TEAMtalk

Ange Postecoglou has reportedly had a major part to play in Tottenham pinpointing an impressive LaLiga centre-back as a January transfer window target.

The addition of another central defender in the new year has arguably become Postecoglou’s main priority in the new year after seeing the middle of his backline decimated by injuries yet again.

Tottenham lined up with Radu Dragusin and Archie Gray at the heart of their defence against Rangers in the Europa League on Thursday night, with Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies all currently sidelined with injury.

The north London club moved for Dragusin last January and are now expected to do likewise for another player to bolster a fragile area of Postecoglou’s first-team squad, amid a run of just one win from the last eight games in all competitions.

And, according to a report from Spanish outlet AS, Postecoglou has personally picked out Getafe star Omar Alderete as a major option to bolster his beleaguered backline – news that TT has heard is legit.

AS states that the 27-year-old is one of the names included in the north London club’s target list for next month, with the Paraguay international on that list mainly because of Postecoglou.

It’s reported that Alderete’s power and quality on the ball has caught Postecoglou’s attention, with the Australian ‘asking’ the club to secure his signature as soon as the January window opens.

Alderete has bargain release clause

AS adds that Tottenham are not the only club interested in Alderete’s services and may face a battle for his signature.

However, they will be boosted by the news that he has a relatively cheap €16million (£13m/$16.7m) buyout clause, despite the fact that he remains under contract until 2028.

Indeed, Getafe chairman Angel Torres has always referred to Alderete’s release clause when there’s been an approach for the centre-back, although that figure will not be an issue for Postecoglou given that he does have money available in January to bolster his injury-hit squad.

Alderete joined Getafe from Hertha Berlin in 2023 after an initial loan stint with the Spanish outfit and has gone to make 95 appearances for the club, scoring once.

He is also well-travelled in Europe, having started out in Switzerland with Basel and also having a temporary spell with Valencia, while also winning 25 caps for his country to date.

At 6ft 2in, Alderete is an imposing presence who relishes physical battles and has decent pace for his size.

Latest Tottenham news: Wrong to sack Postecoglou / Newcastle in shock Richarlison links

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has been told that he would be making a mistake if he decided to sack Ange Postecoglou and start another rebuild at the north London club.

Postecoglou has been heavily criticised for sticking to his guns with his stubborn approach of playing the same way, even with the plethora of injuries he has in key positions.

However, former Celtic striker Chris Sutton is a big fan of the Australian and believes he should be given more time in north London.

Meanwhile, Newcastle United are being tipped to raid Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur for Richarlison in the January transfer window.

Eddie Howe wants another No.9 on board despite the club’s ongoing PSR concerns and transfer insider Ben Jacobs claims that a surprise raid on Spurs for the Brazilian could be on the cards – for the right price.

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou labelled Timo Werner’s performance during the 1-1 Europa League draw at Rangers as “not acceptable” after replacing him at half-time at Ibrox.

The Germany international lost the ball a remarkable 16 times, did not win any of his five duels and only completed 69% of his passes in a woeful personal display on what was also another tough night for struggling Spurs.

Former Rangers striker Steven Thompson, who was covering the game for BBC Sportsound, said at the time: “Timo Werner’s final decision on the ball so far has been abysmal. I’ll be amazed if he’s not hooked at half-time.”

He was, as Dejan Kulusevski came on to replace the 28-year-old and scored a 75th-minute Tottenham equaliser after Hamza Igamane had given Rangers the lead two minutes into the second half.

And speaking after the game, Postecoglou did not hold back when talking about his decision to take Werner off, saying: “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.”

With Tottenham forwards Richarlison and Wilson Odobert currently sidelined along with talented winger Mikey Moore, who has already made a big impression in Europe this season, Postecoglou 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.”

Werner struggles continue

Former Chelsea forward Werner, who is on loan from RB Leipzig, has only scored once in 19 appearances this season and was making his eighth start of the campaign at Ibrox.

It was somewhat surprising that Werner’s loan from Leipzig was extended into a second season after he netted just twice in 14 games in the second half of 2023/24.

Under the first arrangement, the north London club had the option to sign him for £15m – but it is now an £8.5m option to buy which, judging by Thursday night’s display, it still a bit steep.

Werner has 24 goals from his 57 Germany caps, but last played for his country in a friendly defeat by Belgium in March 2023.

He also scored 23 goals in 89 appearances during a two-year spell at Chelsea, winning the 2021 Champions League, Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup, before rejoining Leipzig in 2022.

Tottenham’s point at Ibrox made it just won win from their last eight games in all competitions, while they also sit ninth in the expanded Europa League table – one place outside the automatic qualifying spots for the next round.

Tottenham are weighing up whether to recall a 19-year-old centre-back in January amid yet another injury crisis at the heart of defence, though doing so would come with a major drawback, according to a report.

Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven – Tottenham’s starting centre-back pairing – both returned to action in the 4-3 defeat to Chelsea last weekend.

Unfortunately for Spurs, not only did the result not go their way, but the two defenders both picked up fresh muscle injuries.

The pair are expected to miss the hectic festive period and Romero’s injury in particular could bleed into the new year, according to reports in his native Argentina. With Ben Davies sidelined with a hamstring injury, Radu Dragusin is the only recognised centre-back Ange Postecoglou can pick.

The ever-versatile Archie Gray can and will deputise alongside Dragusin over the coming weeks. However, it is far from an ideal situation and an injury to he or Dragusin could be catastrophic.

Accordingly, a fresh update from The Evening Standard has revealed Tottenham could look within to offset their injury crisis.

It’s claimed Spurs are considering recalling 19-year-old centre-back, Ashley Phillips, from his season-long loan spell at Stoke City.

The agreement contains a break clause which Tottenham can activate from the start of January.

However, while triggering the clause would unquestionably help Spurs in the short-term, there would be a significant drawback for the player…

Downside of recalling Ashley Phillips

Players cannot represent three different clubs in the same season. As such, and if Phillips were to feature for Spurs upon being recalled, he couldn’t then play for a third team if loaned back out later in January once Romero and Van de Ven have returned, for example.

In that scenario, Phillips would either wind up warming the bench at Tottenham when the senior players are available for selection, or be sent back into the youth set-up to play in the Premier League 2.

While the latter outcome isn’t exactly a disaster, it is no substitute for playing competitive first-team football, which is exactly what Phillips is doing at Stoke.

Indeed, after spending much of his first two months with Stoke on the bench, Phillips has started their last nine Championship matches in a row.

Clearly, recalling Phillips is a decision Tottenham must carefully weigh up before making a decision one way or the other.

Latest Tottenham news – Zabarnyi, Melia, Gomes, David

In other news, Give Me Sport claim Tottenham may respond to their injury woes by simply signing a new centre-back in January.

Bournemouth’s Illia Zabarnyi is in their sights and Spurs director Johan Lange, is prepared to lead negotiations.

Elsewhere, Tottenham are reportedly in advanced talks to land 10-goal St Patrick’s striker Mason Melia, with the club ‘pulling out all the stops’ to land the Irishman.

Spurs have become known for landing exciting youngsters of late. In the summer, they landed teenage trio Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Min-hyeok Yang. And it appears as if they are closing in on another move for Melia next.

Finally, TBR Football reported Tottenham are accelerating a superb double deal for Lille pair Angel Gomes and Jonathan David.

Both players are out of contract next summer and the expectation is neither will sign new deals. As such, the chance to forge pre-contract agreements with the duo from January 1 is in play and Tottenham intend to do exactly that.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has been told that he would be making a mistake if he decided to sack Ange Postecoglou and start another rebuild at the north London club.

Since sitting five points clear at the top of the Premier League after 10 games last season, Postecoglou has gone on to lose 19 of the 43 games since as Spurs currently sit down in 11th in the table and are on a run of one win from their last seven outings in all competitions. That one triumph being the remarkable 4-0 rout of Manchester City on their own turf.

Postecoglou has been heavily criticised for sticking to his guns with his stubborn approach of playing the same way, even with the plethora of injuries he has in key positions.

Indeed, the recent poor run of form has sparked speculation that the Australian could get his marching orders, but former Celtic striker Chris Sutton thinks Tottenham and Levy would be making a big mistake if they decide to take that option – especially when the alternatives out there are not that great.

Speaking to spaceportsweden.com, Sutton said: “I always think you have to go back to the start of why Ange Postecoglou was appointed at Tottenham. Of course, we always hear it’s because Spurs want to win trophies, but that hasn’t happened very much over the last 50 years.

“But there’s that added element of Spurs fans being bored to tears watching Mourinho and Conte teams. Nuno Espirito Santo went in very briefly, so they wanted to be entertained. Robbie Williams was writing songs about Ange Postecoglou a season ago.

“Everybody was into it when it was all going swimmingly well, and they have still had moments this season. A couple of weeks ago beating Manchester City 4-0 on their own patch. Their highs are so high. There’s been a fair few lows.”

As for whether Levy should stick with his manager, amidst an awful run of injuries, Sutton added: “I don’t know whether Daniel Levy will make a decision or not, but I really hope that he sticks with Ange Postecoglou, because I think he’s been brilliant, not just for Tottenham, but for the Premier League. What’s the alternative?

“The other thing, I think he’s been slightly unfortunate with injuries. He’s lost Vicario, his two centre-halves. He got criticised for playing Romero and Van de Ven. Maybe he thought this was a really important game, and there’s that rivalry between Tottenham and Chelsea, and he thought that was worth taking a chance and taking the game really seriously.”

Sutton still sees positives for Tottenham

Despite their struggles in recent weeks, Sutton still sees a scenario where Tottenham can enjoy a positive campaign under Postecoglou’s leadership.

He added: “It’s interesting, he’s got Rangers on Thursday in the Europa and that’s certainly going to be a huge game. They’ve then got Southampton and Liverpool. The other thing, he’s still in three cups so there’s loads of ways to look at it.

“When Tottenham went 2-0 up though [against Chelsea], was it a great surprise that Chelsea came back and won the game? I don’t think anybody would have been totally, totally shocked by that and that’s sort where Tottenham are at.

“Could he be more pragmatic? Well, maybe, but he sees it his way. Most people think, well, there needs to be a bit of balance, and I totally understand that. He’s stubborn, he’s had 25-27 years in management and coaching and he has been a huge success. He’s won cups and titles wherever he’s been, and he sees it as the best way for Tottenham.

“There’s so much short-termism in the game now, isn’t there? You have a bad run of games, you’ve pointed out the league table where Tottenham are, but two wins and they’re flying up to fifth. But I do think that he said himself that if he’s mid-table around Christmas, then pressure will build. He’s not daft.

“I like watching his team fly. I think he’s been brilliant for the league.”

Latest Tottenham news: Newcastle tipped for Spurs raid / Romero lashes out at board

Newcastle United are being tipped to raid Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur for an attacker who has largely underwhelmed in the January transfer window, despite ongoing PSR concerns.

Eddie Howe is keen to recruit another forward in the new year as the Magpies look to try and make a push for European football during the second half of the campaign.

And, according to a report from transfer insider Ben Jacobs, a move for injury-plagued Spurs striker Richarlison could be on the cards.

Meanwhile, Cristian Romero has pinned the blame for Tottenham’s poor form on the club’s board, saying they are ‘responsible’ for a lack of progression in recent years.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly ready to step up their efforts to sign a new central defender in the January transfer window, with Ange Postecoglou desperate for more competition in that area after being decimated by injuries again this season.

Having lost Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero for parts of last term, the first-choice duo are currently sidelined once again ahead of Thursday night’s Europa League trip north of the border to face Rangers at Ibrox.

With Ben Davies also out, Ange Postecoglou is planning to use versatile summer signing Archie Gray alongside Radu Dragusin against the Scottish giants, with the former Leeds United man having impressed in that position during pre-season.

However, with Tottenham continually struggling to field their first-choice pairing in that position, along with the fact that Dragusin has looked less than comfortable at times and Davies is out of contract next summer, a fresh addition is likely to be paramount in the new year.

And, according to a report from Give Me Sport, Spurs technical director Johan Lange will lead negotiations in the club’s bid to beat out the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City to Bournemouth’s Illia Zabarnyi.

The 22-year-old central defender has been an impressive performer since moving to the south coast from Dynamo Kyiv in January 2023, making 62 appearances for the Cherries so far.

The report adds that the 45-cap Ukraine international could cost more than £50million and it remains to be seen whether the club are willing to pay that much for a player who could end up being third choice when Van de Ven and Romero are both fit.

He could, however, be regarded as an option to replace Romero, who continues to be linked with a move to Real Madrid and who this week revealed his frustration at Tottenham’s lack of ambition in the transfer market.

Zabarnyi a strong option for Tottenham

Signing the Bournemouth man would be a good addition for a Tottenham side that do concede plenty of chances under Postecoglou due to his open style of play.

Zabarnyi only extended his contract on the south coast back in July, hence Bournemouth’s high valuation of the player amid strong interest in his services.

Standing at 6ft 2in, Zabarnyi is a dominant force in both penalty areas – something Postecoglou could do with given his side’s struggles when it comes to defending set-pieces.

The Ukraine international is comfortable on the ball, reads the game well and also has decent pace for a player of his size – an asset that is critical when it comes to playing Postecoglou’s high defensive line.

Zabarnyi is also a bit of a ball magnet in his own area, registering 4.5 clearances per game (as per Whoscored) and averages 1.5 tackles per 90, along with 1.1 interceptions per game.

In short, Tottenham could land a centre-back who is realising his potential in the Premier League and, at just 22 years of age, could be around in north London for years to come.

Latest Tottenham news: Spurs close in on Irish start / Double Lille deal mooted

Tottenham are reportedly in advanced talks to land 10-goal St Patrick’s striker Mason Melia, with the club ‘pulling out all the stops’ to land the Irishman.

Spurs have become known for landing exciting youngsters of late. In the summer, they landed teenage trio Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Min-hyeok Yang.

And it appears as if they are closing in on another move for Melia next.

Meanwhile, Tottenham have held talks with the representatives of two players who are both in their prime, and the double coup won’t cost Spurs a penny in transfer fees, according to a report.

According to a fresh update from TBR Football, Spurs have ramped up a superb double deal that can help make next season a more fruitful affair in the form of Lille pair Angel Gomes and Jonathan David.

Newcastle United are being tipped to raid Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur for an attacker who has largely underwhelmed in the January transfer window, despite ongoing PSR concerns.

Eddie Howe is keen to recruit another forward in the new year as the Magpies look to try and make a push for European football during the second half of the campaign.

Although money is expected to be fairly tight due to the club’s ongoing PSR issues, there is the possibility of the club raising money from sales to put towards the addition of another No.9.

Harvey Barnes is just one name mentioned in terms of a Newcastle exit, although it remains to be seen whether the club are willing to sanction the sale of a player who plays an important rotational in Howe’s frontline.

But in terms of who could walk through the door at St James’ Park come January, transfer insider Ben Jacobs has suggested that Tottenham frontman Richarlison could be bound for Tyneside after a frustrating spell in north London.

The Brazilian has been in and out of the side, largely due to his injury issues, since arriving in a £60million deal from Everton in the summer of 2022 and Jacobs has offered up an update on the player’s future ahead of the January window opening.

Speaking to Steve Wraith on the NUFC Matters YouTube channel, he said: “So Richarlison is an interesting one. A bit of fresh information here. The situation with Richarlison is the player was absolutely adamant last summer that he wanted to fight for his place at Spurs, and we were all very pleased to see him happy and sharing very candidly about the personal and mental health struggles that he’s had. And I think most of us just wanted it to work at Spurs and for Richarlison to be the 60 million plus player and to really thrive in the Premier League.

“At his best, he’s a pleasure to watch, and he can be unstoppable, but now I’m told the player’s changed his mind in the last few months and is willing to leave Spurs in 2025. But because of his aspirations to play in the 2026 World Cup, he doesn’t want to go to Saudi Arabia. If he gives a clear indication to Saudi that he wants to go, there are three or four of the PIF clubs that are desperate for him, but at the moment, it’s a no to Saudi or outside of Europe because he still wants to put himself in the frame by staying in Europe for the 2026 World Cup.”

Newcastle in the mix for Richarlison

Given Richarlison’s desire to remain in Europe, Jacobs firmly believes the player could be a target for Newcastle going forward – but only if they can get Tottenham’s asking price down.

He added: “That may open up the door for a club like Newcastle United, so there is some substance to Richarlison and Newcastle, but price is the big issue because Spurs have been adamant throughout all of 2024 that if they’re to entertain an offer, it’s £60million or more.

“Newcastle would not be looking anywhere near that number, given the player’s injury record and his form. Therefore, if this is to develop and Richarlison is open to going to another Premier League club, it would have to be from Newcastle’s point of view around the £40-45 million mark.”

Signing Richarlison would certainly be a big gamble for Newcastle or ay other club interested in his services, given his struggles to get on the pitch on a regular basis.

The 27-year-old has scored just 16 goals in 73 appearances for Tottenham but was improved under Ange Postecoglou last season. However, just when it appears he has some momentum on his side, injury teends to strike again.

To that end, it’s hard to see Newcastle splashing ot at least £40m for his services or Tottenham even receiving anything close to getting their money back for the player.

Latest Newcastle news: Toon target Benfica centre-back / Man Utd eyeing another St James’ Park raid

Benfica centre-back Antonio Silva could be on the move in January and Newcastle, Aston Villa and Juventus are all very interested in him, per TEAMtalk sources.

The 21-year-old is considered to be one of the best young defenders in Europe and he’s already made 17 senior appearances for Portugal’s first team.

Sources have exclusively revealed to TEAMtalk that Benfica’s president Rui Costa is set to hold a meeting with Silva in the next few days to discuss the player’s future, with the Magpies keen on his services.

Meanwhile, Manchester United are already considering potential replacements for Dan Ashworth after the club took the shock decision to sack him on Sunday and TEAMtalk can reveal that another raid on St James’ Park could be on the cards.

Tottenham are reportedly in advanced talks to land 10-goal St Patrick’s striker Mason Melia, with the club ‘pulling out all the stops’ to land the Irishman.

Spurs have become known for landing exciting youngsters of late. In the summer, they landed teenage trio Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Min-hyeok Yang.

The former pair have both played in the first team, with Gray earning praise from Ange Postecoglou for his versatility.

The next young Tottenham signing seems to be on the way, with Football Insider reporting Spurs are ‘in advanced talks’ to land 17-year-old Melia from St Patrick’s.

It’s said the north London side are ‘pulling out all the stops’ to land the striker, who has bagged 10 senior goals in his career so far.

That includes inviting him to the training base and having him be a matchday guest in the recent Premier League match against Chelsea.

It is believed negotiations could end in Melia making an £825k move to Spurs, but not until he turns 18, in September 2025.

DON’T MISS: Seven sensational Tottenham teenagers who could end up saving Levy millions in the market

Spurs trying for Melia for a while

It was first reported at the beginning of November that Tottenham were in pole position for Melia.

It seems that has remained the case since then, with Daniel Levy’s efforts seemingly going down well.

That is despite the fact when Spurs’ interest cropped up, it was also reported that Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea were all said to be keen on Melia.

If they are to beat their big-six rivals to the transfer, as looks likely, Tottenham will hope Melia can help put them on the same level as some of those sides in years to come.

He seemingly believes north London is the right place for him to progress, as a few young talents have felt of late.

Tottenham news: Big double raid on cards

Spurs are reportedly in the mix for a double raid on Lille, with talks underway over the signings of striker Jonathan David and midfielder Angel Gomes.

It would be huge for Tottenham to land both, given they are both available on free transfers at the end of the season.

Spurs could sell midfielder Yves Bissouma, though, with reports suggesting they are willing to listen to offers for him.

Meanwhile, defender Cristian Romero has sensationally told the board they are responsible for Spurs’ decline, and has called on them to recognise that and help turn things around.

Profile: Mason Melia

Melia became the St Pat’s youngest ever player and goalscorer after netting from outside the area after coming on as a sub in a match in January 2023.

He set another record as the club’s youngest debutant in the league when making another sub appearance in May 2023. In June 2023, he became not just the club’s youngest goalscorer, but the entire League of Ireland’s, by scoring aged 15 years and 281 days.

He celebrated his 16th birthday by winning and scoring a penalty in a game against Dundalk. In November 2023, Melia signed his first professional contract, and three days later he became the youngest player to feature in an FAI Cup final, picking up a winner’s medal by the end of it.

His first European appearance followed in July 2024 as he lined up in a Conference League match. By September 2024, he had reached the tally of 10 goals for St Pat’s, a couple of days before turning 17.

And in October 2024 he was called up to the Republic of Ireland U21 team for the first time after previously starring for his country at U15, U16, U17 and U19 level.

Tottenham have held talks with the representatives of two players who are both in their prime, and the double coup won’t cost Spurs a penny in transfer fees, according to a report.

Tottenham did splash the cash last summer, including breaking their transfer record when paying £65m for Dominic Solanke. Archie Gray cost £40m, Wilson Odobert £25m and Lucas Bergvall £8.5m. Timo Werner was also brought back to north London for a second loan spell.

Gray and Bergvall are young players still honing their craft, while Odobert – who is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury – and Solanke haven’t hit the ground running. Werner has provided exactly what you’d expect from the German – occasional electric attacking play overshadowed by large spells of frustration.

As such, it should not perhaps come as a surprise to see Tottenham struggling down in 11th position in the Premier League table.

But according to a fresh update from TBR Football, Spurs have ramped up a superb double deal that can help make next season a more fruitful affair.

It’s claimed Tottenham have held talks with the representatives of Lille pair Angel Gomes and Jonathan David.

Gomes and David, both 24, are in the final year of their respective contracts at Lille. Neither look likely to sign a new deal, with the report claiming: ‘both players have confirmed to Lille they are leaving at the end of the season when their contracts expire.’

As such, overseas sides can forge pre-contract agreements with the duo come January 1. TBR Football state Tottenham intend to do exactly that and are deep in discussions with the players’ respective agents.

A pre-contract agreement would lead to the players arriving when their deals expire in the summer.

As such, Tottenham’s cause this season would not be helped, though they would be landing two readymade stars ahead of the 2025/26 campaign and without having to pay any transfer fees.

What would Tottenham be getting in Gomes and David?

Gomes spent 14 years on Manchester United’s books between 2006-20. The dynamic midfielder joined Lille when searching for regular minutes and hasn’t looked back since.

Gomes plays primarily in central midfield and has shown an eye for an assist. Indeed, he provided 10 assists across all competitions last term.

His excellent form in France resulted in Gomes making his senior debut for England earlier in 2024. The midfielder has since gone on to rack up four caps.

David, meanwhile, has operated at roughly a goal every other game during a fine spell with Lille.

His record stands at 101 goals in 206 matches across all competitions. He’s been at his most potent best this season, notching 17 times in 23 matches including four goals in five matches in the Champions League group phase.

Both Gomes and David have drawn persistent links with other leading Premier League sides, meaning Spurs may have to act fast if they’re to sign both or even just one of the pair.

Latest Tottenham news – Romero savages Levy / Bissouma leaving?

In other news, Cristian Romero appeared to launch a verbal assault on Daniel Levy and the Tottenham board amid increasing pressure on manager Ange Postccoglou.

“Manchester City competes every year, you see how Liverpool strengthens its squad, Chelsea strengthens their squad, doesn’t do well, strengthens again, and now they’re seeing results. Those are the things to imitate,” said Romero.

“You have to realise that something is going wrong, hopefully, they [the board] realise it.”

Postecoglou is the fifth Tottenham manager, including caretakers, that Romero has played under since arriving at the club in 2021.

“The last few years, it’s always the same – first the players, then the coaching staff changes, and it’s always the same people responsible,” Romero added.

“Hopefully they realise who the true responsible ones are and we move forward because it’s a beautiful club that, with the structure it has, could easily be competing for the title every year.”

Elsewhere, Football London’s Alasdair Gold has revealed why Spurs and Postecoglou would be open to selling Yves Bissouma in 2025.

“The problem is that Bissouma is 28 and he should be one of the inspiring leaders of this group,” wrote Gold.

“In truth, he’s just not and were it not for Rodrigo Bentancur’s suspension, he would be more likely playing in the Europa League matches than in the Premier League.

“The midfielder has got all the talent in the world and the ability to dominate matches, but his game is too inconsistent as are his decisions on and seemingly off the pitch.

“Tottenham have Archie Gray who could eventually be a long-term option in the role and Postecoglou has been using Lucas Bergvall in the position in the past two matches, with the 18-year-old Swede tidy once again when he came on against Chelsea.”

Cristian Romero has pinned the blame for Tottenham’s poor form on the club’s board, saying they are ‘responsible’ for a lack of progression in recent years.

Spurs have failed to win in their last four games and their 4-3 defeat to Chelsea on Sunday has left them 11th in the Premier League table, seven points adrift of the top four.

Pressure is beginning to mount on manager Ange Postecoglou. But with world-class coaches such as Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte also failing to find success at Tottenham, there’s a fair argument to say the manager isn’t the problem.

Sources exclusively revealed to TEAMtalk on Monday that Postecoglou is safe in his job for now, with the Tottenham hierarchy set to back him in January with new signings.

Speaking to Spanish broadcaster Telemundo Deportes following Spurs’ loss to Chelsea, Romero said a lack of spending is seeing the club fall behind their rivals.

“Manchester City competes every year, you see how Liverpool strengthens its squad, Chelsea strengthens their squad, doesn’t do well, strengthens again, and now they’re seeing results. Those are the things to imitate,” said Romero.

“You have to realise that something is going wrong, hopefully, they [the board] realise it.”

Romero: ‘Hopefully they realise who’s responsible’

Postecoglou is the fifth Tottenham manager, including caretakers, that Romero has played under since arriving at the club in 2021.

“The last few years, it’s always the same – first the players, then the coaching staff changes, and it’s always the same people responsible,” Romero added.

“Hopefully they realise who the true responsible ones are and we move forward because it’s a beautiful club that, with the structure it has, could easily be competing for the title every year.”

Romero is under contract with Tottenham until 2027 and when fit, he’s undoubtedly one of their most important players in their squad.

He has been linked with moves away from the London side though, with Real Madrid reportedly admirers of the Argentinian international.

Tottenham round-up: Bissouma to leave? / Cunha linked

Meanwhile, Postecoglou is reportedly willing to listen to offers for midfielder Yves Bissouma in 2025.

The 28-year-old has failed to find any sort of consistent form at Spurs and, while he has fared better under Postecoglou than Conte, injuries and inconsistent performances from the 43-times capped midfielder have become part of his narrative throughout his time in N17.

If it wasn’t for Rodrigo Bentancur being unavailable due to suspension it’s unlikely Bissouma would be getting as many minutes. Reports suggest that Tottenham could offload him next year, with youngster Archie Gray viewed as his long-term replacement.

In other news, Tottenham are reportedly one of several clubs to have shown interest in Wolves forward Matheus Cunha and are ‘keen to hold talks with his agents.’

Cunha, 25, has been excellent for Wolves this season but has been unable to stop his side’s dismal form that’s seen them drop to second-bottom in the Premier League table.

Under-fire Wolves boss Gary O’Neil has said Cunha will ‘definitely not’ be sold in January but it’s claimed that Tottenham could test the club’s resolve with a bid, while a move next summer could be on the cards.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou is willing to listen to offers for Yves Bissouma in 2025 with an in-the-know journalist revealing the major reason the player has failed to live up to expectations and having already named the huge talent Spurs want as his replacement.

The Mali international moved to Tottenham in summer 2022 for an initial fee of £25m, which would rise to £35m once add-ons were factored in. Prised from Brighton, who were left with little option to sell the player after he made it clear he would not extend his deal at the Amex which had just a year left to run, big things were expected of Bissouma in north London.

However, the 28-year-old has failed to find any sort of consistent form at Spurs and, while he has fared better under the management of Postecoglou than he did previous boss Antonio Conte, injuries and inconsistent performances from the 43-times capped midfielder have become part of his narrative throughout his time in N17.

Now according to journalist Alasdair Gold, Spurs are willing to sell Bissouma in 2025 and will open the door to potential offers for the star.

Explaining why his time at Spurs now looks up, Gold believes the player’s failure to become the midfield leader they expected him to be, and the fact that they have two good young options coming through in Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, will likely see time called on his career with Spurs.

“The problem is that Bissouma is 28 and he should be one of the inspiring leaders of this group.

“In truth, he’s just not and were it not for Rodrigo Bentancur’s suspension, he would be more likely playing in the Europa League matches than in the Premier League,” Gold wrote on Football.London.

“The midfielder has got all the talent in the world and the ability to dominate matches, but his game is too inconsistent as are his decisions on and seemingly off the pitch.

“Tottenham have Archie Gray who could eventually be a long-term option in the role and Postecoglou has been using Lucas Bergvall in the position in the past two matches, with the 18-year-old Swede tidy once again when he came on against Chelsea.”

Spurs already have a deal in place for Bissouma’s replacement

While Tottenham spent a lot of money last summer on signings for the future in Gray and Bergvall, they did also negotiate a clause to give them first refusal over a deal for Real Betis’ USA midfielder Johnny Cardoso next summer.

Spurs officials secured an agreement for the 18-times capped United States midfielder while negotiating the sale of Giovani Lo Celso and we understand they will have a 10-day period from July 1, 2025, to sign off on his signing and bring the player to the Premier League.

Now Gold has strongly indicated that is an option Spurs are willing to take up, with Bissouma only starting 48.35% of matches he could have been available in since his arrival.

“There is also the option to sign Real Betis’ 23-year-old defensive midfielder Johnny Cardoso next summer. The USA international currently has a hamstring injury, showing that even just having an option for Spurs to buy you can bring an injury,” Gold continued.

“At this stage, Tottenham would likely accept a decent bid for Bissouma next summer. He’s only started 44 Premier League matches out of a potential 91 in his three seasons since arriving from Brighton for £30m.

“The problem is whether he would want to leave, for any move would likely be a step down and he will only have a year left on his deal next summer, putting him in the position of power.”

Latest Tottenham news: Postecoglou stays; new transfer link for Son Heung-min

Meanwhile, sources have told TEAMtalk that any speculation over the future of Ange Postecoglou is inaccurate and not only do the club currently have no plans to sack the manager, but Daniel Levy is preparing to back the Aussie with a sizeable transfer kitty in the January transfer window.

Elsewhere, speculation over the future of Son Heung-min continues to gain column inches with Galatasaray the latest side linked with a move for the talismanic South Korea forward.

His deal at Spurs is due to expire next summer and reports in Turkey claim the 32-year-old has been identified as the preferred replacement for Victor Osimhen amid claims he has been lined up for a blockbuster Premier League transfer.

And finally, with Spurs having struggled for central defensive options in recent weeks, it’s been reported that club scouts are keeping a close watch on a Bournemouth talent with regards a possible future move. Chelsea are also among his admirers.