The Spurs Web

The January transfer window has been far from fruitful for Tottenham Hotspur, yet the club’s sights are firmly set on Southampton’s Tyler Dibling.

Tottenham Hotspur’s challenging January transfer window

Tottenham Hotspur’s second season under Ange Postecoglou has seen its fair share of hurdles, but none more pressing than the ongoing injury crisis that has left the squad stretched thin.

The manager, who has openly stated the club is “working hard” to bolster its ranks, has so far been unable to secure any outfield signings, a predicament that grows more concerning as the days of January continue to pass.

With forwards such as Brennan Johnson, Dominic Solanke, and Timo Werner currently sidelined, Tottenham’s attacking options have been severely depleted.

The need for reinforcements, both up front and in defence, is evident, yet no solutions have materialised.

Despite missing out on Muani, the club has been linked to a series of high-profile names, including Marcus Rashford, Rayan Cherki, and Bryan Mbeumo, but none of these rumoured targets have resulted in confirmed moves.

As frustration among supporters grows, attention has now turned to potential alternatives, with Southampton’s Tyler Dibling emerging as a target.

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Tottenham are in the race to sign Tyler Dibling

Recent reports, particularly from Florian Plettenberg on X (formerly Twitter), have revealed that Tottenham Hotspur are actively pursuing Tyler Dibling, Southampton’s 18-year-old forward, in what is shaping up to be a highly competitive transfer race.

The versatile winger, whose contract at Southampton runs until 2027, has drawn interest from several Premier League clubs and European giants alike.

RB Leipzig are reportedly prepared to offer £26.4 million (€30 million) for the young talent, but Southampton are holding out for a significantly higher fee.

Tottenham’s interest, coupled with interests from other Premier League sides, has raised the stakes, ensuring that the Southampton winger remains a name to watch in the coming months.

The 18-year-old, who has been a bright spark in a struggling Southampton side this season, is admired for his composure, technical ability, and versatility across the front line.

However, his immediate future remains uncertain, particularly as Southampton navigate their own challenges at the bottom of the Premier League table.

Tyler Dibling: a player of promise amidst uncertainty

For Tottenham, the potential acquisition of Tyler Dibling represents an investment in the future, as the teenager has showcased remarkable maturity for his age.

In 24 appearances this season, Dibling has contributed six goal involvements, a notable achievement for an 18-year-old in a struggling side.

Nevertheless, Dibling’s season has not been without setbacks. He was forced off with an injury during Southampton’s clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford and has since missed the club’s recent fixture against Nottingham Forest.

Early reports suggest the forward could be sidelined for four to six weeks, casting a shadow over his immediate availability.

Tottenham Hotspur travel to Germany to face Hoffenheim in a Europa League clash on Thursday evening after yet another disappointing Premier League defeat.

What time does Hoffenheim vs Tottenham Hotspur kick-off?

How both teams go into Hoffenheim vs Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs come into this game after their disappointing 3-2 defeat to Everton in the Premier League. Unfortunately, their recent Europa League form hasn’t been much better. They haven’t secured a win since the narrow 1-0 victory over AZ Alkmaar in October. Since then, Tottenham have suffered a loss to Galatasaray and back-to-back draws against Roma and Rangers, leaving them in 9th place. Spurs are just outside the automatic Round of 16 spots, behind Rangers only on goal difference.

Hoffenheim, on the other hand, have their own struggles. They’re fresh off a 3-1 Bundesliga win against 18th-placed Holstein Kiel, their first victory since November. Much like Spurs, they’re sitting 15th in their domestic league. In the Europa League, Hoffenheim are currently in 26th place, with just one win, three draws, and two losses, putting them at risk of elimination.

Tottenham Europa League team news

Nothing new here unless Ange decides to surprise the fans in the coming days with another injury. Hopefully, not. Ange has just enough players (11) to field a team. Out for this match are Johnson, Romero, Udogie, Solanke, Vicario, Van de Ven, Bentancur, Werner, Odobert, and maybe Bissouma.

Spence and Reguilon are unavailable, as they’re not registered in the Europa League squad, while Antonin Kinsky cannot be registered during the group stage. Thankfully, Ben Davies returned just in time, and without him, there wouldn’t have been a natural left-back available.

Hoffenheim team news

Hoffenheim have their own set of problems, with players like Anton Stach, Christopher Lenz, Samassékou, Yardimci, Prömel, Ihlas Bebou, Bülter, Ozan Kabak, and Umut Tohumcu all ruled out.

Predicted Tottenham line-up

Forster, Porro, Drăgușin, Gray, Davies, Sarr, Bergvall, Maddison, Moore, Richarlison, Son

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Our prediction

Hoffenheim, under new head coach Christian Ilzer, have been unable to gain any consistency since the sacking of Pellegrino Matarazzo. After analysing their recent 3-1 win, here are our insights.

The Bundesliga side may remind you a bit of Tamworth in that they are big fans of long throw-ins, which Spurs need to be wary of considering their ongoing struggles with set-pieces. Hoffenheim’s opener in their last game came from a throw-in.

They also like to stretch the opposition’s defence by crossing the ball into areas near the edge of the penalty box, rather than closer to the goalkeeper. It’s no surprise they rank second in their league for accurate crosses per match (5.4) and top the table in terms of most accurate long balls per match (28.4).

Defensively, though, they’re all over the place. Spurs can take advantage of their lack of awareness if they position themselves well. The main threat will come from Adam Hložek who scored twice in their last game. His left foot is a real weapon, and he’s someone Spurs will need to watch closely.

For Spurs, Mikey Moore could be the one to watch. If you saw Moore’s performance against Everton, you will know what I mean. He got his first senior assist in that game, and this fixture could see him grab his first goal.

Everyone knows the situation surrounding the manager and the chairman right now. Ange Postecoglou has to get this one right to ease some of the pressure. A solid performance and a clean sheet would go a long way towards lifting the mood.

Predicted score: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Hoffenheim

COYS!

Spurs aim to reignite their Europa League campaign with a crucial trip to Hoffenheim, as they look to overcome a run of poor form and stake their claim for automatic qualification. Let’s take a look at how you can watch Hoffenheim vs Tottenham on Thursday.

Hoffenheim vs Tottenham Hotspur: The current state of affairs

After a hiatus of more than a month from Europa League action, Tottenham Hotspur are set to return to the continental stage this Thursday, entering their seventh game of the competition.

The match holds immense significance as the North London side battles to secure a top-eight finish, avoiding the dreaded play-off rounds.

Tottenham’s form in the Europa League has been anything but convincing in recent games. Ange Postecoglou’s side have taken just two points from a possible nine in their last three European fixtures, leaving them sitting in ninth place—just outside the automatic qualification zone.

To advance comfortably, they will need to win their next two matches and hope that other results fall in their favour.

Meanwhile, Hoffenheim’s form presents a picture of their own struggles. The German outfit currently occupies 26th position in the Europa League standings and have managed only one victory in the competition so far.

Their most recent outing—a goalless draw against FCSB—typifies their struggles, with their solitary win coming against Dynamo Kyiv on matchday two.

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Tottenham will hope to capitalise on Hoffenheim’s vulnerabilities, particularly given the hosts’ poor record in the group.

Spurs’ domestic form has also been a source of concern, as they travel to Germany winless in their last six Premier League matches. However, the Europa League offers a chance to reset and refocus.

When and where is the game?

The Europa League clash will be hosted at the PreZero Arena in Sinsheim, Germany, on Thursday, 23 January 2025. The fixture is scheduled to kick off at 5:45 pm UK time.

How to watch Hoffenheim vs Tottenham Hotspur

Fans in the United Kingdom can catch the game live on TNT Sports 2. The match will also be available for streaming on Discovery+ and through the Discovery+ app.

Hoffenheim vs Tottenham Hotspur team news

Tottenham Hotspur will be without several key players for this encounter. Wilson Odobert, Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner, and Fraser Forster have all been ruled out due to injuries.

Additionally, Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma remain doubtful, with their availability likely hinging on the manager’s pre-match press conference.

Hoffenheim, meanwhile, are grappling with a lengthy injury list of their own. Anton Stach (hip), Christopher Lenz (calf), Diadie Samassékou (hip), Erencan Yardımcı (muscle), Grischa Prömel (cruciate ligament), Ihlas Bebou (unspecified injury), Marius Bülter (hamstring), Ozan Kabak (cruciate ligament), and Umut Tohumcu (ankle) will all be unavailable for selection.

The Spurs Web prediction

This is a game Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou need to win given their poor form and their back-to-back defeats in the league prior to this game.

The fans need something to cheer and hold onto. If the club can get a win here, then it should improve the mood surrounding the club a little bit.

It will be tough, but we expect Spurs to just edge this one and secure a narrow 2-1 win against Hoffenheim.

Tottenham Hotspur are currently facing a defensive crisis and require defensive reinforcement this winter. Despite this, the latest reports suggest that no signings are imminent.

The defensive struggles facing Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham’s defensive set-up is currently stretched to breaking point, exposing Spurs’ vulnerability against top-tier opposition.

Eighteen-year-old Archie Gray, a promising midfielder by trade, has been deployed at centre-back in recent weeks, showcasing his adaptability but also underlining the lack of defensive options available.

Similarly, Djed Spence, who was frozen out of the squad last season, has been thrust into a starting role at left-back, adding to the feeling of improvisation rather than stability.

These makeshift solutions have had predictable consequences, with Tottenham enduring a five-match winless run in the league, conceding a worrying 13 goals in the process.

As the January transfer window provides a glimmer of hope, the pressure is on the club to find reinforcements capable of addressing their defensive shortcomings and reigniting their campaign.

What is being said about Spurs signing a new centre-back

Amidst the growing clamour for defensive reinforcements, journalist Mike McGrath offered his perspective on Tottenham’s situation during an appearance on Last Word on Spurs.

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McGrath painted a less-than-optimistic picture of Spurs’ chances of securing a new centre-back this month, describing the current transfer market as a significant obstacle.

“I think that it is a really difficult market for them. At this moment in time I am not hearing that Spurs are close on a centre-back. I am sure they have targets from across Europe who are gettable and available, but it’s extremely difficult. You look at players who are available and it’s players who are not in the team really,” McGrath explained.

Tottenham remain confident about January signings

Despite the hurdles, Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with several potential defensive recruits during this transfer window.

The names in the mix suggest that the club is exploring a range of options, though no deal appears imminent.

Ko Itakura, the Borussia Mönchengladbach defender, is among those reportedly on Spurs’ radar, while earlier this month, Tottenham were in talks to sign PSG’s Milan Skriniar.

Both players would represent significant upgrades to the current backline, but as McGrath’s comments suggest, these negotiations are far from completion.

Despite all of these, Ange Postecoglou remains confident that in the next few weeks, the club will make more signings, he said: “As confident as you can be. It is tricky as all clubs are finding. And I guess traditionally it ramps up in that final week so we’re approaching there for all clubs.

“It’s even trickier in January because once you try to acquire a player, the club wants to replace that player. So there’s all sorts of logistics involved.”

With pressure mounting on Ange Postecoglou as Spurs’ struggle for form continues, a former Borussia Dortmund manager has been named who is ‘appreciated’ by the club.

Things look bleak for Ange Postecoglou at Spurs

The current Premier League season has been nothing short of a disaster for Tottenham. Only the three teams in the relegation zone have lost more matches than Spurs, who sit 14th in the Premier League table.

Tottenham’s recent form has failed to provide hope for supporters with their last win coming in mid-December against Southampton, the worst-performing team in the league.

Ange Postecoglou has come under a lot of scrutiny, whether it be for his insistence to play the ball out from the back, or leaving the defence vulnerable to counter-attacks.

Although reports have continued to suggest his job is safe, things could change come the end of the season if the Australian fails to lift silverware.

Edin Terzic could be considered if Spurs need a new manager

According to TEAMtalk, former Borussia Dortmund manager, Edin Terzic, is ‘appreciated’ by Tottenham and could become a managerial candidate if Postecoglou fails to turn things around.

Terzic is reportedly interested in managing a Premier League team and was ‘sounded out’ by West Ham before they made the decision to appoint Graham Potter. Everton were also linked with the player-turned-manager, however, no concrete talks took place.

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Despite still being fairly new to management, Terzic won the German Cup and Super Cup with Dortmund. He also led them to the Champions League final last season during an extraordinary campaign, which saw them knock out Atlético Madrid and PSG.

However, with Postecoglou expected to be backed with new additions to the Tottenham first-team squad this month, any reports linking managers to Spurs are speculation at this point in time.

Sacking managers has not worked for Tottenham in the past

Many have spoken of having faith in the early days of a project, pointing to how neither Jurgen Klopp nor Mikel Arteta achieved immediate success in their respective roles as Liverpool and Arsenal managers.

With Postecoglou only in his second season and facing an injury crisis, perhaps the former Celtic and Australia head coach needs more time to bring success.

With Tottenham two wins away from lifting the Carabao Cup and competing for the FA Cup and Europa League, it makes sense to give Postecoglou until at least the end of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur head to Merseyside this weekend in the Premier League as Ange Postecoglou searches for a rare three points. Pascal Chimbonda has submitted his score prediction for Everton vs Spurs.

Everton vs Tottenham in the Premier League

One would assume that Tottenham and Everton would be miles apart in the Premier League table, but what was once a gulf is now just a matter of six points.

Spurs went into the weekend sitting 14th in the league table, with Everton just two places below in 16th. While it would be silly to panic in North London, Ange Postecoglou and co do need to be careful about being dragged further and further down the standings.

Tottenham have only won once in their last five Premier League fixtures and are without a win in four. Fortunately, the Toffees boast an even worse record without a win in their last six.

If the Lilywhites still harbour hopes of finishing in the European places, they are going to have to put their injury crisis behind them and go on an impressive run in the second half of the season.

Everton vs Tottenham score prediction

Pascal Chimbonda thinks Tottenham will earn a narrow 2-1 victory at Goodison, putting an end to a wretched run of form. We at The Spurs Web think Spurs could even earn a clean sheet along the way!

Pascal prediction – 2-1 Tottenham win

Spurs Web prediction – 2-0 Tottenham win

The Tottenham score prediction table

What do you think the Everton vs Spurs score will be?

As Tottenham Hotspur prepare for a pivotal clash against Everton at Goodison Park, former Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has weighed in with a prediction ahead of the game.

Tottenham’s form under scrutiny as Everton look to rebound

Tottenham Hotspur find themselves in a precarious position as they head into their Premier League encounter with Everton, with their last league victory coming against Southampton in mid-December.

That win feels like a distant memory now, with Spurs having endured a torrid run of form, winning just two of their last eleven league games.

Most recently, they suffered a 2-1 defeat to fierce rivals Arsenal, where their inability to hold onto a lead once again proved costly.

Everton, meanwhile, have their own problems to contend with. The team has not managed a win in their last six league outings, and despite David Moyes’ return to the helm, the anticipated resurgence is yet to materialise.

A lack of goals and control in possession continues to haunt the Merseyside club, leaving their supporters anxious about their relegation battle.

Harry Redknapp predicts Everton vs Tottenham score

Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has provided his take on the upcoming fixture, offering insights that reflect the current state of both clubs.

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Speaking to BetVictor, Redknapp highlighted the high stakes for David Moyes and Everton while also expressing concern about Tottenham’s lacklustre performances of late.

He told BetVictor: “This is a big game for David Moyes and Everton. I still find Sean Dyche’s departure surprising, but Moyes has so much experience, I’m certain he’ll be do another good job here.

“The lack of goals is a real concern though, you can never question this side’s desire and defensive effort, but they just don’t score a lot.

Tottenham were poor the other night, particularly in the first half. For me, the big concern would be that it wasn’t a typical Spurs performance where they created a lot but were poor at the back, they didn’t even threaten the Arsenal goal. This is a big, big game for the club.

“I just think Everton, with that fantastic crowd behind them, can frustrate and take the game to Spurs.”

Prediction: Everton 1-1 Tottenham

A draw will not be enough for Ange Postecoglou

While a 1-1 draw may seem a reasonable prediction considering Tottenham’s poor run of form and Everton’s struggles, it is far from what is needed for Ange Postecoglou and his side.

The winless streak in the Premier League, which has now lasted over a month, must be addressed urgently if Spurs hope to salvage their season and keep their supporters onside.

The injury crisis that has plagued the squad has undoubtedly contributed to their struggles, but excuses will not suffice for a fanbase on the edge.

The frustration is palpable, and if Tottenham fail to secure three points against a relegation-threatened Everton side, the pressure on Postecoglou will undoubtedly intensify.

Richarlison has reportedly become unhappy at Tottenham Hotspur and his potential future home has been revealed via alleged comments to friends.

Richarlison has never reached his potential at Tottenham

Richarlison has been under pressure to perform since day one at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Arriving from Everton for £60m, he became Tottenham’s second most expensive signing, behind only Tanguy Ndombele.

Under Antonio Conte, Richalison endured a difficult first season at Spurs. He only scored one goal in the Premier League, despite making 27 appearances.

Last season was far more encouraging for Richarlison, as he scored 11 league goals, which is only two fewer than his two strongest seasons at Everton and he also registered four assists. However, Richarlison has still failed to become a regular first-team starter and injuries have certainly not helped his cause.

Richarlison wants to leave Tottenham for the Saudi Pro League

According to Football Insider, Richarlison has become ‘fed-up’ with his second string status under Ange Postecoglou. This season he has only made eight appearances for Tottenham in all competitions.

The Brazilian, who last played for his national team in October 2023, wants to leave Spurs and sees the Saudi Pro League as his next destination. There has been a long-standing interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia in a potential transfer.

Football Insider say that he has ‘told friends’ he is ready to leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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This is contrary to previous reports from Sky Sports which insisted Richarlison had no desire to leave Tottenham during the January transfer window.

Tottenham will need to sign another striker if Richarlison leaves

Other than the Brazilian, Dominic Solanke and Will Lankshear are Tottenham’s only centre-forward options and the latter player could leave Spurs on loan during the current transfer window.

ENIC have made a small increase to their ownership of Tottenham Hotspur, despite protests from supporters urging them to sell the club.

How have Tottenham performed under the ownership of ENIC?

ENIC first bought shares in Tottenham at the beginning of the century from Sir Alan Sugar. The agreement saw Daniel Levy, who was a Spurs season ticket holder at the time, take Sugar’s seat on the board and become a non-executive director.

Although Spurs won the League Cup less than two years before ENIC’s arrival, they failed to win a trophy again until 2008. Once again this was the League Cup and it is the only time Spurs have lifted silverware under their current owners.

However, Tottenham achieved their highest finish in the Premier League table since the league was established, when they finished fifth in 2006. Since then Spurs have finished as high as second in 2017 and have reached four cup finals, including the Champions League final in 2019.

ENIC have increased their ownership of Tottenham

Tottenham have confirmed information on Companies House which shows ENIC have increased their share of Spurs by 0.33 per cent, paying £35m into the club, in an action finalised on December 31, 2024.

As per Football London: “The documents showed that 5,767,984 shares were allotted across two tranches during December as ENIC increased their holding within the club. The tranches included 4,111,643 at a price of £6.08 a share (£25million) and another 1,656,341 shares at £6.03 (£10million), making for a capital injection of £35million.”

This means their ownership has increased from 86.58 to 86.91 per cent, which reflects the sum of money they have recently invested due to the expansion of their business’s operation. ENIC also own the one THL convertible A share.

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Levy along with certain members of his family are potential beneficiaries of discretionary trusts which own 29.88% of the share capital of ENIC. Being a potential beneficiary means they may receive income, assets, or dividends from the trust.

A discretionary trust of which certain members of Joe Lewis’s family are potential beneficiaries owns 70.12% of the share capital of ENIC.

The last time a statement of capital raised money for Spurs was in May 2022 when Tottenham drew down £110.6million of £150million offered by ENIC, which increased their share ownership.

ENIC have not been put off by Tottenham fan protests

When ENIC raised money for Spurs over two and a half years ago, Levy said the delivery of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was key to increasing revenue to invest in the team and consistently compete at the highest levels of European football. Spurs supporters unhappy with ENIC’s ownership will be quick to claim this has not been the case.

This season in particular has seen protests against Levy and the Spurs board, along with a number of supporter initiatives cutting ties with the club. However, with the business side of Tottenham looking fruitful, ENIC have blocked out the noise and continued to increase their involvement.

An exciting Belgian youngster, who Tottenham Hotspur reportedly have their eye on, has now made a revealing statement about his own future.

Spurs continue to eye the best talent around the world

Tottenham’s strategy of signing up-and-coming young prospects is now starting to bear fruit, with the likes of Lucas Bergvall, Pape Sarr and Archie Gray evolving into important players for the side.

It is not a strategy that Spurs look likely to abandon, with the North London club continuing to be linked with the best young talent in Europe and South America.

One of those is Ajax youngster, Rayane Bounida, who is yet to break into the Eredivisie side’s first-team, but continues to impress in youth football, with 10 goals to his name so far this season.

The 18-year-old, who can operate as an attacking midfielder or as a left-winger, looks set to be the latest in a long line of great talents to emerge from Ajax’s famed academy.

It was reported last month that Tottenham have been watching Rayane Bounida’s performances closely and could be tempted to make a move for him.

Bounida is free to talk to clubs outside the Netherlands as he is now into the final six months of his deal at Amsterdam, but the youngster has now handed Spurs a blow by revealing that his entourage are speaking to Ajax over a contract extension.

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The attacker told ESPN (as relayed by Voetbal Primeur): “My management is now busy with the club. That’s what I’ll stick to. With Ajax, I meant. But that’s what I’ll stop at. Like I just said, I want to leave it at that. They are working on it.”

Some Spurs fans will want to see readymade players signed

Some Tottenham fans might have become impatient with the club’s transfer strategy and might feel that they need to add proven performers if they are to have aspirations of competing against the best sides in the Premier League.

However, it is important to remember that the situation is not an either/or. There is no doubt that the club need some experienced signings in a couple of crucial areas.

But at the same time, that should not distract from the larger project of securing the best young talent in world football and helping them fulfil their potential.