GIVEMESPORT

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Real Sociedad winger Takefusa Kubo, who has a £51 million release clause, according to Fichajes.

Kubo enjoyed an exceptional 2023/24 season, scoring seven goals and providing four assists in 24 La Liga starts, as La Real secured a Europa League spot. The Japanese wide man has begun the new campaign in a similarly rich vein of form, scoring three times in just nine league starts, prompting a host of clubs to monitor his situation.

Named by Japan teammate Wataru Endo as the ideal replacement for Mohamed Salah at Liverpool, the Reds' interest in the 23-year-old has been well documented. However, Fichajes have revealed that Spurs, as well as Bayern Munich, have joined the race to land Kubo, with Sociedad said to be only willing to sanction a departure for one of their star players if potential suitors meet the £51 million release clause.

Spurs Interested in Kubo

They need attacking reinforcements

Joining Barcelona's academy at the age of ten, Kubo spent time at Tokyo FC and Yokohoma F. Marinos before completing a switch to the Catalan giants' rivals Real Madrid in 2019. After several loan spells at various Spanish clubs, the Japan international finally settled in San Sebastián with Sociedad, signing for the Basque outfit in 2022.

Making over 100 appearances for La Real already, Kubo has enjoyed two productive campaigns in La Liga and could now be ready for a step-up to one of Europe's biggest clubs, having been compared to the legendary Lionel Messi.Liverpool's interest in the winger as a replacement for Salah has been well established, but Fichajes report that Tottenham are very much in the picture and ready to move for the player.

Ange Postecoglou is reportedly in the market for adding a direct wide man to his ranks, and wants a long-term solution to his team's right-sided issues. Dejan Kulusevski has demonstrated that he's more effective in a central role, while Brennan Johnson continues to display inconsistency.

Thus, the North Londoners believe Kubo could be the perfect option to take this mantle, and they're currently exploring the possibility of signing him. Sociedad are keen on extracting maximum value for the former Mallorca loanee, and won't settle for anything less than his £51 million release clause.

Tottenham Hotspur hierarchy are expecting Ange Postecoglou to return the club to the Champions League in the 2024/25 campaign, journalist Pete O’Rourke has revealed.

Missing out on Europe’s prestigious club competition for a second year running would be seen as a ‘blow’ to the Australian’s long-term future in North London, with his contract set to run until the summer of 2027.

Postecoglou, who has spoken publicly about his desire to finally win a trophy for Spurs, is primarily expected to deliver Champions League qualification after failing to do so last season.

Tottenham are sitting 10th in the Premier League, having shockingly lost 2-1 at home to bottom-five strugglers Ipswich Town last weekend, with goals from Liam Delap and Sammie Szmodics making the difference for the visitors.

It was Spurs’ fifth loss of the new league campaign and second in a row across all competitions, having lost to Turkish giants Galatasaray in the Europa League last week.

However, Postecoglou’s side are well-placed to progress from the league phase to the knockout rounds, having won their first three matches and now sitting seventh in the table.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Tottenham have scored 23 goals in 11 league games this season – more than any other team in the Premier League.

Postecoglou had a much stronger start to his first season at Spurs in 2023/24, going unbeaten in his first 10 Premier League matches and leading the table in October.

However, the Australian tactician won only 12 of the next 28 league matches, falling short of a top-four finish and finishing his debut season in North London in fifth place.

While questions over his future at Tottenham have already resurfaced, signs currently suggest he is under no imminent danger of losing his job, despite growing frustration around the club with recent results.

Spurs return to action following the international break with a league clash against Manchester City on 23 November, before taking on Roma in the Europa League five days later.

Tottenham Hotspur are aiming to trigger a one-year extension clause in Son Heung-min's contract to keep him at the club until the end of the 2025/26 season, Fabrizio Romano has reported.

The Lilywhites are said to be prepared to address the situation of their captain’s expiring agreement imminently and are willing to secure his future at the club for at least the next 18 months.

The 32-year-old, who joined the club in 2015, has less than 12 months remaining on his current deal, having last signed fresh terms back in July 2021.

According to Romano, Spurs are already in the process of triggering a one-year contract extension to Son’s agreement, with no updates on a brand-new deal yet:

“I have something to say about Heung-min Son, a top player of Tottenham Hotspur. It's important to say that, according to my information, Tottenham are prepared to take the option to extend the contract of Son.

“So if you check on Son, on all the websites, for example, Transfermarkt, you can see that his contract is expiring in the summer of 2025.

“But Tottenham have an option, have a clause in the contract to extend the deal for one more season, 25/26, and they are in the process, from what I'm hearing, of extending this contract for one more year.”

Son is coming off his second-best Premier League season in 2023/24, scoring 17 goals and registering 10 assists in the wake of Harry Kane’s departure to Bayern Munich.

The South Korean’s efforts saw Tottenham finish fifth in the Premier League and narrowly miss out on Champions League football.

Playing under his eighth different manager in North London, Ange Postecoglou, Son had a somewhat slow start to the 2024/25 campaign, dealing with multiple injury problems last month.

The 'world-class' 32-year-old still managed to be productive for Spurs, scoring three and assisting three in his first eight appearances in the league.

Aside from Son, the Lilywhites will have several contract decisions to make in early 2025, with Sergio Reguilon, Ben Davies, Fraser Forster and Alfie Whiteman’s deals all expiring at the end of the season.

Spurs will also be presented with a chance to trigger an option to buy Timo Werner permanently, however, at the moment, all signs are leading to his departure.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Brighton and Hove Albion attacking midfielder Facundo Buonanotte, who is currently on loan at Leicester City, but the Seagulls are insistent that the player isn't up for sale, according to TBR Football.

Buonanotte has impressed so far this season for the Foxes, scoring three goals and providing two assists in ten Premier League appearances, and has subsequently been named as one of the most improved players in the division. This form has alerted several top clubs throughout Europe, including the aforementioned Spurs, as well as German sides RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund, and Serie A champions Inter Milan.

However, Brighton have no interest in allowing the Argentine to leave the Amex, and have already made plans for him to re-integrate back into Fabian Hurzeler's team when he returns at the end of his temporary stint in the Midlands. Having said that, given the south coast outfit's track record of selling players for substantial fees, Spurs could look to test Tony Bloom's resolve on Buonanotte, as the North Londoners look for a solution to their creative issues.

Spurs Interested in Buonanotte

Brighton will be stubborn over him

Leaving his home nation in January 2023 for Brighton, Buonanotte has been limited to a largely sporadic squad role in his time on the south coast. Starting just 23 league games in his first 18 months at the Amex, the Argentina international left for Leicester on loan in the summer, in the hope of playing more regularly and thus continuing his gradual development.

Nominated as Steve Cooper's side's chief creative force, the 19-year-old has produced some accomplished attacking displays in a Foxes shirt, and has been described as a 'certified gem'. Second only to Jamie Vardy in Leicester's goal-scoring charts so far this season, the playmaker, who Gary Lineker believes 'has got something', has caught the eye of Tottenham.

TBR Football report that Brighton believe in Buonanotte's potential, and that they want him to be a prominent part of Hurzeler's plans heading into the future. However, the emergence of Spurs as a potential suitor could perhaps tempt the Seagulls to cash in, if they can extract a significant free from the Lillywhites.

Ange Postecoglou is said to be keen on acquiring a creative midfielder, due to James Maddison's recent poor form, and has identified Buonanotte as a potential option.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou is ‘desperate’ not to be seen as ‘an Australian caricature’ in England, says journalist Sam Matterface.

The Lilywhites tactician has endured an up-and-down start to his second season in North London, winning only five of his opening 11 games in the Premier League.

Last weekend’s shocking 2-1 loss at home to Ipswich Town has only deepened the scrutiny on Postecoglou, whose side dropped to 10th in the table before the international break.

Amid a tumultuous start, the Australian tactician’s mood in the press conferences has definitely changed, and now Matterface has explained the reasoning behind that.

Speaking on the Premier League All Access podcast, he revealed that Postecoglou is keen to avoid adopting the playful character and being seen as ‘an Australian caricature’:

“What I've been told is, is that he's so desperate not to be seen as sort of an Australian caricature.

“He doesn't want to be Jesse Marsch 2, he doesn't want people to throw the sort of Australian Ted Lasso thing at him.

“So he tries to sort of not be the playful, happy character and tries to be serious, that's what I’ve been told.

“It doesn't come across very well. And Mark Scott of Match of the Day has had two rather difficult exchanges with him in a couple of weeks. I know Crook and I have both had interesting exchanges with him as well over the last year.”

Postecoglou, who signed a four-year contract with Tottenham in the summer of 2023, had a strong start to his first season, going unbeaten in his first 10 Premier League matches and leading the table in October.

However, he won only 12 of the next 28 league matches in 2023/24, falling short of a top-four finish and finishing his debut season in North London in fifth place.

This season’s beginning has also been rocky, and now questions over Postecoglou’s long-term future at Spurs have resurfaced, with the club sitting in the middle of the table after almost a third of the campaign has passed.

However, signs currently suggest the Australian is under no imminent danger of losing his job in England, despite those around the club growing frustrated with recent results.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur is set to miss seven games due to suspension, according to insider Paul O Keefe.

Bentancur was charged by the FA back in September after allegedly using a racial slut about Tottenham team-mate Heung-min Son. The FA confirmed that Bentancur has been charged with an 'alleged breach of FA rule E3 for misconduct in relation to a media interview'.

The South American star has been playing for Spurs since the incident as he awaits his punishment, and according to insider O Keefe, it looks as though Bentancur will be banned for seven games...

"Rodrigo Bentancur will be hit with a domestic ban of 7 games by The FA."

Bentancur's ban could last until the end of 2024 based on the fixtures currently scheduled until then. The Uruguayan featured for Tottenham against Ipswich at the weekend, scoring in the defeat, but that could be his last game for the club for over a month.

MailOnline's Sami Mokbel later also reported the news, again suggesting that it is likely to be a seven-game ban for Bentancur. The respected reporter adds that the FA are expected to confirm his suspension soon.

Bentancur, who earns £100k-a-week at Hotspur Way, did previously apologise to Son, but the FA decided to take action. The midfielder said...

"Sonny brother. I apologise to you for what happened, it was just a very bad joke. You know I love you and I would never disrespect you or hurt you or anyone else! I love you, brother!"

Son responded to Bentancur's apology, handling the situation gracefully as he insists nothing has changed between the two players. The South Korean international addressed the fact that Bentancur made a mistake, but the duo have spoken and an apology was given...

"I've spoken with Lolo [Bentancur]. He made a mistake, he knows this and has apologised. Lolo would not mean to ever intentionally say something offensive. We are brothers and nothing has changed at all."

If Bentancur's suspension takes place with immediate effect, then next game he will be available for his on Boxing Day against Nottingham Forest. Given he's going to be lacking in match fitness, it won't be a surprise if we don't see the former Juventus man until January 2025.

Tottenham Hotspur are keeping tabs on Andy Diouf and have refused to rule out the possibility of attempting to lure the Lens star to Hotspur Way at the end of the season despite the prospect of facing competition from Premier League rivals West Ham United and Crystal Palace, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.

Although Spurs showed ambition during the summer transfer window, with Dominic Solanke becoming the north Londoners' club-record signing thanks to completing a £65million switch from Bournemouth, Ange Postecoglou's side suffered a setback ahead of the international break as they were consigned to a 2-1 defeat by Ipswich Town last weekend.

The Greek-Australian tactician, who spent more than £120million on reinforcements before the August deadline, is working with technical director Johan Lange and chairman Daniel Levy to identify potential recruits as he goes in search of ending Tottenham's lengthy wait to add to the trophy cabinet.

Postecoglou Facing Tough Task to Sign Diouf

West Ham and Crystal Palace alongside Spurs in showing interest

Diouf has worked his way onto Tottenham, West Ham and Crystal Palace's radar after enjoying a promising start to the season, according to GMS sources, resulting in there being a possibility of Postecoglou entering a bidding war with two London rivals if he decides to up the ante in his pursuit.

Although Lens are in a strong negotiating position thanks to the central midfielder still having more than three-and-a-half years remaining on his contract, which allows him to pocket close to £15,000-per-week at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Spurs have joined the Hammers and Eagles in threatening to make a move in the coming months.

GMS sources have been informed that scouts from across Europe have been monitoring Diouf's progress as they put transfer plans in place for the winter window and next summer, but Tottenham have been keeping a particularly close eye on his performances as they consider attempting to beat West Ham and Crystal Palace to his signature.

Spurs scouts were in attendance for Lens' Conference League clash with Panathinaikos in August as they aimed to run the rule over the Frenchman, who has been on his current employers' books since rubber-stamping a £13million move from Swiss side Basel in the summer of 2023.

Diouf has made 10 starts in Ligue 1 this season, chalking up two goal contributions along the way, and GMS sources have learned that Tottenham have left fellow suitors West Ham and Crystal Palace concerned that they are considering offering their target a route into the Premier League for the first time in his career.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Andy Diouf has boasted an average pass accuracy ratio of 77 per cent per Ligue 1 outing this season

Premier League Switch a Possibility for Diouf

Midfielder has been developing game during spell at Lens

GMS sources have been told that a move to the Premier League could be on the cards if Diouf continues developing in a similar vein to the last 12 months, meaning Tottenham, West Ham and Crystal Palace are among the potential landing spots in the event of him deciding to embark on a fresh challenge.

Although all three London clubs bolstered their options in the middle of the park during the summer, with Spurs forking out £30million for Archie Gray after already agreeing a deal for Lucas Bergvall, the 21-year-old has worked his way onto their respective shortlists as the winter transfer window edges closer.

Tottenham, West Ham and Crystal Palace are contemplating testing Lens' resolve as they have joined a host of clubs in setting their sights on raiding Ligue 1 due to there being good value in the market, GMS sources understand, and Diouf's growth since the start of last season has caught the eye after he was described as 'incredible' by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Spurs are toying with the idea of attempting to beat the Hammers and Eagles to the former Rennes man's signature after GMS sources recently revealed that the north Londoners will find it difficult to sign Manchester City winger Jack Grealish due to his lofty wages and desire to remain at the Etihad Stadium.

Tottenham Hotspur suffered their fifth defeat of the new Premier League season on Sunday afternoon, losing at home to Ipswich Town, a result that has prompted Alan Pardew to question the Lilywhites' squad, claiming that Brennan Johnson shouldn't be starting regularly for Ange Postecoglou's side.

An acrobatic finish from Sammie Szmodics and a tap-in from Liam Delap outweighed Rodrigo Bentnacur's header at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as Ipswich claimed their first victory of the campaign. The result leaves Spurs tenth in the Premier League table, and sparked discourse surrounding Postecoglou and the construction of his ensemble.

Johnson, who was hooked after 84 minutes against the Tractor Boys, has been in fine goal-scoring form this season, netting seven times in all competitions already. However, Pardew has questioned whether he should be playing as prominent a role as he is, in a Tottenham side looking to compete for a place in the top four.

Pardew Doesn't Think Johnson Should be Starting

"I don't think so"

Leaving Nottingham Forest for Spurs last summer in a £45 million deal, Johnson experienced a mixed debut campaign in North London, finding the back of the net on just five occasions in 34 appearances. Beginning this term in more prolific form, the Welshman has found himself playing significantly more minutes, starting ten of Tottenham's first eleven league matches.

Dubbed 'undroppable' by Alan Shearer back in October, former Newcastle manager turned pundit Pardew doesn't share the Magpies' legendary striker's optimism about Johnson. Speaking on talkSPORT on Sunday, the ex-coach claimed the 23-year-old winger should be more of a squad player for Postecoglou:

"You've got young players of huge potential, even Johnson, who's a regular in your first team. For me, taking him out of Forest and putting him into Spurs' first team as a regular, I don't think so. But in and out maybe. That's the level we're talking about. Now, Son, I think anybody in the Premier League, any of the top five clubs, would love him in their squad."

While a more sporadic role could be beneficial for Johnson at this point in his career, Postecoglou's hand has been somewhat forced into utilising him more frequently, due to the poor form of Timo Werner, who has been described as 'atrocious' this season.

Tottenham Hotspur lost for the fifth time in the Premier League this season on Sunday afternoon, beaten by Ipswich Town, who recorded their first triumph of the campaign, prompting Alan Shearer to criticise the North London outfit's inconsistency, but insist that Ange Postecoglou is not under pressure.

A spectacular overhead kick from Sammie Szmodics and a tap-in from Liam Delap gave the Tractor Boyes a two-goal lead at half-time, before Rodrigo Bentancur pulled one back in the second period. Despite pushing for an equaliser late-on, it didn't come, condemning Spurs to tenth place heading into the international break.

While lamenting the Lillywhites for producing erratically mixed results throughout the course of the season so far, Shearer doesn't believe this should warrant serious pressure on Postecoglou's job, as the Australian's side remain in touching distance of the top four.

Shearer: Postecoglou Not Under Pressure

They're only three points behind third

After investing heavily in the summer, signing the likes of Dominic Solanke, Archie Gray, Wilson Odobert and Lucas Bergvall, Spurs were expected to push on this season and compete for silverware, as well as qualify for the Champions League. Only three points behind third place Chelsea, in the Quarter-Final of the EFL Cup and seventh in the Europa League, their objectives are still achievable, but the unpredictable nature of their results and performances will be a cause for concern.

Postecoglou is under growing pressure to enact a level of consistency, although the former Celtic head coach isn't quite under the firing line as of yet. Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, when asked if the Spurs boss was under pressure, Shearer responded:

"Typical Spurs though, isn't it? My goodness me. They beat City at home, they beat Villa at home with a great win, and then you got Ipswich at home. Ipswich turn you over.

I don't think so [Postecoglou under pressure]. No, I think you just look at it like that, he took responsibility, didn't he? He said it's his fault, his problem. He's got to sort it out. But when you see them in the second half against Villa and then beating City, it's just, it's the inconsistency again. How long have we been saying that about Spurs?"

Tottenham Hotspur fell to their fifth Premier League defeat of the season on Sunday afternoon, losing 2-1 at home to newly promoted Ipswich Town, and Alan Pardew has revealed that he's worried about Ange Postecoglou, as the Australian looked 'crestfallen' in his post-match interview.

Sammie Szmodics gave Ipswich the lead in acrobatic fashion at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, before Liam Delap made it two before the break, tapping home on the goal-line after a nicely worked move from Kieran McKenna's side. Rodrigo Bentancur pulled one back for the home team in the second period, but the Lillywhites were ultimately unable to find an equaliser, giving the Tractor Boys their first Premier League victory of the season.

The result means Spurs finish the weekend in tenth, having accumulated just 16 points from their opening eleven games, and Pardew has expressed his concern over Postecoglou after the defeat.

Pardew Worried About 'Crestfallen' Postecoglou

The manager was downbeat in his post-match interview

After finishing fifth last season, narrowly missing out on a place in the top four, the expectation this term for Tottenham was to qualify for the Champions League. Only three points adrift of fourth place, achieving that goal is certainly still plausible, but the early signs haven't been positive.

Dismal defeats to Crystal Palace, Brighton, Newcastle and Arsenal, as well as Sunday's shock loss to Ipswich, mean Spurs sit in mid-table, and the performances don't suggest their final league position will be much better than that.

Manager Postecoglou is under some pressure to improve his team's fortunes, and, speaking on talkSPORT on Sunday, former Premier League manager Pardew revealed that he's concerned about the North Londoners' boss and his prospects at Spurs, after he looked devastated in his post-match interview:

"The one thing I would say is, listening to Ange's interview after the game, and I couldn't actually hear the words, because we were talking and discussing other stuff, but he looked crestfallen. I've not seen him look that down.

You know, he looked really down today, and that's a bit of a worry for me because we're only 11 games into the season, and when you have a bad performance as a manager, looking crestfallen isn't the greatest gift you could give to your fans."