The Sun

TOTTENHAM fans will fall in love with willing worker Conor Gallagher straight away – regardless of his Chelsea past.

That is the view of Gus Poyet, who also played in midfield for both bitter rivals around the turn of the century.

The Uruguayan believes ex-Blues star Gallagher, who left Atletico Madrid for Spurs this week, will be an instant hit with any doubters thanks to his committed style.

While the £35million new man’s energy can help Spurs clinch victory in Saturday’s “must-win” game at home to West Ham.

Asked how hard it is to win over the Spurs faithful being an ex-Chelsea player, Poyet told SunSport via Stake Casino: “For Conor, this is no issue.

“It’s easy for him, simply by the way he plays football. He brings energy and drive on the pitch and that is what Spurs fans want.

“They want to see commitment, players fighting for the badge and this is what Conor brings.

“He runs, he works hard, he brings passion and can show this instantly so get them on side.

“It’s an unbelievable, top signing for Spurs.

“He gives everything on the pitch, takes responsibility and this is what Spurs need right now.

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“This signing could really help Spurs and his way of playing can also spur others onto his level.”

Tottenham moved quickly to bring in Gallagher on Wednesday after Poyet’s compatriot Rodrigo Bentancur underwent surgery on a serious hamstring injury.

Gallagher comes from a family of Chelsea fans and made 95 appearances for the West Londoners, before his sale to Atletico 18 months ago.

Poyet moved directly from Chelsea to Spurs in 2001 for £2.2m where, by his own admission, he underestimated the depth of feeling between the two sides at the time.

The 58-year-old explained: “I was a little naive.

“Chelsea wanted to beat Manchester United and Arsenal at the time as these teams were fighting for trophies. It wasn’t Tottenham at all who were a main rival at all during my time.

“After I signed, I realised, ‘Oh, maybe it was not as simple as I thought!’

“My first game was a pre-season friendly v Stevenage where I scored a hat-trick. I didn’t guarantee that every game, but the fans could see I gave everything on the pitch for them.

“Conor is the type of player Spurs can relate to as he has so much drive to play forward thinking football.

“He is English as well, so this can help with dialogue with fans and showing his commitment.

“His leadership qualities are massive. I hope they understand his personality (in the dressing room) as Spurs players need to take responsibility on the pitch.

“This is part of the reason they are where they are and it’s too comfortable.”

Spurs are 14th in the Premier League and out of both domestic cups going into Saturday’s hosting of relegation-threatened West Ham, with pressure rising on Thomas Frank.

Poyet added: “I am worried for Frank. The results are not good enough, performances as well.

“It’s a must-win for Spurs. Simple as that. They need to step up and be brave and perform, especially at home.

“With Conor in, he can give a big boost to the team. He will bring the energy.”

THOMAS FRANK has been dealt a fresh injury blow at Tottenham with Richarlison ruled out for seven weeks.

The Brazilian striker, 28, came off with a hamstring injury after 31 minutes in Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round.

Spurs boss Frank, who already has a number of long-term crocks, confirmed his centre-forward is set for a spell on the sidelines in his pre-West Ham press conference on Thursday.

The Dane said: “Richy unfortunately got a hamstring injury which will keep him out for up to seven weeks.”

Richarlison has a history of injury problems during his time at Spurs, whom he joined for Everton for a club-record £60million in 2022.

But up until last weekend, Frank and his coaching staff have managed to have the Samba star playing regularly this term.

Richarlison has played 31 times for Spurs this season, netting eight times.

The former Everton and Watford ace had played the joint most games for Frank’s side this season, with his 31 appearances only matched by Pedro Porro in all competitions.

While he also played four matches for his country, and is hoping to be part of Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad in the summer.

His seven league goals, and eight in all comps, also mark him out as the club’s top scorer this season.

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The time in the medical room means Richarlison is also set to miss the second north London derby of the season, due to be played out on February 22.

Richarlison scored his sides only goal in the 4-1 defeat to Arsenal back in November.

Frank is already without Ghanaian winger Mohammed Kudus until April with a quad injury and Rodrigo Bentancur for three months with a hamstring problem.

James Maddison is out for the majority of the season – if not all of it – with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

While Dejan Kulusevski still looks a way off from returning since undergoing kneecap surgery in May.

Centre-forward Dominic Solanke, 28, has been missing for most of the campaign but did make a return from a long-term ankle problem as a late sub against Villa.

Frank gave updates on Solanke and three other stars nearing returns to action.

He added: “Lucas Bergvall could be available, hopefully be available for Saturday. (Yves) Bissouma is back, so he is available as well.

“Both Destiny (Udogie) and Dom (Dominic Solanke) are close to finishing a good week of training, so they are a bit closer.

“Both will be involved and available (at West Ham) but they are closer to playing even more minutes, so that’s positive. They look good, both of them.”

Yesterday Tottenham announced the signing of Conor Gallagher, adding a much needed body to the Spurs squad amid their injury crisis.

They currently sit 14th in the Premier League, but just six points off the top five.

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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