Spurs Web

Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United saw £50m bids for a winger with nine goal contributions rejected at the start of the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Antoine Semenyo is not exactly new, with the Lilywhites’ pursuit of the Bournemouth forward dating back to last summer.

Spurs’ efforts ultimately proved unsuccessful, as Semenyo remained on the south coast after Andoni Iraola’s side managed to tie the Ghana international down to a long-term contract running until 2030.

Tottenham did secure Mohammed Kudus during the window, but the left-wing position remains an area of concern, particularly after the departure of Heung-min Son, with no natural replacement brought in to strengthen that flank.

Tottenham and Manchester United bids rejected for Antoine Semenyo

Reports from The Telegraph have now revealed that Tottenham’s interest in Antoine Semenyo led the north London club to table a £50 million offer for the winger during the summer window.

However, their bid was swiftly turned down by Bournemouth, who had no interest in selling one of their standout performers.

It is also understood that Manchester United made a similar approach worth £50 million for Semenyo, but their bid was equally rejected as Bournemouth maintained their stance.

MORE SPURS STORIES

The Cherries’ impressive season under Iraola, which saw them finish in the top half of the Premier League table, naturally drew attention to several of their players.

Having sold around £200 million worth of talent during the summer – including their goalkeeper and a large portion of their defensive line – Bournemouth were in no rush to offload more key players and successfully resisted offers for three other members of their first team.

Antoine Semenyo continues to shine amid Tottenham interest

Antoine Semenyo has only gone on to strengthen his reputation this season, with the 25-year-old contributing six goals and three assists already.

His performances underline why Tottenham were so keen to secure his services, particularly as they continue to struggle for consistent creativity in the final third.

Spurs’ attacking issues remain apparent, with none of their current players having scored more league goals than Semenyo so far this term.

His pace, drive and direct approach have been key to Bournemouth’s attacking play, and it is clear that his value has risen significantly since those rejected summer bids.

Xavi Simons reportedly came very close to joining one of the biggest clubs in Europe before Tottenham Hotspur secured him in the final days of the summer transfer window.

It is clear that Simons was not Spurs’ top attacking midfield target in the summer.

Tottenham failed with a move for Morgan Gibbs-White, under strange circumstances, and then, the Lilywhites were snubbed by Eberechi Eze, who chose to join their North London rivals.

Only then did they turn to the Dutchman, but Spurs officials have said that Xavi is the perfect fit for their project, suggesting that it was a blessing in disguise to miss out on the Forest and Arsenal stars.

However, it turns out that the Netherlands international came very close to joining another big club earlier in the summer.

Tottenham star Xavi Simons came close to joining Bayern Munich

It has now been claimed on BILD’s podcast Bayern Insider (as relayed by WA.de) that Bayern were keen on signing Xavi before he made the switch to N17.

It is revealed that the Bundesliga giants had identified the 22-year-old as their ‘dream player’ and saw him as the ideal option to replace Kingsley Coman.

MORE SPURS STORIES

In fact, talks had progressed, and a contract had even been finalised for the former Leipzig man ahead of a transfer to the Allianz Arena.

However, in the end, Bayern’s honorary president, Uli Hoeness, vetoed the transfer due to financial considerations and made it clear that only loan signings could be made, given the club’s spending earlier in the window.

As a result, the transfer fell through, allowing Tottenham to swoop for Xavi while the Bavarian club signed Nicolas Jackson on loan from Chelsea instead.

What is the feeling at Spurs about Xavi?

Xavi has come in for plenty of criticism over recent weeks, with the youngster not having hit the ground running in the Premier League.

However, reports have claimed that the feeling inside Tottenham is that Xavi has the potential to become a superstar, with the Lilywhites hierarchy confident that the 22-year-old will come good once he finds his feet.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank has urged patience as he continues to shape his side, drawing parallels between his early spell in charge and the beginnings of Mauricio Pochettino’s reign in north London.

Thomas Frank’s start to life as Tottenham Hotspur boss has had its ups and downs, with the Dane still trying to find his feet.

Spurs are sixth in the Premier League table and five points off the top, having picked up 14 points from their opening eight games of the campaign.

There have been solid performances, but criticism has also been directed towards the Spurs boss for often being too pragmatic in his approach.

Spurs have won just one of their last five matches in all competitions, and although they remain unbeaten in the Champions League, there is still a sense that things could be better for Frank and his side.

Thomas Frank draws Mauricio Pochettino comparison at Tottenham

However, the Dane can take encouragement from the fact that his record so far mirrors that of Mauricio Pochettino, who guided Spurs for over five years and left a lasting impression on the club.

If Frank’s UEFA Super Cup penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain is counted as a loss, then both he and Pochettino managed six wins, four draws, and three defeats in their first 13 matches in charge.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Frank’s record edges slightly ahead of the Argentine’s, with his team scoring three more goals and conceding three fewer during that run.

Those similarities were brought up during Frank’s pre-match press conference ahead of the trip to Everton, and he reflected on the comparison, saying it was one he greatly respected.

He told reporters (The Standard): “It is not only that example, but I think it is a good example because of course, Pochettino is a legend here.

“What he built, what he was part of achieving, I think it is definitely a spell I looked at when I was not here and of course, I was very aware of when I got offered the job. I always looked at that and thought ‘wow’. What he built, what they built together there was quite unique and quite impressive.

“I think any success in football history is more or less from clubs and teams that had the same head coach or manager for a long spell.

“That is, of course, not about me but also includes the key staff members. That can be sports directors, CEO, assistant coaches and of course the manager or head coach.

“That is almost a non-negotiable and then of course it is up to me to make sure we have enough progress along the way, but we all know it will be a little bit up and down.”

Frank confident there is more to come from Spurs

Thomas Frank also insisted there was more to come from his Tottenham side despite being relatively pleased with their progress so far.

Speaking after their recent run of mixed results, he said he was encouraged by the team’s direction.

“That is football and that is down to a swing of a leg sometimes, a margin, a ball is dropping to you on the other side, injuries, there are so many things but step by step we will get stronger,” Frank said.

“That I am not in doubt of. I am relatively happy with where we are, I would say relatively happy. I always want more, but I just know there is more to come.”

The Spurs boss then made it clear that he wants his side to play with intensity and physicality, especially ahead of tough away games against Everton and Newcastle.

“I want to play with high intensity and big aggression and in the Premier League, you need physicality,” he said. “So you need to have a certain level of physicality in the team because if you do not have that, you have no chance.

“If you look at the three big boys right now, look at Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City, they all have unbelievable physicality and then you of course need some players that can make the difference.

“Then you – that is me – I need to set up a structure that makes sure we play free-flowing football as much as possible.”

David Moyes has been impressed with how one Tottenham star has performed this season and has made a big claim about him ahead of his side’s showdown with the Lilywhites.

Tottenham officials have insisted that they are very pleased with their summer business, and while some of the signings have hit the ground running, others are yet to make a real impact in a Spurs shirt.

Even before a ball was kicked this season, The Athletic ranked Joao Palhinha as the best signing of the summer across the Premier League.

However, David Moyes has named another Spurs player as the club’s best signing of the recent transfer window.

David Moyes is not surprised by Mohammed Kudus’ impact at Tottenham

There are no prizes for guessing that the Everton boss is talking about Mohammed Kudus, whom he worked with at West Ham.

Moyes admitted that he enjoyed working with the Ghanaian and believes that he has been the best buy out of the seven signings Tottenham made in the summer.

Speaking about Kudus, the Toffees head coach said (via The Daily Mail): “He’s a brilliant player. He has so many attributes to his game. He is a great boy to work with. I hugely enjoyed managing him. I had a good relationship with him.

MORE SPURS STORIES

“He has great strength, great balance, can’t knock him off the ball. He can play inside or outside, he can play several positions if you want him. He is just finding his form at Tottenham. I see him doing lots of things, whether that is scoring or creating goals.

“At the moment, from a distance, he looks like their best buy of the summer. I am not a Tottenham expert, but that’s how it looks.”

Spurs official reveals one factor that made Kudus an attractive target

As Moyes rightly mentions, Kudus’ strength on the ball and his balance make him very hard to defend against, but the 25-year-old also possesses another key attribute which goes under the radar.

Tottenham’s Head of Scouting, Rob Mackenzie, revealed that Kudus’ fitness and robustness were key factors behind why Spurs wanted to sign him.

Spurs fans will not like Harry Redknapp’s prediction on how he expects the game between Everton and Tottenham to unfold.

Thomas Frank’s men are short of confidence heading into their first-ever game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

More than one Spurs player has questioned the team’s mentality following their struggles against Monaco in mid-week, which is not a good sign so early into the season.

Additionally, Tottenham could be without nine first-team players for their trip to Merseyside, and Redknapp has now made a grim prediction ahead of the game.

Harry Redknapp expects Tottenham to lose again on Sunday

Spurs have struggled at home in the Premier League this season, but they have a formidable record away from home, remaining unbeaten in their four matches so far.

However, Redknapp expects that streak to end, predicting that the Toffees will hand Frank his first away defeat as Tottenham boss.

The former Spurs manager said about Sunday’s clash to BetVictor: “A tricky one to call. Everton made it difficult for City last week, but truth be told, they never looked like winning that one. They’ve been good at home so far, though, and they’ll fancy this against a Spurs side that are a little out of form.

MORE SPURS STORIES

“Spurs made such a great start to the season, but they’ve been out of sorts in the last few weeks, and all of a sudden, they could do with a good win. I didn’t think they were great against Villa, or in Monaco the other night.”

Prediction: Everton 2-1 Tottenham.

Redknapp backs Spurs-linked player to shine

According to reports in the summer, Jack Grealish was willing to join Tottenham, but the Lilywhites decided against signing the winger.

The England international has been outstanding since his loan move Everton, and Redknapp identified him as the danger man for the North London side.

When asked to pick his player to watch in the clash at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, the 78-year-old said: “Jack Grealish. He obviously couldn’t face his parent side last week, and Everton missed Grealish. He’ll want to get back to business here.”

Guglielmo Vicario was very critical of his Tottenham teammates for lacking the basics against Monaco, and two pundits, including a former Spurs midfielder, did not like what the goalkeeper said.

Tottenham have Guglielmo Vicario to thank for emerging with a draw from Monaco, with the Italian making several crucial saves to preserve a clean sheet.

The draw at Monaco has meant that Spurs are still on course to qualify for the knockout stage of the Champions League, but Tottenham supporters will be worried about the side’s performance.

There is one aspect of the team’s display at Stade Louis II that a senior Spurs man was particularly unhappy with.

Guglielmo Vicario criticises his Tottenham teammates’ effort and mentality

Vicario has been included in Tottenham’s leadership group by Thomas Frank, and the Italian certainly did not hold back in his criticism of his teammates following the draw in France.

He suggested that Spurs lacked the required effort and mentality, and also remarked that his teammates failed to sense the danger in some defensive situations.

The Tottenham number one told TNT Sports (22/10/25) following the 0-0 draw with Monaco: “Sometimes you’re needed and today was definitely the night. [It was] not the best performance from us, so a lot to work on and learn from, because the level in the Champions League is very high.

MORE SPURS STORIES

“If you miss some basics, it’s hard to compete with a good team. Tonight, it was about the effort and mentality, the awareness of danger that you need to have in some situations. Tonight, we lacked a little bit of that.”

Pundits blast Vicario for questioning his teammates’ mentality

Dean Saunders and Jamie O’Hara felt that the Spurs number one went overboard with some of the comments he made.

They also suggested that he should look at himself, with the former Tottenham midfielder pointing out that the 28-year-old does not cover himself in glory while dealing with crosses.

Reacting to Vicario’s statement, Saunders told talkSPORT: “Effort and mentality? He’s just nailed his teammates. Has he forgotten he’s a goalkeeper?

“You know how football works. Good players at the back, very good players in midfield, artists at the front. And the lad with no coordination, stick him in goals. That’s what he is. And he’s having a go at his teammates?”

O’Hara responded: “I’d turn around and say to him, ‘Oi, you, digging me out, where have you been when we come for a cross?’ Falling in the net from a cross, every time it comes in the box.”

Tottenham Hotspur may have unearthed another gem in Luka Vuskovic, with praise flooding in for how the club have nurtured his growth and set him on the right path towards stardom.

Luka Vuskovic is undoubtedly a player with huge potential and one for the future at Tottenham. The youngster has continually impressed on the pitch, displaying maturity and composure that belie his age.

Last season, he stood out during his loan spell at Westerlo in Belgium, where he found the net seven times in what was a stellar campaign. His progress has not slowed since then.

Now on loan at Bundesliga side Hamburg, the Croatian continues to enhance his reputation, even picking up the Rookie of the Month award in September for his performances and consistency.

Croatia boss Ivica Olic praises Tottenham for Luka Vuskovic development

Croatia U21 manager Ivica Olic has now heaped praise on Tottenham for allowing Luka Vuskovic to join Hamburg SV on loan in August, highlighting how well the club have managed his development path.

Speaking to Bild, Olic discussed the Tottenham-owned defender’s steady rise and potential international breakthrough.

He said, “If Luka continues to perform so well for HSV and his country and stays healthy, I am convinced he will be at the World Cup.”

MORE SPURS STORIES

Olic went on to outline how Tottenham’s approach to Vuskovic’s career has been deliberate and beneficial. “He was carefully developed, loaned to Poland and Belgium. And the loan from Tottenham to my former club also makes a lot of sense. A lot of things were done right. That is how you develop talent. But it is important that he continues to play well,” he explained.

The Croatia boss also spoke glowingly about the youngster’s character, saying: “Luka is a down-to-earth boy who is very mature for his age, both on and off the pitch. He lives and loves football. You can feel that in every training session, in every game. He always gives 100%.”

Vuskovic eyes 2026 World Cup breakthrough

The 2026 World Cup finals is an event every footballer dreams of, and it will be no different for Luka Vuskovic.

Croatia have long been a powerhouse in international football, reaching the final in 2018, and they will be hoping for a repeat of that remarkable run if they secure qualification for the 2026 tournament.

Tottenham have picked up five points from their opening three games in the UEFA Champions League this season under Thomas Frank, following their latest 0-0 draw with AS Monaco.

Let’s take a look at the five things we learned from Tottenham’s 0-0 with Monaco:

Tottenham did not deserve a point

Tottenham Hotspur followed their 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa last time out with a goalless draw against AS Monaco in the UEFA Champions League.

While they earned a valuable point, the performance on display left much to be desired from Frank’s men. Tottenham were completely outplayed by the French side, who managed 23 shots with eight on target.

They created five big chances and registered an xG of 2.45, and on the balance of play, they should have walked away with all three points.

It took a standout display from Guglielmo Vicario, who was forced into making eight saves to keep the scoreline at 0-0. Frank was undoubtedly a lucky man on the touchline as Spurs rode their luck for most of the night.

Monaco’s first clean sheet of their season against poor Tottenham

Not only were Tottenham poor defensively, Frank’s men also struggled going forward against a Monaco side that is far from known for their defensive solidity.

MORE SPURS STORIES

The Ligue 1 outfit recorded their first clean sheet of the season against Tottenham, and they looked comfortable while doing so.

Tottenham’s lack of creativity has been a recurring theme this campaign, and with a hectic schedule ahead, Frank still has not found a way to fix the lack of spark in his side.

The underlying numbers have long indicated that Tottenham’s chance creation compared to their goal output was unsustainable, as they simply do not create enough clear opportunities to score goals.

Once again, it was on full display in this tie – an xG of 0.87 and one big chance more or less told the story.

Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha partnership remains a problem

Against Aston Villa, Tottenham fans widely concluded that the pairing of Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha is one of the issues in Frank’s system.

The numbers back that up. When the duo play together, Tottenham have less possession, lower expected goals and reduced expected threat tallies.

In addition, Spurs concede more goals per 90 minutes, register fewer shots on target, and record fewer touches in the opposition box.

One could argue that sacrificing attacking fluency for defensive solidity justifies the pairing, but when Tottenham are being carved open at will by Monaco, there is little to suggest that the combination benefits the side in any meaningful way.

Lucas Bergvall wastes his chance in the number ten role

The number ten position is very much up for grabs at Tottenham, given that Xavi Simons is yet to find form and make a consistent impact in a Spurs shirt.

This was Lucas Bergvall’s opportunity to stake a claim for that role, but it felt as though he wasted his chance to impress.

The Swede looked off the pace, barely saw the ball, contributed very little in attack, and was substituted after just an hour.

Everything that could go wrong for a youngster trying to make an impression seemed to happen to Bergvall in this tie.

There will be further chances for the midfielder, but he will need to quickly pick himself up and show more intent in the next opportunity he gets.

Why is Pape Matar Sarr not starting for Tottenham anymore?

If the numbers do not justify the Bentancur and Palhinha pairing, then Frank simply has to look at other combinations.

One name that naturally comes to mind is Pape Matar Sarr, who offers athleticism, energy, and a willingness to make runs into the box, while also maintaining defensive balance.

The Senegalese midfielder started the season brightly, scoring a couple of goals, yet still struggles to get consistent minutes.

It was the same story again in Monaco. Starting from the bench, Sarr came on and immediately injected forward intent that is often missing when Bentancur starts.

His run beyond Randal Kolo Muani created Tottenham’s best chance of the second half, as he cut the ball back for Brennan Johnson, who failed to convert.

When there is such a clear lack of creativity in the side and a player like Sarr remains on the bench, questions will always be asked of Frank’s selection decisions.

The half-time whistle has blown between Tottenham Hotspur and AS Monaco in matchday three of the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, and the player ratings are in.

Below, we have given each Tottenham player a performance rating on a scale of 0-10, with 10 highest score achievable for an impressive performance.

Tottenham player ratings vs AS Monaco

Guglielmo Vicario – Called into action a few times this match, and he has dealt with each one superbly, pulling off some fine stops. Without him, Tottenham Hotspur could easily be at least a goal down. 8.

Pedro Porro – Tried to play Ansu Fati offside following Monaco’s break after a Tottenham corner, but the former Brighton man beat the line despite Porro pushing up, and could easily have given Monaco the lead. More conservative tonight, with Frank opting for him to create from deep rather than overlap, but his crossing from those deep areas has been poor. 5.

Kevin Danso – Continues to fill in for Tottenham captain Cristian Romero and has not put a foot wrong in the first forty-five. His long throws remain a real weapon going forward, and he often finds Wilson Odobert with his diagonals. 6.

Micky van de Ven – Captain for the night, but the Spurs’ back line has not looked particularly secure. Monaco has found space in behind far too easily, and Van de Ven has been caught out a few times. The defence needs to tighten up and stay compact. 5.

Archie Gray – The youngster has a licence to bomb forward, and he has done just that, making clever overlapping runs down the left. He has also been diligent defensively, putting in a few strong tackles and key blocks. 7.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Rodrigo Bentancur – A performance very much in line with expectations. Kept things tidy in midfield, took a few touches, played a few safe passes – nothing more, nothing less. Monaco, however, is carving out chances far too easily from the central areas despite Spurs’ double pivot. 5.

Joao Palhinha – Maghnes Akliouche has been pulling the strings for AS Monaco in that number ten role. Palhinha has made some solid tackles, but he and Bentancur need to close him down more quickly. 5.

Lucas Bergvall – Preferred in the number ten position ahead of both Pape Matar Sarr and Xavi Simons, but has not seen enough of the ball in dangerous areas. Lost possession in midfield, allowing Monaco to play in Folarin Balogun – only for Vicario to bail Spurs out yet again. 4.

Mohammed Kudus – Monaco have doubled up on him from the off, giving him no space to work with. A frustrating evening for the winger, who has struggled to create much of anything from open play in this tie. His delivery from corners, however, has been impressive, with Spurs having their best moments from set plays. 6.

Richarlison – Has hardly held the ball up and has been peripheral in attack. Worked hard off the ball and tracked back willingly, but his big chance – from Odobert’s square ball – was blocked. 5.

Thomas Frank has named his Tottenham Hotspur team for the Champions League clash against Monaco this evening.

The North Londoners are looking to bounce back after Tottenham lost 2-1 to Aston Villa at the weekend in yet another disappointing home performance.

Spurs were held to a 2-2 draw at Bodo/Glimt in match day two and need to return to winning ways at Monaco to keep pace with those looking for automatic qualification.

Frank has had selection issues to deal with due to an injury crisis creeping back into Hotspur Way with a number of senior players unavailable for selection.

What is the Tottenham team vs Monaco?

Tottenham club captain Cristian Romero missed the defeat to Villa with an adductor problem and is once again sidelined, along with fellow defender Destiny Udogie, who is managing a knee issue.

Mathys Tel is unavailable for selection having been omitted from the Champions League squad, while Ben Davies, Yves Bissouma, Dominic Solanke, James Maddison, Radu Dragusin, Kota Takai, and James Maddison also once again miss out.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Micky van de Ven once again wears the captain’s armband in the absence of Romero.

Former Spurs defender Eric Dier misses a reunion with his old employer having recently sustained a muscular injury. Vanderson, Denis Zakria and Christian Mawissa and Paul Poga are also sidelined.

This is the Tottenham team which takes to the field at the Stade Louis-II this evening:

Monaco: Köhn; Caio Henrique, Kehrer, Salisu; Ouattara, Coulibaly, Teze, Diatta; Akliouche; Ansu Fati, Balogun.

Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Spence, Gray, Bentancur, Bergvall, Kudus, Odobert, Richarlison

Subs: Kinsky, Austin, Simons, Johnson, Spence, Sarr, Kolo Muani, Scarlett, Olusesi, Byfeld, Williams-Barnett

Tottenham must end poor Champions League away form

Tottenham have won just one of their last seven away matches in the Champions League (D2 L4).

Monaco won both meetings between the sides in 2016 – each by a 2-1 scoreline.