The Sun

TOTTENHAM have hired Arne Slot’s former Liverpool No2 John Heitinga as Thomas Frank’s new assistant.

Ex-Everton defender Heitinga, 42, replaces Matt Wells, who left recently to become a manager in his own right at MLS side Colorado Rapids.

Boss Frank said: “John is a great addition to our coaching staff. His ability, personality and character will add huge value both on and off the pitch.

“He had an impressive playing career across Europe – including five years in the Premier League – and with the Dutch national team.

“As a former defender, that will be one of his main responsibilities on the training pitch, and he brings great coaching and management experiences from all levels of the game, which will really help us moving forward.”

Heitinga, who won 87 caps for the Netherlands and also played for Fulham, was an assistant to David Moyes at West Ham between 2023-24.

He then moved to Anfield to assist Slot, who guided the Reds to the Premier League title in 2025.

That prompted a switch back to old club Ajax as head coach in May of that year.

But that switch lasted just five months before Heitinga was sacked following a 3-0 home defeat in the Champions League.

Meanwhile, Spurs have also confirmed the arrival of a highly-rated supremo from Manchester City’s umbrella group – though he will not start work for a few months.

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Carlos Raphael Moersen has been appointed as director of football operations from City Football Group, the company that has a stable of clubs including City.

‘Rafi’, as he is known, is currently on gardening leave so it will be a couple of months before he takes up his role, though he will be in place before the summer transfer window.

Moersen is NOT a replacement for Fabio Paratici, the co-sporting director who is leaving for Fiorentina after the January window.

But he will be a core part of the recruitment team, reporting into the other co-sporting director, Johan Lange.

That is except for issues regarding women’s football at the club, where Moersen will answer to chief executive Vinai Venkatesham.

Moersen brings a decade’s worth of experience from CFG, where he was most recently involved in player trading, as well as a key role in planning at Manchester City.

Lange said: “We are delighted to welcome Rafi to the club in the newly-created role of director of football operations.

“He was the outstanding candidate from a highly-competitive process and brings a wealth of experience in this critical area of our football operation.

“His appointment is an important step as we continue to strengthen our football structure and support long-term success.”

Moersen will lead Tottenham’s football administration, player care and training ground operations and join the club’s executive leadership team.

He will also oversee women’s football at the club.

Spurs said Moersen’s arrival, along with Dan Lewindon who joins as performance director, “is part of a sustained focus on strengthening the foundations that support performance on the pitch and increased investment in our academy to enhance the pipeline of talent ready for first-team men’s football.”

It follows a number of high-profile executive exits in the past year at Spurs, including director Donna-Maria Cullen, chief football officer Scott Munn and, of course, former chairman Daniel Levy.

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Tottenham have completed the signing of Conor Gallagher for a reported £34 million from Atletico Madrid.

The white-half of north London hijacked Aston Villa‘s loan bid for the former Chelsea man to give Atletico a permanent option, which they took.

The 25-year-old returns to the Premier League and London after 18 months away in Spain where he played regularly under Diego Simeone.

He will wear the number 22 recently vacated by Brennan Johnson and worn by the likes of Robbie Keane, Tim Huddlestone and Vedran Ćorluka down the years.

Spurs fans have hailed the arrival of the 22-time England international with some believing he is the leader that the club needs.

One user wrote: “I reckon he is going to our next captain.”

Another wrote: “No matter how I feel initially, I’m a sucker for new player videos. Please help us bro, we need it.”

Another fan posted: “Exactly the right words and what we need. Could end up being our captain.”

Back in August 2023, Gallagher captained Chelsea for the first time, in a 2–1 EFL Cup victory over Wimbledon and he would go on to wear the armband on several other occasions.

In Tottenham’s announcement video, Gallagher said his first words to his new fanbase.

Gallagher said: “Heart. Energy. Grit. Demanding More. Standing Tall. Driving us forward.

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“I’m Conor Gallagher. I’m here to give everything.”

The midfielder has 95 appearances under his belt for Chelsea, his boyhood club and fierce rival of Spurs, before leaving for Atletico Madrid in 2024.

Gallagher played plenty in Spain. He recorded 50 appearances in his first season and had played 27 times this term with his final outing coming in the Madrid derby – but in Saudi Arabia – against Real.

The England international turned down Aston Villa in order to move to Spurs, a curious decision to some.

Villa are third in the Premier League table and right in the title picture while Spurs are languishing in 14th in Thomas Frank‘s first season in charge.

Gallagher’s family are based in London and game time will be imperative with the World Cup looming at the end of the season.

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IT would be fitting if Conor Gallagher became the first major Spurs signing of the post-Daniel Levy era – given the ex-chairman passed up the chance to buy him 18 months ago.

Ange Postecoglou was desperate to take Gallagher from Chelsea in the summer of 2024 and the player was keen to make the switch to North London.

But SunSport understands Levy decided against the move – for the second year running.

Tottenham had also explored a possible deal to buy Gallagher from the Blues in the summer of 2023, but opted to purchase James Maddison from Leicester instead.

Gallagher ended up joining Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2024, but is finally set to complete a switch to Spurs a year and a half later after a £35million fee was agreed with the Spanish giants.

He travelled to London on Tuesday ready to undergo a medical that day.

The England star, 25, is expected to sign a five-and-a-half year contract with Spurs and will hope to make his debut in Saturday’s massive league fixture at home to West Ham.

It is a huge boost for under-pressure Thomas Frank, who looks like he will get the player his predecessor Postecoglou always wanted but never received.

Frank has a number of players injured, including midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur who underwent surgery on the hamstring he injured in last week’s 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth.

A Spurs statement read: “We can confirm that Rodrigo Bentancur has undergone surgery on his right hamstring.

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“The Uruguay international midfielder suffered the injury during our Premier League fixture at Bournemouth last week and will now commence his rehabilitation with our medical staff.

“We’re all with you, Lolo.”

Ex-supremo Levy was forced out of Spurs in September after nearly a quarter of a century at the club.

Young Irish striker Mason Melia is technically the first signing of the post-Levy era, having arrived earlier this month.

Though that deal was signed off in February 2025, when Levy was still there, but Melia could not join until the window after he had turned 18 due to Brexit rules.

Spurs are also close to the capture of rapid Brazilian left-back Souza, 19, after a £12.9m fee was agreed with Santos.

The teenager is understood to be travelling over from Brazil this week but unlike Gallagher, is not thought to be having his medical on Tuesday.

TOTTENHAM will be without Rodrigo Bentancur for three months in another stinging injury setback for under-fire manager Thomas Frank.

Bentancur, 28, was subbed off with a hamstring problem late in the game against Bournemouth last Wednesday.

And as if Antoine Semenyo’s 95th-minute Cherries winner wasn’t bitter enough for Spurs, they are now set to be without one of their key players for an extended period.

No Tottenham midfielder has played more minutes than Bentancur in the Premier League this season.

And Frank was already desperately short of bodies in the middle of the park.

Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma have been at the Africa Cup of Nations, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are both long-term absentees, and Lucas Bergvall is another who was struck down in the Bournemouth game.

Frank admitted that Bentancur’s hamstring injury “looked like a bigger one” and his fears were confirmed by further tests.

Spurs are now expected to try and remedy their midfielder shortage in the winter transfer window.

The North Londoners have already raised £35million through the sale of Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace.

Teenage left-back Souza is expected to complete a £13m move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium from Santos.

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He could be joined by Conor Gallagher or Carlos Baleba, who have both been touted as potential midfield targets.

Spurs may also consider recalling Alfie Devine or Tyrese Hall, who are on loan at Preston and Notts County respectively.

Danish manager Frank is in need of a quick fix amid a concerning run of results which has left Tottenham 14th in the Premier League.

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THOMAS FRANK is facing a crunch fortnight in his Tottenham tenure as the pressure mounts on the struggling Dane.

The Spurs chief has won just 11 of his 31 games in charge and was booed off AGAIN after Saturday’s FA Cup exit at home to Aston Villa.

Fans have been cranking up the heat both in stadiums and on social media, believing the performances and results have not been good enough, with many calling for Frank to go.

The unwavering support the club hierarchy have shown Frank so far will be put to a serious test if he fails to win his next two league games.

First up is Saturday’s home game against West Ham, who are widely regarded as one of the worst Hammers sides in years.

Losing on your own turf to the Irons – who are managed by former Spurs chief Nuno Espirito Santo – would be a humiliation too much for many fans to bear.

Spurs then host Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League – the one positive from Frank’s tenure so far – before travelling to another relegation candidate in Burnley.

Tottenham, who are 14th in the Premier League table, are six points off fifth-placed Brentford – the club Frank left to join the North Londoners in the summer.

Fail to beat both West Ham and Burnley and that gap could increase considerably, dramatically reducing the chances of the current Europa League holders qualifying for European football this term.

Both Frank and the club spoke of the need to “compete on four fronts” after appointing him in July.

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That followed the ruthless axing of Ange Postecoglou, who had delivered the club’s first trophy in 17 years with the Europa League miracle in Bilbao, but bit the bullet for finishing 17th in the Premier League.

Yet Frank has presided over a campaign so far where the team are out of both domestic cups, ironically exiting them at earlier stages than under Postecoglou last term.

They are also languishing in the bottom half of the table and have won just three of their last 14 matches in all competitions.

Supporters have been critical of Frank’s style of play and damningly, tickets for February’s home league games to Manchester City and Newcastle are on general sale.

Punters can even buy four tickets per person for the fixtures.

In seasons gone by, rarely have tickets for premium matches like those been on general sale, let alone with so many available to purchase for one individual.

It points to a disconnect between the fans and the football that is being served up right now.

And it is likely to set alarm bells ringing for the club and Frank, who must prove he is the right man going forward over the next two weeks.

TOTTENHAM and Aston Villa players were involved in a mass brawl straight after their FA Cup showdown came to an end.

Referee Craig Pawson had only just blown the final whistle when both sides came to blows.

Villa booked their place in the fourth round thanks to sealing a 2-1 win in North London.

Morgan Rogers, who grabbed what proved to be the winner, needed to be calmed down when there was a massive bust-up.

The England man, 23, had to be dragged away by Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven after Joao Palhinha had made him FURIOUS.

Spurs’ midfielder was seen leaning his head into Ollie Watkins and pushing him after being goaded at the final whistle.

And Rogers raced to defend his team-mate in front of the travelling Villa supporters.

Subs, coaching staff and even STEWARDS were involved in the ugly scenes as they tried to break the tension.

Rogers and Palhinha, 30, had already been involved in a flash point in the final stages of the clash.

A strong tackle from the Portugal man left Villa’s talisman in a heap and he was booked.

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The result has led to there being increased pressure on Tottenham chief Thomas Frank.

Although the Dane only took charge six months ago, his side were booed off the pitch by the supporters.

Emiliano Buendia put Villa in the driving seat just before the first half’s midway point.

And Rogers doubled the away side’s advantage seconds before the interval.