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Tottenham Hotspur welcome AZ Alkmaar to North London on the 24th of October, looking to maintain their strong Europa League form.

Spurs sit third in their group with six points from two matches, while Alkmaar are in a tough spot with only three points. Both teams come into this game with contrasting fortunes, and this matchup could be a critical step in Spurs’ pursuit of European success.

What time does Tottenham v AZ Alkmaar kick-off?

How both teams enter Tottenham vs AZ Alkmaar

Tottenham head into this game off a dominant 4-1 win over West Ham United, a result that adds to their strong run of form. With four wins in their last five games, Ange Postecoglou’s men are building momentum in both domestic and European competitions.

AZ Alkmaar, on the other hand, are enduring a rough patch. They have lost four consecutive games, including a 1-2 home defeat to PSV in the Eredivisie. With only one win from their last five matches, Alkmaar will be desperate to turn things around.

Tottenham Team News

Spurs are in good shape heading into this clash. Mikey Moore and Archie Gray are expected to feature after impressing in earlier Europa League matches, while Lucas Bergvall will likely retain his spot after assisting in the last European fixture. Wilson Odobert remains the only absentee due to a hamstring injury but is nearing a return. Djed Spence is not eligible to play either way.

AZ Alkmaar Team News

There’s no confirmation yet on the availability of the Ghanian forward, Ibrahim Sadiq, who missed Alkmaar’s last game. The forward has been in excellent form this season, contributing 7 goals and assists in 8 games. If fit, he could pose a serious threat to Tottenham’s defence. AZ will also look to Troy Parrott, who will be facing his former team. Wouter Goes is likely the only confirmed player to miss the game.

Predicted Tottenham Line-Up

Vicario; Gray, Romero, Drǎguşin, Davies; Sarr, Bentancur, Bergvall; Moore, Richarlison, Werner.

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Our Prediction

Tottenham will be eager to secure the top spot in their Europa League group, and this home fixture against a struggling AZ Alkmaar provides a prime opportunity. Spurs’ defence has looked more cohesive, and Radu Drǎguşin, fresh from his goal for Romania, will be key to their efforts. After an early red card in the competition, Drǎguşin will be determined to make amends and prove his quality on the European stage.

AZ Alkmaar, struggling with form, will look to Troy Parrott, who has been in solid scoring form with six goals in 11 games. His ability to receive progressive passes, demonstrated by a record of 54, means Spurs will need to be wary of their high defensive line.

However, given Spurs’ firepower and AZ’s recent slump, it’s hard to see the Dutch side causing too many problems. Tottenham should take advantage of Alkmaar’s vulnerabilities and secure a convincing win.

Dejan Kulusevski puts his improvement this season at Tottenham down to the changes he made during the summer break.

Dejan Kulusvski hits new heights

There is now ample evidence that this is the year Dejan Kulusevski finally explodes and lives up to the potential he has always had.

The change of position has worked a treat for the Swede, who appears to be getting better and better with each passing game.

He continues to receive plenty of praise, with Glenn Hoddle even suggesting that the 24-year-old’s display against the Hammers was the best he has seen of the player in a Spurs shirt so far (TNT Sports).

Kulusevski’s on change he has incorporated

Kulusevski was asked after the 4-1 win against West Ham about the reason why he has been able to take his game to the next level.

The attacker responded on SpursPlay: “Yeah, I know because every season I just get better and better because I understand what I am doing wrong and I’m understanding things to improve.

“This was my plan in the summer, to work on the things I want to work on so I changed my mindset and I even started training even more than before and this is only the beginning. I know I can play much better than this so I just want to keep on improving and become one of the best players in the world.”

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When the host Ben Haines asked if he meant physically, the Tottenham man added: “Yeah, absolutely. I changed my training routine and that’s why you can’t understand everything when you’re young. Every year you get experience and you improve on every side of the football.”

Kulusevski maturing as a footballer

Apart from the physical and tactical improvements that Kulusevski has made, it is also clear that he now understands his game much better.

The former Juventus man seems to have come of age and given how high a ceiling he has always had, there is not really much of a limit to just how good he can become.

Tottenham Hotspur could be tempted to push ahead with a move for a Bundesliga starlet who is turning a lot of heads with his performances this season.

The player in question is Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, who has developed impressively since swapping Man City for Borussia Dortmund back in 2020 and has now established himself as a regular in the Bundesliga side.

The exciting winger has been on fire at the start of this season, with four goals and two assists to his name so far and this has reportedly attracted interest from the Premier League.

It was reported by The Mirror last week that Spurs were one of the clubs having an eye on the youngster ahead of the January window.

Tottenham tempted to make a move

Football Insider have now claimed that Spurs are ‘tracking the progress’ of Bynoe-Gittens and could look to bring him through the door when the transfer window reopens.

It is explained that signing a winger is not a priority for Ange Postecoglou’s men at the moment, but they could be tempted to land the Dortmund starlet if he becomes available.

The outlet suggests that the young attacker is a good fit for the profile of players that Tottenham want to sign as a part of their long-term project.

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Deal will not be easy

However, it is made clear that Tottenham would have to pay a ‘steep price’ to bring Bynoe-Gittens through the door in January.

This is because the youngster is contracted until 2028 at the Westfalenstadion and is rated very highly at the German club.

Furthermore, Ange Postecoglou’s men may have to see off competition from other top Premier League sides to sign the England Under-21 international.

Tottenham Hotspur are now leading the race to sign a new left-back to offer competition to Destiny Udogie in North London.

Patrick Dorgu attracting plenty of interest

Dorgu has emerged as one of the most exciting young wing-backs in the Serie A over the last year and a half, and the 19-year-old is thought to be attracting plenty of interest from the Premier League.

It has emerged over recent months that Tottenham are keen on securing the teenager’s services (Gazzetta dello Sport), while Chelsea also has a keen eye on his development (TuttoJuve).

However, Lecce announced on Friday that the youngster had penned a new long-term contract until 2029.

Tottenham favourites to sign Dorgu

FiorentinaNews now claim that even though Dorgu has extended his deal, that certainly does not rule out a departure from Lecce.

The report says that both Spurs and Chelsea are still circling the left-back, with Ange Postecoglou’s men currently at the front of the queue to land the player.

It is explained that Lecce offered the defender a new contract so that they could get a bigger fee for him when he departs.

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Will be on the move next summer

The outlet suggests that Dorgu is expected to see out the remainder of the season at Lecce but he is ‘very likely’ to depart the club next summer.

It is asserted that the Serie A club hope to make a huge profit on the Denmark international, who they signed for a measly €200k.

Lecce are allegedly hoping that a bidding war ensues for the full-back so that they pocket a big fee.

Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa could battle it out for one of Europe’s most prolific strikers in 2025.

Tottenham’s Jonathan David pursuit

Over recent weeks, a number of outlets have suggested that Spurs could enter the market for a striker in January, with Lille’s Jonathan David said to be near the top of the North London club’s wishlist (Football Insider).

The Canadian international has made an outstanding start to the new season, having found the back of the net eight times and provided two assists in 13 matches across all competitions (Transfermarkt).

Tottenham set for transfer battle in January

Tutto Juve have now backed up Spurs’ interest in David while they also name Premier League rivals, Aston Villa, as contenders for the striker’s signature.

They assert that the 24-year-old has decided against renewing his current deal at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, which runs out at the end of next season.

The forward’s displays in the Champions League this season and his contract situation are thought to be attracting quite a bit of attention.

Deal will not be straightforward

The outlet says that the deal will involve some complications as David expects a ‘huge salary’ at his next club while the agent commission for the deal is also expected to be high.

This is the reason why it would be difficult for the likes of AC Milan and Atletico Madrid to complete the deal while Barcelona are looking at other alternatives due to the cost of the operation.

Juventus continue to show interest in the Lille star but the publication adds that they would have to ‘watch out’ for competition from Spurs and Villa.

After adding several of Europe’s best football prospects to their ranks, Tottenham continue their transfer strategy by targeting more outstanding talents.

Signings for now and the future

Tottenham under Ange Postecoglou have been undergoing a complete transformation on and off the pitch. In collaboration with Technical Director, Johan Lange, Postecoglou’s target to build a team in his footballing image and shape the future of Tottenham Hotspur has been an unwavering focus.

Spurs are hoping to achieve this by adhering to a transfer strategy which will make Tottenham the home of Europe’s biggest talents. Four of the five deals concluded over the summer were for players under the age of 20.

Archie Gray, Wilson Odobert and Lucas Bergvall have all joined Tottenham being lauded as some of the most promising players in their age group, with Yang Min-Hyeok to join in January and Mikey Moore rising from Spurs’ Academy.

Lange has spoken about a distinct shift to Tottenham’s transfer strategy being ‘data-informed’, while Postecoglou has established his need for players with the right attitude who can contribute now and develop more in the future. This has already led to the likes of Destiny Udogie and Pape Matar Sarr being established first team members and Tottenham are looking to continue this approach.

Tottenham continue to target special talents

Transfer correspondent, Pete O’Rourke confirmed on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast that this transfer ideology is one Tottenham have “implemented to strengthen the squad going forward”.

This was in relation to Tottenham’s interest in a deal for Lecce’s star teenager, Patrick Dorgu (Football Insider). Considered one of the most exciting young players in Serie A, Dorgu possesses the qualities of versatility and attacking intent, which makes it easy to imagine him alongside the other elite under-21 players already at Tottenham.

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Finding outstanding talent before other top clubs is the goal of every recruitment department. After claiming Gray and Bergvall before Brentford and Barcelona were able to secure deals, Tottenham appear committed to pursuing this ideology after these transfer successes.

The joy of watching players develop

What is so exciting about these transfers for Tottenham is that they already have the ability to contribute to the first-team, while also having the potential to grow into players of the highest quality.

Gray, Bergvall and Odobert are already showing that they possess equal technical quality to established senior footballers. Their natural physical development and senior match experience will only help them grow and improve with time.

There is no greater feeling than when a young footballer at your club announces themself. Those who watched Gareth Bale’s hat-trick in Milan knew in that moment there was a player who would go to the heights of European football.

The joy for Spurs fans going forward is that with so many talented young players in their squad, with surely more to be signed going forward, there are plenty of these Milan moments to come.

After his red card for violent conduct in the defeat against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend, West Ham star Mohammed Kudus is in line for a potential six-game ban according to former referee Mike Dean.

Monumental head loss for Mohammed Kudus

The Ghanaian forward may have given West Ham the lead in the London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, but Kudus did not even make it to the end of the game after picking up a red card in the 86th minute.

It is still not quite clear what provoked the intense reaction from Kudus, who lashed out at Micky van de Ven, striking the Spurs defender in the face.

This incident sparked chaos on the pitch, with numerous players involved. Among the fracas, Kudus also made contact with Pape Matar Sarr‘s face, too.

The West Ham man was given a yellow card by referee Andrew Madley, but this was later escalated to a straight red after VAR intervention.

Big ban incoming for Kudus

Kudus will now serve a standard three-match suspension for the red card, but this could be extended to up to six matches.

According to Mike Dean, this is exactly what should happen, and he believes Kudus should be reprimanded for the attack on van de Ven and Sarr as two separate incidents.

Dean told Sky Sports: “Hopefully with the second one the FA will then take retrospective action so he’ll get done twice in my opinion, because he’s hit two different players in the face on two occasions.”

Kudus is still a top player

He may have sullied his reputation somewhat with that incident at the weekend, but Kudus is still a brilliant player and he’s definitely the most exciting talent West Ham have in their squad. He would be a great fit for Spurs, and it’s a shame we didn’t sign him when we were looking at him last year.

Amanda Staveley has been making rather big moves with her businesses of late, but finance expert Stefan Borson suggests these actions should not impact any potential takeover she fronts at Tottenham Hotspur.

Amanda Staveley shutting down businesses

After leaving Newcastle United in the summer, persistent rumours have claimed Amanda Staveley is looking for her next project, and sees Tottenham as the perfect football club to invest in next.

There is a belief that would fit with Daniel Levy‘s plans to find outside investment to take Spurs to the next level both on and off the pitch.

However, the latest developments in Staveley’s situation have been rather confusing and complex. While Staveley was spotted at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last weekend, her business dealings have raised questions over her readiness to buy into the club.

Over the last two weeks, Staveley has filed winding up orders for two of her firms with Companies House, including the business many had suspected she would use to lead any potential move for Spurs.

Spurs takeover could happen quickly

However, this should not be seen as anything that could impede Staveley’s potential interest in Tottenham. That’s according to Stefan Borson, who told Football Insider that the businesswoman would only want a small share in the club, and could make that happen very quickly.

He said: “I don’t think there is any significance in the dissolution of that business. I’m sceptical about the whole Spurs story anyway. She wouldn’t need to do it anyway through that vehicle.

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“At the end of the day, if Amanda Stavely invests £500million in a football club, she will probably be fronting it on behalf of other people, will have a relatively small equity stake in that vehicle, and will probably want to set up a completely fresh vehicle anyway.

“I wouldn’t read too much into it. If something is going to happen, the structuring of the corporate entity that does it is something that can be addressed quickly. You can buy a company immediately and you can fund it as required very quickly. I wouldn’t read anything into it.”

No smoke without fire

I think there must be some kind of ongoing discussion between Staveley and Levy regarding this deal, especially given she was at the stadium last week. It’s hard to say whether anything will come of this, but if Staveley does indeed only want a small stake in the club, there’s very little risk there on Tottenham’s side.

Tottenham Hotspur are back on Europa League duty this week, and it’ll be a considerably more difficult proposition this time around with AZ Alkmaar the opponents. Here’s how to watch the game, who’ll be in the team, and what we think the score will be.

Spurs are currently flying in the Europa League with two wins from two games, though neither the Qarabag nor the Ferencvaros fixtures were as simple as Tottenham fans had expected.

AZ Alkmaar will likely present an even sterner test, with the Dutch side playing at a higher level and possessing some players that can do damage to even the best teams in the competition.

Here are all the details for the upcoming game, including when it takes place, any injury issues, and where the game will be broadcast.

How to watch Spurs vs AZ Alkmaar

You’ll be able to watch the Spurs vs AZ Alkmaar game on TNT Sports via a Discovery+ subscription.

Coverage starts at 19:45 and runs right through to 22:30, with pre-match build-up and post-match analysis as always.

When and where is the Spurs vs AZ Alkmaar game?

Tottenham are at home for this fixture, which is set to take place on Thursday, October 24.

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Kick-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is scheduled for 20:00 on Thursday.

Spurs team news

As things stand, the only player potentially missing for the Europa League game is Wilson Odobert.

The Tottenham injury list improved massively last week with the return of both Heung-min Son and Richarlison, who had both been on the sidelines for weeks.

Odobert is close to a full recovery from the hamstring issue that has kept him out of action for over a month, but the AZ Alkmaar game may come just too soon for the young Frenchman.

One player to look out for on the opposing team will be Troy Parrott. The former Spurs striker joined Alkmaar this summer, and has made a great start to life with the Dutch club, with six goals to his name this season already.

Another win for Tottenham

Following Tottenham’s commanding 4-1 victory over West Ham in the London Derby, one name has steadily started to turn heads: Dejan Kulusevski.

While much of the spotlight has focused on Spurs’ overall team resurgence, Kulusevski’s superb yet quietly consistent form has been impossible to ignore. As the 2024/25 campaign kicks into gear, both Tottenham fans and Premier League followers are finally beginning to take notice of the Swedish maestro’s growing influence.

From the shadows to the spotlight

As Tottenham endured a turbulent start to the season, Dejan Kulusevski’s contributions have flown largely under the radar. While much of the attention has been on the team’s struggles, the Swedish international has quietly excelled in a new, more central role.

Previously deployed as a right winger, Kulusevski’s shift towards the middle of the pitch has unlocked his potential as a creative force, showcasing his adaptability and vision.

This positional switch has allowed him to influence games more significantly, driving play from deeper areas and linking up with midfielders in ways that weren’t possible out wide.

A statistical surge in centrality

Kulusevski’s transition to a central role is more than just tactical; the numbers back up his impact. In his previous seasons as a right winger, Kulusevski averaged 2.15 key passes per game.

This season, playing centrally, that number has surged to 3.57 (98% percentile in the Premier League), showing his ability to unlock defences more consistently (FootyStats).

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His ball retention has also improved, placing him in the Premier League’s top 2% in ground duels won. These statistics underline how his newfound role has allowed him to dictate the tempo and orchestrate Tottenham’s attacking movements.

A journey of versatility

Kulusevski’s ability to thrive in multiple positions is a testament to his football intelligence and versatility. After initially breaking through at Atalanta and flourishing at Parma, he showcased his potential as a winger, but Tottenham’s system under Ange Postecoglou has unlocked another dimension of his game.

His central role emphasizes his quick decision-making and exceptional close control, helping him evade pressure and find teammates in dangerous areas.

At just 24, Kulusevski is proving he can adapt and evolve his game—a crucial trait for a player looking to make a lasting impact in the Premier League. Despite Tottenham’s struggles, his performances have laid the foundation for brighter days ahead.