Inside Futbol

Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank has pointed out that Newcastle United forward Nick Woltemade helps the Magpies with their link-up play by dropping down the pitch.

Eddie Howe’s side went into the market to sign a striker and picked up Germany international Woltemade by paying a fee in the region of €90m, which Michael Ballack referred to as an insane figure.

Woltemade was brought in to replace Alexander Isak, who joined Liverpool for a British transfer record fee, and has quickly made the Magpies fans forget all about the Swede.

Since his arrival, 23-year-old Woltemade has been excellent for Newcastle and has netted five goals in ten league games so far, and his team-mate Malick Thiaw thinks that his quality is indisputable.

Frank is of the view that Woltemade and Isak are two different type of players and admitted that the German has so far done very well for the Magpies.

The Tottenham boss pointed out that Woltemade offers physicality to Newcastle’s attacking department and added that the forward often drops down into midfield to help the team with his link-up play.

Asked at a press conference about Woltemade stepping into Isak’s shoes, Frank said: “They [Isak] are two different players, but Nick Woltemade has done very well.

Game Competition Newcastle United (A) Premier League Brentford (H) Premier League Slavia Prague (H) Champions League Tottenham’s next three games

“He has got the physicality, but he also offers something different.

“He is also good at dropping down to link the game for them.

“That is why he offers something a little bit different.

“The way he attacks the box, I think he does very well.”

Woltemade scored at the weekend against Everton in Newcastle’s 4-1 victory at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and now on Tuesday, Eddie Howe will once again rely on him to find the back of the net against Tottenham.

The forward was brilliant during the last international break, where he netted three goals against Luxembourg and Slovakia and Germany legend Lothar Matthaus commented that the striker brings good vibes, which can prove important when Germany are playing in big competitions.

Despite the 23-year-old’s performances, Newcastle this season have been inconsistent with their results and displays.

Howe’s side have though managed to register two wins in a row for the first time in the league this season by defeating Manchester City and Everton in recent games.

Newcastle have not lost to Tottenham Hotspur in their last four meetings at St James’ Park and they are also undefeated in their last four competitive games against them.

Alex Pantling/Getty Images

A permanent move away for Luka Vuskovic from Tottenham Hotspur is unlikely as the Croatian is considered a key player for the future at the club, according to football.london.

The teenager came through Hajduk Split’s academy back on his home soil and showed his high ceiling with his performances.

Two years ago, Spurs signed him, but he did not join the Premier League club until this summer, with loan spells in Poland and Belgium.

One former striker stressed that going to Spurs this summer could be too early for him, and the north London club loaned him out to Bundesliga club Hamburg after he arrived in England.

His brother Mario Vuskovic is also at Hamburg and is banned from playing until next November; the teenager admitted how badly he wanted the move to the Bundesliga club after he joined them.

Vuskovic can enjoy a full season at Hamburg, as Spurs cannot recall him in January, unless two of Tottenham’s centre-backs pick up serious injuries.

The 18-year-old central defender has been a regular starter for Hamburg, impressing with his performances in Germany.

Country Croatia Poland Belgium Germany Countries Luka Vuskovic has played in

Vuskovic’s performances have attracted a lot of attention and German giants Borussia Dortmund have shown interest in him recently.

Spurs, though, are not ready to entertain the idea of agreeing to a sale for the Croatian and a permanent move away for the teenager is unlikely.

It has been suggested that personnel at north London club consider the teenager a top prospect and see him as a future star at the club.

He received plaudits back in Belgium as well, as Westerlo’s vice president admitted the club, where Vuskovic was on loan, were dreaming about keeping him.

The 18-year-old’s contract does not expire until the summer of 2030, which puts Spurs in a secure position about keeping hold of the talent.

Spurs are sure to be keeping a keen eye on his performances in Germany, but they may still have to deal with attempts from the country to keep Vuskovic in the Bundesliga.

The club are likely to assess whether another loan is needed when they take a look at him next summer over the course of pre-season.

Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank has insisted that striker Randal Kolo Muani is ready to face Fulham this weekend, but stressed he needs to find the right balance to keep Spurs sharp in the coming weeks.

The London-based club suffered their first defeat of the Champions League league phase, going down 5-3 in France against defending champions Paris Saint-Germain earlier this week.

It was Tottenham’s second defeat in the space of three days, after the loss to Arsenal, which even saw one former Spurs star declare he is not the right man to take the club forward.

However, there were positives to take away from Paris and one of those was Kolo Muani, who produced a superb performance.

He scored twice for Tottenham, along with providing an assist, and Frank admits he liked what he saw from the loan striker.

Frank has no doubt that Kolo Muani put in the best performance of his short time at Tottenham so far and stressed if called upon he is fit enough to start against Fulham.

The Danish boss though is clear that with the games coming thick and fast, he has a real coaching challenge on his hands to keep the sharpness and freshness in the team.

Game Competition Fulham (H) Premier League Newcastle United (A) Premier League Brentford (H) Premier League Tottenham Hotspur’s next three games

“Yes, he would be fit enough to start against Fulham again”, Frank said at a press conference (8:57).

“I think he performed well. It was obviously his best performance, not only because of the two goals and the assist, but the overall performance, the pressing game, the energy and the touches. I liked that from him.

“That is the challenge that we are facing, that we are embracing, that away to Arsenal, three days later, away to PSG, three days later home to Fulham, three days later away to Newcastle.

“So how can we find that perfect balance of energy, intensity, freshness, the right structure and relationship on the pitch.

“That’s a nice coaching challenge, let’s put it that way.”

Whether Kolo Muani will get the vote to face Fulham remains to be seen as Frank may want to save him for the trip to Newcastle United on Tuesday.

Tottenham have already visited Newcastle this season, in the EFL Cup, and produced a tame display as they lost 2-0.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Fixture: Paris Saint-Germain vs Tottenham Hotspur

Competition: Champions League

Kick-off: 20:00 UK time

Thomas Frank has picked his Tottenham Hotspur lineup to lock horns with Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes this evening.

Spurs were thrashed in the north London derby at the weekend and Frank came in for big criticism for how he approached the game.

He had vowed his side would create chaos against Arsenal at the Emirates, but they were set up defensively from the off.

The display was so bad that it even led one former Tottenham star to write off Frank’s reign and judge him not the right manager for Spurs.

Frank will now switch his attention to European matters, with PSG on the agenda.

Tottenham have won two and drawn two of their Champions League league phase games so far and that has left it uncertain whether they will make the top eight.

PSG would consider it to be something of a disaster if they do not make the top eight and they will be motivated to beat Spurs at the Parc des Princes tonight.

Tottenham have Guglielmo Vicario in goal against the French giants, while at the back Frank goes with a five of Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Archie Gray and Djed Spence.

Midfield will be a key battleground tonight and Frank looks towards Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr and Lucas Bergvall, while the attack is led by Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani.

The Spurs boss will likely need to make use of his bench at some point and his options tonight include Destiny Udogie and Xavi Simons.

Tottenham Hotspur Lineup vs Paris Saint-Germain

Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Gray, Spence, Bentancur, Sarr, Bergvall, Richarlison, Kolo Muani

Substitutes: Kinsky, Austin, Danso, Palhinha, Simons, Ugodie, Kudus, Odobert, B Davies, Scarlett, Thompson, Williams-Barnett

Julian Finney/Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank has highlighted the qualities that make Randal Kolo Muani a likeable player for him, talking up the Frenchman’s strengths.

The French international is currently on loan at Tottenham from Paris Saint-Germain, but injury disrupted his start in north London.

Frank revealed who caused Kolo Muani a dead leg in training, but now that he is back fit he has already impressed one former Tottenham star, who feels he can become a real player for the club.

Kolo Muani will hope for a run of games in the team at Tottenham to start to make his mark and Frank admires his qualities.

Now Frank has pinpointed the reasons behind his love for the PSG loanee, insisting that he loves Kolo Muani’s link-up play, his ability to run in behind and also his skills in one-versus-one situations.

“Randal, I like his link-up play”, Frank said at a press conference ahead of Tottenham’s Champions League match against Kolo Muani’s parent club PSG.

“I think he’s very good at that and his ability to run in behind.

“His one-vs-one and he’s also good in the box.”

Player On loan from Joao Palhinha Bayern Munich Randal Kolo Muani Paris Saint-Germain Tottenham Hotspur’s loan stars

Frank also took time to throw light on his team’s strategy of taking risks, insisting that in the upcoming matches, they could become bolder; there was criticism of how Tottenham approached the loss at Arsenal.

“I think we do [take risks]. We could [take] more.

“We should do all we can to create more chances.

“That is what we’re working on.”

Following Tottenham’s dismantling by Arsenal at the weekend, ex-Spurs defender Ramon Vega criticised the boss, insisting that he is not the right man for the Lilywhites.

Frank will be looking for his side to provide a response in the Champions League tonight, but doing that at PSG will be easier said than done.

The match could see Kolo Muani in action, despite the player being at Tottenham on loan from PSG, and if he is involved he will be keen to make an impact against his parent club.

Lewis Storey/Getty Images

Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison has explained that, in his view, Tottenham Hotspur are where they will finish in the league this season, following a damaging loss to Arsenal.

Tottenham have been plunged into an injury crisis that has stripped Thomas Frank’s side of creativity, halted their momentum and exposed the thin margins within the squad.

With players such as Yves Bissouma, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski all sidelined, Spurs have been struggling to find rhythm and Frank’s men have collected only four points from their last five Premier League matches.

Spurs’ latest setback came in a bruising 4-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium against rivals Arsenal, where Eberechi Eze delivered a ruthless hat-trick that reopened old wounds and raised fresh questions about the direction of Frank’s project.

One former Spurs star quickly insisted that Frank is not the right manager for the club.

The defeat leaves Tottenham sitting just ninth in the Premier League table and well adrift of the top five Champions League spots, which the club may well have seen as the key aim for this season.

For Morrison, Spurs’ current position of ninth is simply a reflection of where they will ultimately finish, especially given the number of key absences Frank is contending with.

The ex-hitman says the injuries have stripped Spurs of creativity, adding that Dominic Solanke’s absence has left them without a cutting edge in the final third.

Game Last season’s result Fulham (H) 1-1 Newcastle United (A) 2-1 Brentford (H) 3-1 Tottenham’s next three league games

Morrison said on BBC Radio 5 live: “Tottenham are where I think they will be at the end of the season.

“They are without Maddison and Kulusevski and they need creative players in these kinds of games.

“They miss Solanke too.”

The defeat stings all the more given Tottenham’s failed pursuit of Eze in the summer, when a deal appeared within reach before collapsing as the midfielder opted for Arsenal instead.

Currently sitting ninth in the table, Frank’s side are heading into a relentless December packed with fixtures.

With a tough trip to St James’ Park, a home clash against Liverpool, and midweek Champions League games, it remains to be seen whether the Lilywhites can steady themselves and push for a finish that secures European football next season.

Without key reinforcements, possibly in the January transfer window to add creativity, Morrison’s claim may soon harden into an unavoidable reality.

Andy Rain – Pool/Getty Images

Fixture: Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur

Competition: Premier League

Kick-off: 23rd November, 16:30 UK time

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur will return from the international break by jumping straight into a north London derby at the Emirates.

Mikel Arteta’s side have earned comparisons to George Graham’s vintage of the 80s and 90s through their defensive parsimony and set-piece dominance. Arteta, nearing six years as Arsenal manager, will also want to have some of the success Graham’s side, league champions in 1989 and 1991, achieved.

Arsenal have won five of their last six Premier League games against Tottenham and lost just once in their last 32, with the reversal coming in November 2010. Arsenal have also scored in each of their last 26 Premier League home games against Tottenham, and have remarkably netted at least twice in each of the last eight.

The Gunners have an excellent defensive record at home, only conceding once in eight games in all competitions at the Emirates Stadium this season, with Erling Haaland netting for Manchester City in a 1-1 draw in September. Arsenal have won their last five at the Emirates, and have a chance to equal a record six wins in a row without conceding, achieved between April and September 2008.

More goals from set pieces, excluding penalties, both overall with ten and as a percentage, 50 percentage, have come for Arsenal than any other side in the Premier League this season.

With Manchester City breathing down their neck, Arsenal will want to keep winning, with memories of the 2023/24 season and especially the 2022/23 campaign, when they led the division for a record 248 days, still fresh in the memory.

Gabriel is out for Arsenal after suffering an injury with Brazil, while Martin Odegaard is nearing a return to action.

Spurs enter the clash joint-fifth with Aston Villa, Liverpool, Bournemouth and Manchester United. Their season has been stop-start, not managing to string together more than two wins in a row, but equally not going more than games without a win.

All three of their losses have come at home, but hearteningly for Tottenham their away record has been stellar, being the only Premier League side to be undefeated on the road with four wins and a draw.

The Lilywhites are also the ones to have conceded the fewest, at 2, set piece goals this season, creating an intriguing game within a game this afternoon.

Thomas Frank might be without Randal Kolo Muani, who fractured his jaw after taking an elbow from Harry Maguire, but can look forward to welcoming Mohammed Kudus back into the side.

Predicted Lineups

Arsenal Tottenham Hotspur Raya Vicario Timber Porro Saliba Romero Hincapie Van de Ven Calafiori Spence Zubimendi Palhinha Rice Sarr Eze Richarlison Saka Simons Merino Kudus Trossard Tel Predicted lineups

Recent Form (league)

Arsenal: DWWWW

Tottenham Hotspur: DLWLW

Key Men

Arsenal

William Saliba will have to step up and commandeer the Gunners defence in Gabriel’s absence, being the senior partner to Piero Hincapie, Cristhian Mosquerao or Riccardo Calafiori, if Arteta opts to move the Italian in from left back.

Eberechi Eze is in fine nick and can add salt to the injury to the side he was close to joining, before Arsenal swooped into hijack.

Leandro Trossard is the man in form and with Bukayo Saka yet to hit top form, Arsenal will rely on him to break the deadlock and to probe Spurs’ defence.

Tottenham Hotspur

Joao Palhinha has positively surprised since his return to the Premier League and will be key in soaking up pressure. It is also vital that he does not concede any unnecessary set pieces to Arsenal.

Mohammed Kudus leads Spurs for expected assists, 1.3 xG, and chances created, 15, in the Premier League this season, while only Richarlison with 19 has had more shots than Kudus with 17. Kudus is key at keeping hold of the ball on breaks and to mount effective counters.

Mathys Tel might get an unexpected opportunity to start, that is if Frank chooses not to field a masked up Kolo Muani, and can further his own chances of nailing down a starting spot with a strong performance against derby rivals.

Result Competition Arsenal 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur Friendly Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur Premier League Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Arsenal Premier League Last three meetings

Match Prediction

Thomas Frank might be tempted to play three at the back to soak up Arsenal’s pressure and try and win it late on or on the counter.

Frustrating Arsenal might be the strategy to turn to for Frank, given Spurs’ recent struggles to create going forward.

In four of their last five meetings against Arsenal, a Tottenham player has scored an own goal which has given the Gunners the lead.

This Arsenal team can have issues with breaking down opponents when the game is goalless, and Spurs will be wise to avoid any individual errors.

Since the start of last season, Arsenal have won 61.5 per cent of their Premier League matches with Gabriel in the starting lineup, but that win rate drops to 40.0 per cent without him, with a marked increase in the rate at which they draw games.

While Frank might cudgel his brain over how to overcome Arsenal, the Dane’s best chance of obtaining a result from this game might involve relying on counters, pressure from a Manchester City result and a bit of luck, reminding himself of the underdog status he so relished during his time with Brentford.

Inside Futbol Score Prediction

Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Where To Watch?

Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League will be live on Sky Sports Main Event for a 16:30 kick-off in the UK.

Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur talent Jamie Donley has been hailed by Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill, who believes that the Spurs attacker has serious potential.

Donley is a product of Tottenham’s highly rated youth set-up and has played for the club’s senior team, making his debut for the first team in late 2023.

He has four senior appearances for Spurs to his name and last season, he was loaned out to League One side Leyton Orient, where he impressed, clocking close to 3,700 minutes in 52 matches.

The versatile attacker scored eight times, providing eleven assists for the O’s, and he was regularly hailed by Orient boss Richie Wellens, who dubbed Donley a ‘special talent’.

In the summer, though, Championship side Stoke City got him on loan, but he is not a player who has been trusted by Mark Robins with minutes at the Potters.

Donley has clocked only about 77 league minutes, featuring only twice as a substitute in the last 13 matches for the Championship side.

However, on Monday night, Donley scored the only goal of the match between Luxembourg and Northern Ireland, and O’Neill stressed that the Spurs talent was amongst the best players and was excellent on the pitch.

Club Years Tottenham Hotspur 2023- Leyton Orient (loan) 2024-2025 Stoke City (loan) 2025- Jamie Donley’s career history

“They [the players] are pleased to win the game. It was a tough game; we knew it would be”, the 56-year-old told the BBC.

“I thought Jamie Donley was excellent for the period he was on the pitch.

“I thought Ethan [Galbraith] was very strong in the second half, and I thought Ciaron Brown did well and Jamal Lewis back as well.”

O’Neill is convinced that Donley has unquestionable talent, recognising that he is unlucky to have not played a lot for Stoke.

“He is a very talented boy.

“We are delighted to get him when we did.

“It was great, obviously being involved with England underage and having been born here in Northern Ireland, it was nice to get him as part of our group

“He has probably been a bit unlucky not to have played a lot more, but he hasn’t played a lot in his loan period at Stoke.

“I am sure he is disappointed with that.

“He has real talent.

“I see a player who can be a real asset to this squad and can play in a number of positions”, he added.

Cambridge United boss Neil Harris is also a fan of Donley and he said that the 20-year-old has all the pedigree to play in the Premier League.

Now it remains to be seen if his luck will change at Stoke, as he is in desperate need of game time to nourish his potential; Tottenham could look to bring him back from Stoke in January if things do not change by then.

George Wood/Getty Images

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit has advised former Tottenham Hotspur striker Troy Parrott to not consider joining Wolves, but is clear he should look to move in January.

The Dublin-born attacking talent came through the youth ranks at Tottenham and got his first taster of the first team in Spurs’ pre-season Asia tour in 2019, which he admitted made him hungry for more.

Mauricio Pochettino was clear that no big pressure should be put on Parrott, while Jose Mourinho then did his best to guide the striker, but he did not break through into the Spurs team.

Parrott joined AZ Alkmaar on a deal worth £6.7m following a successful loan spell at Excelsior, and he has been brilliant for the Dutch side.

However, the current international break has given him an exceptional amount of limelight as he has had a couple of incredible games for the Republic of Ireland.

Parrott scored twice against Portugal in a 2-0 win last week and scored an incredible hat-trick against Hungary at the weekend to send Ireland to the playoffs for the next World Cup.

His fairy tale week has brought him a lot of attention and Premier League strugglers Wolves have been credited with an interest in the former Spurs man.

Club Years Tottenham Hotspur 2019-2024 Millwall (loan) 2020-2021 Ipswich Town (loan) 2021 MK Dons (loan) 2021-2022 Preston North End (loan) 2022-2023 Excelsior (loan) 2023-2024 AZ Alkmaar 2024- Troy Parrott’s career history

Legendary former footballer Gullit feels that it is a perfect opportunity for Parrott to cash in on his brilliant form and make a move in the winter window.

“He needs to cash in on this now. He’s 23 years old — it would be good for him, but also for AZ”, Gullit said on Dutch broadcaster Ziggo Sport about Parrott (via Voetbal Primeur).

However, Gullit strongly advised Parrott to avoid Wolves and choose a top-half side to take his career forward in a positive way.

“He shouldn’t do that [make a move to Wolves].

“He needs to go to a club in the top half, especially for his own development.”

Wolves are currently stuck in a rut, as they sit rock-bottom in the Premier League, and are hoping to get going under their newly appointed boss Rob Edwards.

It remains to be seen if Parrott will be coming back to England and the Premier League.

That could see him go up against former club Tottenham.

Parrott’s contract is valid until 2029 at AZ Alkmaar and he has scored 33 goals for them in 61 games.

Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Former Aston Villa midfielder Karim El-Ahmadi believes that Villans attacker Donyell Malen is the Netherlands’ best winger option ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s Xavi Simons and Liverpool’s Jeremie Frimpong.

The Dutch talent came through Ajax’s academy before he was picked up by Premier League giants Arsenal, where he impressed in their academy; Ajax did battle to hold on to him.

However, he left the north Londoners without playing for their senior team and made a name for himself at PSV Eindhoven and Borussia Dortmund.

Malen joined Aston Villa back in January on a deal worth £21m from the German giants, but has not been able to establish himself as a first-team starter under Unai Emery.

On Monday night, he started for his country against Lithuania on the right wing and scored in a 4-0 victory for the Dutch.

Ex-Villa star El-Ahmadi feels that Liverpool summer arrival Frimpong would not work alongside Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries on the right-hand side.

He also feels that Simons, who joined Spurs in the summer window, is not a good option to play out wide; one former Dutch star recently insisted that Premier League defenders have worked out how they can stop the attacking midfielder.

Club FC Twente Feyenoord Al-Ahli Aston Villa Al-Ittihad Clubs Karim El-Ahmadi played for

The 40-year-old dubbed Malen a ‘weapon’ and made it clear that, with Memphis Depay playing as the frontman, the Aston Villa attacker complements him the best.

“I do think he’s the best option”, El-Ahmadi said about Malen via Dutch outlet Voetbal Primeur.

“Frimpong and Dumfries together won’t work. And with Simons, it won’t work either.

“Malen inside, I think he’s a real weapon.

“You also see Memphis getting the ball very often. Then others have to get into that space, and if anyone can do that, it’s Malen.”

The 26-year-old attacker recently admitted that it was not easy for him to adapt to the Premier League, but he insisted that he has been doing the right things consistently.

With the World Cup looming next summer, Malen will want to do all he can at club level to make sure he is a vital part of the Netherlands group.