Inside Futbol

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One of Tottenham Hotspur’s stars has revealed he is ‘working to be even more devastating’ as he bids to continue to be a difference maker for Ange Postecoglou’s side.

Tottenham built on dumping Manchester City out of the EFL Cup by thumping Aston Villa 4-1 in the Premier League on Sunday.

Postecoglou’s side are hoping to put in a strong tilt at finishing in the top four, but they also have involvement in Europe to think about and Galatasaray away is their next assignment in that arena.

Much of Spurs’ good form this term has been powered by attacker Dejan Kulusevski, who has been a consistent difference maker.

The Swede provided two assists against Manchester City and one against Aston Villa, and he wants to continue being in such red hot form.

Kulusevski though feels he can become even better, even more devastating, and is looking to prove the best is yet to come.

“There’s still a long way to go, but I feel like the best is yet to come”, he told Sky Italia.

“There’s still a long way to go, but I feel like the best is yet to come.

“I’m convinced I can do even better than what I’ve shown so far.

“I want to improve in everything and I’m working to be even more devastating and to make the difference in every game.

“The easy ones, the difficult ones, home and away. Always.”

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Oxford United boss Des Buckingham has insisted that Tottenham Hotspur loanee Dane Scarlett just needed time and he feels that the striker has shown that he can perform.

Scarlett is considered a top talent at the north London club but he has not been deemed ready for the first team yet.

Newly promoted Championship side Oxford United have loaned him for a season and recently the hitman has been amongst the goals.

The young striker scored three goals in his last four league games and Buckingham insisted that the Spurs loanee has shown that he can score on a regular basis.

The O’s boss stressed that Scarlett only needed some time to adapt and he feels the 20-year-old has adapted.

“I think it is the same with all young players, they need time to adapt to new environment, which he finds himself in and Dane has certainly done that”, Buckingham told his club’s media about the Spurs loanee.

“Then it is about drip feeding them in game time because it is a high level [competition], on one that he had not played for a while.

“So, we thought we have done that and when he scored his goal, it gave him that bit of confidence to go on and start and to score on his debut.

“Again, which is what he has done then to come on and the impact he had the other day to get his goal, unfortunately, did not result in three points.

“But it was a great moment for him and for us to show that he can and it is not just a one off now.”

Scarlett will be looking to cement a place in the Oxford United team to show his quality to Ange Postecoglou over the rest of the season.

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Swindon Town boss Ian Holloway has admitted that he is a big fan of the style of football that Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou plays, ahead of meeting the club’s Under-21s.

Spurs Under-21s are having a difficult season so far as they have registered only one win in their last nine all-competition games.

They have drawn both their EFL Trophy games and League Two outfit Swindon are their opponents tonight at the County Ground.

Robins boss Holloway insisted that he is excited to play against a team that play under the influence of Postecoglou’s style of play.

And the Swindon manager kept no secrets about how much he likes ‘Angeball’ and admitted it will be difficult for his side to deal with the young Spurs side.

“Obviously, we are playing the Tottenham youth team, who play Angeball, which is wonderful”, Holloway told Swindon Town’s in-house media before the meeting with Spurs Under-21s in the EFL Trophy.

“I am a big admirer of his [Postecoglou], how he rolls his full-backs in.

“It is a great challenge for me to try and get our team to do that.

“But, I am really looking forward to it; hopefully, we can play well I will see what else I have got in the squad.”

The Robins are currently struggling in League Two and the Spurs side will try and register their first EFL Trophy win of the season tonight.

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Galatasaray defender Davinson Sanchez will have scouts from English and Spanish clubs watching him in action against Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League on Thursday.

Sanchez moved to Turkey from Tottenham only in 2023 and wasted no time in making a big impression with the Istanbul giants, growing his reputation and putting himself in line for a potential return to a bigger league.

The centre-back was linked with a move back to England in the summer where Everton were interested.

However, a transfer did not eventually materialise and Sanchez is still on Galatasaray’s books and is set to play in his side’s next game against Tottenham in the Europa League.

The interest in him has not waned and Sanchez is set to watched from the stands by scouts from multiple clubs, according to Turkish daily Takvim (via Sabah).

Among those who will watch Sanchez are English and Spanish clubs.

Which sides are going to check up on Sanchez is unclear.

The match will be a special occasion for the Colombian international against his former team on Thursday.

It now remains to be seen whether Sanchez is able to prevent Tottenham from registering their fourth Europa League win in a row.

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Tottenham Hotspur are not done and dusted if they want to sign a player they have an agreement for next summer as his will is likely to have a big say on whether or not a deal happens.

In the summer, Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou sanctioned a number of departures, including Emerson Royal, Oliver Skipp and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Giovani Lo Celso also went and for a cut-price fee to Real Betis.

However, the low-cost acquisition came with a price for Real Betis as Spurs have an agreement with the Spanish club to be able to sign Johnny Cardoso for a set price next summer.

Cardoso has become an important part of the Real Betis side since last season and Spurs will be able to trigger a clause which could see them sign the player for €25m, during a set window.

However, whether Spurs do pull the trigger and whether the deal happens depends in large part on the player.

According to Spanish daily Marca, Cardoso’s will is likely to have a big say on if the move happens.

Tottenham could have work to do in order to convince the midfielder to make the switch to north London.

Cardoso has so far made 12 appearances for the Spanish side in the current campaign, being booked once.

A United States international, his contract at Betis runs until 2029.

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Tottenham Hotspur legend Graham Roberts feels Spurs’ 4-1 win over Aston Villa was their best ever result under Ange Postecoglou.

Spurs trailed 1-0 in the Premier League clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium thanks to a Morgan Rogers goal for Villa with 32 minutes on the clock.

A strong response was on the cards from Spurs in the second half though as goals from Brennan Johnson, Dominic Solanke (two) and James Maddison, saw off the visitors.

Postecoglou even took off Heung-Min Son with the score level at 1-1, but it did not stop Spurs from sealing all three points and Roberts was impressed.

He feels that the result was the best Tottenham have had under Postecoglou, while reserving special mentions for Radu Dragusin, Pape Matar Sarr and Dominic Solanke.

“Considering the effort the lads put in the during the week and the injuries in game that was for me our best result in two years under Ange, absolutely superb”, he wrote on X.

“Proud of the lads to a man today and special mentions to Radu today Sarr and Solanke.”

Spurs will now look to build on what is a key win over top four rivals in the shape of Aston Villa.

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Fixture: Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa

Competition: Premier League

Kick-off: 14:00 UK time

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou has selected his team to welcome Unai Emery’s Aston Villa side to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this afternoon.

The Premier League clash brings together two teams who have aspirations of finishing in the top four this term.

Both sides had contrasting fortunes in midweek as Spurs dumped Manchester City out of the EFL Cup 2-1, while Aston Villa were knocked out by Crystal Palace, also by a 2-1 scoreline.

The last meeting between the two happened in March this year at Villa Park and saw Spurs score an impressive 4-0 win.

Tottenham are without defender Micky van de Ven, who has a hamstring strain.

Guglielmo Vicario is Tottenham’s goalkeeper today, with a back four of Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Radu Dragusin and Destiny Udogie in front of him.

In the engine room, Postecoglou goes with Pape Matar Sarr and Rodrigo Bentancur, while Dejan Kulusevski also plays.

Leading the attacking threat are Brennan Johnson, Heung-Min Son and Dominic Solanke.

If Spurs need to make changes then they have options on the bench that include Timo Werner and James Maddison.

Tottenham Hotspur Team vs Manchester City

Vicario, Porro, Romero, Dragusin, Udogie, Sarr, Bentancur, Kulusevski, Johnson, Solanke, Son

Substitutes: Forster, Davies, Gray, Bissouma, Bergvall, Maddison, Moore, Werner, Richarlison

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AC Milan senior advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic has added one of Tottenham Hotspur’s in-form players to the Rossoneri’s transfer wish list..

Spurs made some significant signings in the summer transfer window and were able to see off any interest from other clubs in their important players.

Ange Postecoglou is plotting a successful campaign for Spurs this season and is leaning heavily on his side’s attacking power to make a key difference.

He has so far been able to count on attacker Dejan Kulusevski, who has been in top notch form, scoring twice in Spurs’ last four Premier League games and providing two assists in their recent EFL Cup win over Manchester City.

Kulusevski’s form has not gone unnoticed and, according to Italian outlet Calciomercato.com, Ibrahimovic has placed him on AC Milan’s wish list.

It has been suggested that the north London club would want a minimum of €50m to let their Swedish star go.

Kulusevski is happy at Tottenham and does not appear to be looking for the exit door.

However, former Sweden superstar Ibrahimovic could play a key role to convince Kulusevski to make his decision about coming back to Italy.

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Tottenham Hotspur star Archie Gray has revealed that being a Celtic supporter, the chance to play Rangers at Ibrox will be a special thing for him and he cannot wait for it.

Gray signed for Tottenham only in the summer and has already featured in four Premier League and three Europa League games for them.

Though there are quite a few games Tottenham still have to play in the Europa League league phase and there is one particular game that Gray is keenly relishing.

Spurs are scheduled to play Rangers at Ibrox on 12th December and the game has particular significance for the 18-year-old.

Having supported Celtic while growing up, Gray insists that taking on the Bhoys’ arch rivals Rangers holds special significance.

Gray admits he has attended a clash between Celtic and Rangers and cannot wait to play at Ibrox.

“Definitely [looking forward to the Ibrox game]”, Gray told football.london.

“Especially watching Celtic and supporting them a little bit you always look for the Rangers game.

“The chance to play at Ibrox is a special thing and I can’t wait for it.

“I have been to one [Celtic-Rangers game] and it wasn’t at Ibrox.

“They’re brilliant games and I love them every single time.

“Even on TV they’re just as good to watch.”

Gray switched from Leeds to Tottenham only this summer for a fee worth between £30m and £40m.

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Juventus would like to take Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin back to Italy on loan in the January transfer window.

The 22-year-old centre-back joined Spurs from Italian outfit Genoa in the winter window earlier this year, but he has struggled to break up the partnership between Cristian Romero and Micky van den Ven.

In the summer, Napoli showed interest in taking Dragusin back to Italy, but Tottenham decided to keep hold of him.

Italian sides have continued to note Dragusin’s lack of football and now Napoli have been joined by Juventus in wanting the Romanian.

According to Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport (via AreaNapoli), Juventus are interested in signing Dragusin in January.

The Turin giants would like to snap up Dragusin on a loan deal.

Tottenham are claimed to want to cash in on Dragusin if he goes and would ask for at least €25m to do business.

Dragusin has a contract with Spurs until June of 2030 and it remains to be seen whether he will be joining an Italian side in the winter.