Spurs Web

Leeds United have joined the race for a £30m-rated Championship midfielder, who Tottenham have long been interested in.

There is no denying the fact that Tottenham Hotspur currently have very similar profiles of players in their midfield.

Joao Palhinha and Yves Bissouma are almost of an identical mould – players willing to sweep things up in the middle of the park and protect the defensive line.

There is also an argument to be made that Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr, and Conor Gallagher are of a similar profile, which sparks the need for variety.

Tottenham eye Hayden Hackney as Leeds join transfer race

There have been talks of Tottenham showing interest in Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, who is of a different profile to what Spurs currently have in midfield.

That interest dates back to last summer, but no agreement has been reached, with the 23-year-old staying put at Boro.

A fresh report from Alan Nixon now states that Tottenham Hotspur have one more Premier League club to worry about, with Leeds showing interest in signing Hackney in the summer window.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Daniel Farke’s men will obviously have to get in line, as Spurs, Manchester United and Everton could also make a move for him this summer.

Previous reports have suggested that Boro want £30m to sell Hayden Hackney this summer.

The Boro midfielder is currently enjoying a stellar campaign from defensive midfield, having scored four goals and managed six assists in 31 Championship appearances, which is a lot more than any of Spurs’ holding midfielders in the Premier League.

However, with Middlesbrough on course for promotion, topping the Championship table, they could well secure a far more significant fee for the midfielder should they return to the Premier League.

Hackney, on the other hand, has just one year left on his current contract, leaving the Championship side with next summer as the last time they can demand a significant fee if he does not sign an extension.

Igor Tudor has decided on his three Tottenham coaches, but that means four others follow Thomas Frank out of the exit door.

Spurs relieved Frank of his duties just eight months after his arrival in the summer, with the Dane leaving Tottenham just five points off the relegation zone.

Igor Tudor has been confirmed as Spurs’ interim head coach until the summer, and the club will hope that the former Juventus manager’s arrival will uplift the squad.

Tudor has experience of galvanising struggling sides mid-season, and the 47-year-old is set to bring his own staff with him.

Three coaches set to join Igor Tudor’s staff at Tottenham

Alasdair Gold has now revealed that the former Juventus boss will be accompanied by three members of the staff he has worked with at the Allianz Stadium.

Subject to their work permits being cleared, Ivan Javorcic will join as Tottenham’s assistant coach, Riccardo Raganacci as the physical coach and Tomislav Rogic as the goalkeeping coach until the end of the season.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Gold adds that Justin Cochrane, John Heitinga and Chris Haslam, who were part of Frank’s staff, will leave Hotspur Way, as will analyst Joe Newton.

The journalist wrote on X: “Igor Tudor’s coaching staff will include, subject to work permits, Ivan Javorcic as assistant coach, Riccardo Ragnacci as physical coach and Tomislav Rogic as goalkeeping coach. Leaving Spurs are Justin Cochrane, John Heitinga and Chris Haslam, along with analyst Joe Newton.”

Tudor has been written off already ahead of Spurs adventure

Tottenham legend Teddy Sheringham has said that he is flabbergasted by the club’s decision to appoint Tudor temporarily.

Sheringham pointed to the former Juve boss’s lack of Premier League experience and suggested that he may be in for a rude awakening at N17.

Tottenham Hotspur have secured the signing of an England U16 captain as they continue to strengthen their academy at the expense of Chelsea.

The winter transfer window has since slammed shut, and it was labelled one of the worst transfer windows by Spurs fans, given the club’s lack of activity.

The signing of Conor Gallagher and Souza was the piece of business done by Tottenham, as they failed to strengthen an injury-hit squad with further additions.

However, a few youngsters were also signed for the academy, with Tottenham agreeing a deal for West Ham United academy forward Elisha Sowunmi, an 18-year-old capable of playing anywhere across the front line.

Tottenham complete signing of England U16 captain George Jobling

It has now been revealed that Spurs have moved once again to secure the signing of a highly rated youngster for their academy.

It is understood that Tottenham have completed the signing of highly regarded England U16 captain and right-back George Jobling, formerly of Chelsea.

The 15-year-old previously featured for the Chelsea U16 setup and has also made six appearances for the England U16 side.

MORE SPURS STORIES

These signings continue to arrive after Vinai Ventaksheman stated that focus is also expected to shift towards growing the Tottenham youth setup.

Spurs youth focus grows amid academy pathway concerns

Of course, there is a growing need for Spurs to turn their attention to securing promising talents, given that no academy star is currently a mainstay in the Tottenham first-team squad.

Tim Sherwood has warned that if Tottenham do not rely on youth, they could well miss out on another Harry Kane.

Igor Tudor has 12 games to save Tottenham’s Premier League status, and there are plenty of reasons to believe he’s the right man for the job.

The search for a new manager didn’t last long at Spurs, with Thomas Frank sacked on Wednesday morning and Igor Tudor brought in on Saturday.

With Spurs sitting in 16th place in the Premier League table and just five points above the relegation zone, the pressure is on the Croatian.

There are winners and losers in the wake of Tudor’s arrival, but hopefully, Tottenham as a club can thrive over the next four or five months and be in a much better place come the summer.

Here, we have five reasons why we’re feeling positive about Tudor, and two niggling concerns.

Why Igor Tudor is perfect for Tottenham

He has big-club experience

Throughout his managerial career, Tudor has coached the likes of Juventus, Galatasaray, Marseille, and Lazio. They are some of the biggest clubs in Europe, all with very passionate, demanding fanbases. He knows how to handle that pressure, and that will be key to him being a success at Spurs.

Tudor can fix clubs

If we look more closely at Tudor’s career, he has a great track record in short-term projects. In fact, the longer he is at a club, the worse things get. But, when Tudor is tasked with fixing clubs in the immediate, he does really well. His record in the first few games at Juventus was great, for example, and hopefully he can experience a similar bounce at Tottenham.

MORE SPURS STORIES

His formation works for Tottenham right now

We know Tudor’s preferred formation is a 3-4-2-1, which is a drastic change for Spurs, but that’s a good thing. For a start, whatever we’ve been doing for the past eight months has not been working, so change is needed.

More specifically, the fact that he doesn’t use wingers is really useful, seen as Spurs don’t have any fit wide players right now. When the likes of Mohammed Kudus come back, it’ll be another matter for Tudor to solve, but for now, the squad actually works for the system he’ll employ.

Tudor’s no-nonsense style is needed

One of the main issues with Thomas Frank, if we’re being honest, is that he just seemed to be too soft. At least in the media, he did not demand enough from his players and it felt like the standards of this football club took a massive hit.

Igor Tudor is the exact opposite. He sounds desperate to win at all costs, and we know from his past managerial spells — and indeed, his playing career — that he is not a man who will shy away from telling people what they need to hear and taking action to resolve things. This Spurs squad needs that kind of no-nonsense approach right now; they need to wake up and fight, and Tudor will demand just that.

Randal Kolo Muani can benefit from Tudor at Tottenham

After struggling this season, we could see Randal Kolo Muani thrive under Igor Tudor. They worked together at Juventus, and Kolo Muani excelled there. If Tudor can figure out how best to utilise the Frenchman here, it’ll be like having a new signing.

Downsides to the Tudor appointment

He has no Premier League experience

It may or may not be an issue, but Igor Tudor does not have any Premier League experience. On the one hand, that means he may need some time to get used to the demands of the game and to better understand the different challenges each time bring.

However, there’s also a good argument that it won’t matter at all. Thomas Frank had plenty of Premier League experience and look how that worked out. Also, Arne Slot came in last season and won the league with Liverpool in his first season in England. So, hopefully it’s not an issue at all, but it is a concern for now.

Does Tudor really care about long-term Tottenham success?

Again, this really shouldn’t be an issue, but there’s always the concern that an interim manager simply won’t care as much as someone who’s signed on for the long-term. Tudor is here for five months, and has already been told he won’t be staying on beyond the summer unless something incredible happens between now and then.

He’ll have no interest in the long-term development of players, is unlikely to enact any real changes on a large scale behind the scenes in terms of how the club operates, and at the end of the day, he could feasibly walk away from this job without a care in the world, regardless of what happens in the next 12 games.

Obviously, Tudor will want to protect (and even enhance) his own reputation. Being involved in the relegation of one of the Premier League ever-presents and a member of the Big Six would naturally harm his chances of getting another job. We have to believe that, even if he is only here for a few months, Tudor will care deeply about how he does at Spurs. But there must be a slight difference in mentality, even subconsciously.

Tottenham’s Kota Takai had an outing to forget for Borussia Monchengladbach against Eintracht Frankfurt, but he did showcase one of his big strengths.

The Japanese international missed much of the first-half of the season with injury after arriving at Tottenham from K-League side Kawasaki Frontale last summer.

Takai was loaned out to Gladbach in January without making a single appearance for the Lilywhites.

The Japanese defender has featured in five Bundesliga matches since his January move, but Sunday was a day to forget for the centre-back.

Tottenham youngster Kota Takai showcases his impressive passing

Takai started on the left of Glaback’s back three away at Deutsche Bank Park as his side fell to a 3-0 loss against Frankfurt.

The on-loan Tottenham Hotspur man had the lowest match rating out of all the players who featured in the clash, as per FotMob, who gave him just a 4.9 out of 10.

While it was not a good outing for the 21-year-old centre-back, he did showcase his tidiness on the ball for the away side.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Takai had a pass completion rate of 96 per cent, completing 76 of his 79 attempted passes, including all three of his attempted long passes.

That suggests that the Japanese international is technically good on the ball, but Spurs would want him to improve defensively before he returns to Hotspur Way in the summer.

Some would be tempted to contrast Takai’s struggles with the performances of Luka Vuskovic, who is continuing to shine at Hamburg, in what is his first taste of Bundesliga football.

However, while Vuskovic has had loan spells in Belgium and Poland, and played first-team football in the Croatian top flight, this is Takai’s first experience of senior European football.

The centre-back will undoubtedly have some challenges over the next couple of months, and it will be interesting to see how he adapts.

Thomas Frank’s time in north London may be over, but interest in the former Tottenham manager is already beginning to gather pace elsewhere in the Premier League.

Thomas Frank’s departure did not come as a surprise to many, as the Dane’s Premier League record left a lot to be desired.

Managing just two wins from his last 17 outings and having Spurs in 16th place with 12 games to go was ultimately the reason for his dismissal.

The former Spurs manager will now be thinking about his next steps following his sacking from north London, and fresh reports have revealed what could be next for Frank.

Tottenham axed boss Thomas Frank wanted by three Premier League clubs

According to TeamTalk, it is understood that three Premier League sides are now showing interest in Thomas Frank despite his sacking at Tottenham.

Crystal Palace, Fulham and Bournemouth are the clubs that have the former Spurs manager on their radar as they prepare for the summer.

Palace do expect Oliver Glasner to depart Selhurst Park, while both Marco Silva and Andoni Iraola have their current deals at Fulham and Bournemouth set to expire in the summer, respectively. All three sides believe that Frank would be a great fit for their clubs.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Why Fulham, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace are interested in Thomas Frank

The outlet also reveals why all three of those sides are keen on Thomas Frank. It is claimed that each club sees a potential opening and knows the value of stability.

They also recognise that Frank, with his Premier League experience, developmental pedigree and proven ability to work within modern football structures, fits the profile of the next wave of top-flight managers.

While all of these qualities were on display at Brentford, with Frank showing his ability to develop players and work within a structure, it never quite clicked at Tottenham, with results ultimately failing.

However, by the summer, there is a possibility that Frank will be in the dugout for a Premier League team again.

The numbers suggest that Tottenham Hotspur youngster Mikey Moore is now consistently delivering the goods for Rangers.

After a difficult start to his loan spell at Rangers, the Tottenham Hotspur attacking midfielder has come into his own over the last few months.

Moore delivered a masterclass against Kilmarnock just over 10 days ago, and the Spurs youngster has now produced another fine performance against table-topping Hearts.

The 18-year-old was one of the stars of the show for the home side as they emerged 4-2 winners on Sunday, moving to just two points from the summit of the Scottish Premiership table.

Tottenham youngster Mikey Moore is starting to fulfil his potential

Mikey Moore played 88 minutes, and his performance was rated 7.4 out of 10 by Fotmob.

The Tottenham youngster had five shots in total, hitting the post once and accumulating an xG of 0.52. He finished with a 93 per cent pass accuracy, finding his intended target with 26 of his 28 passes.

He had 45 touches in total, including five inside the opposition box, completing one of his two attempted dribbles and was not dispossessed once through the game.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Moore was fouled once, completed one tackle and one ball recovery while winning three out of the four duels he competed in.

In fact, here are the youngsters’ last 10 performance ratings on FotMob, which show that Moore has now arrived and is starting to live up to his potential:

Moore could remain at Rangers next season

Spurs fans are understandably excited about the prospect of Moore returning to Hotspur Way in the summer and staking his claim for a starting berth next season.

Tottenham have had issues in the left-wing role, and some might feel the teenager could be the answer to the problem if he keeps developing as he is.

Tottenham Hotspur supporters will be cautiously optimistic ahead of their team’s clash with Arsenal, with visible changes expected as Igor Tudor takes his seat in the dugout for the North London Derby.

Tottenham Hotspur return to action next Sunday with a fixture which is huge for four reasons, one of which is that it is a local deby.

It is also a massive game because Spurs are only five points clear and worse still, Arsenal are in prime position to win the Premier League, increasing the match’s importance.

Fourthly, the upcoming North London derby is the first chance Spurs fans have to witness Igor Tudor and to get to grips with what he is all about.

Here are three things they will expect from what is surely one of the biggest games of the season for both clubs.

Igor Tudor should show a clear style and formation

Tottenham fans may already have some pre-conceived ideas about the way Tudor operates based on his time in Italy.

However, there is always a chance the manager examines the Tottenham first-team squad and decides a few tweaks need to be made which differ from his typical style of play.

MORE SPURS STORIES

One week is not long to implement a whole new system and so it will be interesting to see whether Tudor comes in all guns blazing, or whether he brings change gradually each week.

Many Spurs fans will be anticipating a 3-4-2-1 formation which enables aggressive and direct football, but all will be revealed soon enough.

Tottenham should play with more fight vs Arsenal

Spurs have been woeful in recent weeks and a lack of quality is one big issue, but this is not the sole problem.

Thomas Frank’s team simply did not look all that bothered on a number of occasions. It was clear the Dane’s words did little to inspire his players and that was reflected by their performances.

The pressure is really on now and with a new manager who takes no nonsense, Tottenham should be fired up and ready to do whatever it takes to get a result on Sunday.

Perhaps it has felt like there has been nothing to play in the Premier League over the past couple of months. However, the stakes have been raised as relegation becomes a possibility. This demands a response from the team and the sooner we see it, the better.

Two Spurs players could return for Tudor’s opening game

Tottenham have experienced no luck where injuries are concerned this season, but there could be some light at the end of the tunnel with two upcoming returns.

While there are no guarantees, Pedro Porro and Richarlison could both be back for the North London derby, in which case they would most likely begin the match on the bench.

Porro could become a key player under Tudor if he opts to play with wing-backs and Richarlison will have a point to prove after some strong displays from Dominic Solanke.

Dimitri Payet’s past comments have now highlighted what Tottenham Hotspur fans can expect from Igor Tudor over the next 12 games.

Tottenham Hotspur fans know a few things about their new interim boss, Igor Tudor, even though he has yet to take to the dugout in an official game.

We already know Tudor prefers a three-at-the-back system and is one who focuses on keeping things solid defensively, as he loves his sides compact.

The former Juventus man has also managed a couple of bright starts in some of his previous outings, but doing that in the Premier League is, of course, an entirely different game.

Dimitri Payet opens up on Igor Tudor’s methods

Tudor had a spell at Marseille at some point in his career and managed to turn things around for the French side, helping them to win eight straight games, ironically after a Champions League exit to Spurs back in 2023.

The former Juventus man introduced a high-pressing, high-line, aggressive system when with the Ligue 1 outfit, and he went on to win eight of his first 10 games.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Speaking about Tudor in the build-up to his exit in 2023, Dimitri Payet opened up on the manager’s manner and approach, explaining how the squad reacted to his methods.

He told France Football: “We all got acquainted with someone who was coarse and blunt. In his manners and words, he was authoritative. We were all a bit shocked.

“With a little hindsight, he was excessively harsh at first to mark his territory and implement some measures. Then, it was a bit better.”

Tottenham squad could benefit from Igor Tudor authority

That could be exactly what this group of Spurs players need as they look to turn things around on the field, following their disappointing run of two wins in 17 games.

A manager capable of putting his foot down and stamping his authority on this side rather quickly, while getting results, will be good for Tottenham.

If Tudor can replicate his methods at Marseille at Spurs, then he will for sure get the fans behind him and will be able to help them avoid relegation.

Make no mistake: Tottenham are in the middle of a relegation battle right now. So, how will the next 12 games go?

It’s all change at Spurs this week, and not a moment too soon, either. After Thomas Frank’s abysmal run with the Lilywhites, Igor Tudor is being tasked with simply keeping the club in the Premier League.

As things stand, Spurs are in 16th place in the table, just five points clear of West Ham in 18th. Opta’s supercomputer has increased Tottenham’s chances of relegation, and it’s now a very real possibility.

Hopefully, Tudor can bring a new manager bounce and revitalise this struggling squad. Here, we take a look at Tottenham’s run-in and see where the points will come from.

How will Tottenham fare in the next 12 Premier League games?

Arsenal (H) – Loss

Tudor’s first game in charge will be a huge one, with the North London Derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. I’d love to say home advantage will play a factor, and obviously, there’s nothing any of us would love more than to ruin Arsenal’s title charge, but I just cannot see us being anywhere near ready to upset the odds here.

Fulham (A) – Draw

Fulham have been inconsistent this season, which makes them very difficult to predict. At Craven Cottage, they’ll be a tough test for Spurs, but I do think Tudor’s methods will have started to bed in by this point. A hard-earned draw will be a solid result and another step towards safety.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Crystal Palace (H) – Tottenham Win

I’ve got a good feeling that Tudor’s first win as Spurs boss will be a comprehensive victory at home against Crystal Palace. The Eagles have been shaky this season, to say the least, and we simply have to win this one if we are serious about staying in the league. We have a pretty good record against Palace, and I don’t expect that to end this time.

Liverpool (A) – Loss

Much like the Arsenal game, Spurs are simply not strong enough to beat Liverpool this year. Our squad is ravaged by injuries and even the players coming back around this time will be lacking in match sharpness. Liverpool haven’t been perfect this season, but they’ve got more than enough quality to secure a win against Spurs at Anfield.

Nottingham Forest (H) – Tottenham Win

This is the most important game in the run-in for Spurs. Lose this one, and we’ll be sweating until the final day. Win, however, and Tottenham should be able to put a little bit of distance between them and their relegation rivals. With more quality and being on home soil, I fancy this to be a win that acts as a real catalyst to putting together a bit of a run of form and putting relegation fears to bed.

Sunderland (A) – Draw

An away day at the Stadium of Light is a stern test for any team, and Spurs will be worried about this one despite Sunderland’s drop-off in the second half of the season. Honestly, a draw would be a good result here, and I think Tudor’s men will be able to grind it out.

Brighton (H) – Tottenham Win

Brighton are just two points ahead of Spurs in the Premier League table right now, and by the time we face them later this year, I fancy the tables to have turned. At home and against a team clearly lacking in confidence, Tottenham will get the job done.

Wolves (A) – Draw

For some reason, Wolves have been a bit of a bogey team for Spurs over the last few years. They may be rock bottom of the table, but they’ll still end up frustrating the Lilywhites and getting a point out of us. It’s fate.

Aston Villa (A) – Loss

A little unbeaten run will no doubt end at Villa Park. Like Wolves, we just cannot seem to get anything in the Midlands lately, and Villa have looked like real contenders to break up the Big Six this season. This one won’t be pretty, I fear, and we just have to hope it’s not too much of a body blow to derail the final few games for us.

Leeds United (H) – Tottenham Win

I think Leeds will have enough to stay up this season, but they’re so inconsistent it’s hard to see them getting a win in North London. We tend to do well against them and this could be the difference between finishing above or below Leeds. We’ll get the win we need to climb the table.

Chelsea (A) – Loss

Playing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge is as close to a foregone conclusion as I can think of for Spurs. We struggle to get anything there, and I think a big part of that is a mentality issue. With Chelsea likely to be hunting down a Champions League spot, they’ll be eager to beat us and they’ll get what they want.

Everton (H) – Tottenham Win

At home on the final day of the season, it’s so important to leave behind this rotten campaign on a positive note. Everton have looked good this term and it won’t be an easy game at all, but we don’t have a bad record against the Toffees and I think we can get the three points here.

Spurs will stay up… just

That would be nine points more than Tottenham’s tally last season, and would have been enough to land in 14th place in 2024/25.

If we look at the fixtures for Tottenham’s relegation rivals, Forest still need to play both Manchester teams and Chelsea away from home, while Liverpool and Aston Villa will visit the City Ground, too. They’re very unlikely to get anything from those games, and if we can beat them, too, then it’ll be more than enough to keep us out of trouble.

Meanwhile, West Ham have a slightly more favourable run-in. Yes, they have to go to Villa Park and Anfield, but they’ll also play Wolves and Leeds at home, as well as having winnable games against Fulham, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, and Everton. If those games go their way, I fancy them to overtake Forest and stay up.