Sport Witness

Jens Petter Hauge is an interesting footballer and an example of not giving up. The 25-year-old currently plays for Bodø/Glimt and faced Tottenham in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.

He came through the ranks at Bodø/Glimt and was highly rated as a youngster. So much so he got a move to AC Milan in 2020 and arrived with a lot of hope attached.

That transfer didn’t work out for the winger and he was loaned to Eintracht Frankfurt. That didn’t go great either and he was sent to Gent before being loaned back to Bodø/Glimt.

Now there permanently, Jens Petter Hauge is getting everything back on track. He scored twice against Tottenham yesterday and is gutted not to have all three points.

Bodø/Glimt lost a lead to Thomas Frank’s side and what would have been a famous victory was turned into a draw.

After the match, Jens Petter Hauge shared his frustrations with the media.

Aftonbladet quote him as saying: Jens Petter Hauge: “It is incredibly bitter. It’s tough to sit here again with a bitter feeling. This stadium and the crowd deserved the victory.”

Bodø/Glimt have two points, having drawn both of their matches so far.

Thomas Frank appears to be one of the nicest guys in football management, even if there’s a steely ambition under the wrapping. For years, as he succeeded with Brentford, the manager would speak to the Danish media and drop hints he wanted a bigger club.

Frank explained on multiple occasions that whilst he was happy to stay in England he needed to fight for titles. To be in competitions like the Champions League.

The manager got his way in the summer as Tottenham decided he was the one to replace Ange Postecoglou. Spurs were able to offer Champions league football after their Europa League victory. They’ve now picked up four points from their first two matches.

Tuesday evening saw a 2-2 draw with Bodø / Glimt in Norway, and big coverage in Scandinavia.

“The nicest man in the world”

Ståle Solbakken is the manager of the Norwegian national side and a big fan of Frank.

The feeling is mutual with Tipsbladet quoting Frank as saying: “Ståle is a man and a football coach that I have great admiration for. What he built over many years in Copenhagen was incredible. I’m really happy for him. A good colleague and a friend in the world of football.”

Norway are well placed to qualify for the World Cup, having started their qualifying campaign well.

Solbakken has time to praise the Tottenham boss: “There are two things that characterise him. He is the nicest man in the world and he is very social. I remember that we used to have lunch together, despite the fact that we were in charge of FCK and Brøndby.

“He is very open and reflective. And he is incredibly normal in relation to being a football coach. At the same time, as a coach he is very pragmatic. He is not the one who has a crystal clear playing style, but instead he adapts to the squad he has.”

Tottenham continue to keep a close watch on Vasco da Gama striker Rayan, with Spurs taking the first transfer steps. The Brazilian club have made clear moves to protect their jewel until January, and possibly beyond.

Brazilian outlet O Globo detail that despite months of speculation and links with Spurs, Chelsea, Brighton, Barcelona, Zenit and others, no formal bids have reached São Januário.

The only side to have shown genuine intent so far is Porto. They explored the possibility of signing the 19-year-old. Still, Vasco’s leadership and the player’s representatives are aligned on a strategy. That is to pressure in the short term and maximise his value for a future sale.

Central to this plan is the renewal signed in April 2025, which extended Rayan’s deal until the end of 2026. His release clause was set at €40m (£34.3m). The clause gives Vasco protection, while also signalling the level at which negotiations could begin.

The club holds 70% of his rights. The remainder owned by the player, meaning both parties benefit from any appreciation in value. That isn’t unusual in Brazil.

€30m deal may be possible for Tottenham

Even so, some Brazilian journalists have reported that a transfer could realistically be agreed for around €30m (£25.7m). That figure would still make Rayan one of Vasco’s biggest ever sales.

The short-term priority is sporting and financial stability. Vasco are engaged in a relegation fight in the Brasileirão and cannot afford to lose Rayan.

President Pedrinho and manager Fernando Diniz reportedly agreed that selling Rayan now could seriously damage the campaign. Agreeing a deal in advance would cause the player to “lose focus”. The board also requested a court-approved loan to ensure salaries and commitments are covered until the end of the year.

At the same time, the player’s camp is shielding him from speculation. Rayan continues to focus on his performances, which have recently included goals against Flamengo and Cruzeiro. These displays, combined with his 12-goal tally in 2025, have only increased interest abroad.

Visibility is also growing on the international stage. Rodrigo Caetano, director of the Brazilian FA, was present at São Januário last weekend to watch him. Observers from Carlo Ancelotti’s staff have also attended games.

Tottenham’s emissaries have already enquired about his chances of a senior Brazil call-up, as we previously covered. Spurs know that such caps would ease the process of securing a work permit in England.

For now, Vasco’s plan is clear: keep Rayan until at least January. Protect him with a €40m clause, and bet on his performances to raise both his value.

Tottenham and other European clubs may be circling, but any deal will only be considered when the Rio side feel both the timing and the price are right.

Of course, for Tottenham waiting until January isn’t an issue given that’s when the window opens. Vasco don’t seen keen to negotiate before then.

On Monday, BolaVip reported Tottenham are keeping a close eye on Vasco da Gama’s Rayan.

The Brazilian outlet reported Spurs had sent representatives to watch the 19-year-old and have checked with the Brazilian FA about his chances of a senior national team call-up.

More on the talent is now emerging in Italy.

ASRomaLive don’t mention interest from Tottenham but state that the ‘boy wants Europe’.

Porto have offered Vasco da Gama €10m but this has been rejected. There has also been an approach from Dynamo Moscow, who have offered a ‘very high fee’ but Rayan himself has rejected this move.

Clubs in Saudi Arabia are offering big money to the talent but the player is keen on making a mark in the top leagues of Europe.

Tottenham will have to beat competition from AC Milan and AS Roma, who are both monitoring the 19-year-old attacker and want to wait until next summer before taking formal steps.

Rayan is a right winger by trade but can also play upfront and on the left. So far in his career, he has scored 15 times for Vasco da Gama, assisting twice in 83 games.

Vasco da Gama are raising the stakes over the future of Tottenham target Rayan, with Brazilian journalist Jorge Nicola revealing the Rio de Janeiro club have set a minimum asking price of €30m (£25.7m) for their young forward.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Nicola explained that Rayan’s recent form has given Vasco confidence to push his valuation upwards.

Among players under 19 worldwide in 2025, only Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal has scored more goals. The Spaniard has 14 this season, while Rayan follows with 12.

The teenager recently scored against Flamengo in a draw and opened the scoring against Cruzeiro in a victory, confirming his rise as a decisive player.

According to Nicola, Porto and Zenit Saint Petersburg had already tested Vasco with bids worth €17m (£14.6m), both of which were rejected. Barcelona continue to monitor him closely, as do Tottenham, while Zenit remain among the suitors.

The Brazilian press had also mentioned Chelsea and Brighton as being in the race, as we previously covered, further increasing the level of Premier League competition for his signing.

Vasco, however, intend to hold on to the player at least until the middle of next year as they fight to climb away from the bottom end of the league table.

The teenager’s growing influence on the pitch, combined with his statistical impact alongside Europe’s brightest youngsters, only strengthens Vasco’s stance.

Now any interested club will need to weigh that rising price tag against the clear signs of a player quickly becoming one of the most exciting prospects in South American football.

Chelsea and Brighton have now entered the picture for Vasco da Gama forward Rayan, adding fresh competition for Tottenham in the chase for the teenager.

The claims come from BolaVip. They report the two Premier League clubs are closely following the 18-year-old’s progress in Brazil.

Both sides are said to be monitoring his development after an impressive 2025 campaign. This has seen him establish himself as a starter under Fernando Diniz and further boost his reputation as one of Vasco’s top prospects.

The new interest means Tottenham are no longer alone in the Premier League when it comes to pursuing the striker.

Spurs already sent representatives to Brazil to watch him. They’ve even checked with the Brazilian FA about his chances of a senior national team call-up. That’s a key factor in securing a work permit in England. Now Chelsea and Brighton’s names strengthen the level of competition around him.

With Zenit Saint Petersburg already making a bid and Barcelona previously scouting him as well, the Premier League emergence only intensifies the battle for a player who seems destined for Europe sooner rather than later.

Rayan could hardly have picked a better moment to shine. The Vasco da Gama striker scored the opener in a 2-0 win over Cruzeiro at São Januário. That was a performance delivered in front of Tottenham representatives, Brazilian FA officials and scouts from other European clubs.

As we had already covered, Spurs sent representatives to Brazil to follow the 19-year-old, and their weekend trip brought more than just a live look at his talent. He scored a great header and was a constant threat down the left side.

The same outlet now explains Tottenham’s scouts were not only there to watch him closely, but also sought crucial information from the Brazilian FA about his chances of being called up to the national team under Carlo Ancelotti.

Tottenham already planning work permit process

That step is considered significant. Regular appearances for Seleção can facilitate the work permit process required for non-EU players.

The answer they received was encouraging. Sources suggest there is a “big chance” of Rayan being included in upcoming Brazil squads, given his current form.

The player himself was keen to keep expectations under control when speaking after the match. “About the national team, I leave it to God’s time. I am doing my work here, giving my best. If God wants, one day I will be there,” he told reporters.

He also made clear that his focus remains in Rio for now: “I leave that with my agents. I prefer to focus here at Vasco, on my work, day by day. That I leave to my father and my agents.”

Rayan remains tied to Vasco until 2026 with a €40m (£34.3m) release clause, and the club owns 70% of his rights.

Tottenham, however, appear to be laying the groundwork for a deal. They left Brazil encouraged not only by the player’s performance on the pitch, but also by the signals regarding his international future.

The pressure around the teenager is clearly building. His display in front of both scouts and national team officials showed he is thriving under the spotlight. His next steps will be closely followed in both Rio and London.

Tottenham forward Richarlison has once again been linked with a move away from north London. Speculation in Brazil puts him on the radar of Flamengo and Crystal Palace.

The claims were relayed this week by BolaVip, who stressed that any deal would require between £20m and £25m to convince Spurs.

The report points out that Flamengo’s strong financial position could allow them to compete. However, it also highlights Crystal Palace as a realistic Premier League option for the striker.

That detail is seen as important, since the 28-year-old has spent most of his career in England. He remains a regular call-up under Carlo Ancelotti for Brazil and won’t want to endanger that.

What sparked further debate in Brazil was the reaction of commentator Renato Maurício Prado. Writing on social media, he downplayed the idea of Richarlison moving to Flamengo and said bluntly: “Another one who doesn’t excite me…”

His words divided opinion among supporters. Some argued a player of his calibre would add quality, while others questioned his consistency.

For Flamengo, the move would be a statement of ambition. Yet doubts remain over how much impact he would truly have in their attack.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace’s presence in the story adds a more grounded option. That transfer would keep the forward in the Premier League environment where he is already established.

At this stage, it remains to be seen whether either side will move beyond speculation, but the combination of high costs and mixed public reception means this is a deal that will continue to provoke debate.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Luka Vušković was determined to join Hamburg SV on loan and had to wait until the end of August to complete a temporary move.

The centre-back made his debut in the Bundesliga club’s 5-0 defeat to Bayern Munich earlier this month. He’s starred in their last two matches against FC Heidenheim and Union Berlin.

Vušković scored in the 2-1 win over Heidenheim. The Tottenham man was then the standout player in Hamburg’s goalless draw against Union Berlin.

Sofascore Football took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to report that the defender won 18 duals against Union Berlin. In doing so he became the first player among the top five leagues to achieve that feat in the past five seasons.

Hamburger Morgenpost points that out and states the Croatia international had an ‘outstanding defensive performance’ as he was ‘unstoppable in air’.

To put his overall performance into context, the outlet says the Tottenham loanee had 123 touches and won 23 tackles.

Time for Tottenham excitement over Luka Vušković

Hamburg’s Miro Muheim has heaped praise on Vušković for his latest display and MoPo have relayed his comments.

“He’s a monster, for sure. I don’t think he lost a single header. He’s doing a great job. The boy is a superb footballer and is helping us tremendously,” he said.

Muhiem’s sentiments were echoed by Hamburg goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes.

“When you see Luka, how he always went for headers as a flexible player. That was something you need in games like this. This aerial dominance he has, this presence. It’s simply something that’s good for us,” Daniel Heuer Fernandes explained.

It’s not just his teammates as Union Berlin assistant manager Sebastian Bönig has joined in to highlight Vušković’s ‘outstanding defensive performance’.

“Vušković simply won a lot of headers. That also meant we couldn’t get into our game,” he added.

Perhaps it’s time for Tottenham fans to get excited about Luka Vušković.

Randal Kolo Muani joined Tottenham late in the summer transfer window after weeks of being linked with a return to Juventus.

The move also attracted a war of words between the Italian side and Paris Saint-Germain. Juve made it clear they rejected a chance to sign the Frenchman on favourable terms on deadline day. They ended up with Lois Openda instead.

There was a belief this was Juve’s attempt to save face due to their failure to sign the France international on time.

Further signs of bitterness about the Tottenham signing are now emerging in Turin.

TuttoJuve note Kolo Muani’s fitness troubles, as the 26-year-old has missed the last two Premier League games due to a leg injury.

The stint in London is said to be passing by ‘without tangible progress’, as the outlet also overstate that his performances have been ‘subpar’ this season.

Further, they point out that Kolo Muani’s loan at Tottenham can end in ‘another disappointing season’, clearly spreading negativity when it is still too early to judge the player’s situation.

This shows that there is clearly bitterness in Turin about their failure to land the forward.

Kolo Muani has made just one appearance for Tottenham but there is still a lot of time left for him to impress.