TEAMtalk

Tottenham have reportedly set an asking price for a player who was only signed earlier this year, with Italian giants Juventus and Napoli ready to make their moves in the winter window.

Centre-back Radu Dragusin is the player in question, with the Romania international having failed to establish a regular starting role in the Spurs side despite his recent run of games following Micky van de Ven’s latest hamstring problem.

The 22-year-old has started the last three games for Tottenham but struggled badly in the loss to Galatasaray in the Europa League and the shock home defeat to Ipswich in the Premier League.

Sitting behind Van de Ven and Cristian Romero has reportedly led to the centre-back questioning his future at the club, with TuttoMercatoWeb stating that the likes of Juve and Napoli are keen on bringing the former Genoa man back to Serie A in January – just a year on from when he joined Spurs.

The report states that Dragusin wanted the opportunity to show that he is capable of competing in the English top flight but that his situation has changed over his struggles to oust either Romero or Van de Ven from the starting XI.

TuttoMercatoWeb adds that Tottenham will demand around €30million (£25m/$31.5m) for the player, which would represent a profit on the €25million (£21.5m/$20.8m) they initially paid for him.

Dragusin being wanted by top clubs in Italy is no real surprise given how well he played in Italy during his time with Genoa, although it would leave Tottenham short on options at the back if they agreed to a January exit.

To that end, the only way that Dragusin will leave in the new year is if a quality backup option is added to Ange Postecoglou’s squad, with Tottenham already known to be on the lookout for another central defender.

Tottenham keen on brilliant Bournemouth defender

One particular centre-back who TT can reveal is very much on the club’s radar is Bournemouth centre-back Illia Zabarnyi.

The 22-year-old has settled well in the Premier League after he secured a difficult move from Dynamo Kyiv at the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The transfer was called off on several occasions after it proved difficult to get him out of his home country, before a deal was eventually sealed for £15million.

Zabarnyi has since played a pivotal role in Bournemouth’s rise under manager Andoni Iraola, with the Cherries currently just four points outside the Premier League top four.

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

Bournemouth, however, are reluctant to lose Zabarnyi and a move away from the south coast could prove difficult this winter, but not impossible.

Latest Tottenham news: Spurs join hunt for LaLiga winger/ Turkish giants want Son

Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City are all interested in Real Valladolid winger Raul Moro, who could be available for a ‘miniscule’ fee in 2025, per reports.

After bouncing around at a number of clubs, the 21-year-old has excelled at Valladolid, scoring three goals and making one assist in 13 LaLiga appearances so far this season.

And, according to Super Deporte, his good form has caught the attention of Spurs, Liverpool and City.

Meanwhile, the reigning champions of a European league are ready to table a January bid for Tottenham captain Son Heung-min, according to a report.

Spurs legend Son’s existing contract is due to expire at the end of the 2024/25 season, though there is a club option for an extra 12 months.

But, according to a fresh update from Fanatik, reigning Turkish champions Galatasaray have authorised the signing of Son in the upcoming winter window.

Liverpool are reportedly prepared to make Real Sociedad star Takefusa Kubo one of their most expensive-ever signings but face stiff competition for the winger.

With Mohamed Salah seemingly set to leave the club next summer, when he becomes a free agent, Liverpool have been on the lookout for potential replacements.

And if they want to secure long-term success, Arne Slot’s side may have to look towards more youthful players than the ones they already have at their disposal. One such target is said to be Japan international Kubo, with the 23-year-old seen as a top talent in his home country and across Europe.

Now, Fichajes claims the former Real Madrid player is high on Liverpool’s agenda, so much so that they are allegedly willing to fork out €80m (£66.6m, $84m) to secure his signature.

However, Tottenham and Bayern Munich are also understood to be in the race to sign the former Villarreal loanee – whose contract runs until the summer of 2029.

If the Reds did fork out that amount of money for Kubo, that would make him their fourth-most expensive recruit – behind Darwin Nunez (£85m), Virgil van Dijk (£75m), and Alisson Becker (£67m).

Incidentally, reports suggest Kubo has a €60m (£50m, $63m) release clause. So it seems Liverpool are willing to go well above that mark to get their man.

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Liverpool told to sign Kubo

One individual who would love to see Kubo – who signed for Madrid in 2019 from FC Tokyo but never played a game for Los Blancos – at Anfield is fellow Japan international Wataru Endo.

The midfielder has seen the rise of the former Mallorca loanee, who has scored 19 goals and bagged 14 assists in 101 games for Sociedad, and clearly wants him to join him at the Premier League giants.

When asked which of his compatriots he would like to play alongside at Liverpool, Endo said in July: “Kubo.”

He added: “The search for a replacement for Mohamed Salah has begun, so this is becoming a real area for Liverpool to strengthen. I think the player who can replace him, in the national team, would be Kubo.”

Whether Endo and Kubo will play alongside one another at Anfield remains to be seen.

Liverpool ‘intensity’ efforts to sign Ligue 1 ace

The Reds have also been linked with a move for Lyon star Rayan Cherki, as they look to capitalise on the French team’s financial woes.

Some reports suggest the 21-year-old, who is also wanted by Fulham, Paris Saint-Germain, and more, could be made available for around £25m (€30m, $31.5m) in January.

Liverpool face competition to sign Lille and England midfielder Angel Gomes, with Manchester United joining the race to sign him.

The 24-year-old is out of contract next summer and is yet to sign a new deal. Moreover, new United boss Ruben Amorim is said to be a fan of the diminutive player.

Finally, Liverpool are not planning to launch an offer to sign Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni in the January transfer window.

Manchester United have joined Manchester City and Real Madrid in chasing Tottenham Hotspur ace Pedro Porro, it has been claimed.

Reports in the Spanish media state that Man Utd and Man City will be Real Madrid’s biggest competitors to sign Porro in the summer. Man City have been linked with the right-back before, having identified him as a potential successor for Kyle Walker, but United’s interest comes as a bombshell update.

Porro’s entourage are ‘convinced’ United will launch a bid to sign him.

AS reveal the main driver behind this pursuit is new United boss Ruben Amorim, who has an ‘excellent’ relationship with Porro following their successful time together at Sporting.

The report adds that Tottenham will demand at least €70million (£58.3m / $73.9m) before letting the Spain international leave.

Amorim plots Porro reunion

United’s alleged hunt to sign Porro makes sense as Amorim played a key role in making him a top star while at Sporting.

Amorim likes to play a 3-4-3 formation with wing-backs, and Porro would likely shine in such a system.

Tottenham fans will hate to see one of their players linked with Premier League rivals such as United and City. But Ange Postecoglou’s side have been struggling of late, leading to rumours the manager could even be sacked.

While Postecoglou will be confident that he will stay in charge, there must be signs of progress otherwise the club’s top performers such as Porro will firmly consider offers from elsewhere.

Amorim’s current right wing-back options at United are Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui.

The latter has performed brilliantly since his summer arrival, though he was one of Erik ten Hag’s signings.

Dalot, meanwhile, has been shortlisted by Madrid – just like Porro – as an alternative to Trent Alexander-Arnold.

With Alexander-Arnold looking like he could remain at Liverpool by signing a new contract, Madrid may have to go down a different route by landing either Dalot or Porro.

Despite United and City’s interest in keeping Porro in the Premier League, it is hard to see Madrid losing out on him.

The 25-year-old has admitted he is flattered by reports linking him with a move to Madrid.

Such a transfer would allow Porro to return to his homeland, play for one of the biggest clubs in the world and fight for major silverware.

Earlier this month, it emerged that Spurs are keeping tabs on Rayo Vallecano star Andrei Ratiu as a possible replacement for Porro.

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Man Utd stars impressed by Amorim; Spurs hailed for ‘win-win’ deal

Meanwhile, TEAMtalk can reveal how the United squad reacted to Amorim’s first two days leading training.

Sources have told us that the United players are feeling extremely positive as Amorim’s methods have wowed them.

Stars feel the club has finally moved into the modern era as training has solid planning and a clear idea behind it.

Elsewhere, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has been praised for the proposed signing of Johnny Cardoso.

When selling Giovani Lo Celso to Real Betis, Spurs struck a deal to give them first refusal on Cardoso.

Ex-Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson has called it an ‘incredible’ deal and one that represents a ‘win-win’ scenario for the club.

The reigning champions of a European league are ready to table a January bid for Tottenham captain Son Heung-min, according to a report.

Son, 32, is a bona fide Premier League legend having become the first Asian player to break the 100-goal barrier in the EPL era. His current tally of 123 goals places him joint-19th in the all-time rankings. With Nicolas Anelka (125), Robbie Keane (126) and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (127) all just a few goals ahead, Son should take 16th spot before the season is out.

It’s important to note Son’s tally has also been achieved largely without the aid of penalties. Duties from the spot were primarily hoovered up by Harry Kane during his time at the club.

How much further Son climbs up the rankings will hinge on how much longer his Tottenham career extends. Son’s existing contract is due to expire at the end of the 2024/25 season, though there is a club option for an extra 12 months.

And according to a fresh update from Fanatik, reigning Turkish champions Galatasaray have authorised the signing of Son in the upcoming winter window.

It’s claimed Galatasaray are ready to ‘release’ Hakim Ziyech who is expected to continue his playing career in MLS. Ziyech’s departure will open the door for a high profile addition on the flanks and Galatasaray have ‘set their sights’ on Son to become their latest ‘transfer bomb.’

Galatasaray do have recent history of signing ‘world star’ players, most notably Victor Osimhen via the loan route last summer.

Per Fanatik, Galatasaray have signed off on Son’s pursuit and will ‘offer a suitable transfer fee’ in January.

Tottenham plan already in motion

Galatasaray’s hopes largely rest with Tottenham being willing to cash in on an ageing player whose contract is running down.

However, there’s more to that story given Fabrizio Romano recently confirmed Spurs have begun the process of extending Son’s stay to cover the 2025/26 season.

“I have something to say about Heung-min Son, a top player of Tottenham Hotspur,” said Romano on his YouTube channel. “It’s important to say that, according to my information, Tottenham are prepared to take the option to extend the contract of Son.

“So if you check on Son, on all the websites, for example, Transfermarkt, you can see that his contract is expiring in the summer of 2025.

“But Tottenham have an option, have a clause in the contract to extend the deal for one more season, 2025/26, and they are in the process, from what I’m hearing, of extending this contract for one more year.

“This is the idea, this is the plan, the process has already started and so the expectation is for Son to have a longer contract at Tottenham.”

Of course, Tottenham activating their option doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t also accept the proposed Galatasaray bid.

Nonetheless, it would be a major shock to see Tottenham part ways with Postecoglou’s captain and talisman mid-way through a season in which the manager has promised to deliver a trophy.

Latest Tottenham news – Zabarnyi, Barry

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’s 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 £12.5m amid his dazzling 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.

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.”

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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.”

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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.

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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.’