The Independent

The Tottenham board says it has “unequivocally rejected” two expressions of interest in acquiring the club and insisted the Premier League outfit is “not for sale”.

Daniel Levy stepped down from his role as Spurs chairman last Thursday, after being invited to leave the position he had held since 2001 by majority owners ENIC, which is owned by the Lewis family trust.

It led to speculation of a takeover bid for Tottenham, with former Newcastle joint-owner Amanda Staveley repeatedly linked with a move to buy the north London club through PCP International Finance during the past 12 months.

In a statement issued late on Sunday evening, Tottenham’s board confirmed it had “received, and unequivocally rejected, separate preliminary expressions of interest in relation to proposals to acquire the entire issued, and to be issued, share capital of ENIC from (i) PCP International Finance… and (ii) a consortium of investors led by Dr. Roger Kennedy and Wing-Fai Ng through Firehawk Holdings Limited”.

The statement added: “The Board of the Club and ENIC confirm that Tottenham Hotspur is not for sale and ENIC has no intention to accept any such offer to acquire its interest in the Club.”

It was earlier reported that Staveley would issue a statement on Monday via PCP that will clarify her intentions and state she does not plan to put together a bid for Spurs.

ENIC, which is run by the Lewis family Trust, owns almost 87 per cent of Tottenham, but due to the remaining shares being publicly traded, the club is subject to UK Takeover Code.

Former Spurs chairman Levy revealed last year that the club were in talks with “prospective investors” over selling a minority share, although discussions involving Qatar Sports Investments were denied.

In an email to Tottenham Hotspur staff, where new chief executive Vinai Venkatesham acknowledged that Daniel Levy’s departure would come as “a shock to all of you”, there was an insistence “it is very much business as usual”. Such sentiments were undercut by the very fact some people were stopped in their tracks, as well as the messages from elsewhere in the club.

Spurs, it has been insisted, will no longer be so much about business. They’re going to be about “sustained sporting success”.

This was the primary reason that the Tavistock Group, under the owning Lewis family, took the decision out of Levy’s hands. They wanted change. There had also been an awareness of fan unrest. Vivienne Lewis, the daughter of Joe, is now seen as an influential figure.

“Business” is unlikely to be the same again, and that may have influence beyond Spurs.

The longest serving chairman in the Premier League, who was central to its very political economics, is gone. That is more consequential than it sounds. Many of the most senior executives in football, some who would consider themselves friends of Levy, were stunned.

Multiple such sources spoke of how they’d heard of growing tension at the top level of Spurs, that had been bubbling away for years between Levy and ultimate owner Joe Lewis. This came across loud and clear in a statement given by the family to Sky News.

“Generations of the Lewis family support this special football club and they want what the fans want - more wins more often. This is why you have seen recent changes, new leadership and a fresh approach.

“In Vinai (Venkatesham), Thomas (Frank) and Peter Charrington, they believe they are backing the right team to deliver on this. This is a new era.”

If so, the last acts of the old era were a series of insufficient bids for forwards, as the club desperately tried for another attacker in the last days of the transfer window. Some Premier League figures had already long tired of doing business with Levy. “You did a deal once and you never wanted to do it again,” in the words of one source. His previously fearsome reputation in negotiations had long faded. People were just fatigued.

It had even been noted how Spurs were finally willing to spend big money, from new investment, but it was like they didn’t know how to; as if they didn’t know how to go and make a big blockbuster deal happen. This was most evident in a frustrated pursuit of Morgan Rogers. Some close to the situation insisted that one of the other “big six” would have put forwards a huge figure to test Aston Villa’s resolve. Spurs wouldn’t do it without having a sense of a price.

It was viewed as typical of the club under Levy, and all the more ironic given his own fixation on being a “big club”. That often applied to refusing to sell players even when it made sense, and in the appointment of so many “name” managers when they weren’t right for the club. Sources began to believe that “ego” was getting in the way.

And yet such sentiments are directly countered by immense admiration elsewhere, especially for the way Levy bust Spurs into that “big six”. Some of the most senior figures in the Premier League enthuse about how he has done a “brilliant job”, and really like him. That was one huge reason Spurs were brought into the Super League, precisely for his business acumen.

It’s consequently fair to say he splits opinion, just as he does among fans, to go with that distinctive split in the debate about his legacy: the business versus the football; the macro of running a football club against the micro.

The debate around Levy has always been binary, which is all too fitting for an official who has always brought it down to the numbers. That applied to the prioritisation of top four over silverware, the number he would always demand in any transfer deal, the wage ratio, the record revenue, and the trophies.

The latter two are what it really will come down to. The last accounts showed a revenue of £528.4m, already up £209.8m from Mauricio Pochettino’s launchpad season of 2015-16. And yet, amid a wage-to-turnover ratio of just 42%, Levy’s chairmanship only produced two trophies.

On finally winning the second, that Europa League in May, Levy excitedly spoke about that victory being the launchpad for more. He certainly didn’t sound like someone who was about to leave, either in the aftermath of that or his revealing recent interview with Gary Neville.

“We want to win the Premier League. We want to win the Champions League. We want to win.”

Spurs may now do so without him. And, if they do, it might well be put down to this decision.

It should never be forgotten Levy does actually leave Spurs in a better place. Quite literally given their facilities are among the best in Europe. The best players and managers in the world are genuinely wowed when they see the training ground, and then the stadium. What has put them off has been the pay, and what has happened on the pitch, with the two obviously connected.

Giorgio Chiellini notoriously captured the essence of the modern club when describing a comeback defeat as “the history of the Tottenham”. There but never quite enough. Spursy.

They were obviously in a better place but it was no longer the best possible place. Spurs weren’t maximising what they could be.

Given that financial potential, given that London location, the stadium should be talked of as welcoming major trophies more than Beyonce concerts. It was like Levy had become too anchored to a certain way, that had too much power, that was no longer so efficient. Much like his approach to negotiations.

And yet all of that must still be put in a certain context.

When Levy was appointed in March 2001, the Premier League was still a relatively parochial competition, at least in terms of profile. Most of the owners were still local businessmen. It’s now a very different world, with two states owning clubs, and multiple capitalist funds.

Spurs have been central to all of that change. Levy has been a driving figure in Premier League meetings, especially about broadcast revenue debates.

The big question now is whether Spurs will cause further change to this world, whether there could even be a third state given Qatar’s purported interest in buying the club. Industry figures have speculated that much of this activity looks like an institution being readied for a sale, not least in the departure of this one central figure. On the other side, there were at least as many murmurs about the ownership now wanting to bed in and maximise the asset.

The final sentence of Spurs’ statement read: “There are no changes to the ownership or shareholder structure of the club.”

No changes now. But in the future? Industry sources believe there could be a sale if anyone hits the £4bn valuation. The next business will be interesting. It just won’t be the same as before.

Djed Spence doesn’t write down the names of his critics in a little black book, but he certainly remembers them. “I have a mental note of people who doubted me,” he says, “and it does feel good to prove them wrong.”

Like his former manager at Middlesbrough, Neil Warnock, who publicly criticised his commitment and said he’d end up playing in non-league. Spence later tweeted Warnock with that famous picture of himself smoking a cigar as he celebrated promotion to the Premier League with Nottingham Forest.

Or Antonio Conte, who declared Spence was not a signing he personally sanctioned when Tottenham recruited the full-back in a £12.5m deal, and called him an “investment by the club”. The words stung.

“I did really well, got promoted with Nottingham Forest, I’m buzzing, I’m going to sign for Tottenham,” Spence recalls. “So to hear comments like that wasn’t nice, it shatters your confidence. But I’m a fighter. Fast forward, I’m here now, so I’m happy.”

The defender is speaking to a huddle of journalists in a side room at St George’s Park following his first senior call-up to the England squad. He has been here before with England Under-21s, and says he feels at home after being officially welcomed by Thomas Tuchel in a team meeting on Tuesday, ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia. And yet it marks a new achievement unlocked in a career that continues to defy the disbelievers.

Daniel Farke pointed to “professionalism” and “discipline” as reasons Leeds decided not to pursue a permanent transfer after a loan spell from Spurs two years ago. At which point a pattern was developing and it was probably fair to ask the question: does Spence have an attitude problem?

It is easy to see why his slow-moving demeanour might be interpreted as lacking enthusiasm, in stark contrast to his tenacity on the pitch. He walked in here and slouched down on a chair looking a bit like the kid at the back of the classroom. But then perhaps none of those coaches had the personal skills to unlock his talent, or they weren’t willing to try.

Ange Postecoglou’s tough-love approach brought out a positive reaction. Initially, he left Spence out of last season’s Europa League squad. But when he gave out opportunities, the defender grasped them, earning a regular role and appearing in the Europa League final, which culminated in another picture holding a trophy while smoking a cigar, this trophy even bigger than the last.

Not that Postecoglou took any credit. “All I did was say, ‘you’ve earned a shot at it, here it is’, and he’s been brilliant. You know there’s a player there and sometimes you just need certain things to click into gear. The penny drops at different times for different players.”

Spence has delivered some of the best performances of his career in recent weeks under new Tottenham manager Thomas Frank. He is tall and lean with square shoulders and a clever reading of the game, and he used his pace to shut down PSG’s Achraf Hakimi and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in August’s Super Cup final. He was exceptional again as Spurs stunned Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium last month.

Frank is a coach known for his careful man-management, and Spence is already convinced. “He’s been amazing to me, he fills me with confidence. He’s very open and just a down to earth manager. I think he’s going to be amazing for the club.”

Spence has been perfecting the art of the right-footed left-back, the Phil Neville role, and he certainly doesn’t speak like a player who is not fully committed to his craft.

“I feel I’m getting better day by day and that’s down to me staying focused, being a sponge and listening to my coaches and the staff, just willing to learn. I want to be the best in my position and to do that you’ve got to keep working hard and keep taking on advice. You’ve got to do everything to the maximum.”

So his England call-up is hard earned. Spence was in the Tottenham canteen when he got the news and immediately sent an England emoji to the family Whatsapp group, who were eagerly waiting with phones in hand. Growing up in south London, his Jamaican dad was a passionate football fan and his Kenyan mum would take him to every training session, while his three sisters, who include the actress Karla-Simone Spence, are all close supporters of their brother’s career.

The Whatsapp group “went off”, he says. “Everybody was going crazy. After training I went into my car and called my family. It was an amazing moment for us.

“I’m the youngest child so I guess I’m the golden child,” he smiles. “We’re all very close, my sisters, my mum and my dad. My mum supports Tottenham. She has been by my side every step of the way, I can’t thank her enough. My dad the same.”

If football and family are two pillars of his life, the other is his faith. Spence is a practising Muslim, and he will become the first to play for the England men’s national team if he makes his debut.

“I was surprised, really – first ever? It’s just amazing,” he says. “God is the greatest. I pray a lot, I give gratitude to God. In the toughest moments of my life, the darkest moments, I’ve always believed that God has always been by my side.”

Former Arsenal player Thomas Partey is set to appear in court the day before his new team, Villareal, face Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League.

Partey was charged four days after his Arsenal contract expired this summer with five counts of rape against two women. He is also accused of sexual assault against a third woman.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2021 and 2022, while he was an Arsenal player.

Partey had initially been due to appear at the Old Bailey this Tuesday, but the case was adjourned to Monday 15 September without explanation.

Villareal, for whom Partey has made three top-flight appearances as a substitute, then visit Tottenham for their Champions League fixture on Tuesday 16 September. The 32-year-old is likely to receive a hostile reception at the club should he be included in the squad.

The Ghana international was allowed to move to Spain and sign for Villareal under his bail conditions, with his transfer to La Liga met by protests both within Spain and by Arsenal supporters’ groups.

A spokeswoman for Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence, who protested outside his appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in August, said: “We protested outside almost every home game last season because we wanted to disrupt the wall of silence that the club has put up around this issue, and we did that because we want to support our club and feel happy and comfortable supporting our club.”

His bail conditions include that he cannot contact any of the three alleged victims and that he must notify police of any permanent changes of address or international travel.

Partey’s lawyer Jenny Wiltshire previously said he “denies all the charges against him”, adding he welcomed “the opportunity to finally clear his name”.

Tottenham had pushed for Randal Kolo Muani in January. Spurs were looking to sign a versatile forward to boost Ange Postecoglou’s attacking options for the second half of the season only for the Frenchman to reject the chance to move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs ultimately ended up signing Mathys Tel on loan before making that move permanent earlier in the summer. Compatriot Kolo Muani, meanwhile, secured a switch to Juventus at the turn of the year, and the 26-year-old caught the eye in a dysfunctional Old Lady outfit.

Kolo Muani ended the Serie A season with eight goals to his name. He added two goals at the Club World Cup and while Juventus were keen to retain the France international’s services, a failure to agree a deal with PSG opened the door for a move elsewhere. Having failed to lure Kolo Muani to London in the winter, on summer deadline day Spurs secured their man.

It comes at a good time, too. Dominic Solanke missed the 1-0 loss to Bournemouth on Saturday owing to an ankle injury. “I’m hopeful he will be back after the international break,” Thomas Frank said of the striker’s absence against his former employers. Solanke sat out a bulk of Tottenham’s pre-season campaign and there are concerns he could be sidelined for longer. It wouldn’t be the first time a Spurs boss has played down a serious injury *cough* Dejan Kulusevski *cough*.

And with Richarlison’s concerns of his own, Spurs could ill-afford to go into Frank’s debut campaign with two injury-stricken strikers on the books, meaning a move for Kolo Muani made sense. The former Eintracht Frankfurt man joins on a straight loan in what is another smart capture.

He’s a ready-made addition to the frontline, adding experience to a relatively young squad, and is able to provide cover not only as the focal point in attack, but down either flank too. Injuries massively impacted Spurs under Postecoglou last season and the club is keen to avoid a repeat, with the arrival of Kolo Muani swelling Frank’s forward options considerably.

What’s key also, is that he brings variety to this Spurs frontline. Kolo Muani is a powerful runner both on and off the ball, but has the requisite physicality to his game that means he is able to shine as the lone frontman. Whether a ball is played in behind the opposition backline or Spurs opt to go direct, Kolo Muani is a thorn in the side for defences and this multi-functionality grants Frank greater tactical flexibility in the final third.

Combined with the permanent signings of Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons, Spurs have a revived attack that blends a number of key traits to ensure Kolo Muani is a success at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Fans have quickly been won over by Kudus, who brings that dynamism that was found wanting on the flank. Simons, meanwhile, is a marquee signing, worthy of taking on the number 7 shirt vacated by club legend Son Heung-Min following his departure for LAFC.

The young Dutchman is able to pry apart staunch backlines, and with a keen eye for a defence-splitting pass; a forward line that was heavily disrupted due to injuries last season is suddenly reinvigorated. With Kulusevski also due back before too long, Frank has ample top quality attacking options of which to utilise.

And for a head coach of Frank’s ilk who looks to tinker with his system depending on the calibre of upcoming opposition, Kolo Muani provides versatility to the way with which the Dane can set his side up. Indeed, Kolo Muani’s best season with Eintracht came in the 2022/23 Bundesliga season, where he ended the campaign with 15 goals and 11 assists. In that time, then-Eintracht boss Oliver Glasner favoured a 3-4-2-1 setup with the France international leading the charge, and doing so impressively.

In this system, Kolo Muani flourished with the freedom to drift across the attack with those in support reaping the rewards from the Frenchman’s desire to pull to the flanks, opening up space to be exploited. The likes of Kudus and Simons will be rubbing their hands together at the prospect of operating behind a forward of his calibre.

He offers the best of both Solanke and Richarlison, and this is only a good thing for Spurs as they look to progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League and follow up their Europa League triumph with further success. While one should never return to a jilted lover, Kolo Muani is a striker worthy of a second chance.

Tottenham had pushed for Randal Kolo Muani in January. Spurs were looking to sign a versatile forward to boost Ange Postecoglou’s attacking options for the second half of the season only for the Frenchman to reject the chance to move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs ultimately ended up signing Mathys Tel on loan before making that move permanent earlier in the summer. Compatriot Kolo Muani, meanwhile, secured a switch to Juventus at the turn of the year, and the 26-year-old caught the eye in a dysfunctional Old Lady outfit.

Kolo Muani ended the Serie A season with eight goals to his name. He added two goals at the Club World Cup and while Juventus were keen to retain the France international’s services, a failure to agree a deal with PSG opened the door for a move elsewhere. Having failed to lure Kolo Muani to London in the winter, on summer deadline day Spurs secured their man.

It comes at a good time, too. Dominic Solanke missed the 1-0 loss to Bournemouth on Saturday owing to an ankle injury. “I’m hopeful he will be back after the international break,” Thomas Frank said of the striker’s absence against his former employers. Solanke sat out a bulk of Tottenham’s pre-season campaign and there are concerns he could be sidelined for longer. It wouldn’t be the first time a Spurs boss has played down a serious injury *cough* Dejan Kulusevski *cough*.

And with Richarlison’s concerns of his own, Spurs could ill-afford to go into Frank’s debut campaign with two injury-stricken strikers on the books, meaning a move for Kolo Muani made sense. The former Eintracht Frankfurt man joins on a straight loan in what is another smart capture.

He’s a ready-made addition to the frontline, adding experience to a relatively young squad, and is able to provide cover not only as the focal point in attack, but down either flank too. Injuries massively impacted Spurs under Postecoglou last season and the club is keen to avoid a repeat, with the arrival of Kolo Muani swelling Frank’s forward options considerably.

What’s key also, is that he brings variety to this Spurs frontline. Kolo Muani is a powerful runner both on and off the ball, but has the requisite physicality to his game that means he is able to shine as the lone frontman. Whether a ball is played in behind the opposition backline or Spurs opt to go direct, Kolo Muani is a thorn in the side for defences and this multi-functionality grants Frank greater tactical flexibility in the final third.

Combined with the permanent signings of Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons, Spurs have a revived attack that blends a number of key traits to ensure Kolo Muani is a success at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Fans have quickly been won over by Kudus, who brings that dynamism that was found wanting on the flank. Simons, meanwhile, is a marquee signing, worthy of taking on the number 7 shirt vacated by club legend Son Heung-Min following his departure for LAFC.

The young Dutchman is able to pry apart staunch backlines, and with a keen eye for a defence-splitting pass; a forward line that was heavily disrupted due to injuries last season is suddenly reinvigorated. With Kulusevski also due back before too long, Frank has ample top quality attacking options of which to utilise.

And for a head coach of Frank’s ilk who looks to tinker with his system depending on the calibre of upcoming opposition, Kolo Muani provides versatility to the way with which the Dane can set his side up. Indeed, Kolo Muani’s best season with Eintracht came in the 2022/23 Bundesliga season, where he ended the campaign with 15 goals and 11 assists. In that time, then-Eintracht boss Oliver Glasner favoured a 3-4-2-1 setup with the France international leading the charge, and doing so impressively.

In this system, Kolo Muani flourished with the freedom to drift across the attack with those in support reaping the rewards from the Frenchman’s desire to pull to the flanks, opening up space to be exploited. The likes of Kudus and Simons will be rubbing their hands together at the prospect of operating behind a forward of his calibre.

He offers the best of both Solanke and Richarlison, and this is only a good thing for Spurs as they look to progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League and follow up their Europa League triumph with further success. While one should never return to a jilted lover, Kolo Muani is a striker worthy of a second chance.

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Liveupdated

Transfer news live: Liverpool hope for Isak breakthrough, Arsenal near Hincapie deal, Jackson refuses Chelsea return

Could there be a late twist in the long-running saga involving the Newcastle striker?

The end of the transfer window is almost here with just a couple of days left for deals to be done - and the Alexander Isak saga still rumbling.

The wantaway Newcastle forward has spent much of the summer angling for a move to Liverpool to no avail, but could there be a late twist? Newcastle have secured one striker signing in Nick Woltemade and remain interested in Yoane Wissa, who has urged Brentford to “keep their word” and allow a move away before Monday’s deadline. A double deal that may yet mean they are able to be persuaded to part with Isak if Liverpool come in with a fresh bid that now seems likely. The Reds have also tabled a £35m bid for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi as their summer spending spree continues.

Elsewhere, Chelsea have called off Nicolas Jackson’s loan move to Bayern Munich after an injury to Liam Delap - but the striker is refusing to return to Chelsea and remains in Munich looking to push through a move to Germany.

A potentially pivotal summer at Arsenal may not be finished just yet - Piero Hincapie may bolster Mikel Arteta’s defensive resources before the window closes. Manchester United are likely to hold on to Kobbie Mainoo with the midfielder told to fight for his place.

Follow all the latest transfer news, gossip, rumours and done deals in The Independent’s live blog below:

Dominic Solanke injury will not change Tottenham’s transfer plans – Thomas Frank

Tottenham have another injury concern in Dominic Solanke, but Thomas Frank has ruled out a late move for a centre forward in the transfer window.

Solanke missed Saturday’s 1-0 loss at home to Bournemouth with an ankle injury, which had also disrupted his pre-season.

It is the latest fitness blow for Frank, with James Maddison sidelined for the majority of the season while Dejan Kulusevski faces a battle to play again in 2025, but Spurs hope Solanke can return for their trip to West Ham on September 13.

Dominic Solanke injury will not change Tottenham’s transfer plans – Thomas Frank

Spurs are hopeful Solanke will return after the international break.

Jamie Braidwood31 August 2025 10:29

Yoane Wissa urges Brentford to ‘keep their word’ and allow transfer move

Yoane Wissa has urged Brentford to ‘keep their word’ and allow him to leave before Monday’s transfer deadline.

The 28-year-old posted on Instagram claiming the club has “significantly changed its position” having previously “put in writing” that he could depart should a fair offer be made.

Newcastle had an offer of £35m plus add-ons rejected earlier in August for the forward who scored 19 Premier League goals last season.

Yoane Wissa urges Brentford to ‘keep their word’ and allow transfer move

The striker claimed in an Instagram post that the club agreed earlier in the summer that he could leave if a fair offer was made

Jamie Braidwood31 August 2025 10:21

Tottenham to go in for Manuel Akanji?

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to beat Milan and Crystal Palace to the signing of Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji, according to Gazetta Dello Sport.

Akanji will be allowed to depart City and had been seen by Palace as a possible replacement for captain Marc Guehi should he move to Liverpool.

Jamie Braidwood31 August 2025 09:59

Furious Nicolas Jackson refuses Chelsea return after Bayern Munich move called off

Chelsea have cancelled Nicolas Jackson’s loan move to Bayern Munich after Liam Delap was ruled out for “six to eight weeks” following their controversial 2-0 win over Fulham at Stamford Bridge.

Delap limped off with a hamstring problem 13 minutes into the west London derby, and after head coach Enzo Maresca initially refused to rule out the club reentering the transfer market with just over 48 hours of the window remaining, the decision has been taken to inform Bayern that Jackson will be staying.

However, PA understands that the 24-year-old, who has already landed in Germany, is furious with the club’s U-turn.

Furious Nicolas Jackson refuses Chelsea return after Bayern Munich move called off

Liam Delap could be out for up to six weeks

Robert O'Conner31 August 2025 09:47

Manchester United 'in talks' with Aston Villa over Emi Martinez

Manchester United are in talks with Aston Villa over signing their World Cup winning goalkeeper, according to Fabrizio Romano.

United are still pushing for a deal for Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens, but Martinez is reportedly seen as an emergency option.

Andre Onana was once again left out of United’s starting line-up by Ruben Amorim yesterday.

Jamie Braidwood31 August 2025 09:29

Jackson still in Munich and wants Bayern move

However, Sky Sports News reports that Nicolas Jackson remains in Munich and is furious with Chelsea after they decided to cancel his loan move to Bayern.

Jackson reportedly wants to push through a move - but Chelsea have seemingly decided that they will not allow him to go out on loan after the injury to Liam Delap.

Jamie Braidwood31 August 2025 09:09

Chelsea pull out of Jackson loan move

Chelsea are pulling out of Nicolas Jackson’s loan move to Bayern Munich as a result of Liam Delap’s hamstring injury sustained in their 2-0 win over Fulham.

The move was only made certain on Saturday morning - a record loan deal of £13m - but the decision has been made to cancel it with Delap feared to be out for several weeks.

Jamie Braidwood31 August 2025 09:02

Arsenal agree personal terms with Hincapie

Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen remain in talks over Piero Hincapie.

Fabrizio Romano claims the Gunners’ preference is a loan with obligation to buy at the end of the season.

He also says that personal terms between the player and Arsenal have been agreed and all that remains is to finalise the structure of a deal.

Jamie Braidwood31 August 2025 09:02

Liverpool make £35m bid for Marc Guehi

Liverpool have made a £35m bid for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi.

The Premier League champions entered into talks for the England centre-back weeks ago and have now had a formal offer in their attempts to bring him to Anfield.

Guehi is in the last year of his contract with the FA Cup winners and Palace risk losing him on a free transfer next summer.

However, Palace manager Oliver Glasner said this week that Guehi “has to” stay and that it is “almost impossible” to find a replacement of the same calibre.

Liverpool submit £35m bid for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi

The Premier League champions have tabled an offer for the in-demand defender

Richard Jolly31 August 2025 09:01

Liverpool expected to make £130m offer for Alexander Isak

The Telegraph reports that Liverpool are in line to make a British record offer for wantaway Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, who is running out of time to secure the move to Anfield he so desires.

The offer is believed to be for £130m, with add-ons and bonuses taking it into British transfer record territory.

Jamie Braidwood31 August 2025 09:00

Thomas Frank acknowledged Tottenham fans had every right to boo after he was brought back down to earth with a 1-0 loss at home to Bournemouth.

New boss Frank had enjoyed an excellent start to life in the Spurs hotseat and followed up last Saturday’s excellent win at Manchester City with the big-money purchase of Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig on Friday.

The Danish coach had won seven of his previous 10 meetings with Bournemouth, including two last season, but watched Tottenham produce a tepid display in his fourth match in charge.

Andoni Iraola’s side should have won by a greater margin, with David Brooks a constant threat and unfortunate not to score as the Cherries made a mockery of a difficult summer of outgoings with an impressive three points in London.

Spurs did not have a shot of note until the 69th minute when Lucas Bergvall had a left-footed strike saved by Djordje Petrovic and that proved their only effort on target.

After being booed at both half-time and following the one-goal loss, Frank said: “I prefer them not to boo, but I understand.

“It was not a good performance and they have high expectations, which is absolutely fair.

“I don’t think we hit the level we should. I think the players gave everything and then that’s the foundation and put the heart out there, but football wise we didn’t hit our top level today.”

Tottenham lacked creativity, which Simons should provide once up to speed, but with Champions League football due to begin next month, Frank’s squad still seems light on depth.

Asked if it showed there was work to do, Frank countered: “Yeah, but it’s not about only making the squad the level. It’s also for us to not manage, but play different games.

“There’s one game against City, one kind of football, different kind of football against Burnley. Bournemouth completely different third kind of football and all kinds of footballs you need to be able to perform against, and we struggled with it.”

Simons, with 22 goals and 24 assists in 78 appearances for Leipzig, will make a difference.

Frank admitted: “I think he can bring on a day where… sometimes you need a player that can do something a little bit out of nothing, go past the player, produce a cross, a shot, a pass, with that extra quality that you need on the day and that’s what I think he can bring.”

Bournemouth boss Iraola beamed at full-time after another win – despite selling more than £200million this summer.

“Yes, very pleased. Very pleased with the performance, especially at the beginning of the season you have to trust the performances and I’ve liked almost everything today from the team,” Iraola said.

“Obviously scoring early makes your game easier because it gives you confidence and a boost of energy, but I think we haven’t even conceded any chances against a team that is very good, plays very well, so especially happy for this.

“Yes we have new players, new signings. It is good, it is the second clean sheet in a row with the same back four and the same keeper.”

Wales winger Brooks produced a sensational performance, which was all the more impressive after midweek speculation linking him with a move to Crystal Palace.

But Iraola said: “We are going to keep David Brooks, definitely.”

It’s all over here at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as Bournemouth beat Spurs by one-goal-to-nil. The away side started off perfectly from their side, as Evanilson’s deflected effort beat Vicario in net and gave them the lead after five minutes. Evanilson had a chance to double the lead just two minutes later, when he found space on the edge of the area but dragged his shot wide of the post. Bournemouth should have made it two after 51 minutes – Vicario saving from close range from Evanilson, followed by Brooks hitting the crossbar. Tottenham’s best chance was perhaps in the last minute of the game. Udogie got on the end of a free-kick, however his header glanced wide. Tottenham struggled all match; they didn’t even record a shot in the first half. They ended with an xG of 0.17 – Bournemouth with 1.45xG. Bournemouth also recorded 19 shots, whereas Tottenham with only five. The only negative for Iraola would have to be Smith coming off early in the game, in what looked to be a hamstring issue. Frank will have many questions as to how his side played today, especially after a strong start to the campaign. Tottenham must look ahead now to their next fixture, a trip to London rivals West Ham. The Cherries are at home to fellow seaside club Brighton. That is all from me. Thank you all for tuning in and have a good rest of your day!

Tottenham Hotspur are back in the Champions League after winning the Europa League last season and face an immediate rematch with Paris Saint-Germain after their recent Super Cup defeat to the holders.

Spurs endured a terrible campaign in the league but triumphed over Manchester United in the final to claim their place in Europe’s premier tournament.

The trophy wasn’t enough to save Ange Postecoglou’s job and so Thomas Frank is the manager who gets to lead the team into this season’s Champions League, as Spurs take part in the new format for the first time since the competition was revamped.

Tottenham have begun well in the Premier League under their new head coach and will hope to carry that form into their European adventure.

Borussia Dortmund (H)

Paris Saint-Germain (A)

Villarreal (H)

Frankfurt (A)

Slavia Prague (H)

Bodo/Glimt (A)

Copenhagen (H)

Monaco (A)

When are Champions League fixtures released?

Scheduling the 36-team Champions League format, played across eight gameweeks from September to January, is a huge logistical challenge and therefore club’s fixtures and kick-off times have yet to be announced.

But Uefa has assured fans that the fixture list and kick-off times will be released no later than Saturday 30 August.

How does the league phase work?

The league phase has 36 teams with every team handed eight games. The 36 teams are split into four pots of eight teams based on their Uefa coefficient, with the opponents generated by automated software.

The opponents then come from each pot, with two teams selected from each, one home and one away.

Teams cannot play another team from the same country and are not permitted to face more than two teams from one country.

Those finishing inside the top eight go straight into the last 16, then the next 16 teams advance to the play-off stage, with eight of those 16 teams progressing to the last 16.