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Thomas Frank Must Axe Richarlison for Tottenham vs Man Utd

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Thomas Frank Must Axe Richarlison for Tottenham vs Man Utd After What He Did This Week - GiveMeSport
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As Tottenham Hotspur prepare to host Manchester United on Saturday afternoon, Thomas Frank has some big decisions to make with his starting lineup.

The north London club claimed a 4-0 win in midweek over Copenhagen in the Champions League, despite being reduced to ten men in the second half, as the team bounced back from a terrible performance at home against fierce London rivals Chelsea at the weekend.

On paper, things look good. Only Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea have scored more goals than the Lilywhites in the Premier League, while only Arsenal have conceded fewer goals too. But fans are growing increasingly frustrated by the style of play and the performances of some players, and that was summed up in midweek by the actions of striker Richarlison.

After coming onto the pitch as a substitute, the Brazilian did something unforgivable. Young starlet Dane Scarlett was making his Champions League debut and after a mazy solo run, was brought down in stoppage time for a penalty. But Richarlison stormed over and took the ball from him to take the penalty himself, only to hit the crossbar and rob the academy graduate of a wholesome moment.

It's not the first time that Richarlison has thought more about himself than the team, and it seems as though Frank may now have had enough of him.

Tottenham Must Axe Richarlison vs Man Utd

The former Everton star, who earns £130,000-a-week, started the season as the first-choice striker at the club, and he started in good form with two goals and an assist in the opening two games.

However, his form then dropped off, and he has now scored just once in his last 14 appearances for Tottenham, which has seen him lose his place in the starting lineup to loanee Randal Kolo Muani. While it could be painted as Richarlison winning Frank over, it's more likely that he was starting those games because the manager had no other choice.

Dominic Solanke has barely featured this season due to a persistent ankle problem which required surgery, while Kolo Muani had a lengthy period on the sidelines with a dead leg shortly after joining from Paris Saint-Germain.

Now that the France international is fit, he is playing up front, and that must continue when Ruben Amorim's Man Utd side make the trip to Tottenham on Saturday afternoon.

The team is going through a difficult phase right now, and they need to be united and stick together. Having players like Richarlison, who are clearly putting themselves first at the moment, won't be helpful.

Once Solanke returns to fitness too, he is likely to leapfrog Richarlison in the pecking order too, and with the World Cup on the horizon, Richarlison will want to be playing regularly to secure a spot in Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil squad.

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS Reach Settlement with Tottenham Over Sponsorship Dispute

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS Reach Settlement with Tottenham Over Legal Dispute - GiveMeSport
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS has reached an out-of-court settlement with Tottenham Hotspur to end an £11m+ legal dispute over an alleged breach of a sponsorship deal, Telegraph Sport journalist Ben Rumsby has revealed.

The dispute arose from a five-year, £17.5m agreement signed in 2022 for Spurs to promote INEOS Grenadier as their ‘official 4x4 vehicle partner’.

Tottenham terminated their contract with the Manchester United co-owner’s conglomerate in March this year and launched legal action in June, claiming INEOS had failed to pay a £5m annual instalment and an additional inflation-related sum of almost £500,000.

According to Spurs’ legal filings, the club were also seeking at least £5,275,974 in damages after the deal was terminated with over two years remaining.

INEOS responded with a counter-claim for over £1m, alleging Spurs held sponsorship talks with Audi related to Harry Kane’s transfer to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023.

INEOS Agree Settlement to End Tottenham Dispute

According to Rumsby, while the exact amount paid to Tottenham remains undisclosed, sources suggest it could be around half the £11m+ the North London club had sought.

The partnership between Tottenham and INEOS began when the firm became the club’s ‘official hand-sanitiser supplier’ during the coronavirus pandemic.

Spurs filed their claim less than a month after defeating Ratcliffe’s United in the Europa League final to qualify for the Champions League.

The defeat saw United miss out on European competitions for the first time since the 2013/14 season, when they finished seventh in the Premier League under David Moyes.

Spurs, meanwhile, parted ways with manager Ange Postecoglou after the final in Bilbao, despite the Australian tactician leading the North London club to their first trophy in 17 years.

Tottenham appointed former Brentford boss Thomas Frank shortly after, penning a three-year deal with the Danish tactician, who started by winning eight of his first 17 games in charge.

The North London side secured a 4-0 victory over Danish side Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday, remaining unbeaten in the competition after four games.

Spurs host Man United at home on Saturday and will be looking to continue their unbeaten run against the Red Devils, with seven meetings without defeat and wins in the last four.

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Fabrizio Romano: Tottenham 'Very Happy' With Randal Kolo Muani and Joao Palhinha

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'General Feeling' - Fabrizio Romano: How Tottenham Feel About Joao Palhinha and Kolo Muani - GiveMeSport
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Tottenham Hotspur signed both Joao Palhinha and Randal Kolo Muani on loan during the summer transfer window, and Fabrizio Romano, writing in his exclusive GIVEMESPORT newsletter, has provided an update on how the club feels about the duo.

Palhinha has slotted into Thomas Frank's midfield this season and has become an almost guaranteed starter alongside Rodrigo Bentancur. The Bayern Munich loanee is one of the best ball winners in the Premier League, something he showed during his previous spell in England with Fulham, and that has benefited Tottenham from a defensive standpoint.

Kolo Muani has endured more of a difficult time in a Spurs shirt. The French striker has struggled with injuries and is only just getting back to full fitness. With Dominic Solanke out injured, Kolo Muani now appears to be the main man for the centre-forward position.

Fabrizio Romano: How Tottenham Feel About Palhinha

Writing in his exclusive GIVEMESPORT newsletter, Romano has confirmed that Tottenham are very happy with Palhinha, who has adapted immediately and very well.

"Very happy. Palhinha adapted immediately very well."

This comes after Jamie Carragher recently criticised the midfielder, claiming he 'hasn't got the quality'...

“Now, we’ve spoken about courage, now we can talk about quality. Palhinha hasn’t got the quality. For me, for a player playing in central midfield for Tottenham, that is a pass you have to be able to make. He can’t make it, so... he goes back. Listen to the boos. The only reason he does a clever turn on the ball is because of the boos. Otherwise, he’d have gone back to the goalkeeper."

Palhinha has undoubtedly enjoyed the more impressive start for Tottenham, but Kolo Muani's injury problems have halted his progress so far. The duo are now regular starters under Frank, both named in their most recent Premier League XI to face Chelsea last weekend.

GIVEMESPORT sources have already confirmed that Tottenham are planning to sign Palhinha on a permanent deal in 2026. Spurs have an option to secure his signature for a fee of £26m from Bayern Munich, which could turn out to be a bargain considering how he's settled in at the club.

Fabrizio Romano: How Tottenham Feel About Kolo Muani

Romano has also discussed how Tottenham feel about Kolo Muani, suggesting that Spurs are happy with both players...

"Very happy with both. Kolo is now finding his form slowly after he didn't have pre-season. But Spurs general feeling is positive with both."

Spurs currently sit in sixth position in the Premier League table, and there's no doubt they could still improve after showing some signs of inconsistency. Some of their summer signings are still settling in, and Kolo Muani is one of them, while Xavi Simons has particularly struggled in his opening few months in England.

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Micky Van de Ven Compared to Tottenham Legend Gareth Bale

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Micky Van de Ven Compared to Gareth Bale After 'Outrageous' Tottenham Strike vs Kobenhavn - GiveMeSport
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Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven scored a wonder goal in the Champions League on Wednesday night, and former Spurs midfielder Jamie O'Hara compared him to Gareth Bale, suggesting Arsenal centre-back Gabriel wouldn't be capable of such a goal.

It's been a while since O'Hara has reacted well to a Spurs performance, with the former player showing major frustration with some of their players in recent weeks. After their defeat against Chelsea at the weekend in the Premier League, O'Hara slammed both Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani, suggesting that the former looks like the worst £60m ever spent.

The north London outfit bounced back in the Champions League on Wednesday night, securing a 4-0 victory at home, despite Brennan Johnson being sent off in the second half. Van de Ven scored Tottenham's third, shortly atfer Johnson's red card.

Van de Ven Compared to Gareth Bale at Tottenham

Speaking on talkSPORT after Tottenham's victory over Kobenhavn, O'Hara compared Van de Ven to former Spurs winger Bale...

"It's outrageous. He's like Gareth Bale. You can't catch him once he gets going, skipping past players. Gabriel can't do that."

The goal meant very little in terms of the context of the game, but it was a superb strike from the Spurs centre-back. Carrying the ball from inside his own half, taking on a host of players before firing into the back of the net.

The goal made it 3-0 to the home side, with Van de Ven taking matters into his own hands. Spurs were down to 10 men at the time, but Van de Ven didn't care as he carried the ball the length of the pitch, finishing like a 20-goal-a-season striker.

It was an interesting decision from the Dutch centre-back, considering they were already winning and needing to protect a lead with 10-men, but it certainly paid off as he's now scored a potentially goal of the season strike.

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Bentancur the unsung hero for Spurs after van ve Ven wonder goal

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Bentancur the unsung hero for Spurs in Champions League win - GiveMeSport
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There were plenty of strong performances for Tottenham as they banished the memory of a limp defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday with an effervescent display in the Champions League, albeit against Copenhagen.

Tottenham's performance on Tuesday night in north London was a far cry from the one they turned in against the Blues in the London Derby three days prior and it was chalk and cheese for one particular player too.

Micky van de Ven, alongside Djed Spence, made headlines for the wrong reasons after both were caught on camera snubbing their head coach Thomas Frank as they walked off the pitch after the defeat to Chelsea without looking at him and without applauding the disgruntled supporters.

Goal of the season

But van de Ven made headlines for the right reasons on Tuesday night, scoring one of the goals of the season in the 4-0 win over the Danes, running from the edge of his own box and beating five players on his way to scoring the third of the night.

Frank had said prior to the match that both van de Ven and Spence had apologised for their actions and the Dutchman's actions on the pitch spoke louder than any words.

His goal added to Brennan Johnson's first half strike and a second half goal from Wilson Odobert, before Joao Palhinha put the icing on the cake with a fourth. The last two goals had come after Johnson had been sent off for a studs up tackle that required a VAR review.

Spurs were brilliant against limited opposition and the performance and result will be just the tonic for Frank, who had started to come in for some criticism.

Going unnoticed

But while the likes of van de Ven, Xavi Simons - who provided an assist and could have had more in a defining display - and Randal Kolo Muani will get the plaudits, there was one other player who may have gone a bit unnoticed who was integral to the victory.

That player was Rodrigo Bentancur.

The Uruguayan himself has come in for criticism from fans, mainly for Frank's decisions to play him alongside Palhinha in home games for a defensive look to the formation, when supporters would like to see more attacking verve.

Against the Danish side, however, Bentancur was alongside Pape Matar Sarr and Simons in midfield and he did all the excellent work behind the scenes that can sometimes go unnoticed. He even had TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher at one point saying: "I don't think Bentancur has given the ball away once tonight."

That statement was not quite accurate, but it was not far off.

Bentancur enjoyed 79 touches in the match, more than any other player on the pitch except Pedro Porro. He enjoyed an 88% pass success rate, with 60 of his 68 passes reaching their expected destination. He also made six passes into the final third and was accurate with both of his long balls.

When it came to the defensive side of the game, he won three of his four duels and made six defensive contributions, with three interceptions, five recoveries and three clearances.

The Uruguayan is a popular figure in the Tottenham fanbase and proved that when he is on top of his game, Spurs tend to be on top of theirs.

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0 Copenhagen player ratings as Van de Ven steals show

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Tottenham 4-0 FC Copenhagen: Champions League Player Ratings and Match Highlights - GiveMeSport
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Thomas Frank's Tottenham Hotspur bounced back from a demoralising 1-0 defeat to Chelsea on the weekend with an emphatic 4-0 win over FC Copenhagen on Tuesday night, with Micky van de Ven scoring perhaps the goal of the season.

Frank needed his men to put the defeat to the Blues behind them, and they did just that, although the Danish side were there for the taking. The opener came in the 19th minute as the visitors were caught out on the break, and Spurs punished the Danes.

Xavi Simons, who has been under heavy criticism as of late, did well to find Brennan Johnson, who was helped on his way to goal by Dominik Kotarski, who hopelessly raced out of goal, and Johnson took the ball past the Croatian goalkeeper before finding the back of the net.

The Lilywhites should have been two-up in the 40th minute when Frank's troops put together a fine move that saw Simons gift Randal Kolo Muani the chance to net his first goal for the club. But the Frenchman sent the ball just wide of Kotarski's goal when he should have been wheeling away in celebration.

Kolo Muani did himself no favors in the battle to be Frank's number nine as he again was wasteful on the stroke of half-time. This time, he sent a header over the bar, preventing Simons from registering his second assist of the night.

It was finally 2-0 in the 51st minute and while Kolo Muani struggled finding the back of the net, he did well setting up Wilson Odobert. He brought the ball down after more madness from Kotarski and the winger easily tapped home the second.

Frank seemed to be in for a perfect night until Johnson went from hero to villain with a needless foul in the 57th minute. The Welshman was shown a straight red after VAR intervened and decided his studs-up tackle warranted a sending off.

Micky van de Ven quickly lifted the spirits again with one of the best goals you will see from a center half. The Dutchman charged forward in a flash, leaving Copenhagen's players with egg on their face as he surged into the box and calmly fired past Kotarski.

Cristian Romero decided anything Van de Ven can do I can do as the Argentine found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. He managed to pick out second-half substitute Joao Palhinha who beat the offside trap for his side's fourth.

Match Highlights

Still to come...

Tottenham Hotspur

GK: Gugliemo Vicario - 6/10

The Italian goalkeeper came in for a relatively quiet night but he was reliable when called upon.

Pedro Porro - 7/10

The Portuguese right-back did well handling the opposition and usually found his man on set pieces.

Cristian Romero - 7.5/10

Came back into Frank's starting XI and was dependable, closing the opposition down when they tried to break. His manager will just be praying he remains fit from here on out.

Micky van de Ven - 8.5/10

An unbelievable goal that takes his tally to six goals this season. He was back to his best defensively, and his solo goal will definitely have earned a handshake from Frank.

Destiny Udogie - 7/10

A lively threat down the left with his agility giving Odobert an option on the overlap. The Italian even tested Kotarski in the first half and put in a performance that should be enough to see him keep his place against Manchester United on Saturday.

Brennan Johnson - 6/10

The Welsh attacker performed so well before his sending off, as he now has four goals this season. He came up trumps with a clever finish for the opener but he saw red for his rash tackle to give Frank a real headache ahead of Paris Saint-Germain.

Rodrigo Bentancur - 8/10

A reminder of just how talented the Uruguayan is on his day, as he was excellent each time he got hold of the ball in the middle of the park. Frank should stick with this system as it reaps rewards, and Bentancur's display is a prime example.

Pape Matar Sarr - 7/10

A neat and tidy performance that saw him control proceedings with his positional awareness, bombing up and down the pitch. He is one of Frank's most consistent performers.

Wilson Odobert - 7/10

Linked up well with Udogie to help on the break and was eager to get himself on the scoresheet and could be one for Frank to keep in mind for Paris next time out.

CAM: Xavi Simons - 7.5/10

Tonight's showing was just what the Dutch attacker will have wanted after a nightmare start to his Spurs career. He reminded fans just why the club swooped for his signature and his pick out for Johnson deserves praise.

ST: Randal Kolo Muani - 6/10

The French frontman is taking his time adjusting to life in North London and Frank stuck with him after the Chelsea defeat. But he should have found the back of the net twice in the first half, spurning two golden opportunities to get his Spurs career started. At least grabbed himself an assist after more calamity from Kotarski.

SUB: Joao Palhinha - 7/10

The Portuguese midfielder has been a surprise package in front of goal since arriving on loan and he managed to get on the scoresheet from the bench.

SUB: Richarlison - 6/10

Played with a purpose after coming on and a header hit the bar and agonizingly failed to cross the line. Promising at times but the penalty hitting the woodwork sums up his frustrating period.

SUB: Dane Scarlett - N/A

SUB: Kevin Danso - N/A

FC Copenhagen

Dominik Kotarski - 4/10

Made the clumsy decision to come racing out of his goal, which allowed Johnson to take full advantage. He looked a bag of nerves after this and would have conceded three by half-time if not for Kolo Muani's wastefulness.

RB: Junnosuke Suzuki - 5/10

Spurs had much joy down the right channel and Udogie's pace and Odobert's skill were problematic for the Japanese full-back. He is usually defensively assured, but there were nervous moments tonight.

CB: Gabriel Pereira - 5/10

Whenever the hosts were on the attack they looked like scoring and that was due to the vulnerability at the back. He was too slow closing down a tricky Spurs frontline.

CB: Pantelis Hatzdiakos - 5.5/10

Was the better of the two Copenhagen central defenders but still failed to handle the likes of Simons and Odobert.

LB: Marcos Lopez - 4.5/10

Beaten too easily whenever Spurs broke forward and he looked shaky most of the time.

Jordan Larsson - 5/10

A very quiet night for the son of Henrik Larsson, who just couldn't influence the game in any fashion. Rightfully withdrawn at halftime as Jacob Neestrup grew impatient.

Lukas Lerager - 5/10

Spurs eased their way through the middle on so many occasions and the veteran Dane couldn't keep up with the pace of the hosts each time they broke forward.

William Clem - 5/10

Much like Lerager, he was often second best in duels against Spurs' midfield duo Bentancur and Sarr and lacked much-needed creativity to spark Copenhagen into life.

Elias Achouri - 6.5/10

The Tunisian was Copenhagen's standout performer whose pace and energy were a nuisance for the likes of Porro and Romero. He was just missing the killer instinct as he wasted one or two good chances.

Yossoufa Moukoko - 5/10

There's a reason Borussia Dortmund were prepared to sell the German striker this past summer and he was ineffective in North London, rarely threatening a Spurs defence that was wounded by the Chelsea defeat.

Mohamed Elyounoussi - 5/10

Likewise, a very lacklustre night in North London for the former Southampton man, who wasn't at the races.

SUB: Viktor Dadason - 4.5/10

The 17-year-old was ineffective and kept quiet by a dominant Spurs defence.

SUB: Andreas Cornelius - 4.5/10

Another attacker who didn't manage to make an impact.

SUB: Viktor Claesson - N/A

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Real Madrid's Rodrygo Could Move in January

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Real Madrid's Rodrygo Could Move in January - Tottenham Alert After Contact Made - GiveMeSport
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Tottenham Hotspur have been alerted to Real Madrid winger Rodrygo’s potential availability in January following their strong interest in the summer, journalist Graeme Bailey has claimed.

The North London side may reportedly be presented with an opportunity to pursue the Brazil international at the turn of the year, as Rodrygo is once again considering his future in the Spanish capital.

While he was persuaded to stay and fight for his place under new Real manager Xabi Alonso, the 24-year-old has started just three games in all competitions this term, registering a total of 327 minutes.

With the likes of Franco Mastantuono and Arda Guler above him in Alonso’s pecking order, Rodrygo reportedly accepts that his long-term future may lie away from Real, although it remains to be seen whether Los Blancos would entertain his departure as soon as January.

Rodrygo Eyeing Real Madrid Departure

According to Bailey, while Alonso is happy to keep Rodrygo at the club, the Spanish manager has little intention of changing the Brazilian’s role within his squad.

As a result, Tottenham have been alerted to the 24-year-old’s potential availability in January via intermediaries after registering a strong interest in Rodrygo this summer.

Several other European clubs have also been made aware of Rodrygo’s uncertain future in Madrid, where he is under contract until the summer of 2028.

Rodrygo - described as a 'world-class superstar' by former teammate Luka Modric - joined Real from Brazilian side Santos in June 2019 and has lifted 13 major trophies during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, including two Champions Leagues and three La Liga titles.

The £345,000-a-week Brazilian forward has made 281 appearances in the Spanish capital, scoring 68 goals and providing 53 assists.

Rodrygo has yet to score for Real this season in 11 appearances across all competitions, with his last goal coming in March in the 2-1 win over Atletico in the Champions League.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Rodrygo scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists in 54 appearances for Real last season.

The summer transfer window saw Tottenham spend heavily on reinforcements up front, with Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus, Mathys Tel and Randal Kolo Muani joining.

Simons has endured a difficult start to life at the club, registering no goals and just one assist in his first 12 appearances under Thomas Frank.

The North London side are fifth in the Premier League after 10 games and next take on Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday before hosting Manchester United on Saturday.

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Champions League: Tottenham v Copenhagen Team News and Predicted Lineups

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Tottenham v Copenhagen: Team News and Predicted Lineups Amid Kudus Update - GiveMeSport
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Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank has been spending time at Hotspur Way contemplating whether to make a host of alterations to his starting line-up ahead of hosting Danish giants Copenhagen in a Champions League clash on Tuesday after being forced to contend with a derby defeat to rivals Chelsea last weekend.

Spurs' return to Europe's elite club competition has not been easy as, despite claiming a narrow victory over Villarreal in their opening fixture, they have been restricted to a further two points thanks to coming from behind to draw against Bodo/Glimt and only leaving Monaco with a share of the spoils following an inspired performance from Guglielmo Vicario.

Copenhagen, under boss Jacob Neestrup, are still searching for their first win of the league phase after having to negotiate the play-offs to clinch their place in this term's Champions League. GIVEMESPORT has predicted who is on course to be involved when Tottenham and their visitors lock horns.

Tottenham Team News

Tottenham will be without a host of options for their encounter with Copenhagen, including Lucas Bergvall as concussion protocols mean he cannot be involved after being forced off early in the defeat to Chelsea last weekend, while Djed Spence and Mohammed Kudus are racing to prove their fitness after suffering minor issues.

Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie have returned from injury, with both coming off the bench last time out, and they are fighting to break into the starting line-up. But Archie Gray is still out with a calf issue, while the likes of Radu Dragusin, James Maddison, Yves Bissouma, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke have not been available for a prolonged period. Mathys Tel is ineligible.

Frank, speaking in his pre-match press conference, has confirmed that Bergvall is not in contention to feature against Copenhagen. The Danish tactician is waiting to discover whether Kudus and Spence have made a full recovery from their respective injuries. He said:

"Lucas [Bergvall] got concussion, which was pretty obvious from the footage. We have to give praise to the medical team because it is a tricky situation to be in. So well done to them because the players' health is the most important thing. Djed [Spence] and Mo [Kudus] got a knock - they could and should be available tomorrow."

Tottenham Predicted XI

Tottenham Predicted XI: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Palhinha, Bentancur; Kudus, Simons, Odobert; Richarlison.

Tottenham Predicted Substitutes: Kinsky (GK), Austin (GK), Danso (DEF), Udogie (DEF), Hardy (DEF), Byfield (DEF), Sarr (MID), Olusesi (MID), Johnson (FWD), Kolo Muani (FWD), Scarlett (FWD), Williams-Barnett (FWD).

Copenhagen Team News

Copenhagen have confirmed that 20 squad members boarded the flight to London, ahead of their meeting with Tottenham, but Magnus Mattsson, Rodrigo Huescas, Oliver Hojer, Thomas Delaney and Birger Meling were not among them as they are on the sidelines nursing injuries.

Although Marcos Lopez is poised to be involved in the matchday squad, the full-back is in a race against time to prove his fitness after he was forced off during the Danish Superliga victory over FC Fredericia last weekend. Gabriel Pereira has also been struggling with illness, but is expected to be named among the substitutes.

Neestrup, speaking in his pre-match press conference, admitted that he will be taking no risks when it comes to picking his side to start against Tottenham. The Copenhagen boss said:

"I do need to rotate. We won't play anybody who we are in doubt of. With the players coming in, we're taking no chance with anybody. We will play with a team that is the strongest and can compete the most."

Copenhagen Predicted XI

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Thomas Frank Told to Drop Poor Tottenham Duo

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Micah Richards Urges Thomas Frank to Axe ‘Disgraceful’ Tottenham Duo After Chelsea - GiveMeSport
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Micah Richards has urged Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank to drop Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven over their full-time antics following a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea.

The North London side lost narrowly to their city rivals on Sunday, but it was the events after the final whistle that drew most of the attention.

As they headed for the tunnel following Tottenham’s third defeat of the Premier League season, Spence and Van de Ven appeared to snub Frank while he tried to direct them towards the home supporters.

The Danish tactician was then seen glancing back at the £160,000-a-week pair as they walked off the pitch instead of applauding the crowd, with Richards branding the moment an 'absolute disgrace'.

The footballer-turned-pundit urged Frank to make a decision over the duo ahead of their next game, a Champions League clash with Copenhagen on Tuesday, saying Van de Ven and Spence showed ‘a lack of respect’ for the manager.

Richards Urges Frank to Drop Van de Ven and Spence

Richards, speaking on The Rest is Football, said he ‘wouldn’t play’ Spence and Van de Ven in Tottenham’s next game following the incident on Sunday:

"But if they're disrespecting the manager like that, it's an absolute disgrace. And if they did, I wouldn't play in the next game.

"I really wouldn't, because Thomas Frank's not that sort of person who causes that confrontation, so that's just a lack of respect."

Frank addressed the incident after the match and played it down, saying:

"All the players are of course frustrated. They would like to do well, they would like to win, they would like to perform well, so I understand that."

Tottenham were booed off the pitch following the 1-0 loss on Sunday, with Joao Pedro’s first-half goal proving decisive for the visitors.

The North London side struggled to create chances and registered just three shots on goal compared to Chelsea’s 15, including nine on target.

Spurs have secured just three wins in their past 19 games at home and will next host Manchester United on Saturday, following Copenhagen’s visit in the Champions League on Tuesday.

They have dropped to fifth in the Premier League following the defeat, level on 17 points with Chelsea and eight points behind leaders Arsenal.

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Harry Kane Considering Leaving Bayern And Making Move to Shock Club

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Harry Kane is considering making move to shock club as clause in Bayern contract revealed - GiveMeSport
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A goalscoring phenomenon of the highest order, Harry Kane has been a guarantee of goals for Vincent Kompany's Bayern Munich since moving from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2023. The English striker's future in Bavaria, however, remains in the balance amid contract talks – and reports have claimed that he is mulling over a potential move to another European juggernaut.

Kane, after stints across London at Leyton Orient and Millwall and in Norfolk with Norwich City, made a name for himself in the Premier League with Spurs. Although silverware evaded the marksman during his 435-match career on north London, his goalscoring prowess saw him emerge as one of the planet's most serial goal-getters.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: In September, Harry Kane became the fastest player this century to reach 100 goals for a club playing in one of Europe's top five leagues in just 104 games.

He scored 280 goals for Spurs – and his tally of 213 in the Premier League saw him leave just 47 strikes short of Alan Shearer's all-time record. Recently, there has been talk of him returning to his homeland's top division to usurp his retired compatriot, but there is a Champions League-competing side that are also in the offing should he decide to embark on a new challenge soon.

Kane Admired By European Juggernaut, He Could Be on the Move Soon

Contracted to the Bundesliga behemoths until the summer of 2027, Kane – widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the history of the Premier League – has a release clause in his deal that could see him depart Germany next summer for as little as £57 million. Although he is 32 years of age, getting such a goal threat for that amount of money would be an absolute steal.

A number of elite sides on the continent will, no doubt, be keen to secure the services of the English talisman, who has plundered 22 strikes and three assists in 2025/26, by virtue of the fact that he is one of world football's top sharpshooters. Barcelona, under the guidance of Hansi Flick, are among those interested in Kane.

According to SPORT, via GOAL, Flick and his entourage are monitoring the centre-forward market given that Robert Lewandowski could depart at the end of the season as his contract comes to an end. Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland of Manchester City are at the top of the club's striker list, but neither are believed to be attainable.

Flick's Barca, as it has been well-documented, are financially restricted and Kane could offer a cheaper option but one that will still guarantee potency in the final third.

Since his move to Barca, Poland international Lewandowski scored 105 goals and assisted 20 times in 157 matches – and his combination of technical brilliance and potency in front of goal is similar to that of Kane. Neither striker has ever relied on a turn of pace to outwit defenders in Europe, but instead their high intelligence and movement.

Kane, at the age of 32, still has plenty of years left in the tank – and paying just north of £50 million, a fee that has become commonplace in today's football market, for one of the greatest frontmen of his generation would be a wise investment. But the La Liga side, and the current champions of Spain, will face plenty of competition.

Returning to the Premier League is not off the cards for England's all-time top goalscorer. Journalist Fabrizio Romano, speaking exclusively on GIVEMESPORT's Market Madness podcast, revealed in October that he is solely focused on finishing the current season amid links of a sensational return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the near future.

At the time of writing, Kane – alongside the likes of Nicolas Jackson and Michael Olise – has fired Bayern to the top of the Bundesliga nine games into the 2025/26 season. They've scored 33 goals, 12 courtesy of the Englishman, and have conceded just four goals. Incredibly, they remain the only team in Europe's top five league that are unbeaten domestically.

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