Inside Futbol

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A Tottenham Hotspur star’s agent has weighed in on his client’s future amid interest from clubs and a lack of regular game time in north London.

With the January transfer window now rapidly approaching, clubs are increasingly finalising their transfer plans and Tottenham may have to deal with approaches for some of their players.

Eyes are firmly on the players that Ange Postecoglou has been relying on regularly and those suffering on the sidelines.

Italian heavyweights Juventus and Napoli are focusing on Spurs defender Radu Dragusin, who has clocked just 279 minutes of football in the Premier League this term.

The pair are exploring a move, but Dragusin’s agent is clear that moving in January is not in his client’s thoughts, with a hint dropped that if the situation continues through to next summer then there may be a rethink.

“It’s an honour for Radu to be wanted by teams like Napoli and Juve, but at the moment they are just rumours”, Florin Manea told Telecapri (via Tutto Mercato).

“We are focused on Tottenham, he still has five years left on his contract.

“It’s not easy to go to a top club and make an impact right away, he’s still 22 years old.

“If he never plays this year it’s normal that other evaluations will be made; he won’t move in January, in June we’ll evaluate.”

Despite Manea’s words, Italian sides could still test the water for the centre-back when the January transfer window opens and hope to tempt him with game time.

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German side 1.FC Nurnberg are eyeing making a profit on loan star Stefanos Tzimas, who is on the radar of Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.

The 18-year-old forward joined Nurnberg on loan from Greek side PAOK Salonika in the summer and they have an option to sign him in the summer for €18m.

Tzimas has found the back of the net five times in nine 2. Bundesliga outings for Nurnberg so far this season, catching the eye in the process.

Now, according to German magazine Sport Bild (via Fussball Transfers), Tzimas’ form has three Premier League sides on his trail.

Tottenham, Newcastle and West Ham are all keen on the Greek attacker.

As such, Nurnberg are plotting to trigger the purchase option for Tzimas and then sell him on.

They would pay PAOK Salonika the agreed fee of €18m and then look to sell the 18-year-old on to an English club for a fee in excess of €20m.

He has been capped by Greece up to Under-21 level and came through the youth set-up at PAOK Salonika.

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A club have stepped up the frequency of their contacts over a deal to land one of Tottenham Hotspur’s stars when the January transfer window swings open for business.

Spurs were busy in the summer window, but they did not add another centre-back and Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero remain the first choice pairing when fit.

Radu Dragusin is also on the books at Tottenham, but he has struggled to displace either Van de Ven or Romero.

He has played of late due to the absence of Van de Ven due to injury, however Italian sides have taken note of his situation in north London.

Italian giants Juventus and Napoli are admirers of Dragusin’s talents and want to sign him in January.

Now, according to Italian outlet Calciomercato.com, Juventus are picking up their contacts over a deal and they have become intense.

With Juan Cabal and Gleison Bremer out of action with a long-term injury, Thiago Motta is keen to bring in defensive reinforcements.

The Tottenham centre-back was part of Juventus before he joined Genoa and he has four senior appearances for the Bianconeri to his name.

Juventus know what the 22-year-old can do and are exploring what would need to be done to bring the Romanian back to Serie A.

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Leigh Bromby has picked out a Leeds United star he feels is clearly lacking in confidence at the moment after he saw him up close on Saturday at Elland Road.

Daniel Farke’s men eased to a 2-0 win over QPR in the Championship thanks to goals from Jayden Bogle and Joel Piroe.

Farke also handed a start to winger Manor Solomon, who has struggled to nail down a spot in the Whites’ side following his loan move from Tottenham Hotspur.

Solomon’s performance against QPR failed to impress Bromby, but he pointed out that it is natural for the Tottenham star to not be at his best after being out of action with injuries for a long period of time.

He stated that the winger is lacking in confidence and added that the Spurs loanee displayed reluctance to take on QPR players one-on-one during the game.

“I think you need to appreciate that coming back from injury and being out for so long does take time”, Bromby said on BBC Radio Leeds.

“There are not many players that bounce back, particularly attacking players from serious injuries when they are out for a long period.

“I am not sure what his pre-season was like; I am not sure whether that was something he did.

“He does look lacking confidence; he does look lacking like he wants to go 1v1.”

Solomon has made eight appearances for Leeds so far but has yet to register his name on the scoresheet this season

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Former top flight striker Glenn Murray believes that Tottenham Hotspur conceding first for the 13th time in 15 home matches in the Premier League this year is unacceptable not just for Spurs, but for any other Premier League team.

Tottenham’s third defeat in the last five matches came against Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town on Sunday, as Kieran McKenna’s men claimed a 2-1 victory.

One statistic which came to light after the game was it was the 13th time in 15 home league games that Tottenham had let in the first goal.

Murray, a former Premier League striker, insists that it is completely unacceptable from any top-flight team to have that statistic, let alone a team of the stature of Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham.

Referring to Tottenham’s 4-1 win over Aston Villa, yet another match where they conceded first, Murray told the BBC: “I saw Spurs dismantle Aston Villa in that second half and you thought it’s their opportunity to kick on against Ipswich Town at home next.

“But this is so like Postecoglou’s Spurs – they conceded first for the 13th time in 15 home league matches in 2024.

“That is unacceptable from any Premier League team – never mind from a club of the stature of Tottenham.”

The result against Ipswich came just after Tottenham’s first Europa League defeat at the hands of Galatasaray in midweek.

It further increased pressure on manager Postecoglou, whose team sit tenth in the Premier League table.

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Former Premier League defender Frank Leboeuf is of the view that Tottenham Hotspur have two defenders who should be leading on the pitch and stopping Spurs doing stupid things.

This season Tottenham have been inconsistent and former players have criticised Ange Postecoglou’s team for being defensively vulnerable.

On Sunday, Spurs suffered a 2-1 defeat at home against Ipswich Town and are currently in tenth place in the Premier League table, with real questions being asked about their top four credentials.

Leboeuf is of the view that experienced players like Cristian Romero and Pedro Porro should shout instructions to their team-mates during the game to stop players from making stupid mistakes and organise the defence.

He stressed that Romero, with his experience, should be leading Tottenham and added that he should help his team-mates in tough on-the-pitch situations by guiding them with his knowledge.

“18 months ago, when he [Postecoglou] came to Spurs, he changed dramatically the way Spurs were playing”, Leboeuf said on ESPN FC.

“They were mostly playing defensively but offensively; it was like a show and it was entertaining and we loved it but it was not enough.

“It is not enough right now but the players, especially some players like Romero I would say or even Porro, experienced players they should deal at some point and say, come on guys we are going to start defending, so you come back, you come back, you stop your stupid things which you know is going nowhere and not defending… You have to organise something.

“It is an intuitive sport and players from the back, especially experienced players, have to deal with situations and right now I am sorry, Romero, he has the experience for that; he should be the leader and people should listen to him.”

Tottenham are set to face Manchester City after the international break and it remains to be seen whether they will be able to bounce back with a win.

Veteran broadcaster Richard Keys has insisted that Tottenham Hotspur fans might have to accept that Spurs will never win a trophy.

Tottenham have often been criticised for their lack of lethal nature when it comes to winning silverware and they have not won a trophy since 2008.

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou was bullish at the beginning of the season about winning a trophy in his second season at the club but their form this term has been majorly inconsistent.

They suffered their first Europa League loss of the season against Galatasaray last week and on Sunday they lost 2-1 to Ipswich Town.

Keys stressed even though Spurs fans have the state-of-the-art Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to watch their team play at, they might just need to accept that their club are never going to win any trophies.

“I think Tottenham fans might have to accept they are never going to win another trophy”, Key said on beIN SPORTS after Tottenham’s defeat against Ipswich.

“They have got a fabulous stadium to play football in and occasionally they will enjoy watching their team in.”

Postecoglou’s side have two difficult games remaining this month after the international break, where they will face Manchester City in the league and Roma in the Europa League, and it remains to be seen if Spurs will finish the month on a high note by getting positive results in them.

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Journalist Henry Winter thinks Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou playing a high line when he does not have Micky van de Ven at his disposal is ‘madness’.

Postecoglou’s side took a big step back in the Premier League on Sunday when they were beaten 2-1 on home turf by Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town.

Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap fired Ipswich into a two-goal lead by the break and though Tottenham pulled a goal back with around 20 minutes left, through Rodrigo Bentancur, they could not find a leveller.

The win is Ipswich’s first of the season and pushes them just above the relegation zone heading into the international break.

Tottenham were without defender Van de Ven for the game, with Radu Dragusin partnering Cristian Romero in the heart of defence.

And Winter thinks that keeping the same high line approach without Van de Ven in the side was madness on the part of Postecoglou.

“It’s madness for Tottenham to play that when they haven’t got someone as quick as him [Van de Ven] to get them out of trouble”, Winter said on talkSPORT’s Sunday Session after the game finished.

Tottenham now have to wait until after the international break for the chance to get back to winning ways, with a trip to Manchester City next up in the Premier League.

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Tottenham Hotspur could ‘shake up’ their goalkeeping department if a young option becomes available, according to journalist Alan Nixon.

Spurs have had an inconsistent season so far, with good performances and results punctuated by losses, a pattern which continued on Sunday when they were turned over 2-1 by Ipswich Town in the Premier League.

Ange Postecoglou’s side lost in the Europa League in midweek against Galatasaray and the Australian boss picked Fraser Forster between the sticks.

Guglielmo Vicario was back in goal for the clash with Ipswich, but Tottenham could ‘shake up’ the department.

They are keen on Ivory Coast goalkeeper Yahia Fofana to come in and push Vicario and scouted him this weekend as his side Angers played Paris Saint-Germain.

Angers are prepared to sell the 24-year-old for a fee in the region of £15m.

He would fit the bill for Tottenham to come in and shake up the goalkeeping department for Postecoglou.

However, Fofana has interest from another Premier League side in the shape of Brentford, who could themselves launch a swoop.

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Fixture: Tottenham Hotspur vs Ipswich Town

Competition: Premier League

Kick-off: 14:00 UK time

Tottenham Hotspur have named their starting line-up and substitutes to welcome Ipswich Town to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Premier League this afternoon.

Spurs saw their winning run in the Europa League brought to an end on Thursday night when they went down to a 3-2 defeat at Galatasaray in Turkey.

Boss Ange Postecoglou will be keen for a return to winning ways and three precious Premier League points ahead of the international break this month.

Richarlison is out of action due to a hamstring issue, while Micky van de Ven, Wilson Odobert and Mikey Moore are also not available for Postecoglou.

Guglielmo Vicario is between the sticks for Tottenham, while at the back they go with Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Radu Dragusin and Destiny Udogie.

In midfield, Spurs go with Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr, while Dejan Kulusevski, Brennan Johnson and Heung-Min Son support Dominic Solanke.

If Postecoglou wants to shake things up then he has options off the bench that include James Maddison and Timo Werner.

Tottenham Hotspur Team vs Ipswich Town

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

Substitutes: Forster, Spence, Davies, Gray, Bissouma, Maddison, Bergvall, Werner, Lankshear