The New York Times

Tottenham Hotspur fans have been rocked by the news that their captain, Son Heung-min, has asked to leave this summer and is keen on a move MLS club Los Angeles FC.

Spurs are currently on a pre-season tour in East Asia and face Newcastle United in a friendly in Son’s home country, South Korea, on Sunday. There will surely be some hugely emotional scenes at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in what could now be the South Korea captain’s final game for Tottenham. At a press conference on Saturday morning local time, new manager Thomas Frank confirmed that the forward will start and captain the side.

Son joined Spurs from Bayer Leverkusen in August 2015 for £22million ($29m at current rates), and he has scored 173 goals in 454 competitive matches across a 10-year spell. The 33-year-old’s imminent departure marks the end of an era. He has been one of Spurs’ and the Premier League’s most consistent performers over the past decade, and the London club’s figurehead since Harry Kane left in 2023.

Son’s status as a club legend was secured after he helped them win the Europa League and end their 17-year trophy drought in May, but it will still feel bittersweet when he says goodbye.

Here, The Athletic breaks down how the situation has developed.

Why does Son want to leave now?

After Frank was announced as Ange Postecoglou’s successor as Spurs manager in June, he spoke to senior members of Tottenham’s squad, including Son, who informed Frank that he wanted to leave. None of the other players expressed a desire to depart.

There have been signs over the past 12 months that Son’s time in north London might be coming to an end. He had entered the final six months of his contract at the start of the year, before Spurs exercised their option to extend by 12 months. It only temporarily quelled the questions around his future. By not signing a long-term deal, the door was left open for a potential departure, not least as Son was not the team’s talisman in the way he had been the previous season.

Tottenham are stocked with left-wing options and Son’s performances over the past 12 months mean he is no longer a guaranteed first choice. He only scored seven league goals last season, the first time he failed to hit double figures since the 2015-16 campaign.

At the end of the winter transfer window, Spurs signed Mathys Tel on loan from Bayern Munich with an option to buy for €55m (£48m; $63.5m). Tel’s performances were inconsistent, but Spurs renegotiated with Bayern and signed the France Under-21 international permanently for €35m this summer.

Tel operated as a centre-forward for Bayern but primarily played on the left wing for Spurs under Postecoglou. Last year, they signed Wilson Odobert from Burnley and he can play on both flanks. Mikey Moore has joined Rangers on a season-long loan, and Spurs have high hopes for the 17-year-old academy graduate having a big future at the club in the longer term.

In Son’s defence, he missed eight league games in 2024-25 through a combination of hamstring and foot injuries, while Tottenham collectively underperformed. They lost 22 times and finished 17th in the league. Neither Son nor Spurs ever really got going in the Premier League, despite that European success.

Either way, Son feels the time is right for a new challenge and wants to leave on a high after winning the Europa League.

What did Son say at his press conference?

Son started the press conference by making a statement. He looked visibly emotional as he spoke in Korean and paused multiple times. He revealed that he had only spoken to a few close team-mates, including Ben Davies, about his next steps. He did not want to directly comment on what team he could potentially be joining but said he wanted to play regularly ahead of next summer’s World Cup, which is being held in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

“Before we start, I just want to share the information that I have decided to leave this club this summer,” he said. “Respectfully, this club is helping me to make my decision. It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career. The main reason is I have achieved everything I can at Tottenham. I need a new environment for a fresh challenge.

“I have been here for 10 years. It’s a beautiful club with beautiful fans. I have such amazing memories. I just felt like I need a new environment to push myself to get more out of me. I think I need a little bit of change. Ten years is a long time.

“I came to north London as a kid. 23 years old, a very young age. A boy who couldn’t speak English. I leave this club as a man. Thank you to all the Spurs fans who have given me so much love. It felt like it was my home. It was one of the toughest decisions I ever made. I think it is the right time to leave. I hope that everyone understands that and respects that.”

How have LAFC emerged as the favourites to sign him?

Clubs in the Saudi Pro League expressed their interest in signing Son, but the forward is keen on joining LAFC, where former Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris currently stars and where ex-Spurs great Gareth Bale won an MLS Cup. The United States is home to the largest Korean population outside of Asia and the biggest contingent among them live in Los Angeles. Son would probably benefit from commercial opportunities in the U.S., too.

Spurs want to manage the forward’s exit in the smoothest way possible in recognition of what he has achieved throughout his 10 years of service. They are willing to be flexible on what club he joins and over the amount of money they receive, as opposed to holding out for the biggest fee possible.

Son has remained committed in training sessions and been praised for his attitude by Frank and lots of his team-mates, including Davies.

“There’s some uncertainty around what’s going to happen with him, but he has been nothing but professional in the last few weeks,” Davies told The Athletic before Son’s announcement. “If there was none of the talk in public about what was happening, I don’t think you would know. He’s kept his head down. He’s worked hard and what will be will be.”

Son has only started one of Tottenham’s pre-season friendlies, a behind-closed-doors game against League One side Wycombe Wanderers at Tottenham’s training ground. He has performed some way off his best, looking particularly sluggish in a 2-0 victory over Reading on July 19, repeatedly losing possession and appearing to grow increasingly frustrated.

He was left on the bench for Thursday’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal in Hong Kong, too. Cristian Romero captained the side, before handing Son, a second-half substitute, the armband so he could lift the trophy Spurs were awarded for their efforts.

Hundreds of fans greeted him and his international team-mate, Yang Min-hyeok, at Incheon airport when Spurs arrived on Friday afternoon. By addressing his future directly, Sunday’s game against Newcastle will be an opportunity for him to celebrate his career with Spurs and fans can relish the moment instead of being uncertain about the future.

Will Spurs sign a replacement?

Tottenham’s squad struggled to cope with the demands of the Premier League and the Europa League last season. They face an even bigger task in Frank’s first year in charge as they will compete in the Champions League, giving them less scope to rotate out their strongest players.

One of the reasons they hired Frank to replace Postecoglou was his great track record of developing young talent. It is crucial, though, that the squad is packed with experience, too. As well as signing Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United, they are in talks with Bayern Munich midfielder João Palhinha over a loan deal.

Frank is a huge fan of Tel and Odobert, but they are raw and inconsistent. The problem is that signing a more experienced player might impact their development. It is an issue that Frank and sporting director Johan Lange need to consider before the window closes.

(Top photo: Cjung Yeon-Je/Getty Images)

Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min has asked to leave the club this summer.

Son informed the club and new head coach Thomas Frank earlier this summer that he wanted to leave, having led the side to their first trophy in 17 years at the end of last season.

Spurs are currently on their pre-season tour in East Asia and face Newcastle United in a friendly at the 66,000 capacity Seoul World Cup Stadium in the capital of South Korea on Sunday. It could be the South Korea international’s final game. The Athletic reported earlier this month that MLS side Los Angeles FC were interested in signing Son.

Spurs have also received interest from clubs in the Saudi Pro League, who are prepared to offer more money for the forward, but he is keen on a move to LAFC and discussions are ongoing. Spurs want to manage the 33-year-old’s exit as smoothly as possible in recognition of what he has achieved throughout his 10 years of service.

Son joined Spurs from Bayer Leverkusen in August 2015 and he has scored 173 goals in over 450 appearances. He was appointed as captain in the summer of 2023 by former head coach Ange Postecoglou and helped Spurs to win their first piece of silverware since 2008 when they beat Manchester United in the Europa League final in May.

In his first press conference last month, Frank, who succeeded Postecoglou at the start of June, was asked if Son had earned the right to determine his own future.

“It’s always tricky, situations like that,” Frank said. “If that happens. Right now I have a player that is fully committed and training well, and will play tomorrow. If a player has been at a club a long time, then there will always be a decision for the club to take of course.

“The head coach and the guys who are in charge and this case it will be with Daniel (Levy) and Johan (Lange). Because there is something in it if someone wants to leave at a certain stage, then there can be something there. But the club will always decide in the end.”

Son and Frank are talking to the media on Saturday morning in Seoul.

What does Son’s exit mean for Spurs?

This has already been a summer of significant change for Spurs with the departure of Postecoglou, but this will hit the fanbase the hardest. Son has evolved into one of the best forwards in the world during his time with Spurs and formed a devastating partnership with Harry Kane. They were the figureheads of the Mauricio Pochettino era when Spurs challenged for the Premier League title and lost the 2019 Champions League final.

Son was the joint top-scorer in the Premier League with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in the 2021-22 season and scored an incredible solo goal against Burnley which won the 2020 FIFA Puskas Award.

Son gave Tottenham’s supporters countless memories but nothing will top the Europa League final in May.

Other fan favourites, including Kane, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric, left Spurs to fulfil their ambitions of winning a trophy but Son stayed and etched himself into their history books. A foot injury forced him to be a second-half substitute against Manchester United in Bilbao but he played an important role in their progress throughout the competition.

After the final game of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion, Son went on a solo lap of honour around the stadium after the rest of the squad and now it feels like he was saying goodbye.

He will receive an incredible reception against Newcastle on Sunday when he plays in front of his home fans who greeted him in their hundreds at Incheon Airport on Friday afternoon.

This is a bittersweet moment for Spurs and Son – but it might be a blessing in disguise for Frank. Son’s performances were underwhelming last season and his output has declined. He only scored seven league goals during the 2024-25 campaign which is the first time he has failed to hit double figures since his debut season in 2015-16. Frank will avoid having a difficult decision to make about whether to strip Son of the captaincy and he can focus on developing Mathys Tel and Wilson Odobert.

Most importantly, Son will leave on a high and as a hero after winning the Europa League.

(Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Ben Davies is the longest-serving member of Tottenham Hotspur’s squad. He has made more than 350 appearances under six permanent managers and this will be his 11th season in north London. To top it off, he finally won a trophy with them in May.

However, there is uncertainty around his long-term future. Davies was entering the final months of his contract last season but Spurs triggered a one-year option in June. The Wales international mainly played at centre-back under former head coach Ange Postecoglou but he started his career as a full-back.

Spurs have five senior centre-backs, excluding Davies, following the arrival of Kota Takai from J League side Kawasaki Frontale this summer, and an exciting prospect in 18-year-old Luka Vuskovic.

Djed Spence and Destiny Udogie will battle it out to be new head coach Thomas Frank’s first-choice left-back. Davies’ experience is invaluable, but how much game time will he realistically receive if he stays? Could he be playing for a different club when the transfer window closes?

“That is not necessarily under my control,” he tells a group of journalists, including The Athletic, at an event in Hong Kong. “I reported for pre-season and I’m excited to be here. My focus is on how I can help this club this year and if something changes, I’m sure I will be picking up that call. Right now, I don’t see anything else.”

Davies was a part of the squad under former head coach Mauricio Pochettino which challenged Leicester City for the Premier League title in 2015-16 and lost the 2019 Champions League final to Liverpool. He missed their Carabao Cup final defeat by Manchester City two years later through injury. When the full-time whistle went in Bilbao after Spurs had beaten Manchester United in the Europa League final, Davies was relieved that they had “got that monkey off our back”.

“It was that desire and desperation to win something no matter what it was,” he says. “We have come close, we have fought, we have lost games where we could have won and been in better situations. When that final whistle went it was just relief and happiness that we knew we were going into a new season as champions of a European competition. It was a special memory.”

Spurs’ success in the Europa League helped to mask an awful domestic campaign. They lost 22 games and finished 17th in the league. They suffered embarrassing defeats at home against relegated sides Ipswich Town and Leicester City. Spurs underperformed, even though an injury crisis did not help. Postecoglou was sacked two weeks after the final.

“It was one of the strangest seasons of my career,” the 32-year-old says. “It was tough at times. In the league, we were probably lucky to be in that situation because we weren’t anywhere near the level we could be. At the end of the season, you could see where the priorities had shifted. Ultimately, when you look back in the history books, I don’t think too many people are going to care.”

Frank was appointed as Postecoglou’s replacement in June and he signed a three-year contract. Matt Wells is the only surviving member of the Australian’s backroom staff as Frank brought several people with him from Brentford, including Justin Cochrane, while Cameron Campbell, Fabian Otte and Andreas Georgson are external new hires.

“Having someone like Pochettino, as I did for five years, is rarely happening at clubs anymore,” Davies says. “With a new manager, it’s a chance to develop.

“Thomas had an amazing time at Brentford and one of the things you saw from that team was how intelligent they were, how they fought against the odds to succeed. I’m looking forward to working and learning under him.”

In pre-season games, Spurs have looked more resilient under Frank than they did under Postecoglou. Frank, 51, has mainly used a 4-2-3-1 formation that offers the defence better protection. The full-backs are still encouraged to push forward but not at the same time, while Frank’s defensive line is slightly deeper. Spurs scored from a set piece in their first friendly against Reading and did not panic when Arsenal bombarded them with corners during the north London derby in Hong Kong on Thursday, which Spurs won 1-0.

“When we came in, we had a meeting about what was expected this year and where (Frank) thinks we can improve as a team,” Davies says. “You can see the value that they put on certain aspects of the game, how there is low-hanging fruit where you can pick up goals that turn into wins for minimal effort.

“We have been working on that in pre-season and some different tactical aspects, a bit more structure in the team. The most important thing he said to us is that we are in four big competitions this year and we have proven we can be up there with anyone. We have to have a go in each one of them.”

As one of the senior members of the squad, Davies is often responsible for helping new signings and younger players to settle in. He has a good relationship with Archie Gray and his international team-mate Brennan Johnson. The latter scored the winning goal in the Europa League final at the end of a campaign where he temporarily deleted his social media accounts due to the abuse he received.

“Brennan’s a really good guy,” Davies says. “He came into the Wales squad when I had been there for a while and you could see instantly we had a likeable character who is down to earth. I was delighted when he joined Spurs.

“He knows where the goal is and does a lot of stuff that people don’t pick up on, but he’s always in the thick of the action. He was playing a role (last season) where there might have been times he wasn’t getting on the ball and ultimately a big part of his game was just being in the right place at the right time and he’s one of the best at that.

“As you could see in those crucial moments in the big games, he stepped up and no more so in the final. I was delighted for him and his family.”

It is no secret that Davies is best friends with Tottenham’s captain Son Heung-min. They have been team-mates for a decade and have become club legends for winning a trophy when other fan favourites, including Harry Kane, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric, left to fulfil their ambitions. Now they are both in the same situation with only a year left on their remaining deals. Los Angeles FC are interested in signing Son but there has not been an official bid yet.

“He’s older than me, so when it comes to advice, he needs to be the one leading it,” Davies says. “We go through different moments in our careers all the time and he has one year left. There’s some uncertainty around what’s going to happen with him, but he has been nothing but professional in the last few weeks.

“If there was none of the talk in public about what was happening, I don’t think you would know. He’s kept his head down. He’s worked hard and what will be will be.”

Davies says that he was “proud” of the South Korea international when he lifted the Europa League trophy because “he put so much effort in” and is “one of the people that it takes a toll on the most when he is so focused on success and such a talented player”. They have shared intimate moments with their families away from the pitch but Davies selects a game against Brighton & Hove Albion in April 2023 as his favourite.

“It was when he got his 100th goal in the Premier League,” the defender says. “That was something that he’d been striving for for a long time. We had a celebratory dinner at my house with a few of his mates. It was really nice to see someone who puts in so much effort get that.”

The question now is how much longer Tottenham’s two longest-serving players will stick around.

Ben Davies was speaking at a session organised by family literacy charity Bring Me a Book Hong Kong to inspire young people to read as part of Tottenham Hotspur’s traditional support for local charitable organisations on overseas tours

(Top photo: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Rangers have signed Tottenham Hotspur winger Mikey Moore on a season-long loan.

The Athletic reported on Friday the two teams had reached an agreement, and both sides later announced the transfer. The 17-year-old will wear the number 47 shirt at Rangers.

It is a deal that does not include an option to buy Moore — a top prospect for club and country.

The England youth international signed his first professional contract last August, with the deal running through to 2027.

Moore broke into the Tottenham first team at the end of the 2023-24 season, becoming the club’s youngest player to make a Premier League appearance when he made his top-flight debut against Manchester City in May.

He made 19 first-team appearances last term under former head coach Ange Postecoglou, scoring once and providing two assists, spending several weeks out with illness.

He caught the eye in the 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League initial phase in October, after which James Maddison compared Moore to Neymar and Postecoglou admitted that it would be “pretty hard to keep a lid” on the winger’s talent.

Spurs have strengthened in forward areas this summer since replacing Postecoglou with Thomas Frank, completing the signing of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United in a deal worth around £55million, while they have also made Mathys Tel’s loan move from Bayern Munich permanent.

Scotland could be the perfect move for Moore

Analysis by Tottenham writer Jack Pitt-Brooke

Moore is perhaps the most talented youngster of his generation to emerge from the Tottenham academy, a teenage player who has had a public profile from an early age because of his exploits with Spurs and England age-group teams.

He is very highly rated at Tottenham, and Ange Postecoglou gave him a taste of first-team football last season. Moore made eight starts, three of them in the Premier League, and showed flashes of his obvious talent, especially against Alkmaar, Ferencvaros and Elfsborg in the Europa League.

But young players often need senior football to develop, and going to Scotland could be the perfect move for him. Not only will he get to learn in a more physical league, he will be playing for one of the biggest clubs in the country, one who are currently in the second qualifying round for the Champions League.

Remember that James Maddison, Moore’s Spurs team-mate, had a half-season on loan at Aberdeen when he was a teenager, and it helped him to develop into a top player for Norwich City. If Moore comes back with extra experience and nous, it could be a significant move for all parties.

(Photo: Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images)

(Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Pape Matar Sarr’s outrageous lob from just inside Arsenal’s half gave Tottenham Hotspur a 1-0 victory in the first north London derby to take place overseas.

It was a memorable occasion and the fans, who filled the 50,000-capacity Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong’s Kowloon district long before kick-off, were treated to a ceremonial dragon dance as pre-match entertainment. This was supposed to be the moment where Arsenal’s new striker Viktor Gyokeres took centre-stage, but Thomas Frank’s side produced a resilient and defensively disciplined performance.

Winning the Herbalgy Cup might not be the biggest achievement, but it will give Spurs confidence that they can close the gap to their arch-rivals. Here, The Athletic breaks down what happened in the first game of their pre-season tour to East Asia.

Sarr shows promising signs

Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Raya kept trying to catch Spurs off guard by mixing up the length of his passes. In the 45th minute, Raya’s decision to play a quick, short pass to Myles Lewis-Skelly backfired.

It looked like Richarlison might have clipped Lewis-Skelly, but the referee waved play on, allowing Sarr to collect the ball just outside the centre circle and chip Raya. The Senegal international has a habit of scoring long-range goals, but this was his best yet. His celebrations in front of the Arsenal fans made the moment even sweeter.

Sarr put in mixed performances last season, giving the chance for Lucas Bergvall to take his spot in the starting XI. It is easy to forget that Sarr does not turn 23 until September and still has much room for growth. With his ability to drive forward on the ball and score from distance, he offers something that Frank’s other midfielders do not.

“It was an unbelievable goal,” Frank said. “Fantastic and well-taken. All the credit to Pape. He has impressed me — he has been really good in the last four weeks.”

Sarr is showing signs he could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the managerial change.

Why this friendly win could be significant

It is tempting to call this pre-season game irrelevant — but try telling that to the 50,000 raucous fans inside the Kai Tak Stadium. There were a lot of crunching tackles, and Pedro Porro’s touchline clash with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta underlined that there was a genuine edge. The phoney war continued after the game, with Richarlison and Gabriel mocking each other on social media.

Spurs have played fewer games in pre-season than Arsenal and against lower-level opposition. They were missing first-choice striker Dominic Solanke, who has an ankle injury, while Gyokeres made his first appearance for Arsenal after signing from Sporting CP.

Ange Postecoglou never beat Arsenal during his time in charge of Spurs but Frank has managed it at the first attempt. It will be a far more impressive achievement if he pulls it off in a competitive game, but this victory will still give them a psychological boost.

“We have been very clear that this was not a friendly,” Frank told reporters after the game. “It felt like a competitive match. We have been working hard on defensive organisation — so high pressure, middle, low, then that desire to keep a clean sheet. That gives you a bigger opportunity to win matches.

“For the team we are building together, positive results or performances reinforce the messages we try to get into the players.”

Flair and physicality from Kudus

Mohammed Kudus is an entertaining player and it will be thrilling seeing how he develops. The Ghana international was superb against Arsenal and gave Lewis-Skelly a difficult evening.

Everybody knows that Kudus is an exceptional dribbler in one-v-one situations. He can bamboozle defenders with his trickery, but he also has an underlying strength that catches people by surprise. Several times he held the ball up under pressure, drew in a couple of opponents and outmuscled them before passing the ball. Wilson Odobert shares some of those qualities and can learn from his more experienced team-mate. If those two regularly start games together alongside Solanke or Richarlison, opposition defences will be left feeling dizzy.

“Kudus’ one-vs-one skills, his creating opportunities for the team, were top class,” Frank said. “He’s working extremely hard — there was a recovery run from a set piece when he was sprinting all the way back and he won the ball. That’s how he can help the team so much. He will make a lot of the fans excited with his offensive actions and he will also help the team defensively.”

Does this team need Palhinha?

Just before kick-off, The Athletic reported Spurs were in talks with Bayern Munich over signing Joao Palhinha on loan. They need reinforcements in the deeper No 6 midfield position as Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma have never been perfect fits and they both only have a year left on their contracts. Signing Palhinha on a short-term deal is a smart move, giving 19-year-old Archie Gray time to develop as a defensive midfielder.

Spurs already look far more solid than under Postecoglou. Frank is setting them up in a 4-2-3-1 shape, which offers more protection to the defence as it morphs into a 4-4-2 out of possession, with Bergvall pushing up alongside Richarlison.

Arsenal scored three goals against Spurs in the league last season and two of them came from Gabriel headers after a corner. The Brazilian centre-back was unavailable for this game, but Spurs defended set pieces confidently. There was no sense of panic and their new set-piece coach, Andreas Georgson, is making an impact.

(Top photo: Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Arsenal ended their pre-season tour of Singapore and Hong Kong with a defeat against Tottenham Hotspur in the first north London derby played abroad.

Pape Matar Sarr scored the game’s only goal just before half-time from inside the centre circle, capitalising after Myles Lewis-Skelly had been caught in possession. Thomas Frank’s side hit the post twice before this, whereas Arsenal did not truly test Guglielmo Vicario in Spurs’ goal.

Arsenal could at least give debuts to Viktor Gyokeres and Cristhian Mosquera. Their next match will be back in north London, as they welcome Villarreal to the Emirates Stadium on August 6.

Art de Roché breaks down the main talking points from Arsenal’s third game of pre-season.

How did the debutants get on?

It probably says everything about the game that the most exciting moment for Arsenal fans wasn’t a goal, a shot at goal or even a clever piece of skill. In the 77th minute, Gyokeres and Mosquera were brought on for their first appearances as Arsenal players.

The game was already set into a pattern of attack versus defence as Spurs protected their one-goal lead, but Gyokeres fed off crumbs up front. He showed good awareness in one action to hold up the ball and lay it off to Martin Zubimendi on the edge of the box, but even that shot was closed down by a disciplined Tottenham defence.

With just under a week until Arsenal’s next friendly, that should give him time to earn more minutes in his second appearance.

As for Mosquera, one of the attributes that attracted Arsenal was his versatility. Over the past two seasons, he has played on both sides of centre-back, showing he could cover William Saliba or Gabriel. With Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori injured, it was Jakub Kiwior who needed a rest towards the end of the Spurs game.

Saliba then moved across to the left rather than Mosquera filling in there, which made sense. Of that pairing, Saliba is more experienced and would need to guide his understudy, which happened when Spurs tried to counter late on.

Saliba has also played on that side for France and Saint-Etienne, so it is not an uncomfortable role for him. For Arteta, that may be important at the start of the season with the current injuries on the left side of defence.

Defensive set-piece problems?

Attention will focus on Sarr’s goal, as well as Lewis-Skelly getting caught on the ball in the build-up — though there were questions over whether there had been a foul by Richarlison. Lewis-Skelly was quickly surrounded by white shirts, while David Raya could have been more aware of his surroundings before putting his team-mate in danger with his pass.

Spurs gave Arsenal warning signs before that, though. They hit the post directly from the corner and Richarlison somehow missed from a yard or two out. On both occasions, Lewis-Skelly and Saliba were defending the back post but were too slow to track the flight of the ball.

Defensive set-piece issues are not new for these players. Arsenal conceded a flurry of goals from these situations at the backend of last season, which saw their tally reach 14 for the whole 2024-25 campaign — the joint-fifth highest in the Premier League alongside Ipswich Town.

That needs addressing quickly, but it does seem like set-piece coach Nicolas Jover is continuing to innovate from attacking set pieces. Arsenal scored 17 set-piece goals last season, the joint-most alongside Crystal Palace, and trialled a new routine early on against Spurs.

These did not result in any clear-cut chances, but over time, they could give teams a different problem to solve this season.

How did Arsenal perform when going direct?

Raya and Saliba played at least five long passes in behind the Spurs back line within the opening 20 minutes in Hong Kong.

Their targets were varied. Saka staying high and wide made him an obvious option, while Gabriel Martinelli’s runs were helped by Kai Havertz dropping back. That willingness to go long also allowed Declan Rice to stretch his legs, as Havertz flicked on a ball from Raya, which resulted in the England international winning Arsenal a corner.

This continued a theme from the wins over Milan and Newcastle United of Arsenal trying to speed up their play, but the execution was just off. Half of these moments were flagged for offside, which could just mean more practice is needed. That kind of approach would likely benefit Gyokeres the most, so it cannot be abandoned just yet.

Being dealt that hammer blow by Sarr just before half-time did not help matters. Spurs were happy to retreat into their own box, which took all the speed out of Arsenal’s play. Once again, Arteta’s side were camped outside an opposition penalty area, trying in vain to break them down. That has been a tiresome trend of Arsenal matches in recent years, so seeing how Arteta responds to those situations will be interesting going forward.

Zubimendi will help in these situations, while 15-year-old Max Dowman put in another energetic cameo on the right.

On the left, neither Martinelli nor Leandro Trossard (who came off injured) posed a major threat to Pedro Porro. Reiss Nelson offered something different on that side, but with Arsenal in talks with Fulham over a potential move, that still feels like an area that needs addressing.

(Top photo: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Tottenham Hotspur are in talks with Bayern Munich over a loan move for midfielder Joao Palhinha.

The Athletic reported on July 22 that Palhinha was available this summer, with Spurs favouring a loan over a permanent deal.

Tottenham and Bayern have already done business this summer, with the Premier League side striking a permanent deal for Mathys Tel for up to €45million (£38.9m; $51.5m) after the forward spent the second half of last season on loan in England.

Palhinha, 30, signed for Bayern from Fulham in a deal worth €51m last summer, but made just 25 appearances in his debut season, of which 10 were starts.

Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany often favoured other midfielders, such as Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Aleksandar Pavlovic and Konrad Laimer over Palhinha during the 2024-25 season, while the German champions further bolstered their options with the signing of 20-year-old Tom Bischof from Hoffenheim this summer.

Palhinha had become a key figure at Fulham following his move from Sporting CP in 2022. He made 79 appearances for Fulham and was the club’s player of the season in his debut campaign. Before his Premier League move, the midfielder had spent the entirety of his career in Portugal, moving from the academy of Sacavenense to Sporting in in 2013 before loan spells with Moreirense, Belenenses and Braga.

The Portugal international could become the fourth new arrival for Tottenham this summer, with the north London club active in the transfer market following the appointment of Thomas Frank as head coach.

Spurs signed Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United earlier in July in a deal worth £55million ($74.7m), alongside defenders Luka Vuskovic and Kota Takai from Hajduk Split and Kawasaki respectively.

Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White was set to undergo a medical at Tottenham before then signing a new contract at the City Ground club.

Palhina would address a problem area

Analysis by Tottenham correspondent Jay Harris

Tottenham’s pursuit of Gibbs-White was exciting but slightly confusing because they are well stocked with attacking midfielders including Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Kudus.

Palhinha would address an area of the squad which has been a problem for the last few seasons. Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma have shared the holding midfield role but neither of them are a perfect fit. They have both entered the final 12 months of their contract and their long-term future is uncertain.

Palhinha is a proven Premier League performer who would allow Maddison, Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall to push further forward. He would represent a slight departure from Tottenham’s transfer strategy. Since Johan Lange became their sporting director in November 2023, they have focused on acquiring young talent like Bergvall, Gray and Wilson Odobert.

They need more experience though ahead of their return to the Champions League and Palhinha would provide that. A short-term deal would be perfect as it would prevent them from committing too much money and by next summer, Gray could be ready to become their first-choice No 6.

(Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Will Lankshear spent nearly a decade in Arsenal’s academy, but now he is determined to become a star for their arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Arsenal released Lankshear, who grew up in St Albans, only three miles from the first team’s training ground, when he was 15.

The centre-forward rebuilt his confidence with Sheffield United, scoring 38 goals in 43 appearances for the under-18s and under-23s, and lots of clubs expressed an interest in signing him. That included Thomas Frank’s old side, Brentford, who agreed a deal with Sheffield United, but Lankshear decided to join Spurs instead in August 2022.

His career path mimics his idol, a certain Harry Kane, who switched from Arsenal to Spurs at a young age, too.

Three years later, Lankshear is relishing his second pre-season tour with Spurs and the opportunity to play in the first north London derby to be held outside of the United Kingdom, which takes place in Hong Kong’s 50,000-capacity Kai Tak Stadium on Thursday.

“I was let go by Arsenal and it was a really difficult time for me at that stage of growing up,” Lankshear tells a group of journalists, including The Athletic, at an event in Hong Kong. “But it was a blessing because it really matured me. I grew up fast and it was the best thing for me. I was with Arsenal for nine years and they helped me to develop, but I would like nothing more than to score against them and win.”

Lankshear missed the first six months of his debut season with Spurs after having an operation on his knee, but he was exceptional during the 2023-24 campaign. He won the Premier League 2 player of the season award after scoring 23 times for the under-21s, hit an 11-minute hat-trick in a friendly against third-tier side Fleetwood Town, and scored on his England Under-19s debut. He signed a new contract until 2029 and impressed former head coach Ange Postecoglou on last year’s pre-season tour to Japan and South Korea.

Spurs decided to keep the then-teenager for the first six months of the 2024-25 season and he made his Premier League debut as a substitute in a 1-1 draw with Fulham in December. He scored his first senior goal in a 3-2 defeat to Galatasaray in the Europa League and boldly celebrated directly in front of their fans in Istanbul. It should have been the best moment of his career, but he was sent off in the second half for two separate clumsy challenges. He then moved to West Bromwich Albion on loan in January.

“There were lots of positives and some negatives, but I learned so much,” the 20-year-old says. “I have grown as a player and a person. I feel so much better now than I did last year. People would say (my biggest lesson is) the red card, but for me it would be broader and getting to terms with the rhythm of men’s football.

“I had a taste of the Premier League, where everything is really intense and everyone is so good. In the Championship, there are more aerial (duels) and it’s more physical. That was my biggest lesson. Being able to adapt. Learning, putting it all together, and trying to get better at everything.”

Lankshear started four times and made 11 appearances in total for West Brom, but he did not score or provide an assist. Tony Mowbray signed Lankshear, but he was sacked in April and replaced by James Morrison on an interim basis. West Brom lost five of their last eight games and failed to reach the play-offs.

This summer, West Brom appointed Postecoglou’s former assistant Ryan Mason as their new manager. Would Lankshear benefit from another loan, or is he ready to fully establish himself in the first team under the new Tottenham head coach, Frank?

“Let’s see what this season brings,” he says. “I feel really fit and strong. I’ve scored in pre-season (against Reading). Whatever I’m told, I am ready to do.

“West Brom was massive for my development. Even though the goals didn’t come, I had some really good games. I learned loads: the managers, what they would like, different systems. I loved it. They treated me really well and I enjoyed it.”

Dane Scarlett was left out of Tottenham’s squad for their pre-season tour to Hong Kong and South Korea so he could explore a potential loan move. Dominic Solanke has travelled to east Asia but is recovering from a minor ankle injury, which means Lankshear and Richarlison are the only fully fit strikers. He is benefiting from working with the first team on a regular basis.

“They are top-class players who have been here and done it for a long time,” Lankshear says. “I watch them in games and think, ‘What can I add to my game? How can I close that gap?’.

“I look at Dom and his running, the goals he scores, and how he gets in the right areas. Richy’s movement in the box is top-class. Son (Heung-min) puts his arm around your shoulders if you need it. He really does help me and the other young lads with his experience. When he says something, you listen.”

Apart from Kane, Lankshear has been heavily influenced by another former Spurs and England striker. During his time in Tottenham’s academy, he worked closely with Jermain Defoe, who scored 156 goals in 480 top-flight appearances. Defoe spent two years working across the different age groups before he left last summer.

“He is one of the most underrated forwards the Premier League has ever had,” Lankshear says. “He was so sharp and taught me so many things. The quick finishing and (shooting with) no back lift. He was amazing for me and he is a good guy as well. He really took care of the young lads and gave good advice. I love him.”

During Tottenham’s open training session at the Kai Tak stadium on Tuesday before the north London derby, Lankshear broke away from the main group along with Yang Min-hyeok. They worked together on a shooting and crossing drill with individual development (IDP) coach Cameron Campbell. It is a role that was created this summer at the request of Frank and sporting director Johan Lange. They both held a similar position at the beginning of their careers when they worked in academies at Danish clubs.

As part of the drill, Lankshear would pass the ball to Yang, who he describes as an “exciting prospect”, while being pressured by Campbell, and then spin into the box to attack a cross.

“I don’t score enough headers,” he says. “I find myself getting in the right positions, but it’s tough getting the right contact and timing. It’s so important to win your headers from goal kicks, from throw-ins, and little flick-ons, too.

“It’s about being ready and getting that opportunity. I got it against Reading. You score and then everything can change. If not, you just keep going. That’s what I’m doing with Cameron. Getting better each day, which is the main thing at this age.”

Lankshear was speaking at a session organised by family literacy charity Bring Me a Book Hong Kong to inspire young people to read as part of Tottenham Hotspur’s traditional support for local charitable organisations on overseas tours.

(Top photo: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

In a flash, the mood surrounding Tottenham Hotspur has dipped.

Saturday’s friendly double-header against League One opposition did little to inspire confidence. They first drew 2-2 with Wycombe Wanderers at Hotspur Way, before playing out a 0-0 stalemate away to Luton Town later in the afternoon.

History advises that reading too much into pre-season results is a fool’s errand, but with transfer target Morgan Gibbs-White signing a new three-year contract at Nottingham Forest hours after the dismal draw at Kenilworth Road, concerns that Spurs are behind schedule in their preparations for the upcoming season are beginning to grow.

James Maddison has travelled with the squad for their two-game tour to Hong Kong and South Korea as he ramps up his recovery from a knee injury sustained in early May, but is yet to be included in a pre-season matchday squad. New head coach Thomas Frank has confirmed Maddison’s creative partner, Dejan Kulusevski, struck down with a knee issue of his own a week later, will not be fit for the start of the new campaign.

Pape Matar Sarr’s two goals from an advanced midfield position against Wycombe demonstrated there are ready-made alternatives to that pair in the squad, but their pursuit of Gibbs-White indicates the club want to make improvements in the creativity department.

Here’s the kicker: Gibbs-White is a rare footballer. There are not many in the Premier League, or indeed around Europe, who combine first-rate technical and playmaking skills with incessant running off the ball and leadership qualities.

Though his raw attacking numbers rarely jump off the page, Gibbs-White stands out for the responsibility he shoulders for his team. Forest averaged just 41 per cent possession last season — the third-lowest share in the 20-team division — meaning chances to affect the game close to goal did not come easily. But when they did, Gibbs-White was usually first on the scene.

The 25-year-old was behind most of their positive attacking actions, getting Forest into the final third at speed. Per analytics company Footovision, only two Premier League players were involved in a higher proportion of their team’s counter-attacks — either via a pass or a carry — than Gibbs-White (15 per cent), illustrating his desire to drive forward whenever the opportunity arises.

Looking for players who are similarly front-footed and determined to drive their team up the pitch seems a good place to start our search.

The scatterplot below outlines central midfielders across Europe’s top four leagues who completed a high proportion of their team’s progressive passes and carries, with Gibbs-White a clear double threat.

As the graphic above outlines, one player who stood out for their ability to progress the ball in different ways was Werder Bremen’s Romano Schmid.

Operating as a left-sided central midfielder in coach Ole Werner’s 3-5-2, Schmid had the licence to push forward and act as his side’s key creative catalyst — with only Michael Olise and Thomas Muller of Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz the only Bundesliga players to register a higher rate of passes into the penalty area last season than his 7.5 per 90 minutes.

When mapping the sheer volume of box entries among his team-mates, it is clear that nearly every Bremen attacking move runs through Schmid — he led his side for the most carries and passes into the opposition penalty area.

Specifically, the 25-year-old has a penchant for finding runners in-behind with perfectly weighted passes.

This can either come after drifting closer to the touchline and deftly playing the ball forward with the outside of his right foot…

… or it can be more in the left half-space, zipping slide-rule passes inside the full-back.

In Europe’s top five leagues last season, only Brighton & Hove Albion’s Georginio Rutter has a higher share of passes made that were progressive than Schmid’s 23 per cent. If it’s searching, punchy creative actions that you are looking for, then the Austria international would provide good value in the market.

Another Bundesliga option is Nadiem Amiri, who, like Gibbs-White, started his career as a pure No 10 before developing into a more all-round central midfielder.

After impressing as a youngster for Hoffenheim, 28-year-old Amiri earned a move to Bayer Leverkusen in 2019, where he became a key part of their midfield, playing either alongside or slightly behind Kai Havertz.

Like Gibbs-White, who typically lines up as a No 10 but plays an all-action central midfield role, Amiri has dropped deeper into midfield as he has grown older. Now playing for Mainz, he is more frequently seen picking up the ball from defence and driving it through the middle third than providing the final pass in goal-scoring areas.

While he is not a traditional No 10, Amiri is still capable of providing goal contributions from midfield. He racked up seven goals and five assists in the Bundesliga last season — with a whipped free kick in a 4-1 win against Bochum arguably the pick of the bunch — and played an essential part as Mainz finished sixth, qualifying for the Conference League. For his role in their impressive campaign, Amiri was rewarded with a Germany recall in March, more than four years after his previous cap.

Amiri is not a name many Spurs fans outside Germany will be familiar with, evoking memories of a transfer policy that centred on unearthing gems from around Europe and beyond. While a Premier League-proven option may help ease the blow of missing out on Gibbs-White, data indicates he could provide similar qualities to Frank’s midfield.

Equally important for Tottenham, in addition to being a player who can move the ball incisively at speed, any incoming midfielder would ideally help to beef up their counter-pressing efforts. Gibbs-White would have brought athleticism and physicality to the midfield — a specialist second-ball winner who is just as helpful when it comes to seeing off opposition counter-attacks as he is contributing to his team’s own.

In that regard, Athletic Club’s Oihan Sancet emerges as an intriguing alternative. Standing at 188cm (6ft 2in), the 25-year-old is just off the back of his most prolific goalscoring season, netting 17 goals in all competitions from his second-striker role.

Going forward, Sancet is technically secure, happy to receive the ball in tight spaces and spin away from pressure, a player whose first thought is usually to move the ball up the pitch.

His catalogue of finishes from the season just gone is impressive; arriving late to sweep home from cutbacks, ghosting between centre-backs and getting his head to crosses, and striking the ball from distance. Here he is, thumping home a volley at the back-post in a 7-1 rout of Real Valladolid, displaying the technique that has driven a significant over-performance in front of goal since he became a regular in La Liga five seasons ago.

As shown by their resistance to fend off Barcelona and keep hold of Nico Williams this summer, striking a deal with Champions League-bound Athletic would not be easy.

Ernesto Valverde’s team are a fierce pressing side — only Barcelona recovered the ball more often in the attacking third last season — and Sancet played his part with aggressive pressing from the front. The asking price is sure to be high, but the 25-year-old brings that blend of creativity, attacking threat and hard work without the ball that could help to plug a few gaps in Frank’s new-look midfield.

Another possible alternative is Harvey Elliott, who starred for England as they won the Under-21 European Championship this summer. Elliott, 22, is a lifelong Liverpool fan and has made it clear that he would prioritise staying at Anfield if he found regular game-time under Arne Slot, but conceded that he will “review his situation” in the coming weeks with the aim of being picked for next year’s World Cup.

While Elliott has featured primarily as a wide player, he is typically most dangerous when coming inside and operating in the half-spaces. He is not a like-for-like alternative to Gibbs-White, but given Liverpool value him at around £50million ($67.7m), he represents a potentially exciting market opportunity.

So, while losing out on Gibbs-White’s signature will sting, there are several alternatives for Spurs to consider.

They may not be as ready-made or familiar to Premier League audiences as the Forest man, but given their immediate need for a creative spark in midfield, a data-influenced signing from further afield may be the best route out of an awkward situation.

(Top photos: Schmid, left, and Sancet; Getty Images)

Tottenham Hotspur are close to agreeing a deal to send Mikey Moore on loan to Scottish Premiership side Rangers.

The deal is not yet done but is progressing in the right direction.

Moore, 17, signed his first professional contract last August, with the deal running through to 2027.

Spurs offered the England youth international a bigger salary than they had previously ever done for a player turning 17, a recognition of his talent, performances and the interest in him.

Moore broke into the Tottenham first team at the end of the 2023-24 season, becoming the club’s youngest player to make a Premier League appearance when he made his top-flight debut against Manchester City in May.

The England Under-19 international made 19 first-team appearances last season, scoring once and providing two assists, while spending several weeks out with illness.

Spurs have strengthened in forward areas this summer, completing the signing of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United in a deal worth around £55million, while they have also made Mathys Tel’s loan move from Bayern Munich permanent.

Scotland could be the perfect move for Moore

Analysis by Tottenham writer Jack Pitt-Brooke

Moore is perhaps the most talented youngster of his generation to emerge from the Tottenham academy, a teenage player who has had a public profile from an early age because of his exploits with Spurs and England age-group teams.

He is very highly rated at Tottenham, and Ange Postecoglou gave him a taste of first-team football last season. Moore made eight starts, three of them in the Premier League, and showed flashes of his obvious talent, especially against Ferencvaros and Elfsborg in the Europa League. But young players often need senior football to develop, and going to Scotland could be the perfect move for him. Not only will he get to learn in a more physical league, he will be playing for one of the biggest clubs in the country, one who are currently in the second qualifying round for the Champions League.

Remember that James Maddison, Moore’s Spurs team-mate, had a half-season on loan at Aberdeen when he was a teenager, and it helped him to develop into a top player for Norwich City. If Moore comes back with extra experience and nous, it could be a significant move for all parties.

(Photo: Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images)