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Gary Lineker has confessed that he "made an error" with his pre-season prediction for Tottenham Hotspur, and has placed them higher than he first thought. The former footballer, who spent three seasons at Spurs, had initially tipped the London side to finish fifth in the Premier League this season.

However, Lineker has since admitted that he actually meant to put Tottenham in the top four. Speaking on the latest episode of The Rest is Football podcast, the 63-year-old said: "Just a quick one on Leicester and Tottenham while I think about it. When we did our predictions, I made an error.

"It's okay to change it now, because they haven't played yet. But I was meant to put Tottenham in the top four. I only had three Champions League spots. I am just going to correct myself there and put Tottenham in the top four."

Lineker also cleared up why he made this blunder, adding: "It's myself. I listen to the podcast, to check that we don’t mess up too much and I thought, 'hang on a minute? Why did I put Tottenham fifth when I was meant to put them third or fourth, battling with Liverpool'. I even said 'batting with Liverpool'. So, just to be clear."

Spurs had a great start to the season last year, with some people even tipping them as dark horses for the title. However, a downturn in form had them in fifth by the end of the campaign.

Ange Postecoglou's side have done some big transfer business over the summer to strengthen his side. The signing of 19-year-old Wilson Odebert from Burnley for £25million, followed a £65m move for striker Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth, while teenage midfield talent Archie Gray arrived from Leeds for £30m. The club have also signed two more teenage prospects – Lucas Bergvall from Djurgården and Yang Min-hyeok from Gangwon FC – to bolster the squad and help plan for the future.

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Postecoglou has also praised his squad ahead of their Premier League opener against Leicester City on Monday evening, as he claims the team is "better prepared" for the upcoming 2024/25 campaign.

In an interview with the Men in Blazers YouTube channel, the 58-year-old said: "We’ll have grown a lot from last year of understanding about ourselves. When we were good we were exciting, I think we had everyone talking about us.

"When we had to grind, we found a way to get there. But there was obviously a space in there when we didn't cope well with disruptions, which I think is only natural because when things are going well it’s a lot easier to stay on board with something.

"We had some disruptions in terms of injuries, in terms of suspensions - some lack of discipline there for sure, which happens with young players. We didn't cope well with that but we learnt a lot through that."

Tottenham will have the opportunity to sign three exciting players for a combined total of £64million before the end of the summer window. The north Londoners have already welcomed several new faces but Ange Postecoglou is said to be keen on adding further reinforcements over the coming weeks.

The likes of Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Dominic Solanke joined Tottenham earlier in the window to boost their hopes of returning to the Premier League's top four. They confirmed their latest signing on Friday morning, with Wilson Odobert joining from Burnley in a deal worth around £25m.

Tottenham are still expected to pursue a handful of targets in the final weeks of the window, with the all-important deadline rapidly approaching. They have been linked with a potential move for Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli, who is reportedly available for a bargain fee of £20m this summer.

Locatelli would bring plenty of trophy-winning experience, having secured Euro 2020 glory as a member of the Italy squad which beat England at Wembley. He also helped Juventus to lift the Coppa Italia a few months ago but is now believed to have been put up for sale.

The 26-year-old was previously targeted by Arsenal but rejected the Gunners in order to sign for Juventus, who he joined from Sassuolo in 2021. His brother Mattia later revealed that Locatelli was locked in talks with Arsenal but decided against moving to the Emirates Stadium.

Speaking to La Casa Di C last year, Mattia said: "I still remember the negotiation [that took him to Juventus]. For him it was very long. There was also Arsenal, but he wanted Juventus. The clubs kept meeting but without reaching an agreement. Every day I looked to check what was happening."

Tottenham could follow up the signing of Locatelli by bringing Kyle Walker-Peters back to the club from Southampton. The defender is valued at £20m by Transfermarkt and is only tied down until the end of the season, putting the Saints under pressure to sell over the next few weeks.

Walker-Peters would be able to provide quality cover for Pedro Porro at right-back, allowing Spurs to enjoy a greater degree of depth in the position. His arrival would also give Djed Spence the opportunity to move on in search of regular football after spending last season on loan elsewhere.

Tottenham have also been tipped to finalise a move for Monaco defender Vanderson, who has reportedly been identified as a possible replacement for Emerson Royal. A bid in the region of £27m has already been submitted, according to Bruno Andrade, but Spurs are yet to receive a response.

If they can tempt Monaco into selling Vanderson, it would represent a significant coup with the 23-year-old rated as one of the best defenders in France's top flight. However, time is running out for Tottenham to get a deal done with less than two weeks remaining until the window slams shut.

Roman Abramovic might have changed the face of English football after taking over Chelsea in 2003, but not before seemingly doing his research on club fans and rivalries. During his 19-year tenure, the Blues rose to new levels, winning five Premier League titles and the Champions League twice, as well as every other major trophy on offer.

He would eventually sell the club in notorious circumstances in 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, after his assets in the UK were frozen amid his alleged ties with the Kremlin.

However, few can deny the impact of the Abramovic era, least of all it seems, Carlton Cole.

The former striker is one of the forgotten men of Stamford Bridge, having spent five years on the club’s books between 2001 and 2006. During that time he made just 31 Chelsea appearances and spent loan spells at Wolves, Charlton, and Aston Villa.

After playing a bit part role in the title-winning 2005/06 campaign, and with Didier Drogba long established as the club’s main striker, the then 23-year-old knew his time was up if he wanted to play first team football. And he’s now revealed he was on the brink of joining Tottenham before the club owner intervened.

“After 2005/06, I knew I had to crack on somewhere else to get more games," Cole told FourFourTwo. "Spurs came in for me as Martin Jol was really fond of me. I went to Spurs’ training ground, met everyone and did my medical.”

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However, Abramovic wasn’t about to let a young player help one of his team’s London rivals. In fact, instead he wanted Cole to head to his homeland in order to play for CSKA Moscow.

“I received a call to say I had to meet him at Stamford Bridge,” explained Cole. “Over a coffee, Abramovich said he wanted me to sign for CSKA Moscow. I was like, 'I don’t think I want to go to Russia.' And then Roman said to me, through his translator, 'Well, you’re not going to Spurs. I don’t do business with them. So, get that out of your head’.”

And Cole claimed that order left him despondent. “I sulked like a teenager for weeks, even though I was 23 at the time,” he added. “I was disappointed, because I felt I could’ve made a difference in that Tottenham team."

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Instead, Cole moved to West Ham, where he’d spend nine years and make 293 appearances, scoring 68 goals. Arguably, the move paid dividends, with Cole gaining international recognition by winning seven England caps.

During that period though, Spurs would qualify for Champions League football and capture the League Cup in the 2007/08 campaign. In comparison, the Hammers would spend much of that period battling relegation, and went down to the Championship after the 2010/11 campaign before coming back up through the play offs.

It seems that Oliver Skipp won’t be the only departure at Tottenham as manager Ange Postecoglou continues his squad overhaul. Spurs have accepted a bid from Leicester reported to be in excess of £20million for the midfielder, who is expected to undergo a medical on Monday.

The 23-year-old is set to end a 16-year association with the club, as Daniel Levy seeks to recoup the fees spent this summer.

Spurs have shelled out just short of £150million this summer, with Dominic Solanke their most notable signing after arriving from Bournemouth for a club record £65m fee.

To offset costs, the likes of Joe Rodon, Emerson Royal, Harry Winks, Ryan Sessegnon, Japhet Tanganga, and Tanguy Ndombele have all left on permanent deals. And now the club are reportedly planning to sanction two more departures.

According to the Times, Giovani Lo Celso is up for sale having entered the final 12 months of his contract. The Argentinian made 22 appearances in the Premier League last season, but has struggled for consistency after joining from Real Betis in 2019, initially on loan.

Since arriving in north London, he’s twice been loaned out to Spanish club Villarreal, although he has continued to feature at international level and was part of his country’s Copa America winning squad this summer. And at 28, Levy and co will still be confident of securing a healthy fee for the ex-PSG man.

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Tottenham are also said to be willing to loan out another wide man in Manor Solomon, who has struggled for game time after joining from Shakhtar Donetsk last summer. The Israeli international made just six club appearances in the 2023/24 campaign, and still has four years left on his current deal.

If that notion was to materialise, he’d become the fourth player to leave the club on a temporary basis during the transfer window. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has joined Marseille for the season, with a view to a £17m deal next summer.

Alejo Veliz and Bryan Gil meanwhile, have left on loan to Espanyol and Girona respectively. The future of Brazilian forward Richarlison also remains in doubt after being linked with a switch to Saudi Arabia.

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Spurs kick-off their campaign at home to Leicester City on Monday night, although Skipp won’t be able to sign in time to face his current club. And Postecoglou has already targeted ending the club’s 16-year wait for a trophy during his second season in charge.

“First year is about establishing principles and creating a foundation and hopefully, the second year is going onto win things,” he told Sky Sports. “Of course it's easier said than done, particularly in the Premier League and the competition we're in.”

Dominic Solanke has also put pen to paper with Spurs, leaving Bournemouth in a deal worth £55million. Tottenham also won the race to secure the signature of Archie Gray, whilst renewing their loan deal for Timo Werner from RB Leipzig.

Tottenham are reportedly on the lookout for another option in the final third, though further additions in midfield cannot be ruled out either, with Skipp departing and Tottenham hoping to offload Giovani Lo Celso before the transfer window closes.

The Argentina international has recently been linked with a reunion with Jose Mourinho at Fenerbahce. Reports speculated previously that Lo Celso was set to be used as a makeweight in Spurs’ push for Aston Villa star Jacob Ramsey.

Jose Mourinho is reportedly planning a raid on his former club Tottenham after approving a move for Fenerbahce to sign Giovani Lo Celso this summer.

The Portuguese boss is keen to bring in reinforcements this summer as he aims to win the league title. Lo Celso, who is out of favour at Spurs, has emerged as a possible target.

Lo Celso was signed by Mauricio Pochettino but played under Mourinho in his time at the club between 2019 and 2021. And now he could reunite with him in Turkey after Mourinho 'approved' the potential deal, according to reports.

Turkish outlet Sporx claim that Fenerbahce are working 'feverishly' to add a new midfielder to Mourinho's squad, with sales of Miguel Crespo, Rade Krunic and Miha Zajc likely to free up some funds.

Lo Celso's representatives offered Fenerbahce the chance to sign their client and the report says Mourinho gave the go-ahead, with talks now expected between the two clubs for the 28-year-old. The Argentina international is also 'open' to working with Mourinho again.

His contract is set to expire in 10 months' time and the clock is ticking for Spurs to retrieve any amount from the £55million fee they paid to sign the attacking midfielder from Real Betis five years ago.

Ange Postecoglou opted to leave the playmaker out of Tottenham's friendly defeat to Bayern Munich on Sunday, which they lost 3-2. He had been playing at the Copa America with Argentina before, but Postecoglou made it clear he wasn't part of his plans.

Lo Celso only made four starts for Spurs in 22 Premier League appearances last season, scoring two goals and registering two assists. He had previously spent 18 months on loan at Villarreal but the La Liga club opted against pursuing a permanent deal.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery was reportedly keen on signing Lo Celso earlier this summer in a cut-price deal, but the Spaniard signed Ross Barkley instead.

When asked about Lo Celso's lack of minutes last season, Postecoglou made the brutal admission that suggested he wasn't good enough to play ahead of his regular starters.

"It is not just him. There have been a few in that boat where they just haven't had a real good run in terms of there has been injury disruptions and other times when he has been fit, other players have played in his position, but I still think Gio's been good for us this year," the Australian said.

"Through that middle patch when we had a lot of injuries, he really stood up for us and then got his own injury of course. He made a real impact against Luton at the weekend and it really helped us get over the line.

"Look, he's a fantastic player, but with all these things you've got to keep the perspective that we're at a big club, we're going to have a big squad and if it is not Gio, it will be someone else that will play that role next year. No one will play every game. It doesn't happen. It doesn't happen at all the big clubs, so I am never really worried about the game time players are playing."

Xabi Alonso has reportedly pleaded with Piero Hincapie to stay at Bayer Leverkusen this summer amid interest from Liverpool and Tottenham. The Reds have been linked with the 22-year-old for several years and were said to have seen an approach turned down in January.

Tottenham have also been credited with a desire to land Hincapie with Ange Postecoglou eager to strengthen his defensive ranks. Both clubs are 'very interested' in snapping him up, according to Studio Futbol, with Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich also said to be in the race.

It is said that Alonso has spoken directly with Hincapie to ask him to stay at Leverkusen for at least one more season. The Spaniard reportedly believes it would improve their chances of retaining their Bundesliga title and competing strongly in the Champions League.

Hincapie is usually deployed as a centre-back but is more than capable of filling in on the left side of the pitch when required. He made 43 appearances for Leverkusen in all competitions last season and played a significant role in helping them to become German champions.

The versatile defender remains tied down until the summer of 2027, meaning Leverkusen are under no pressure to sell him before the transfer window slams shut.

Hincapie was previously singled out for high praise by Alonso, who said last March: "I think he’s a very modern defender, he can play in different positions. He’s served us as a full-back in recent games but has also been the left centre-back when we’ve played with a back three.

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"He’s aggressive, is making better decisions when he has the ball, backs himself more to play diagonal passes and get in behind. It motivates me to have a player with his potential and desire because he helps you and you help him. He's a great player."

Liverpool are yet to make any summer signings with the Reds biding their time in the transfer market ahead of the new campaign. Arne Slot has regularly insisted that he is not worried about the club's lack of business, instead preferring to focus on the players already in the building.

Tottenham, meanwhile, have spent over £123million on several new players including the likes of Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Dominic Solanke. They confirmed their latest signing on Friday morning, with the north Londoners splashing around £25m to land Wilson Odobert from Burnley.

Tottenham Hotspur’s second season with Ange Postecoglou at the helm will get underway at the King Power Stadium against Leicester City on Monday night.

Having narrowly missed out on the top four last season, Spurs are eyeing up a return to the Champions League, with the Tottenham hierarchy having spent big during the off-season.

Dominic Solanke arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as part of a club-record £65million deal, while Archie Gray put pen to paper on a £30m move from Leeds United.

And ahead of Spurs’ season opener in the East Midlands, Express Sport have predicted what their starting XI might look like against the Foxes.

Goalkeeper: Vicario

Also gearing up for his second season at the club, Guglielmo Vicario enjoyed a stellar breakout campaign last time around, with some even dubbing him the ‘signing of the season’.

Spurs fans will be hoping for more of the same this time around, with Vicario set to retain his spot as the No.1 goalkeeper.

Defender: Pedro Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie

When fit, Tottenham fans could argue the case that their backline is one of the best in the Premier League. The issue is, that all four are very rarely fit at the same time.

That doesn’t appear to be a problem ahead of this weekend’s fixture though, with all four having reported back to training fit and firing.

It’s perhaps harsh on Radu Dragusin, who enjoyed a wonderful Euros campaign with Romania, but the centre-back will have to settle for the bench this time around.

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Midfield: Bentancur, Matar Sarr, Maddison

The recent suspension of Yves Bissouma could’ve hardly come at a worse time for Postecoglou, as he looks to start the season off strong.

Bissouma would’ve almost certainly started the Leicester clash alongside Pape Matar Sarr, with Rodrigo Bentancur looking like the most likely replacement.

It will require a bit of reshuffling in midfield, but James Maddison should still fancy his chances of making an impression, as he gears up for a first return to his old stomping ground ever since leaving Leicester last season.

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Attack: Johnson, Kulusevski, Son

There is no spot for Solanke in this predicted starting XI just yet, with the striker having barely featured for Bournemouth in pre-season.

It’s probable the England international will start on the bench, but the man most likely to lead the line, Dejan Kulusevski, enters the clash on the back of two goals against Bayern Munich last weekend.

Operating either side of the Swede will most likely be Brennan Johnson and club captain Son Heung-min. There’s no room for Richarlison either, with the Brazil international’s future still hanging in the balance.

Spurs XI: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Matar Sarr, Maddison; Johnson, Kulusevski, Son

It’s that time of year again, Fantasy Premier League is back, with managers scrambling to get their teams sorted out in time ahead of this evening’s deadline.

One of the biggest questions heading into the new FPL season is whether to pick Erling Haaland. Priced at £15million, the Manchester City star is the most expensive FPL player of all time.

Instead, points could be found in the Haaland differentials, one of which is new Tottenham Hotspur star Dominic Solanke.

On the back of 19 goals last season, Solanke earned himself a big-money move to north London, but will the striker be fit enough to start the Premier League season?

Ahead of the opening weekend of Premier League action, Express Sport have compiled an FPL injury update.

Dominic Solanke a doubt for Spurs opener

Joining as part of a £65m deal from Bournemouth, Solanke is being tipped as the perfect Ange Postecoglou striker.

But, having managed less than 90 minutes in pre-season for Bournemouth, Solanke might have to bide his time before he’s named on the Spurs teamsheet.

Over 25 per cent of players have selected the £7.5m man (FPL price that is) ahead of Tottenham’s season opener vs Leicester City, but a spot on the bench - at least to start - feels the most likely outcome for Solanke this week.

City duo unlikely to be involved

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The season hasn’t even started and Pep Guardiola’s team selections are already giving managers headaches.

But in defence of the City boss, there is nothing he could’ve done to stop Oscar Bobb from picking up a reported leg fracture during training this week.

Bobb, who definitely won’t be involved for City’s opening game against Chelsea, could be joined in the treatment room by Jack Grealish, who missed last weekend’s Community Shield win over Manchester United.

Vardy back, but not available?

Jamie Vardy is back in the big time with Leicester City, having dropped out of the Premier League last season following the Foxes’ relegation.

While he might be a much-loved FPL pick from years gone by, managers will be best off looking elsewhere this season, with Vardy unlikely to play a key role for Steve Cooper’s side.

In fact, Vardy notched up a grand total of zero minutes across Leicester’s three pre-season friendlies, with the veteran a doubt to even make the bench on Monday.

High-scoring defensive duo likely to miss out

Finding a point-scoring defender could be the difference between a good FPL team and a great one.

Fabian Schar was certainly one of those last season, but the centre-back limped off in Newcastle United’s final pre-season fixture last weekend, making him a doubt to start against Southampton.

Similarly, Everton ace Jarrad Branthwaite isn’t expected to be fit for the Toffees opening clash against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Manchester United's pursuit of Ferdi Kadioglu could open up a vacancy for Sergio Reguilon to fill in Turkey. Reguilon spent the first part of last season on loan at Old Trafford and he is once again on the lookout for a new club after landing back at Tottenham.

United unceremoniously cut Reguilon's loan spell short in January, sending him back to the drawing board before he saw out the campaign with Brentford. The Red Devils could yet make it up to the Spaniard by signing Fenerbahce full-back Kadioglu and paving the way for Reguilon to take his place.

Fotomac claim that the Turkish giants, managed by Jose Mourinho, have made the 27-year-old their first-choice replacement for Kadioglu, who appears bound for a summer exit.

Reguilon has not played a competitive game for Spurs since the 2021/22 season and would surely welcome the chance to reunite with Mourinho, who brought him to north London back in 2020.

Current Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has no room for Reguilon in his first-team plans, with Destiny Udogie nailing down the left-back spot and Ben Davies providing support.

Whether United are the team to snap up Kadioglu and make Reguilon's life easier remains to be seen. Brighton are also in the hunt for the Fenerbahce man and their pursuit is currently more advanced than that of the Red Devils.

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Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims that Kadioglu has already accepted the details of a long-term deal with the Seagulls. All that remains for the move to be finalised is for Brighton and Fenerbahce to agree on a transfer fee.

Reports in Turkey indicate that United have offered more money up front for the Turkish international, while Brighton's proposal is worth more when add-ons are taken into account.

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Kadioglu was born in the Netherlands and came through the academy system of Dutch outfit NEC Nijmegen. He also represented the Oranje throughout the various international youth levels before switching allegiance to Turkey two years ago.

Able to play in a variety of positions including at full-back, in midfield or on the wing, Kadioglu has made more than 200 first-team appearances since signing for Fenerbahce in 2018.

He is also one of the first names on Turkey's international team sheet, starting every single one of their matches at Euro 2024 as the Crescent-Stars made it to the quarter-finals before being knockout out by the Netherlands.