Football365

Manchester United legend Jaap Stam has revealed his bold prediction for the 2025/26 campaign as he’s backed Ruben Amorim’s side to finish above Chelsea.

The Red Devils have been heavily criticised at the start of this campaign as they have lost three of their opening seven Premier League games, while they have suffered a shock Carabao Cup exit at the hands of League Two side Grimsby Town.

Therefore, head coach Ruben Amorim has come under huge pressure and he remains one of the favourites to be the next Premier League manager sacked after United’s 2-0 win against Sunderland.

This means Amorim and Man Utd need to follow up this win with more positive results, potentially starting with Sunday’s match against arch-rivals Liverpool at Anfield.

Ahead of this match, Man Utd are tenth in the Premier League and five points adrift of the Champions League positions, but Stam has backed his former club to finish in the top four and finish ahead of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

“I would pick Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United for the top four, with Chelsea in close contention,” Stam said in an interview with Sky Bet.

READ: Amorim will sacrifice three academy kids ‘on the cheap’ to Newcastle after Ratcliffe pop

“These five have the squads and consistency to compete for the Champions League places.

“Bournemouth or Crystal Palace could make a push, but it’s hard to maintain that level through the season.

“The big clubs will end up there again because of the quality of players they have in their squad.”

As well as “the quality of players” in Man Utd’s squad, Stam reckons another factor in their favour is that “it’s still early” in the season and a “few wins can change everything”.

“At the start of the season, I said the top four should be the target for Manchester United,” Stam added.

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“They’re only a few points off that, so it’s not a disaster. It’s still early; a few wins can change everything. Momentum and confidence come from back-to-back victories.

“If they can build that, they can finish in the top six, maybe even top five, though it’ll be tough. Winning games is always the best medicine.”

Stam has also explained why he thinks Arsenal can beat Liverpool to win the Premier League this season.

“Arsenal can win the league this season,” Stam insisted.

“Mikel Arteta has built a team with quality and a clear playing style that’s hard to play against. The owners have backed him, and you can see the progress.

“They’ve spent a lot to strengthen, which shows ambition. Now they need to make that next step and by spending the amount they have, they’ve shown they want to take that next step.

“With their depth, they can rotate and keep up the quality. They’re consistent with how they’re playing; they are top of the league and now they need to keep it up until the end of the season.

“I wouldn’t say Mikel Arteta’s job should immediately be on the line [if Arsenal don’t win any trophies], but there will be pressure.

“When you’ve been backed and invested heavily, expectations rise. The club will expect progress and trophies. When you are the manager of Arsenal, that’s what you know and that’s what you’re there for.

“If that doesn’t happen, of course questions come. That’s normal in football. But there’s still a long season ahead, and they’re in a strong position.”

Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo has been told that he “can do better” than a move to Tottenham in the next couple of transfer windows.

The Cherries star has already contributed six goals and three assists in seven Premier League matches with only Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland scoring more goals than the Ghana international.

Semenyo has been heavily linked with a move ahead of the January transfer window with a report earlier this week claiming that Liverpool ‘now lead’ Tottenham and other clubs in the race to sign the 25-year-old from Bournemouth.

Most of the top clubs in the Premier League have been linked with a potential move and Semenyo’s private coach, Saul Isaksson-Hurst, has insisted that the Bournemouth winger is “unbelievable” and going to the top.

Isaksson-Hurst told talkSPORT: “He’s just sensational. Box-office player.

“He’s got the pace, the power, the athleticism, but with the ball. That’s what he’s elite with. He can go left, he can go right.

READ: Big Weekend: Liverpool v Man United, Villa, Gyokeres, Postecoglou, Der Klassiker

“His ball striking is unbelievable. He’s just box office.

“Even the guys who work with me, like the ‘keepers and people who help me with the sessions, they’re like, ‘Wow, this guy’s the real deal’.

“He does stand out, he’s top. He’s just electric. His consistency with his ball striking on the move, with his left and right foot, is just unbelievable. He opens his foot; he almost knuckle-balls it. With that control at full speed, it’s sensational.”

Isaksson-Hurst added: “He creates goals, he scores goals, he does everything.

“On the training pitch, he really did blow me away. He has that mentality, has the speed, has the quality.

“He’s one of the most exciting players in the Premier League at the moment. He’s a Champions League player for me, straight away.

“He has all the qualities in terms of the technical attributes, the physical attributes, has the mentality, wants to be the best, wants to work hard.

“I think he was unlucky not to get a move in the summer.

“I think it’s come out of the press today, he’s got a release clause. I think it’s just a matter of time until he goes to one of the big clubs.”

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Gabby Agbonlahor reckons Semenyo would start on the left-hand side for any Premier League side this season, including Tottenham, he said on talkSPORT: “I look at the league table, and name me a team he doesn’t start for on that left-hand side. Name one.

“He’s better than [Man City’s Jérémy] Doku. He starts for Arsenal if [Eberechi] Eze plays in that number 10 position.

“[He’s] Better than [Gabriel] Martinelli and [Leandro] Trossard. Better than [Cody] Gakpo [at Liverpool]. Starts for Spurs.”

Fellow pundit Jamie O’Hara replied: “I’d love him at Spurs. I think they should go all out for him.

“When they come out and talk about an injection of £100m into Spurs. I think Spurs is an amazing club for him, a massive football club, a brilliant stadium and amazing facilities.”

But Agbonlahor doubts Tottenham are “big enough” for Semenyo’s ability, he added: “Are Spurs big enough for him, though? Because he wants to play Champions League, and next season you won’t [be in the competition],” the ex-Aston Villa striker predicted.

“He can do better than Spurs.”

According to reports, one Tottenham Hotspur transfer is ‘edging closer’ and it could ‘force’ the Premier League side into the market for a replacement.

Spurs have had a strong start to the 2025/26 campaign under new head coach Thomas Frank, as they sit third in the Premier League after seven games.

Former Brentford boss Frank has made several small changes to bring the best out of Tottenham, with unexpected bright spark Richarlison enjoying a resurgence for the north London outfit.

In the summer, Richarlison was heavily linked with a potential exit, but he has capitalised on Dominic Solanke’s injury woes to shine at the start of this campaign. He has three goals and an assist in the Premier League this season.

Despite this, Richarlison remains linked with an exit and a recent report claimed Spurs will ‘accept an offer’ for him in January after he ‘opened the door’ to a move to the MLS.

READ: Man City would face 23-point deduction as Man Utd, Chelsea also in breach of £546m PL ‘salary cap’

Now, a report from Football Insider has provided more information on Richarlison’s situation, with the striker ‘edging closer’ to an exit.

Former Premier League chief scout Mick Brown, who remains ‘very well connected within the game’, has explained why his exit would ‘force’ Spurs into the market for a new attacker.

“Richarlison could be tempted to leave Tottenham,” Brown told Football Insider.

“But that would force them to go out and sign a new striker, because they don’t have the depth in that position to be letting people go without replacing them.

“Given the way the market it at the moment, there aren’t too many strikers out there. Whoever they go for, especially mid-way through the season, is not going to be cheap.

“It will depend on how much money they get from Richarlison, because that might make a difference.

“Otherwise I think it will be difficult for them to let him go, because they can’t do without him.

“Solanke’s injury issues mean they need somebody who can fill in while he’s out, they’re not going to put themselves in a position where they’re caught short.”

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As well as a new forward, Spurs could also move for a centre-back next year as they are among the clubs linked with Brentford star Nathan Collins.

Caught Offside, meanwhile, claims Spurs ‘are considering a January move for Lazio centre-back Mario Gila’ and an offer of 50 million euros (£43m) can ‘seal’ a deal.

The report adds:

‘Tottenham are not alone. Crystal Palace, Brighton, and Everton have all kept close tabs on the Spaniard, and there was concrete interest in the summer, Brighton and Bournemouth are understood to have made contact with the player’s camp as they scoped out centre-back options.

‘The Roman club hold the stronger negotiating position. Gila is under contract until 2027. Sources around the deal suggest Lazio would only engage at €45-50 million. That valuation won’t scare Tottenham.’

Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane has given his latest update on whether he could return to Tottenham in the future.

Kane, who scored another two goals for the Three Lions in a 5-0 win over Latvia on Tuesday evening, left Spurs in 2023 for Bayern Munich in a deal worth a reported €110m.

The Tottenham legend has gone on to score 103 goals in 106 appearances in just over two seasons at the German giants with Kane finally getting his hands on a trophy when Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga last season.

When asked about potentially moving back to Tottenham in the near future, Kane told the Daily Mail: “I’m not sure.

“I’m very happy here in Munich. It’s not something I’m thinking about. It’ll always be ‘we’ because I spent my whole life there. I’m a fan of them and will always watch them and see how they’re getting on. They will always be a part of my life for sure but as for now, I’m loving it here.

“It was great to see [the Europa League win]. I’ve got a lot of friends there with the players and staff.

READ: Arsenal edge Spurs to be crowned Premier League champions of the international break

“We know how long we waited and how close we’d come in the past so it was big for everyone – the fans, the club and all involved to have that feeling and get that one over the line. That’s always important and hopefully they can push on and win more.”

Kane has 18 goals in ten appearances for Bayern Munich so far this season. On his start to the new campaign, Kane added: “It’s the best start to any season I’ve ever had for sure.

“I just feel really good. I’ve been here in Munich for a couple of years now and everything’s settled off the pitch. My wife and kids are happy and that all contributes.

“Physically, I’m in a good place. Mentally, I’m at that age now where I’ve got loads of experience. And I’m excited because I’m playing in a team that creates loads of chances and I know that if I get chances, I’m going to score.”

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On why he was so attracted to a move to Bayern Munich, Kane continued: “It’s such a big club. I wanted to experience something different, a different league and a different culture.

“Bayern are known around Europe every year as one of the best and one of the favourites to win the Champions League. I wanted to test myself at that level and I’ve loved it on and off the pitch. It feels like my second home now. I’m enjoying every moment of it and hopefully it continues.”

Arsenal will return to Premier League action this weekend buoyant after pipping Tottenham by a point to become International Break champions.

Mercifully, the second international break of the season is now over, allowing Premier League clubs to get their players back in time for matchday eight.

Some will be returning more chipper than others. The England lads can now focus on nailing down their places in Thomas Tuchel’s squad after sealing qualification for the World Cup finals. In contrast, the Sweden boys, including big summer signings for Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle, are seething.

No camp will be happier than Arsenal. Not only are they top of the Premier League, but Mikel Arteta’s players enjoyed more collective success over the last week and a half than any other club, even if Spurs ran the Gunners desperately close.

How do we know that? Maths, innit.

Every international call-up takes back to their club the points won on international duty, whether they were earned in World Cup qualifiers or friendlies. Three for a win; one for a draw. Only senior call-ups count.

On that basis, we can crown Arsenal the first (and possibly last) F365 International Break champions. The shirt patches are in the post…

England (Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Myles Lewis-Skelly) – 24

Spain (David Raya, Mikel Merino, and Martin Zubimendi) – 18

France (William Saliba) – 4

Netherlands (Jurrien Timber) – 6

Italy (Riccardo Calafiori) – 6

Belgium (Leandro Trossard) – 4

Sweden (Viktor Gyokeres) – 0

Denmark (Christian Norgaard) – 6

Brazil (Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes) – 6

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England (Djed Spence) – 6

Wales (Ben Davies, Brennan Johnson) – 0

Northern Ireland (Jamie Donley) – 3

Netherlands (Xavi Simons, Micky van de Ven) – 12

Austria (Kevin Danso) – 3

Sweden (Lucas Bergvall) – 0

Portugal (Joao Palhinha) – 4

Spain (Pedro Porro) – 6

Italy (Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario) – 12

Israel (Manor Solomon) – 0

Argentina (Cristian Romero) – 6

Brazil (Richarlison) – 3

Senegal (Pape Matar Sarr) – 6

Ghana (Mohammed Kudus) – 6

Mali (Yves Bissouma) – 6

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England (Nico O’Reilly, John Stones, James Trafford) – 18

Portugal (Ruben Dias, Matheus Nunes, Bernardo Silva) – 12

Norway (Oscar Bobb, Erling Haaland) – 8

Netherlands (Nathan Ake, Tijjani Reijnders) – 12

Croatia (Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic) – 8

Belgium (Jeremy Doku) – 4

Italy (Gianluigi Donnarumma) – 6

Scotland (Andy Robertson) – 6

Northern Ireland (Conor Bradley) – 3

Germany (Florian Wirtz) – 6

France (Hugo Ekitike, Ibrahima Konate) – 8

Netherlands (Jeremie Frimpong, Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch, Virgil van Dijk) – 24

Sweden (Alexander Isak) – 0

Hungary (Milos Kerkez, Dominik Szoboszlai) – 8

Georgia (Giorgi Mamardashvili) – 0

Egypt (Mo Salah) – 6

Argentina (Alexis Mac Allister) – 6

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England (Marc Guehi, Dean Henderson) – 12

Northern Ireland (Justin Devenny) – 3

France (Jean-Philippe Mateta) – 4

Spain (Yeremy Pino) – 6

USA (Chris Richards) – 4

Argentina (Walter Benitez) – 6

Colombia (Daniel Munoz, Jefferson Lerma) – 8

Trinidad (Rio Cardines) – 4

Senegal (Ismaila Sarr) – 6

Japan (Daichi Kamada) – 4

Nigeria (Christantus Uche) – 6

England (Ezri Konsa, Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins) – 18

Scotland (John McGinn) – 6

France (Lucas Digne) – 4

Netherlands (Donyell Malen) – 6

Belgium (Amadou Onana) – 4

Poland (Matty Cash) – 6

Sweden (Victor Lindelof) – 0

Argentina (Emi Martinez) – 6

Ivory Coast (Evann Guessand) – 6

England (Jordan Henderson) – 6

Scotland (Aaron Hickey) – 6

Republic of Ireland (Nathan Collins, Caoimhin Kelleher) – 6

Germany (Kevin Schade) – 6

Denmark (Mikkel Damsgaard) – 6

Ukraine (Yehor Yarmoliuk) – 6

Iceland (Hakon Valdimarsson) – 1

Norway (Kristoffer Ajer) – 4

Burkina Faso (Dango Ouattara) – 6

Nigeria (Frank Onyeka) – 6

Jamaica (Ethan Pinnock) – 3

Norway (Jorgen Strand Larsen, David Moller Wolfe) – 8

Czechia (Ladislav Krejci) – 1

Portugal (Jose Sa) – 4

Brazil (Andre, Joao Gomes) – 6

Uruguay (Santiago Bueno) – 6

Colombia (Yerson Mosquera) – 4

Haiti (Jean-Ricner Bellegarde) – 3

South Korea (Hee Chan Hwang) – 3

Cameroon (Jackson Tchatchoua) – 4

Nigeria (Tolu Arokodare) – 6

Zimbabwe (Marshall Munetsi, Tawanda Chirewa) – 2

Ivory Coast (Emmanuel Agbadou) – 6

Portugal (Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes) – 8

Belgium (Senne Lammens) – 4

Denmark (Patrick Dorgu) – 6

Slovenia (Benjamin Sesko) – 2

Turkey (Altay Bayindir) – 6

Brazil (Casemiro, Matheus Cunha) – 6

Paraguay (Diego Leon) – 1

Ivory Coast (Amad) – 6

Cameroon (Bryan Mbeumo) – 4

Morocco (Noussair Mazraoui) – 6

England (Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White) – 12

Wales (Neco Williams) – 0

Scotland (Angus Gunn) – 6

Belgium (Matz Sells) – 4

Serbia (Nikola Milenkovic) – 3

Switzerland (Dan Ndoye) – 4

Brazil (Igor Jesus, John Victor) – 6

New Zealand (Chris Wood) – 1

Ivory Coast (Ibrahim Sangare, Willy Boly) – 12

Northern Ireland (Dan Ballard, Trai Hume) – 6

Netherlands (Robin Roefs) – 6

Switzerland (Granit Xhaka) – 4

Morocco (Chemsdine Talbi) – 6

Mozambique (Reinildo Mandava) – 3

DR Congo (Noah Sadiki, Arthur Masuaku) – 6

Ivory Coast (Simon Adingra) – 6

Paraguay (Omar Alderete) – 1

Burkina Faso (Bertrand Traore) – 6

Wales (David Brooks) – 0

Scotland (Ryan Christie and Ben Gannon-Doak) – 12

Netherlands (Justin Kluivert) – 6

Serbia (Veljko Milosavljevic, Đorđe Petrovic) – 6

Argentina (Marcos Senesi) – 6

Ghana (Antoine Semenyo) – 6

Morocco (Amine Adli) – 6

Wales (Harry Wilson) – 0

Denmark (Joachim Andersen) – 6

Norway (Sander Berge) – 4

Belgium (Timothy Castagne) – 4

Nigeria (Calvin Bassey, Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi) – 18

USA (Antonee Robinson) – 4

England (Jordan Pickford) – 6

Wales (Tom King) – 0

Republic of Ireland (Seamus Coleman, Jake O’Brien, Mark Travers) – 9

Ukraine (Vitalii Mykolenko) – 6

Guinea-Bissau (Beto) – 0

Senegal (Idrissa Gana Gueye, Iliman Ndiaye) – 12

Republic of Ireland (Josh Cullen) – 3

Netherlands (Quilindschy Hartman) – 6

Sweden (Hjalmar Ekdal) – 0

Slovakia (Martin Dubravka) – 3

Albania (Armando Broja) – 6

Tunisia (Hannibal) – 6

South Africa (Lyle Taylor) – 4

DR Congo (Axel Tuanzebe) – 3

England (Anthony Gordon, Dan Burn) – 12

Germany (Nick Woltemade) – 6

Italy (Sandro Tonali) – 6

Sweden (Anthony Elanga) – 0

Brazil (Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton) – 6

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France (Malo Gusto) – 4

Portugal (Pedro Neto) – 4

Spain (Marc Cucurella) – 6

Denmark (Filip Jorgensen) – 6

Argentina (Enzo Fernandez) – 6

Brazil (Estevao) – 3

England (Jarrod Bowen) – 6

Northern Ireland (Callum Marshall) – 3

Denmark (Mads Hermansen) – 6

Greece (Dinos Mavropanos) – 0

Czechia (Tomas Soucek) – 1

Brazil (Lucas Paqueta) – 3

Senegal (El Hadji Malick Diouf) – 6

DR Congo (Aaron Wan-Bissaka) – 3

Netherlands (Bart Verbruggen, Jan Paul van Hecke) – 12

Sweden (Yasin Ayari) – 0

Belgium (Maxim De Cuyper) – 4

Italy (Diego Coppola) – 6

Cameroon (Carlos Baleba) – 4

Paraguay (Diego Gomez) – 1

According to reports, Tottenham Hotspur have ‘burst into the race’ as they look to fend off competition from several sides to sign a Rangers star.

Under Thomas Frank, Spurs have made a strong start to this season as they have emerged as a potential contender for Champions League qualification.

New signings Mohammed Kudus, Joao Pahlinha and Xavi Simons have made a positive impact as Tottenham have won four of their opening seven Premier League games to sit third in the table.

Frank has steadied the ship following Ange Postecoglou’s spell in charge and further investment via a possible takeover could provide a further boost in the coming months.

According to reports, Spurs already have one eye on the transfer market ahead of the winter window, with journalist Fraser Fletcher for our pals at TEAMtalk claiming they are among the ‘interested’ clubs plotting a move for Rangers star Nico Raskin.

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Rangers’ start to this campaign has been dire but Raskin has arguably been their standout performer, with the versatile centre-midfielder contributing five goal involvements in 14 appearances.

The talented 24-year-old has also broken into the senior Belgium squad and played the full 90 minutes in each of their games during this international break.

Wolves, Crystal Palace, West Ham United and Burnley are also said to be monitoring Raskin, but Tottenham’s interest complicates matters for these clubs as Rangers are keen on a ‘record-shattering deal’.

A deal for Raskin next year is reportedly expected to be worth ‘£20-25m’, and this would surpass the fee for Rangers’ current record sale after they sold Calvin Bassey to Ajax for £19.6m in 2022.

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Regarding Raskin’s stance on an exit, the report claims:

‘We understand Raskin was open to leaving Ibrox in the summer to test himself out at a new club. He was well aware of the interest in his signature, particularly from Palace.

‘But Raskin ended up staying at Rangers due to a lack of concrete offers. Things could be different in 2026, however.’

Spurs are also said to be considering a move for River Plate defender Lautaro Rivero, who is attracting interest from La Liga outfit Atletico Madrid.

Tottenham’s interest is said to be a ‘bombshell” for River Plate, with journalist Hernan Castillo claiming that the club is aware that they could receive “an offer that they cannot refuse at any moment”.

Spanish reporter Pascual Ruiz Arnal added: “Atlético de Madrid is one of the European teams keeping an eye on Lautaro Rivero. Tottenham are also interested.”

It has been claimed that Tottenham Hotspur ‘will accept a January offer’ for a current starter as he has decided to ‘open the door’ to a transfer.

Under Thomas Frank, Spurs have made a strong start to this campaign as they sit seventh in the Premier League after seven matches.

Richarlison has been an unexpected shining light for Tottenham at the start of this season after he was heavily linked with a potential exit in the summer.

The Brazil international has benefitted from Dominic Solanke’s injury as he has broken into Frank’s starting XI and has four goal involvements in his seven Premier League appearances.

Despite this, Richarlison remains linked with an exit and a report from Football Insider claims Spurs ‘will accept a January offer’ for the forward, who has ‘opened the door’ to a move to the MLS.

Former Premier League chief scout Mick Brown, who remains ‘very well connected within the game’, claims “the time has come for Richarlison to move on”.

“I think the time has come for Richarlison to move on,” Brown told Football Insider.

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“He’s never been a player who the club are completely prepared to put their faith in, they know what he can do at his best, but too often he won’t be at that level.

“With Solanke out injured, he’s had a good start to the season, but they don’t see him as the long-term answer to their issues leading the line. So if a good offer comes in for him in January, then I expect Tottenham will be ready to let him go.

“Given everybody’s fit, I’m not sure he would have a regular place in Thomas Frank’s team. Based on that, he’ll be interested in a move to the MLS as well, and I’m told there have already been talks about whether it could be done.

“If Tottenham get the right offer and feel they can cope without him, I’m sure it’s something that could happen when the window opens with all parties interested.”

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Harry Kane could potentially replace Richarlison in 2026, though former Premier League star Gus Poyet has claimed that he should “definitely go to Barcelona”.

“If he wants something different for his family, I would definitely go to Barcelona – if Lewandowski leaves. It will be completely different to everything that he had before,” Poyet told GOAL.

“Also the style of play at Barcelona right now, a player like him up front, he will score – wow, will he score!

“There has been a bit of criticism from Michael Owen, saying he can’t believe he left. I don’t know if he read it and maybe thought about the Premier League and coming back. It is very particular to him. Family is going to be very important to his decision next year.”

A Tottenham insider has stated it’s “madness” two players have been snubbed by Thomas Frank, after he made an important squad decision recently.

Frank has turned Spurs’ fortunes around immediately. Last season, former boss Ange Postecoglou led them to a 17th-placed Premier League finish and was axed.

After seven games, Frank has his side third, with four wins under their belt and 13 goals scored – only Arsenal and Manchester City have scored more.

His Tottenham squad has seen existing players and new signings gel together well.

It is important for the players already in the squad to have bought into what he’s doing, and that clearly is the case, though that’s where Frank has also been questioned.

Indeed, his leadership group was announced of late, with five players on it: Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Guglielmo Vicario, Ben Davies and James Maddison.

The two centre-backs and goalkeeper being included makes sense, while Davies has been at the club for 11 years, and Maddison was named vice captain last season, and has worn the armband previously.

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Right-back Pedro Porro has worn the armband this season, though, and his absence from the list has been noted by Spurs insider John Wenham, alongside that of another experienced Tottenham man.

Wenham told Tottenham News: “I was slightly surprised that Porro was omitted from the leadership team.

“He had captained Tottenham, I think it was against Doncaster, and then the announcement was literally a week later, when he wasn’t in a group of five.

“Joao Palhinha naturally is a leader, and he’s only on loan, so it’d be a bit of a disappointment, maybe to the other players that are permanently here, if he came in and was instantly part of that. But I think he knows that he’s a leader already.

“The other one is probably quite disappointed, is Rodrigo Bentancur. Looking at his age and where he is in his career, but he can’t have, otherwise we’d just say we’ve got a leadership team and it consists of nine players or something. It’s madness.”

Indeed, Porro captained Spurs in the 3-0 League Cup victory over League One Doncaster Rovers, playing the full 90 minutes.

While it’s not the most stern of tests, his side won the game easily and kept a clean sheet, so he can’t have done a bad job.

However, perhaps a longer leadership group would have been too much, and some had to miss out.

A Tottenham insider has told the club it would be “madness” if they were to try to bring a thriving midfielder player back to the club amid his good form.

Spurs have started the season in great form. After seven games in the Premier League, they’re third, while also having had good starts in the Champions League and League Cup.

Thomas Frank has taken what was already a good squad, who won the Europa League last season, and added some quality players such as Mohammed Kudus and Joao Palhinha to it.

He’s also allowed some good players to head out on loan. Young Tottenham talents such as Min-hyeok Yang, Mikey Moore and Tyrese Hall are all currently away from the club on loan.

Hall, after six goals and four assists in academy football last season as a midfielder, has transitioned into men’s football well, scoring three goals and assisting one in League Two for Notts County, while also scoring in the EFL Trophy against League One Barnsley in a 2-1 victory.

Amid suggestions that the 20-year-old could slot back into the Tottenham side, insider John Wenham has decried that idea.

He told Tottenham News: “He’s probably played six senior games his entire life, men’s football games.

“So no, he can’t come in for Joao Palhinha or Rodrigo Bentancur, who’s played 175 times and has scored winning penalties away to Brazil and things like that. No, he can’t.

“You won’t find a bigger advocate of youth players than me, but I’m just telling you as a fact, he needs games. He must go out this year.

“The idea that we can just drop people in front of midfielders who have played 500 senior games, it’s just madness. So no, he can’t come in now and play first-team Premier League football.”

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Tottenham currently have some great options in the midfield, and those will increase once James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski get back to fitness.

Along with Palhinha and Bentancur, Thomas Frank has the option of Pape Matar Sarr, Archie Gray, Xavi Simons and Lucas Bergvall.

Gray, a 19-year-old who was signed for £40million a year ago, has played just 188 minutes this season, and if he can’t break into the midfield at the moment, it seems unlikely Hall would be able to.

It seems best for him to continue to impress in League Two, and Spurs can then make a decision over whether he’ll come back into the squad or play at a level between his current one and Tottenham.

A Tottenham summer signing is closing in on a return to action after featuring in a behind-closed-doors friendly, having only featured for 13 minutes for the club since signing.

Spurs signed eight players in the summer and have seem the majority of them in action. While Luka Vuskovic was sent out on loan and Kota Takai looks likely to follow, each of Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons, Kevin Danso, Mathys Tel and Joao Palhinha have played some part.

Kudus and Palhinha have played big roles, but one other summer signing, Randal Kolo Muani, is still waiting to have his first proper impact.

There was hope that he could be a top signing for Tottenham, having scored 10 goals and assisted three more in 22 games on loan at Juventus last term, but he’s had no chance of showing his skill in north London.

Indeed, Kolo Muani played just 13 minutes off the bench on debut and sustained a knee injury. His road to recovery was scuppered when he reportedly collided with Pape Matar Sarr in training and was given a dead leg.

But there is now positive news on Kolo Muani’s potential return to Tottenham action.

He played 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors match against Watford on Friday, and as he steps up his recovery, he could be available to play in a competitive game soon.

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Thomas Frank has used eight different attackers in his squad so far this season, with Kolo Muani’s cameo appearance adding to: Richarlison, Kudus, Tel, Simons, Wilson Odobert, Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson.

Richarlison, having largely played centrally, has three goals to his game, while Tel has one and Solanke is yet to get off the mark, though he has only played 49 minutes.

As such, the option of Kolo Muani could provide competition and potentially inject goals into the side, either if he starts banging them in, or his presence rouses the other attackers, who don’t want to lose their place.

Tottenham next play on Sunday October 19, when they welcome Aston Villa to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

They then face Monaco in the Champions League three days later, so if Kolo Muani is to return to action soon, it’s doubtful that he’ll play every minute in both of those games, instead being eased in so that his injury is not aggrataved.