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Tottenham Hotspur are primed to advance on an experienced central midfielder, who is thought to be keen on returning to the Premier League in January.

Several sources have claimed that Spurs are prioritising the signing of players with Premier League experience in January, and a former Wolves player is thought to be on their radar.

It emerged last month that Tottenham are exploring bringing Ruben Neves back to England, but the Lilywhites are not the only ones interested in the player.

Man United and Newcastle are battling Spurs for the former Wolves man, and another club have now allegedly entered the race.

Tottenham one of three clubs readying offers for Ruben Neves

A new report in Sabah (as relayed by Sport Witness) has now claimed that Galatasaray have now entered the race for the 28-year-old, whose contract at Al-Hilal is set to run out next summer.

The outlet claims that the midfielder is ‘ready to leave Saudi Arabia’ in the upcoming transfer window.

However, it is explained that Galatasaray face a ‘significant and strong competition’ from Tottenham, Man United and Newcastle for Neves.

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The Red Devils are said to be particularly keen on the Portugal international, and it is claimed that all three English sides are ‘preparing offers’ for the player.

Spurs have already spoken to Neves

This report follows another update from TEAMtalk a few days ago, which claimed that Neves’ camp has already spoken to Tottenham and other European sides over a January move.

The outlet explained that despite attracting interest from around Europe, returning to the Premier League is the midfielder’s preference.

It was asserted that Thomas Frank’s men are long-time admirers of Neves and Al-Hilal are ready to cash in, as they do not want to risk losing the player on a free next summer.

A Tottenham Hotspur star recovered from his knee injury and played nearly an hour of football on Saturday, which was just his second competitive outing of the season.

Bissouma is one of two Tottenham players currently at the African Cup of Nations, with Pape Sarr also linking up with the Mali squad for the competition.

Some Spurs fans may have been surprised when the midfielder was picked for the AFCON, given that he only had knee surgery in October following an injury he suffered in a World Cup qualifier, which remains his only appearance of the season.

The 29-year-old is yet to feature for Spurs under Thomas Frank, but last week, Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet revealed that Tottenham are working closely with the Mali staff on Bissouma’s fitness.

Tottenham midfielder comes through AFCON fixture unscathed

The Tottenham star played no part in Mali’s tournament opener against Zambia, but he did start in his nation’s clash against tournament hosts Morocco on Saturday.

Bissouma wore the captain’s armband for Mali, who emerged with a hard-fought 1-1 draw at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, a result which keeps them very much in the running for qualification for the knockout stages.

The former Brighton man completed 57 minutes before being replaced by Feyenoord’s Gaoussou Diarra, and the West African nation now know that a win against Comoros will guarantee them progress to the next round.

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Pape Matar Sarr is yet to feature in AFCON

While Bissouma will be hoping to play a major part in Mali’s upcoming fixtures, it has been a frustrating experience for Sarr at the AFCON.

The Tottenham midfielder has been an unused substitute for Senegal in their 3-0 win against Botswana and their 1-1 draw against DR Congo.

With Senegal now big favourites to progress to the knockout stages, Thomas Frank will likely have to do without the 23-year-old for another week or two.

Tottenham Hotspur’s returning player is already finding himself at the centre of renewed transfer noise as interest in Italy begins to heat up.

Radu Dragusin has spent nearly a year working his way back to full fitness following the ACL injury he picked up back in January.

The defender finally made a return to first-team action for Tottenham last weekend in Spurs’ league fixture against Liverpool, where he was named on the bench.

He did not get any minutes, but it is a welcome development for Tottenham, who will need added depth in their squad with fixtures coming thick and fast in the coming weeks.

Tottenham open door as Radu Dragusin linked with Serie A return

Dragusin’s recovery has not kept him out of the transfer rumour mill, as Tuttomercatoweb reported that Tottenham’s centre-back could return to Serie A in January or next summer.

This is not the first time the Romanian has been linked with a move away from north London, as before suffering his ACL injury, Spurs were believed to be looking to sell Dragusin.

It is now reported that AS Roma are keen on landing the 23-year-old, with the defender on their shortlist alongside Chelsea’s Disasi.

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Spurs loan stance hints at Dragusin uncertainty

It is claimed that Tottenham could be open to an initial loan deal with an option to buy for the Romanian, who last played a competitive game in January 2025.

Fiorentina are also interested in the 23-year-old, and it is claimed that Tottenham rejected an enquiry from the Florence club last month.

The outlet suggested that the situation could now change, with Fabio Paratici set to join Fiorentina, and all of these points towards Dragusin’s entourage potentially exploring a way out.

The defender is currently a backup at Spurs, which would explain the sudden increase in speculation around his future.

Paul Merson has weighed in on the festive Premier League London derby between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur.

Thomas Frank will be searching for an immediate response from his players following their disappointing 2-1 defeat against Liverpool last time out.

That performance left much to be desired, and the manager knows that a much-improved showing is required if they are to take anything from a difficult trip to South London.

Spurs ended their previous matchup with nine men as both Cristian Romero and Xavi Simons were sent off, leaving the squad depleted for this upcoming clash.

Paul Merson offers Crystal Palace and Tottenham prediction

Speaking to Sportskeeda, Paul Merson reflected on Crystal Palace’s recent schedule and physical condition, while also questioning Tottenham’s current level after their latest defeat, before going on to give his score prediction.

He remarked, “That loss to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup would have hurt Crystal Palace. Every time I see Palace play, they give me the impression of a team that looks tired. These many games have surely stretched them a bit too much. Palace could leapfrog Manchester United if they win this game though.

“Tottenham were poor against Liverpool. I cannot see them winning this game either. Is this a do-or-die game for Thomas Frank? Well, Spurs have had many other top managers who have failed at the club. So there is a clear problem at the club that no one has been able to fix.”

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“If Spurs can sign Semenyo, that will give them a huge boost. It will inspire the fans because Tottenham have always missed out on big signings to their rivals in the past. I believe that the signing of Semenyo could buy Frank some much-needed time.”

Score Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs looking to finish 2025 on a high note

Tottenham will need to end 2025 in positive spirits, as the year has been a mixed one for the Lilywhites.

Spurs won the Europa League back in May, and that will remain the highlight of 2025 for most fans, but their league form has been poor.

Tottenham Hotspur head into their final Premier League fixture of 2025 against Crystal Palace under mounting pressure, as they slip dangerously close to the relegation places. Let’s take a look at our predicted Tottenham XI to face the Eagles.

Thomas Frank remains a man under pressure as Tottenham Hotspur continue to slip down the Premier League table.

Spurs are in 14th place, four points off 17th, but also close to the top four, with seven points separating them from fourth-placed Chelsea.

Frank’s side, however, needs to get points on the board if they are to move up the table and up next for them is Crystal Palace.

The Eagles are not in the best of form coming into this fixture, and if Spurs can get their setup right, they could secure a win in what is their final league game of 2025.

Tottenham predicted XI vs Crystal Palace

Goalkeeper – Guglielmo Vicario: The Italian has not been void of mistakes this season, but Frank will be hoping for a much more assured display between the sticks from his goalkeeper.

Right-back – Pedro Porro: The Spaniard has been a mainstay in that Tottenham backline, and we expect that he will continue on the right here.

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Centre-back – Kevin Danso: Cristian Romero was sent off against Liverpool last time out after picking up two yellow cards and is set to miss this game against Palace, and that should see Danso get the nod here.

Centre-back – Micky van de Ven: One of Spurs’ better defenders this season, and, with Romero out, he will be charged with marshalling the backline.

Left-back – Djed Spence: Destiny Udogie remains out, as Frank revealed in his pre-match press conference, and that should see Djed continue on the left.

Pivot midfielder – Rodrigo Bentancur: Joao Palhinha did not feature from the off against Liverpool, and we do not expect to see Frank bring him into the side from the start here either, so Bentancur should continue as the main pivot.

Pivot midfielder – Archie Gray: Thomas Frank seems to be leaning towards the Gray and Bentancur partnership a lot more now, and we do not expect that to be broken up this weekend.

Centre midfielder – Lucas Bergvall: Simons picked up a red card against Liverpool, and that means he is set to miss three games on the bounce, which should see Bergvall take his spot in the starting XI.

Right winger – Mohammed Kudus: Kudus remains the preferred option on the right for Tottenham, and we expect that the Ghana international will continue there.

Striker – Richarlison: The Brazil forward remains Spurs’ most influential player in the final third, with no player managing more goal contributions than him this season. He came off the bench against Liverpool and found the net, and we expect him to start from the off here.

Thomas Frank takes his Tottenham Hotspur side across the capital this weekend, searching for a vital response after a disappointing result against Liverpool left the North London club looking over their shoulder in the Premier League table. Here’s how to watch the clash between Spurs and Crystal Palace.

Tottenham Hotspur will be desperate to return to winning ways following their 2-1 defeat at the hands of Liverpool in matchweek 17.

The loss has heightened the scrutiny on the squad as they prepare for a difficult trip to South London during the busy festive schedule.

Standing in their way this gameweek are fellow top-flight side Crystal Palace, who are also coming off the back of a heavy defeat.

Oliver Glasner saw his men beaten 4-1 at Elland Road by newly promoted Leeds United, a result that has left the Eagles searching for defensive stability.

Both sides will be desperate for a victory when they meet this weekend, making it a crucial fixture for both managers.

When and where Crystal Palace vs Tottenham takes place

Crystal Palace will host Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park on Sunday, 28th December 2025, with kick-off set for 16:30 (UK time).

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How to watch Crystal Palace vs Tottenham in the Premier League

Supporters in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.

Spurs and Crystal Palace team news

In terms of team news, the Africa Cup of Nations has begun, and Pape Matar Sarr has already jetted off to represent Senegal. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur is still without Radu Dragusin and Kota Takai.

Destiny Udogie is unavailable due to a hamstring problem, Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski remain sidelined, and James Maddison is not expected back until next year, while Yves Bissouma is out with no confirmed return date.

Oliver Glasner is also dealing with a depleted squad as Ismaila Sarr is away on AFCON duty and Chadi Riad remains out with a cruciate ligament injury.

Chris Richards and Caleb Kporha are both doubts due to ankle and back injuries, respectively. The Eagles are also missing Rio Cardines with a muscle injury, Cheick Oumar Doucoure and Daniel Munoz with knee issues, and Daichi Kamada with a hamstring problem.

Spurs Web prediction for Tottenham vs Crystal Palace

Thomas Frank remains under pressure and is running the risk of his side being drawn into a relegation battle, particularly as Spurs only have a four-point buffer over 17th-place Nottingham Forest.

A defeat on Sunday could see the Lilywhites drop as low as 15th at the halfway point of the season, which is not where they will want to be at this stage.

However, the gap between Tottenham and the top eight is not a huge one, and a win could see them close the gap on eighth-placed Crystal Palace to just a single point.

The Eagles currently sit on 26 points, but their own inconsistent form suggests that they are vulnerable if Tottenham Hotspur can find their clinical edge in the final third.

Inter Milan want to poach not one but two senior players from Tottenham Hotspur during the January transfer window.

Over the last few days, a number of outlets have suggested that a Spurs defender, who has nearly missed the last 12 months of football, is generating a lot of interest in Italy.

The player in question is Radu Dragusin, who has allegedly emerged as a top target for AS Roma, after recovering from his ACL injury and returning to Tottenham’s matchday squad last week.

It has been revealed that Inter Milan, Napoli and AC Milan have also launched enquiries for Dragusin, but one of those clubs are also targeting the Romanian’s Spurs teammate.

Inter Milan want to raid Tottenham for two players

According to a report in Calciomercato, the Nerazzurri are big fans of the 23-year-old, with manager Cristian Chivu keen to bring the Spurs man through the door in January.

The report says that there is confidence at Inter that Spurs will listen to loan offers for Dragusin in January as long as it comes with an option or obligation to buy.

Interestingly, it is revealed that the centre-back is not the Serie A side’s only target, with Guglielmo Vicario being eyed as a replacement for Yann Sommer.

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Inter are thought to be of the belief that Tottenham will sell their number one for around €25m-€30m (£21.8m-£26.1m).

Inter may have advantage in Radu Dragusin and Guglielmo Vicario pursuits

Calciomercato claim that the Tottenham goalkeeper and centre-back are represented by the same agency.

Inter are said to have a very good relationship with the agency, thus giving them a big advantage in their double pursuit.

Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a January move for a highly-rated England international, and his manager has just made a clear statement about his future.

While Tottenham are expected to prioritise strengthening their forward line in January, many Spurs fans will feel that the midfield is also in need of reinforcements.

It has been rumoured that Frank and Tottenham are also big fans of another energetic young Premier League midfielder, who has hardly got any game time this term.

Various sources have claimed that Spurs are set to reignite their interest in Kobbie Mainoo after failing to get a deal over the line for the 20-year-old in the summer.

Ruben Amorim sets record straight on Tottenham target Kobbie Mainoo

It has been claimed over the last few weeks that Mainoo is keen to leave Old Trafford in search of regular game time as he aims to force himself into the England squad for the World Cup.

However, Ruben Amorim has now described the young midfielder as ‘the future of Man United’ and suggested that his situation can change very quickly.

When asked about the Tottenham target’s future, the Portuguese coach responded (via Fabrizio Romano): “Kobbie Mainoo will be the future of Manchester United. He just needs to wait for his chance, and everything can change in football in 2 days. If we are not getting someone, it’s hard to let him leave. We are short… with something that can happen here.”

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Spurs will still retain hope of landing Mainoo

The last sentence from Amorim is telling as it appears that he does not rule out a sale of the England midfielder.

That ties in with previous reports suggesting that Man United are ready to sell Mainoo if they sign a midfielder in January.

A football finance expert has made a big claim on what Vinai Venkatesham and the Tottenham hierarchy will be looking to achieve commercially.

Spurs moved into their new billion-pound stadium back in April of 2019, but the club still have not found a naming rights partner for the venue.

It has been suggested over recent weeks that Daniel Levy’s exit may pave the way for Spurs to finally find a naming rights partner, with the Lilywhites thought to be looking for a lucrative long-term deal.

In fact, it has been claimed that Tottenham’s new commercial director, Alex Scotcher, will prioritise securing a naming rights partner when he gets started in his new role next month.

Tottenham backed to achieve a £17m-per-year naming rights deal

Earlier this month, it was claimed that Spurs are eyeing a record £20m-per-year deal for the naming rights of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

However, Football finance expert Dan Plumey has suggested that the best Tottenham can hope to get is a deal worth around £15m-£17m, citing the fact that Everton only achieved a £10m-per-year deal for the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

When asked about the North London club’s search for a naming rights partner, Plumey told Football Insider: “I think, ultimately, it’s positive. When you look at the person involved, and they’ve just been involved in a recent negotiation, we’re led to believe that Everton got kind of ballpark £10million, that was the figure that was mentioned.

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“I think Spurs will be looking for something in that region at least. It is tricky because even if you look in and around Europe, some of the biggest deals for this are still in the region of, like, £15m to £17m, as an average kind of ballpark. So it’s not easy to generate huge amounts of cash from this.

“But that’s a good marker to aim at, and I think that’s where Spurs will have their sights set. It’s very clear that they want the stadium name and price deal for this all along. They’ve never called the stadium anything with that in mind.

“So I think, you know, that’s the ballpark that they’ll be aiming at for sure based on where the sectors at. And as I said, you know, if you’re getting the person in that’s been involved in a deal recently for, you know, the Everton deal and the similarities there, then I think that can only be a positive for the club.”

Why Spurs will hope to get a much more lucrative deal than Everton

The big difference between the Hill Dickinson Stadium and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is not just their respective locations, with London being a much bigger commercial centre than Liverpool.

Spurs’ home ground is also a multi-use venue in a manner other stadiums in the UK are not, owing to its retractable pitch.

The number of non-footballing events held at the ground are going up year on year, which is why Tottenham would believe they can offer much more value to a naming rights partner than any other club in the Premier League.

The manager whom the Tottenham hierarchy sees as a potential replacement for Thomas Frank has just made a big decision on his future.

Frank has said he is confident that the Tottenham owners will give him time, but the 52-year-old will be aware that the team’s current form cannot continue.

Spurs fans are growing increasingly frustrated with Frank’s approach, and many have already written him off.

It was reported at the start of this month that the Tottenham hierarchy are big admirers of Oliver Glasner, who has worked wonders at Selhurst Park since replacing Roy Hodgson in 2024.

Oliver Glasner makes a decision on his future amidst Tottenham interest

It was reported a week ago that Glasner’s Palace contract ending next summer makes him particularly attractive to Spurs.

Now, Fabrizio Romano has just provided an update on the Austrian’s future on his YouTube channel, which comes as a major boost to the Lilywhites.

Romano revealed that the former Eintracht Frankfurt boss has no intention of signing a new deal at Selhurst Park.

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The journalist added that Glasner has already finalised his decision that this will be his final campaign with the Eagles, and is keen to take the next step.

Two other Frank replacements lined up by Spurs

Earlier this month, it was claimed that the Lilywhites could turn to a familiar face to replace Frank next summer.

That update, which came from CaughtOffside, suggested that Mauricio Pochettino is Tottenham’s number one target to take over from Frank.

The Argentine’s contract with the USA ends after next summer’s World Cup, and the same report revealed that Fulham’s Marco Silva is also being considered by the Spurs hierarchy.