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Daniel Levy is a character who will always provoke debate but the Spurs chairman’s latest comments are especially controversial.

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Self-praise is no praise. A well-worn cliche that has it’s place but one that is rarely paid attention to in football in a sport where everyone loves to talk themselves up.

A rarity in the modern game is the departing Tottenham Hotspur legend Son Heung-min who, despite a stellar career at the top of the game, remains as humble as ever amid all the debates over his status amongst the club’s greats. Of course, there is a need to be self-confident and borderline arrogant, this doesn’t have to be verbalised to all and sundry though.

Daniel Levy misses the point with Spurs job praise

In a recent interview with The Overlap, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy took a rare step out of the shadows in an attempt to defend his record and to deflect recent criticism. That his appearance comes after winning a major trophy hasn’t been lost.

One parting phrase stuck out though and it is one that former Premier League footballer Andy Townsend to umbrage to on Talksport’s Breakfast Show: “’I'll get the credit I deserve after I've left’. Look, what Daniel Levy has done, he's given the best years of his life, he's dedicated to that club, of that there is no doubt. I find it quite strange that he's coming out now because he's never put his head above the parapet with the press.

“Has he, Jeff (Stelling)? He's never come out and said anything. And yet, all of a sudden, he's wanting to establish a few facts and a few points right now, why that would be.

“Perhaps he is coming to the end of his chapter at that club. Look, it's a great, it's anyone who goes to watch a game at Spurs nowadays, you can't deny the fact that it's, apart from getting out of the place after a game, but you can't deny when you're there watching it, it's a fabulous facility.

“But I think for him to be asking that sort of question, you know, perhaps people will realise the job I've done when I'm gone. I'm not so sure, Daniel. I just don't think it works like that in football with Chairman.”

Levy needs to loosen the purse strings if he wants to leave a legacy

Townsend is right. On too many occasions Spurs have been a consistent member of the top four or top six in the Premier League and all that they needed to do was loosen the purse strings or make a more concerted effort in the transfer market to push on to the next level.

Barely a penny of the money that was made from the sale of Gareth Bale was spent wisely and the players bought for Ange Postecoglou just didn’t suit how the big Aussie sets his teams up.

There is no point hiring a manager and then not signing players who can adapt or fit into their system and philosophy or backing someone like Mauricio Pochettino after he guided the club to a Champions League final.

The core of a title challenging squad was there; all it needed was one or two top level players to supplement what was already a good team. Townsend’s point about Levy judging success as a businessman is a valid one, on that level it is hard to argue, but if you asked fans if they would swap the new stadium to win the Premier League this season, the chairman would maybe understand better what their priority is.

Tottenham should consider saving money as they look to replace James Maddison this summer.

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Tottenham should consider a Premier League transfer hijack as they look to replace James Maddison in the medium term. Maddison is likely to miss much of the season after suffering what looked to be a serious knee injury against Newcastle United in South Korea.

Spurs have lost a huge part of their starting XI just a couple of weeks before the new season, and there is no doubt that they need to replace Maddison with a new signing if they want to be competing for European spots in the Premier League and for a knockout spot in the Champions League.

A number of players have already been linked on the back of the Maddison injury, with Eberechi Eze, Jack Grealish and Conor Gallagher the early contenders.

But another player who could fit that role perfectly is Manchester City star James McAtee, who is on his way out of the Etihad Stadium this summer. McAtee has attracted plenty of praise from Pep Guardiola, but he is not getting enough minutes at present.

Guardiola said in April: “We haven’t seen it [from James] this season because I didn’t allow him to play minutes,” the boss said in his pre-match news conference. I cannot ask anything from these types of players when they do not play a lot of minutes. They could do better? No. In the Spurs game, maybe the first games he played in the Carabao Cup he played really good.

“Macca has this quality, he could’ve scored four goals [against Palace]. He has the ability to create chances, he is there. Of course that game we were better than Crystal Palace and you play better and the chances come for themselves. We scored five goals and we had four more clear chances. This season, I remember 2-0 against Leicester and we had two shots on target. That was not the team of the past eight or nine years.

“It’s a team that if the other side scores one or two, we create eight, nine chances. This season, this team scores one or two goals but we didn’t create much. Macca lives close to the box, quite similar to Phil and they are there. They have a sense [of goal], it’s difficult to train in the moment the ball is coming and after he didn’t score but it’s fine. As much minutes he plays he will score.”

Nottingham Forest are said to be pushing for a deal to sign McAtee despite their signing of Dan N’Doye, Forest are said to have offered £25million to sign McAtee, but City are said to want £30million or more this summer, with Everton also said to be showing an interest.

McAtee is obviously less proven than the likes of Eze and Grealish, but he is also available for a fraction of the price, and that could suit Spurs given the other areas they also need to strengthen this summer.

Frank on pre-season trip

Spurs boss Thomas Frank spoke to club media this week about the Asia trip as he and his side prepare to head to Germany to take on Bayern Munich. “I’m very pleased with two good competitive games,” he said. “I think that gave us a lot of answers, showed us a lot of good bits, showed us also what we need to work on, some really good individual performances, that’s good. Overall, good, the only big minus is (injury to) Maddison.

“Newcastle, they were extremely competitive, a fantastic test for us. A lot of good things to take away from the game, but also a lot of things we like to like to do better and improve. I think we started really well, really aggressive, scored good goal through Brennan, very aggressive in our high pressure, won the ball four, five, six times high, and could have created even more out of that in the last third with a killer pass.

“Then we got a little bit too deep at times, but then also had a big chance to Mathys. Second half, I thought we were more on top again, especially towards the end of the game, the high pressure was again better after some of the stops. We scored a good goal through high pressure, conceded a goal where we were not as good with the high pressure. That’s what we need to learn from.

“There was so much to learn from this game, and I'm actually happy that Newcastle, at times, made it a little difficult for us with their high pressure, but also at times we showed we can win it high and go the other way. So, we take the positives out of it and we'll adjust some things as well.”

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to strengthen their squad ahead of the Premier League campaign

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Tottenham Hotspur have been named as the ‘most likely destination’ for ex-Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher this summer, amid interest from several Premier League clubs.

Gallagher left Chelsea for Atletico Madrid last summer, ending an 18-year association with the Blues after joining the club’s youth ranks back in 2006. His move to the Spanish capital cost around £34m.

He enjoyed a successful first campaign at the Metropolitano Stadium, making 50 appearances for the Madrid club with four goals and six assists. However, his future has since come into question after the club signed Alex Baena. The midfielder completed a €50m move to join Atletico from La Liga rivals Villareal, and he has not been signed to sit on the bench.

Johnny Cardoso and Pablo Barrios are also said to be ahead of Gallagher in the pecking order in Diego Simeone’s midfield.

Tottenham Hotspur ‘most likely destination’ for Conor Gallagher

According to a report from Football Espana: “As things stand, Tottenham Hotspur are the most likely destination for Gallagher.”

Several Premier League sides have been credited with an interest, with Aston Villa boss Unai Emery said to be a big fan of the player with Nottingham Forest also linked. Newcastle United were said to have made an enquiry last month but have yet to follow up that interest with anything concrete.

Spurs are said to be fans of Gallagher’s physicality and technical ability. He also has plenty of Premier League experience from his time at Chelsea as well as from his previous loan spell at Selhurst Park with Crystal Palace.

Thomas Frank is tasked with seriously-improving Spurs’ Premier League fortunes after the club finished 17th last term. They have qualified for the Champions League after winning the Europa League and will need a squad capable of coping with the demands of European and domestic football. Adding a player like Gallagher would ensure their squad had another solid midfield option after they signed Joao Palhinha from Bayern Munich last week.

Spurs play Bayern Munich in their final pre-season friendly on Thursday before kicking off their competitive campaign against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday, August 13.

Spurs still have a lot of work to do in the forward line but recent reports suggest that a dream forward line could be seen.

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Normally when a club wins a major trophy and a new manager takes charge it is because the previously successful one has been poached, not so in the case of Thomas Frank and Tottenham Hotspur.

The Spurs squad that he has inherited needs a lot of work with a mixture of young and promising players being guided by several senior players who are outstanding, but also injury prone, then there is the departure of club legend Son Heung-min, who will be a nightmare to replace, even if his considerable powers have been on the wane. A possible long-term injury to James Maddison only makes things worse even if recent transfer rumours are encouraging.

Not only would signing two players who have been linked with Arsenal give something for fans to cheer about, they would immediately be an upgrade on what Frank has at his disposal just now in what could be an exciting looking Spurs forward line. If Daniel Levy loosens the purse strings, these are the players that could be lining up in white this season.

In terms of a no.9, Frank has a decision to make. Peak Richarlison is a handful for any defence, however, that player hasn’t been seen for some time and it is a similar story for Dominic Solanke. Good player? Yes. But nine goals in 27 Premier League appearances is far from prolific, as is his overall rate of 38 in 161 when he has played in England’s top flight. Soon to turn 28, this sort of return isn’t going to change anytime soon. Mathys Tel, whose loan deal has been made permanent, has been signed for a reason and deserves his chance.

How could Spurs’ forward line look next season if they make dream signings?

On the left, the blockbuster signing of the summer could be Real Madrid’s Rodrygo. A known quantity, the only risk is how much a deal might cost to sign a 24-year old who already has an enviable trophy cabinet. What the Brazil international would guarantee, is a similar sort of return to Son at his peak and would be one of the first names on the team-sheet, if not the first.

Close behind him, if Spurs hijacked Arsenal’s move for Eberechi Eze, could be one of the Premier League’s most consistent and in-demand playmakers with almost every club of the “top six” having been credited with an interest. The mercurial Crystal Palace creator is certain to leave Selhurst Park this summer and he could be the perfect replacement for Maddison in the no.10 position.

The right-hand side has already been locked up with the addition of Mohammed Kudus, who looks like being a shrewd acquisition. Not only will the 25-year old already be settled in London, but he knows the league, has been to every away ground and can provide the sort of consistency that has been missing since the days of Mauricio Pochettino and his famous four forward line.

How close Spurs came to missing out on signing legend

Son is going to be hard to replace, however, speaking on The Athletic’s The View From the Lane, James Maw recalled how close Spurs came to missing out on the South Korean superstar:

“Jeremy Peace, who was then the West Brom chairman, really dug in his heels and it got a bit public. Jeremy Peace kept coming out and saying, we're not going to sell him (Said Berahino), we're not going to sell him and so on. But Spurs' recruitment was being done by Paul Mitchell, who I've spoken to for this story, who had just left Newcastle United.

“Back then, he was Spurs' head of recruitment, having previously worked with Saints. The interesting thing is that when Mitchell had been at Saints, obviously working with (Mauricio) Pochettino, they'd identified Sonny when Sonny was at Hamburg, and they tried really, really hard to sign Son from Hamburg for Southampton. And then Son actually went to buy Leverkusen.

“And then two years later, when Mitchell and Pochettino were working together at Tottenham, they then think, well, we need more speed, we need more goals in the squad. Who's on there on the market? Who we can get? “

“Remember Son, who we tried to get from Hamburg for Southampton? Well, now, let's try and get him from Bayer Leverkusen for Tottenham.”

The Spurs youngster is set to leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to gain experience on a loan spell.

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Tottenham Hotspur winger Yang Min-hyeok is one of eight players to be loan listed by the club and deemed not to be part of Thomas Frank’s immediate plans in north London.

The South Korea international spent the back end of last season on loan at QPR and had been part of pre-season preparations with the Spurs first team squad. However, Football.London has named Yang as one of several players that Frank has now decided can gain experience elsewhere this term.

The 19-year-old is tipped for great things and, at such a pivotal point in his career, sending him to the right place is just as important this summer as marquee incomings. Speaking to LondonWorld when the teenager joined QPR, South Korea football expert Joel Kim said: “We want him to be the best he can be and to take Korean football to another level, he’s the youngest player to have been recruited by a Premier League club.

“He’s going to break those records being so young and already making an impact. We are hoping that Son Heung-Min’s ceiling will be Yang’s floor, if he can take Korean football to another level. We’re seeing some promising signs of that for sure, especially with his adjustment to the Championship. We have hopes but it’s too soon to say he’ll be the next Son Heung-min or the next legend. Only time will tell.”

Yang-min Hyeok available for loan from Tottenham Hotspur

The short spell at QPR can be thought of as a success. Yang was eased into Championship action by former R’s boss Marti Cifuentes but showed signs of his explosive qualities, with two goals and an assist in fewer than 700 second tier minutes.

The winger hasn’t had much of a look-in during pre-season friendlies but was afforded a cameo in his home country against Newcastle United over the weekend. In just a few minutes on the pitch, Yang has a goal scoring chance and made a crunching slide tackle, getting Son Heung-min off his seat on the bench.

If Yang isn’t going to play at Tottenham Hotspur this season, it’s right to let him leave on loan. QPR have already signed winger Kwame Poku from Peterborough United this summer and that could see Yang struggle for game time should he return to Loftus Road. Instead, Portsmouth may be an ideal location.

Portsmouth interested in South Korea teenager

The News claims that John Mousinho’s side are short of options on the flank and are interested in taking the player on loan. Going by the progress of West Ham star Freddie Potts at Fratton Park last term, that’s a no brainer for Spurs.

The Hammers midfielder came on leaps and bounds while working under Mousinho and has returned to London Stadium now looking raring to go in the Premier League. Potts saw regular minutes as Portsmouth proved loyal to their promise of helping the player develop.

That’s exactly the kind of journey Yang needs. Mousinho has an exciting project going on at Portsmouth and it feels like the perfect place for Yang to take the next steps in his journey to stardom.

In other news, Tottenham make Premier League 'approach' as manager provides update on deal.

Spurs are to allow their promising 20-year-old to spend the season on loan in the Championship.

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Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie Donley is set to spend the season on loan with Championship outfit Stoke City having been deemed not to be part of Thomas Frank’s plans in north London.

The Premier League side kept several rising stars working alongside the first team during pre-season preparations this summer as the former Brentford boss got to know the players at his disposal. Over the weekend, following the conclusion of the Asian tour, a loan list was reported by Football.London.

Donley featured on that list, alongside Luka Vuskovic, Will Lankshear, George Abbott, Yang Min-hyeok and Tyrese Hall. The 20-year-old spent last season at Leyton Orient in League One and impressed as Richie Wellens’ side reached the play-off final.

Tottenham Hotspur green light Jamie Donley loan

The versatile midfielder picked up eight goals and 10 assists in 39 outings in the third tier before returning to Spurs. He earned plaudits from both his manager and opposition coaches during that time.

Wellens said: “I can’t speak highly enough of Jamie, he is a talented player. He’s come into us and he is a talented boy, everyone can see that. When you watch him in training and you see the talent he has, he has every opportunity to be whatever he wants to be.

“We have been good in the last 14 or 15 games and he has been outstanding for us, he is an exceptional player at this level and will go on to bigger and better things.”

Stoke City bound star praised by Pep Guardiola

Donley featured for Leyton Orient against Manchester City in the 2-1 FA Cup defeat in February. The player helped give Orient a surprise lead against the Premier League opposition, a sensational 40-yard lob hitting the crossbar and then bouncing in off Stefan Ortega.

Speaking after the match, City boss Guardiola said: "What a goal. Fantastic shot, the quality, the technique and the speed, the flight of the ball. When you concede this goal, it is just to congratulate the guy. I think it was Donley. He is an incredible left-footed player."

That’s high praise from one of the game’s greats and now Donley will look to make the step up to the Championship under Mark Robins at Stoke City. Taking to social media platform X on Tuesday, talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook said: “#THFC forward Jamie Donley is having a medical at Stoke today.”

The Potters finished 18th last season in the Championship, just two points above the drop zone and will look to move up the division this time around.

In other news, Ex Tottenham, QPR and Millwall star signs for 16th club at 34 years old.

All the latest news and transfer rumours surrounding Tottenham as they prepare to face Bayern Munich.

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Tottenham are now preparing fo a pre-season friendly with Bayern Munich as they head to Germany for the next stop in their summer preparations. Thomas Frank’s men returned from Asia this week after a positive trip that yielded a North London derby win and a draw with Newcastle United.

Since then, Tottenham have welcomed a new player in Joao Palhinha, and their recruitment efforts are set to continue over the coming weeks. With that in mind, we have rounded up all the latest news and transfer rumours surrounding the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Grealish approach

Tottenham are said to be interested in signing Manchester City attacker Jack Grealish after James Maddison’s injury. It looks like Maddison will be out for months after he suffered what looked to be a serious knee injury during the friendly with Newcastle United.

According to journalist Ben Knapton, Spurs have already made contact with City over a potential move for Grealish. The attacking midfielder is expected to leave City either on loan or permanently this summer, but his wages will be a tough task to cover for most clubs.

LAFC close in

Heung-min Son is on his way to LAFC this summer, with the forward having already confirmed he will leave Tottenham, saying goodbye in Asia ahead of heading to the United States.

As LAFC close in on a deal, their manager, Steve Cherundolo, has issued an update on the possible signing. He told local media: “Nothing is official, so I really can’t comment on it. He’s a player that, I think, any team in our league, or perhaps the world, would like to have on their squad. But since nothing is official, I won’t make any comment,”

Ferdinand on Kudus vs Madueke

Rio Ferdinand has been discussing whether Tottenham or Arsenal have managed the better winger deal this summer, with Spurs signing Mohammed Kudus from West Ham and Arsenal signing Noni Madueke from Chelsea for a similar fee.

Ferdinand pondered on his YouTube show: “Is Kudus massively better than Madueke?” And he then gave his view: “I think potential wise I don’t think there’s a massive difference. I think the age is a big thing.

“The amount of games Madueke has played compared to Kudus, I think there’s a big difference — he hasn’t had the exposure in the Premier League, especially. I think Madueke has got a high ceiling, I think he can go places, I think he’s a really good addition.”

Kudus had been with West Ham for two seasons, and speaking about his adjustment to the Premier League after joining Spurs, he told club media: “It’s very demanding – it takes a lot of hard work and 24/7 focus to play in a league like this.

“Every game is tough so you need the same focus whoever you are playing. Top of the league or bottom of the league, you require the same amount of focus and effort to win the game. There’s no easy games here, regardless of where the opposition is at. There’s no time to relax which makes every game competitive, interesting and that’s what I love about the league and why I am here. We want to enjoy every game, have the atmosphere and get the fans off their seats as well.”

West Ham and Crystal Palace should look to pounce amid new Tottenham Hotspur transfer news.

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Tottenham Hotspur are set to allow breakthrough star Luka Vuskovic head out on loan this season after his impressive pre-season with the club.

It remained to be seen whether the 18-year-old would be part of Thomas Frank’s first team plans this summer and Football.London now claims that Vuskovic is one of eight players made available for loan before the end of the window.

The teenager has never made a competitive appearance for Spurs, despite signing in September 2023 for £12 million. The centre-back was just 16 years old when agreeing to join from Hajduk Split and spent the following seasons on loan at Radomiak and Westerlo, while remaining on the books at Split.

Tottenham Hotspur loan list impressive centre-back

It’s only this summer that Vuskovic has officially arrived at Tottenham Hotspur and he does so with much hype surrounding his future. That’s been clear to see during the pre-season games too with the teenager looking at ease among the more senior Spurs players.

Vuskovic has not looked out of place when featuring alongside Premier League players and was particularly outstanding against Reading. LondonWorld gave the defender a 10/10 score for his second half showing in that match. We wrote: “How about that? The giant provided the assist for Lankshear and then scored one himself with a striker’s finish. Some fantastic work defensively too, including a goal-saving block. That’s how you announce yourself. A beast in the making.”

Standing at 6’ 4”, the centre-back cuts an imposing figure. In the 49th minute against Reading, Vuskovic got his head on a Mohammed Kudus corner and rifled a pass onto the noggin of teammate Will Lankshear, who couldn’t miss. No Royals player could get near the defender, who looked about three foot taller than anyone else on the pitch, boasting a physical presence far past his years.

Having celebrated that assist as if he had scored, Vuskoic didn’t need to wait long to get himself on the scoresheet. Striding into the box after waiting up top following a set play, Kudus stroked the ball into his path and the defender lashed home with confidence, as if he were a centre-forward. You’d think the teenager had scored a hundred goals in his career.

There was plenty to be impressed about in the new signing’s defensive work too. The centre-back was in the right place at the right time to get a vital block on a Reading shot and stop it crossing the line, as well as looking composed when pinging the ball around the back. It was quite the first outing and perhaps the birth of a defensive monster.

West Ham and Crystal Palace should consider Spurs loan

Vuskovic may have never played in the Premier League but his minutes in pre-season suggest that he could certainly do the job in the top flight. Both West Ham and Crystal Palace are in the market for defenders and a loan move for the Spurs player could be ideal.

The Hammers have seen Aaron Cresswell leave as a free agent with the veteran regularly deployed at centre-back last term. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi continues to be linked with a move away from Selhurst Park and could need replacing.

Vuskovic has the stature to make an immediate impact both with his confidence in defending and goal threat. He’s had a full pre-season as well, so would be raring to go for the start of the Premier League campaign.

In other news, Tottenham now have perfect window to hijack Arsenal transfer with 'advantage'.

Tottenham Hotspur will go into the new season without Son Heung-min

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The already challenging task for new Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank was made even more difficult after club captain Son Heung-min announced on Saturday that he will depart the club this summer.

It was fitting that Son made the announcement in his native South Korea ahead of Spurs’ friendly there with Newcastle United, where Son made his final appearance for the club and broke down in tears after he exited the field for the last time after a decade with the north Londoners.

The influence Son has had at Spurs both on and off the pitch in recent years has arguably been matched only by Harry Kane and so Spurs will have a difficult job on their hands to replace him. Son may not have been at his flying best last season - very few of the Spurs side were - and the club captain made the decision that now was the right time to wave a heartfelt goodbye to the club which has become his second home.

Spurs targeting Rodrygo as huge Son replacement

Reports by AS in Spain state that Son’s exit may have ‘opened the door’ for Spurs to pursue Real Madrid and Brazil winger Rodrygo, with whom the club have seen early links in recent days. Rodrygo has been targeted by Liverpool and Arsenal this summer, but Spurs are reportedly believed to be in the race for a huge £78million move and may look to secure the 24-year-old’s signature ahead of their rivals.

The report argues that Son’s departure will leave a gap within Spurs’ wage structure for a big-money star to replace the South Korean’s well-earnt substantial wages, having been the highest-paid player at the club. On the pitch, Rodrygo can fill Son’s spot on the left wing, the Brazilian’s preferred position which he rarely gets the opportunity to play for Los Blancos due to the talents of Vinicius Jr.

The report claims that Rodrygo is ‘waiting for Liverpool’, who are currently tied up in negotiations for Alexander Isak. But Spurs could see this as their perfect opportunity to get ahead in negotiations and show Rodrygo the project under Frank, with Champions League football to offer, hoping this could be enough to convince the former Santos player of the move.

How does Rodrygo compare to Son?

Should he arrive at Spurs, Rodrygo would have the unenviable task of replacing a club legend and the influence he had on the pitch for a decade. The 33-cap Brazil international is known by many to be one of the world’s best wingers - Jude Bellingham once claimed Rodrygo is the most talented player in the Madrid squad - but to replace Son is no easy feat.

Rodrygo has only hit double figures in La Liga goals once in his career so far, in 2023/24, bagging six goals and six assists in reduced minutes last campaign. He has made 270 appearances for Los Blancos in all, registering 68 goals and 51 assists in six years with the club.

While Son’s goalscoring numbers in his prime years far eclipse this, the South Korean’s record was similar to that of Rodrygo at the same age and there is no doubt room for Rodrygo to grow into a more prolific goalscorer in the Premier League. Replacing Son is a difficult task, but there may be few players around who are more capable of doing it than Rodrygo.

Spurs play out a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United as the Premier League season edges ever closer.

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Tottenham Hotspur concluded their pre-season trip to Asia with a 1-1 draw against Premier League rivals Newcastle United in South Korea.

There was a real bite to the affair after the tame meeting with Arsenal last week with aggressive challenges and plenty of intrigue for supporters. Brennan Johnson opened the scoring for Spurs after the fourth minute with Harvey Barnes levelling the score shortly before the break.

It was all about Son Heung-min in what is set to be his final game for the club and he was given an emotional goodbye. Here’s how the Tottenham Hotspur players rated.

Tottenham Hotspur player ratings

GK: Antonin Kinsky, 7

The January signing can certainly stake a claim for the starting berth this season with another good pre-season showing. He’ll be frustrated to have seen the Harvey Barnes shot go past him into the near post, but that was a rocket of an effort.

LB: Ben Davies, 6

Easy to see why Tottenham Hotspur extended his contract this summer as Davies can be a vital squad player. Looked a little out of his depth when run at by Anthony Gordon at times.

CB: Kevin Danso, 7

Won the ball high up ahead of the goal, which deserves plaudits. Another made to look a little worried by some of Gordon’s more dangerous moments.

CB: Cristian Romero, 6

Hasn’t quite looked at the pace so far in pre-season. Looked confused after Joelinton found a free header in the 23rd minute and needed his skin saving by Pedro Porro after a mistimed slide tackle on Bruno Guimaraes, which led to a coming together with the Magpies man. Subbed at the break.

RB: Pedro Porro, 8

Looks to have a huge role to play in the team under Frank. Always had his head up looking to release a teammate with a long ball. Was caught out of position for the Harvey Barnes goal but his good work much outweighed any errors.

CM: Rodrigo Bentancur, 7

Has looked better as the weeks have gone by in pre-season. Finding influence by dropping down almost into the back four when building out from the back and looking to progress things.

CM: Archie Gray, 8

A good watch today. Grew into the first half and made some nice runs with the ball at his feet. Looked a little like a deer in the headlights at times when back in midfield but there was an excitement to his performance too. Frank can unleash a new version of the 19-year-old this season.

Thomas Frank breathes new life into centre midfielder

CM: Pape Matar Sarr, 9

Looks reborn under Thomas Frank with another industrious performance. Getting himself in the right place at the right time for good opportunities and could be among the goals this season. A big presence in both breaking up Newcastle United attacks and as the engine room spearheading Spurs moves.

LW: Son Heung-min, 7

Clearly desperate to get a goal in his final outing but wasn’t to be the case today. A hugely emotional day for the winger, who was in tears as he was taken off in the second half. What a servant.

ST: Mathys Tel, 8

Tel’s performance will be remembered for an awful shot when one on one with Nick Pope in the first half. That was too casual and, perhaps a little cocky. That aside, there was a lot to love about Tel today as he caused problems. Moved freely across the front line and looked to provide an option as a through ball.

RW: Brennan Johnson, 8

Was helped by a hefty deflection on his shot to see it sail past Nick Pope. Put in some important defensive work too in a confident showing.

SUB: Lucas Bergvall, 7

Should have perhaps done better when pouncing onto a loose ball won by Bissouma, his tame shot causing no problems for Nick Pope.

SUB: Micky Van de Ven, 8

Only afforded a short time on the pitch but looked a bit better than he did against Arsenal with some decisive interventions.

SUB: Djed Spence, 8

Spurs looked blessed for options at right back this season with a good Spence showing following a confident Porro outing. The 24-year-old is a real fighter.

SUB: Richarlison, 5

Got involved but his most memorable moments were a squandered offside chance and a yellow card for a pull back on Nick Pope.

SUB: Yves Bissouma, 6

Pictured in tears during a training session this weekend but looking raring to go when he came on. Took no time to get a yellow card for a late challenge on William Osula, which was poorly timed. Struck one poor pass to waste an attacking move but a tackle high up the pitch to tee up Bergvall for a shot was a better moment.

SUB: James Maddison, 8

Busied himself off the bench and looked to make things happen. Sometimes found himself in a more advanced position than Richarlison. Picked up another knock late on and had his head in his hands in a really worrying moment.

SUB: Wilson Odobert, 7

His usual self, full of running in his cameo but not a serious goal threat. Slotted a good ball through to Yang late on.

SUB: Yang Min-Hyeok, 8

Perhaps imagined the cheers of the stadium in his home nation too early when sprinting down on goal following that Odobert ball, unable to convert. Managed to pinch the ball of Tino Livramento late on too.

SUBS: Luka Vuskovic, N/A

In other news, Son has already approved of 'fantastic' £68m potential Tottenham replacement - opinion.