TEAMtalk

Ange Postecoglou has been told he must accept the blame for Tottenham conceding nine goals in the space of four days – but after being accused of ‘stubbornness’, the manager has threatened to stop answering questions about his tactical approach.

Postecoglou has stuck to his principles in recent weeks, despite Tottenham having some notable absences at the back. It has left them open, with the approach leading to high-scoring affairs at either end of the pitch.

On Thursday, they beat Manchester United 4-3 in the Carabao Cup, but on Sunday, they lost 6-3 to Liverpool in the Premier League. After 61 minutes, they found themselves 5-1 down.

Constantly vulnerable to counter-attacks, Tottenham ‘got what they deserved’, according to former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel – who placed the blame on Postecoglou.

“It’s on [Postecoglou],” Schmeichel told Premier League Productions. “He’s playing to his principles. Today it was crazy, the high line, the space they left behind, they’re not playing with a ‘keeper who’s comfortable cleaning up behind.

“You can’t play a system the players can’t play because of principle. For that they’ve conceded three on Thursday and six today.

“When you look at the table, they’re not on the front page, they’re on the second page. Tottenham are not supposed to be on the second page, it’s because of the way they play.

“The stubbornness of wanting to play that way, they got what they deserved and it could have been a lot worse.”

Postecoglou threatens silent treatment

The Tottenham manager, who is bordering on being under pressure, has faced a lot of questions recently about needing to change his tactics to offer more stability.

But speaking after the game, Postecoglou said he would stop giving answers if people couldn’t ‘see the obvious’ reasons for his approach.

“You know what? I’m just going to stop answering these questions,” Postecoglou replied to BBC Sport. “If people can’t see the obvious I’m not going to point it out.

“Look, make of it what you want, yes we’re conceding goals. If you want to discount the fact we’re missing a goalkeeper, two centre-backs and a left-back as well and that hasn’t coincided with what we’re doing… I don’t know what to say anymore. I think people make up their minds in their own way. They either think what I’m doing is good or they don’t and that’s fine.”

And in his post-match press conference, Postecoglou reiterated that he will not be changing how he sets his team up.

“I think I have been really patient the last 18 months sitting up here answering the same questions over and over again,” he added.

“If people want me to change my approach, it’s not going to change. We are doing it for a reason, we are doing it because we think it will help us to be successful.

“If people don’t understand the circumstances we are in at the moment, the challenges we have from a squad perspective which are as obvious as you want to make them. I get the idea that people think that I should just flip a switch and change and somehow that will miraculously make us a better team.

“It is what it is. I’m just going to continue, stay focused on trying to build this team to be the team we want. In the interim we are going to accept there are going to be challenges along the way.”

Carragher insists: ‘Nobody has ever won anything playing like that’

Postecoglou’s defence of his tactics has fallen on deaf ears, though, with Jamie Carragher arguing afterwards that his approach – if used in all circumstances – does not lead to winning results.

“It was so easy for Liverpool and no matter how many injuries they’ve got, it shouldn’t have been that easy and that comes down to the manager not relenting on how he wants his team to set up,” Carragher said on Sky Sports.

“With Tottenham, I get the idea, it’s not about a style of play. If everyone’s fully fit and he wants to do things slightly different, and every manager who comes in’s got a different way of doing things, you’ve got to have your ID, you’ve got to have something that’s a little bit different that makes you special, that makes you start off in Australia and get yourself to the Premier League, it’s a brilliant journey he’s been on, and he’s got a way about that – but when you’ve got your best team, not when you’re down to the bare bones.

“Not that I expect Tottenham to win the Premier League, but nobody has ever won anything playing like that.”

Tottenham are 11th in the Premier League table after 17 games as a result of their defeat.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Alejo Veliz has been told to consider a January switch to Leicester City so he can learn from Premier League great Jamie Vardy.

Veliz joined Tottenham in August 2023 when they paid Rosario Central £13million for his signature. However, the centre-forward has only scored one goal in eight first-team appearances for Tottenham so far as he has had loan spells at Sevilla and Espanyol.

Veliz joined Espanyol on a season-long loan in August after Tottenham decided this would be best to further his development.

The Argentina U20 international notched a hat-trick against San Tirso in the Copa del Rey, while also finding the back of the net during a league victory over Rayo Vallecano in August.

However, Veliz has lost his place in Espanyol’s starting eleven and has been struggling for game time in recent weeks.

Veliz’s former Rosario Central team-mate, Facundo Buonanotte, is on loan at Leicester from Brighton & Hove Albion and has urged the Spurs man to join him at the King Power.

In an interview with Argentine newspaper Ole (via talkSPORT), Buonanotte was asked about Veliz’s situation. He replied: “I would tell Tanque Veliz to come here to learn from Jamie Vardy.

“He is on loan, but now he is at Tottenham, so I think he knows about this. During the time we were at Central we made a nice duo.”

Veliz would likely be able to learn a lot from Vardy. The former England international only made his Prem debut at the age of 27 but has gone on to become one of the most iconic strikers in the competition’s history.

Vardy’s Prem record stands at 142 goals in 323 games, putting him 15th in the all-time scorers charts. The 37-year-old holds the record for the longest scoring run in Prem history – 11 games – while he has also notched a total of 196 goals for Leicester.

Vardy is a master at playing on the shoulder of the last defender and at getting into the minds of his opponents. Playing alongside someone of Vardy’s experience would surely help 21-year-old Veliz as he tries to make his mark in England.

Of course, any January move to Leicester would first need to be signed off by his current loan club, Espanyol.

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Tottenham transfers: Keeper swoop; striker decision made

Meanwhile, Spurs are reportedly planning to sign a goalkeeper in January amid Fraser Forster’s struggles.

Forster has come into the starting eleven following Guglielmo Vicario’s injury, but he is having problems with playing out from the back and gifted Manchester United two goals on Thursday.

This has resulted in Spurs targeting Burnley’s James Trafford for a January move. Trafford has also been heavily linked with Newcastle United.

Spurs are in the market for a new striker who can provide Dominic Solanke with competition and cover, as Veliz is still honing his craft.

The North London side have been linked with Lille’s Jonathan David. ESPN, though, state that Spurs would rather land Wolverhampton Wanderers ace Matheus Cunha.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain have all expressed interest in Cunha too, setting up a big transfer battle in summer 2025.

Tottenham are reportedly weighing up a £20million move for a top Championship goalkeeper following Fraser Forster’s blunders in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals and Guglielmo Vicario’s long-term injury.

Forster had been in impressive form since replacing Vicario as No.1 in north London after the Italian suffered a broken foot in the 4-1 win at Manchester City in November.

However, he made two horrendous mistakes with his feet trying to play out from the back to gift Manchester United a route back into a game they were 3-0 behind in midway through the second-half. Thankfully for Tottenham they still managed to get through to the last four but there has been plenty of scrutiny on Forster since.

In some ways that’s unfair, given that the 36-year-old has never been a keeper who is comfortable playing out but continues to be asked to do so by Ange Postecoglou’s high-risk philosophy.

But with all that taken into account, the Daily Mirror reports that Burnley star James Trafford has once again emerged as a January target for Spurs.

The report states that Postecoglou has been given the green light to sign a keeper from the EFL and that Trafford is ahead of Sunderland’s Anthony Patterson and Sheffield Wednesday rookie Pierce Charles on Spurs’ wish-list.

Premier League rivals Newcastle failed in their efforts to sign Trafford last summer following Burnley’s relegation, while the stopper is currently playing a key role for Scott Parker’s as they boast the meanest defence in England’s second tier.

Trafford has made almost 50 appearances for the Clarets since signing from Manchester City for a fee that could end up reaching £19million in the summer of 2023.

Trafford move a no-brainer for Tottenham

Getting Trafford on board could turn out to be a real coup for Tottenham and makes sense on a number of different levels.

The former England Under-21 stopper has been on the fringes of the senior national team and, at just 22 years of age, is expected to be a Three Lions squad regular for years to come.

Playing back in the Premier League at the earliest possible date would certainly boost those chances, especially with new coach Thomas Tuchel taking over in the new year.

At 6ft 6in, Trafford is certainly an imposing presence but, unlike Forster, he is more confident playing out from the back having done so under Vincent Kompany last season. He also has a good passing range and appears a good fit for Tottenham.

In the continued absence of Vicario, Forster, who be out of contract next summer, will continue in goal for Sunday’s daunting clash with league leaders Liverpool in north London.

However, Postecoglou has backed the veteran stopper to bounce back and return to his best against Arne Slot’s men after reflecting on his errors against United.

Speaking after that contest, Postecoglou said: “He’s disappointed as well, because he was outstanding for us. He didn’t have a lot to do before then. And even the first half, I thought he was really good with his feet.

“The first one probably affected his confidence a little bit. He lost a bit of belief, and that second one just compounded it. But he’s a big boy and is another one that’s stood up for us big-time in this period. I can’t speak highly enough of him.”

Latest Tottenham news: Spurs eyeing Feyenord defensive standout / O’Hara calls for Rashford swoop

Feyenoord centre-back David Hancko is attracting interest from Tottenham and Chelsea and a race for his signature could take place in 2025, per TEAMtalk sources.

The Slovakian international thrived under now-Liverpool boss Arne Slot and has continued his excellent form this season, catching the attention of several top clubs.

Hancko, 27, is ready to test himself in an elite league and is open to leaving Feyenoord if the right opportunity presents itself.

Meanwhile, Jamie O’Hara has named wantaway Manchester United star Marcus Rashford as the player he thinks would be a big upgrade over under-fire attacker Timo Werner, although not everyone agrees with the former Tottenham midfielder.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly ready to end their interest in prolific Lille frontman Jonathan David and move for a Premier League forward who has scored eight times so far this season.

Canada international striker David has just six months left on his contract at Lille and it’s been reported in recent weeks that Spurs are among the favourites to win the race for his signature.

Indeed, some reports have suggested that the north London outfit have launched an offer to bring David to Tottenham, with talks already held with the player’s representatives over a free transfer in the summer of 2025.

However, ESPN reporter James Olley has now revealed that sources close to the club have distanced themselves from the reports about their interest in David.

To that end, it’s stated that Tottenham are instead stepping up their bid to sign Wolves attacking sensation Matheus Cunha, who has scored eight goals and provided three assists in 16 Premier League outings this season.

talkSPORT revealed Spurs’ interest in the player last month, although they are expected to have a major battle on their hands to secure the signing of one of the Premier League’s top performers this season, despite Wolves’ struggles down at the wrong end of the table.

Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea, along with French giants PSG, are also reported to have expressed an interest in the 25-yeard-old.

The player himself also sent a cryptic hint on social media that he could also be Manchester United-bound, although that is thought to be less likely.

Cunha offers incredible versatility

If Tottenham do indeed sign the Wolves man, Cunha would provide Ange Postecoglou with tremendous versatility – given the number of positions he has played for the Molineux outfit this season.

In his 16 appearances this term, the Brazilian has only started as a central striker twice, with the majority of his appearances (eight) coming as an attacking midfielder – which is where he has done the most damage in terms of goals and assists.

Cunha has also lined up on both wings and as a No.10, which is the sort of adaptability Postecoglou loves from his attacking players.

Son Heung-min is currently Dominic Solanke’s deputy in the No.9 role in north London, but getting another option on board who can play centrally could be integral to success in the second half of the campaign.

Ahead of Sunday’s visit of leaders Liverpool, Tottenham currently sit down in 11th place in the Premier League table and are eight points off fourth-placed Nottingham Forest who they face on Boxing Day.

The outlier in their league position remains their goal difference, which at plus-17 is just one behind the current top three and far better than all the other clubs around them.

Indeed, while all of Tottenham’s wins this season have come by at least two clear goals, their seven defeats have all been by a one-goal margin – proving that if they can find some consistency in the new year then anything is possible in the second half of the campaign.

Latest Tottenham news: Postecoglou gets backing from Spurs star / Robinson urges keeper signing

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has come under fire for his team’s inconsistent form of late but Yves Bissouma has every confidence in the Aussie coach.

Spurs have endured a difficult start to the season and sit 11th in the Premier League table, but did secure a win over Manchester United in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on Thursday. But even in that game, Postecoglou’s tactics were again brought into question.

However, in an interview with SportsBoom, Bissouma defended Postecoglou and backed the manager to lead Tottenham to success, despite some speculation that he won’t last at the north London club.

Meanwhile, former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson has told the club that Caoimhin Kelleher would be a “brilliant option” to be signed in the summer, after previously suggesting Spurs wouldn’t land him.

Looking ahead to the summer, former Spurs stopper Robinson feels Kelleher – who looks certain to leave Liverpool – would be a top signing for the north London club.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has come under fire for his team’s inconsistent form of late but Yves Bissouma has every confidence in the Aussie coach.

Spurs have endured a difficult start to the season and sit 11th in the Premier League table, but did secure a win over Manchester United in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on Thursday.

But even in that game, Postecoglou’s tactics were again brought into question. Tottenham were cruising and 2-0 up before two horror mistakes at the back let United back in the contest. Spurs ultimately won 4-3, but shambolic defending is becoming a theme for Postecoglou’s side.

In an interview with SportsBoom, Bissouma defended Postecoglou and backed the manager to lead Tottenham to success, despite some speculation that he won’t last at the North London club.

“He’s one of the best coaches I’ve had in my career. My coach always speaks with me and tries to make us understand whatever he wants us to do. He wants us to do everything perfectly.

“We have a lot of quality in the team. He’s here for his players. You can go to speak to him about anything. He’s like a dad. For me, as a coach he is amazing.”

“You can’t be perfect all the time, you know. Sometimes you can win, sometimes you can lose. And yeah, especially when we lost some games that we normally don’t lose. But like I said, this is football, which is working hard, trying to change the situation.”

Postecoglou retains backing of Tottenham board – sources

Tottenham will hope to put a dent in Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes when they face the Reds on Sunday afternoon.

“I want to play that game and win as well because it’s important for us to win,” Bissouma added on the upcoming clash.

“I’m excited because it’s an important game. It’s a big game, you know? It’s always a pleasure to play a game like this. So yeah, I’m more excited. I’m just working hard and waiting.”

Sources close to Tottenham have informed TEAMtalk that Postecoglou retains the full support of the club’s board and he is under no threat of losing his job, contrary to reports.

Spurs are planning to back the coach with new additions in January and a new centre-back is their priority. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have both suffered with injuries this term and Postecoglou wants more cover for the duo.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy doesn’t want to make any rash decisions about Postecoglou and the feeling at the club is that he will remain manager until the end of the season at least.

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Former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson has told the club that Caoimhin Kelleher would be a “brilliant option” to be signed in the summer, after previously suggesting Spurs wouldn’t land him.

Stand-in Tottenham goalkeeper Fraser Forster did not cover himself in glory in the League Cup quarter-final against Manchester United. Big errors from the keeper allowed the Red Devils back into the game, which eventually finished 4-3 to Spurs.

Guglielmo Vicario may still be out for a couple of months, but Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has previously stated Forster will be given the faith of the club until that time, with no goalkeeper signing to be made in January.

Looking ahead to the summer, then, former Spurs keeper Robinson feels Kelleher – who looks certain to leave Liverpool – would be a top signing for the north London club.

“Don’t bring somebody in who’s not better than what you’ve already got, [I] just don’t think there’s anybody out there in January that would fit the bill,” he told Football Insider.

“Kelleher’s time at Liverpool with [Giorgi] Marmadashvili coming in, that would be a brilliant option if we were talking in the summer.”

On other options, Robinson stated: “They’re linked with John Victor, aren’t they? Remember where he plays his football now, he’s at Botafogo, he was on loan at Valladolid last year.

“He’s got a little bit of experience but you’re paying five or six million for a goalkeeper that’s untried and untested at that level.

“[They’re] linked with Anthony Patterson at Sunderland, 24 years old. He’s a good goalkeeper, not so sure he goes in ahead of Fraser Forster, not sure you trust the goalkeeper that you bring in at that age.”

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Kelleher could be a big-money mover

There is a belief that Kelleher could command a fee in the region of £30million, though that could drop as we reach the summer, when he’ll have just a year left on his deal.

That would place him in the top 10 most expensive goalkeepers ever.

Whether Tottenham do move for him is a question, with the sentiment from Robinson somewhat confused. While he did not state Spurs shouldn’t go for him previously, he suggested they wouldn’t do it, before campaigning for the move now.

“He’s proven his ability to be first-choice this year and he’s a top-quality goalkeeper. I don’t see the club investing the money needed to buy him and I don’t think it’s an option for Kelleher. It’s a bit of a non-starter, in all honesty,” Robinson said.

But Leeds could be an option for the Liverpool man, with the Whites potentially a Premier League side next season, and one who could look for an upgrade in net.

TEAMtalk is aware a move for Kelleher is one they are currently assessing.

Tottenham round-up: Hancko a confirmed target

Feyenoord defender David Hancko is a target of Tottenham, as confirmed by TEAMtalk sources, but he is also on the radar of London rivals Chelsea.

Ex-Spurs man Jamie O’Hara feels a move for Marcus Rashford would be an upgrade for the club, with a “hungry” version of the forward definitely a step up on Timo Werner.

Meanwhile, Gabby Agbonlahor referred to Tottenham as a set of “clowns” in their 4-3 victory over Manchester United of late.

Postecoglou is refusing to change his ways, though, simply asking: “Do you want a scrambling 1-0?”

Feyenoord centre-back David Hancko is attracting interest from Tottenham and Chelsea and a race for his signature could take place in 2025, per TEAMtalk sources.

The Slovakian international thrived under now-Liverpool boss Arne Slot and has continued his excellent form this season, catching the attention of several top clubs.

Hancko, 27, is ready to test himself in an elite league and is open to leaving Feyenoord if the right opportunity presents itself.

Sources have exclusively revealed to TEAMtalk that Tottenham have shown interest in Hancko in recent weeks, while, to a lesser extent, Chelsea are also keeping tabs on his situation.

Hancko also has suitors from outside the Premier League, with Italian giants Juventus plotting a move for the defender as Thiago Motta looks to bring in cover for injured centre-back Gleison Bremer.

We understand that Juventus’ sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli has had Hancko on his radar for two years, after trying to sign him at previous club Napoli.

Giuntoli wants to bring Hancko to Juventus but may have to contend with competition from Tottenham, Chelsea and also Atletico Madrid, who are keen to make defensive reinforcements of their own. A transfer is more likely at the end of the season, rather than in January.

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Tottenham, Chelsea want defensive reinforcements

We revealed last week that Tottenham are planning to back manager Ange Postecoglou in the January transfer window and a new centre-back is their main priority.

TEAMtalk understands Getafe star Omar Alderete is someone Spurs are looking at as a potential signing in January. The 27-year-old could be relatively affordable this winter, has experience at a high level and would be a solid back-up option.

In the longer term, we understand that 21-year-old Sporting CP centre-back Ousmane Diomande is a player to keep an eye out for, although it could take at least £70million to lure him away from Portugal – this is usually beyond what Levy is comfortable spending.

Hancko has now been added to Spurs’ wishlist and he could be available for around €50million (£41.4m / $52m) next summer, per our sources, making him more expensive than Alderete and cheaper than Diomande.

As for Chelsea, they are willing to sell Axel Disasi in January but only IF they are able to sign a new centre-back to replace him, which could explain their interest in Hancko.

TEAMtalk sources say that the Blues’ two top Benfica’s Tomas Araujo and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and now Hancko has emerged on their radar.

Juventus prepare Hancko contract offer

It’ll be interesting to see how this story develops in the coming months, with Juventus considered to be ahead of the Premier League duo in the race, for now.

TEAMtalk can reveal that the Italian club are willing to offer Hancko a multi-year contract worth €5million (£4.1m / $5.2m) per season and personal terms aren’t expected to be an issue.

The challenge for Juve and all of Hancko’s suitors will be reaching an agreement with Feyenoord, as the defender is under contract with the Dutch club until 2028.

Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United have both been called ‘clowns’ after they played out a seven-goal thriller in the League Cup on Thursday night.

Ruben Amorim was left with his head in his hands after Tottenham went 3-0 up in the 54th minute courtesy of goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke (x2). But Tottenham gifted Man Utd a route back into the quarter-final as the likes of Archie Gray and Fraser Forster struggled to play out from the back.

Joshua Zirkzee pulled a goal back for United after Bruno Fernandes intercepted a poor Forster pass towards Radu Dragusin.

The second goal was even worse from a Spurs perspective. Forster took an age to clear after being given the ball by Gray and Amad Diallo slid in to make it 3-2.

Son Heung-min then alleviated Spurs’ fears with a sensational goal from the corner spot. United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir complained that he had been impeded, but the referee ignored his pleas.

Jonny Evans scored in second-half stoppage time to give United some hope of a dramatic equaliser, but Spurs ultimately managed to hold on and book their place in the League Cup semi-finals with a 4-3 home victory.

It should have been far easier for Spurs though once they went 3-0 up. Both teams looked awful at the back and pundit Gabby Agbonlahor has now given his verdict.

“It was like two sets of clowns playing each other. The defending… Spurs going forward were very good,” he said on talkSPORT.

“Manchester United woke up a little bit in the second half thanks to some mistakes from Forster, but the defending, wow.

“I hammered Southampton’s defence, but wow. I don’t blame Forster at all, I blame the manager and the rest of the players.”

Agbonlahor added: “Forster, how long has he been around now, he’s 37. He’s always been a shot-stopper, he’s never been a keeper to play with his feet.

“I played with so many goalkeepers that if they were playing now they’d be exactly like Forster. They don’t want it.”

Pundits Jamie Carragher and Jamie Redknapp were not impressed by what they saw, despite Spurs going through.

Carragher slammed the Spurs team for being ‘robots’ and playing the same style even when the flow of a game changes, while Redknapp said it was ‘a masterclass in how not to see a game out’.

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Postecoglou defends crazy Spurs performance

But Postecoglou does not agree. He said in his post-match interview: “I like the whole bit mate. Are you not entertained? Do you want a scrambling 1-0?

“I know the studio’s probably going into meltdown over my lack of tactics, but I love the fact we go out there and take it to opposition even though we’ve got so many absences at the minute. I really like the way we played tonight.

“I love football and I love watching teams that go out there and entertain. Obviously we want to be successful as well and we won’t be if we make things difficult for ourselves like we did tonight.

“We’re keeping all you folks entertained, creating plenty of discussion and I can’t see how that’s a bad thing.”

Asked if he wants to cut out the errors, Postecoglou added: “Of course, but your asking for perfection in human beings and that doesn’t exist, sometimes they stuff up just like I do and you do.”

Tottenham are reportedly hoping to sign Feyenoord centre-back David Hancko in January, with the Dutchman’s price tag dropping from his summer valuation.

Spurs have a few defensive problems to overcome at the moment. They have had to play with Radu Dragusin and makeshift centre-back Archie Gray in the heart of the defence of late.

That’s as a result of injuries to each of Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies.

Tottenham have been linked with a few centre-backs to help their situation, and Feyenoord’s Hancko is one of them.

As per TBRFootball, they want to land a left-sided defender to be a backup for Van de Ven, and it’s believed Hancko could be available in January.

Tottenham have scouted the Slovakian on multiple occasions, and are seemingly willing to move on him.

It’s believed his price tag is dropping, too, with it now suggested to be lower than it was in the summer, when he was £35million.

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Zabarnyi another target

The report reiterates that Bournemouth’s Illia Zabarnyi is also on Spurs’ radar.

However, it’s believed he’s only going to be available in the summer, and would be a replacement for Cristian Romero.

Hancko is wanted for the other side of the defence, so those two pursuits are not likely to be mutually exclusive.

The north London outfit will have competition, though, with Juventus also tracking Hancko, but they want to loan him in initially, which could give Tottenham the upper hand if they are to make a permanent bid.

Tottenham round-up: Kelleher move unlikely

Former Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson has suggested a move for Caoimhin Kelleher is unlikely, as the club would not see the point in paying for him when they have Guglielmo Vicario.

A goalkeeper move could be made, though, with Spurs expected to open talks for Botafogo’s John Victor.

Meanwhile, it’s been stated by insider David Ornstein that Tottenham are backing manager Ange Postecoglou despite the club’s current position.

And a move for Leeds defender Pascal Struijk could be made by the north London club.

Former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson has rated the chances of Spurs landing Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who looks likely to leave his current club.

Soon at Liverpool, there will be three top-class goalkeepers fighting for one spot. Currently, it’s Alisson and Kelleher who do that, but Giorgi Mamardashvili will arrive at the club in the summer.

That Kelleher is only really given his chance when Alisson is injured suggests his prospects will worsen when the new man joins the club.

The Irishman has been linked with some big clubs for if he’s to leave Anfield, with it having been suggested he could be an option for Tottenham. Former Spurs keeper Robinson does not feel that’s likely, though.

“[Tottenham] won’t spend that money because Kelleher wants to go somewhere and be No.1. [Guglielmo] Vicario is the No.1 at Spurs so they won’t see the need to spend money,” Robinson told Tottenham News.

“Liverpool have made forward plans for the future with Marmadashvili coming in, which is a clever signing, so Kelleher won’t want to go somewhere and fight for his place.

“He’s proven his ability to be first-choice this year and he’s a top-quality goalkeeper. I don’t see the club investing the money needed to buy him and I don’t think it’s an option for Kelleher. It’s a bit of a non-starter, in all honesty.”

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Robinson feels it’s time to go

Robinson does imagine that Kelleher will be leaving, though, having recently suggested the star need to realise his potential away from Liverpool.

“I was asked to rank the top three goalkeepers in the Premier League this season, and Kelleher was my number one,” Robinson told Football Insider.

“Next year, I think he wants to be a No.1. With the opportunities he’s had and the age he’s at, he doesn’t want to compete with Mamardashvili or be on the bench.

“It’s his time to go to another club and go and be the number one goalkeeper. So, Liverpool fans, enjoy him while you’ve got him because I think he will be moving on come the end of this season.”

Tottenham round-up: Goalkeeper talks incoming

Talks for a goalkeeper are expected to be incoming at Spurs, but for Botafogo’s John Victor, rather than Kelleher, to set up a very cheap deal.

Spurs are also hopeful of improving their defence, with Leeds’ Pascal Struijk on the radar.

Meanwhile, an appeal for Rodrigo Bentancur’s ban to be shortened has been dismissed by the FA.

And though results aren’t going as they’d expect, Tottenham are said to be fully backing manager Ange Postecoglou.

Caoimhin Kelleher quiz