Football365

According to reports, Daniel Levy has an excuse for the main reason behind his exit from Tottenham Hotspur amid a ‘deliberate move’ by the club’s owners.

On Thursday evening, it was announced that Levy has ‘stepped down’ from his role of Executive Chairman of Spurs, ending his 25-year stint at the Premier League club.

This has shocked the footballing world, though Spurs indicated in a club statement that Levy’s exit has been in the works for a while, though the 63-year-old did not shed light on the reason for his departure.

Levy said: “I am incredibly proud of the work I have done together with the executive team and all our employees.

“We have built this club into a global heavyweight competing at the highest level. More than that, we have built a community.

“I was lucky enough to work with some of the greatest people in this sport, from the team at Lilywhite House and Hotspur Way to all the players and managers over the years.

“I wish to thank all the fans that have supported me over the years. It hasn’t always been an easy journey but significant progress has been made. I will continue to support this club passionately.”

READ: Daniel Levy made Spurs ‘unrecognisable’; he did a ‘remarkable job’

However, a subsequent report from Football London revealed why Levy was ‘forced out’.

‘[Daniel Levy’s exit] is believed to be the final piece of the jigsaw of plans from the club’s owners to push the north London outfit on to bigger things with a fresh approach and more silverware.’

Now, a report from BBC Sport journalist Dan Roan claims Levy’s exit was ‘taken out of his hands’ as ‘well-placed sources said the ownership agreed for him to leave his position amid a belief that change would lead to greater sporting success’.

Also, in a ‘deliberate move’, Levy has departed after the summer transfer window and ‘will go with immediate effect’, while ‘there will be no notice period’.

MORE SPURS COVERAGE ON F365…

👉 PL sextet reassigned to Turkish Super Lig as Liverpool, Man Utd, Chelsea, Spurs stars *finally* leave

👉 Man Utd ‘agreed’ to sign £55m Tottenham target in the summer but transfer collapsed for two reasons

👉 Tottenham made ‘late enquiry’ for Prem star and ‘asked’ about team-mate ‘in final weeks’

It is also claimed that he has disputed claims over Spurs not being successful enough during his tenure, with ‘one source familiar with Levy’ pointing out that he ‘had to operate with “one hand tied behind his back” during his tenure, and had to diversify revenue streams as a result’.

The report added:

‘They said they felt there’d been insufficient investment in Spurs for the past 25 years, and the question was whether that would really change.’

It is also noted that Joe Lewis ‘had a peripheral role in the decision for Levy to leave his post’, while the ‘younger generations of the family – Vivienne and Charlie, who are Joe’s children – have been key in making the decision’.

There’s a surprising amount of love for Daniel Levy after his departure from Tottenham.

That leads nicely into a few mails about managers but mostly Mikel Arteta. Is he unfairly criticised?

Send your mails to theeditor@football365.com

Daniel Levy has gone…what is his legacy?

I woke up today to the news of Levy’s departure through an Aussie lens – “Tottenham boss who sacked Ange quits”. And so twenty-five years later, one of the last true fan-owners in the league has left the building.

As someone who has been running football clubs myself for the last decade, albeit on an infinitely smaller scale in New Zealand and Western Sydney – regardless of your title, whether you own shares and even if you have affinity or connection to the club; you are a custodian first and foremost. The job, as I see it, is to ensure that the club is left to the next custodian in a better state than when you inherited it.

Tottenham Hotspur in 2025 is unrecognisable from the club Levy inherited from Alan Sugar in 2001 both in terms of the squad, but mainly our infrastructure.

Levy’s strength – and his legacy – is what he has left behind off the pitch. First-class training facilities in Enfield, a modern stadium at the historic home of the club in N17 and a self sustaining business model with multiple revenue streams beyond broadcast money/player sales/gate receipts. It’s fair to say (and would be negligent to not mention) that the club has not been anywhere near as successful as he or the fans would have wished, but that was only ever part of his job.

The main bit, leaving the club in a better state than when he inherited it, means that history will be kind to Daniel Levy. He will never be seen in the same light as Bill Nicholson or Danny Blanchflower (who arguably created the identity of the club, even if we have failed to reach the same heights ever since) but in terms of impact on the club’s fortunes nobody has done more.

Whoever comes next has big shoes to fill and I hope that once the dust settles Daniel can enjoy our future success on the pitch as a fan, safe in the knowledge that he laid the foundations for it at the beginning of the 21st Century.

Owen, Sydney

…You’ll probably get a lot of these, but here’s my hat in the Daniel Levy ring..

…He gets a lot of flak but IMO he’s done us well – we were shocking throughout the nineties – on the pitch and off it, points deductions, fines, cup expulsions, two very very close relegation scares (I know 17th last year isn’t great on paper but there was no danger of relegation in reality), so hopefully with hindsight his tenure will be looked upon more kindly – this will be our 7th Champions League campaign (8th if Harry hadn’t let the 10pt lead to the arse slip in 2012) and we’ve had the same again in Europa League campaigns (numbers are reliant on my memory, apologies if i’m out on these), and two trophies might probably have been three if Poch had the nerve to bench Kane in Madrid.

We’ve gone from bobbing between mid table and relegation playing some utter dross under the likes of Graham and Gross to some phenomenally fun to watch sides made possible by great signings – the Jol team of Berba/Keane up top scoring for fun, Harry’s team of Bale, Modric, VdV et al that tore up that champions league campaign, the Bale solo show under AVB, Poch’s team that put together more points across 2015/16-2016/17 than any other and then that 2019 CL final run.

I’d say the starting elevens Levy has brought have always been great, he’s just never quite brought the right squad players, but it could also be said that is a harder ask. Some of the appointments haven’t always worked out and some of the sackings were harsh but we’ve made Europe in two thirds/three quarters of his tenure, and half of that in the CL, which, growing up watching in the nineties I’d have never thought possible, we’ve brought in players who were a joy to watch; too many to name here, but you know them, and made us financially stable without oil money, which only three other clubs have managed, so he’s leaving us in a great place, so for that, I’m thankful; cheers Daniel.

Jerome, Bristol Spur

…D’you know what? Daniel Levy did a remarkable job at Spurs. Never mind all the facility improvements and trophies won in aeons and how he always negotiated excellent deals, he got everyone to recognise Tottenham as THE top 4 club in England.

Look, it was always us as number 1, then United came and we became the big 2. Arsenal under Arsene big 3. And then Spurs… for all their Spursiness were first recognised as the fourth powerhouse in modern English football.

That takes a lot.

Hell I still don’t know how they cracked a Super League invite.

Hats off to Levy. He’s earned his yacht.

Wik, Pretoria (Kudus = Africa’s best at the moment), LFC

Not reading the room

Daniel Levy has gone!!!!

We might behave like a big club again!!!!!

COME ON YOU SPURS!

Dave, (time to PARTY!) Winchester Spurs

Mikel Arteta has spent absolutely nothing

Please…stop

I’m getting sick of this now. Yet more nonsense peddled by Mick T on Thursday morning about Arteta spending £1bn.

Arteta hasn’t spent a penny. It’s not his money, it’s the Kroenkes’ and the model that Arsenal use involves a sporting director and whilst Arteta will have input, he won’t have the final say on how much to bid to get the deal done.

If the club decides to spend that money, it’s the club and the owners decision, not Arteta’s.

It’s a tedious and weird trope that no one else seems to be judged on. Chelsea have spent significant sums of money but it’s not Maresca spending it. If anything, there is sympathy for Maresca having to deal with all these players

If you don’t like the fact Arteta doesn’t like to lose big games or he’s worked out a way of scoring goals that has been around in football for over a hundred years, that’s fine. Shout at the clouds about it. But don’t sit there and just make up stuff to get angry about. There’s enough of that going elsewhere in the world.

Stew

Arteta IN

Damola, couple of things: Technically, you already did listen to me, but I get your point.

I want Ickle Mikel to stay, if he goes it would ruin my annual game of ‘which match will be the first which Arteta DOESN’T claim they dominated’.

Like I said, I think he’s a very good manager, just not an elite one. That may change, but I doubt it. You do realise comments from Slot, Slobberchops, and Pep are pats on the head because they are completely relaxed about Ickle Mikel and his lightbulbs, right? Why you are giving credence to comments made by Daniel Farke is puzzling, but okay.

I’ll not address the bits about Arteta being one of the most in demand managers, and that Edu suddenly isn’t very good now he doesn’t work for Arsenal, mainly because I imagine you’re sore from the paddling BTL have already given you here.

Oh, and the that KSA will strike back mail, if they were arsed, Isak would still be there, along with a bunch of other stellar signings because a) good luck in a legal battle with PIF over FFP, and b) they would have already have sold a shit load of their own stuff to themselves a la Chelsea/Villa.

As I’ve said before on these hallowed pages, The Mags are just one wing of their sports washing project, and boxing is currently a lot easier to leverage, given it is governed and run by crooks like the governing body who gave Pacman a licence in 2025, and promoted by greedy nepo baby glorified barrow boys like Hearn.

RHT/TS x

Arteta IN for different reasons

I’ve been satisfied with Arteta. As a beginner he’s done well. Of course He’s made mistakes like all managers do. Starting Martenelli v Liverpool may look wrong but not when one studies Martenelli’s record v Liverpool is understandable.

Now, people saying Arsenal were negative and killed the game must ask themselves why Liverpool couldn’t capitalise on that in open play? It took a brilliant freekick to divide two ‘equal’ teams (considering Arsenal were missing important players).

I find it strange to be reading article after artcle about teams’ net expenditure There’s more to buying and selling than what is published and revealed.

Going back to my initial comment about Arteta, I really hope he gets his paws on elite trophies so people can step down from criticising him (that’s both Arsenal fans and non Arsenal fans). He has a full squad now so it’s time to succeed!

A number of Arsenal fans are calling for him be replaced. If so, I say, give him a couple of more seasons. Ironically, I wouldn’t have minded Frank as a replacement. Another good manager to consider is Glasner!

Oh well, three games in and Liverpool have already won the league and Arsenal are a bunch of miserable losers.

Chris, Croydon

…I’m an Arsenal fan with an obvious bias in favor of Mikel Arteta, but even with that in mind, I remain serially flabbergasted by the frequency and intensity of the hatred for the man that seems to exist with the English football media AND among fans, including many that write into the mailbox.

If I had a dollar for each time I’ve read or heard criticisms of the man based on casually stated mistruths, then I’d have been able to retire and pay someone to read the mailbox at least 3 seasons ago. If this trend had started in response to his and the club’s behavior surrounding the “formerly unnamed defensive midfielder” that played far too long for Arsenal, then I’d understand the tone of the criticism.

It’s almost as if people love projecting their preexisting biases onto people they don’t know and barely pay attention to… and that’s fine by me. I’d just like to suggest that it’s enough to dislike Arteta because he’s made a club that used to be a bit of a laughing stock competitive again. It’s enough to dislike him because he’s associated with Arsenal. Using Arteta as an example of “bad sportsmanship” as part of yet another boring “this means more” rant is just silly.

Seriously. You don’t need any additional reasons and you certainly don’t need to make shit up, take quotes out of context, or take your talking points from Arteta’s former peers that seem to harbor some jealousy over the fact that he got his first head coaching job without “paying dues” or whatever upset them back in 2019.

That was a relatively comforting piss directly into the wind, but small comfort is still comfort.

Deen (AFC, USA)

Arteta would not be employed by elite European clubs

I think a lot of the criticism of Arteta, mostly from outside the club, from non-Arsenal supporters or from, you know, that guy in the mailbox is misplaced. Winning the Premier League is really really hard, you can see incremental progress year on year, and coming 2nd three years in a row is not a failure. But for Damola, AFC Berlin to say

If Arteta left Arsenal today, he would be the most sought after manager in Europe. No arguments

is just unhinged. Because Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern, PSG etc don’t want incremental progress year on year. They want glory and prestige right now this minute, and a manager who does not win at least one of the national league title or European Cup every season is going to get sacked at the end of that season. Arteta isn’t that guy. He simply doesn’t have the CV they would be looking for. And Damola knows this BECAUSE HE PUT HIS CV IN HIS EMAIL!

Arsenal are easily the most high-profile club in world football that Arteta could realistically be considered as their manager, and that might simply be because he’s the incumbent. Turn that statement around, Damola: is Arteta the most high-profile manager that a club like Arsenal, the sixth or seventh richest in the world, in a sought-after location and a history of success, could realistically expect to attract? In a world where Everton have appointed Carlo Ancelotti?

Dara O’Reilly, London

Manager chat that eventually lands on Amorim

Like many of us, I work in an office and have worked with a lot of people in various organisations. There have been some good people and my god a lot of useless ones who just about know or do enough to get by. Sometimes they’re unsuited to the team, and sometimes they’re just useless.

Picking managers is among the most important decisions organisations make. It is they that set the tone, manage the people below them, keep morale high and ideally make the right requests to those above them. Yet the same challenges remain, and success often depends on those doing the recruiting.

It strikes me that any expectations that club managers (and indeed players) are somehow different is fairly silly.

The basic facts must be that only a small percentage of managers are actually any good or good at more than one specific thing (like spending money well, developing good harmony amongst the squad, keeping teams focused on success through change, fighting relegation, coaching the best out of players, developing innovative tactics or approaches, getting promoted etc). Some will be good at multiple things, others just one or two.

Big Sam had a very specific skill set but you wouldn’t put him in charge of a club with ambition. On the flip, Pep is brilliant at the top end of the game but I wouldn’t necessarily want him in a relegation dog fight. The key is to have those skills aligned with the goals and capabilities of the club.

So, what do you do if your club is somewhere between relegation and ambition?

You could go all in on getting someone who ticks aspiration boxes and support them with players, like with Nuno. But if it goes wrong, you’re screwed. Or you recognise where you are, and prefer to dig in and guarantee security even if it clips some of your wings of aspiration, like Moyes at Everton.

So we return to Old Trafford. The exact nature of Amorim is as yet unknown, but we can safely agree that he’s not someone good for a battle at the wrong end of the table. He is inflexible, requires specific kinds of players for his tactic to work, and even then it’s unknown if it will work in this league. Time will tell (although the signs aren’t great).

He bought a lot of players at Sporting over 4 years for a return of 2 leagues and 2 cups, which sounds great, but it’s interesting to note that he had the second highest spend, and the highest net spend (by a fair way) of the big 4 there, in the league during that time. United certainly can’t match that right now.

And what of United? Is the squad as bad as last year suggested? Seems unlikely considering the previous years. Maybe it’s just a bad fit. If there is a positive to take from the appointment, it’s that it’s at least a punt towards the stars (appointing Southgate would have been an acceptance of being a “nearly” team at best).

The only question is whether he’s an Arteta (consistent “nearly” man), a Klopp (occasional success), a Pep (consistent success) or one of those many others who no one remembers.

He’s definitely not a Sir Alex.

Badwolf

(No, you sit down)

A broader manager question

Overheard on one of what I perceive to be amongst the more credible football podcasts around, supposedly Erik ten Hag chastised his players in the dressing room after losing their most recent match which (presumably as final straw) cost him his job. During the bald manager’s hairdryer at his players, apparently he’d said something along the lines of them playing like children when they’d needed to play like men.

Among the no-doubt many factors for ETH’s dismissal, this specific comment was flagged by the podcast as being noted by the club, with implication the comment was “provocative” and, might be (or also might not be, it’s not entirely clear) a factor taken in consideration of his sacking. Also unclear was whether it was the club that found the comment provocative, the podcast did, or both.

Conducting my own survey here (possibly to crickets), but can anyone explain to me the nature of the provocation. I reckon ETH is a truly awful manager, I really do. I don’t know him, so I couldn’t fairly opine here if I thought he was a modern dinosaur or just brusque and dry, but I could totally believe he’d lose a dressing room faster than the average guy. Still, I just want to know where the provocation in that comment is.

I want to know not because I’m disingenuously anti-woke or trying to create any other kind of provocation; I genuinely want to know, as one man’s survey on the world, whether saying that specific thing to a room full of footballers is, a) flat out unacceptable, b) borderline, depending on a bunch of stuff, or c) actually not so bad in the light of day. Or… d) I misunderstand or I’m over the top, and let’s not parse the definition of provocative. 🤷‍♂️

These six stars of Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Spurs are in limbo, but Turkish Super Lig teams could save them in the coming days.

For every Alexander Isak, there was a Marc Guehi on Monday evening; dream moves were secured or heartbreakingly missed out on at the eleventh hour as the summer transfer window closed in England.

Those who were not granted their transfer wish could be left in limbo until January, although the exit route to the Super Lig remains open until the Turkish window closes on September 12.

With that, we have decided to re-asssign six players in need of a transfer to the Super Lig amid no hope of a future at their current clubs…

Yves Bissouma – Tottenham Hotspur to Fenerbahce

Bissouma falls in the Paul Pogba category of an immensely talented player who never realised their true potential, largely due to attitude problems and/or poor injury record.

The 29-year-old made it easy for new boss Thomas Frank to lay down a marker at the start of his reign, omitting the midfielder from the squad to face PSG over being “late too many” times, and his time at Spurs finally looks to be coming to an end.

It’s hard to see a road back for Bissouma as Frank is clearly not a fan and Tottenham’s midfield of Joao Pahlinha, Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Sarr, barring injuries, looks pretty set. Galatasaray reportedly pulled out of a move for the Spurs outcast last month due to concerns regarding his fitness, but Jose Mourinho-less Fenerbahce could be tempted to partner him with Fred or Edson Alvarez.

READ: Liverpool ‘do things differently’? Not anymore – they’re now as bad as Chelsea and Man City

Federico Chiesa – Liverpool to Galatasaray

Chiesa could have easily given up on his Liverpool dream in the summer amid interest from several Italian clubs, but he remained insistent on proving himself at Anfield after a nondescript debut season in 2024/25.

The injury-impacted Italy international justified that decision by netting a vital goal in Liverpool’s 4-2 opening day win over AFC Bournemouth, which was comfortably his best moment for the club to date.

He’s since made more cameo appearances off the bench, but he has been outshone by teenager Rio Ngumoha and the deadline-day arrival of Alexander Isak, with these two teammates contributing to Arne Slot’s decision to omit the winger from Liverpool’s Champions League squad.

Chiesa could stick around to get games while Mo Salah is at the African Cup of Nations, but he risks being in the same position as last season until that tournament rolls around. Aged 27, he really ought to be playing more regularly and would be an astute signing for Galatasaray.

Axel Disasi – Chelsea to Besiktas

There is a debate to be had over whether Chelsea’s transfer model is tailored towards net gains rather than building the best possible team, but it cannot be denied that they have become incredibly good at selling and earned a record income through player exits in the summer.

Disasi could have added to their windfall amid late interest from the Premier League, but for now at least, he remains in the building at Stamford Bridge.

This should not be the case for long, as Disasi has not had a sniff of Premier League action after ending last season as an Aston Villa benchwarmer during his loan. A move to one of the bigger sides in Turkey feels like a natural next step for the 27-year-old, who will be frustrating Chelsea as he loses value by the day.

MUST-READ FEATURES ON F365…

👉 F365’s 2025/26 season predictions revised post transfer window

👉 Liverpool buy top, no Gyokeres: Top 10 Premier League signings of the summer

👉 Why the five post-Fergie Man Utd managers before Amorim were sacked

Tyrique George – Chelsea to Fenerbahce

The speculation over George leaving Chelsea has been a tad more surprising after his breakthrough season in 2024/25, though his boyhood club would rather buy the best young players from elsewhere than promote from within, and their summer recruitment leaves the 19-year-old further adrift in the pecking order.

Fulham, RB Leipzig and Roma appeared to be the clubs most interested in George, and each of these clubs would have been great moves at this stage of the 19-year-old’s career, though he remains at Chelsea despite an agreement with the Cottagers on deadline day.

Fenerbahce (or another leading Super Lig side) would be foolish not to take a look at George, as he has a high ceiling, and the reported £22m fee for his services could prove to be a bargain in this climate.

Tyrell Malacia – Manchester United to Istanbul Basaksehir

Malacia is the only one of Man Utd’s so-called ‘bomb squad’ to remain at Old Trafford and this is not surprising considering his dire injury record since joining the Premier League giants.

For Man Utd and Feyenoord (during his loan), Malacia has made only 20 competitive appearances since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, so he was never going to be flooded with transfer options.

It was initially assumed that Malacia would return to the Netherlands in the summer, but there were no takers before a last-minute move to La Liga side Elche fell through over a failure to agree on terms. This leaves a move to join other Premier League cast-offs in the Super Lig as a last resort for the left-back, who would also have to settle for a B-level team rather than your Galatasarays or Fenerbahces.

READ: Man Utd’s second-choice keepers, Liverpool’s Guehi-shaped hole and other post-window squad gaps

Andre Onana – Manchester United to Trabzonspor

The jury is out on whether Senne Lammens over Emiliano Martinez was the right decision, given that more experienced and, on paper, better goalkeepers have previously faltered under the immense scrutiny of being Man Utd’s No.1.

Still, Lammens at least has the benefit of having a poor predecessor to follow, as Onana and Alter Bayindir have been liabilities for Man Utd over the past couple of seasons.

Onana’s severe decline since the start of the 2024/25 campaign has been remarkable, as it was never more than two games between a major mistake and he offered zero reassurance to an already fragile defence.

Tottenham made a ‘late enquiry’ to sign Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta at the end of the transfer window, according to reports.

Spurs made loan deals for Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel into permanent transfers over the summer window, while Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus, Luka Vuskovic, Kota Takai and Joao Palhinha have also joined.

They also completed a deadline day loan move for Paris Saint-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Juventus.

And now it has emerged that Tottenham made other late moves with Spurs looking at the possibility of bringing in Crystal Palace striker Mateta, who scored 17 goals in all competitions last term.

Despite a ‘late enquiry’ for the Frenchman, Spurs eventually decided to pursue a move for his compatriot Kolo Muani, who signed on a season-long loan.

Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol revealed: “Palace did well to keep players such as Jean-Phillipe Mateta and Daniel Munoz who attracted a lot of interest from rival clubs before the window closed on Monday. Palace turned down bids worth up to £50m for Mateta from Champions League clubs earlier in the summer.

MAILBOX: Liverpool ‘do things differently’? Not anymore – they’re now as bad as Chelsea and Man City

“There was also a late enquiry – but no bid – from Tottenham Hotspur before they signed Randal Kolo Muani on loan from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day. Atalanta, AC Milan, Juventus and several Premier League clubs were also linked with moves for Mateta.”

Adam Wharton is another player in high demand at the moment after a brilliant 18 months at Selhurst Park but Crystal Palace were in no mood to sell after losing Eberechi Eze.

And TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey insists that Tottenham and Manchester United both ‘asked’ about Wharton ‘in the final weeks of the summer transfer window’.

Speaking to TBR Football about Wharton, Bailey added: “Wharton is one of those generational players where Europe’s big clubs are in regular contact – they don’t want to miss out.

MORE ON SPURS ON F365…

👉 Ex-Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou ‘discussed’ as option to replace two former Man Utd managers

👉 F365’s 2025/26 season predictions revised post transfer window

👉 Who are the Premier League’s highest-paid players? Isak sneaks into top 10…

“Palace are firm in their response, they never entertained the prospect of a departure this summer and they made that known.

“I am told the player himself and his people are aware of the interest, but there are no signs of him wanting to leave. He is focused on having a full season with Palace and making England’s World Cup squad. That’s it.

“Palace and Wharton know if he continues his progress there will be big moves in the future, but that is for then and not now.”

According to reports, Tottenham Hotspur are ‘ready to revisit’ a deal in January, with a £61m ‘offer’ tipped to ‘force’ a club to ‘reconsider’.

Spurs had a mixed summer transfer window following the arrival of Thomas Frank, though the deadline day arrival of Randal Kolo Muani is a huge boost following Dominic Solanke’s injury.

Kolo Muani has joined Mohammed Kudus and Joao Pahlinha in joining Spurs in the summer after the north London club missed out on several targets.

Arsenal scuppered moves for Eberechi Eze and Piero Hincapie as they decided to favour Mikel Arteta’s side, while Tottenham’s deal with Nottingham Forest over Morgan Gibbs-White fell through amid tapping up allegations.

Tottenham had a deal agreed to sign Gibbs-White after activating the release clause in his contract, though Nottm Forest disputed this deal and claimed there was foul play.

Forest were successful in keeping Gibbs-White, who eventually decided to commit his future to the club by signing a new long-term contract.

READ: Liverpool top transfer winners ahead of Arsenal, Chelsea and, in the end, just about Spurs

Despite this, a report from Caught Offside claims Spurs are ‘ready to revisit interest in Gibbs-White’ during the upcoming winter transfer window.

It is claimed that Gibbs-White’s stance on his future ‘may not be set in stone’, with it noted that a ‘fresh assessment of his options is expected to be made in January’.

Spurs are not alone in targeting Gibbs-White, with it suggested that Newcastle United, Aston Villa and West Ham are also ‘keeping a close eye on developments’.

The report later indicates that an ‘offer’ of 70 million euros (£61m) could ‘force’ Nottingham Forest to ‘reconsider’ their stance on Gibbs-White’s exit.

MORE SPURS COVERAGE ON F365…

👉 Newcastle shown how biggest transfer windfalls were spent: Liverpool masterclass and disaster, Fergie’s Glazer glazing

👉 Premier League winners and losers: underdogs Liverpool, hopeless Villa, Potter, Nuno, Hurzeler and more…

👉 Spurs sign Xavi Simons: Why Dutch maestro is a better signing than Ebere Eze to Arsenal

The report claims:

‘Financially, Forest would not be under pressure to sell, but insiders believe an offer in the region of €65-70 million could force the club to reconsider.’

Another report from Caught Offside claims Spurs remain interested in signing Brentford star Nathan Collins as Frank is keen on a reunion, though they face a ‘battle’ with Liverpool.

The Reds were also linked with Collins in the summer as they considered alternatives to Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi and they could return with a new bid for the England international or the Brentford centre-back in January.

The report claims:

‘Tottenham are widely regarded as the most serious contenders in the race for Collins, sources close to the agents industry have informed CaughtOffside. Liverpool have also shown interest, though their approach has been more measured. Collins is on their shortlist of defensive targets, but the Anfield hierarchy have yet to move forward with a formal bid.

‘Any offer in the region of €50 million could trigger serious consideration. However, the timing of a mid-season departure presents a major challenge, especially given the club’s ambitions to maintain stability after losing key players in the summer.’

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Tottenham are exploring a deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani before the deadline.

Tottenham have already brought in Xavi Simons in recent days as they got their attacking midfielder to help with the absence of James Maddison, who is likely to miss most of the season after suffering an ACL injury.

Thomas Frank’s outfit are also after a winger with Savinho on their list of targets for most of the summer as they look to add attacking options.

Ademola Lookman is the latest winger to be linked, while Manchester City centre-back Manuel Akanji is another face who could join before the deadline at 7pm.

But Tottenham have turned their attentions to bringing in another forward with transfer expert Romano revealing late last night that Kolo Muani to Tottenham ‘could be one to watch’.

Romano wrote on X: ‘If talks with Juventus remain off as they are right now, Randal Kolo Muani can emerge as option for several top clubs on #DeadlineDay. Can exclusively reveal that Tottenham made an enquiry for Kolo in last 24h… could be one to watch #THFC.’

READ: Transfer Deadline Day, summer 2025: Follow it LIVE with F365…

And now Romano is back to reveal that Tottenham now have ‘serious interest’ in a deal to sign the France international, who spent the second half of last season out on loan at Serie A side Juventus.

Romano added on X: ‘EXCL: Tottenham make contact to explore Randal Kolo Muani deal conditions after interest revealed overnight. Spurs are informed of Kolo available + serious interest but depends on fee and numbers as PSG want obligation to buy guaranteed.’

Thomas Frank explained his approach to speaking with potential new signings over the weekend as Spurs head into the final day of the transfer window.

Frank said: “When I speak to them I’m pretty direct and honest in how I see the player.

MORE SPURS COVERAGE ON F365…

👉 Spurs sign Xavi Simons: Why Dutch maestro is a better signing than Ebere Eze to Arsenal

👉 Tottenham ‘ahead’ in race for Prem star as second deadline day signing is ‘ready to fly to London’

👉 Will Spurs new boy Xavi Simons fall victim to the dreaded Bundesliga tax?

“Of course I want to sell the Tottenham project. But I’m always direct in terms of how I see their role and what we hopefully can make them to become. But also that it will be a fantastic journey, but also there can be ups and downs in that journey and there’s bits they need to work on.

“We go into that, then I sign off – I would like the player. But the player also needs to sign off to the project and the role.”

Tottenham are ‘ahead’ of their other competitors in the race to sign Manuel Akanji from Manchester City before the deadline, according to reports.

Spurs made loan deals for Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel into permanent transfers over the summer window, while Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus, Luka Vuskovic, Kota Takai and Joao Palhinha have also joined.

But Tottenham are not done there with Spurs expected to complete one or two new signings before the transfer deadline as they look for a defender and an attacker.

Man City centre-back Akanji has been linked with a number of clubs, including Premier League side Crystal Palace, but it is understood that Tottenham are now leading the race to sign the Switzerland international.

Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport has claimed that AC Milan’s ‘number one target’ is Akanji with an agreement between the Serie A side and Man City ‘not a problem’.

The report adds: ‘Now, however, they need to convince Akanji, with whom they met yesterday to discuss the €5 million salary he earns across the Channel, which he doesn’t want to give up.

READ: Transfer Deadline Day, summer 2025: Follow it LIVE with F365…

‘Indeed… That’s not the only obstacle, however, as the Rossoneri also have to contend with Akanji’s desire to play in the Champions League. From this perspective, Tottenham are ahead of the Rossoneri. Crystal Palace are in third place.’

That is reportedly not the only deal that Tottenham are looking to get over the line on deadline day with their interest in Man City winger Savinho persisting, albeit the deal looking very unlikely.

And Spurs have apparently turned their attention to Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman with TBR Football claiming that the Nigeria international is ‘ready to fly to London to sign’ for Tottenham.

TBR Football‘s chief correspondent Graeme Bailey has revealed that a deal for Lookman “has a chance” before the deadline with Tottenham “in the right place at the right time”.

ORE SPURS COVERAGE ON F365…

👉 Spurs sign Xavi Simons: Why Dutch maestro is a better signing than Ebere Eze to Arsenal

👉 Tottenham break into race for Liverpool star after making shock ‘enquiry’ for Norway star

👉 Will Spurs new boy Xavi Simons fall victim to the dreaded Bundesliga tax?

Bailey said: “Lookman has emerged as an option for Tottenham, not dissimilar to their Xavi Simons deal. They were in the right place at the right time.

“I am told Lookman is keen, Tottenham are keen, and this has a chance ahead of Monday’s 7 pm deadline.”

Bayern Munich are also interested, as revealed by Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg on Sunday: ‘FC Bayern are exploring a deal to sign Ademola #Lookman on loan until the end of the Deadline Day. Bayern have already submitted a loan offer with an option to buy to Atalanta, as first via @David_Ornstein and confirmed.

‘Understand Galatasaray and Tottenham also approached Lookman. Bayern pushing. Open race.’

Tottenham are “not letting go” in their pursuit of Manchester City winger Savinho ahead of the summer transfer deadline, according to reports.

Tottenham have already brought in Xavi Simons in recent days as they got their attacking midfielder to help with the absence of James Maddison, who is likely to miss most of the season after suffering an ACL injury.

Thomas Frank’s outfit are also after a winger with Savinho on their list of targets for most of the summer as they look to add attacking options.

Spurs have already submitted two bids to the Citizens for the Brazil international with the rejected offers worth £43m and £60m respectively.

Despite that, TBR Football’s chief correspondent Graeme Bailey insists that Tottenham have not given up in their pursuit of Savinho and could try again before the transfer deadline.

Bailey said: “Spurs love Savinho and are not letting this go, am told to keep an eye on this – it is not dead in the water yet.”

READ: Five England players with World Cup ambitions who need a transfer this summer

Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers is another attacking midfielder that Tottenham have been linked with – but Football Insider‘s senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke reckons a deal for the England international now looks “difficult to do”.

O’Rourke said: “Aston Villa don’t really want to lose any of their best players right now.

“Unai Emery’s been restricted in the transfer market bringing signings in, so he won’t really want to lose one of his star players – and there’s no doubt Morgan Rogers is that prize asset.

“Villa will do everything they can to keep hold of him – with such a huge price tag involved, it makes any deal so late in the window even more difficult to do.”

MORE SPURS COVERAGE ON F365…

👉 Spurs sign Xavi Simons: Why Dutch maestro is a better signing than Ebere Eze to Arsenal

👉 Tottenham break into race for Liverpool star after making shock ‘enquiry’ for Norway star

👉 Will Spurs new boy Xavi Simons fall victim to the dreaded Bundesliga tax?

Former Premier League striker Troy Deeney can’t understand why Tottenham didn’t attempt to sign Man City’s Jack Grealish before he moved on loan to Everton.

Deeney told talkSPORT: “With Maddison going down, they have to look at that No.10.

“I still think it’s a perfect landing spot for Jack Grealish, personally. I think it’s a wonderful landing spot.

“We’re being told Tottenham have played down their interest in Jack, but you’re talking about someone who has won.

“Whatever people want to say about Jack, he’s been at City, he’s used to winning, he knows the level, knows the standard, and he’s an upgrade on everything Tottenham have got there.

“Maddison won’t play this season and they have missed out on Morgan Gibbs-White. So the fact that they’re playing their interest in Jack Grealish down, to me, is daft.”

Tottenham are one of the clubs interested in signing Liverpool defender Joe Gomez before the transfer deadline, according to reports.

Spurs made loan deals for Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel into permanent transfers over the summer, while Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus, Luka Vuskovic, Kota Takai and Joao Palhinha have also joined.

But Tottenham could still add another face before the end of the transfer window with Thomas Frank’s side interested in signing a new centre-back.

Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed earlier this week that Tottenham have made an approach to sign Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji as they rival AC Milan for his signature.

Romano said on X: ‘EXCLUSIVE: Tottenham make approach with Man City for Manuel Akanji, one of 3 names on shortlist. AC Milan are also in talks over move for the defender, ready to pay £15m fee but still in talks over personal terms #THFC and Milan want CB before the end of the window.’

But now Sky Sports have also credited Tottenham with late interest in a move for Liverpool centre-back Gomez with The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealing earlier today that Milan had launched a bid for the England international.

READ: Five England players with World Cup ambitions who need a transfer this summer

Sky Sports wrote: ‘Gomez is also on the lists at AC Milan and Spurs, although Thomas Frank has appeared to cool his interest in signing a new centre-back.

‘Milan appear to be prioritising Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji at the moment – another player of interest to Palace and on Spurs’ radar.’

Italian journalist Carlo Pellegatti has dismissed reports that Tottenham have made a €20m bid for Akanji with Spurs yet to make an official offer.

Pellegatti insists: “There’s something new for Akanji. He’d like to play in the Champions League, but Tottenham haven’t made an offer yet. He’d also be happy to stay at City.

“For AC Milan, he’s first on the list. Sadly, Akanji will join AC Milan if Tottenham don’t want him: for him, AC Milan is the third choice.”

MORE SPURS COVERAGE ON F365…

👉 Spurs sign Xavi Simons: Why Dutch maestro is a better signing than Ebere Eze to Arsenal

👉 The 20 most expensive attacking midfielders ever: Simons takes his place behind Spurs’ first choice

👉 Will Spurs new boy Xavi Simons fall victim to the dreaded Bundesliga tax?

Simons is Tottenham’s latest addition this summer from Leipzig and Norwegian website Football Norge claims that Spurs ‘also made enquiries regarding none other than Antonio Nusa’ before sealing a deal for the Netherlands international.

The report adds: ‘Nusa’s ability to influence games from the middle of the park and his composure on the ball have kept him on the radar of several top clubs, with Spurs clearly recognising his potential to make an impact in the Premier League.’

Football Norge continues: ‘Tottenham are expected to make a couple more signings before the transfer window closes on Monday, and it would come as little surprise if they followed up their interest in Nusa with a firm offer, signalling their intent to strengthen both immediate and future options in midfield.’

The Saturday 3pm slot has been decimated and desecrated more than ever this Premier League season, but it refuses to go quietly.

The third Saturday of the season delivered in style, with a thrilling late win for Sunderland, a desperate face-saving late win for Burnley, the sight of Jack Grealish falling in love with football again in real time, and Spurs crashing Spursily back down to earth with a shocking performance in defeat at home to Bournemouth, who somehow keep on trucking despite having the heart ripped out of their team over the summer.

Andoni Iraola might just be a genius, while Ruben Amorim looks more lucky general after a late VAR intervention spared United more blushes after a truly mortifying week.

Here’s the F365 3pm Blackout on a belting afternoon of fun and games…

Manchester United 3-2 Burnley: Late, late penalty saves United from disaster but not criticism

It says a great deal about Manchester United these days that even when you sit and ponder what a 97th-minute winner might mean as a sliding doors moment for club, player and manager you still come to the conclusion ‘Probably not much’.

There just seems too much too fundamentally broken at Old Trafford – literally and figuratively – for a spawny late home win over a promoted side to mark any kind of significant corner-turning. It will mean slightly less noise and attention through the international break – and gratitude must be extended from one banter club to another here as Spurs gamely take on the mantle after a truly abysmal effort against Bournemouth – but we’ve been here so many times with United, under so many managers.

It’s not even the first time Ruben Amorim’s team have performed absurd acts of late escapology; it’s never really amounted to anything much before, it’s unlikely to do so now. The sheer amount of times they get themselves into these situations remains more compelling than the admittedly often eye-catching times they manage to extract themselves.

But that doesn’t mean it isn’t important. Relegation six-pointers are always big games, and at the end of the day it doesn’t really matter how you win them.

But this was about as unconvincing a win as it’s possible to imagine against a team that had been so thoroughly sorted out on their previous away day. And by United’s banter-club rivals to boot.

Twice Burnley were able to peg United back after falling behind, exposing yet again the fragility at the heart of this team.

The slapstick nature of United’s first goal – ricocheting home off the unfortunate Josh Cullen – and cruelty of the winner, a penalty awarded by VAR in the very last moments of added time, will also temper any talk of this being a game that marks a significant piece of actual progress or development for United.

They have avoided further humiliation at the end of a week that has contained a season’s worth of it already. But no more than that.

Sunderland 2-1 Brentford: Black Cats stage stunning late rally to claim second win of the season

Another late, late Wilson Isidor goal at the Stadium of Light and, while the gloss-applier in a thumping win over West Ham was certainly enjoyable this one might just carry a bit more weight in the final analysis.

Having fallen behind in the 77th minute, to emerge from this game with all three points is a seismic effort from Regis Le Bris’ play-off winners. It also marks a second home win for them against teams among the more obviously vulnerable of the previously Settled Seventeen.

Nothing looks settled now with all three promoted sides showing they are ready and willing to compete. The idea of it being impossible to do so has already been slightly exposed, while it also seems relevant to note that not one of the six teams to perform the promotion-relegation double in the last couple of years has subsequently looked out of place in the Championship.

The fear of a new normal was valid, with each passing season only helping the sides already in place get more and more comfortable, but it really is starting to look more quirk than permanent arrangement, a combination of an undeniable strengthening of the lower reaches of the Premier League with a series of painfully ill-equipped promoted sides.

With all three promoted sides showing their teeth after a summer where the Premier League’s big beasts have shamelessly feasted on the rest, neither of those factors appears to be in play this season. Which could make for an awful lot of fun.

Tottenham 0-1 Bournemouth: Xavi sees why he’s needed as Cherries end Spurs’ unbeaten start

One of the great features of Spursiness is the way it so often seems to be specifically designed to torture the club’s fans into genuine madness.

And they do love to make sure the whiplash is as severe as possible when the rug is pulled from under a fanbase the club itself seems to genuinely despise. Two wins from two had been followed by the sort of statement signing that prompts inevitable overexcitement.

Xavi Simons was in the building but unavailable, on precisely the sort of occasion where precisely his sort of football was required. Yet if Spurs could just find a way past Bournemouth they would have likely gone into the international break top of the league and full of joy.

Long-term Spurs watchers will be ahead of us here, but those two words ‘international break’ are enough to tell you that simply couldn’t happen.

Spurs have now ensured their supporters have spent the last seven international breaks stewing on a defeat – and usually a particularly wretched one. The last time they won directly before an international break was a scarcely deserved 1-0 win in October 2023 against Luton, who have since been relegated twice.

Since then, Spurs have lost before international breaks to Wolves (from 1-0 up at 90 minutes), Fulham (3-0), Newcastle, Brighton (from 2-0 up at half-time), Ipswich (at home), Fulham (again) and now Bournemouth in a game that should have ended far more compellingly than 1-0 to the visitors such was their dominance.

Andoni Iraola’s side controlled the game to an astonishing degree after a half-awake Spurs defence with Cristian Romero inattentive and a dawdling Djed Spence playing Evanilson onside to score what would prove to be the only goal.

That it remained the only goal was mostly down to a lack of clinical finishing from the visitors, because Spurs created nothing.

Iraola really is a genius; to have had the heart ripped out of his defence the way he has this summer and then set his team up to so utterly nullify Spurs was a huge achievement, even allowing for the role Spurs played in their own downfall by appearing to regard such concepts as ‘ideas’ or ‘movement’ as essentially cheating.

This was a world away from the varied but excellent performances under Thomas Frank against PSG, Burnley and Man City, and a perhaps necessary reality check for just how far off proper, sensible clubs last year’s 17th-place finishers remain.

Not one of Spurs’ efforts troubled Bournemouth. All of Spurs’ effort will have troubled Spurs.

Wolves 2-3 Everton: Grealish secures inevitable cult hero status on true Enjoying His Football day out

A happy Jack Grealish is something surely all of us can get behind. Okay, maybe not Wolves fans.

But for the rest of us there is undoubted joy in watching him simply Enjoying His Football again as he took his assist tally for the season to four with two more in an entertaining win over Wolves. Some players really are just more effective as the brightest shining light in a more ordinary team than as another cog in a brilliant machine.

There’s no shame in that. There’s nothing wrong with that. And Grealish is one such player. He doesn’t turn 30 until next month; there really could be an awful lot left to come in a career that now has all the baubles and trimmings of being part of Man City’s stunning run of recent success.

But one suspects that what Grealish might achieve at Everton might just bring him far more joy than trophies and medals ever could. Although he might miss the parades.