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Tottenham Hotspur enjoyed a splendid summer transfer window where Daniel Levy brought in some exciting talents through the doors at White Hart Lane, and as the North Londoners enjoy the new recruits donning the Lilywhites badge, the chiefs at Hotspur Way have already been pondering about their transfer blueprint for 2025 intervals.

And Spurs could raid Spanish giants Real Madrid for talented star Arda Guler in the upcoming winter transfer window.

Tottenham to explore loan move for Real Madrid’s Guler

TNT Commentator Ian Darke believes that Tottenham may look to sign Turkish midfield maestro Arda Guler on a possible loan transfer in the January transfer window if the Real Madrid sensation becomes available on the market. The former Fenerbahçe midfielder has been subject to links with a move to Tottenham after having started only three of the previous eleven (11) games in the Spanish top tier for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

Ian Darke, in an exclusive interview with Tottenham News, revealed how the 19-year-old is getting frustrated about his game time at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and how the North Londoners can take advantage of the opportunity.

He said:

“Guler would be a fantastic pickup for Tottenham – he’s a very good young player. He just can’t get in the Real Madrid side because they’ve got Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Mbappe. He shone at the Euros and he’ll be frustrated that he doesn’t get on the pitch very much at all. I see Real Madrid a lot. But whether they’d let him go in January, I’m not sure.

“Once they clinched the title last season they gave him a run of games, and he interestingly came up with a flurry of goals. If you’re talking about signing some class, he’s definitely that.”

With the lack of creative output from James Madison in the ongoing 2024/25 season, Ange Postecoglou may look to bring in a creative midfielder in the winter window as he looks to play vertical football, and another player with an attacking mindset would do the Australian’s side ample of good.

Arda Guler is an acclaimed talent, and Tottenham could benefit a lot from having him in the ranks for the second half of the season.

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Do you think Tottenham should look to test waters with Real Madrid for a possible Arda Guler transfer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Their latest comeback win over Aston Villa sees Tottenham continue their “two steps forward, one step back” approach.

One of their biggest vulnerabilities flagged up under Ange Postecoglou is their inefficiency on set pieces. However, one club correspondent believes things are looking better in that department this term.

Alasdair Gold praises Tottenham’s set-piece record in defence after Aston Villa win

Speaking recently on his official YouTube channel, Tottenham’s correspondent for Football London, Alasdair Gold, discussed among other things the team’s set-piece record.

“Tottenham has only conceded two set-piece goals this season, a significant improvement over last year.

“When defending Villa’s set pieces, they handled the pressure well—except for one unlucky bounce.”

The Lilywhites’ win over the Villans last weekend has taken them to seventh in the Premier League table—two points behind Chelsea (fourth), Arsenal (fifth), and Villa themselves in sixth, all of whom are on 18 points after ten games.

There’s more to it

Talking about Spurs’ defensive solidity in set pieces after a game in which they conceded off a set piece is brave, to say the least. Chalking the concession off as “one unlucky bounce”, additionally, is very charitable.

Tottenham have conceded few goals from set pieces thus far, yes, but under Postecoglou since the start of last season, they have been one of the most vulnerable sides from dead-ball situations, while simultaneously being one of the least threatening teams from them. A not insignificant part of this is down to the fact that Postecoglou is not someone particularly keen on having comprehensive set-piece coaching, something his rivals have been doing consistently in order to gain that marginal edge.

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Still, they haven’t conceded too many from set pieces this season, which is a good sign given they’re in the second season under the 59-year-old, but things will become trickier as the season progresses and long-term physical and psychological fatigue hampers player concentration, and if Postecoglou’s comments are anything to go by, we should expect Tottenham to continue conceding from set pieces in the coming months.

Son Heung-min is set to stay at Tottenham until 2026

There have been significant injury issues for Tottenham Hotspur to deal with already having only just entered November.

Son Heung-min has already been on the sidelines twice this season. He has dealt with hamstring and thigh issues with just 10 games done and dusted in the Premier League. The South Korean forward returned to the squad from injury against Aston Villa on Sunday.

The 32-year-old started the game, but minutes after assisting Brennan Johnson’s equalising goal, Ange Postecoglou decided to take him off in the 55th minute to manage his fitness. Son Heung-min was left frustrated with being substituted, especially after he had played a key role in helping the team get back in the game against Aston Villa.

On Monday, reports suggested that Spurs plan to trigger a one-year option in Son’s contract that would extend his stay at the club beyond this campaign. Ex-Spurs scout Bryan King feels the South Korean staying at the Hotspur Way for another year would be hugely beneficial for Postecoglou and Spurs.

Son has been one of the pillars at Spurs over the years, scoring goals, making assists, creating chances, leading the team, mentoring young talents and entertaining the fans. He has been a fabulous servant for Tottenham since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen back in 2015, establishing himself as one of the greats in the club’s history books.

Following Harry Kane’s big-money move to Bayern Munich in 2023, the onus of scoring goals for the Lilywhites consistently fell on the shoulders of Son and he didn’t disappoint, netting 17 goals in 35 Premier League appearances during the 2023/24 season. The £190,000 per-week star is capable of performing at a high level despite turning 32, and therefore, it is not rocket science that our club would like to extend his stay until 2026.

-> Ex-scout doubts winter Tottenham move for £30 million rated Premier League striker

Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin has been linked with a move away from the Premier League heavyweights owing to difficulties getting consistent game time under his belt.

The 22-year-old Romanian defender moved to White Hart Lane in a highly anticipated deal from Italian side Genoa as the North Londoners jumped through the eleventh-hour hijack attempt from Bayern Munich. Dragusin’s transfer was expected to add quality and depth to the Lilywhites; however, he hasn’t had opportunities to don the Spurs badge on a consistent basis, which has fuelled rumours linking him with the Tottenham Way exit.

Now Dragusin’s agent, Florian Manea, who has been giving interviews about every week, has spoken about the latest situation and speculation surrounding his client and potential rumours about Tottenham’s exit with Italian giants Juventus linked with a move for the 22-year-old.

Dragusin agent denies Juventus rumours

Radu Dragusin gave a splendid performance against Manchester City, and following that up with another strong display against Aston Villa at the weekend, now the Romanian international would be hopeful that his recent performances will earn him more minutes, especially with Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero serving the sidelines.

And that is exactly what his agent relayed while denying any speculations linking Radu with a move to Juventus.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with TuttoJuve, Florian Manea was quizzed about whether Radu Dragusin can return to the Italian top tier with Juventus, where he said:

“He’s coming off a great match against Manchester City, now he’s focused on the rest of the season. He wants to do well with Tottenham. I learn about it from the Italian newspapers, I honestly don’t know anything about it (transfer rumours.) With Juventus As far as I’m concerned, there have been no contacts. As always, the final say in these cases will be up to the club he belongs to, but the boy is happy here at Tottenham.”

Radu finally has an in-road at White Hart Lane and an opportunity to make a place for himself in Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham, and he would be looking to grab it with both hands.

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Cristian Romero suffered a foot injury during Tottenham’s 4-1 win over Aston Villa

Tottenham Hotspur earned their fifth Premier League win of the season by beating Aston Villa 4-1 at home on Sunday. They comfortably outclassed Unai Emery’s side in the second half and moved to seventh in the Premier League standings.

However, the three points at the weekend came at some cost for Spurs as both Cristian Romero and Richarlison were forced off with injuries in the second half of the game. After the match, Ange Postecoglou addressed the injury situations of both the South Americans, conceding the concerns but staying cautious about details until further checks are made.

Cristian Romero was subject to a reckless moment against Villa, where he barged into Morgan Rogers with the score tied at 1-1. He picked up a yellow card for his offence and also hurt himself following the challenge on the Villa attacker, which ultimately led to him being substituted as Ben Davies came on in central defence.

As per a report from the reliable Argentinean outlet TyC Sports, Romero has set off “alarm bells” in the South American nation with suggestions that he might have suffered a serious injury. They claim the pain the defender experienced while walking off the pitch could be a bone injury to the toe on his right foot.

Ex-Spurs scout Bryan King feels a potential serious injury to the 2022 World Cup winner would be a massive blow for Big Ange and his team. However, he feels no conclusion on the extent of the injury can be drawn as of yet as it is still too early.

Romero is a very strong player and him leaving the field in discomfort at the weekend isn’t encouraging for what is to come. In reality, there was no need for the Argentinean to dive into the challenge on Rogers, who had given Villa the lead. His erratic action whilst for the team not only saw the referee book him but also pick an injury which has the possibility to be a serious one.

Big Ange and our Spurs fans are facing an anxious wait to see how long they will be without the central defender. The injury to Romero has come at a very bad time, with his centre-back partner Micky van de Ven also sidelined due to a hamstring issue.

-> Tight wage structure hindered Tottenham from signing England international who Postecoglou wanted

This leaves the north Londoners thin at the back, leaving Big Ange in a spot of bother ahead of games against Galatasaray and Ipswich Town.

It is not easy to say no to Barcelona when they come calling. The Spanish giants have a lure when it comes to signing players, which very few other European clubs have and more often than not, players would love to join the Catalan club and jump at the prospect when the opportunity comes knocking.

However, as per the words of Tijjani Reijnder’s father, that is exactly what he did, after talking to Deco. The Dutchman’s father has claimed that the Spanish club were looking at a replacement for Sergio Busquets but he told his son that he was not that profile and that he shouldn’t consider a move to the Spanish club.

This important career decision means that the €30m-rated Dutchman is now a mainstay at AC Milan and arguably the first name on the team sheet. He has established himself as one of the best midfield conductors in Europe and as per Caught Offside, he finds himself in the radar of Premier League clubs like Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.

The missing piece in Ange’s puzzle?

One of the stark observations of Tottenham Hotspur so far this season is that Ange Postecoglou is yet to identify the perfect way to balance out his midfield. So far this season, he has chosen to operate with two defensive-minded midfielders and one #10 or two #10s and one holding midfielder.

Neither system has worked well for the Aussie tactician so far, due to the profile of players available. If Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison play together in midfield, there isn’t enough defensive cover. If two of Pape Matar Sarr, Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur play together, there isn’t enough chance creation.

What the Tottenham midfield lacks currently is a natural defensive midfield conductor. The Lilywhites need a player who can control the pace and tempo of a game – someone who understands when to speed up a phase of play and when to slow it down and someone who can create from deep.

AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders perfectly fits the bill. He is the kind of midfielder that the Tottenham squad is crying out for. Pairing him with one of Bissouma, Sarr or Bentancur and one of Maddison or Kulusevski as a trio could transform the balance of Spurs’ midfield.

The stats tell you a story!

Reijnders has played nine games for Milan so far this season, in the Serie A, of which eight have come as a starter. He averages 71 minutes per game and has scored one goal, but that is not the stat we are looking at.

The 26-year-old averages one key pass per game and boasts of a passing accuracy of 92% in a team that isn’t gifted with a lot of technical players. He averages 46.9 touches per game, which is among the higher echelons for AC Milan and is a number that would increase if he played for a better team.

Reijnders also averages 1.9 long balls per game at an impressive accuracy of 81%. He is not the flashiest passer going around but that is not what you expect from a conductor. Instead, Reijnders is an expert at dictating the pace at which a game should flow.

The Dutch midfielder puts up some impressive numbers in the defending aspect too. He averages 0.8 interceptions, 0.1 tackles, 0.2 possession won in the final third, 2.9 balls recovered and 0.6 clearances per game. He is also dribbled past less than once per game.

Reijnders uses his fairly decent dribbling ability to get out of difficult situations in midfield and averages 1.1 per game with an accuracy of 56%. He also wins 1.4 ground duels per game. All these numbers point to a well-rounded midfielder who can conduct but also defend adeptly.

Snap him up, Tottenham

Don’t think twice, Daniel Levy! Snap him up before it’s too late. Reijnders has all the abilities to be a top-class conductor for a possession heavy side. Tottenham love to have the ball and are one of the sides with the highest possession in the Premier League (2nd behind Manchester City).

Tottenham are a few pieces away from forming the perfect jigsaw. Ange has done an incredible job and disappointing for the odd loss here and there, the team has been playing some nice football.

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Going forward, getting someone like Reijnders would be perfect for Tottenham. Let’s wait and see how the transfer saga plays out in the upcoming transfer window(s).

Eyebrows were raised when Tottenham Hotspur forked out £40m to land teenager Archie Gray from the English second tier following his antics for Leeds United as Daniel Levy acted swiftly to land his signatures from under Brentford’s noses in the eleventh hour.

And while he has not enjoyed consistent minutes under his belt at White Hart Lane, the 18-year-old has been impressing the coaches at Hotspur Way behind the scenes as Leeds ace Patrick Bamford reveals how Archie had been surprising people at N17 and how he also broke a record in his early days in North London.

Bamford praises Gray’s exceptional fitness levels at Spurs

Only months into his spell with his new employers, Archie Gary has kept the supporters on the edge of their seats when he takes the field and has shown flashes of the immense potential that convinced Tottenham to invest heavily in him. Now, Bamford has revealed that Gray is very impressive with his fitness.

The former Chelsea forward goes on to reveal that the teenager is class apart when it comes to endurance and fitness, as the 31-year-old revealed that Gray set a new record for the VO2 max test at Hotspur Way when the teenager initially moved to the N17 last synonym.

Bamford, speaking on My Mate’s A Footballer podcast, said:

“The epitome of a fit midfielder is Archie Gray. That guy is a freak. An absolute machine. When he went to Tottenham, I texted him and asked him how it was going. And he said that the one thing they might struggle with is kind of coping with the demands in training and fitness levels.

“And then he did the VO2 max test. You basically put some kind of mask on that measure, and you run on a treadmill until a threshold, until you can’t keep that pace any longer.

“And whatever the record was beforehand, he absolutely smashed out of the park. And afterwards, they were just like, Yeah, I don’t think fitness is going to be an issue.”

Ange Postecoglou likes his players to be on the front foot and always running, be it pressing or recovering, and he would love to have an engine of Archie Gray in his squad.

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What are your early takes on Archie Gray given how limited you have seen of him in Tottenham colours? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero has been subject to ample criticism owing to his faulty performances for the North Londoners in the ongoing campaign. The Argentine World Cup winner is regarded as one of the best defenders in Europe; however, he has barely lived up to his reputation in the 2024/25 season, which has come under fire from pundits and supporters alike.

While the former Atalanta defender struggles to make an impact at White Hart Lane, the Lilywhites have Radu Dragusin rubbing his arms to gain some minutes under his belt donning the Spurs badge and prove his credentials. Tottenham signed the Romaninan defender in a £26.7m (€31m) deal from Italian giants Genoa after the Romanian international chose to move to N17 over Bayern Munich in January 2024.

Despite the headlines that the move acclaimed, the player hasn’t been given enough opportunities to back those headlines for the North Londoners. However, that has changed off late with Micky van de Ven’s hamstring injury, which has given the 22-year-old an opportunity to prove his worth.

And the Romanian international has been impressive in the last two games, i.e., against Manchester City and Aston Villa. He is a physical presence who likes to dictate play with the ball at his feet and isn’t afraid to make his presence known. His confidence will only rise from those performances, and extended minutes under his belt will give him an opportunity to establish himself in the Spurs last line.

Can Dragusin replace struggling Romero?

Journalist Rob Guest thinks the same; he insists that Radu can replace Cristian Romero in the Tottenham lineup given how impressive the 22-year-old has been in the past couple of games.

Speaking on the latest episode of Gold & Guest Talk Tottenham, Rob Guest said:

“I think Dragusin, I thought he was brilliant against City, and I thought he was really, really impressive again against Villa. He just needs this run of games because he’s moved from Genoa, where he’s playing week in, week out. One of the best defenders, a center-back in Serie A, and it’s just not quite happening for him at Spurs because he’s got two really good defenders in front of him. in Van de Ven and Romero.

“He’s going to play a lot more this season because of the return to Europe and the run in the Carabao Cup. But it’s the Premier League where you want to be playing week in, week out. And I mean, you could maybe make a case for Dragusin starting over Romero.

“When you look at the form over the past few months, but when he’s come in, apart from the Carabao game when he got sent off after, what, seven minutes? He’s been dependable, and he’s just someone you want in your area because he’s so good in the air. He can head the ball really well, and I think he can be a big weapon for Spurs in terms of the corners as well. I’ve been really impressed with him.”

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Do you think Radu Dragusin can displace Romero in Spurs starting eleven? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Tottenham smashed Aston Villa 4-1 at home on Sunday

James Maddison reached 50 Premier League goals on Sunday with a sensational free-kick in Tottenham Hotspur’s 4-1 win over Aston Villa.

Having come on as a second-half substitute, the playmaker curled in a free-kick past the hapless Emi Martinez in stoppage time to seal a memorable deal for Spurs, making him the 137th player to reach a half-century of goals in the Premier League.

Ange Postecoglou had decided to axe James Maddison from his starting XI against Villa, with the creative midfielder having to be content with a place on the bench. Son Heung-min returned to the team after recovering from injury, with Postecoglou opting for a trio of Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski as his midfield options for the game.

And the Greek-Australian coach’s team selection was justified as Tottenham were rampant in the second half, thanks to goals from Brennan Johnson, Dominic Solanke and James Maddison. Following the win, the north London outfit moved to seventh in the league standings.

However, it was not all rosy in the first half as Spurs trailed through Morgan Rogers’ 32nd-minute goal. Big Ange’s pep talk at the break saw a different Tottenham side emerge from the tunnel, with Maddison revealing our gaffer remained composed when addressing the team.

Tottenham have scored four at home for the second time in five league games this season. They have also scored three goals thrice in the league this season, beating Brentford 3-1 (home) and Manchester United 3-0 (away) but capitulating 3-2 at Brighton and Hove Albion after being 2-0 up at half-time.

This tells Big Ange’s side are facing no problem in scoring goals. He has enough creative and attacking players at his disposal to blow teams away, even if the team is trailing 1-0 at half time. Knowing there are quality players at the top end of the pitch gives our gaffer confidence and allows him to motivate them rather than going berserk at half-time team talk.

-> Tight wage structure hindered Tottenham from signing England international who Postecoglou wanted

It is at the other end of the pitch where Spurs’ actual concern lies, with defending from set pieces an area where vast improvements are required. If Big Ange and his coaching team can tighten up the screws at the back and improve the structure when defending set-pieces, Spurs would be a different animal to come up against.

Son Heung-min set to stay at Tottenham until 2026

Son Heung-min has been one of the pivotal figures in the Tottenham Hotspur squad over the years.

Since signing from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee of £22m in the summer of 2015, he has gone on to score 165 goals and register 87 assists in 417 appearances across all competitions for the north London outfit thus far.

The South Korean international was named the club’s captain after veteran goalkeeper Hugo Lloris departed for MLS side Los Angeles FC last summer. Following Harry Kane’s big-money move to Bayern Munich in 2023, the onus of scoring goals for the Lilywhites consistently fell on the shoulders of Son Heung-min and he didn’t disappoint, netting 17 goals in 35 Premier League appearances during the 2023/24 season.

The latest contract that the 32-year-old penned back in 2021 is all set to expire at the end of the ongoing campaign (Transfermarkt). However, according to a report from The Telegraph, Son Heung-min has a clause in his existing deal which allows Tottenham to extend his stay in north London by another 12 months. The club will need to inform him before activating the clause and they intend to do just that.

Should Spurs trigger the clause, the South Korean’s stay at White Hart Lane will go beyond 10 years. During his time in north London, the versatile forward has become one of Tottenham’s greats of all time. Son has scored goals in double figures in every season excluding his debut campaign and is now the Premier League’s third-highest scorer with 123 goals to his name—among active players in the league behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy.

Son has endured an injury-hit start to the new season, even though he has registered three goals and as many assists in seven league fixtures. The Spurs skipper returned in Tottenham’s 4-1 win over Aston Villa at home on Sunday after missing the last three games due to injury.

The forward created the assist for Brennan Johnson’s equalizer before being subbed off in the 55th minute to almost everyone’s bewilderment including his, with Ange Postecoglou explaining his decision to protect his star after a recent injury.

-> Ex-scout doubts winter Tottenham move for £30 million rated Premier League striker

Even now at the ripe age of 32, Son’s importance to Ange Postecoglou’s plans has been highlighted since his return from injury. The club’s decision behind the scenes to trigger a one-year extension in his contract speaks volumes about their unwavering faith in one of the most gifted players in the Premier League over the past decade.