Punch Newspapers

Tottenham Hotspur are facing criticism from the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST) over claims that the club selectively edited the minutes of a fans’ meeting held on February 3, just days before manager Thomas Frank was dismissed.

As reported by BBC Sport on Tuesday, THST says the published notes omitted key concerns raised by supporters, including fears over the team’s relegation risk and how the optimism following the Europa League victory had faded.

The Trust also claimed the minutes removed a line stating that the board “welcomed the input of THST.”

“Publishing a full record of the points raised helps ensure accountability and allows members, and the wider fan base, to understand how the Trust is fulfilling its role on their behalf,” THST said.

Tottenham declined to comment, but sources told BBC Sport that the minutes were intended as a broad summary rather than a detailed transcript. Topics such as youth players getting first-team opportunities, club finances, and sticking to Spurs’ DNA and style of play were included, though THST said not in full.

The club currently sits 16th in the Premier League, five points clear of the relegation zone, and recently appointed Igor Tudor as interim head coach until the end of the season.

Arsenal will play Tottenham in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong, the first North London derby to be held outside the United Kingdom, the clubs said Monday, while Liverpool will meet AC Milan.

The London rivals will play at the southern Chinese city’s new 50,000-capacity Kai Tak Stadium on July 31.

“Playing against Tottenham Hotspur in the magnificent new Kai Tak Stadium will be a great experience for both teams and supporters, and will be a very important part of our pre-season preparations ahead of the new season,” said Arsenal’s managing director Richard Garlick.

Liverpool will play Serie A giants Milan on July 26 at the same stadium.

It will be a replay of the classic 2005 Champions League final, which the Reds won on penalties after being 3-0 down at half-time.

Arne Slot’s Liverpool are likely to head to Hong Kong as Premier League champions — they are currently 12 points clear with nine games left.

Liverpool will also travel to Japan for the first time during pre-season, the club said, without giving dates.

Hong Kong officially opened a major $3.85 billion sports park this month, with the futuristic Kai Tak Stadium at its centre.

The stadium saw its first major event at the weekend when it hosted the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens with more than 110,000 spectators attending over three days.

It is all part of efforts to restore the city’s image, which took a battering after political protests and a Beijing-imposed national security law.

Visitor numbers to Hong Kong also plummeted during almost three years of strict Covid curbs and have only recently begun to recover.

Tottenham bolstered their attacking options for the new Premier League season with the signing of striker Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth in a deal that could reach £65 million ($83 million).

The 26-year-old has signed a six-year contract and will cost an initial £55 million with a further £10 million in add-ons.

Solanke, who began his career at Chelsea and also had a short spell at Liverpool, arrived at Bournemouth in 2019 and enjoyed his best goalscoring season in 2023/24 with 19 Premier League goals.

He is expected to be present for Saturday’s friendly with Bayern Munich at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

If Tottenham end up paying the full fee, Solanke will become their record signing.

Spurs resisted the temptation to sign a striker 12 months ago when Harry Kane departed for Bayern Munich.

Solanke will now hope to fire Ange Postecoglou’s men back into the Champions League after they finished fifth in the Premier League last season.

Bournemouth owner Bill Foley had confirmed earlier this summer that Solanke’s contract included a release clause in the region of £65m and his exit is a club record sale, bettering the £40m they received for Nathan Ake from Manchester City in 2020.

“After Dominic’s performances for us – in particular his impressive 2023-24 season – it has come as no surprise that a team of Tottenham’s calibre has shown an interest,” said Bournemouth’s chief executive Neill Blake.

“His development since arriving in 2019 is a credit to his work rate and endeavour, as well as the platform AFC Bournemouth gives young talent to grow.

“We’re pleased to secure a club-record fee for Dominic and he also leaves with everyone’s sincere well wishes at AFC Bournemouth.”

AFP

Tottenham Hotspur are set to challenge Chelsea in the race to sign Napoli’s prolific striker Victor Osimhen as they seek to fill the void occasioned by Harry Kane’s departure, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The North London club have been monitoring the 25-year-old Nigeria international, with Football Insider revealing that Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is desperate to sign a new striker this summer.

Osimhen, who joined Napoli in 2020 for a record €77.5m, has been a standout performer in Serie A, particularly during the 2022–23 season. However, the striker is reportedly looking to move on from the Italian giants, presenting an opportunity for Premier League clubs.

Chelsea have already engaged in aggressive negotiations with Napoli, discussing a possible cash-plus-player deal involving Romelu Lukaku. In response, Tottenham are considering including players of their own in a bid to secure Osimhen’s signature.

Any potential deal for the 25-year-old would require a significant financial investment, with Napoli having inserted a €130m release clause in his contract. It remains to be seen if Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will be willing to make such a substantial commitment.

Osimhen’s arrival at Tottenham would be a statement of intent, not only bringing much-needed clinical output but also potentially becoming the face of a new era at the club for years to come.

The striker previously shunned lucrative offers from the Saudi Pro League, with his preference for a Premier League move well documented. As the transfer saga unfolds, both Tottenham and Chelsea will be keen to secure the services of one of Europe’s most sought-after strikers.

The English club thanked the four senior team players for their service and wished them the best in their future endeavours.

Tottenham landed a crucial blow in the fight to finish in the Premier League's top four with a 4-0 demolition of Aston Villa on Sunday.

Tottenham landed a crucial blow in the fight to finish in the Premier League's top four with a 4-0 demolition of Aston Villa on Sunday.