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Thomas Frank is reportedly unhappy with the major player Tottenham signed this summer in Xavi Simons, after some disappointing performances

According to Mee Met Oranje, Thomas Frank is reportedly unhappy with summer signing Xavi Simons and his performances so far. The Dutch international is still adapting to his new surroundings, but the overall impression has been drab so far.

Tottenham had a decent summer window, where they signed players across different positions on the pitch. The attack was a major area for Spurs to bring in new players, particularly the advanced midfield role after the cruciate injury to James Maddison.

Eberechi Eze was their main target before Arsenal signed him from Crystal Palace and snatched him from under Tottenham’s noses. Losing out on the England international was a big blow for Spurs, as they looked at other options such as Como’s Nico Paz, among others.

However, they found another market opportunity in Xavi Simons and agreed a deal with RB Leipzig to bring the Dutch international. Chelsea were the ones closing in on the attacking midfielder, but Spurs took their chances and managed to bring him to north London.

While the Dutchman arrived with plenty of fanfare, Spurs boss Thomas Frank has been left unimpressed by the player’s performances so far. The issue is that Simons is taking longer than usual to adapt to his new surroundings, as his performances are a reflection of the same.

Tottenham to sign a new attacking midfielder?

Should Simons fail to convince of his qualities between now and the January window, there’s every chance that Spurs might target a new attacking midfielder then. Names like Morgan Gibbs-White were also being considered back in the summer, while there are new links to the likes of Iliman Ndiaye ahead of future windows.

As for Simons, Spurs have invested heavily in the Dutch international and will want to keep faith in him to come good in the near future. For now, things are looking bleak for the summer arrival, although he does have the quality to turn things around and start impressing Frank in the process with his performances in the attacking third.

A spot in the EFL Cup quarter-finals will be on the line when Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur face off in the fourth round at St. James’ Park on Wednesday.

The curtains will fall on the EFL Cup fourth round on Wednesday, with the day witnessing five ties. The action on the day will start with four simultaneous matches before ending with Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur at St. James’ Park.

Newcastle United reached the EFL Cup fourth round by cruising to a 4-1 win over Bradford City in the previous stage, with Joelinton and William Osula scoring twice each. However, the Magpies have been inconsistent thus far in the 2025/26 season, enduring a topsy-turvy ride, which has recently seen another peak with a two-game winning run.

On the other hand, Tottenham Hotspur qualified for the EFL Cup fourth round by cruising to a 3-0 win over Doncaster Rovers in the previous stage. The Lilywhites have made considerable progress under Thomas Frank, who has transformed the team that previously languished close to the relegation zone under Ange Postecoglou. While Spurs have not enjoyed long winning runs, they have become hard to beat, losing only once since the September international break.

The most recent EFL Cup clash between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur ended in a 4-0 win for the North London club in December 2015. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Newcastle United

Eddie Howe has no new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Newcastle United manager will be bereft of the services of only four first-team players vs Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.

Howe had been sweating over Sven Botman’s fitness after his substitution against Fulham this past weekend. However, the Dutchman should be available to take on Tottenham, although he will unlikely start on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Valentino Livramento (knee), Lewis Hall (hamstring), Harrison Ashby (thigh), and Yoane Wissa (knee) remain in the treatment room.

Aaron Ramsdale will likely start between the sticks, with Newcastle United lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him vs Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday. The backline will feature Emil Krafth, Malick Thiaw, Fabian Schar, and Dan Burn.

As for the midfield unit, Joelinton will retain his spot in the middle of the park, with Joe Willock and Lewis Miley joining him in the centre of the pitch. Finally, William Osula should lead the line for Newcastle United against Tottenham, with Anthony Elanga and Harvey Barnes being the two wide attackers.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Ramsdale; Krafth, Thiaw, Schar, Burn; Joelinton, Willock, Miley; Elanga, Osula, Barnes

Tottenham Hotspur

Like his counterpart in the Newcastle United dugout, Thomas Frank has no new issues to worry about ahead of the trip to St. James’ Park. The Tottenham Hotspur manager will be without as many as nine first-team players on Wednesday.

Cristian Romero is the most notable absentee, with the Argentine international recovering from a groin injury. The Tottenham Hotspur captain accompanies Radu Dragusin (knee), Ben Davies (hamstring), Destiny Udogie (knee), Kota Takai (foot), Yves Bissouma (ankle), James Maddison (knee), Dominic Solanke (ankle), and Dejan Kulusevski (knee) in the treatment room.

Antonin Kinsky will start between the sticks, with Tottenham Hotspur lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him vs Newcastle United on Wednesday. The backline will feature Pedro Porro, Archie Gray, Kevin Danso, and Djed Spence.

As for the midfield unit, Pape Matar Sarr and Lucas Bergvall will line up alongside Rodrigo Bentancur in the middle of the park. Finally, Richarlison will spearhead the Tottenham Hotspur attack against Newcastle United, with Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel completing the numbers in the offensive third.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Kinsky; Porro, Gray, Danso, Spence; Sarr, Bentancur, Bergvall; Odobert, Richarlison, Tel

Key Stats

The last 16 meetings between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur have been closely matched, with Spurs clinching eight wins to the Magpies’ six (D2). Recent history, however, shows Newcastle United having the edge with three successive wins.

The head-to-head record in the EFL Cup favours Tottenham, with the North London club securing three wins and Newcastle United managing a victory only once (in the semi-finals of the 1975/76 edition).

Tottenham Hotspur are on a five-game unbeaten run in away outings, with the latest victory on the road coming this past weekend against Everton.

Newcastle United have won four of their last five games at St. James’ Park across all competitions.

Joelinton is in line to make his 22nd Carabao Cup appearance for Newcastle United, just one short of Rob Lee’s all-time record.

Player to Watch

William Osula

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While Richarlison, Mathys Tel, and Anthony Elanga were viable candidates for this section, we have picked William Osula as the Player to Watch for Wednesday’s EFL Cup clash between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur at St. James’ Park.

Regular game time has eluded Osula, and recent reports have suggested that a winter exit may be on the cards for the young striker. However, the Dane has made his mark in his limited opportunities, and he netted a brace in the previous round of the EFL Cup. So, if he starts on Wednesday, Osula should be up for the task.

Prediction

Newcastle United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Recent meetings between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur have favoured the former, and they are closing the gap in the head-to-head record. However, Thomas Frank has forged a solid team since taking over from Ange Postecoglou, with Tottenham barely losing thus far in the 2025/26 season.

So, a closely-contested affair is on the cards, and we may have to wait until the final minutes to witness the match-winning goal. However, with Newcastle United becoming cup specialists under Eddie Howe, another impressive victory may be on the cards. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Howe and his charges, with William Osula delivering the goods again.

Everton will reportedly demand a premium to part ways with 25-year-old Senegalese international Iliman Ndiaye amid his links with Newcastle United and Tottenham.

According to a report by TEAMtalk, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are interested in Iliman Ndiaye. The two high-profile Premier League clubs are keen on reinforcing their offensive units by signing a versatile attacker next year. So, the 25-year-old Everton mainstay has emerged as a target for them.

However, the Toffees are adamant that they will not entertain bids for the Rouen-born attacker below their premium valuation. While initial reports suggested a fee worth around £30 million may be enough to land Ndiaye, Everton will demand around £60-70 million to part ways with him next year.

Iliman Ndiaye and his time with Everton so far

Iliman Ndiaye has established himself as one of the most underrated attackers in the Premier League since joining Everton from Marseille in a deal worth £15 million in July 2024. While the versatile 25-year-old attacker took some time to become an undisputed first-choice starter for the Merseyside club, he has not looked back in the last 12 months.

The Senegalese international has been hot off the blocks in the 2025/26 season, amassing three goals and one assist in nine Premier League outings thus far. Meanwhile, Ndiaye’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs. Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are among the prospective suitors vying for his signature.

Move across the Premier League on the cards?

Newcastle United’s interest in Iliman Ndiaye is understandable. The Magpies are scouring the market for a versatile wide attacker, as Anthony Elanga has struggled to make his mark since arriving from Nottingham Forest in the summer transfer window. So, while Eddie Howe has a stacked offensive unit in his squad, Ndiaye will be a top-notch addition to the Newcastle United attack.

As for Tottenham Hotspur, the Lilywhites are yet to fill Son Heung-min’s void at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. So, Ndiaye is an option worth considering, as his qualities make him an ideal candidate for the North London club. However, a move may not be straightforward, as the Toffees are demanding a premium to part ways with the French-born attacker.

While initial reports suggested a fee worth £30 million may be enough to land him, Everton will demand around £60-70 million to part ways with him. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for the 25-year-old Senegalese international amid Everton’s push to keep him by raising his price.

Tottenham will demand at least €100 million for key defender Micky van de Ven amid interest from Real Madrid and Liverpool.

According to Fichajes, Tottenham have reportedly set a €100 million asking price on Micky van de Ven amid growing interest in the defender. Liverpool and Real Madrid are keen on the Dutchman, although Spurs will prioritise keeping him by handing in a new deal.

Micky van de Ven came into prominence on Sunday when he scored a brace against Everton to earn the three points for Tottenham. The defender has been a revelation since his move to Spurs in the summer of 2023, and has grown from strength to strength since.

The Dutchman is tied down to Spurs until 2029, and there’s no real rush to find a solution to his immediate future. Tottenham are aware of the big interest in the defender from elsewhere, and will do everything in their power to keep hold of the player for the long-term future.

As things stand, they are under some pressure after the likes of Liverpool and Real Madrid have shown interest in signing him. Spurs will reportedly demand at least €100 million to sell the Dutchman if it comes to a point where a departure will be inevitable from the player’s side.

Real Madrid are interested in the Tottenham first-team star in red-hot form ahead of next summer, as they are eager to bolster their defensive line. There are some names like Ibrahima Konate or Marc Guehi, but they could very well explore the idea of the Spurs defender.

Liverpool are keen, but Spurs wants to keep Van de Ven

Liverpool are also interested, as they are keen to bolster their backline. Marc Guehi remains their main option to improve the defence, but they are already looking at alternatives, considering there are some doubts about the Palace star. Among those is Van de Ven, as the Reds could potentially pay a big price for the Dutchman if it came to that.

Barcelona may look to sign 33-year-old South Korean international and Tottenham Hotspur icon Son Heung-min from MLS club LAFC in the winter transfer window.

According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Son Heung-min is the subject of interest from Barcelona. The reigning La Liga champions are keen on reinforcing their offensive unit by signing a versatile attacker in the winter transfer window. So, the 33-year-old LAFC forward has emerged as a target for the Blaugrana.

The Catalan giants are accelerating their “contacts” with the former Tottenham Hotspur captain to seal a short-term loan move in the winter transfer window. With MLS pausing for a break between the end of the 2025 season and the beginning of the next campaign for a few weeks, Barcelona can land Son in the coming weeks.

Son Heung-min and his latest adventure

Son Heung-min has hit the ground running since joining LAFC in a bargain move after leaving Tottenham Hotspur as a free agent. The 33-year-old enjoyed an iconic spell with the Lilywhites, spending a decade at the North London club and capping off his fruitful stint by winning the UEFA Europa League title last season.

While the South Korean international struggled in his final season at Tottenham, he has been exceptional for LAFC, amassing nine goals and three assists in ten MLS appearances. Son’s exploits have not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs. Barcelona will be among the prospective suitors vying for the Tottenham icon’s signature heading into the winter transfer window.

La Liga adventure beckons?

Barcelona’s interest in Son Heung-min is somewhat perplexing but understandable. While the former Tottenham Hotspur captain is on the wrong side of 30 and in the twilight of his career, he has shown incredibly resurgent form in his first few months in MLS.

As for Barcelona’s requirement for an offensive reinforcement, the recent injury crisis has exposed the lack of quality in depth in the attacking unit. With Marcus Rashford being excellent since arriving on loan from Manchester United, that can be a blueprint for Barcelona to succeed with another temporary deal. Interestingly, Son has been on Barcelona’s radar for a long time, and a move may finally materialise.

Signing Son from LAFC would resemble the deal that took Thierry Henry from the New York Red Bulls to Arsenal several years ago. With Barcelona accelerating the “contacts” with the 33-year-old South Korean attacker’s entourage, it will be interesting to see if a deal materialises.

Tottenham faces big competition from domestic rivals Arsenal and Newcastle United in the chase for Samu Aghehowa ahead of the January window.

According to Caught Offside, Tottenham are set to face challenges ahead of their chase of Samu Aghehowa as domestic rivals like Arsenal and Newcastle United are also interested. FC Porto faces a challenging period in keeping hold of their talented striker, as their financial reality could force a sale.

Samu Aghehowa has made himself one of the biggest talents in Europe following a successful season with Porto and a brilliant start to the new one last term. The Spaniard scored 25 goals across all competitions and is already attracting massive interest from elsewhere.

Porto are protected by a €100 million release clause in Aghehowa’s contract, having secured his complete rights over in the summer from Atletico Madrid. However, the financial realities at the club could force them to consider bids in the region they deem to be right, despite their reluctance to lose the striker in January.

Tottenham have kept tabs on Aghehowa for some time, and they could pounce on an opportunity ahead of the January window. Spurs could make further changes to their forward line, with a new striker likely to be on their agenda, as Richarlison could potentially leave in the near future.

Spurs have set their sights on Aghehowa as a potential option, and there’s a probability from the north Londoners to approach Porto with an offer for the €100 million-rated Olympics 2024 gold medalist. Any move is likely to depend on Porto’s asking price, as they would ideally want something very close to the release clause in the Spaniard’s contract.

Tottenham faces Samu Aghehowa competition

Spurs are not alone in the race, as Newcastle United are also interested in the forward. The prospects of the Magpies signing another centre-forward are somewhat remote, considering they only bought in Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa in the closing stages of the transfer window. Moreover, they may not have the leeway to spend a big sum in the January window owing to PSR concerns.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly keeping tabs on highly-talented 19-year-old Turkish international Can Uzun from Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt.

According to a report from Graeme Bailey on TBR Football, Tottenham Hotspur sent scouts to watch 19-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt attacker Can Uzun in action against Liverpool during the midweek UEFA Champions League. The teenage attacker is highly rated across Europe, and he could be available for a fee of less than €50 million.

Uzun is capable of operating centrally as well as in the wide areas. He will add goals and creativity to the Tottenham attack. It is no secret that they need more quality and depth in the attacking unit. Recent reports have linked the North London club with several versatile attackers, including Iliman Ndiaye.

Meanwhile, signing Can Uzun would be a wise decision for them. The 19-year-old attacker is a tremendous talent with a bright future, and he could develop into a future asset for the North London club.

Even though Spurs have signed players like Xavi Simons, they need more cutting edge in the final third. They need to bring in another striker and a wide player. The opportunity to join the North London club will be quite exciting for Uzun. It would be a major step up in his career, and he will look to prove himself in the Premier League.

Uzun could benefit from Spurs move

Tottenham could do well to nurture Can Uzun into a first-team star. Thomas Frank has done well to groom quality attackers at Brentford, and he could play a key role in developing Uzun at Tottenham as well.

Moving to the North London club would be a major step up for the 19-year-old, and it will allow him to play alongside top-class players. Working with players like James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Xavi Simons could help the young attacker improve further and fulfil his potential.

It will be interesting to see if Tottenham follow up on their interest with an official proposal to get the deal done. They might have to pay a premium to convince Eintracht Frankfurt to sell the player. The Bundesliga club will not want to lose a prodigious young talent like him easily.

The teenager has all the attributes to develop into a future star for them. Uzun has already shown his qualities in the Bundesliga, and he will only improve further with coaching and experience. Tottenham would do well to secure his signature, and he would be a sensational long-term investment for the North London club.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in signing 21-year-old Argentine defender Lautaro Rivero from River Plate.

Lautaro Rivero is highly rated in South America, and he has a bright future ahead of himself. He could develop into a quality player for Tottenham if they further their interest and manage to get the deal done.

According to a report from El Intransigente, Spurs will face competition from Manchester City for the 21-year-old Argentine defender. It remains to be seen whether Tottenham can beat them to his signature. It is fair to assume that Manchester City have more financial resources, and they could be a more attractive destination for the player.

The South American defender will want to compete at the highest level and fight for trophies regularly. Manchester City might be better placed to provide him with that platform. They have a world-class squad and an elite manager. The Citizens have tremendous resources, and they will be able to put together a formidable squad for the future.

On the other hand, Tottenham have an exciting project with a quality manager. They have brought in some talented players this summer and they are doing well in the Premier League. It remains to be seen whether the 21-year-old is open to joining them.

Rivero should join Manchester City

Lautaro Rivero should look to choose his next destination based on the opportunities he will receive. He needs to play regularly at this stage of his career, and Tottenham might not be the ideal destination for him. Thomas Frank has Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Radu Dragusin, and Kevin Danso at his disposal, and Luka Vuskovic will come back to the club after his loan spell as well.

On the other hand, Manchester City have ageing defenders, and they will need to replace players like John Stones. It would be ideal for the 21-year-old South American defender to join Manchester City. It remains to be seen which of the two clubs can get the deal done. River Plate will not want to lose the young prospect easily, and they could demand a premium for him.

Richarlison remains focused on his task at Tottenham despite some exit talks rumbling in the media, with the club eager to keep him in January.

According to Football Insider, Richarlison is leaning towards staying at Tottenham ahead of the winter transfer window. The North London outfit are also unlikely to make drastic changes to their frontline, which might suggest they could be open to keeping the Brazilian international.

The January window ahead of a World Cup year is always tricky for clubs eager to strengthen their respective squads. For starters, players would look to leave only if they are guaranteed minutes, especially those who are in with a chance of making their respective national team squads for the summer.

Richarlison is on a similar boat with regards to his chances with the Brazilian national side for the World Cup. The attacker, who arrived at Spurs in a £60 million deal back in the summer of 2022, has been more of a miss here than a hit.

However, the South American attacker has been able to establish himself consistently this season under new boss Thomas Frank, and he has somewhat benefitted from the continued absence of Dominic Solanke, as the Danish boss has preferred to use the resurgent £60 million star in his frontline.

However, there were rumours recently that Spurs were ready to sell him for financial reasons, although those stories have been unsubstantiated so far. Back in the summer, he was linked with a move away, but chose to stay at Tottenham, which has worked out for him so far.

Richarlison to stay amid MLS links

Richarlison is leaning towards staying at Tottenham despite recent links to MLS. There is plenty of interest coming from the other side of the Atlantic, with LAFC and Orlando City among those keen on the striker. However, with a World Cup place up for grabs, Richarlison will prefer to continue here; Spurs are also leaning towards keeping him due to the complexities of signing a new striker.

Tottenham are reportedly ahead in the race for Dusan Vlahovic, with the Serbian striker also attracting interest from the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United.

According to Football Insider, Dusan Vlahovic could be headed to the Premier League next summer when his Juventus contract expires. Tottenhama re considered the frontrunner at this moment for the Serbian, although there is also interest from the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea.

Dusan Vlahovic stayed put at Juventus for a variety of reasons despite entering the final year of his deal. Sufficient clubs were showing an interest in signing him during the window, but factors like his high wages proved pivotal in his staying in Turin.

However, ahead of next summer, when he will be a free agent, there are more teams keen to sign him. Vlahovic has reportedly instructed his representatives to explore moves to Chelsea or Tottenham. It is the latter who are reportedly leading the race, as they are seemingly offering attractive projects under their new management.

Spurs were notoriously known to pay one of the lowest wages of any big-six team,s, but that philosophy could change with a change of personnel in the board room. Hence, they are open to targeting players like Vlahovic as they enter a new era, which could see Spurs leapfrog the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United in the race for the Serie A goal machine.

Vlahovic could consider a move to Spurs, especially if they make it to the Champions League next season. His availability on a free transfer also offers him the chance to choose the right project for his career, which could allow the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United to make their offers.

Dusan Vlahovic to the Premier League?

Manchester United are also interested in the Serbian striker, as they might continue to search the market for a Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee replacement. Hence, they are in the mix, especially because the striker is available on a free transfer.