Cartilage Free Captain

We’re all still waiting for news that Thomas Frank will be named the next head coach of Tottenham Hotspur, but until that happens there are still transfer rumors to be discussed! Today’s new example comes from the Liverpool Echo, which states that Tottenham have interest in Toffees central defender Jarrad Branthwaite.

The report, which is in their daily transfer tracker, doesn’t say that much beyond registering Spurs’ interest (along with that of Chelsea who already have 25 central defenders on their books). So the report itself is a little vague, but the Echo is generally a legit source when it comes to Liverpudian transfer rumors so I’m inclined to believe it.

Branthwaite’s an interesting case for Tottenham. Still only 22, he’s a left sided, left footed central defender (hey, we need one of those!) and was named Everton’s Young Player of the Year this past season. I think advanced soccer statistics usually provide a pretty good measure of a player but Branthwaite feels like one of those guys who’s eye test is superior to his green bars. In short, when you watch him he looks like a better player than his stats indicate.

But he sure looks like he has the tools to become an incredible player at the Premier League level. He’s not as fast as Micky van de Ven (who is, honestly?), but he’s good in the air, doesn’t really foul that much, and seems solid enough in defense. He’s a full England international and is also young enough that he could still dramatically improve. Also, Tottenham would have plenty of minutes for him this coming season. He’s a player that I feel like I’ve been aware of for a long time, so his age shocked me as I would’ve sworn up and down to you that he was like 27 instead of 22.

Transfer rumors are a little bit squishy when you don’t really know who your next manager is going to be or how they’ll play. I don’t know if Branthwaite would’ve been as effective in Postecoglou’s high line but he could be perfectly good under Frank. He’s also young with a very high ceiling. “Interest” doesn’t mean “a bid is forthcoming” but also divorcing player acquisition a bit from a hypothetical manager isn’t always a bad thing either. This doesn’t feel like anything imminent, but I wouldn’t at all be sad if Spurs go after Branthwaite as a priority target this summer.

It’s time for another instance of F***, Marry, Kill: Tottenham Hotspur. We here at Carty Free Towers love to stir up some drama, because the club definitely needs more drama around it, and I’m sure we’re all bored waiting for a new Spurs manager to be announced. FFS, Levy!

With that in mind, it’s time to get a little bit spicy with this next one, as we take a look at an area in need of much work: the midfield. For each, we’ll give you our thoughts as to why they should stay (Keep), head out on loan (Loan), or go (Sell - either via an actual sale, or conclusion of their contract); though there may also be a bacon sandwich that pops up here and there also.

As a reminder, we are only covering players that played minutes in senior football this season, either on loan, or at Spurs. This means there may be a couple of names missed off this list you might have expected to see, such as Tyrese Hall or Leo Black. There’s still plenty to cover though - we have our work cut out for us!

Editor’s note: this series and a couple of the pieces in it were nearly completed at time of writing, so we will still cover players whose future has already been confirmed (i.e. released players)

Yves Bissouma - Sell

Let’s start off with a bang, shall we? On his best days, Yves Bissouma is unplayable at the #6. He has a massive motor, the ability to beat players on the dribble, and at times a killer pass. The thing is... Yves is always liable to have one moment. You know the one. The brain explosion where he dribbles into a dead end with the rest of the team up the pitch. The mental lapse where he stops tracking an attacker into the box. The silly, unnecessary challenge to give away a set piece in a dangerous position. Basically, you never know what you’re going to get Yves Bissouma.

That’s a level of risk you just can’t carry at this level, and with two years now on his contract, it’s time to cash out. He hasn’t been able to consistently hit the heights of which we dreamed, and I’m sad about that. Maybe another side can find that consistency.

James Maddison - Keep

One of Spurs’ leadership group, and one of the few players in the squad with a high level of technical and passing ability, Maddison is a must-keep. Honestly, he was probably my player of the season! Though he has his issues with injury and he isn’t getting younger, he is potentially the only member of Spurs’ midfield cadre that would start for another top 6 side (well, let’s say top 5, because Manchester United are a train smash). If Spurs can retool effectively over the summer, you potentially look at a sale after next season.

Rodrigo Bentancur - Sell*

*If Spurs receive a decent offer, and if Spurs have a readymade depth signing ready to go at the #6

Now the takes get scorching. Rodrigo Bentancur only has two years left on his contract. He no longer has the engine to play a proper defensive midfield role following his ACL. He is not getting any younger. He has had a couple of documented, off-field “issues”. He has also started to round back into form following some rough moments earlier in the season.

This situation is made more complex by Spurs’ decision not to pursue Johnny Cardoso. With an affordable buy option, it seemed that Spurs could retool at the #6 by selling both Bentancur and Bissouma, signing Johnny as a cheap depth option with upside, and then investing in an elite #6. With Johnny seemingly now on his way to Madrid, that depth option is off the table - so do Spurs have another target that fits that bill?

Why not then just keep Bentancur, I hear you ask? Well, in this writer’s opinion, the biggest issue this past season was the midfield. Spurs struggled to progress through the middle of the park, killing the attack, while simultaneously doing a poor job of shielding the defense. Bentancur was a key part of those midfields. I lost count of the times this season when Bentancur was dragged out wide... only to not have the legs to push back in and cover the middle. Or turned around and passed it back to his center backs. Or... you get the idea.

The reality is this should have been sorted last summer, with a big signing at the #6 a priority. Instead, Johan Lange kicked the can down the road and the club is now faced with a difficult situation with both top defensive midfield options only having two years remaining on their contracts. Rodrigo Bentancur is who he is at this point, is only going to decline athletically, and his uptick in form was largely due to playing in a double pivot system as Spurs set up in a very defensive two banks of four (something I don’t see happening going forward) with very little in the way of offensive responsibility. If Spurs can turn him and Bissouma into a top #6 and a promising prospect with upside, they should.

Who knows, maybe he proves me wrong this season, as Thomas Frank could potentially take him up a level, and as all reports seem to indicate that Spurs will offer him a new contract. I don’t think they should.

Pape Matar Sarr - Keep

Time is on Pape Matar Sarr’s side, with plenty of years left on his contract, and the Senegalese midfielder still only 22. Though he hasn’t necessarily exploded as one may have hoped, he’s become a reliable squad utility that can be deployed in multiple positions in midfield. His positioning is excellent, and his defensive reads were phenomenal in the Europa League final. He may not ever make it to elite starter level, but even so, players like Sarr are gold in a squad full of mercurial players.

Lucas Bergvall - Keep

Lucas is going to be a star. I honestly just love watching him play, and there’s few players I could say that about in the Spurs squad. Though he’s not locked in starter level yet, he’s damn close, and if he can continue on this trajectory then the sky is the limit for the young Swede. There’s no need to write more - this one is just a no-brainer.

Alfie Devine - Keep*

*If he is willing to sign a new contract

Alfie Devine’s situation is somewhat intriguing. He will end up as a List A Club-trained player (though would qualify as List B this season), one of which Spurs have very few; he’s still only 20, even though it feels like he’s been around forever; and he’s been playing senior men’s football for two seasons now via loans. In fact, he’s been playing with Spurs-destined defender Luka Vuskovic at Westerlo in the Belgian first division this past season, where he had a pretty successful season in a middling team.

Though 6 goals and 1 assist from 32 appearances sounds modest for an attacking midfielder (because it is), he split his time between a #10 role and deeper positions - which is actually where I believe his future lies. Calm in possession and a fantastic facilitator of play, I’m intrigued to see how he goes this preseason, and I think he could be kept around for some limited minutes (if he can be convinced to sign a new contract, with his now only having two years left to run). If those minutes don’t come by easily, he can head out on loan in January; and if he’s not willing to sign a new contract, I think he would fetch a tidy fee.

Callum Olusesi - Keep

A really promising prospect who has spent time across all three positions in midfield, Olusesi made his senior debut earlier this season, late in Spurs’ 2-3 away win over Hoffenheim in the Europa League. Eagle-eyed supporters will have also seen him regularly named to the bench as midfield cover - pretty impressive for a 17-year-old (well, he was 17 until he was 18).

With a new four-year contract signed just two months ago, I’m honestly 50-50 as to whether Olusesi sticks around for another season to hone his craft at U21 level and as emergency cover for the senior squad. I think a close eye on his development and being around the first team could be more helpful right now than rolling the dice on a loan. One to watch!

George Abbott - Sell

Abott has just come off a pretty solid loan spell in League Two at Notts County; better than solid, in fact, with the 19-year-old cementing himself as part of The Magpies’ starting XI. Their campaign ended in agony, however, falling in the promotion playoffs to AFC Wimbledon.

The young defensive midfielder had a couple of eye-catching moments in his spell at Meadow Lane, but from what I’ve seen of him over the last couple of years, the lower tiers of the English football pyramid are probably where Abbott belongs: he appears not really great at any one skill but rather a physical all-action scrappy type. There’s two ways the academy can be a success: transitioning players to the first team, and moving players on for a profit. I think with two years left on his contract and after the season he has just had, Abbott can move on for a tidy sum, with more talented midfielders such as Tyrese Hall waiting in the wings.

Jamie Donley - Loan

Another of Spurs’ academy products who spent the season on loan, Donley had a fantastic spell at Leyton Orient, where he scored eight goals and assisted ten in 31 starts (2,800 minutes). That is a brilliant return for the 20-year-old, who is an extremely gifted striker of the football. His ability to curl a shot goalwards, lay a set piece on a dime, or thread a silky pass is impressive for his age.

What is less impressive is Donley’s athleticism. He is reasonably slow for a professional footballer, and at times can struggle to get involved in matches as quicker or just plain hard-working opposition can shut him down. Some have said they would like to keep him around this season as emergency cover; I think that is too risky at this point in his development, and a loan to the Championship would really push him in a positive manner, with competition against bigger and faster players a challenge to which the club will hope he rises.

Matthew Craig - Sell

The defensive midfielder’s time has run out at Spurs. With only a year left on his contract, 2024/25 was the time he really needed to make his mark... and he initially made a good run at it, with some early positive signs on his loan to Barnsley. By November, however, he was largely warming the bench, before being left out of the squad entirely. Spurs therefore recalled him and sent him on loan to another League One side, in the form of Mansfield Town... where he also barely played. He’s 22 now, and the reality is that League One is probably Craig’s level.

Well. Hopefully that one gets some discussion going. In this writer’s view, the midfield is in need of significant investment, with at least two signings needed, if not three - with at least one of those being a nailed-on starter. Spurs struggled on both sides of the ball this season, and unless they invest in players that provide a boost to technical ability, passing, and positioning, Spurs will continue to underperform, no matter the manager.

Check out our previous pieces here:

We’ve had a few days to digest the news of Ange Postecoglou’s sacking by now, but I still feel there’s a lot fans want to say (that is, if this weekend’s comments on here and elsewhere are anything to go by).

That makes it difficult to do a hoddle. Because, I’m sure, any hoddle will be dominated by Ange discourse. If you are here to talk about yesterday’s Carlos Alcaraz-Jannik Sinner match, please save that for tomorrow’s hoddle.

Just to add my own voice to the discourse: I wasn’t as upset with Postecoglou’s sacking as I thought I’d be.

Ther’s of course the initial shock (but was it a shock?) of the news. But we’ve had weeks to prepare ourselves for this possibility. And, to be honest, I could’ve been convinced either way of whether to keep Ange or not.

But he’s not here anymore. He’s gone. I think he deserved better than what he got in the final couple of weeks, especially in the statement. Spurs’ statement on his dismissal was almost very good, but it was upsetting to see Daniel Levy not allow himself to be quoted.

Where does Ange go from here? I’m not sure. It’s hard to see him anywhere. But wherever he goes I’ll be wishing him a tonne of success.

Fitzie’s track of the day: Hard to Say I’m Sorry, by Chicago

And now for your links:

The Athletic ($$): “Mauricio Pochettino says Tottenham return ‘not realistic’ despite job opening”

The Independent: “Tottenham’s dismissal of Ange Postecoglou brings identity crisis to the fore once again”

Football London: “Mbeumo Man Utd transfer hijack, Son and No.10 debates - Thomas Frank’s dream Tottenham attack”

The Telegraph: “Uriah Rennie, Premier League’s first black referee, dies aged 65”

Tottenham Hotspur are now looking for two head coaches. Days after Ange Postecoglou was relieved of his men’s first team head coaching duties, the club has announced on its website and on social media that Tottenham Women head coach Robert Vilahamn has left the club.

This is hardly surprising. One year after making the Women’s FA Cup final, Spurs Women had a huge backslide, finishing 11th out of 12 clubs in the WSL table and narrowly avoiding relegation. Spurs Women had its own injuries to deal with this season, but they were hugely disappointing. As Abby wrote in her recent “what went wrong” article, Vilahamn’s Spurs team struggled with offensive output, tactics, and player development this season. There were also some suggestions that there were some behind the scenes issues that rankled some within the organizational structure.

Yes, Tottenham Hotspur could do a hell of a lot more to support the women’s team; the amont of money it would take to build a competitive WSL team is a rounding error when compared to the men’s first team. But during his tenure, despite some bright and memorable moments, Vilahamn didn’t really show that he was building towards something, despite the club mining his knowledge of the Swedish league for players.

If you’re a hopeful person, you can hope that the appointment of Vinai Venkatesham, who was a big backer of the women’s team during his tenure at Arsenal, could signal a positive change in the trajectory of Spurs Women. It’s not clear whom Tottenham will target as its next head coach to turn Spurs Women around, but with the new season not starting until September there’s time to do a thorough search and hopefully get things right.

Tottenham Hotspur are keeping their longest-tenured player around for another season. Spurs announced on social media that they have exercised a clause in central defender Ben Davies’ contract that will extend his stay at Spurs through the end of the upcoming Premier League season.

So let me say this first: I like Ben Davies. He’s never been a star at Tottenham, but he’s always been a steady, solid presence — rarely a starter, but always a reliable team option when you needed him. He’s also Association Trained for UEFA competitions, which will help Spurs’ numbers in the Champions League next season, something that’s a real issue right now. He’s also by all accounts just a fantastic guy and excellent teammate, and he’s turned those skills into a decade at the club. He’s also Sonny’s best friend at the club right now.

For that reason I can understand why Spurs would want to keep him around — he’s a “glue guy” and veteran, the kind of player you want in the changing room. There’s also now a real possibility that he could retire at Tottenham Hotspur and eventually move into coaching, which would be neat.

But holy smokes y’all, the real problem is that he’s just not very good at football anymore. He was thrust into a starting role for a few months which revealed his very real weaknesses and lack of pace, especially against fast attackers. So this makes me wonder what his extension means for the Tottenham back line. I hope it doesn’t mean that Spurs aren’t still targeting another quality central defender, because they absolutely need one to effectively back up Micky van de Ven. Much as I love the guy, Ben Davies ain’t it. I’m also concerned that Davies’ extension might block someone like Ash Phillips or Luka Vuskovic from getting a chance in the first team, though at this point it’s more likely both of them are (again) sent out on loan.

If Spurs need to carry him as a numbers game until some of their youngsters hit club-trained/homegrown status next season, then fine. But whatever the case, while I love seeing his smiling face around training videos I truly hope we don’t see too much of him on the actual pitch next season.

So what if Tottenham Hotspur don’t have a head coach right now. Do you think that’s going to stop the summer transfer rumors? I don’t think so. The latest report from the wilds of Bat Country (actually Turkish newspaper Fanatik) suggests that Fenerbahçe are in “advance negotiations” with Spurs to sign Yves Bissouma on loan, with a purchase obligation at the end of next season.

And do you know who is currently the head coach at Fener? That’s right — this guy.

OK, y’all KNOW what I think of the Turkish football media. In short — it’s probably one of the least reliable sources of transfer information out there. While there is some reliable news to be found, a good deal of Turkish media sources just literally make shit up. So am I sold on this rumor? No, not in the slightest. Do I think it’s plausible? ...Yeah!

The report, which is brief, says that Spurs value Bissouma at €25m (£21m) but this particular deal would be basically a cheap loan fee and with an obligation. It notably doesn’t say what that obligation would be, but with Yves in the last year of his contract it’s likely going to be less than his stated value. This is the first interest I’ve seen from other clubs for Bissouma, though I’d be surprised if it’s the only destination he has.

Tottenham need an upgrade on their midfield no matter who the coach is, and with both Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur both entering into the final year of their contracts one of them is likely to go. Bissouma seems like the most likely, though somehow I feel like he’s more likely to head to France than to Turkey. But I guess maybe not!

Bissouma’s been a good player for us but his skill set can be replicated with a younger midfielder and that’s what I expect Spurs to do. We’ll see if this report gets picked up somewhere more reliable.

Tottenham Hotspur appear to have their top target to replace Ange Postecoglou as head coach at the club, and it’s Brentford’s Danish manager Thomas Frank. That’s not exactly a surprise as it’s what’s being reported by just about everyone. The deal isn’t done yet, but according to Fabrizio Romano, who is as clued in as probably anyone, progress is being made towards Frank’s appointment.

I suppose you could say there are some Frank discussions taking place over Tottenham’s vacant head coach position. (No, I’m not sorry.)

If I were to guess, and this is total supposition, I’d say that contrary to early reports Tottenham have laid a lot of track with Frank already, even if they haven’t made a formal approach to appoint him yet. There are numerous reports that suggest Spurs have been quietly looking at Frank for about a year now as a post-Ange option, and I would be shocked if they haven’t had their intermediaries reach out to Frank’s intermediaries before now to gauge whether he’s interested in the job. As frustrating as it is to not have Frank ready to walk in the door immediately after Postecoglou was fired, I don’t think it’s going to take a lot of work to come to an agreement for early next week. Hope I’m right about that.

But what if negotiations break down or Frank decides he doesn’t want the job? The backup option is probably Fulham’s Marco Silva, if the Portuguese media have anything to say about it. The Record (via SportWitness) is reporting that Silva is “on the verge” of becoming Tottenham’s next manager.

A Portuguese newspaper reporting that a Portuguese manager is going to take over one of the best currently open jobs on the football market? Shocker! I honestly wouldn’t take much in this report as it stands now, but I would also say that if Frank falls through then all bets are off. And at that point we’re just Marco Silva walking away from possibly approaching Nuno Espirito Santo... again. (I kid. OR DO I?!?!?!?)

Honestly, I’m starting to come around to the idea of Frank coming in. It took me most of yesterday to overcome my disappointment with Spurs sacking Postecoglou, but I’m over it now — it’s happened, there’s nothing I can do about it, time to put aside any lingering emotional response and move on. Frank’s a good manager, has some fun ideas, and could ultimately be a good appointment for Spurs going forward. I’ll do a look at his approach to football in a future article, once things crystallize a bit.

If you were hoping for a quick resolution to Tottenham Hotspur’s now vacant head coaching position, well you’re about to be even more disappointed. According to David Ornstein in The Athletic, Spurs will make their decision and announce who will take over as head coach from Ange Postecoglou next week, and that no decision has yet been made.

That said, to absolutely no one’s surprise, Brentford manager Thomas Frank is the leading contender.

What’s surprising here isn’t that Frank is currently leading the pile — he is by all accounts a good manager who has had Brentford overachieving since he got them promoted from the Championship a few years back. What’s surprising is that Tottenham have had two weeks from the end of the season and apparently haven’t gotten their ducks lined up in a row. Spurs fans will now have to wait until next week, at some point, to find out who will lead the team.

Tottenham Hotspur have fired their head coach Ange Postecoglou. The news was first leaked by Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph, and was confirmed by Sami Mockbel of the BBC. The club has yet to confirm the sacking, but it will no doubt come momentarily.

Postecoglou’s future was very much in danger and has been for months. He led Tottenham to their worst finish in the table in their Premier League history, but also won the Europa League, delivering the club’s first trophy since 2009 and first European title since 1984.

Postecoglou has been on holiday, along with the playing squad, since the conclusion of the Premier League season. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has been conspicuously quiet over the past two weeks, with briefings in the English press suggesting that the club had yet to make a decision as to whether Ange would earn another year to turn things around. That decision has apparently been made.

While the decision to fire the manager who delivered the club’s first trophy in nearly two decades is brave, the timing of the announcement has been actively damaging, however, with the transfer window now open and the club somewhat paralyzed over the speculation of their manager. Whether you agree with the

It was not yet revealed who, if anyone, the club has appointed as their next head coach. Previous speculation linked managers such as Brentford’s Thomas Frank, Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, former Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi (now at al-Hilal), and Fulham’s Marco Silva.

Much more to come.

UPDATE: The club has now confirmed Ange’s departure.

Here is an excerpt from the club’s OFFICIAL COMMUNCIATION:

We are extremely grateful to Ange for his commitment and contribution during his two years at the Club. Ange will always be remembered as only the third manager in our history to deliver a European trophy, alongside legendary figures Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw.

However, the Board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the Club for a change to take place. Following a positive start in the 2023/24 Premier League (PL) season, we recorded 78 points from the last 66 PL games. This culminated in our worst-ever PL finish last season. At times there were extenuating circumstances - injuries and then a decision to prioritise our European campaign. Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the Club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph.

It is crucial that we are able to compete on multiple fronts and believe a change of approach will give us the strongest chance for the coming season and beyond. This has been one of the toughest decisions we have had to make and is not a decision that we have taken lightly, nor one we have rushed to conclude. We have made what we believe is the right decision to give us the best chance of success going forward, not the easy decision.

We have a talented, young squad and Ange has given us a great platform to build upon. We should like to express our gratitude to him. We wish him well for the future - he will always be welcome back at our home.

Postecoglou has also released a statement through his agency, CAA Base:

Tottenham Hotspur F***, Marry, Kill continues, as we determine who should stay, who should go, and who needs work - because God knows the Spurs front office need some help.

Next up as we work our way up the pitch is probably our shortest article thus far: the fullbacks. For each, we’ll give you our thoughts as to why they should stay (Keep), head out on loan (Loan), or go (Sell - either via an actual sale, or conclusion of their contract); though there may also be a bacon sandwich that pops up here and there also.

Editor’s note: this series and a couple of the pieces in it were nearly completed at time of writing, so we will still cover players whose future has already been confirmed (i.e. released players)

Pedro Porro - Keep

A key part of Spurs’ successful Europa League campaign, Pedro Porro could be a candidate for a “sell high and reinvest” plan; however, Spurs have a significant dearth of technical ability and (especially) passing quality in their squad. Porro offers these in spades, so at this point, selling him would be very much cutting off your nose to spite your face. He offers so much going forward, and has continued to improve defensively (which has surprised me)... plus he seems to love it here.

Destiny Udogie - Keep

I will say, there have been a number of times this season I have been worried about Destiny. After a number of injury spells over the last couple of seasons, he looked extremely rough on his returns to the side - following both his return from surgery in the offseason and his midseason layoff. That said, he really rounded into form when it counted, and if he can stay fit, I think he will be around the club for a while yet.

Sergio Reguilon - Sell (Release) - confirmed

Sergio Reguilon should really have played more this season... but he was never going to work out under Ange Postecoglou. A cursory reading of the situation may have thought attacking system plus attacking player = profit; but so much of Spurs’ buildup is through the fullbacks, and Reggie is (let’s be honest) a pretty terrible passer of the football. Any chances he had for semi-regular appearances were probably torpedoed by his appearance against Wolves, where in 40 minutes he misplaced a third of his passes, and he’s always had problems with fitness. One that just didn’t work out (and I had high hopes).

Djed Spence - Keep

If there wasn’t so much work to do on other areas of the squad (and a lack of depth at fullback) I would consider selling Djed Spence. He carries an English premium, is just hitting his peak years, and some bright showings late in the season may have increased his value. Hell, the club may still consider it with the right offer. Right now, though, the team has other priorities, and Djed’s versatility (weirdly, he seems to be better on the left) is a plus. Hopefully he can get back to some of the form he showed a couple months ago, and perhaps Spurs can then look for a decent sale.

Archie Gray - Keep

I have listed Archie among the fullbacks, because 1) he is absolutely not a center back; 2) I think the way the construction of the squad is going, he could see the majority of his minutes at fullback next season (which is also largely where he played at Leeds); and 3) I already have something like 10 players to cover in my midfield piece. What are you gonna do?

A polarizing player, he stepped into breach admirably for Spurs in the midst of an injury crisis; and while he did more than anybody could have reasonably expected, he did struggle at the top level. Though he has time, I don’t think he is quite at the level Spurs require... YET; especially considering his desire to play in midfield. Even though that is arguably the weakest area of Spurs’ squad, throwing him in there at this point in his development alongside some of the other options Spurs have there at present is only going to dent his confidence - though I did see some impressive signs in a couple of late cameos there towards the end of the season.

The reality is Spurs need four fullbacks, and though my thinking would be to buy a left-sided defender who can both back up Micky van de Ven AND cover fullback, it seems the club aren’t in alignment with that line of thought, with any transfer links so far seemingly with right-sided options. A rotational slot at fullback, with some coverage minutes at midfield seems to therefore be the best option for Archie, and will allow him to continue to develop his passing, defensive reading, and wand of a right foot in a lower pressure position. IF the club do decide to invest additionally at fullback, Archie could even head out on loan to a lower-level Premier League club (or potentially even the Championship), but I think that is unlikely.

And that’s Spurs’ fullbacks in a nutshell. It’s an area lacking depth, and though I have some concerns around Spurs’ options at the position (and especially the lack of academy options coming through at the position) the reality is that other areas are in much higher need of attention: not least, the midfield. Come back Monday, where I’ll assess the options (or lack thereof) in the middle of the park.