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Manchester United have made their stance clear on Kobbie Mainoo’s future as Tottenham and other clubs circle over the young midfielder.

Thomas Frank has four central midfield options at his disposal, discounting Yves Bissouma, who is expected to leave Tottenham.

Despite this, it has emerged that the Lilywhites want to add another number six to their squad. Many outlets have said that Spurs are set to reignite their interest in Mainoo after failing to get a deal over the line for him in the summer.

Tottenham face plenty of competition from around Europe for Mainoo, and Man United have now made their stance clear on the 20-year-old.

Man United will block transfer requests for Tottenham target Kobbie Mainoo

According to The Sun, Man United plan on blocking any requests that come their way for their academy graduate in January.

This is despite the fact that Mainoo has struggled to get a look-in under Rubem Amorim this season.

It is explained that the Red Devils are set to be without Bryan Mbeumo, Amad and Noussair Mazraoui in December due to the Africa Cup of Nations, and they do not wish to weaken their squad any further.

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Mainoo is one of just five midfielders in the United squad, which is why they will reject his request to leave on loan, just like they did in the summer.

Spurs may still have a chance of securing Mainoo

Understandably, United would not want to weaken their squad mid-season and strengthen a direct rival.

However, an increasing number of outlets have reported over the last week that Man United are ready to launch an offer for Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher.

Tottenham Hotspur are considering moving for a highly-rated teenage striker, but the North London club have fallen behind a European side in the race for his signature.

Spurs have been linked with several top-class centre-forwards over the last few weeks, but it is unclear at the moment whether Tottenham have settled on their number one target.

It was reported by talkSPORT earlier this week that Tottenham are battling Aston Villa and West Ham to sign Real Madrid man Endrick on loan in January.

It subsequently emerged that Madrid want a loan fee for the Brazilian and a guarantee of regular game time to greenlight a loan move.

Bundesliga club advance on deal for Tottenham target Endrick

It has now been revealed by beIN SPORTS that VfB Stuttgart have now entered the race for Spurs target Endrick and have begun talks with Los Blancos regarding a loan deal.

The Bundesliga club have allegedly informed Madrid that they plan on giving the 19-year-old regular game time at the MPH Arena, given that both Ermedin Demirovic and Deniz Undav are out injured.

It is revealed that Xabi Alonso is open to sending Endrick out on loan so that he can get regular game time in the second half of the season.

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Stuttgart have informed the Spanish giants that they see the teenager as the ‘ideal’ player to lead their frontline as they aim to maintain their push for European qualification.

Stuttgart have an advantage over Spurs and other suitors for Endrick

Additionally, it is revealed that having Sebastian Hoeness in the dugout may give the German club an advantage over the other clubs in the race for the Brazilian.

It is explained by beIN SPORTS that Hoeness and Alonso developed a good relationship during the Spanish coach’s time in the Bundesliga.

The Madrid boss trusts Hoeness’s ability to nurture young talents, which makes Stuttgart the favourites to land Endrick over the other clubs queuing up to sign him on loan.

The outlet adds that negotiations between the two clubs are already underway over a loan move with a conditional purchase option in the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur may have a big advantage over other Premier League clubs in the race for one of England’s best centre-backs.

Spurs are thought to be keen on adding another top-class centre-back to their squad, given the injury record of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.

It has been suggested that Tottenham have looked at Brentford’s Nathan Collins and Leeds United’s Pascal Struijk ahead of January.

Over recent days, it has emerged that Spurs are one of several Premier League clubs eyeing a move for Konsa, whose future at Aston Villa is thought to be in doubt.

What Ezri Konsa has previously said about Tottenham switch

The previously mentioned report came from TBR Football, who revealed that the Lilywhites may have to battle Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United for the 28-year-old.

However, it turns out that Konsa grew up supporting Spurs, with the centre-back confessing in an interview to Four Four Two (May 2018 page 80) many years ago.

The defender asked at the time if Tottenham was his dream move, and he responded: “Of course. Tottenham are now a heavyweight team, so I’d love to go there – why not?”

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It thus appears that the Villa man has a clear soft spot for the Lilywhites, who may be able to use that to their advantage in the transfer battle.

What is Aston Villa’s stance on Spurs target Konsa?

It was revealed a couple of days ago by CaughtOffside that while Villa are reluctant to sell Konsa, they may be forced to listen to offers for him.

This is because the Midlands club have PSR issues and may need to sell a homegrown player in January in order to address those.

The outlet alleged that Unai Emery’s men value the Tottenham target at between £40m and £45m.

Underlying statistics prove that Guglielmo Vicario is quietly keeping Thomas Frank’s Tottenham side afloat, after a standout display at the weekend against Chelsea.

Tottenham Hotspur’s miserable run against Chelsea continued at the weekend, with Spurs falling to a narrow 1-0 defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

That result extended their winless streak to five matches against the Blues and left them with just one victory in their last 18 meetings.

It could easily have been far worse, as Chelsea dominated for long spells, firing 15 shots with nine on target and producing an xG of 3.68.

Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario stands tall against Chelsea

Tottenham ultimately had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping the scoreline respectable, as Guglielmo Vicario made a series of crucial saves to deny Chelsea.

FotMob named Vicario their Man of the Match, awarding him a rating of 8.9 – the highest of any player on the pitch.

His underlying statistics fully justified that recognition, as the Italian shot-stopper recorded eight saves, faced an xGOT of 3.17, and prevented 2.17 goals.

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Of his eight saves, three were diving stops, while seven came from inside the box.

The 29-year-old has responded impressively to recent criticism from sections of the Tottenham fanbase, stringing together several strong performances in recent weeks.

Even so, Thomas Frank will be concerned by the patterns emerging in his team’s recent displays, which have too often left Vicario exposed.

Guglielmo Vicario’s stats vs Chelsea:

Vicario reflects on latest Spurs performance

Following the defeat, Vicario was frank in his post-match comments as he assessed Tottenham’s overall display.

The 29-year-old highlighted three areas that Spurs must address as the campaign progresses, stressing the need for greater concentration and composure in key moments.

He also urged his teammates to quickly move past the setback and channel their focus towards the upcoming fixtures, starting with their Champions League tie against Copenhagen before facing Manchester United next weekend.

One of Tottenham Hotspur’s most exciting signings has caught the attention of Kylian Mbappe, who has backed the new signing to continue developing.

Tottenham Hotspur’s summer transfer window was one of intent, with the club desperate to add creativity and attacking flair to Thomas Frank’s setup.

Among the new arrivals, Xavi Simons stood out as a statement signing, joining for £51 million, with only Mohammed Kudus costing more during the window.

The Dutch midfielder was seen as the answer to Tottenham’s creative issues, especially following injuries to James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.

Spurs needed a player who could unlock defences, carry the ball through tight spaces, and add that extra spark in the final third – and Simons fit the bill perfectly.

Now several months into his Premier League journey, the spotlight has firmly remained on the 22-year-old as he adapts to the pace and physicality of English football.

Kylian Mbappe speaks on Xavi Simons’ Tottenham move

The Netherlands international has featured 11 times so far, managing just one goal contribution as he continues to settle into life in North London.

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Former teammate Kylian Mbappe has now spoken about Simons’ journey, reflecting on his past decisions and the path that led him to Tottenham.

Having played for some of Europe’s top clubs, including RB Leipzig, Paris Saint-Germain, and PSV Eindhoven, Simons is no stranger to big expectations.

Speaking to Marca (as relayed by Sport Witness), Mbappe praised Simons’ maturity and the choices he has made in his young career. “Yes, he’s a very talented young player.

“He made a smart decision going to PSV Eindhoven to get playing time. When you’re young at a big club, it’s not easy because everyone wants to play. Then he went to Leipzig, where he played very well.

“Now he’s at Tottenham, and I hope he continues to develop and achieves everything he wants. I wish him the best of luck.”

Tottenham star Xavi Simons still finding his feet under Thomas Frank

There is no doubt that Xavi Simons possesses immense quality, but he has yet to show that consistently in a Tottenham shirt.

The 22-year-old has often struggled with the physical demands of English football, while his decision-making in the final third has sometimes been questionable.

Thomas Frank has attempted to tweak his system to get the best out of the Dutch international, positioning him more centrally when in possession to help link play with the strikers.

Whether that adjustment will spark an upturn in form remains to be seen, but there is a clear intent from Frank to help Simons settle and flourish in his role.

Tottenham once again fell short against their London rivals, as Chelsea extended their dominance in this fixture. But while the result was disappointing for Thomas Frank’s men, a few players still managed to stand out, for better or worse.

Tottenham Hotspur have a poor record against Chelsea, with just one win in their last 18 encounters against the Blues.

At the weekend, it was more of the same from Spurs, who suffered yet another defeat against their London rivals, with Chelsea now winning five straight meetings between both sides.

Thomas Frank’s side were outplayed at home once more this season as Chelsea went on to compound Spurs’ dismal home form, where they have only won once all campaign.

Still, there were a few winners and losers from that league fixture, and here are our picks.

Guglielmo Vicario catches the eye once more for Tottenham

Well, there is no other place to start than with Guglielmo Vicario, who was easily the top performer in the entire match.

Vicario made eight saves against Chelsea and prevented two certain goals according to the statistics, and had it not been for the Italian, it could well have been a derby day humiliation for Spurs.

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The 29-year-old has certainly handled criticism well following a few howlers earlier this campaign, and ever since the game against Leeds, he has been one of Tottenham’s most consistent players.

To produce such a display right after Kinsky’s mistake during the midweek cup tie surely clears any doubts many might have had about the goalkeeper.

Cristian Romero looked sharp on return from injury

Tottenham have been managing an injury crisis and came into the Chelsea game without more than seven first-team players.

However, as revealed before the encounter, a few key names were expected to return, including Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, and Wilson Odobert.

All three featured against Chelsea, including club captain Romero, who looked impressive following his comeback.

His passing was sharp, often looking to thread those trademark forward passes, and with him back in the side, Spurs’ build-up play should improve considerably.

Wilson Odobert remains unchallenged on Tottenham left wing

As mentioned earlier, Odobert also made his return, having missed the encounter against Newcastle in midweek.

He did not feature against Everton either, with Frank instead opting for a different tactical setup, but those who have come in for the Frenchman have yet to impress.

Simons looks off it, while Tel and Brennan Johnson have not done anything notable, and it was the same story against Chelsea, with Frank later turning to Odobert for the final 17 minutes.

It is quite clear now that the left-wing position is Odobert’s to lose.

Now, let’s take a look at the three losers from Tottenham 0-1 Chelsea…

Xavi Simons subbed on, then subbed off

The Dutchman has not impressed since his move to England, and this weekend’s performance was one of his poorest to date.

Simons started on the bench but was introduced after just seven minutes following Lucas Bergvall’s withdrawal due to a concussion substitution.

It was a rare opportunity for the 22-year-old to announce himself to the Tottenham faithful in a derby clash, but that was not the case.

Simons was subbed on only to be subbed off again after 66 minutes, which will do little to help his confidence.

Pape Matar Sarr disappoints after long-awaited start

Tottenham were poor on the night, and virtually every player bar the goalkeeper could have been included in this list of losers.

However, for Pape Matar Sarr, it was slightly different given the context of his inclusion. The Senegal international had made a strong start to the season, impressing with his pressing and goal contributions.

Fans and journalists alike have been asking Thomas Frank why the midfielder has not been given more opportunities, only for Frank to insist there was nothing behind his omission.

Sarr finally got his chance but failed to take it, offering little in attack and showing none of the energy or pressing intensity he is known for. Very poor from him.

Micky van de Ven below his usual standards at Tottenham

Fresh from a brace in the league last time out against Everton, Micky van de Ven had set the bar high with his performances this season.

However, Saturday highlighted some of his limitations, particularly when playing with the ball at his feet.

Van de Ven’s sloppiness while trying to play out from the back allowed Moises Caicedo to pinch possession, and that was an opportunity the Chelsea midfielder was never going to pass up.

It is certainly not typical of van de Ven, who will be keen to bounce back quickly, but there was a clear drop in his standards.

Thomas Frank has revealed the message he delivered to the Tottenham players in the dressing room after the Lilywhites fell to a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea.

Tottenham Hotspur delivered their poorest display of the season yet on Saturday, and it was certainly not the game for that, with Chelsea easing to a win in the London derby.

Spurs recorded an xG of just 0.05 against the Blues, which is the lowest the North London club have ever registered in a Premier League game.

It was an indefensible performance, and the full-time whistle was greeted with loud boos from the home faithful.

Thomas Frank reveals what he told the Tottenham players after the latest defeat

In his post-match press conference, Frank admitted that the performance from his side hurt massively, confessing that no team he has managed has ever had as few chances in a game as the Lilywhites did yesterday.

The Tottenham boss’s message to his players after the debacle was very simple, with the 52-year-old admitting to his troops that they came up against a better side.

When asked what he told his players in the dressing room after the defeat to Chelsea, Frank said (via Football.London): “Today I said very little because we were all frustrated with the performance and the loss. We felt the pain of the supporters. Hate losing.

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“I just said ‘we met a better team today, I won’t say much, just make sure we stick together in bad times and good times, see you tomorrow’.”

Is Frank starting to lose the Spurs dressing room?

There were some controversial scenes after the game, with Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence completely ignoring Frank on their way to the changing room.

The Spurs boss played down the snub by Van de Ven and Spence, insisting that he understood the frustration of the players.

However, it was perhaps significant as it is the first crack we have seen under the new regime and suggests that the players and the coaching staff may not entirely be on the same page.

Tottenham set a record during their 1-0 defeat to Chelsea, and it is one that will make Thomas Frank squirm.

Spurs have been extremely poor at home this season, having now managed just four points from 15 on offer in the Premier League.

The Lilywhites have not won in front of their supporters since the opening weekend of the season, and the display in the London derby was their worst of the season so far.

Boos rang around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during the final whistle against Chelsea after the home side struggled to even lay a glove on their London rivals.

Tottenham register their lowest-ever xG against Chelsea

According to OptaJoe, Tottenham Hotspur registered a shocking xG of just 0.05 against the Blues after mustering just one shot on target through the 90 minutes.

That is the worst xG Spurs have ever registered since the stat has been recorded at the start of the 2012-13 season. During those 12 years, Tottenham have played 504 Premier League matches.

The data thus suggests that Saturday’s game is the least attacking threat Tottenham have offered in over 500 Premier League games, which does not make for pretty reading for Frank.

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Frank admits he has never presided over a worse attacking performance

Speaking after the game, the Tottenham boss acknowledged that his side were nowhere near the required level against Chelsea.

When he was told that his side registered an xG of 0.05, Frank admitted he had never been in charge of a team that created so little in one game through his managerial career.

However, the 52-year-old insisted that he is confident Spurs will click as an attacking force once his new-look frontline gets used to playing with one another.

Guglielmo Vicario has now given an honest review of Tottenham Hotspur’s latest defeat at the hands of Chelsea in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur have been inconsistent for most of this season under Thomas Frank, managing just one win in their last five games.

While Frank’s side might pick up the odd victory here and there, what fans truly want to see is a consistent run of strong performances that can restore belief in the project.

On Saturday, however, it was far from such a display, as Tottenham were outclassed at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium by their London rivals Chelsea, who made it five wins in a row against the Lilywhites with a 1-0 victory.

Guglielmo Vicario reflects on Tottenham’s defeat to Chelsea

It could easily have been a far heavier scoreline if not for Guglielmo Vicario’s heroics between the sticks, with the Italian once again coming to Tottenham’s rescue.

Vicario made eight saves and prevented 2.17 goals to keep the scoreline respectable. He has now given an honest review of his teammates’ performance during an interview on Spurs’ official channel.

Speaking about the team’s display, Vicario admitted it was one of their poorest showings of the season.

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He said: “Not the best of performance for sure, a bad day, a bad day for us. In terms of how we perform, football wise. So of course it is tough to say, it is tough to accept, but this is the reality of today’s game.

“We need to look a little bit inside us, we need to do more. Everyone, everyone. Because when we play for this club we have to do it hundred percent. I know it is tough but we have to do it every single day.”

When asked where he felt improvements were needed, Vicario emphasised the importance of composure and bravery, particularly in possession.

“I think it is across all the aspects of the game, probably a little braver on the ball, probably in some situations we are everyone a little bit of anxiety. We have not cool heads when we have to do it, so probably it is just that aspect you know that can give you an extra bit to perform to a better level.”

Spurs must regroup ahead of crucial fixtures

Vicario also shared some insight into the mood within the camp after the loss, admitting that the defeat hit hard. He told Spurs’ media team:

“Of course it is tough especially when you lose these types of games. When you go inside it is tough to accept because you expect yourself to perform at the best you know with a lot of energy but something today when it is not in the right direction of course everyone knows that personal wise we have to do a little bit more if we want to achieve good results, and to make everyone happy and to also make ourselves happy, and today was not enough.”

Looking ahead to the next fixtures before the international break, the goalkeeper stressed the need to move on quickly and focus on the challenges ahead.

“Yeah of course I think today is a bad day for us and we did not perform at our best level. And we did not perform also on how we was during the week so it is a game to park away, to put away and put it on bed and focus on the Champions League. We have a big night on Tuesday and then from there we build up.”

With two crucial matches to come, Tottenham will need to rediscover their sharpness and confidence quickly if they are to turn their form around.

Tottenham Hotspur supporters have voiced their frustration after Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence appeared to snub manager Thomas Frank following the club’s defeat to Chelsea in the London derby.

The London derby between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea ended in a dismal defeat for Spurs, who remain without a single victory in their last five games against the Blues.

Chelsea outplayed Frank’s side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, restricting Spurs to just one shot on target across the ninety minutes, with the home side managing an xG of only 0.05.

That level of performance is far from what supporters expect in any fixture, let alone a heated derby clash against one of their fiercest rivals.

Micky Van de Ven and Djed Spence snub Thomas Frank after Tottenham defeat

Emotions were high following the defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as both Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven were spotted walking straight down the tunnel, appearing to ignore manager Thomas Frank.

The Danish boss was seen gesturing for his players to join him in acknowledging the home fans after the final whistle, but both Spence and Van de Ven opted instead to head directly for the dressing room.

Tottenham fans have since given their reactions to the incident, with opinions split. Some supporters believe Frank has already lost control of the dressing room, while others see the gesture as an emotional response to another frustrating result.

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One fan wrote: “Frank’s lost the playing group already! So soon?” Another added: “Hopefully just frustration… if not, what a season we have ahead of us.”

A third commented: “Not a good sign but at least they care. They are probably just as frustrated as the rest of us.”

Others were more critical, with one stating: “The two players who cost us a goal should look at themselves before ignoring the boss.”

Another wrote: “All well and good them doing that, but they were on the pitch. They could have had the biggest effect on what happened.” A final supporter added: “Not condoning that, but it seems Frank might have lost the dressing room.”

Spurs form under Frank raises concerns

Tottenham remain fourth in the Premier League table for now, though that could change once Manchester City and Bournemouth play their respective fixtures.

Frank has undoubtedly stabilised Spurs’ position in the table since taking charge, but the recent performances have been far from convincing.

Tottenham seem to be drifting away from their famous motto, ‘To Dare Is To Do’, with displays that lack bite, conviction, and fighting spirit.

When that happens, it becomes a shared responsibility, as both players and the manager must take a hard look at themselves and respond accordingly.