The Spurs Web

Tottenham Hotspur have set their sights on a player who is considered the best young talent in Serbian football but they are not the only club who have made advances.

Spurs eyeing move for teenage attacker

Tottenham have secured some of the best young players in world football over the last 18 months and it looks like they are now plotting a move for another highly-rated youngster.

According to TBR Football, the Lilywhites are now eying a move for Red Star Belgrade starlet Andrija Maksimovic, who has been extremely impressive since breaking into the club’s starting eleven.

The 17-year-old has already been capped twice by the Serbian national team and it seems like a bidding war might soon ensue for the youngster.

Tottenham could face plenty of competition

TBR Football say that not only Spurs, but also Newcastle United and Chelsea have taken a ‘keen interest’ in Maksimovic, who is considered by many to be one of the top young prospects in world football.

Apart from those three sides, a host of other Premier League clubs have also allegedly checked in on the attacking midfielder, while Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Marseille, and Juventus are also keeping tabs on him.

The publication adds that even if any of these clubs were to strike a deal for the Red Star Belgrade youngster, he would not be able to leave Serbia until next summer when he turns 18.

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Andrija Maksimovic’s playing style

Maskmivoic is a number ten by trade but he can operate deeper as an eight or even on the right flank.

In a scouting article, Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig likened him to Colombia icon James Rodriguez for his creative ability and his natural talent to find space between the lines.

He described the silky left-footer as someone who is ‘extremely elegant’ on the ball and possesses ‘a truly futsal-esque technique’ and a ‘very high football IQ’

Paul Robinson reveals what he has heard about Tottenham’s resolute plan amidst interest from a Premier League rival in one of their key players.

Tottenham star now a wanted man

Pedro Porro has been one of Tottenham’s most consistent performers of the Ange Postecoglou era and he has arguably been the best right-back on show in the Premier League so far this season.

The defender’s performances have reportedly caught the attention of some of Europe’s biggest clubs ahead of the January transfer window.

Over the last two weeks, both Real Madrid (The Athletic) and Manchester City (Football Insider) have been credited with an interest in the Spain international.

Tottenham fighting to keep Pedro Porro

However, it has been suggested by some sources that Spurs are desperate to keep the 25-year-old at the club and are even preparing to offer him a new contract in the hope of tying him down (TBR Football).

That is exactly what Robinson has heard, with the former Spurs number one claiming that the right-back is the sort of player the Lilywhites need to hold on to if they harbour hopes of challenging for the biggest trophies.

When asked about Man City’s rumoured interest in Porro, the pundit told Football Insider: “[I] Wouldn’t like to see it from a Tottenham point of view. He’s certainly one that is on the radar for Manchester City.

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“From Tottenham’s point of view, they are fighting tooth and nail to keep him. If they want to be competing in those Champions League places, you need players like that and you certainly don’t need to be selling, I’m going to say, to ‘rivals’.

“Now Tottenham aren’t really title contenders are they? So they’re not really a direct rival, but actually, a player like Poro would fit into that Manchester City team.”

“When he plays in that hybrid role, he’s a player who often finds himself isolated up the pitch, high up the pitch, but his quality lies in the final third with his delivery, with his visions, with his passes.

“And he’s got great delivery as well and he’s not afraid to shoot. He’s definitely a player that you could see working in that Pep Guardiola system, as much as that pains me to say it.”

Tottenham well protected

Porro is contracted to Spurs until the summer of 2028, which is why the North London club would not be losing sleep over the transfer interest.

There is no doubt that Daniel Levy would price Manchester City and Real Madrid out of a deal if they make a move in January or next summer.

Beyond that, the club’s chances of tying down the Spaniard for the long-term depend on whether there are genuine signs of progress.

Tottenham Hotspur may struggle to sign Palmeiras wonderkid Vitor Reis, who has made up his mind on the kind of club he wants to move to, according to his agent.

Tottenham eyeing Brazilian starlet

Spurs are reportedly keen on reinforcing their options at the back in January and one player who is thought to be on their radar is Vitor Reis, who has impressed since breaking into Palmeiras’ starting eleven.

It seems like only a matter of time before the 18-year-old makes the switch to Europe and it was reported by TBR Football earlier this month that Tottenham were considering a move for him.

The report asserted that the teenager is ready to leave his boyhood club at the turn of the year but it would take the right kind of offer to persuade Palmeiras who are not in a hurry to cash in on him.

Agent’s comments come as a blow to Spurs

Agent Claudio Fiorito, CEO of P&P Sport Management Brasil, which is the agency that represents Reis, has now made an admission about the defender’s future, which comes as a blow to Tottenham’s chances of signing him.

Fiorito explained that the centre-back is ready to make the jump to Europe but has his heart set on moving to a club which can offer him Champions League football.

When asked about Reis’ future, the agent told CNN Brazil: “We try to work on this in a very natural way, also because of the athlete’s anxiety, so that it doesn’t interfere with his day-to-day life. So that he can always stay focused.

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“Vitor has a dream of playing in the Champions League and we will work to make this happen somehow. I think he has already planted this [idea in his head] in the last few years, and the results are starting to appear.”

Do Arsenal have an advantage in the transfer race?

TBR Football had previously revealed that Spurs are not the only Premier League side after Reis, with London rivals, Arsenal and Chelsea also thought to be on his trail.

If the centre-back does decide to leave Palmeiras in January, that would give the Gunners an advantage as they can offer the youngster Champions League football this season.

However, Spurs can perhaps convince the teenager that he can play in Europe’s premier club tournament next season if they are in and around the Champions League places by January.

Strong performances from Tottenham squad players in the Europa League is creating a pool of individuals eager for more minutes. However, one in particular is being advised to remain patient at this stage.

Players eager to prove themselves

The ideology behind Tottenham’s squad building has provided Ange Postecoglou with a collection of experienced senior players, supported by a number of Europe’s most sought-after young players.

The scouting department and Ange Postecoglou worked hard to identify potential signings like Archie Gray and Wilson Odobert, who could contribute to the squad now and in the future.

This balance gives Postecoglou the profiles he deems essential for a squad in his image as well as a fleet of individuals desperate for the opportunity to prove themselves in senior men’s football.

While still involved in multiple competitions, these young players will certainly earn themselves chances to demonstrate their value, but there will inevitably be rumours of frustration along the way.

However, many watching from the outside plead patience and say that these players are currently in the right place. This has been suggested in particular for one of Tottenham’s brightest prospects.

Big career steps take time

Olof Lundh, who is Fotbollskanalen’s Premier League specialist, has been speaking about the development of Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall. In regard to Bergvall’s place at Tottenham, he said (FotballSkonalen via Sport Witness): “He must be patient. Everything is pointing in the right direction.

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“It is so unusual for players to go from Allsvenskan to the Premier League and take a place. If you are so young, even if he has taken huge steps, and hasn’t played very many at the highest level even in Sweden – then you have to have a little patience.

“Otherwise, the gap between the Premier League and Allsvenskan is huge. And if you are his age, you get to see all the minutes in the first season as a bonus. Everything still points in the right direction.”

Although Bergvall has already managed to make multiple appearances this season, gaining significant minutes and showing he is clearly a part of Postecoglou’s plans, Lundh suggests there could still be plenty to come.

“I don’t think I would have pressed for a loan already until this spring. Tottenham play a lot of games, and it could open up with an injury or similar.”

This will all be a part of Tottenham’s plan

When Bergvall joined Tottenham, there were reports that he was convinced by the quality of Tottenham’s presentation, knowing his strengths and weaknesses and a plan on how to help him develop. This was followed in August with further reports that Bergvall’s impressive preseason had altered Spurs’ transfer plans as they believe he is ready to contribute.

While there is still some adjustment required for Bergvall to match the pace of the Premier League, playing with the Tottenham squad feels like the best place to achieve that growth. Under the guidance of the Tottenham coaching staff and compatriot, Dejan Kulusevski, Bergvall is likely to develop best in an environment focused on nurturing him.

Already well ahead of schedule in terms of his development, Lundh’s analysis is correct that Bergvall is moving in the right direction and that patience on his part is likely to reap significant rewards.

Tottenham Hotspur have now faced defeat in their pursuit of a 17-year-old forward, who is seen as one of the most exciting young talents in Europe by many in the game.

Tottenham’s policy of buying emerging talent

While Spurs signed a lot of experienced, readymade players under Antonio Conte, their transfer policy has changed completely since Ange Postecoglou arrived through the door, with the Lilywhites now preferring to sign young, up-and-coming players.

The likes of Alejo Veliz, Luka Vuskovic, Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Wilson Odobert have all been signed by the North London club under the Australian’s watch.

It turns out that Spurs also had their sights on exciting Georgian teenager Vakhtang Salia, but they have been beaten to his signature by a fellow Premier League side.

Spurs unable to seal the deal

This claim is being carried by HITC, who say that Tottenham are one of many big clubs around Europe who had expressed an interest in Salia, whose performances for Dinamo Tbilisi have impressed many scouts across the game.

However, it is Newcastle United who have reportedly been successful in agreeing a deal with the 17-year-old forward, who can play upfront, on the left or as a number ten.

The Magpies are thought to have reached a full agreement with the forward’s camp as well as Dinamo Tbilisi regarding a switch to St James’ Park.

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One that got away for Spurs?

Salia is considered to be a potential future star by many talent spotters, with the forward being likened to Georgian star Kvicha Kvaratskhelia for his direct and enterprising style.

HITC reveal that apart from Spurs and Newcastle, the youngster was also on the radars of Arsenal, Manchester City, Barcelona, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid.

The signing thus looks like a real coup for Newcastle and a big missed opportunity for Spurs.

While Tottenham Hotspur are sitting near the top of the Premier League in many key metrics this season, they do poorly in one stat, which sticks out like a sore thumb.

Tottenham’s outstanding stats

While Spurs will be disappointed by some of their results this season, all the underlying stats suggest that their performances have been up there with the best teams in Europe.

According to DataMB, Tottenham are the most efficient at pressing in the Premier League this season while also creating more chances per 90 minutes than any other team in the division.

Further, Spurs rank among the top tier in Europe when it comes to counter-attacking, possession and goals.

Tottenham do poorly in one area

However, The Athletic have now pointed out that Tottenham have plenty of room for improvement when it comes to their corner conversion rate.

Spurs have taken 76 corners in eight Premier League games this season, joint-most with champions Manchester City, but have scored twice from them.

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That means that the Lilywhites are scoring just once in every 36 corner kicks. For context, Arsenal had the best record in converting from corners last season, finding the back of the net once every 16.5 deliveries, more than twice as efficient as Spurs this season.

Tottenham’s decline in corner-conversion

The Athletic point out that Tottenham were joint-top of the Premier League with 13 goals from corners in the 2022-23 season.

The club had a set-piece specialist, Gianni Vio, in charge of the routines at the time. The Italian departed the club last year after Ange Postecoglou came through the door.

The report reveals that Nick Montgomery, who joined the club as assistant coach in the summer, is currently in charge of set-piece routines.

Nedum Onuoha believes that one senior Tottenham star remains an extremely key player for the North London side despite being on the receiving end of criticism over recent days.

Spurs midfielder now under the spotlight

Ange Postecoglou’s decision to take James Maddison off and bring on Pape Sarr at half-time against West Ham gave Tottenham’s midfield much better balance, with the home side blowing the Hammers away at the start of the second period.

The Spurs vice-captain was also hooked with 30 minutes left on the clock when the Lilywhites were searching for an equaliser against Crystal Palace.

That has led to a conversation regarding Maddison’s place in the team and whether the attacking midfielder belongs in Tottenham’s best eleven.

Tony Cascarino has said that the 27-year-old place in the Spurs side is no longer guaranteed (The Sunday Times) while Robbie Earle has suggested that the England star is a luxury player who does not work hard enough (The Two Robbies podcast).

Nedum Onuoha defends James Maddison

However, Onuoha is not convinced that Tottenham are necessarily better with Maddison, pointing out that the midfielder still continues to be valued highly by Ange Postecoglou.

The former Man City man wrote in his column for BBC Sport: “It does not feel fair to say Maddison does not work hard enough, especially given Ange Postecoglou starts him often.

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“Yes, he has been substituted off in recent weeks but that is probably more to do with tactics. Postecoglou knows the balance of his team and what is right in each moment.

“His desire and impact on the game is the same as other people’s, so if he is not doing well in this moment then it is not because he is a bad player. It is the same for one or two other players in the team as well.”

Maddison’s role as a leader

Onuoha further pointed out that Maddison adds a lot to the Tottenham squad from a leadership perspective both on and off the pitch. The pundit backed the former Leicester City star to return to his best sooner rather than later.

The 37-year-old added: “His role as vice-captain goes beyond just being a leader on the pitch and is also important out on the training ground. It is about being respected and Postecoglou chose him because of that.

“If Postecoglou was not picking him altogether then that would suggest a larger issue. But as a manager, he is very good at picking players in the moment for the game at hand. It will click at Tottenham and that is when we will also get back to seeing the best of Maddison.”

It has now been more than 16 years since Tottenham Hotspur last won a trophy, so let’s take a look at the League Cup-winning side of 2008 and see where they are right now.

Spurs beat Chelsea to lift the trophy in 2008

On the 24th February 2008, Spurs and Chelsea faced each other at Wembley, in the first League Cup final to be held at the then-new stadium.

Spurs made it all the way to the final after defeating Middlesbrough, Blackpool, Manchester City, and London rivals Arsenal in the previous rounds.

On the day, Chelsea took the lead in the first half thanks to a goal from Didier Drogba. The Lilywhites pulled level with a Dimitar Berbatov penalty, and then, in the dying moments, a header by Jonathan Woodgate sealed the victory for Juande Ramos’ team.

Where are the players now?

Here, we look at the starting XI from that glorious Tottenham league cup day, and see what they are up to since their playing career ended.

Paul Robinson

The iconic Spurs goalkeeper actually left the club in the summer of 2008 to join Blackburn Rovers. He stayed there for seven years, and later spent a short time with Burnley before retiring in 2017. Robinson now largely works as a pundit across several publications and makes appearances on sports broadcasts.

Alan Hutton

Hutton played for various other clubs post-Spurs, including Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Bolton, and Mallorca. The Scotsman retired in 2020 and is now a pundit, who writes for Football Insider on a regular basis.

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Ledley King

Ledley King is a bonafide Spurs legend. He only ever played for the club, developing through the academy, making over 300 appearances, and eventually retiring in 2012. He was skipper on the day Spurs won the cup, and has since operated as a coach at the club, but now holds an ambassadorial role.

Jonathan Woodgate

Tottenham’s match-winner on the day in 2008. The centre-half left Spurs in 2011 to join Stoke City, and later rejoined Middlesbrough a year later. He retired there in 2016, and has gone on to take up a coaching role with the North East side, working under Michael Carrick.

Pascal Chimbonda

Pascal Chimbonda was a cult hero and one of Tottenham’s most revered Barclaysmen. His career saw him play for multiple clubs after his time at White Hart Lane, including Sunderland, Blackburn, QPR, and also spending time in Portugal and France. At the age of 45, he is actually still playing football, as a player-coach at Skelmersdale in the North West Counties League Division.

Aaron Lennon

The former Tottenham winger stayed at the club for years after that League Cup win, before joining Everton in 2015. He later turned out for Burnley, Turkish outfit Kayserispor, and then went back to Burnley where he retired in 2022. Lennon is now working with his boyhood club Leeds United as a coach.

Jermaine Jenas

Jenas left Spurs in 2011 to join Aston Villa on loan, and then returned to his boyhood club, Nottingham Forest, on loan in 2012. He played for QPR from 2013 to 2014 before retiring and taking up a career in sports broadcasting, working for the BBC on Match of the Day, and also hosting the One Show.

Didier Zokora

Another real journeyman of the game, Didier Zokora played for 12 clubs in his career, with stints at Sevilla, Trabzonspor, and Indian outfit Pune City, before retiring in 2017. Zokora has taken up a career in coaching since, and is now assistant manager at Ivory Coast club AFAD Djékanou.

Steed Malbranque

Steed Malbranque left Spurs in the summer of 2008 to join Sunderland. He later played for Saint-Etienne before taking a career break for a year. In fact, Malbranque took a few career breaks, but kept coming out of retirement to turn out for Lyon, MDA Chasselay, and FC Limonest. He finally retired for good in 2021.

Robbie Keane

The prolific Robbie Keane left for Liverpool shortly after the League Cup win, but returned to White Hart Lane the following year. He would later play for Celtic, West Ham, LA Galaxy, and Aston Villa before taking up a career in coaching. The Irishman was manager of Maccabi Tel Aviv until this summer.

Dimitar Berbatov

Dimitar Berbatov joined Manchester United in September 2008 and excelled with the Red Devils. He later played for Fulham, Monaca, PAOK Salonika, and retired at Indian side Kerala Blasters in 2018. He has since appeared on various sports broadcasts, but is primarily looking to change the way Bulgarian football works from the top down.

Leon Osman believes it is clear where Tottenham Hotspur have to improve if they are to compete in the top end of the Premier League table.

Tottenham’s worrying away record

Spurs’ away record last season was poor, and that is an area where Ange Postecoglou would have wanted to see a big improvement in his second season.

However, we have got more of the same so far, with the Lilywhites having won just one and lost three of their five away games in the Premier League this season.

That means that, overall, Tottenham have only won 33.3 per cent of their away fixtures in the Premier League since Postecoglou has taken charge.

Leon Osman on what is holding Tottenham back

Osmon believes that Spurs’ struggles away from home is holding them back from reaching the next level, pointing out that their record at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been more than decent.

The former Everton man said on Optus Sports’ The Weekend Wrap about Tottenham’s away record: “It’s what’s holding them back. Their home record is still relatively good, where they pick up the majority of their points, but if you’re going to compete in the league towards the Champions League positions especially, your away record has to represent that.

“You have to be able to go away from home and be difficult to beat. You show character in those moments and I don’t think I’ve seen him as frosty as that in interviews.”

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Reacting to Postecoglou’s frosty post-match interview, Osman suggested that the Tottenham boss appeared particularly disappointed that his side were not able to match Palace’s fight on Sunday.

The pundit added: “I’ve played in teams where you come in after the game and you can be outplayed at times, the opposition can show more quality, but they better not have outworked us, outfought us and shown more battle.

“That’s something that should be a given and he (Postecoglou) seems really disappointed with that performance today.”

Tottenham regressing away from home

Tottenham’s performances in their first two away games of the season (Leicester and Newcastle) were extremely impressive, even though they only had a point to show for their efforts.

It seemed like they had turned a corner when they delivered another dominant away display against Man Utd and came away with a 3-0 win.

However, since then, they have taken several steps backwards, with the displays at the Amex Stadium and Selhurst Park looking more like the Spurs side we saw away from home last season.

Tottenham Hotspur have a huge Carabao Cup round of 16 clash against Manchester City up next, and here is all that you need to know about how and where to watch the fixture.

Season-defining fixture

Ange Postecoglou has made some bold declarations about winning a trophy in his second season at Spurs, which is why the game against Man City is potentially a season-defining one for the Lilywhites.

A win against the Premier League champions would be a much-needed morale boost for Spurs on the back of a harrowing defeat at Selhurst Park, and would also put them just two games away from a big Wembley final.

When and where is the game?

The game will take place on Wednesday, 30 October, and it will be held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

That is good news for Postecoglou’s men who have a good record at home so far this season while they continue to struggle to get results away from home.

Additionally, Pep Gurdiola’s men have a poor record in N17, with Tottenham proving to be a bogey ground for City over recent years.

How to watch the game?

The kick-off for the clash on Wednesday is scheduled for 20:15 (UK).

The game will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Ultra HD, Sky GO, NOW TV and Sky Sports +.

We are yet to have confirmation on the team news for Spurs ahead of the game, with the fitness of the captain, Heung-min Son being the biggest question mark, particularly given the South Korean’s formidable record against Man City.