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Spurs can repeat Spence success with loan star who's "like tackling smoke"

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Tottenham Hotspur have been put through the wringer this season, with players dropping like flies since last summer and wrecking any chance of challenging the Premier League's elite for a place at the top of the division.

However, amid the slew of setbacks, Ange Postecoglou might just have found some gems within the rubble. Tottenham have a youthful foundation, geared up for success at the highest level across the coming years.

While players like Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall have been thrown into the deep end this season, Mikey Moore also earning chances to shine too, it speaks highly of Tottenham's long-term future under Ange's wing, who appears to have survived the harshest point of the storm and can now seek to forge ahead with the next phase of his project.

Moreover, players like Brennan Johnson appear to have turned corners and made headway as they improve their game. Johnson has been good, albeit injured over the past two months, but it's Djed Spence, 24, who deserves the plaudits for his resurgence this term.

Djed Spence's Spurs resurgence

After Spence signed for Tottenham, he was brushed off by Antonio Conte, who froze the young full-back out and made it clear that he did not covet the player - resulting in a succession of loans to Rennes, Leeds United and Genoa.

It's been a rocky road, but Spence, has found his feet and then some down at N17, putting in an almighty MOTM performance against the Red Devils to continue his excellent campaign.

Postecoglou is a brilliant man manager, and you have to wonder whether the versatile defender would have found an inroad were the Australian not appointed back in 2023.

As per Sofascore, Spence has won 61% of his duels and completed 61% of his dribbles this season, also completing 88% of his passes. Remarkably, he's played the lion's share of the campaign out of position, at left-back.

Ange isn't perfect, but he's a talented manager capable of crafting a high-class team and pushing it into the limelight. Spence serves as a micro case in point. Tottenham can forge a successful end to their campaign but need to look beyond.

With Heung-min Son, for example, beginning to decline, the gaffer might turn to Manor Solomon as the latest star whose Lilywhites career could be resurrected.

Ange could repeat his Spence success

In July 2023, Tottenham signed Solomon from Shakhtar Donetsk on a free transfer after the winger impressed on loan with Fulham during the 2022/23 campaign.

His maiden (and currently only) season with Tottenham was disrupted by injury, with Solomon actually missing 33 total matches for the club after being ruled out of 17 for the Cottagers the term before. Thankfully, such issues have been put to bed with Leeds, where he has only missed out on four fixtures.

Still only 25, the two-sided winger started slow in the second tier but has come alive over the past several months, actually posting five goals and six assists across his last 12 league matches, exclusively being played from the left wing.

There's surely enough there to convince Ange that he could play a role next year, especially after the success of Spence. Moreover, Son will need support and Wilson Odobert, 20, has not yet proved that he is fit for purpose in the first team either.

It's important to note that Spence's efforts this season have been a product of his hard work. As per FBref, the defender ranks among the top 1% of positional peers in the English top flight this season for successful take-ons, the top 4% for tackles and the top 4% for blocks per 90, highlighting his balanced approach.

A successful take-on is recorded when a player beats their opponent by directly carrying the ball past them while retaining possession.

Solomon's efforts for Leeds similarly show that he is working tooth and nail toward making his name in the English scene, ranking highly for ball recoveries and ball-carrying metrics to showcase his commitment and willingness to impress beyond that of goal involvements.

He's also crisp in possession, with an 81.7% pass success rate only marginally behind that of Son: 84% in the Premier League. Moreover, with a decent amount of progressive passes placed and a highest-degree creative spark, Solomon is dynamic enough to make his mark.

Whether he is afforded another opportunity to impress down N17 remains to be seen, but Solomon has the perfect qualities for a place in Postecoglou's project and could end up saving the club millions in investment - especially when the 2024/25 campaign has proved that chairman Daniel Levy has plenty of problems to work on, plenty of areas to target for upgrades.

Spence's success doesn't automatically qualify that of another, but there's little doubt that Solomon has got the potential, having already impressed with Fulham in the Premier League and indeed been picked out by Spurs scouts.

One-time Whites boss Neil Redfearn has hailed Solomon for his "unplayable" performances this season, going on to remark that his dribbling ability and knack for taking on his man mean "it's like tackling smoke" for defenders looking to dispossess him. Clearly, he's too good for the Championship and could be a real asset next year.

Not just Spence: Spurs have an £82m star in the making who's "like Modric"

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With back-to-back wins in the Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur supporters have enjoyed a period of respite within a gruelling and injury-hit campaign.

Ange Postecoglou's worries are far from over. Even after defeating Manchester United on Sunday afternoon, Spurs remain in the bottom half of the table, 12th and 14 points behind fourth-place Manchester City.

Out of the Carabao Cup, out of the FA Cup, into the last 16 of the Europa League. Tottenham may yet strike gold before the summer, but looking at it with a wider lens, there have been a few bright sparks that may have quite the impact over the coming years.

Spurs' bright sparks this season

Djed Spence was handed Tottenham's Man of the Match after the recent victory over Man United, proving not to be a flash in the pan but a highly gifted player with the ability to play a long-term role in Postecoglou's squad.

While Spence is 24, his rocky road travelled over the past several campaigns shows that he is one of the biggest bright sparks. However, Tottenham's rich youth crop bespeaks a prosperous future with Postecoglou at the helm.

Mikey Moore has been excellent, with the 17-year-old enjoying opportunities in place of injured seniors and scoring his first professional goal as Tottenham beat Elfsborg in the Europa League while playing seven top-flight games and threading an assist through for Richarlison's late consolation goal during last month's defeat to Everton.

In defence, Archie Gray deserves plenty of praise for regularly playing out of position in central defence in recent months as Ange sought to fix defensive deficiencies, but there's one man above all others who looks like they might be the jewel in the Tottenham crown.

Spurs' most exciting talent

If Postecoglou is able to shape the club's talent into something concrete at the highest level, fans may look back at the 2024/25 campaign with fondness, the springboard from which future heights were reached.

Leading this new order: Lucas Bergvall. The Swedish midfielder arrived in north London for a €10m (£8m) fee plus add-ons on January deadline day 2024, leaving Swedish side Djurgårdens IF. Barcelona were homing in on the teenager, but Spurs canvassed their proposal and bagged their man.

He's slick and stylish in the middle of the park with a cheeky on-field personality, endowed with strength and technical quality that suggest he could rival the best midfielders that Europe has to offer in a few years.

In fact, he might even prove to be Postecoglou's own version of Ryan Gravenberch in a few years, for he is of a similar profile to the Liverpool star, as per FBref. Gravenberch has been described as "absolutely world-class" in Arne Slot's system by one data analyst.

The players' contrasted statistics from the current campaign really do make for exciting reading. Bergvall mirrors many of the Netherlands star's metrics, has showcased similar strengths in ball-playing and -carrying while also demonstrating a combative side to his arsenal.

Gravenberch is only 22 but Bergvall is much younger still at 19, and with the former's market value skyrocketing to £82m over the past year, according to CIES Football Observatory, you could say that Bergvall has the capacity to hit such a level too, especially as he's earning invaluable Premier League experience at this young and inexperienced point in his career.

With 32 senior Spurs caps, one goal and three assists to his name, Bergvall has the world at his feet, especially with The Athletic analyst JJ Bull stating that he "has a first touch like [Luka] Modric."

Sky Sports commentator Rob Hawthorne noted the "incredible" time to score his first goal for Tottenham, and while Liverpool prevailed in the end, this is some player alright.

Gravenberch might be the talk of the town but here Spurs have an elite-level superstar in the making.

Tottenham make new £50m offer for "superstar" they tried to sign in January

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Tottenham Hotspur have now made a £50m offer for a "superstar" both they and Newcastle United have been chasing for a while, according to a report.

Spurs up to 12th after victory over Man Utd

Ange Postecoglou's side have been through a very tough period, crashing out of both domestic cup competitions in recent weeks, but there was some respite yesterday evening, triumphing 1-0 over Manchester United in the Premier League.

A sixth clean sheet of the season in the league helped Spurs move up to 12th, with the manager likely to be happy with his side's performance from a defensive point of view, just like he was after the 2-0 victory away at Brentford earlier this month.

Speaking after the victory over the Bees, Postecoglou praised the way his defence have performed throughout the campaign, saying: "[We] needed a big effort again today. We put that in, they had a lot of set-pieces, and we dealt with them awfully well.

"I think we defended as well as we have all season, and we still had the quality to hurt them the other way. Outstanding effort by the players.

Although Tottenham have kept two clean sheets on the bounce in the Premier League, and they brought in Kevin Danso in January, a report from Spain is now claiming they have submitted a €60m (£50m) offer for Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi.

Spurs are not the only club to have allegedly made a £50m bid, however, with Arsenal, Newcastle United and Liverpool tabling offers of their own, with the Magpies following up their interest from last summer which even forced Eagles chairman Steve Parish to publicly comment on the situation.

The Lilywhites are said to be showing strong interest in the 24-year-old, who is tipped to fit perfectly into Postecoglou's system, and their desire to sign the defender is underlined by the fact they submitted a £70m bid in January.

"Superstar" Guehi likely to command huge fee

Crystal Palace owner Parish has previously made it clear he will only sanction the England international's departure if a huge offer is submitted, saying: “Nobody has got to the valuation yet. If you want a superstar player you need to pay superstar money.

“It’s not near the point where we have to make a decision. “We love having him and would love to keep him. “If someone else wants to have him they need to make it really difficult for us. He’s a generational talent.”

This summer will be the Eagles' last chance to cash-in on the centre-back, as his contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026, and with so many suitors lining up, it may take a massive bid to get a deal done.

Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have been sidelined with injuries this season, which highlighted the need to bring in depth at centre-back, and Danso has slotted straight into the team since arriving from Lens late in January.

When Van de Ven and Romero return, Spurs will be well-stocked with some top-class defenders, so it is debatable whether a move for Guehi is still necessary, and the huge price tag could dissuade Daniel Levy from making a move.

Tottenham now "in the running" to sign "freak of nature" £20m midfielder

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Tottenham Hotspur are now "in the running" to sign a "freak of nature" midfielder this summer, having conducted scouting missions this season, according to former scout Mick Brown.

Spurs eyeing move for midfielder

Tottenham's midfield has looked solid at times when everyone is fully-fit, with the trio of James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall performing well in the recent 1-0 victory against Manchester United in the Premier League.

Maddison bagged the winner in the narrow victory over the Red Devils, which saw the Lilywhites rise to 12th place.

However, Ange Postecoglou clearly feels some additional depth is required, given that the manager has been left short on midfield options at times this season due to the injury crisis he has had to deal with.

Several targets have been identified by Spurs, with the likes of Palmeiras' Richard Rios and Real Betis' Johnny Cardoso on the shortlist, and there is now a feeling they are also keen on signing one of the Championship's stars.

In a recent interview with Football Insider, ex-scout Mick Brown stated Tottenham are one of the clubs keeping a close eye on Sunderland's Jobe Bellingham, who could leave this summer if the Black Cats receive a big offer.

“Crystal Palace and Tottenham have had scouts watching him this season so they’ll be two of the teams in the running if he is going to leave. So it’ll be up to them to assess whether he’s ready to make that jump.

“From a Sunderland point of view, knowing the way the owners want to operate, I think if they get a huge bid for him then they’ll let him go.“

Amid links to Arsenal last month, the Sunderland star was thought to have a price tag of £20m, but the asking price could theoretically rise if he continues to impress over the course of the next few months.

Bellingham emerging as key player for Sunderland

The Black Cats are pushing for promotion to the Premier League this season, and the 19-year-old has established himself as a key player, making 28 appearances in the Championship, during which time he has picked up four goals and three assists.

Not only is the teenager a threat going forward, but he has also done a stellar job defensively over the past year, ranking in the 90th percentile for aerials won and the 87th percentile for clearances, when compared to his positional peers playing at a similar level.

Fellow Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil has lauded his teammate in the past, saying: "He's an absolute freak of nature, physically. I have never seen a 17-year-old that size. Technically, he is a top, top, player as well."

As such, it is exciting news that Tottenham could be in the race to sign Bellingham in the summer, and they should continue to monitor his performances between now and the end of the season.

Arsenal now submit £50m offer for "outstanding" Spurs target, claims report

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Arsenal have now submitted a £50m offer for an "outstanding" player who Tottenham Hotspur made a bid for during the January transfer window, according to a report.

Mikel Arteta looking to strengthen in multiple areas

One of the Gunners' main priorities for the summer transfer window is to bring in a new striker, having opted not to bring in a new option in January, and a number of exciting options have been linked with moves to the Emirates Stadium.

Contact has now been made over a deal for Atalanta's Mateo Retegui, while the north Londoners are also prepared to make a huge offer to ensure they win the race for RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko.

However, it is not just the striker position which Mikel Arteta is keen on strengthening, with Martin Zubimendi being targeted in midfield, while there is also a feeling a new centre-back could be brought in, with AFC Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen said to be of interest.

Huijsen is not the only Premier League defender Arteta has his eye on, however, with a report from Spain revealing Arsenal have made a €60m (£50m) offer for Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi, but they are not the only English club to have done so.

The report states a similar offer is on the table from Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham, with the latter club also submitting a £70m bid during the January transfer window, highlighting just how keen they are on getting a deal over the line.

It seems likely Guehi will seal a move away from Crystal Palace this summer, given the interest from a number of the Premier League's top clubs, and his contract is set to expire in 2026, meaning the next window is Palace's last chance to cash-in for a large fee.

"Outstanding" Guehi impressing for club and country

It is no wonder the England international is attracting so much interest, given that he has put in some top-quality performances for club and country in recent times, being lauded as "outstanding" by members of the media for his displays at Euro 2024.

Since then, the 24-year-old has continued to be a key player for Palace, averaging a SofaScore match rating of 7.17 in the Premier League this season, the second-highest figure of anyone to have appeared in at least 50% of the games.

The centre-back has also proven himself to be a real threat at the opposite end of the pitch, bagging three league goals this season, and being nominated for goal of the month in January.

Guehi is clearly a top defender, who has earned a move to one of Europe's biggest clubs, but Arsenal already have a rock-solid centre-back partnership in Gabriel and William Saliba, so there are some doubts over whether the Englishman would be a necessary signing.

Better than Maddison: Spurs' 9/10 star could now be emulating Gareth Bale

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In truth, neither Tottenham Hotspur nor Manchester United will be particularly overjoyed with how their dire Premier League seasons are currently playing out, with both sides shockingly stuck in the lower depths of the table.

But, come full-time on Sunday evening, it was Ange Postecoglou's Spurs who would be given a much-needed boost as the topsy-turvy North Londoners got the better of Ruben Amorim's dejected Red Devils to win by a single goal.

James Maddison would be the hero when it mattered most for his inconsistent side, with the return of the ex-Leicester City man from injury inspiring Spurs to surprise back-to-back victories in the league.

Standout Spurs performers vs Man United

Maddison would receive a gift on his return from his near four-week absence as Andre Onana's poor goalkeeping presented the former England international with a simple tap-in during the first 45 minutes.

Away from this easy strike, Maddison would also complete one successful dribble during his hour or so on the pitch, alongside winning four duels to ensure his side weren't breached at any stage by an out-of-sorts United attack.

The 28-year-old's long-awaited return from the treatment room wasn't the only positive addition Postecoglou could call upon to his starting XI, with usual first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario also back in-between the sticks having recovered from his own setbacks.

Having the Italian 'keeper back in the net was a saving grace for Spurs at points, and showed how costly Onana was in the opposition goal to gift Maddison the opener, with Vicario making six big saves to claim a clean sheet.

It was a real team effort overall that ensured the normal grumbles that reverberate around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium were replaced with loud cheers, but there was one standout performer at the back who caught the eye by continuing to rewrite his Spurs story.

The Spurs star who's emulating Gareth Bale

Of course, Gareth Bale still remains in a league of his own when it comes to modern-day greats hailing from the white half of North London, with the Welshman becoming a blistering star in the left-back spot after some troubling beginnings at the club.

Amazingly, Spurs would fail to register a single victory during Bale's first 24 games after a bumper £10m move from Southampton, with his sketchy injury record at the time making it a near plausible reality that he was sold on before his prime at White Hart Lane.

The rest is thankfully history now as Bale ended up etching himself into the hall-of-fame at the Premier League outfit, having gone on to amass 71 goals and 53 assists from a total of 237 Spurs clashes, often when lining up as a gung-ho option down the left flank.

Djed Spence could well be emulating Bale's turnaround in fortunes, therefore, having once been seen as an outcast himself at the top-flight club - after enduring stints out on loan - only now to be visibly reborn in the left-back area.

It was a top-drawer showing from the 23-year-old down the left, with Spence showing himself to be a nuisance when marauding forward - much like Bale - by accumulating two successful dribbles and one shot on the United net, on top of also being defensively solid with six duels won alongside four blocked shots and interceptions being tallied up.

Spence will hope there are plenty more standout performances from him to come, as Postecoglou's side attempt now to string together a positive patch of form to rise up the league standings, away from Amorim's battered and bruised outfit.

Alongside Tel: Ange must unleash Spurs star who could terrorise Man Utd

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Tottenham Hotspur host Manchester United this afternoon looking to return to winning ways after their two back-to-back defeats in various cup competitions.

Ange Postecoglou’s side haven’t won in the Premier League on home soil since the 4-1 victory against Aston Villa way back in the first week of November.

However, they have already got the upper hand over today’s opponents this season, beating them in both encounters, with the latest coming in the Carabao Cup - claiming a 4-3 victory in North London.

It’s safe to say both sides have failed to match expectations in 2024/25, currently sitting in the bottom half of the table, shipping goals for fun, with a high-scoring encounter potentially on the cards.

If the Aussie is to claim a third triumph over the Red Devils this weekend, he must hand a first Premier League start to one player after his move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in January.

Mathys Tel could make Premier League debut

Spurs’ deal to land Mathys Tel in January was a bizarre one, to say the least, being on and off before finally reaching its conclusion late in the window.

The Frenchman initially rejected the proposal to move to North London, but changed his mind, moving on an initial loan deal with an option to buy at the end of the season.

Tel has already wasted no time in making an impact after his transfer, featuring in two cup games against Liverpool and Aston Villa - scoring in the latter despite their exit from the competition.

He’s shown that despite his tender age of just 19, he’s able to lead the line in Dominic Solanke’s absence, potentially showing United what they’re missing after they attempted to land him last month.

If he is to find himself on the scoresheet once more and fire the Lilywhites to a needed win, Ange must start one player who could be set for a return from injury this weekend.

The player who could terrorise United alongside Tel

Spurs’ injury issues have played a huge part in their lowly league standing in 2024/25, with Postecoglou having a huge job on his hands to make do with the players at his disposal.

The backline has been the department affected most, with the majority of centre-backs spending time on the sidelines, with youngster Archie Gray having to deputise out of position.

However, the midfield has also been depleted during certain periods but could receive a boost after the manager confirmed that James Maddison could return from his latest setback this weekend.

The Englishman has been missing since the Europa League triumph against Hoffenheim at the end of last month, with his return undoubtedly adding further quality to the front line.

Maddison, who’s previously been dubbed “sensational” by presenter Daniel Hussey, was in fine form before his setback registering eight goals and four assists in just 15 league starts this season.

His underlying stats from the current campaign is evidence that he has the ability to assist players in the frontline, potentially handing Tel with the ammunition to find the net against Ruben Amorim’s side.

It’s a crucial game for both sides this afternoon, but it’s pivotal that Ange’s men end their dismal run on home soil against another struggling side.

A link-up of Maddison and Tel in attacking areas is a frightening one, with the duo potentially able to give the supporters something to cheer about in what has been a disappointing campaign up until now.

Spurs nearly signed gem for £450k, now he's worth way more than Son & Kane

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Tottenham Hotspur has been the home to countless attacking talents over the years, many of which have captured the hearts of the fanbase during their time in North London.

Gareth Bale joined the club as a youngster from Southampton, originally as a left-back, but rapidly showcased that he was more than capable of starring within the attacking third.

The Welshman was known for his wand of a left foot, scoring endless strikes from outside the box, before leaving in an £85m deal to join Real Madrid in the summer of 2013.

Striker Teddy Sheringham joined Spurs from Nottingham Forest in the summer of 1992, a deal that looked to be worth every penny, finding the back of the net on 125 occasions.

However, there was one pair within the first team that made history in the Premier League during their respective periods as players with the Lilywhites.

Son & Kane’s stats together at Spurs

Heung-min Son and Harry Kane formed an excellent partnership together at Spurs, combining on countless occasions in front of goal and helping the club achieve some phenomenal results.

The duo combined for 47 goals between one another during their time together in the first-team, the highest tally of any pair in Premier League history.

However, the Englishman would depart in the summer of 2023, joining Bayern Munich and subsequently ending their phenomenal partnership - but leaving as the club’s record scorer, with an unbelievable record of 280 goals.

As for Son, he still remains a key player under Ange Postecoglou, but has been unable to produce the goods without his partner, only scoring six times in the league throughout this campaign.

However, despite the impact of the aforementioned talents, the club may regret not signing one player who’s cemented himself as one of the very best stars in European football over the last few years.

The player who’s now worth more than Son & Kane combined

Despite the talents of the pair, they were unable to fire the Lilywhites to any trophies, with the drought now entering its 17th year after their League Cup triumph in 2008.

However, they certainly would’ve been aided in their attempts had they secured a deal for Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé back during his spell in Ligue 1 with Monaco.

It’s known that Spurs tried to sign the forward after his breakthrough with the French outfit, being quoted a fee in the region of £450k, but were ultimately unable to convince him to leave his homeland.

It’s safe to say he’s gone on to achieve incredible things in the game, starring for his boyhood club, scoring 27 times in his 60 appearances before joining PSG for a whopping £150m in the summer of 2017.

Such a move to the capital would catapult him into the limelight, being a leading talent for the Ligue 1 giants and catching the eye with his displays, becoming one of the best attackers in Europe.

He ended up scoring 256 times in just 310 appearances for the Ligue 1 giants, with the thought of him partnering up front with Son and Kane one that could’ve certainly ended the club’s long wait for a trophy.

He’s since moved to Real Madrid this summer, taking his career to the next level, and strengthening Carlo Ancelotti’s side - who are already up there with the best in Europe given their 15 Champions League titles.

The forward has continued his goalscoring form under the Italian, scoring 24 times in his 36 appearances for his new side, creating a deadly partnership with Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior - showing the Lilywhites what could’ve been had they signed him.

As a result of his tremendous displays over the last few years, Mbappé is now valued at £133m by Transfermarkt - a figure higher than that of Son and Kane combined, with the pair only worth a combined £105m.

The pair gave Spurs fans a whole heap of memories during their time featuring together in North London, with their record in front of goal cementing them as one of the best pairs in English top-flight history.

However, there’s no denying the club could’ve reached the next level had they pushed and persisted in a move to land Mbappé during his early years in Monaco.

ESPN journalist shares Tottenham takeover update after Qatari claims

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Private Qatari investors have been linked with an eventual takeover of Tottenham Hotspur this week, with reliable ESPN reporter James Olley sharing what he's heard on a potential change of ownership at N17.

Qatar show Tottenham takeover interest amid ENIC protests

Spurs protest groups are planning to voice their discontent with the Lilywhites hierarchy, chairman Daniel Levy and ENIC after their Premier League clash with Man United on Sunday, with supporters greatly dissatisfied at their lack of success over the last two decades.

The group 'change for Tottenham' are instructing protestors to stay behind after the match, in the South Stand lower specifically, to let the Spurs boardroom know their true feelings over how their club is being run (via The Telegraph), with many fans yearning for a transformation upstairs.

This comes amid claims that investors from the Middle East could instigate a Tottenham takeover, with a mystery Qatari consortium apparently "seeking to buy" the club, which could take the form of a phased buy-out, according to The Guardian's Matt Hughes.

The value of a Tottenham takeover would likely be around £3 billion, as per Football Insider, which is a serious drop from reports in the past two years which claimed that ENIC value the Lilywhites at up to £4.5 billion (Sami Mokbel).

Spurs last won a piece of major silverware in 2008, clinching a League Cup final win over Chelsea at Wembley Stadium. They've since fallen short time and time again - most recently losing the Carabao Cup final to Man City in 2021.

Now, ESPN's Olley has shared what he's heard on the prospect of a potential Spurs takeover, and one which would hopefully bring more success to north London.

He claims that there are "active conversations" over a Tottenham takeover behind-the-scenes, but nothing is imminent. The reporter also refuses to get drawn into the rumours linking Qatari bidders with a phased buy-out.

“Well, the answer to that lies in who the owners are going to be. And you know, there are rumours flying around about a sale," said Olley on ESPN.

“We don't know as yet how far advanced they are. We also don't know who exactly is in the running to buy the club, and clearly, if there is a takeover, and my understanding is there are active conversations around that, then you know, clearly a new owner will put in a new structure, and that way may well include a new head coach.

“Now, you know, it remains to be seen what the time frame is for that. I don't think it's anything imminent in terms of a new owner.”

Manager stalls new contract after Tottenham express interest in hiring him

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A Tottenham Hotspur managerial target is stalling talks over a new deal at his current club, amid claims he's high on the list of potential replacements for under-fire Lilywhites head coach Ange Postecoglou.

Tottenham's list of manager targets with Ange under pressure

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, while reportedly sticking with Postecoglou for the time being, is making contingency plans - in the event they do opt to hand the Australian his P45.

Tottenham had 11 senior players unavailable for their 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round, but Postecoglou has been handed a boost ahead of their Premier League clash with Man United on Sunday.

James Maddison, Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, Brennan Johnson and Timo Werner are all back in contention for Spurs after resuming training this week (tottenhamhotspur.com), while Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Radu Dragusin, Dominic Solanke and Richarlison all remain out injured.

All eyes are now on whether Postecoglou can resurrect Tottenham's form with this influx of returning first-team stars, but if their form doesn't pick up quickly, the 59-year-old will face more calls for his resignation.

According to some reports, Spurs are doing their due-diligence on possible managerial candidates for the future.

Brentford manager Thomas Frank would be a top target to replace Postecoglou (TEAMtalk), while the Italian media have reported that Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi has admirers within Tottenham as well.

Former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzić, who guided the Bundesliga side to an unexpected Champions League final last term, is also thought to be among the potential contenders to succeed Postecoglou (TEAMtalk).

Another name who's believed to be high on Spurs' shortlist is Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola.

The Spaniard has marked himself out as a standout candidate amid his stellar job at the Vitality Stadium, leading the Cherries to seventh as they push for a Champions League place, which is all the more impressive considering their own injury problems right now.

Andoni Iraola stalls talks over new Bournemouth deal as Tottenham linger

As per The Boot Room and journalist Graeme Bailey, Spurs have been given some hope in regard to Iraola's availability.

It is believed that Iraola has told Bournemouth he doesn't wish to open new contract talks right now, coming as Tottenham express an interest in him as one of the possible names to succeed Postecoglou.

The north Londoners sniffing around Iraola is said to be privately worrying Bournemouth officials, even if they're confident he'll eventually stay, with Man City considering him to replace Pep Guardiola before the manager put pen to paper on a new deal.

Liverpool also apparently had Iraola on their list of candidates when they were hunting for Jürgen Klopp's heir, so he is a tactician who's very highly-rated by elite Premier League sides.