.

The future already looks bright in the Spurs engine room though, with Archie Gray given a rare start in his natural position at Fulham on Sunday, while young Swede Lucas Bergvall continues to go from strength to strength.

But Bellingham’s ability to play multiple roles would make him a valuable squad player for a youthful Tottenham side who can only improve after their struggles this season.

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Tottenham Hotspur have pulled the plug on a winger Ange Postecoglou previously destroyed and the star’s future could now lay elsewhere in the Premier League.

Eyebrows were raised when Tottenham curiously sanctioned a second loan deal for Timo Werner last summer. The German had done little to warrant a second chance after struggling during his initial six-month spell in north London.

Nevertheless, Tottenham saw fit to extend the olive branch and what’s followed has done little to aid Spurs’ cause.

In and around injuries Werner has notched one goal and provided just three assists in 27 appearances this season. After a particularly dire display against Rangers in the Europa League group phase, Werner’s manager dished out a verbal lashing.

“When you’ve got 18-year-olds [in the squad], it [that performance] is not acceptable to me. I said that to Timo, he’s a German international,” said Postecoglou.

The Spurs boss added: “In the moment we’re in right now – it’s not like we’ve got many options – I need everyone to at least be going out there and trying to give the best of themselves. His performance in the first half wasn’t acceptable.

“We need everybody, including him, to be contributing because we don’t have the depth to leave people out if they perform poorly. I expect a level of performance from some of the senior guys, and tonight wasn’t that.”

TEAMtalk were informed on March 13 that Spurs will not take up the €12m/£10.1m option to buy in Werner’s loan agreement. And per the latest from Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Werner’s problems don’t end there.

After confirming Spurs won’t sign Werner to a permanent deal, Plettenberg suggested it’s by no means guaranteed Werner is welcomed back at RB Leipzig where his contract will have one year remaining.

TEAMtalk understands Werner does hold interest from multiple MLS sides, most notably New York Red Bulls. That link should not come as a surprise given Leipzig and the New York side are both under the RB umbrella.

Plettenberg confirmed our reporting about American interest, though also stressed Werner’s camp are receiving enquiries from other Premier League clubs. As such, we may not have seen the last of Werner in England once his Spurs loan concludes.

“Tottenham will not trigger the €12m option to buy for Timo Werner,” wrote Plettenberg on X. “As a result, he is set to return to RB Leipzig after the season, according to the current plan.

“Much will depend on who succeeds Marco Rose if the coach leaves RB in the summer. At the moment, Werner is not inclined to move within the Bundesliga.

“There are still concrete enquiries from the Premier League and MLS. His current salary at Leipzig is around €10m gross/year.”

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Brennan Johnson has been linked with a stunning return to Nottingham Forest, with a trusted journalist suggesting that the winger could leave Tottenham Hotspur amid criticism from Jamie O’Hara.

Johnson joined Tottenham from Forest in the summer of 2023. The north London club paid a sizeable transfer fee of £47.5million for the Wales international, as chairman Daniel Levy showed his ambition and backed head coach Ange Postecoglou with a new attacker after Harry Kane left for Bayern Munich in a £100million deal.

The 23-year-old, though, has had a mixed time at Tottenham, with the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium fans not always happy with him.

Johnson scored five goals and gave 10 assists in 38 matches in all competitions for Tottenham last season.

The winger has done better this campaign, finding the back of the net 14 times and making three assists in 38 appearances for Spurs.

Nottingham Forest writer at The Athletic, Paul Taylor, has now suggested that Johnson could potentially return to the City Ground this summer.

If Forest qualify for the Champions League, then the winger would be more than happy to go back to his former club, according to the respected journalist.

Taylor told The Athletic during a Q&A, as relayed by NottinghamForestNews: “I’d guess that he’d be more than happy to come back to Forest to play Champions League football, if they do manage to get themselves over the line for that, of course.

“But there might be a few more complicating factors involved. Not least the fact that Anthony Elanga has been a pretty exciting replacement for him. He has been brilliant down the Forest right.

“One more wide player/forward added to the mix would be very useful, of course, particularly one of Brennan’s quality.

“Would he get into the team right now? That’s a different question, or perhaps the question is where he would fit in. It’s definitely an interesting idea.”

Jamie O’Hara frustrated with Brennan Johnson

Former Tottenham midfielder and talkSPORT pundit O’Hara has often criticised Johnson for not doing enough, and his latest harsh comments for the winger came after the Premier League club’s 3-1 win against AZ at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the second leg of Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday.

O’Hara said on talkSPORT: “Brennan Johnson, for me, he gets on the end of things, but he frustrates the life out of me. But, Odobert has got a bit more about him.”

The pundit added: “He (Johnson) gets on the end of things, he’s the one that finishes the move off. But, when he gets on the ball, I want to see more, go past players. He’s great with his runs, he wants Maddison or someone to put him in, he’ll get on the back post and that’s a great attribute to have.

“But, if you want to play for Tottenham week in, week out on the wing, you’ve got to produce when you get the ball at your feet. You saw that happen with players Spurs have had as wingers, like Bale and Lennon and Ginola, players like that. You need someone who can do that.”

Latest Tottenham news: Angel Gomes boost, Real Madrid threat

Tottenham have received a boost in their quest to sign Angel Gomes, with Premier League rivals Manchester United deciding to abandon their pursuit of the midfielder.

Man Utd have reportedly decided not to make a move for the England international, while Spurs are in talks with the midfielder’s agents over signing the Lille star on a free transfer this summer.

TEAMtalk contributor Ben Jacobs has revealed that Real Madrid are interested in Tottenham duo Cristian Romero and Pedro Porro.

The defending Spanish and European champions are on the hunt for a new centre-back and have Romero on their radar.

Porro is Los Blancos’s second-choice right-back if they are unable to seal the deal with Liverpool ace Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Meanwhile, former Liverpool striker John Aldridge has tipped second-choice Reds goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher to join Tottenham.

Aldridge said: “As much as I would love him to stay at Liverpool for the rest of his career, I think I can probably see him having to go to play regular football because it’s what he deserves. As much as he loves Liverpool, he should be playing week in, week out.

“As a Liverpool fan, I’d love to see him go abroad. I think it would be great for him. I’m looking at the top teams here and there’s some teams like Tottenham that need a better goalkeeper… Manchester United need a better keeper! But he’s not going there!

“He could play for any team in the Premier League but personally you know I’d say it’s one of the top teams in Europe that he deserves. Italy, Spain, Germany or whatever. I think that would be perfect for him, I really do.”

Manchester United have reportedly decided to abandon their pursuit of Angel Gomes amid speculation that Tottenham Hotspur are in talks, but the north London club will not get a clean run at the Lille midfielder.

Gomes came through the Man Utd youth academy, but the midfielder failed to establish himself in the first team. After making 10 appearances for the Red Devils’ senior side, the midfielder left Old Trafford in 2020 and signed a five-year contract with Lille on a free transfer.

A season-long loan spell at Portuguese club Boavista followed, and since his return to Lille in 2021, Gomes has gradually become a key figure in the French club’s team.

The 24-year-old has now established himself as one of the best midfielders in Ligue 1 and has demonstrated his all-round ability in midfield by playing as an attacking midfielder in a number 10 role, deeper as an eight or even a six, and sometimes out on the wings.

Gomes himself told TNT Sports in February 2024 that he is happy to play in whichever position in midfield his manager would want him to.

With the midfielder out of contract at Lille at the end of the season, a report on March 1 claimed that Man Utd were determined to convince the England international to return to Old Trafford in the summer transfer window.

However, Football Insider is now reporting that Man Utd have completely changed their mind over Gomes.

The Premier League club “will not pursue a move” for Gomes, states the report.

Man Utd’s stance on Gomes comes just days after it was revealed that Tottenham are actively trying to seal the deal for the Lille star.

Tottenham have “already initiated talks” with the representatives of Gomes, stated a report in Football Transfers on March 11.

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West Ham United also want Angel Gomes

While Tottenham will be pleased that Man Utd are no longer in the race for Gomes, the north London club are not going to have a clear run at the England international midfielder.

According to GiveMeSport, West Ham United are keen on securing the services of Gomes on a free transfer this summer.

West Ham manager Graham Potter has personally told his bosses that he wants Gomes to join his team.

Football Insider has also noted interest from West Ham in Gomes, who has scored two goals and given one assist in 20 appearances for Lille so far this season.

Latest Man Utd news: Chevalier interest, Mainoo exit

Andre Onana is the number one goalkeeper at Man Utd, but the Cameroon international has made high-profile errors.

The Red Devils are looking for a new goalkeeper who can eventually replace Onana in the starting line-up.

A report has revealed that Man Utd are strongly considering a bid for Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier.

Manchester City and Barcelona were linked with the 23-year-old goalkeeper in the January transfer window.

Man Utd are in danger of losing Kobbie Mainoo to Real Madrid, according to a report.

Mainoo is refusing to sign a new contract with Man Utd, which has alerted Madrid to his situation.

Although the defending Spanish and European champions acknowledge that it will not be easy to prise away the midfielder this summer, Los Blancos are going to keep tabs on his situation in the long run.

TEAMtalk’s transfer correspondent Fraser Fletcher has reported that Man Utd are pursuing a deal for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres.

Arsenal and Chelsea also hold interest in Gyokeres, who has a release clause of €100million (£83.6m/$105.1m) in his contract at Sporting.

Real Madrid have drawn up a three-man shortlist of centre-back targets and a move for Tottenham star Cristian Romero is a concrete possibility, TEAMtalk understands.

The LaLiga giants have made signing a new centre-back a top priority after injuries to David Alaba and Eder Militao have exposed their lack of depth in the position.

Madrid want a new centre-back and right-back this summer, with Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold still the top target for the latter category, although Pedro Porro has also been mentioned in case they fail to land the Liverpool star.

As for centre-back targets, TEAMtalk understands that the Spanish side have identified three key targets ahead of the summer. The first is Tottenham ace Romero, whose form has been inconsistent but remains a key player in Ange Postecoglou’s side.

Shortlisted alongside Romero is Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, who as reported will cost over £70m this summer, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah, who is set to be available on a free transfer.

Madrid’s interest in Romero is not new. Tottenham are aware of this and despite him playing inconsistently on a few occasions this season, they are determined to keep him.

The Argentine’s contract is valid until 2027. Sources state that Tottenham could try and tie him down to a even longer term deal before the end of the season to stave off interest.

Real Madrid can offer Romero what Tottenham can’t

TEAMtalk can confirm that contrary to some suggestions, Romero does not have a release clause in his contract. We understand that Tottenham value him at over £60m.

Romero, for his part, isn’t actively pushing to leave Spurs, despite their disappointing season so far.

Naturally, Madrid would be able to offer the centre-back Champions League football and if Tottenham fail to win the Europa League, they’re set to miss out on European football altogether next term.

Suitors may and try advantage of that fact but Tottenham hold all the power in negotiations as Romero is well contracted and the club are in a strong PSR (Profitability and Sustainability Rules) situation, so they don’t need to sell anyone.

It’s also worth noting that Spurs are keen to add to their centre-back options this summer – not take away from them. Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi remains a target and another bid could be launched for the England international in the coming months.

Romero remains a man to watch for Madrid along with Everton star Branthwaite and Leverkusen’s Tah. More targets could still materialise, with the LaLiga giants determined to sign a top quality centre-back.

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Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly been keeping tabs on an outstanding Club Brugge midfielder who has been dubbed “the best player in our league”, with the star’s potential price tag and why he caused major controversy last weekend also revealed.

Midfield is an area of the pitch where Spurs have struggled for much of the season – despite it being the least affected by injuries – with Ange Postecoglou unable to find the right balance in his engine room, despite using a number of different combinations.

One player who looks certain to move on this summer is former Brighton man Yves Bissouma, who has failed to replicate anything approaching the form he showed on the south coast.

To that end, Tottenham are in the market for a new defensive midfield pivot, with Real Betis Johnny Cardoso firmly in that mix due to the £21million transfer clause the north London club have in place this summer.

Lille and England star Angel Gomes is another option that continues to be mooted, but now a new name has emerged to fill a role that is key to how Ange Postecoglou likes his side to play.

According to Voetbal Primeur, Brugge star Ardon Jashari was watched by Tottenham scouts over the past week, while he is also a target for the club he played against on Wednesday evening in Aston Villa.

The 22-year-old Switzerland international, who featured 11 times in the Champions League this season, excels defensively where he currently ranks in the 91st percentile for blocks and the 85th percentile for clearances per 90.

And former Burnley star Steven Defour has raved about his fellow countryman, who he believes would be a big hit in the Premier League.

Defour previously said of Jashari: “He is the best player in our league and perhaps even one of the best of the last ten years.

“His combination of energy, aggression and calmness on the ball is unique. He reads the game excellently and is technically strong enough to compete at the highest level.

“The time when it was all about running and pounding is long gone. His dynamism and way of playing forward would not be out of place at a team from the English sub-top.”

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Controversial Jashari available for cut-price fee

It’s reported that Jashari could be available for as little as €20million (£17m / $21m), which would be viewed as an absolute snip for a player who has performed so well on the top stage in Europe this season.

It also appears that the Swiss star is a bit of a spiky character, given his antics playing for Brugge against bitter rivals Cercle Brugge last Sunday.

Jashari’s men beat their bitter rivals 3-1 away from home last Sunday and, at the end of the game, Jashari headed over to the away end to collect a flag in Club Brugge’s blue and black colours.

He then ran towards the centre circle while his teammate Brandon Mechele stopped one Cercle player from confronting Jashari. The midfielder made it to the centre circle and managed to plant the flag, before a number of Cercle players surrounded him.

The home side’s goalkeeper, Maxime Delanghe, was having none of it and kicked the flag out of Jashari’s hands. Delanghe could then be seen carrying the flag away while the other Cercle players surrounded Jashari and started pushing him.

This dragged his teammates in, and it all descended into chaos with every player from both sets of teams involved.

Jashari was the target of Cercle Brugge’s anger, while the fans in the home end weren’t too happy either as they loudly booed throughout.

Tottenham could certainly do with a player who has a bit about him in the middle of the park, given their current options, so it could be a ‘watch this space’ going forward.

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Who is Ardon Jashari?

Primarily a defensive midfielder, Jashari has impressed enough during his debut season at Club Brugge that they updated his contract halfway through it. He signed a contract until 2028 upon his arrival – which saw his former club Luzern receive a club-record fee for a sale of €6m – but by January, he had been tied down until 2029.

It was a reward for his initial impact in Belgian football and an acknowledgement that Jashari will be attracting interest from other clubs in the not-too-distant future.

Born in 2002, Jashari originally broke through from Luzern’s academy in July 2020. But it was in the 2021-22 season when he actually started to become a first-team regular, and from the following season he was frequently captaining the side.

Since joining Club Brugge, Jashari has taken his first steps in the Champions League, starting 11 of their 12 games until their elimination by Aston Villa in the round of 16.

Jashari tends to sit in front of the backline and spray defence-splitting passes around. Left-footed, he has been tipped by some to become a successor to Granit Xhaka for the Swiss national team.

Possessing good strength, Jashari can carry the ball confidently but his ability in picking out diagonal passes from the middle of the park is what makes him most dangerous.

He achieved double figures of goal contributions in his final season at Luzern and looks on course to do something similar during his first at Club Brugge.

With decent aggression off the ball too, he has the potential to transition into a box-to-box role, but for now seems well suited in his deep-lying playmaker role.