Inside Futbol

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Tottenham Hotspur believe ‘internally’ that their new proposal to Santos for exciting left-back Souza will meet the expectations of the Brazilian side, with Spurs ‘optimistic’ that the deal can finalised before the January window closes.

Souza made his debut for Santos in 2024, making eight appearances in Brazil’s Serie B as an understudy to Gonzalo Escobar.

After the club secured promotion in the same season, Souza was afforded a more prominent role in the side, going on to make 29 appearances.

Souza has inevitably drawn attention from European clubs, with Chelsea and Barcelona said to have explored a move for the teenager in November 2024.

A lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia was also said to have been on the table for Souza at the same time.

Though nothing came of the links in 2024, Spurs are now keen and looking to make a move to snap up the promising left-sided player.

Thomas Frank has had recurring issues with the position, as Destiny Udogie remains injury prone while Ben Davies, who can fill in at left-back, is ageing and French side Nice are keen.

Davies, who has made only three appearances for Spurs this season, has his Tottenham contract expiring at the end of the season.

Spurs have solidified their interest in Souza, and tested the waters by submitting a €10m bid, which was immediately rebuffed by Santos, with the suggestion being made that an offer in the region of €12m to €15m will be required to land the left-back.

Tottenham then received encouragement from the player, with Souza said to ‘like the option’ of playing for the north London outfit.

Spurs returned with a second offer, closer to the figure demanded by Santos of €15m, but with the figure made up with add-ons rather than a fixed amount.

Santos were said to be analysing the bid, and it has emerged that ‘internally’ Spurs believe their proposal will be sufficient, according to Brazilian outlet Torcedores.

Tottenham are also said to be ‘optimistic’ that Souza can be unveiled in Spurs colours within the month.

Spurs have already sanctioned a number of outgoings, with Kota Takai loaned out to Borussia Monchengladbach, while Fiorentina can count upon the services of Manor Solomon as they seek to avoid the drop.

Yang Min-hyeok has been loaned out to Coventry City to aid with their promotion bid, while the sale of Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace has swelled Spurs’ coffers by £35m.

Mason Melia has been the sole incoming, but the teenager is seen as one for the future rather than an immediate starter for the first team.

Frank will hope to conclude the business for Souza as soon as possible, with domestic and European campaigns left to tackle in the second half of the season.

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Fixture: Bournemouth vs Tottenham Hotspur

Competition: Premier League

Kick-off: 19:30 UK time

Thomas Frank has picked his Tottenham lineup vs Bournemouth for this evening’s Premier League clash between the two sides on the south coast.

Frank continues to struggle to win over many Tottenham fans and a 1-1 draw at home against Sunderland last time out will have done little to help his case.

With Ruben Amorim just having been sacked by Manchester United, while Enzo Maresca was let go by Chelsea, Premier League sides have proven to be trigger happy.

Frank has insisted he is completely aligned with the club, playing down any thoughts of the kind of split which cost Amorim his job.

The Tottenham boss is focused on trying to improve the players he has, but stressed there is a fine balance as he looks to rotate and keep stars fresh.

Xavi Simons is back available for selection after a suspension.

Off the pitch, Tottenham are trying to be active in the transfer market and are bidding for Santos talent Souza.

Tottenham were turned over 1-0 by Bournemouth in August and were beaten by the same scoreline on the south coast on their last visit to the Cherries.

Bournemouth will head into tonight’s game having not won since late October.

Guglielmo Vicario is in goal in the Tottenham lineup vs Bournemouth, while in defence Frank goes with Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence.

Controlling the midfield battle is likely to be key and Frank picks Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur, while Lucas Bergvall and Xavi Simons support Mathys Tel and Randal Kolo Muani.

If the Spurs boss needs to change his Tottenham lineup vs Bournemouth in the 90 minutes then he has options from the bench to call for and they include Richarlison and Kevin Danso.

Tottenham Hotspur Lineup vs Bournemouth

Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence, Bentancur, Palhinha, Simons, Bergvall, Tel, Kolo Muani

Substitutes: Kinsky, Dragusin, Danso, Richarlison, Gray, Odobert, Davies, Scarlett, Williams-Barnett

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Tottenham Hotspur have submitted a second bid for Santos’ young left-back Souza, who is awaiting the next steps as the Brazilian club evaluate the offer.

Thomas Frank is looking for reinforcements after selling Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace for a £35m fee; Johnson snubbed moves to Bournemouth, Everton and Sunderland.

He has identified the left-back position as one needing reinforcement and the search has taken the club to the Brazilian shores.

Santos teenager Souza is a player of interest and the London club have gone a long way in their pursuit of the player.

Their initial bid of €10m was knocked back by Santos, who are looking for more to let go of someone they feel is a top prospect.

Santos have been fully expecting Tottenham to come in with a fresh offer, with Souza keen to make the move to Spurs.

Now, according to Spanish journalist Eduardo Burgos, a second bid has indeed gone in and ‘is being analysed’.

Left-back option Destiny Udogie Djed Spence Micky van de Ven Archie Gray Ben Davies Tottenham Hotspur’s left-back options

The proposal is worth a total of €15m to Santos, but that amount is made up with add-ons.

Santos, on their part, want the €15m to be paid to them as a fixed amount, with add-ons added on top of that sum.

The Brazilian giants are also keen to make sure they can include a sell-on clause in the agreement with Spurs.

It now remains to be seen what Santos’ final response to Tottenham’s offer is as they continue to analyse it.

Tottenham are looking to get the deal done to bring Souza in this month, but with talks continuing, may well be wary of another side coming in to try and hijack the deal.

The London club could soon have one option in the full-back position reduced, with Ben Davies drawing attention from French club Nice.

Frank does have a number of players who can operate a left-back, with Djed Spence, Destiny Udogie, Archie Gray, Davies and even Micky van de Ven capable of operating in the role.

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Tottenham Hotspur target Souza ‘likes the option’ of playing for Spurs and his club side Santos are waiting for the north London outfit to return with a new bid.

Spurs boss Thomas Frank is looking for reinforcements to be added to the mix this month after sanctioning the sale of Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace.

They have identified the left-back position as an area to invest in and Santos full-back Souza has caught their attention.

Tottenham have already tabled a €10m bid to take the player to England from Brazil, but that bid has been knocked back by Santos, who feel it undervalues Souza.

There are busy days up ahead, though, with the London club set to return with yet another offer which could be almost double the last one, according to Spanish journalist Eduardo Burgos.

There is also fresh encouragement for Tottenham from the player’s end, as Souza ‘likes the option’ of playing for Spurs.

He is pleased with the project that Tottenham have presented and likes the idea of living in London and playing in the Premier League.

Star Destiny Udogie Djed Spence Ben Davies Archie Gray Tottenham Hotspur’s left-back options

The news will be a boost for Spurs as convincing the player will be seen as half the battle.

Now though a fee must be agreed with Santos who are awaiting the new proposal from the Premier League side.

Tottenham have been going through busy days in the January transfer market, having also sanctioned several loans.

Kota Takai has headed to Borussia Monchengladbach, delighting the German club.

Manor Solomon has also been sent out to Fiorentina, where he has vowed to keep the club in Serie A.

Julian Finney/Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur target Souza ‘likes the option’ of playing for Spurs and his club side Santos are waiting for the north London outfit to return with a new bid.

Spurs boss Thomas Frank is looking for reinforcements to be added to the mix this month after sanctioning the sale of Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace.

They have identified the left-back position as an area to invest in and Santos full-back Souza has caught their attention.

Tottenham have already tabled a €10m bid to take the player to England from Brazil, but that bid has been knocked back by Santos, who feel it undervalues Souza.

There are busy days up ahead, though, with the London club set to return with yet another offer which could be almost double the last one, according to Spanish journalist Eduardo Burgos.

There is also fresh encouragement for Tottenham from the player’s end, as Souza ‘likes the option’ of playing for Spurs.

He is pleased with the project that Tottenham have presented and likes the idea of living in London and playing in the Premier League.

Star Destiny Udogie Djed Spence Ben Davies Archie Gray Tottenham Hotspur’s left-back options

The news will be a boost for Spurs as convincing the player will be seen as half the battle.

Now though a fee must be agreed with Santos who are awaiting the new proposal from the Premier League side.

Tottenham have been going through busy days in the January transfer market, having also sanctioned several loans.

Kota Takai has headed to Borussia Monchengladbach, delighting the German club.

Manor Solomon has also been sent out to Fiorentina, where he has vowed to keep the club in Serie A.

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has emphasised that it is essential for players to feature consistently and build confidence, ahead of this evening’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth.

Spurs sit 13th in the Premier League with 27 points from 20 games under Frank, while the north London side have also kept their Champions League hopes alive, occupying eleventh place after six matches with knockout stage qualification well within their grasp.

The left-wing position in particular remains unsettled at Tottenham, with Frank having tried several players in the role, including Brennan Johnson, who recently moved to Crystal Palace, Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert, among others.

Mathys Tel started in that position against Sunderland at the weekend and showed promising glimpses, though not enough to make a decisive impact as the match ended 1-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tel has been looked at by Italian sides for this month’s transfer window, with his lack of regular game time noted.

Frank addressed the challenge of rotating players in positions without a settled starter, specifically focusing on the left-wing role.

He explained that there is a fine balance between giving certain players the trust to play consecutive games to build rhythm and improve their performance, and selecting the right combination of players to suit the tactical approach of the opposition.

The Danish tactician acknowledged that Tel made a positive contribution against Sunderland, but stressed that the priority remains on maintaining overall team balance, ahead of his side facing Bournemouth tonight.

Player On loan to Manor Solomon Fiorentina Kota Takai Borussia Monchengladbach Min-hyeok Yang Coventry City Tottenham’s loan exits in January

Frank said at a press conference (11:22): “I would say that he [Tel] definitely had a positive impact. Let’s see what will happen against Bournemouth.

“There is also that fine balance of giving some players the trust for a run of games, so that maybe, hopefully, they can find a bit of rhythm and also increase their performance level, and then the tactical approach of the opponents, which players fit to that, and getting the right mix and balance in the team.

“But Mathys in general was positive.”

Tottenham face Bournemouth tonight, followed by an FA Cup clash with Aston Villa on Saturday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Frank expected to rotate his squad to keep players fresh across two games in four days.

The Lilywhites will be looking to extend their three-match unbeaten league run as they aim to climb the table.

The Danish tactician will also be hoping for support in the January transfer window to strengthen his squad and boost Spurs’ push for a European spot, with the team currently just four points off the top five.

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Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank has emphasised that, whether as a head coach or a manager, titles carry little weight and that success depends on close collaboration across the club, amid Manchester United‘s sacking of Ruben Amorim.

Frank was appointed head coach of Tottenham in the summer, arriving from Brentford to succeed Ange Postecoglou following a campaign in which the Lilywhites finished 17th in the league, despite securing Europa League glory.

His time at Brentford began in 2016 when he joined as assistant head coach alongside Richard O’Kelly, before being promoted to head coach two years later, a role he held until his departure in 2025.

Amorim recently expressed a desire to be treated as the manager rather than just the head coach during a press conference at the weekend, shortly before he was dismissed by the Red Devils, with a breakdown in relations with director of football Jason Wilcox.

When asked about the differences between a head coach and a manager, Frank said that, these days, most clubs have a sports or technical director overseeing operations, with someone always above the coach or manager, whether the chairman of the board, the CEO, or other senior leadership.

The 52-year-old made it clear that, regardless of job title, managers do not have full control over spending or decision-making, and it is not simply a matter of opening the club’s coffers and signing players without accountability.

He stressed that success comes from a collaborative approach, with alignment between the head coach, sporting directors, ownership, and leadership, and that while disagreements and competition are inevitable, unity across the club’s leadership is crucial for achieving the best results.

Club Years Blackburn Rovers 1989-1999 Leeds United 1999-2004 Leicester City 2004-2006 Blackpool (loan) 2005-2006 Blackpool 2006 Jason Wilcox’s playing career

Frank said at a press conference (5:01): “I don’t know. I think these days it’s more or less that, at all clubs, there is a sports director or a technical director, or whatever we call it.

“There’s definitely one above you, no matter if you’re a manager or a head coach.

“If you’re manager, I guess it’s the chairman of the board, or what is it, or sometimes the CEO.

“I think there are different constructions in clubs, but most likely, no matter if you’re the head coach or the manager, it’s not like you just got the key for the money box, just opening it and pulling out millions and just buying players and having no responsibility.

“So, for me, no matter what kind of title you have, it always needs to be collaborative between the head coach, the sports director, ownership, leadership, so you’re completely aligned in what you do.

“Then sometimes there will be disagreements. We all push. We’re all competitive, but that needs to be completely aligned.

“And again, that’s where the biggest success you see is coming.”

With the transfer window open, Frank will be eager to ensure his vision is aligned with sporting director Johan Lange at N17, allowing Tottenham to recruit players suited to his system and capable of driving the team forward.

Spurs currently sit 13th in the league table, yet are just four points off the top five in a Premier League season that remains fiercely competitive.

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Tottenham Hotspur were unhappy with Yang Min-hyeok’s lack of game time at Portsmouth and he is now set to join Coventry City for the rest of the campaign, according to journalist Chris Wise.

The South Korean started his career with Gangwon FC, where he made a name for himself as a top prospect for the future.

Spurs identified Yang and quickly paid a fee of around €4m to the South Korean outfit and he came to Tottenham last winter from his home soil.

In the second half of last term, Yang was sent on loan to Championship side QPR and then R’s boss Marti Cifuentes hailed him for his attacking instincts.

Tottenham then sent him on a fresh loan spell, to Portsmouth, in the summer.

However, the teenage winger found it hard to see game time at Fratton Park, as John Mousinho preferred Josh Murphy ahead of him, even though he impressed with his performances during Murphy’s injury absence.

The Pompey boss even hailed him for his performances, stressing why he should feel on top of the world.

However, Yang scored only once following his impressive run in mid-October and now he has left the Fratton Park outfit.

Star Yang Min-hyeok Ashley Phillips Alfie Devine Will Lankshear Jamie Donley Tottenham stars on loan at Championship clubs

It has been suggested that the Premier League club recalled him from his Portsmouth loan on Monday, as they ‘weren’t content’ with the game time he was getting at Pompey.

He played close to 700 league minutes at Portsmouth and now he is set to join promotion hopefuls Coventry City for the second half of the current campaign.

And it has been suggested that the Sky Blues have promised Spurs to deliver Yang more minutes at the Midlands club.

Frank Lampard’s side have been looking to bring in wingers this month and they were hopeful of securing Romain Esse from Crystal Palace.

But now it looks like Tottenham talent Yang is going to be the new Coventry winger; he scored three league goals for Pompey in the first half of the campaign.

Spurs will hope to see the South Korean play week in week out to help the Sky Blues get to the Premier League by the end of the season.

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Newly appointed Vejle Boldklub manager Claus Norgaard has defended his decision not to follow Thomas Frank to Tottenham Hotspur, to instead take up the manager’s role at the relegation-threatened Danish Superliga team.

The 46-year-old, who has previous experience as a full-time manager, had been working as Frank’s assistant at Brentford before Frank was roped in by Tottenham last summer to succeed Ange Postecoglou.

Norgaard was given the chance to follow his manager through the doors of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but he had other ideas in his mind.

He took time off and has now taken the job of boss of Danish Superliga outfit Vejle.

It is not going to be an easy job for Norgaard, who has to pick the team up from the bottom of the Danish top-flight table following a poor first half of the season.

Explaining his decision not to follow Frank to Tottenham, Norgaard insists that he felt the best thing to do was to travel and believes that it did prove to be the best call.

Asked about potentially heading with Frank to Tottenham, Norgaard told Viaplay (via Tipsbladet): “That was the case, and it still is, but given the situation, it was best for me to take the opportunity to travel.

Job Denmark U16s Denmark U17s Denmark U19s Brondby Brentford Tottenham Hotspur Thomas Frank’s managerial jobs

“It will always require making choices and compromises, so I think it was the best solution.

“I have come to the conclusion that I think it was the right thing for me and my family.”

Norgaard’s Brentford boss Frank has been under pressure at Tottenham of late, with one former top flight star insisting that he is struggling with the gigantic stature of the club.

Frank also has a number of Spurs fans who are far from convinced by his appointment, but he recently stressed the side are in a transition period and he can win over disgruntled supporters by winning games.

He will have to do that without Norgaard at his side however.

The new Vejle boss will face his first Danish Superliga game in charge against Fredericia in early February and Frank will surely hope to see him succeed, even if it would make the chance of an early reunion more remote.

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Tottenham Hotspur face needing to improve their offer for Santos star Souza after they had a €10m bid knocked back by the Brazilian side.

Spurs are swinging into action in the January transfer window and have just offloaded Brennan Johnson to Premier League rivals Crystal Palace, bringing in around £35m.

Young defender Kota Takai has been loaned to Borussia Monchengladbach, delighting the German club’s sporting director, while Manor Solomon has vowed to keep Fiorentina in Serie A after swapping Villarreal for the Italians on another loan.

Tottenham also want to do incoming business and they are keen to land Santos’ left-back Souza.

Now Spurs have solidified that interest by putting in an offer for Souza, of €10m, which has been turned down by the Brazilians.

Spurs face needing to improve their offer as, according to Spanish journalist Eduardo Burgos, Santos ‘will not accept’ any offers below €12m to €15m.

Santos are ‘counting on’ Souza and are not keen to offload him, but ‘more offers are expected’ and are likely to test the Brazilian side, who appear to have an idea of the level at which they would do business.

Souza came through the youth set-up at Santos and broke into the first team in 2024.

Left-back Age Souza 19 Gonzalo Escobar 28 Kevyson 21 Vinicius Lira 18 Santos’ left-back options

He helped Santos to a finish of 12th in the Brazilian Serie A last year and further burnished his credentials.

The defender also has interest from AC Milan, who have also tried to reach an agreement to secure his signature.

Tottenham can deploy their superior financial firepower if needed and it may be a question of how badly Spurs want to take the Brazilian to north London this month.

Souza, who is due to turn 20 years old in June, chipped in with two assists and a goal in Brazil’s Serie A last year.

He has been capped by the country at international level, appearing for Brazil’s Under-17s earlier in his career.