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Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly only willing to spend a modest fee on a new recruit in January as they are worried about one potential knock-on effect of a big-money signing.

Tottenham need reinforcements at the back

Micky van de Ven‘s injury record and Cristian Romero’s poor form this season have perhaps necessitated the search for another centre-back for Ange Postecoglou.

Additionally, Radu Dragusin has been inconsistent in the opportunities that have come his way so far, with the 22-year-old not looking completely comfortable in Ange Postecoglou’s system.

However, it has now emerged that the Lilywhites are wary of spending big on another centre-back.

Tottenham looking towards the future

GiveMeSport now report that while Spurs are willing to spend to strengthen the backline in January, they are also considering the knock-on effect on some of their young players.

The likes of Ashley Phillips, Alfie Dorrington and Luka Vuskovic are all seen as potential first-team options, perhaps even as early as next season.

As a result, Tottenham are wary that signing another top centre-back might close the door for some of these young players to get a taste of first-team football.

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The outlet adds that the North London club would prefer to not spend more than £25m on a new defensive recruit and are now on the lookout for the right option.

Tottenham fans will prefer a proven signing

It is fair to say that some Spurs fans are not on board with the club’s strategy of building for the future rather than signing players who can improve the side right now.

Given that the likes of Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Wilson Odobert have not made much impact since arriving at N17, many supporters will want to see Postecoglou backed with players who are proven at the top level.

Alan Shearer has named his Premier League Team of the Season so far, and it certainly does not make for good reading for those in the Tottenham Hotspur dressing room following the Newcastle legend’s chosen eleven players.

Are the wheels coming off for Spurs?

Spurs fans would have expected the side to be a lot more consistent in Ange Postecoglou‘s second season in charge, but consistency still seems to evade the Lilywhites, which is a matter of huge concern for Tottenham fans.

While this season is still very much salvageable, with Tottenham sitting just three points off third place in the Premier League, almost none of their star men have stood out this season, with many senior players blowing hot and cold.

No Tottenham players are in Shearer’s Team of the Season

That is reflected in Shearer’s Team of the Season, with not a single Spurs representative finding a place in his eleven.

The worrying part is that Tottenham fans cannot really argue with Shearer’s selection as almost none of their star players have hit the expected heights this season.

The likes of Cristian Romero, Pedro Porro, James Maddison, and Heung-min Son have all failed to consistently hit the levels that they needed to for the club to have a shot at challenging the best sides in the Premier League.

One Tottenham man is unlucky to miss out

The only Tottenham star who can consider himself a little unfortunate to not get into Shearer’s eleven is Dejan Kulusevski, who has been outstanding since being moved to the middle of the park.

However, the Swede alone cannot be expected to carry a lot of Spurs’ creative burden, with Postecoglou desperately needing his key men to come back into form.

Tottenham Hotspur have announced that their cockerel logo and other elements of their brand have now been tweaked.

The history of the Tottenham cockerel

While Tottenham had a cockerel logo since the inception of the club, they have had different versions of the cockerel over the decades. They changed it to its modern, minimalistic version back in 2006 by simplifying the badge.

Changes to the brand

Spurs have announced that using input from more than 300 players, staff and fans, they have now decided to forge a new band identity which takes a “more playful, daring approach for the club’s brand across the multitude of platforms.”

They reveal that the curved ‘Tottenham Hotspur’ text has been removed from beneath the cockerel, which enabled the club to increase its scale across different environments.

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Further, the cockerel will now be supported by a new silhouette version that allows for a more playful expression of the brand across different spaces.

Further changes announced

Apart from the changes to the club’s main logo, they have also remastered the famous ‘THFC monogram’, which has been used since the 1950s.

The club have also developed “a suite of hallmarks to celebrate key heritage features”, including the Seven Sisters Trees, Bruce Castle and 1882 (the club’s founding year), in order to support their brand’s storytelling.

According to an update from Spain, one La Liga club’s efforts to sign a forgotten Tottenham Hotspur is gathering steam ahead of the January transfer window.

Where will Tottenham defender end up?

While Sergio Reguilon evidently does not have a future at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it is unclear the moment where the left-back will end up if he does leave the North London club in January.

Some sources have suggested that Jose Mourinho, who was the man who brought the defender to Tottenham back in 2020, is keen on reuniting with the player at Fenerbahce.

However, various Spanish outlets have reported over recent weeks that the full-back is also a target for his former club, Sevilla.

Sevilla stepping up their pursuit of Sergio Reguilon

Vamos Mi Sevilla have delivered an update in this transfer saga by revealing that the Andalusian club are eyeing the Tottenham man as a replacement for Valentin Barco.

Barco joined Sevilla on loan from Brighton back in the summer and it is revealed that he has failed to convinced the coaching staff since his arrival and there is some confusion over what his best position actually is.

The Spanish side are ready to bring Reguilon back to the club to bolster their options at left-back.

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It is pointed out that the Real Madrid graduate’s contract situation makes this a potentially easy deal to do and the publication suggests that Sevilla’s pursuit of the Spain international is now ‘heating up’.

A free transfer on the cards?

There have been suggestions in the British press recently that Reguilon could leave Spurs on a free transfer in the upcoming transfer window.

Although the defender is contracted to the North London side until next summer, it was reported last week that Tottenham would be willing to agree a compensatory package with Reguilon and terminate his contract in January.

It wat suggested this solution would be Reguilon’s preference and the Lilywhites are open to it since are keen to get his sizeable salary off their wage bill.

Tottenham Hotspur could have three of their players back fit for the clash against Manchester City next weekend with the club having experienced injuries to some key players recently.

Tottenham face a huge challenge against Man City

Tottenham go into the game at Etihad Stadium needing a result after their humiliating 2-1 loss at home to Ipswich Town ahead of the international break.

While a trip to Man City is considered the most difficult assignment of the season for all Premier League sides, Spurs might have more than a glimmer of hope.

Not only have they picked up some decent results at the stadium over previous years, but they will also be taking on a City side who, extremely uncharacteristically, have lost their last four matches across all competitions.

Tottenham could be handed some good news

Football.London report that Spurs’ chances could be boosted as they could have as many as three players fit for the clash.

Central defender Micky van de Ven, is also thought to have a chance of being fit for the game, with Spurs continuing to keep a close eye on his recovery through the international break.

It is revealed that Timo Werner might also be back in contention, although he might not be 100 per cent, while Mikey Moore is expected to return to the squad and take his place on the Tottenham bench.

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van de Ven’s central defensive partner Cristian Romero withdrew from the Argentina squad to return to London due to his foot injury.

Ange Postecoglou would not want to take any risks

Postecoglou would certainly not want to risk either Cristian Romero or Micky van de Ven against City unless they are 100 per cent fit.

While there is no doubt that Tottenham need their first-choice central defensive pair in such a big game, the last thing the Spurs boss would want is for them to aggravate the injury and be sidelined for a lengthy period.

Since joining Tottenham Hotspur in 2023, Ange Postecoglou has overseen a significant transformation in the squad, bringing in 15 new players to fit his vision for the team.

While some signings have been outstanding and made an immediate impact, others have struggled to live up to expectations.

Here, we rank all 15 of Ange Postecoglou’s signings, from the least effective to the most impressive.

Manor Solomon joined Spurs on a free transfer after a spell at Fulham, where he scored five goals in 24 games, and he featured for Spurs a few times before picking up an injury. Currently plying his trade on loan at Leeds United, Solomon hasn’t quite replicated his best form there, as he has only managed one assist in eight games.

He primarily plays as a left winger, meaning he has to compete with the likes of Richarlison, Moore, Son, and Odobert, and I don’t see how he will break into Spurs’ setup anytime soon. At 25, he is far from the pecking order, but the only saving grace is that he arrived on a free transfer; however, in terms of quality, I don’t rate this signing highly, so he’s at the bottom of my list.

Rating: 3.5/10

Alejo Véliz is a young striker for Spurs, and at just 21, he still has plenty of time to gain experience and develop before reaching his prime. Many strikers, including our current number nine, Dominic Solanke, took time to find their feet, so I won’t be too harsh on Véliz just yet, as he could improve in the future. So far, he has scored four goals in 12 matches, including a hat trick against San Tirso in the Copa del Rey, which shows promise.

Rating: 4/10

Let’s be honest—Timo Werner hasn’t been the greatest signing for Spurs during his loan spell, as his performances have been inconsistent. While he can show flashes of brilliance, his decision-making in the final third often lets him down, and rumours suggest he might return to Leipzig in January after a largely underwhelming stint here. For me, he has been frustrating to watch, and this move hasn’t worked out well for either party.

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Rating: 4.5/10

Archie Gray is undoubtedly a player for the future, and his talent and versatility make him an exciting prospect; however, we haven’t seen enough of him yet to justify ranking him higher on this list. While I like his profile and potential, he needs more opportunities to showcase his abilities before becoming a standout.

Rating: 5/10

Similar to Gray, Lucas Bergvall is another young talent with clear potential, and he has looked promising in the few Europa League games he has played. His versatility is a bonus, but it’s hard to judge this signing fully as he wasn’t brought in to make an immediate impact. Spurs’ handling of his development will determine whether he succeeds in the future, but for now, he’s still a work in progress.

Rating: 5/10

I’ve been impressed with Ashley Phillips’ performances in recent games, and he looks ready to push on this season to make a strong case for being part of the squad next term. Ange Postecoglou will undoubtedly monitor his progress closely, and if Phillips continues to develop, he could be a valuable addition to Spurs’ defence.

Rating: 5/10

Odobert is an exciting player with immense potential, and I believe he has the talent to make the left-wing position his own should Spurs decide to rely on him. While he hasn’t played enough games to form a definitive opinion, the glimpses we’ve seen have been promising, and he could become a key player in the future.

Rating: 5/10

Radu Drăgușin has had some bad games, and fans understandably criticise him, but I think he’s been a solid addition to the squad overall. He’s still young at 21 and has room to improve, and while the system may not suit him perfectly, he has done a decent job as a backup option. I believe he will get better with time and experience.

Rating: 5.5/10

Brennan Johnson was a good signing, but I don’t think he’s quite first-team quality yet. He works better as a backup or impact player off the bench, although he has had his moments in a Spurs shirt. At £47.5m, I feel there were better options available, but he still has time to prove himself and improve.

Rating: 6.5/10

Vicario has been an excellent signing, as he fits Ange’s system perfectly with his ability to play out from the back, his good distribution, and his excellent shot-stopping. He has been a great addition to the squad, and I love how he contributes to starting attacks while being reliable between the sticks.

Rating: 6.5/10

Pedro Porro has been a solid addition, and his performances last season under Ange were very impressive; however, he has played a lot of games this season and looks like he could use a break. He’s such a good signing that Spurs would likely make a profit if they were to sell him, and he fits the system brilliantly.

Rating: 7/10

Dejan Kulusevski has been one of Spurs’ best players this season, and he suits Ange’s system perfectly with his work rate, creativity, pressing, and versatility. His market value has increased since he joined, and he has proven to be an excellent signing for the team.

Rating: 7.5/10

James Maddison was a much-needed signing, as Spurs required a creative midfielder, and Maddison delivered brilliantly, though his recent dip in form pushes him down this list. Overall, I think this transfer deserves a 8/10, as it addressed a key issue in the squad.

Rating: 8/10

Dominic Solanke has been fantastic in Ange’s system, as he plays the role of a tireless, relentless presser who drops deep to link up play. He has only started nine games this season but has already made a significant impact, and I rate this signing 9/10 as an ideal fit for Spurs.

Micky van de Ven has been immense, and his impact on the team cannot be overstated, as his recovery pace and ball-carrying ability are exactly what Spurs needed for their high line. Ange knew what he was getting with this signing, and Van de Ven has been exceptional. I rate this signing a 9.5/10, as he has transformed the defence.

In reality, if you look at the list you can say that when it comes to transfers, Ange has had a high success rate in terms of transfers with only just a few misses. The strategy in terms of transfers have changed for Spurs as they are now focusing on youth and if you are a fan you can only get excited for the future and if these young lads reach their full potential, then it will be really good.

Tottenham Hotspur have now played 17 games this season in all competitions, which gives us the perfect opportunity to really assess how every player has fared so far in the 2024/25 campaign.

While Ange Postecoglou’s side have made great progress in the Carabao Cup and the Europa League, Tottenham Hotspur have struggled for consistency in the Premier League and currently find themselves in 10th place in the table.

Oddly, the Lilywhites have been beating the teams they’re not expected to — smashing Aston Villa 4-1 and defeating Manchester City in the cup was not on the cards — and then have proceeded to lose to lowly Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town.

So, which players have shined the brightest for Spurs this season to date, and who has been letting the side down? We’ve taken a look at the first-team squad and rated them all out of ten for their displays so far.

Rating the Tottenham Hotspur players so far this season

In a nutshell, Spurs have been fairly strong in attack, and the form of Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski, and new arrival Dominic Solanke has been pleasing. Meanhwhile, the defence has really struggled.

Guglielmo Vicario – 6

Vicario continues to make some huge saves, and has stepped up as a leader, too, but is still unable to deal with set-pieces and cannot command his area. He needs to fix this as soon as possible or face being replaced.

Pedro Porro – 7

The Spaniard has been offering plenty going forward, and is one of Tottenham’s most creative players now. Still has some question marks hanging over the defensive side of his game, though.

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Cristian Romero – 4

There is no doubting that Cristian Romero is a defender of the absolute highest quality on his day, but Spurs fans are seeing that far too infrequently this season. The Argentina star has been losing his man too often, and doesn’t appear to be concentrating at all.

Micky van de Ven – 8

Micky van de Ven can hold his head high for the most part, having been as solid as ever at the back (aside from one poor showing against Brighton), and has even contributed two absolutely world class assists, too.

Destiny Udogie – 4

Another defender that has really looked off the pace and doesn’t appear to have his head in the game. Destiny Udogie has made big mistakes, is sloppy in possession, and is not offering enough in attack, either.

Yves Bissouma – 7

Bissouma has enjoyed quite the turnaround in fortunes since he was suspended at the start of the season by Postecoglou. Clearly, he’s had a point to prove, and has been composed in the middle of the park, while also chipping in with some goals.

Pape Matar Sarr – 8

The young midfielder has really taken his game to the next level this season, and is starting to properly influence games on the regular. Sarr is dynamic, can unlock opponents with his passing, and is also adding more goals, too.

Rodrigo Bentancur – 7

Is slowly looking like he’s back to his best after injury issues have plagued him for the last two years. The only problem is, Rodrigo Bentancur facing suspension for those stupid comments in the summer.

Brennan Johnson – 8

Went on a prolific run of six goals in six games for Spurs, so what else is there to say, really? If he can just improve his final ball, Brennan Johnson will be a top, top player.

Dejan Kulusevski – 9

Having moved into a central role this season, Kulusevski has been a revelation. He’s creating huge chances every game, scoring for himself, and is absolutely dictating games in his new playmaker role.

James Maddison – 6

Has lost his starting spot of late, which is a real concern as it’s not absolutely clear why. Maddison looked to be back to his best at the start of the season, but his influence has faded recently.

Heung-min Son – 7

Fitness issues aside, the Spurs captain has clearly still got it. He’s scoring goals, providing assists, and just needs to get back to top condition to be able to impact games more.

Dominic Solanke – 8

What a signing Solanke has proven to be. He’s pressing relentlessly, linking up nicely with his teammates, and scoring goals. Let’s just hope he can keep it up.

Tottenham Hotspur’s youngsters and fringe players

It’s a long season, and Spurs are competing across four different competitions, so Postecoglou needs his fringe players and youngsters to chip in. So far, some have, but plenty have more to do.

Fraser Forster – 5

Has played a couple of times, but looked really shaky against Galatasaray. That said, he did make a couple of incredible saves there, too.

Djed Spence – 6

It’s been great to see Djed Spence back in the fold, but we haven’t seen enough of him yet. When he has played, he’s been solid enough, though.

Ben Davies – 7

Tottenham’s mister reliable has still not let the team down, and continues to be a brilliant squad player who can step in and offer experience and quality in cup games.

Radu Dragusin – 3

Sadly, it has been a pretty disastrous season for Radu Dragusin. The Romanian defender has a big chance to turn things around now with Micky van de Ven out injured, but he needs to drastically improve his discipline and awareness, and get a lot better in possession, too.

Archie Gray – 7

The youngster has already played across the whole back four and in midfield, and has done really well in every role he’s been asked to take on. While there have been some signs of nerves, Archie Gray looks set to be a top player for Spurs.

Lucas Bergvall – 5

Will be disappointed with his progress so far early in his Spurs career. Has played a bit part here and there, but has shown signs of quality, too. Once he settles and gets more consistent game time, Bergvall will be fine.

Timo Werner – 4

You cannot fault Timo Werner for his effort levels, and his goal against Manchester City might just be the best moment of the whole season so far, but he’s really lacking composure in front of goal and it’s costing Spurs massively.

Mikey Moore – 7

Spurs fans have been delighted to see Mikey Moore step into the first-team this season, and he’s not disappointed with his performances, either. A standout display in the Europa League against AZ Alkmaar has been one of the most exciting things Tottenham fans have witnessed this term.

Will Lankshear – 6

Will Lankshear hasn’t had an abundance of opportunities, but he’s enjoyed his time in the Europa League for the most part, especially getting his first senior goal against Galatasaray. It’s just a shame he got sent off later in that game.

Aston Villa have reportedly jumped ahead of Tottenham Hotspur and other clubs in the queue to sign one Premier League midfielder in January.

Spurs are showing interest in Chelsea player

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has struggled to get game time since his switch to Chelsea in the summer and it has emerged that the Blues are considering offloading the midfielder.

Earlier this week it was claimed that the Blues were looking to loan out the 26-year-old, with Spurs, Aston Villa and Newcastle said to be showing interest in Dewsbury-Hall.

It was explained that Unai Emery was a big fan of the former Leicester City man while Ange Postecoglou sees the player as a potential solution to Tottenham’s creativity woes.

Aston Villa in talks over a deal for Dewsbury-Hall

According to Fichajes, Chelsea are not just open to loaning the midfielder but are also open to a permanent sale in January.

It is revealed that the Villans have already started working on a deal to sign Dewsbury-Hall on an initial loan deal with an option to buy.

However, there is thought to be some distance between the valuations of the two clubs, with the Blues insisting on a £30m option to buy and the Villa Park outfit proposing an option of £18.2m.

Will Tottenham enter the transfer race?

We know that Chelsea and Tottenham have not done any business since the infamous Willian saga, and the fact that Spurs missed on Conor Gallagher in the summer might be evidence that the deadlock between the two sides may continue.

That might make it quite tricky for the Lilywhites to edge out Villa in the race, but I would not be surprised if Tottenham do attempt a deal for Dewsbury-Hall.

Journalist Graeme Bailey reveals what his sources at Hotspur Way are saying about the possibility of Archie Gray being loaned out in January.

Archie Gray is subject to plenty of loan interest

Archie Gray is still waiting for his first Premier League start, but the youngster has impressed in the Carabao Cup and the Europa League this season.

The 18-year-old is thought to be on the radar of several Championship and Premier League sides, with Tottenham expecting a barrage of loan requests to arrive during the January transfer window (GiveMeSport).

However, various outlets have claimed over recent days that Spurs have no plans of letting the teenager leave on loan while the youngster is also keen on remaining at the club (TBR Football).

Graeme Bailey provides an update on Archie Gray

Bailey, who is clued up on the latest happenings in the world of football transfers, has revealed that his sources at Tottenham have played down talks of Gray leaving the club in a temporary deal.

He asserted that even though the youngster is not getting into Ange Postecoglou‘s first-choice eleven, the summer signing is still seen as a vital part of the squad.

When asked about Gray’s future, Bailey told The Spurs News: “They see a future for him, Leeds might be one of the teams in the mix for him, but there are no plans to loan him back. Spurs haven’t got the biggest squad, especially in some areas and they are happy with what he is doing so far.

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“Obviously, you could argue with the way Spurs play with just one holding midfielder, it doesn’t lend itself to him getting game time at the minute.

“At the moment, in the system Ange is playing, he isn’t going to start but he is still a vital part of the club. He’s also learning every day, he’s playing with better players and from what I’m told, they don’t see the need for him to go out on loan.”

Gray might finally get an opportunity in his favoured position

While Gray has impressed as a part of the Tottenham backline, Rodrigo Bentancur‘s suspension might open the door for the youngster to get opportunities in the middle of the park.

It was the England Under-21 man’s performances in midfield for Leeds last season that made him such a hot property, and he will be keen to grab the chances he gets with both hands.

Former Leeds United midfielder David Norris believes that one on-loan Tottenham star should be concerned by the developments of the last few weeks as he fights to establish himself as a regular starter.

Things have not gone according to plan for Manor Solomon

When Manor Solomon made the decision to move to Leeds United on loan in the summer, the winger would have felt that he would be a regular starter for the Championship side.

However, the Israeli international has suffered an injury setback which saw him miss four matches, and he has not been a regular in Daniel Farke’s starting eleven since returning to action.

The Tottenham man did start Leeds’ last game against QPR and lasted 72 minutes before being replaced by Dan James.

Should Manor Solomon be concerned?

David Norris believes that Solomon should be concerned about his current situation at Elland Road, but insists that it is not time to panic just yet.

The pundit suggested that the former Fulham man looks like a man who is devoid of confidence at the moment.

When asked about Solomon’s predicament at Leeds, Norris told MOT Leeds News: “I think I’d be concerned about it a little bit, but wouldn’t be overly panicked.

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“If you lose a bit of confidence through his injury or not getting straight back to producing like how he started, it could be quite hard. Especially at a place like Leeds with the demand.

“It feels like he’s lacking that sort of confidence. It doesn’t look like he’s at the level he showed he can perform at, but it’s an area Farke does sometimes have options which helps.”

Solomon’s big challenge

If Solomon can remain fit for the rest of the season, he will feel that he has a decent shot at becoming a mainstay in the Farke’s side and making an impact.

The Spurs man’s biggest challenge will be to ensure that he does not break down, given the issues he has faced over the last 15 months.