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Italy had a night to forget on Sunday as they suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of France in their final UEFA Nations League group game. France went ahead at the San Siro after just two minutes when midfielder Adrien Rabiot met Lucas Digne's corner.

The visitors then doubled their lead after 33 minutes when Digne's free-kick then hit the crossbar and rebounded in off Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Andrea Cambiaso's cushioned volley moments later gave the hosts hope, but Rabiot and Digne linked up again after half-time to seal victory for the Azzurri, this time the Marseille midfielder heading in a Digne free-kick.

The defeat was Italy's biggest at home in a competitive game since 1983, and saw them forfeit the top spot in their Nations League group to France on goal difference. It means that heading into the quarter-finals, France will be seeded and Italy will not.

Speaking after the match, Italy head coach Luciano Spalletti said: “We saw some good things tonight too, but clearly this defeat creates some problems in terms of confidence."

Vicario under fire from Italian media

While Rabiot and Digne both certainly caught the eye for Les Bleus, it was keeper Vicario who did so for the Azzurri, albeit for the wrong reasons. All three of the goals Vicario conceded on the night were from set-pieces, which has become a worrying habit for the Tottenham Hotspur star in recent times.

Vicario also conceded from a set-piece in Italy's 4-1 win over Israel last month, while for Spurs last season, he conceded no less than 16 times in the same manner.

As a result of his failures at set-plays against France, Vicario was named the worst player on the pitch by Sofa Score, while he also came under fire from a number of international journalists.

"Thought Donnarumma was bad at leaving his line but Vicario’s problems on set pieces are incredible," wrote reporter Siavoush Fallahi on X/Twitter.

Carlo Garganese of The Italian Football Podcast was even harsher: "The last SIX goals Italy have conceded have been off set pieces. Italy have a brilliant group of centre backs - all of them great aerially - and Italy cannot defend crosses & set pieces 1 competitive clean sheet in a year. That’s on Spalletti. P.S. Vicario can’t play again for Italy."

Deschamps happy with Nations League success

France were without Kylian Mbappe for the win over Italy, with manager Didier Deschamps having opted to leave the Real Madrid forward out of his squad for his side's final round of Nations League games.

In Mbappe's absence, Deschamps played a front three of Marcus Thuram, Randal Kolo Muani, and Christopher Nkunku, while youngster Bradley Barcola also came off the bench.

Speaking after the match, Deschamps explained how he was delighted with his forward line.

"It needed a bit of everything to win tonight," he said. "I think using three strikers was decisive to help also defend well and create problems for Italy."

For all of the outstanding work Pochettino did in north London, turning the likes of Dele Alli and Harry Kane into genuine stars, he left the Lilywhites behind having not won a trophy.

So, what did Levy do? He went and hired one of the most successful managers of the 21st century; Jose Mourinho.

The self-proclaimed Special One has been there and got the t-shirt as far as English football is concerned. He's a multiple Premier League winner, and a multiple FA Cup winner. He's even won the Champions League.

Surely he was going to help Spurs earn the trophy they were craving? Think again. It all ended in tears.

Mourinho lasted just 86 games with a points-per-match record of 1.77, the third worst of his career. That rather said it all.

Mourinho's first transfers at Spurs

Entering in November of 2019, it wasn't until January 2020 that the great Portuguese coach got the chance to welcome his own players to the capital.

It wasn't the most rip-roaring start to proceedings, bringing Giovani Lo Celso and Steven Bergwijn to the club. The duo only just left Spurs in the summer but did so having not played very much football.

The summer of 2020 was a tad more promising though. Despite a world ravaged by the global pandemic, he welcomed two faces to the club from Real Madrid.

Mourinho was the one to entice Gareth Bale back to English football, welcoming the Welshman back on a loan deal. Bale was rather forced out of Madrid despite several years of wonderful service, scoring in a Champions League final and winning three LaLiga crowns.

He wasn't the only player arriving from the Spanish capital, however. Left-back Sergio Reguilon joined and initially started very well in Spurs colours.

Indeed, analyst Raj Chohan admitted that the Spaniard was "unstoppable" at points, notably after a first-class assist for Bale's goal against Brighton in a 2-1 win.

Remarkably, via loan spells at Atletico Madrid, Manchester United and Brentford, he is still on the books at Tottenham.

Why it's time for Reguilon to go

It's now been four years, some might say arduous years since Reguilon first arrived under the tutelage of Mourinho.

In that first campaign, he proved to be an excellent acquisition, supplying five assists in all competitions from the left-hand side of defence.

In 2021/22, he still impressed in the final third, scoring twice and assisting three goals but he ultimately wasn't fancied by a ruthless and no-nonsense Antonio Conte who shipped out on loan in 2022/23. Since then, the 27-year-old has struggled to ever really catch the eye.

United only signed him on loan because of a lack of fit left-backs and that deal was cancelled in January 2024. Brentford did come calling and he featured regularly but it wasn't enough to force himself into Ange Postecoglou's plans.

Reguilon - who earns £53k-per-week - is still on the books at Spurs but is simply stealing a living at this point.

He's not played a single minute all season and for the good of everyone, he surely has to leave in the January transfer window. Although he is named in the club's 25-man Premier League squad, he was omitted from their Europa League squad list.

The Spaniard has gone from being an unstoppable asset during the days of Mourinho to someone with no chance of ever earning minutes again at Spurs. The only good thing for the Londoners is that he is actually out of contract next summer. An end, it would seem, is finally in sight.

Tottenham continue to puzzle us. Tottenham continue to frustrate. That's always the way, isn't it?

However, under Ange Postecoglou there has been a flirtation with improvement. No one can deny that Spurs play exciting football but their results have been far from consistent, chiefly in 2024/25.

At times, the north Londoners have looked like world beaters. They beat Manchester City and Aston Villa in the same week, only to taste defeat against Galatasaray and then even more worryingly against Ipswich Town.

The Tractor Boys and Crystal Palace picked up their first wins of the campaign against Spurs which has ruined any progress Postecoglou had achieved in the opening weeks of the season.

Pressure is mounting and it will continue to do so the longer Spurs don't look as though Champions League football will be inbound.

As much as Brennan Johnson has played like a man possessed this term, scoring seven goals, and Heung-min Son's return to fitness will be a game-changer, there have been some notable underperformers who aren't helping matters.

One of those is £40m man James Maddison.

James Maddison's time at Spurs in numbers

The arrival of Maddison in the summer of 2023 was an exciting one. After Leicester had been relegated a whole host of top-flight clubs had taken an interest in the Englishman and understandably so.

The former Coventry man had scored ten goals and supplied nine assists in all competitions for the Foxes. Arriving at Spurs, the first few months of his time in the capital was seriously impressive.

He began the 2023/24 campaign with three goals and five assists in his opening 11 league matches before injury derailed a promising start. Since then, Maddison has struggled to replicate those performances.

The 27-year-old scored just one for the remainder of the season after returning in January and in 2024/25, has flattered to deceive.

Ultimately, Spurs look better when he's not starting. The attacking midfielder may have scored three goals this season but their 4-1 win over West Ham a few weeks ago was evidence that they may not need him to be at their best.

Maddison was withdrawn at half-time with the score 1-1 before Spurs scored three without him on the pitch. Since then, he started in the defeat to Palace and then began the games with Aston Villa and Ipswich on the bench.

The final straw for Postecoglou may well have been the loss in Turkey to Galatasaray where Football.London reporter Alasdair Gold handed him a 4/10 match rating and wrote that it 'wasn't the performance to show that he should be starting'.

So, where do Spurs go from here? Potentially a replacement in the transfer market?

Spurs' potential James Maddison replacement

It remains to be seen what Tottenham's priority in the January transfer window is but reports have already emerged suggesting that a pretty penny could be spent on the signing of a new midfielder.

That's according to journalist Christian Falk who reported this weekend that Spurs are battling fierce rivals Arsenal for the signing of Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Larsson. Liverpool are also showing interest and according to prior reports, he could cost in the region of £70m.

So, who is Larsson and what could he offer the Lilywhites? Well, at the moment, the 20-year-old is more of a holding midfield player, someone capable of dictating play from deep. He has registered 1.48 interceptions per 90 minutes, enough to rank him among the top 17% of positionally similar players in Europe's top five leagues.

We know he can break up the play but what does he offer that makes him such a fine Maddison replacement? Well, as data analyst Ben Mattinson suggests, Larsson is "very similar to [Jude] Bellingham".

Why? The youngster stands at a tall 6 foot 2 and like Bellingham, possesses rangy strides that would make him the perfect profile of player to operate as a box-to-box midfielder, someone capable of making late runs into the box to score goals.

As it happens, despite playing deeper in the Frankfurt side, the Swede is already beginning to show signs of being a player who can score goals.

He has scored as many as Maddison this term (3) and ranks highly among midfielders in Europe's top five leagues for plenty of attacking metrics.

Based on the numbers above, there is certainly a reason to believe that as Larsson grows older, he could feature quite prominently in an attacking role as Maddison has done over the last few years.

Spurs already have a number of top young players - chiefly Mikey Moore and Lucas Bergvall - but the Frankfurt ace would sit very nicely alongside them over the years to come.

Tottenham Hotspur are determined to bring back a "Rolls-Royce" player worth £32 million to the club in January, according to a new report.

Ange Postecoglou may already have in his mind what business he would like the club to do in January as he tries to make this 2024/25 season a successful one for the north London side. Spurs suffered a shock defeat to Ipswich Town before the international break, and the Tottenham boss will hope it was just a blip.

Tottenham transfer news

It was reported last week that managing director Johan Lange and chairman Daniel Levy will give the green light for Spurs to be active in the January transfer window. Signing a new defender and a forward are expected to be high on the club's agenda in the new year as Tottenham look to continue on multiple fronts in the Premier League and Europa League.

One player that Spurs are interested in signing is Bournemouth defender Illia Zabarnyi, who has impressed enormously for the Cherries this season. The 22-year-old is now a transfer target for Tottenham, with the Lilywhites prepared to pay the £50 million asking price for the centre-back - but they face competition from arch-rivals Chelsea for his signature.

Zabarnyi is not the only defender that Tottenham have on their radar, as the Premier League side are also interested in signing Tariq Lamptey from Brighton.

Lamptey looks set to leave the Seagulls at the end of the campaign for nothing, so Brighton are looking to move the defender on in January before that happens, with Spurs interested in a deal. But the transfer links do not stop there for the north Londoners, as they also have an interest in bringing back a former player of theirs.

Tottenham determined to bring ace back for £32m

According to a report from Spain, relayed by TEAMtalk, Tottenham are interested in re-signing Harry Winks from Leicester City. Spurs sold the midfielder to the Foxes in July 2023, and he was a key player for them in his first season as he helped them win the Championship title.

Winks, who was labelled a "Rolls-Royce" player by ex-Foxes player Ian Baraclough, has continued to be important for Leicester this season, as he's started 9 of the 10 league games he has played. The midfielder missed just one league game in the 2023/24 campaign, as he was a vital cog in Enzo Maresca's midfield.

The report states that Spurs are "determined" to bring Winks back to north London - and are even thought to be willing to pay €38m (£32m) to sign the midfielder. That would represent a remarkable change of heart, coming at a huge financial cost - all for someone on their books in the relatively recent past.

While a deal - for that price, at least - seems pretty unfathomable at present, if it were to happen, Spurs would be making a net loss of £22m on Winks, as they sold the player for just £10m nearly 18 months ago.

Spurs have been left impressed by Winks’ maturity and the growth he has shown since leaving the club. Postecoglou is keen to add another player to his midfield, and Winks would offer a more box-to-box option that he may be missing so far.

Tottenham Hotspur had hoped to see significant progress this season, but so far, there has been no such rapidity. Ange Postecoglou has implemented an exciting and aggressive style of football, but the holes are many.

With five defeats from 11 matches in the Premier League, there's a lack of backbone about this talented bunch that is costing the fans faith dearly.

The underlying metrics would suggest that Tottenham are one of the most incisive and creative teams in the division, but significant lapses have allowed opponents to take the lead all too often.

The silver lining is that Spurs, who are tenth in the table, have 16 points from 11 top-flight fixtures, which puts the north Londoners within three points of third-placed Chelsea.

Moreover, Postecoglou was hardly hesitant to fix holes last January, signing Radu Dragusin from Genoa for £27m and landing Timo Werner on loan. An impressive deal was also struck in advance for young midfielder Lucas Bergvall, who has earned minutes this year.

There are various issues to address. Let's take a look at just where Postecoglou and Daniel Levy might opt to strengthen.

Last summer, Guglielmo Vicario joined Tottenham in a deal initially worth £17m from Italian team Empoli, and he's yet to miss a minute in the Premier League.

Even so, questions marks linger, namely around the 27-year-old's ability to deal with set pieces, his aerial command. Still, he's still an excellent goalkeeper, and won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

Transfer rumours concerning Pedro Porro have abounded in recent weeks, with Real Madrid particularly keen on the Spaniard if they are unable to entice Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Porro hasn't quite been at his best this season, though Postecogolou persists in playing him higher up than perhaps he'd like. Even so, the dynamic defender won't be going anywhere during this season's midpoint.

Another to have fallen off a proverbial cliff, Cristian Romero has yet to blend smoothness with fierce aggression, as he has done so well since joining from Atalanta in a £42m transfer back in 2021.

It's a matter of when, not if, the Argentine will be back at the top of his game though. Spurs must hold onto him with steel-strong fingers.

One of the most athletic and awe-inspiring central defenders across Europe, Micky van de Ven has become a prominent name in the Premier League since signing from Wolfsburg last year.

He's not infallible, but the Dutchman's pace and power have foiled many a hopeful forward across the past year. Let's just hope he can soon put his injury woes behind him.

Last season, journalist Hunter Godson said that Destiny Udogie "gets into nearly every team in the world already." Now, however, the Italian gem, 21, is flattering to deceive.

Branded with a 5/10 match score (by football.london) as Spurs lost to Ipswich, he's in need of a bounce-back. There are also rumours that he's fallen out with his Australian manager having also been singled out for criticism by Dimitar Berbatov following Tottenham's capitulation against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Some competition would be good, and thus, Levy and co must move to sign Patrick Dorgu, who's been riding the crest of a wave with Lecce and is on the London club's radar, with Chelsea and Manchester United also interested.

The athletic and versatile defender ranks among the top 3% of positional peers for goals scored per 90, as per FBref, and could add a wonderful dimension to test Udogie for that number one spot.

Chelsea and Spurs aren't pals at the best of times and transfer dealings between the two teams are few and far between. It can happen though, as with Jude Soonsup-Bell's switch to north London in January 2023, having cut his teeth within the Cobham Academy.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could take that scarcely-trodden path in 2025, with The Daily Briefing revealing that the Chelsea midfielder, who joined from Leicester City for £30m in the summer, is already being pushed toward the exit.

He's industrious and multi-functional and could be the perfect counterbalancing force behind the tried-and-tested duo that we shall look at next.

A revelation this season. Dejan Kulusevski is regarded as Tottenham's most consistent player, and it's a fair claim at that.

Refashioned into a robust and roaming central midfielder after principally playing as a winger throughout his career, the 24-year-old is so important to the success of Postecoglou's system.

James Maddison has ebbed and flowed down at N17, but none can dispute that this is one of the most talented playmakers in the English top flight.

He brings something to the table that no other Lilywhite can match, and when at the top of his game, the England international saunters into Tottenham's starting line-up.

Brennan Johnson scored in seven successive matches for club and country earlier this season, but the Welsh winger still has much to learn.

As such, he could do with some more competition on the right flank, especially now that Kulusevski spends time in the centre. Enter Takefusa Kubo.

Spanish sources - via Caught Offside - have revealed that Tottenham have joined Liverpool in the race for the Real Sociedad winger, who is valued at £50m and hailed for his "special talent" by journalist John Bunting.

Is Heung-min Son starting to show the signs of father time this season? If he is, the club captain is still performing at an elite level, capable of shifting from deadly marksman to all-seeing creator so seamlessly.

Postecoglou has heaped so much praise on his "world-class" talisman, who he also said is the best attacker in the Premier League, and it's hard to envisage an immediate future without the South Korean at the heart of the project.

Tottenham's club-record signing, Dominic Solanke, raised a few eyebrows across the English landscape as he moved from Bournemouth to north London. However, the £65m man is proving to be every bit the physical and commanding focal frontman that Postecoglou wanted.

A dimension has been cast into the equation that simply wasn't there last term, and though he's only scored six goals across 14 appearances, Solanke's got the presence that the club needed.

With a few more tweaks, he could be a key component within a Spurs side that maybe, just maybe, will venture into long uncharted territory and claim a slice of silverware.

Tottenham Hotspur, led in the transfer market these days by managing director Johan Lange, are now prepared to pay the £50 million asking price for a long-term Spurs target.

Spurs injury blows expose light Postecoglou squad

While the north Londoners showed plenty of ambition in the summer window, which included a £65 million deal for Dominic Solanke to end the search for Harry Kane's heir, Ange Postecoglou's squad are competing on quadruple fronts and are currently forced to contend with a few absentees.

Star defender Micky van de Ven has missed their last three games in all competitions with a hamstring problem, giving Radu Dragusin an opportunity to step in for the Dutchman, with Richarlison, Timo Werner and Wilson Odobert also sidelined recently.

It's been a nightmare start to the season for Odobert and Richarlison in particular, who've been forced to watch on from the treatment table over multiple spells out injured this season, and their absences expose a real lack of depth in Postecoglou's squad.

Tottenham let a plethora of players leave N17 in the summer window over what was a serious restructure, but that has left Postecoglou short in some areas. In truth, Spurs' full squad has been stretched to the limit, amid their participation in the Europa League as well as domestic competitions.

Reports in the last week indicate that Lange and chairman Daniel Levy will give the green-light for Tottenham to be active in the January transfer window as a result (GiveMeSport).

Indeed, GiveMeSport suggest that a new defender and wide forward is on the agenda at Spurs, with Dragusin failing to impress when given the opportunity and Tottenham linked with centre-back options.

Bournemouth star Illia Zabarnyi, who has impressed alongside Marcos Senesi for manager Andoni Iraola this season, is rumoured to be a transfer target.

Interestingly, the 22-year-old has long been linked with a move to Spurs, with reports as far back as 2022 sharing their interest in the Ukraine international. It is believed ex-transfer chief Fabio Paratici "wanted to sign" the player during his employment at the club (Ryan Taylor), and that fondness hasn't waned after the Italian's exit.

Tottenham ready to pay £50 million asking price for Senesi

According to CaughtOffside, Tottenham are prepared to meet Zabarnyi's £50 million asking price, but they face stiff competition from Chelsea, who are willing to do exactly the same thing.

Postecoglou's side have been monitoring the 43-cap star's progress for some time, and their willingness to shell out big money on his capture is a real indicator they're seriously impressed by Zabarnyi.

"They are working astonishingly in training," said Iraola on Zabarnyi and Senesi's partnership. "Sometimes I feel unfair towards others, but it’s difficult. Marcos and Zaba are putting me in a very tough position since it’s hard for me to give playing minutes to other players.

"They show great ball control. I think Zaba has especially improved his quick decision-making skills while working with the ball. And defensively, they play very reliably, they handle it wonderfully."

A report this week has shared what Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is personally planning for the January transfer window, and supporters can apparently expect some winter activity.

Players linked with January moves to Tottenham

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has been forced to watch on from the touchline as his side endure a stop-start opening to the 2024/2025 Premier League season.

The Lilywhites' results have been very inconsistent lately, with statement wins over Aston Villa and Man City followed up by defeats against Galatasaray and Ipswich Town within this last fortnight.

Postecoglou's side lie tenth in the Premier League table, recording five wins, five losses and a draw from their opening 11 matches, and are set to play Man United in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup on 19 December.

The January transfer window represents a golden opportunity for Levy and technical director Johan Lange to gift Postecoglou the best possible chance of a strong second half to this campaign, with a few interesting players linked ahead of the start of 2025.

This week, Football Transfers reported that Spurs are exploring a January deal for Tariq Lamptey, as Brighton may be inclined to sell the right-back at a cheap price considering his contract expires at the end of this season.

"You look at Tariq Lamptey, and he's a fantastic player, a fantastic right back," said pundit Ian Wright on Lamptey to PL Stories.

"Maybe he's seeing his path to England is blocked. For me, I think that when you look at the player who kept him out of Chelsea, Reece James, and how good he is, you can understand why Lamptey might seek opportunities elsewhere.

Tottenham are also keeping tabs on the likes of Arda Guler (Real Madrid) and other forwards, with Lange and Levy looking to shake things up both defensively and in the offensive phase.

“Arda Guler has great potential," said Montenegro manager Robert Prosinecki on Guler, who could leave the Bernabeu amid his struggles for game time.

"I don’t know if Carlo Ancelotti will give him more opportunities to have the minutes he would like. I can’t say anything about Ancelotti’s decisions; but from my point of view, Arda will get better every day, he will have many more minutes step by step."

What Levy is planning for January transfer window at Tottenham

Amid links to Guler and Lamptey, GiveMeSport have now shared what Levy is personally planning for the January transfer window at Tottenham.

It is believed Spurs are expected to target a defender and wide forward for Postecoglou in the winter, which adds some weight to reports surrounding their interest in Lamptey and Guler.

However, they will have to be "good value" deals, as the prospect of Levy making any big-money signings midway through 24/25 is seen as unlikely at best.

One Tottenham star appears to be finding some joy on international duty, and has been praised for his heroics following some recent criticism from supporters.

Following a disastrous end to their last round of fixtures prior to this break, Spurs face a difficult task in the form of a trip to take on Premier League champions Man City at the Etihad Stadium.

Right now, there hasn't been a better time to play City in quite a while, with the Sky Blues enduring four consecutive defeats in all competitions for the first time in Pep Guardiola's managerial career.

The first of those losses actually came at the hands of Ange Postecoglou, who guided Tottenham to a 2-1 win over City in the Carabao Cup just over a fortnight ago, courtesy of Timo Werner's first goal since March and a brilliant long-range strike from Pape Matar Sarr.

However, if they're to replicate those heroics against a Guardiola side still boasting plenty of quality, they will have to be far better than their last two performances.

Spurs suffered a 3-2 defeat to Turkish champions Galatasaray last week, which arguably flattered Postecoglou, as the home side could have come away with a much greater win considering the chances they created.

That was followed by a dismal 2-1 loss at home to Ipswich Town in the Premier League, with the likes of Radu Dragusin and Pedro Porro enduring nightmares in Tottenham's last match.

Depending on whether Micky van de Ven will be back at that point, who could come back in to replace the former in Postecoglou's line-up, both Dragusin and Porro will need to put in far better shifts.

Another star who was subject to criticism after his display against Ipswich was big-name forward Son Heung-min. The £190,000-per-week forward boasts three goals and three assists from his opening eight Premier League matches this season, but supporters weren't impressed with his performance against Kieran McKenna's side.

Tottenham star Son Heung-min hailed after South Korea heroics

That is according to pundit John Wenham, who told Tottenham News that Son could get a confidence boost from his South Korea performances on international duty.

The 32-year-old scored his 50th goal for South Korea with a penalty against Kuwait on Thursday, leading his country to a 3-1 win in their World Cup qualifier.

“To reach 50 goals for South Korea is impressive,” said Wenham. “It was a penalty on this occasion. However, you still need to score. I never devalue a penalty, they’re still difficult to convert.

“Therefore, hopefully, that will give Son a confidence booster. He was someone who seemed to take a lot of fan criticism for his display against Ipswich. I don’t think it was against him personally, I just think it is because his standards are so high. He is a world-class player, so people expect a lot of him.”

It's never a good thing to say that the international break has come at the perfect time for your football club, but the international break has come at the perfect time for Tottenham Hotspur all the same.

Ange Postecoglou is trying to whip his talented squad into shape this season but chequered form is preventing Spurs from making headway in the Premier League.

Having been defeated at home against newly-promoted Ipswich Town, who hitherto were winless in the top flight, there's plenty for the craggy-faced Postecoglou to chew on.

He'll need his players to return from international action refreshed and injury-free next week, but he'll still be hoping for some positive performance that could reorient certain struggling players.

How Spurs players are getting on

Cristian Romero has looked out of sorts this season and he won't be feeling any better after Argentina suffered a shock defeat against Paraguay. Albeit, the centre-half didn't have all that much to do, winning his one contested duel and completing 95% of his passes, as per Sofascore, before being withdrawn at the break due to injury.

Guglielmo Vicario and Destiny Udogie's Italy side enjoyed a 1-0 victory over Belgium on Thursday evening in the Nations League, though neither started, the latter introduced for the final 20 minutes.

On Friday, Euro 2024 champions Spain passed a tough test in Denmark and Pedro Porro made his mark at right-back, discernibly deeper than he's used by Postecoglou, something that he clearly favours stylistically.

Over in Asia, Heung-min Son scored as South Korea defeated Kuwait 3-1. Also away from European competition, Yves Bissouma put in a barnstorming display for Mali against Mozambique in his country's African Cup of Nations qualifier.

In a new role, he might just have been the pick of the Lilywhites bunch.

Yves Bissouma thrived in fresh role for Mali

Bissouma sits deep in Tottenham's midfield, controlling and crunching ahead of the defensive partnership, typically Romero and Micky van de Ven. As per FBref, the 28-year-old ranks among the top 4% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 7% for tackles won per 90.

A high-energy player with a shrewd eye for a goal, Bissouma might be as combative as they come but he's also endowed with high-level technicals and was utilised further forward against Mozambique on Friday evening.

Across his five qualifying campaign matches for Mali so far, the £55k-per-week talent has averaged 30 passes per game in the opponent's half, whereas just seven per match in his own.

There's perhaps something in that for Postecoglou, who could operate with Bissouma in front of the number six in a kind of roving role. He's robust and dynamic enough, for sure, having won eight duels, completed four dribbles and picked up the crucial assist in Mali's 1-0 triumph.

Tottenham Hotspur have really put their fans through the wringer so far this season.

One moment, the North Londoners put three past Manchester United at Old Trafford, and then the next, they hand Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town their first Premier League wins of the season.

Ange Postecoglou has certainly brought back the entertaining style of football that Spurs fans used to pride themselves on, but he hasn't been able to iron out the inconsistencies that could ultimately cost him come May.

However, it's not entirely his fault as he's got to work with the players he has, and some of them, like Radu Dragusin, just don't appear to be good enough, so Daniel Levy and Co should look to bring in a replacement in 2025, a player they could get for free.

Dragusin's season so far

Now, the first thing to say is that while Dragusin has been generally quite poor so far this season, he's obviously not the sole reason that Spurs have struggled in games, but he certainly hasn't helped either.

For example, on his European debut for the club against Qarabağ FK, a game which should have been a relatively easy one for the club, he managed to get himself sent off before ten minutes were played.

Fortunately, his teammates put in an impressive showing and came away with all three points and, in turn, protected him from what could have been a considerable level of backlash had they lost with ten men.

Unfortunately, he was much more at fault for the loss to Galatasaray last week, as he once again made countless foolish fouls, took a poor touch that led to Victor Osimhen's first goal and generally looked out at sea in what was an extremely hostile environment.

It's not just been in Europe where the former Genoa ace has struggled either, as he was notably poor against Ipswich Town in the Premier League last weekend as well and received a paltry 3/10 match rating from respected Spurs writer Alasdair Gold.

Overall, it's hard to see Dragusin improving much as the season progresses, so it would be wise for Levy and Co. to look for an upgrade, and the good news is that they have already been linked with one.

The impressive defender who could replace Dragusin

So, while there are undoubtedly a whole host of talented defenders that Spurs could work on bringing to North London next year, one in particular would be an excellent addition to the team: Jonathan Tah.

The good news is that, according to a report from the Boot Room earlier this week, the club are interested in the German ace and have already talked with intermediaries about a potential deal.

However, it gets even better, as the 28-year-old's surprisingly small £45k-per-week contract is set to expire in the summer, meaning he'll be available for free and will be able to sign a pre-agreement with non-German clubs from January.

With all that said, why would the Bayer Leverkusen ace be a great signing?

Well, the first big bonus is that, as well as being 6 foot 5, which should help him adapt to the physical nature of the Premier League, the Hamburg-born "battleship", as dubbed by former teammate Christoph Kramer, is vastly experienced.

Across his career, the defensive titan has made 20 appearances for Hamburg, 23 for Düsseldorf, 370 for Leverkusen, who he helped win a league and cup double last season, and has won 32 caps for the German national team, so it's unlikely that there would be any situation in a Spurs shirt that would see him overawed and make silly mistakes akin to Dragusin last week.

Finally, he's no slouch with the ball at his feet, either.

According to FBref, which compares players across Europe's top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, the German ace sits in the top 1% of centre-backs for pass completion, the top 6% for total shots, the top 11% for touches in the opposition's penalty area and the top 14% for attempted and progressive passes, all per 90.