Spurs Web

Villarreal defender Juan Foyth has spoken about how he looks back on his time at Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the big Champions League showdown at N17 this evening.

Foyth arrived at Spurs as a teenager from Estudiantes, and he spent four seasons at the club before leaving for Villarreal in 2021.

While the Argentine’s talent was always evident, he never managed to make himself a fixture at Spurs, making just 32 appearances across his four seasons at the club.

Four years on from his departure, the centre-back returns to his former club for the first time as a veteran, and he has opened up on his time in North London.

Juan Foyth says he will always be grateful to Tottenham

Given that the defender hardly got any opportunities at Spurs, it would have perhaps been easy for him to have a negative attitude towards his former club, but that is not the case with Foyth.

The defender admits that he will always be grateful to Tottenham Hotspur, given that the club gave him his first taste of European football.

When asked about his time at Spurs, the Villarreal defender said (via Hayters TV): “It was my first experience in Europe, so all my life I will be grateful to Tottenham, to Mauricio (Pochettino), to Mourinho, to all the coaches that I had, and all my teammates. Of course, I have very good memories here.”

MORE SPURS STORIES

Foyth makes an honest admission about working with Jose Mourinho

The start of the end for Foyth at Tottenham came when his compatriot, Pochettino, who brought the defender to the club, was replaced in 2019 by Mourinho.

The Portuguese coach did not give the defender too many opportunities and decided to send him out on loan to Villarreal, which eventually became a permanent move, but Foyth admits he did not deserve to play at Spurs.

Three Tottenham Hotspur figures have been named in Troy Deeney’s Premier League Team of the Week, with the former Watford striker remarking that one of those players has transformed his game since the arrival of Thomas Frank.

Spurs needed a response following their abject showing against Bournemouth, and Thomas Frank got exactly the reaction he wanted from his players against West Ham.

The Lilywhites emerged with a comfortable 3-0 lead from the London Stadium, with Frank admitting he was especially pleased with the aggression and bravery his players showed.

Deeney has now praised two Spurs players who personified that aggression and fight, opining that they raised the standards of their teammates.

Troy Deeney showers praise on Cristian Romero and Pape Matar Sarr

Unsurprisingly, Cristian Romero finds a place in Deeney’s team of the week, with the pundit noticing that the Tottenham captain was constantly pushing his teammates to keep up their standards.

Deeny wrote about the Argentine on BBC Sport: “Another one that drives standards. He was a beast against West Ham and delivered a real leader’s performance. He helped everyone else be that little bit better and stronger. It is something you look out for from a fellow professional.”

Pape Sarr also made it into the former Watford man’s Team of the Week, with the 37-year-old opining that the midfielder has thrived with the freedom offered to him by Thomas Frank.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Deeny said about Sarr: “Under Thomas Frank, Sarr seems to have got a bit more freedom to go forward. He showed high energy and was bursting past people. I know he is young and has more to do, but he seems transformed and is getting better and better.”

Thomas Frank selected as the Manager of the Week

Deeney also admitted that he has been very impressed with the impact that Frank has made at Tottenham, picking the Dane as his Manager of the Week.

The pundit praised the 51-year-old for getting the best out of his players and the way he has rotated his squad so far.

Deeney wrote about the Spurs head coach: “It was not some big shock to see Spurs beat West Ham. But if you look at the start they have made, they have only lost one game, and he is raising standards.

“He has rotated the squad and got the best out of the people coming in and still managed to keep the likes of Richarlison and Brennan Johnson happy. Even at the end of the game, you can see him demanding more from his players.”

Spurs fans will see a couple of familiar faces in the opposition ranks when Villarreal visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this evening for the Champions League opener, including one man whom Cristian Romero knows very well.

While Tottenham Hotspur will hope to start their Champions League campaign with a win at home, they face a stern test against a tough Villarreal side.

Thomas Frank has admitted that he has been very impressed with Villarreal, describing the La Liga side as “well structured and organised”.

Manor Solomon will have a point to prove against Tottenham after joining Villarreal on loan, but he is not the only familiar face that the Yellow Submarine have in their ranks.

Cristian Romero is excited to lock horns with a former Tottenham defender

Villarreal also boast of former Tottenham centre-back Juan Foyth in their defensive ranks, with the Argentine emerging as one of the pillars of the Spanish side’s defence.

Foyth arrived at Spurs as a teenager from Estudiantes and took his first steps at European football at N17, but he only made 32 appearances for the Lilywhites in his four seasons at the club.

MORE SPURS STORIES

He now returns to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as a 27-year-old veteran, and he is a player that the Spurs captain knows well from their time together in the Argentine national set-up.

When asked about locking horns with Foyth, Romero said in the pre-match press conference (via Reuters): “I know him really well. We played together in the Argentine U-20s and U-23s.

“We managed to spend time together in the national team. He is a great guy and a top player. He was here (at Spurs) as well, so it will be a special game for him.”

Who will make the Spurs starting XI against Villarreal?

We have already seen plenty of evidence that Frank is not shy of rotating his squad, even at this early stage of the season.

With Spurs having played just three days ago against West Ham, one would expect the Dane to ring the changes for the Champions League opener.

Cristian Romero has become the latest Tottenham player to react to Daniel Levy’s exit, with the Argentine wishing the 63-year-old the best in his future endeavours.

The departure of Levy signals the end of an era for Spurs, as he held the reins as executive chairman for 24 years.

Reactions have been pouring in from past and current Tottenham players on the development, with Harry Kane paying tribute to Levy for how he transformed the club.

A similar sentiment was conveyed by another club legend, Jermain Defoe, who insisted that the foundation has been laid by Levy for Tottenham to have success.

Cristian Romero is pleased Tottenham crowned Daniel Levy’s reign with European silverware

Now, club captain Romero has reacted for the first time to the news, with the Argentine thanking Levy for bringing him to the club and for what he achieved.

The centre-back admitted that he is pleased that the players were able to end his reign at the club on a positive note by delivering the Europa League trophy.

When asked about Levy’s exit, Romero said (via Tottenham’s official website): “I don’t know what’s happened, but he is a person who has been at the Club for a good many years. We need to thank him. He brought me here. Fortunately, we could crown his reign with a trophy. I wish the very best.”

MORE SPURS STORIES

Uncertainty surrounding the new era at Spurs

Following Levy’s exit, the Lewis family have certainly been making all the right noises in the media.

According to reports, ENIC want to usher in a new era at Tottenham where on-field success is prioritised and the club competes for the biggest trophies in the game.

The investors who have expressed interest in a takeover of Tottenham Hotspur believe that there is a ‘huge’ opportunity to improve the club’s revenue.

According to reports, since Daniel Levy’s departure, two different consortia have held talks with Tottenham regarding a takeover of the club.

Spurs have confirmed that they rejected two approaches to buy a stake in the club, including one from PCP International Finance Limited, headed by former Newcastle United chief Amanda Staveley.

Subsequently, PCP said that it does not intend to make an offer for Spurs but “reserves the right under the Takeover Code to re-enter negotiations if another party makes a formal offer.”

Potential investors believe Tottenham’s revenue can be grown

According to Football Insider, there is one belief which is shared about Tottenham by potential investors, which is why there is so much interest in the North London club.

Many of the investors are particularly interested in Spurs as they see significant potential to increase the club’s revenue.

The report reveals that the commercial opportunities tied to the NFL games and concerts being held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are seen as a golden goose by many in the industry.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Interested parties also believe that there is scope for further development around the club’s stadium, which could add to Tottenham’s revenue streams.

Interested parties have been given a deadline by Spurs

This report from Football Insider says that apart from PCP International, an unnamed American consortium has also expressed interest in the takeover of Tottenham.

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

We might thus receive confirmation very shortly on how many different interested parties from around the club are seriously considering bidding for a stake in Spurs.

Tottenham Hotspur will kick off their Champions League campaign in North London against Villarreal, and the Opta Supercomputer has provided its verdict on the game.

The wait for Tottenham Hotspur to return to European action is almost over. Spurs did play in Europe last month in the UEFA Super Cup, but it is the Europa League campaign last season which will be on the minds of their supporters.

Spurs will be looking for another successful season, this time on club football’s biggest stage, but there will be obstacles looking to trip them up along the way. The first is Villareal, who concluded their previous La Liga campaign with a fifth-place finish.

Villarreal were strong in attack last season, outscoring every team except Barcelona and Real Madrid. Ayoze Perez was their big goal threat, finding the back of the net 19 times. Thierno Barry scored 11, but he moved to Everton in the summer.

Supercomputer predicts Tottenham vs Villarreal odds

Despite their attacking threat, Villarreal looked vulnerable in defence. They even conceded more goals than Deportivo Alaves, who finished 15th in the league. Tottenham had similar problems in the Premier League, but already look like a very different side under the management of Thomas Frank.

It is therefore unsurprising that the Opta Supercomputer has given Spurs a 50 per cent chance of defeating Villarreal on Tuesday night.

Villarreal have a 25.3 per cent chance of snatching all three points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while there is a 24.7 per cent chance that the game ends in a draw.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Spurs are in better form than Villarreal

Tottenham made a winning return after the international break, and they did so in style, thrashing West Ham by three goals.

Villarreal, on the other hand, were defeated 2-0 by Atletico Madrid and have a quick turnaround. The match took place on Saturday night and they have had to travel to London before playing again on Tuesday.

Spurs will be high on confidence and really ought to have the upper hand. Anything less than a win would be a disappointing start to their Champions League campaign.

Tottenham are back in the Champions League spotlight this week as Thomas Frank prepares for his first taste of European football, with Villarreal the visitors to N17 for what promises to be a compelling night under the lights. Here’s how to watch the clash between Tottenham and Villarreal.

UEFA Champions League football returns to N17 after a two-year absence this week, when Tottenham Hotspur play their first League phase tie on Tuesday against Spanish side Villarreal.

Thomas Frank’s men go into their Champions League encounter on the back of an emphatic 3-0 victory against West Ham United in the Premier League, as they secured their third win in four league fixtures under the 51-year-old.

The Dane will, of course, be hoping he can kick off Spurs’ return to Europe’s premier competition with a win, in a tie that also marks his first ever game in European football.

When and where is the game?

The clash between Tottenham and Villarreal will be staged at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday, 16 September 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 (UK time).

How to watch Tottenham vs Villarreal in the UK

Supporters in the UK will be able to watch Tottenham vs Villarreal live on Amazon Prime Video.

Tottenham and Villarreal team news

Coming into this tie, Tottenham have several fitness concerns, with Dejan Kulusevski sidelined until early November due to a knee injury, while James Maddison is ruled out with an ACL injury.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Kota Takai and Radu Dragusin are also ruled out as they are yet to return to full fitness, while Yves Bissouma is still nursing a knock, but all of this matters little as these players are not part of Frank’s Champions League squad.

Dominic Solanke, however, could make a return in this tie, after picking up an ankle injury before the international break, but we would have to keep an eye on Thomas Frank’s presser.

Villarreal, on the other hand, also has injury problems of their own, with forward Gerard Moreno expected to be out until late September with a hamstring issue, while both Logan Costa and Pau Cabanes face lengthy spells on the sidelines with cruciate ligament injuries that will keep them out until April 2026.

Willy Kambwala is also a doubt after suffering a hamstring injury.

Spurs Web prediction for Tottenham and Villarreal

It is a home tie for Spurs, which should give them an edge over the La Liga side; however, it is worth noting that Tottenham have already lost at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season to Bournemouth.

Regardless, they come into this tie in much better form, having won three of their last four league fixtures, while Villarreal have a record of two wins, a draw and a defeat in their previous four outings.

It would be a tricky encounter for the Lilywhites, but it is one that Frank’s men will feel they can edge, and we believe Tottenham will grab a win here.

Tottenham Hotspur are the latest club to express a serious interest in an England midfielder, with the Lilywhites considering a move for him in the January transfer window.

Spurs made seven new additions to their squad in the summer window, but reports indicate that they have already started planning for January.

According to several sources, Tottenham’s transfer strategy is expected to change after the exit of Daniel Levy, with the Lilywhites eyeing ‘elite’ signings who can take the team to the next level.

It has now emerged that the North London club are seriously considering signing a former Premier League star, who was linked with a move to N17 briefly in the summer.

Tottenham want to sign Conor Gallagher in January

This report comes from Fichajes, who say that Conor Gallagher’s future at Atletico Madrid is now uncertain, with Premier League clubs continuing to show interest in the midfielder.

It is revealed that Man United came very close to signing the 25-year-old during the summer before the negotiations fell through in the end.

The outlet claims that Tottenham Hotspur have now ‘entered the bidding war with a bang’, with Thomas Frank’s side seeing Gallagher as the ‘ideal addition’ to their midfield.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Spurs are willing to start negotiations over the former Chelsea man ‘immediately’ as they look to wrap up a deal in January.

Atletico Madrid’s and Conor Gallagher’s transfer stance

Fichajes say that the La Liga giants are now ‘carefully considering’ what to do with the England international’s future.

While Diego Simone values Gallagher’s versatility and his attributes, the club are aware that his departure would bring in significant revenue.

Meanwhile, the England international’s entourage is not ruling out any scenario in January. While Gallaher is happy at the Spanish capital, he is tempted by the opportunity to return to the Premier League.

Tottenham have been told what it will take to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta after Crystal Palace rejected their initial approach, with fresh claims suggesting the forward could still be prised away.

Tottenham Hotspur secured a late deal for Randal Kolo Muani on deadline day, with Thomas Frank expressing his satisfaction at the capture of the French striker, who adds depth and versatility to his attacking options.

However, it has since emerged that Tottenham were also willing to push hard for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, a move that would have raised plenty of eyebrows across the Premier League given Palace’s reliance on the Frenchman.

Palace stood firm and rejected Tottenham’s approach, ensuring Mateta remained at Selhurst Park, where he has already opened his account for the campaign in a convincing 3-0 win over Aston Villa.

Tottenham told Jean-Philippe Mateta transfer valuation

Following Spurs‘ failed attempt to prise Mateta away from Crystal Palace, Everton’s former chief, Keith Wyness, has revealed the sort of figure that would now be required to tempt Palace into selling the striker.

Wyness, who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a consultancy advising elite clubs, explained that Palace were never likely to part ways with the forward cheaply.

Speaking on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted that Palace were right to stand firm on their valuation.

MORE SPURS STORIES

He said: “He is one of the stars that they could not let go. They had already let a couple go, and I think he had to be there. I do not think £40m is the right price for him at the moment, for a goal scorer.

“He is probably worth a little bit more than that, but he is one they could not let go, so I was not surprised to see them stick their feet in on that one.”

“He may end up going at some stage, but he is going to be at a higher valuation. He is a quality player and I think he is going to have a good season, so we will see how that plays into it as well.

“Palace, Glasner is trying to build, and obviously Mateta likes Glasner, responds well to his management. The key to this is going to be where Glasner is going to be going forward as well.

“So we will see how Palace shape up on that one. I think they are managing to at least keep hold of the semblance of most of the squad, that they did quite well with.”

Spurs’ interest in Crystal Palace players

Jean-Philippe Mateta is not the only Crystal Palace player Tottenham have tracked in recent months, with Frank keeping a close eye on several of their top talents.

Adam Wharton was strongly admired by Tottenham last summer, with Frank understood to be a fan of the midfielder, although Palace’s valuation was considered excessive.

Spurs also attempted to move for Marc Guehi in the winter window, tabling a £70m offer for the centre-back, which was swiftly rejected.

Tottenham’s attempts to raid Palace have so far proven unsuccessful, with the collapse of Eberechi Eze’s proposed move to north London standing as the most recent example.

With Frank already boasting strong options in attack following the arrival of Kolo Muani, it remains to be seen whether Spurs will revisit their interest in Mateta later down the line.

The German media have highlighted one issue Tottenham Hotspur loanee Luka Vuskovic had in his Hamburg debut against Bayern Munich.

It was a tough Bundesliga debut for Tottenham Hotspur loanee Luka Vuskovic, who suffered a painful 5-0 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.

Vuskovic, who has plenty of potential and had caught the eye during Tottenham’s pre-season matches, was sent out on loan during the summer window to newly promoted Hamburg.

The 18-year-old featured for the full ninety minutes in the fixture against Bayern Munich, but it was surely a debut to forget for the 6ft 4in centre back.

German media unimpressed with Luka Vuskovic in Hamburg vs Bayern

The German press were far from impressed with Luka Vuskovic’s first outing in the Bundesliga as Hamburg were put to the sword by Bayern Munich.

Bild, who rated the defender’s performance at 5/10, made note of the teenager’s struggles, highlighting that he had communication issues with his teammates.

The outlet wrote: “Was unlucky with Luis Diaz’s shot, which he deflected into his own net. He also had some communication issues with teammates. He won 63 percent of his duels, the best of all HSV players who started.”

MORE SPURS STORIES

It indeed was a testing start for Vuskovic against one of Europe’s strongest sides, and while there were glimpses of his quality, it is clear that there is still room for improvement.

Hamburg manager convinced Vuskovic would improve after debut to forget

Vuskovic is bound to find it difficult when coming up against the likes of Bayern Munich, especially as he has joined a Hamburg side who are struggling to adjust to the Bundesliga and currently sits 17th in the table.

Hamburg manager Steffen Polzin also admitted after the game that Vuskovic is lacking rhythm and understanding with his teammates, but he is convinced the Croatian defender will settle in and prove his worth.

Speaking to Hamburger Abendblatt, Polzin said: “He lacks preparation with us and coordination with his teammates. We will continue to work on that. Luka has the quality. We fully support him and believe he can really help us.”

The Croatian centre-back would now be looking to put this performance behind him quickly, as Hamburg take on the bottom of the table side FC Heidenheim in their next league fixture, in what is a vital clash.