Spurs Web

We take a look at when Igor Tudor could have Lucas Bergvall available for selection after Tottenham received some good news on the midfielder’s rehabilitation.

Tottenham are in the midst of a major injury crisis at the moment, but the club have received a positive update on one of its young guns.

When he picked up an injury in the Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund last month, it was reported that Bergvall could face three months on the sidelines.

However, over recent days, it has emerged that the Spurs midfielder’s rehabilitation is going better than expected and he could be back before the end of March.

Which game can Tottenham expect Lucas Bergvall to be back?

The previously mentioned update, which came from Footboll Direkt, suggested that Bergvall could be back in action in another six weeks.

It was revealed that the 20-year-old is in a race against time to be fit for Sweden’s World Cup playoff semifinal against Ukraine on March 26.

That suggests that Bergvall is almost certain to miss these Spurs matches:

MORE SPURS STORIES

The international break follows that run of fixtures, with the Lilywhites resuming Premier League action with a trip to Sunderland on April 11. That may be the game that the attacking midfielder targets for his return.

Spurs may soon get other key players back

Pedro Porro may not be a long way away from returning to action after picking up a hamstring problem a few weeks ago.

Additionally, Richarlison has been spotted going through the training drills with the Spurs squad this week, which suggests that the Brazilian is now close to being fit.

Tottenham Hotspur supporters are preparing a memorable tifo for this Sunday’s North London Derby clash against Arsenal.

There are just four days to go until Tottenham Hotspur lock horns with the Premier League leaders and the stakes have arguably never been higher.

Spurs could use a victory to steer well clear of the relegation zone and taking points off Arsenal would do plenty of damage to their league title hopes.

Igor Tudor and his team are hard at work in preparation for the fixture and it seems the Tottenham fans have also been labouring away ahead of the highly anticipated clash.

Tottenham fans will display a tifo at the North London derby

THFC Flags have announced that a tifo will be displayed at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when the players enter the pitch at the weekend.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Details of the exact design have not yet been released, but THFC Flags did reveal some clues. It appears the word ‘forever’ could play a big part.

If we had to guess, we think the design will pay tribute to Tottenham’s North London heritage, spelling out the word ‘forever’, while teasing their rivals who infamously sing an anthem called North London forever, despite their Woolwich origins.

This will be the first major fan-led display prepared by the Tottenham supporters at their home since the Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt last May.

Spurs will need the backing of their supporters

Thomas Frank often made calls to rally the Tottenham fans together, but these usually fell on deaf ears due to his condescending comments and dull brand of football.

However, there is a new opportunity for a fresh start under Tudor and Spurs will need each supporter on Sunday to play their part in creating a cauldron of noise.

Igor Tudor faces a Tottenham Hotspur squad with all sorts of problems, so trusting in his younger players could be a necessary action.

Igor Tudor is just days away from managing his first Tottenham Hotspur fixture and the anticipation is building.

Spurs fans will be hoping the new boss will make a good first impression during the North London derby next Sunday and this would be guaranteed with a victory.

However, Tudor’s upcoming task is a difficult one considering the current state of the Tottenham first-team squad.

The Croatian will have to rely on each of his players to begin getting results and that could mean giving more minutes to some of the team’s younger members. Here are three teenagers who may be required by Tudor.

Souza could get some starts for Tottenham

When Souza joined Spurs, it looked like he was supposed to be a player for the future who would largely be unseen this season. The club already had two left-backs and were exploring the possibility of signing Andy Robertson.

However, Destiny Udogie is injured yet again, while Djed Spence is the most practical back-up option to Pedro Porro, who is also enduring a spell on the sidelines.

MORE SPURS STORIES

This could mean Souza is selected to start in Tudor’s opening Tottenham game, which would be quite the story for the young Brazilian.

Should Tudor choose to play with a back three, Souza would likely move into the left wing-back position, allowing him to showcase his attacking skillset.

Luca Williams-Barnett deserves some minutes at Spurs

Last season saw Luca Williams-Barnett register 32 goal contributions in 23 matches and he has been just as sharp since his promotion to the under-21s team.

The 17-year-old has six goals and four assists in nine Premier League 2 games and he has looked unplayable in the UEFA Youth League. Despite this, Williams-Barnett has only made one appearance for Tottenham which lasted a grand total of three minutes.

Tudor will want an attacking minded back-up for Xavi Simons and the young Englishman has done enough to deserve that chance.

Jun’ai Byfield may be called on by Tudor

Jun’ai Byfield is the very definition of a cameo merchant based on his senior campaign up to this point. The defender played under Frank three times, but was only given 29 minutes of playing time in total.

It would be good to see him given longer on the pitch, especially as Cristian Romero is still suspended for a further three Tottenham matches.

Radu Dragusin should be nowhere near the Spurs first-team and Tudor will find that out for himself soon enough. Hopefully he will instead look to Byfield and award him with his first senior start.

Tottenham Hotspur receive a huge injury boost ahead of the North London derby after some fans noticed a very interesting detail in the latest video released by the club.

The Spurs squad have had the opportunity to train with Igor Tudor and his coaching staff over the last few days, following their five-day break.

Tudor has revealed that he has asked the Tottenham players to give ‘something more’ than what they have recently, so that the club can pull themselves out of the position they are in.

The new Spurs interim boss has declared that he wants his side to be brave in the North London derby, and he could have one key man back for the fixture.

Richarlison seen in Tottenham training ahead of the North London derby

Tudor’s first interview with the club’s official channel included little clips of the 47-year-old leading the training sessions.

In one of those instances, Spurs fans noticed that Richarlison, who has been out since the FA Cup clash against Aston Villa at the start of January, took part in the drills.

Richarlison was initially expected to be out until March, but Spurs fans are hopeful that the Brazilian could make a swift return after seeing him on the training ground with the squad.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Watch the full Tudor interview below:

Who will lead the line for Spurs in the North London derby?

We know that Tudor’s preferred formation across his recent managerial career is a 3-4-2-1.

If he sticks with the same blueprint, that means that Dominic Solanke, Richarlison, and Randal Kolo Munai will have to fight for one spot as the system does not make use of wingers.

Xavi Simons took a big step to show his commitment after Tottenham Hotspur made the decision to sack Thomas Frank.

Tottenham gave five days off to their players after sacking Thomas Frank last Tuesday, before the squad reported to Hotspur Way on Monday for their first training session under Igor Tudor.

It is a fresh start for the Spurs players under the Croat and his coaching staff ahead of the big North London derby this Sunday.

Tudor has admitted that his primary goal is to energise the Tottenham squad, and the Croat would have liked to hear about the commitment shown by one Spurs star.

Tottenham star Xavi Simons skipped holidays for extra training sessions

One would imagine that most members of the Tottenham squad would have wanted to completely disengage from football and refresh their minds ahead of Tudor’s arrival.

However, that was not the case with Xavi, according to talkSPORT, who reveal that the Dutchman forwent the opportunity for a mid-season break.

Rather than jetting off to sunnier climes on holiday, the 22-year-old put in extra hours in the Hotspur Way training ground during his days off.

MORE SPURS STORIES

The attacking midfielder put in the hard yards ahead of Tudor’s arrival, ahead of what could be his first start in a North London derby after coming on as a substitute in Tottenham’s 4-1 loss at the Emirates Stadium back in November.

Xavi could be crucial for Spurs to end the season strongly

The Lilywhites have been devoid of creativity for much of the season under Frank, and Tottenham fans will hope that things will change under their new interim head coach.

Xavi has found his feet in the Premier League over the last couple of months, showing glimpses of the quality we saw from him at RB Leipzig.

Igor Tudor has been set a clear target of Premier League survival, but should Tottenham Hotspur expect a bit more from their new manager?

Igor Tudor has arrived in Tottenham Hotspur’s greatest hour of need with a huge amount of responsibility on his shoulders.

Spurs are one position higher in the Premier League table than where they finished last season, but their points tally is a much greater concern.

Just five points separate Tottenham from the relegation zone, and while this might not seem so bad, West Ham are looking like a team who mean business.

If Tudor keeps his new club safe, he has ultimately fulfilled his purpose in North London. However, Spurs fans have high expectations, and they are unlikely to be satisfied with the bare minimum.

Tudor must secure more than Premier League survival

Nothing beats getting a result at the very last minute when all hope seems lost, but surely this does not apply to Tottenham’s fight for Premier League survival.

To go from celebrating a Europa League one year to remaining in the English top flight the next would be nothing short of tragic, so Tudor cannot let things go right down to the wire.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Even Thomas Frank left Spurs a few points clear of the relegation zone, meaning it is important for Tudor to expand this gap rather than seeing it decrease.

Putting it simply, Tottenham must not find themselves in a situation where dropping down a division is still on the cards with a couple of matches left.

The Champions League is important for Spurs too

European football was the only good thing about Ange Postecoglou’s second campaign at Tottenham, and this season under Frank has been no different.

The Dane managed his team to a top-four league phase finish in the Champions League, meaning questions would be asked of Tudor if he suffered a last-16 exit.

Spurs could face Juventus or Atletico Madrid next, and both are good teams. However, there are still plenty of stronger sides in the competition and the ex-Serie A boss should really be progressing past at least one round.

Tudor cannot be expected to do the unthinkable at Tottenham

If Tudor were to lift Spurs up to a mid-table finish and reach the Champions League semi-finals, that would be quite the achievement, but it should not be the expectation.

The Tottenham first-team squad is laden with injuries, and even getting a draw takes a lot of effort. Therefore, the limitations Tudor faces should be recognised, and patience must be afforded to him.

What we are about to witness is like a firefighter running into a burning house without any PPE. The resources are simply not there for Tudor, and if he manages to restore stability at Spurs with what little he has to work with, then credit where credit is due.

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to raid Bayern Munich for a centre-back who delivered a defensive masterclass in his most recent outing.

Tottenham and Bayern Munich have done plenty of business over recent years, with Harry Kane and Eric Dier moving to the German club from the North London side while Mathys Tel and Joao Palhinha have gone in the opposite direction.

The two clubs could be in line to do even more business in the summer, with reports over recent days indicating that Tottenham are one of the contenders to sign Leon Goretzka.

Now, it has emerged that yet another experienced Bayern star is on the Lilywhites’ radar after struggling for regular starts this season.

Tottenham battling Chelsea for Kim Min-jae

Journalist Christian Falk has told FC Bayern Insider that Tottenham and Chelsea are both plotting a move for Kim Min-jae, who has won two K-League titles, the Scudetto and the Bundesliga title in his career.

Kim is on the shortlist of both London clubs, who are looking to bolster their options in defence. Bayern paid £43m to sign the centre-back from Napoli.

Amidst doubts over the futures of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, the Lilywhites have identified the South Korean as a potential option.

MORE SPURS STORIES

However, it is revealed that any move from Spurs for Kim would depend on who the Premier League side appoint as their next permanent manager.

What is Kim’s current stance on his future?

The centre-back is currently the third choice at Bayern behind Vincent Kompany’s first-choice pair, Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah, and has been restricted to just 10 starts in the Bundesliga this term.

Despite his lack of regular starts, it is said that Kim is ‘happy’ at the Allianz Arena. However, it is revealed that a summer exit cannot be completely ruled out for the 29-year-old.

The outlet also points out that Kim delivered a flawless display during Bayern’s 3-0 win against Werder Bremen on Saturday, as the two London clubs continue to monitor his situation closely.

Tottenham Hotspur continue to eye a move for Leon Goretzka, but they are not the only ones pushing for the Bayern Munich star.

There is a lot for Spurs to sort out over the coming weeks before they can start planning for the summer transfer window.

The Lilywhites first need to secure their place in the Premier League and finalise a permanent managerial appointment before they can finalise their top summer targets.

However, that has not stopped them from exploring a move for Leon Goretzka, who was a target for Spurs during the winter transfer window.

Arsenal leading Tottenham in race for Leon Goretzka

It emerged a couple of days ago that Arsenal have joined Spurs in the race for the Bayern star, and it appears that Tottenham’s North London rivals have the upper hand.

This is according to a new report in Football Insider, who reveal that there is expected to be a host of interest from the Premier League in the 31-year-old, who will leave the Allianz Arena as a free agent in the summer.

The report backs up the interest of both Spurs and the Gunners in Goretzka, and sources indicated that Mikel Arteta’s men ‘hold the edge’ over the Lilywhites in the transfer race.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Arsenal ‘hold all the cards’ as they would likely be able to offer the experienced midfielder Champions League football, while Tottenham are unlikely to be in a position to do so.

La Liga giants want Goretzka but he has a clear preference

Football Insider reveal that Atletico Madrid are also keen to launch a move for the Bayern star in the summer as they look to shore up their midfield.

However, a move to the Premier League is thought to appeal to Goretzka, who is specifically keen on the idea of moving to London.

While that may give the two North London clubs the upper hand over the La Liga side in the race for the former Schalke man, it appears that the Premier League leaders are currently in the driving seat.

Tottenham and Arsenal are set to go head-to-head in the North London Derby this weekend as we take a look at the latest combined XI.

Tottenham Hotspur are back in action this weekend after 12 days of rest and are set to take on north London rivals Arsenal.

The Gunners are pushing for the title, and Tottenham will be hoping to dent their aspirations by taking points off them.

This also marks Igor Tudor’s first game in charge, and he will aim to get off to a strong start against Spurs’ bitter rivals.

We have now put together our combined XI for both sides ahead of the derby game on Sunday. Of course, this XI does not take into account the injured players from both teams.

Tottenham and Arsenal combined XI selection calls

David Raya – In goal, Raya obviously edges this one as he is the more consistent of the two; Guglielmo Vicario has the odd error here and there, struggles with crosses and is not as strong with his feet – areas Raya excels in.

Jurrien Timber – When it comes to full-backs, both sides deploy different setups. Timber has the licence to push up and invert into central areas, while Pedro Porro under Thomas Frank was often deployed as a traditional right-back who had to pick his moments to get forward. Going forward, both players are equal, but it is defensively where Porro falls short, as he often tends to switch off at the back post when dealing with crosses.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Gabriel – Gabriel takes this spot, and there is even an argument to be made that he might be the best centre-back in the league, given how dominant he is in both boxes. He does, however, make the odd mistake, as we have seen at times this season with his passing. Cristian Romero, unfortunately, has been too wayward for Tottenham this season.

Micky van de Ven – Having two goal-scoring centre-backs is no doubt the dream pairing for two sides that are strong from set pieces. Van de Ven just brings some variety, given his pace and ball-carrying ability. He gets in ahead of William Saliba.

Riccardo Calafiori – Again, an Arsenal player makes the cut, and it is no surprise given how strong the Gunners are defensively. Calafiori is a good mix of a proper defender and a strong attacking outlet. It is definitely a close one, as Tottenham’s Djed Spence is equally strong in both facets and can even play in both full-back positions.

Declan Rice – In midfield, Rice has been one of the most consistent players in the Premier League, offering a solid defensive base while also being capable of filling in as a box-to-box midfielder. He also carries a set-piece threat with his deliveries.

Martin Zubimendi – Yet another Arsenal player makes the cut in midfield, and that just shows how poor Spurs have been in the middle of the park. Zubimendi gets in as he brings composure to the centre with his passing.

Xavi Simons – In the number ten role is the in-form Simons, who is finally finding some rhythm in the Premier League. The Dutchman gets in ahead of Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze, who have been subpar for most of the season.

Noni Madueke – Out wide, we ironically have a former Spurs academy man, Noni Madueke. His numbers have not been the most impressive, with Madueke managing just two league goals thus far, but some of his performances have been electric. So much so that he keeps Bukayo Saka out of our XI.

Dominic Solanke – When it comes to the overall centre-forward package, Solanke beats both Gabriel Jesus and Viktor Gyokeres. Since the Englishman returned from injury, he has bagged four goals and is currently level on goals with Jesus, despite the latter having missed half of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League journey is set to resume soon, and their long-awaited Round of 16 opponent is now coming into focus following the latest results elsewhere in the competition.

While Tottenham Hotspur’s form in the Premier League has been subpar, they have been one of the better sides in the Champions League this season.

Former Spurs head coach Thomas Frank helped his side to a top-four finish in the league phase, avoiding any play-off games.

The Lilywhites are now eagerly awaiting who they will face when their Champions League campaign resumes once more. Spurs already know their R16 opponents will be one of four teams – Juventus, Galatasaray, Club Brugge or Atletico Madrid.

Tottenham will keep a keen eye on Galatasaray vs Juventus

Galatasaray and Juventus have now played the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie, with the encounter taking place at Galatasaray’s home, RAMS Park.

The Turkish outfit came out on top in this first meeting, beating the Old Lady 5-2 and leaving Juventus with a huge mountain to climb.

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Davinson Sanchez was on the scoresheet, alongside Sacha Boey, Gabriel Sara and Noa Lang, who grabbed two goals.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Juventus ended the game with ten men and are set to be without Juan Cabal for the return leg in Turin.

Davinson Sanchez reunion on the cards for Spurs

A potential reunion with Davinson Sanchez is now looking increasingly likely if Galatasaray can finish the job in Italy next week.

The Turkish outfit simply need to avoid losing the game by a three-goal margin if they are to guarantee their spot in the Champions League Round of 16 without Juventus forcing extra-time.

Tottenham will play either the winner of Gala vs Juve or the winner of Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid in the Round of 16 – Liverpool will play the other.

The draw for the round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals will take place on Friday, 27 February. The R16 ties will then be played on March 10-11 and 17-18.

Should Galatasaray make it through and get drawn against Spurs, the first leg of their encounter would take place at RAMS Stadium, before Spurs welcomed them to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the second leg.

Of course, there is still a lot of play-off football to be played until we discover the final pairings.