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Tottenham Hotspur are not the only ones monitoring a highly-rated England international, who is struggling for game time this season, with the Magpies also having their eyes firmly on the player’s situation.

Through the summer transfer window, it was reported that Spurs may be ready to pounce on Man United starlet Kobbie Mainoo, but the youngster ended up staying put at Old Trafford.

It appears that Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in the 21-year-old has not gone away despite the closure of the transfer window.

Just a couple of days ago, it emerged that Spurs may be ready to reignite their interest in Mainoo in January, with the midfielder potentially considering his future at Old Trafford as he struggles for game time under Rubem Amorim.

Newcastle are ready to challenge Tottenham for Kobbie Mainoo

However, even if the youngster decides to leave the Manchester club, Tottenham will not have a free run at Kobbie Mainoo.

This is because talkSPORT reports that Newcastle are also keeping close tabs on Mainoo’s current situation at United as he continues to warm the bench.

The report says that Eddie Howe is a big admirer of the midfielder, and the Magpies are keen to test the Red Devils’ resolve to hold onto the player in January.

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It thus appears that we may see Spurs and Newcastle potentially go head-to-head for Mainoo in January.

Mainoo’s future could be tied to Rubem Amorim’s

The update from talkSPORT says that even Mainoo’s Man United teammates are perplexed by Amorim’s lack of faith in the youngster.

The Red Devils boss has previously said that the England man is in direct competition with his captain, Bruno Fernandes, for a place in his starting eleven (BBC Sport).

It thus appears that Mainoo will continue to struggle for minutes under the Portuguese coach, which is why Tottenham and Newcastle may be hoping that Amorim does not lose his job before January so that they would have a shot at signing the midfielder.

Football finance expert Dan Plumley is confident that Tottenham Hotspur will be the next ‘Big Six’ Premier League club to announce a big development before their rivals.

The departure of Daniel Levy from Spurs has led to a lot of uncertainty and speculation regarding what the future holds for Tottenham.

Spurs have confirmed that they rejected two approaches to buy a stake in the club, with ENIC insisting that they are not looking to sell the club right now.

On the contrary, the Lewis family have maintained that they want to lead Tottenham to on-pitch success and are committed to ensuring that the Lilywhites win the biggest trophies in the game.

Dan Plumley claims Tottenham will be the next big club to be taken over

However, despite all the noise coming from the Spurs hierarchy, Dan Plumley is convinced that Tottenham Hotspur will be the next ‘Big Six’ club to be sold.

The football finance expert suggested that speculation that Levy’s exit may be a catalyst for a sale may not be unfounded.

When asked if Levy’s exit is a precursor to a potential takeover, Plumley told Football Insider: “It was always bound to get people talking, wasn’t it? It was a bit of a surprise, because most of us thought he would always be there, and we know he’s been a hard negotiator on everything in the past, takeover included.

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“I’ve always said I think they’re the next big club in the Premier League that we’ll see getting taken over, and there’s nothing that’s changed my mind on that too much.

“I guess this is a factor where you’re putting two and two together and thinking that could be a catalyst for it to move quicker.”

Why Tottenham are very attractive to potential investors

Spurs have set October 5 as the deadline for interested groups to declare whether or not they intend to bid for the club.

According to reports, investors find Spurs very attractive due to the commercial opportunities tied to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

They allegedly see the NFL and concerts being held at the venue as a huge upside and believe there is significant potential to increase the club’s revenue.

Everton’s former chief, Keith Wyness, has discussed Tottenham’s decision to borrow £90m, and what that says about the Lewis family’s desire to invest in the club.

Over the last few weeks, we have seen plenty of reports that the Lewis family are ready to inject over £100m into Tottenham so that the Lilywhites can go toe-to-toe with the biggest clubs in Europe.

If they do decide to do that, it will represent a big departure from their modus operandi as ENIC have invested only £122.1m into Tottenham since buying the club in 2001.

Last week, it emerged that Tottenham have raised £90m through a receivables financing deal with Macquarie Group Ltd.

Keith Wyness questions why ENIC have not invested their money

With this deal, Tottenham Hotspur have agreed to give Macquarie Group income from their future broadcasting rights in exchange for a lump sum of cash upfront.

Wyness has now suggested that borrowing from Macquarie is common for Premier League clubs, but questioned why the club would borrow and take on the interest if the Lewis family were ready to inject equity into the club.

The former Everton CEO told Football Insider: “Macquarie Bank from Australia have been one of the big lenders. I’ve also worked with them in the past. It is quite common in football these days to do this.

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“The big sign for me though is that we’ve seen the Lewis family coming in and making the big decision about Daniel Levy, if we’re to believe that. Then the question is, if you’re getting money from Macquarie Bank against outstanding receivables, which is quite normal, but you’re paying a big interest rate on that, then why wouldn’t you put your own money in, as it is presumably cheaper money?

“That surprises me, but of course, they want to now make it stand alone as a business and run itself, rather than put their own money in. Still, I think that would have pleased a lot of Spurs fans if they’d put in some of their own money in. But this is normal practice, it’s nothing unusual, lots of clubs do it.”

Finance expert doubts whether the Lewis family will invest their money into Tottenham

This claim by Wyness comes a couple of days after another financial expert questioned Lewis’ public assertions of injecting money into Spurs.

Adam William believes that Tottenham will continue to reinvest the money the club earns and suggests it will be ‘business as usual’.

He claimed that ENIC will prioritise running a tight ship and protecting the club’s finances over winning major titles, suggesting that the borrowing from Macquarie is evidence that they are not ready to invest.

Tottenham Hotspur travel to Brighton on Saturday looking to continue their strong start and stay near the top of the Premier League table.

The Champions League nights returned to the magnificent Tottenham Hotspur stadium after two years this week, where they hosted La Liga side Villarreal and emerged 1-0 winners. The visitors never found a way back into the game after conceding an early own-goal.

It was not the most convincing display from Thomas Frank’s side, who will want to see an improvement, but the result still adds to a strong start under the new manager.

Spurs have won four of their opening five matches, keeping clean sheets in all of those victories. Their only defeat came before the international break in a 1-0 loss to Bournemouth, but they eventually returned to winning ways in the Premier League, beating West Ham 3-0 away last weekend.

Meanwhile, Brighton’s start to the new season has been far more inconsistent. They have taken only two wins from their opening five league games, most recently losing 2-1 to Bournemouth after having shocked Manchester City by the same scoreline the week before. Their other victory came in the Carabao Cup, where they thrashed Oxford United 6-0.

Sitting 12th in the table will not cause panic just yet, but Fabian Hurzeler and his players will certainly want to push beyond the eighth-place finish they managed last season.

What time does Brighton vs Tottenham Hotspur kick off?

Location: Brighton, England

Stadium: American Express Stadium

Date: September 20, 2025

Kick-off Time: 3 pm BST

Referee: Chris Kavanagh

VAR: Neil Davies

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Brighton vs Tottenham Hotspur: Head-to-head record

Brighton completed a league double over Tottenham last season for the very first time in history. Their first clash at the Amex was a nightmare for Spurs, who were 2-0 up at half-time but somehow collapsed and conceded three goals in the second 45.

The reverse fixture came on the final day of the campaign, just days after Spurs had lifted the Europa League trophy. A hungover and exhausted Tottenham side were beaten 1-4 in Ange Postecoglou’s last ever game in charge of the club.

Recent trips to the Amex have also not been kind to Spurs. They have lost away to Brighton in each of the last two seasons, while the Seagulls themselves have only been beaten once in their last 10 home Premier League outings, winning six and drawing three.

Tottenham team news

Yves Bissouma and Dominic Solanke are edging closer to returns, with Solanke back in individual training but expected to feature only from the bench at best. Kota Takai is still some way off being involved and will not play a part unless Frank springs a surprise.

Long-term absentees Radu Dragusin, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski remain sidelined.

Brighton team news

Brighton will be missing Adam Webster and Solly March through injury, while Mats Wieffer is also a doubt as he continues to battle fitness concerns.

Predicted Tottenham line-up

Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence, Bentancur, Bergvall, Sarr, Kudus, Richarlison, Simons

With no European fixture next week and only a Carabao Cup tie against League One side Doncaster Rovers to follow, Thomas Frank is expected to stick with his strongest side. That means the same eleven that started the 1-0 win over Villarreal are likely to line up again here.

Destiny Udogie is pushing to start ahead of Djed Spence at left back after the England International underwhelmed in midweek, but Frank is unlikely to drop him after just one poor outing.

Joao Palhinha is another option in midfield, but Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall and Pape Matar Sarr are all in excellent form and should keep their places.

The main tweak Frank might consider is pushing Xavi Simons into the number ten role and resting Sarr, with Brennan Johnson coming in on the left wing.

Our prediction

Tottenham currently sit third in the table with nine points, level with Arsenal but just one goal worse off on difference. A win at the Amex could see them climb, especially with Arsenal facing a tough test against Manchester City.

Brighton’s pressing game is as aggressive as any in the league. They have the lowest passes per defensive action figure in the division, which essentially means they allow very few passes before winning the ball back. This could trouble Tottenham, who looked shaky playing out from the back against Villarreal, and they certainly cannot afford to give away cheap possession here.

On the flip side, that intensity also leaves space in behind. If Spurs can ride the first press, a simple long ball could tear apart Brighton’s defensive line.

Much will depend on whether Xavi Simons is used centrally, where his ability to beat the press could be decisive. Brighton’s strong home form makes this a tricky test, but Thomas Frank has lost to Brighton only once in six previous meetings when managing Brentford. With the quality and balance he now has at Tottenham, he should fancy his chances of extending that record.

West Ham United could make a move for an unwanted Tottenham player in January, although Everton are also being linked.

To many people’s surprise, Yves Bissouma ended up staying put at Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, but that was not by design.

According to reports, Bissouma’s proposed move to Galatasaray and Fenerbahce fell through due to his fitness issues, with the midfielder thus being stuck at N17 since January.

The 28-year-old is now into the final year of his deal, and a January departure thus looks inevitable for Bissouma.

West Ham have an advantage in race to sign Yves Bissouma from Tottenham

A couple of days ago, it emerged that West Ham and Everton had signalled an interest in signing Bissouma in January.

Former Everton and Aston Villa CEO Keith Wyness, who remains well-connected in the industry, has revealed that the Hammers hold the upper hand as the Tottenham man would prefer to remain in London.

When asked about Bissouma’s future, Wyness told Football Insider: “I think the club that’s probably favourite in the race for Bissouma is West Ham.

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“I just think that he would want to stay in London. That’s what I’m hearing, that the family would be keen to stay where they are in North London, so there’d be no uprooting there.

“Also, Moyes is now in a strong position, particularly with midfielders, so I don’t think he’d necessarily have to take a chance on somebody coming back from an injury, whereas I think West Ham probably do. So I think it points all the way towards West Ham.”

Will Bissouma play another game for Spurs?

Thomas Frank has hinted that Bissouma is part of his plans, but it is looking unlikely that the midfielder will get a look-in.

Joao Palhinha, Lucas Bergvall, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Sarr and Archie Gray are all ahead of the 28-year-old in the pecking order.

Tottenham Hotspur are one of three clubs interested in bringing a former Premier League midfielder back to England, two years on from his decision to swap these shores for Saudi Arabia.

Thomas Frank has mixed and matched in midfield so far this season, and the Dane is not short of options in the middle of the park.

Some pundits have raved about Tottenham’s options in midfield, which include Joao Palhinha, Pape Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall, and Archie Gray.

However, Yves Bissouma is expected to leave Spurs in January, and it has now emerged that Tottenham could turn to an experienced Portuguese star to replace the Malian.

Tottenham are admirers of Ruben Neves

According to journalist Mark Brus on The Daily Breifing, Ruben Neves is ready to return to Europe, two years on from swapping Wolves for Al-Hilal.

The report claims that Tottenham Hotspur are long-term admirers of the 28-year-old, but they could be joined in the race for his signature by Newcastle and Man United.

According to Brus, Neves could be available for just €20m (£17m) in January, making him an attractive target for the Premier League trio.

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The journalist explains that the former Wolves man is also appreciated by several other clubs across Europe, but adds that Ruben Amorim, in particular, is a big admirer of his compatriot.

Tottenham are also keen on a La Liga midfielder

Neves is not the only number six with Premier League experience that Spurs are eyeing ahead of January.

According to reports, Tottenham are also big fans of Conor Gallagher and see him as an ideal addition to Thomas Frank’s midfield.

In fact, it has even been alleged that the Lilywhites are ready to start negotiations with Atletico Madrid for Gallagher immediately to steal a march on the competition.

Tottenham Hotspur have been joined in the race for Conor Gallagher’s signature by four other Premier League clubs, and a new update has now shed light on what the midfielder is thinking about a potential January departure from Atletico Madrid.

The England international finds himself struggling for game time at the start of the season at the Metropolitano Stadium.

It emerged a couple of days ago that Tottenham see Gallagher as an ideal addition to their midfield, with the Lilywhites ready to test Atletico’s resolve for the 25-year-old.

The update even asserted that Spurs are ready to start negotiating for the former Chelsea man ‘immediately’, but a new report has now made it clear that Thomas Frank’s men are not the only ones eyeing the player.

Tottenham in race with Premier League rivals for Conor Gallagher

This report comes from TBR Football, who say that several Premier League sides have indicated to Atletico that they want to be kept informed of Gallagher’s situation.

This includes Newcastle United and Man United, who explored a late interest in Gallagher in the summer, and the duo have been joined by Tottenham, Everton and Crystal Palace.

The report says that although the England international is happy with life in the Spanish capital, he is growing increasingly frustrated with his lack of game time following the arrival of Johnny Cardoso.

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A January move is on the cards for Gallagher

TBR Football also spoke to transfer market expert Graeme Bailey, who indicated that Gallagher is worried about missing out on a spot in England’s World Cup squad next summer.

He suggested that the Chelsea academy graduate’s situation is thus one to keep an eye on for the mid-season transfer window.

Bailey told the publication about Gallagher’s future: “As with many players at this moment in time, the World Cup is an added complication or worry.

“Gallagher is one of those players, who if playing regularly, at his best, would be firmly in contention for his national side – so that issue can’t be overlooked.

“I am told the player would dearly like to make it back into the Atletico Madrid side and that is his priority, but clubs are paying real interest to him and he is very much one to keep an eye on for January.”

Vinai Venkatesham has sent a clear message to Tottenham fans about the Lewis family’s plans for the club following Daniel Levy’s exit.

Under Daniel Levy’s stewardship, Tottenham scaled major heights off the pitch, and while they did manage to compete on it on several occasions, they often failed to take the final leap to become a successful side.

Since Levy’s exit, messaging from the new Spurs leadership has been that they want to usher in a new era of on-pitch success at Tottenham.

Vivienne and Charles Lewis, the two children of Joe Lewis, were both in attendance for the club’s 1-0 win over Villarreal, along with Venkatesham and the new non-executive chairman, Peter Charrington.

Vinai Venkatesham sends a message to Tottenham fans

In the matchday programme, the Spurs CEO penned a letter to the Tottenham faithful, making it clear that the club want to build on what Levy has achieved.

Vinai Venkatesham reiterated that the Lewis family members are extremely passionate about the club and are desperate to see Tottenham win the biggest trophies in the sport.

He wrote (via Football.London): “Dear supporters, as this is our first home match since the recent announcement of Daniel’s departure, I’d like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to our outgoing executive chairman.

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“The club has come a long way over the last 25 years, and that is down to Daniel’s vision, passion and commitment. He has played a huge part in the transformation of the club, and his contribution to where Tottenham Hotspur is today is quite simply immense.

“He was one of the longest-serving Premier League chairmen, and if you look back at Daniel’s time involved in football, his legacy is really clear for everyone to see. For me personally, he has been a wonderful support over my first few months, and I feel really settled in at Spurs.

“Whilst it is a natural time to look back, we must also look ahead. We are entering a new era of leadership at the Club, completely backed by our majority shareholder, the Lewis family. I know the family very well. I think it’s important for you to know that they are extremely passionate about Tottenham Hotspur and they are ambitious for the club.

“They are focused on ensuring that everything we do across the complete breadth of the club centres on long-term sporting success. Of course, we know a number of other teams that have the exact same ambitions we have to compete to win the biggest trophies in the game. That means there is hard work ahead to reach our goals.”

Venkatesham says Tottenham have the foundations to build something special

The Tottenham CEO made it clear that despite the changes in the club’s leadership structure, his priorities have not changed, including his remit to ensure that fan voices are heard.

He also ended his pre-match message by adding that the foundations are in place at Spurs for the club to kick on and add to the European title they won a few months ago.

Venkatesham added: “When I joined, I talked about being focused on three main things, which haven’t changed. The first is doing everything I can to support our technical teams on the ground, across both our men’s and women’s teams, to give us the best chance to be successful on the pitch.

“The second is our people at the club, ensuring that we have the right talent and culture to drive us forward, both on and off the pitch. Last, but by no means least, is our relationship with our supporters. Ensuring we are bringing you closer to your club, communicating better with you and actively listening to your views and thoughts.

“We have amazing foundations – the stadium, the training centre, being based in London and, of course, our huge global fanbase. Then, on that amazing night in Bilbao in May, we added belief. Belief that we can win and keep winning. So, as we embark on another European campaign tonight, I know you will all put your full energy and focus in supporting the team for a huge season ahead.”

Harry Kane played 13 seasons at Tottenham Hotspur, becoming the club’s all-time top scorer, but Joe Cole thinks he made one big mistake.

While Kane’s record in the Premier League stacks up against the greatest strikers to have graced the competition, there is a feeling among Spurs fans that only since his switch to Bayern Munich has the Tottenham legend finally been getting the credit that he has long deserved.

The England captain has amassed 124 goal contributions in just 102 appearances for the Bavarian side, proving without any doubt that he belongs in the conversation with the best players in the world.

His brace against Chelsea saw him break a unique record, with Kane becoming just the third player to score 20 or more Champions League goals for two different clubs.

Joe Cole questions why Harry Kane stayed at Tottenham for so long

Cole believes that the 32-year-old should have left the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for a club competing for the biggest trophies two or three years before he eventually did.

The former Chelsea man suggested that when Kane eventually decided to leave in 2023, Bayern was his only viable option and that the move turned out to be the perfect fit.

Cole told TNT Sports: “I think he stayed at Tottenham maybe two or three years too long. I think he showed great service and great loyalty to the club, but ultimately outgrew the club. At the time he left – he can’t go to Arsenal or Chelsea for obvious reasons, Man United he wasn’t on the list, Man City had Erling Haaland – so there were no options in England.

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“Then you look abroad, Barcelona has Lewandowski, and financially, they couldn’t afford it. Real Madrid were stacked. PSG were probably in the running. So Bayern was a great option for him, and he deserves to win trophies. It would have been an absolute travesty if Harry Kane had left his career without lifting a trophy, no matter how many goalscoring records he’s got.”

His fellow panellist Own Hargreaves added: “No disrespect to Tottenham, but he’s playing with better players [at Bayern].”

Why Kane left Spurs at exactly the right time

Kane left Tottenham after becoming the club’s record goalscorer, thus ensuring that his legacy will remain intact for many decades to come.

The former Spurs man also ensured that he is within touching distance of Alan Shearer’s Premier League record, thus giving himself a chance to return to England and break that record.

Dutch journalist Suleyman Ozturk has explained why Tottenham Hotspur is the ideal environment for Xavi Simons, backing the attacking midfielder to evolve into a ‘sensation’ under the watchful eyes of Thomas Frank.

Tottenham fans are very excited with their early glimpses of Xavi Simons, who has seemingly gelled well since arriving from RB Leipzig in the final days of the transfer window.

While the 22-year-old was not at his best in his home debut against Villarreal, Thomas Frank believes that it is down to Spurs players still learning about Xavi’s strengths and weaknesses.

The Dane is confident that we will see the best of the Netherlands international once he gets used to playing alongside the likes of Djed Spence, and one prominent Dutch journalist agrees.

Journalist reveals what he has noticed about Xavi Simons at Tottenham

Journalist Suleyman Ozturk has said that there are already changes visible in Simons’ game at Spurs, with the 22-year-old now moving the ball forward quickly.

He is convinced that the former Leipzig man will evolve into a top player at N17 and combine well with the other attacking options that Tottenham have at their disposal.

Ozturk told Voetbal International: “I heard Tottenham’s coach give a whole spiel about Simons, saying that he can actually play on the left wing. And that’s where he plays now, and you can see that when he gets the ball, there’s a shift in his mind, and he moves on, for example, to Richarlison.

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“There’s a lot of creativity there, and I think that once that comes out in a few weeks, he’s going to be a sensation at Tottenham. He should enjoy that, because it means he’s taking the next step. And he has a number of players at Tottenham with whom he can combine well.”

Spurs deemed the perfect environment for Xavi

Two weeks ago, Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman said that a move to Tottenham is a ‘wonderful’ step for Xavi Simons.

Ozturk fully agrees, insisting that it is the right kind of club for the attacker to thrive since the pressure is not as big as it is in clubs such as Liverpool or Man City.

The journalist added about Xavi’s move to N17: “I think he really has a great environment now with Tottenham. A team where you don’t have to finish first or second, but can finish third or fourth. And a manager who is very human.

“And that’s a combination. As a coach, you sometimes have to be able to deal with that. And I think he’s a coach who can do that well, so I think he’s really in the right place. And that Xavi Simons will make rapid progress.