Spurs Web

Tottenham Hotspur are one of multiple Premier League clubs looking to bring a Serie A marksman to England in January.

Regular readers of Spurs Web will be aware that a number of centre-forwards have been mooted as targets for Tottenham ahead of the January window.

It has been suggested that Spurs are willing to cash in on their top scorer Richarlison, as Thomas Frank wants to upgrade on the Brazilian.

Back in October, it emerged that Tottenham’s scouts were in Italy to watch a Parma striker in action, and it has now been claimed that the Lilywhites are seriously considering a January move for him.

Tottenham in four-horse race to sign Mateo Pellegrino

Mateo Pellegrino has impressed for Parma this campaign, having found the back of the net seven times in 15 matches across all competitions.

According to CalcioMercato, his performances have caught the attention of AC Milan, who want to add a top-class striker to their squad.

However, it is explained that the Rossoneri may not be able to land Pellegrino as he is also attracting interest from three Premier League clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur.

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It is revealed that the Lilywhites, West Ham and Nottingham Forest have all ‘set their sights’ on the Parma man as we edge closer to the mid-season transfer window.

Pellegrino is not expected to come cheap for Spurs

CalcioMercto say that it will take a ‘huge offer’ for one of the Premier League trio to land the 24-year-old in January.

It is revealed that Parma turned down a €15m (£13m) offer from an unnamed Premier League club for Pellegrino in the summer, and it is going to take a much bigger bid for them to consider a sale.

The outlet adds that the Italian centre-forward is more likely to be on the market next summer as he is seen as crucial to helping Parma avoid relegation this term.

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Two Tottenham Hotspur stars were among the highest-rated players across the Premier League on gameweek 14.

The Tottenham players desperately needed a good performance at St James’ Park after falling to three back-to-back defeats against Arsenal, PSG and Fulham.

Newcastle away was not the fixture that Spurs would have wanted, given their horrible record in the North East over recent years.

However, they showed fantastic fighting spirit to come back twice from a goal down, with their captain, Cristian Romero, delivering a heroic performance.

Cristian Romero joined by underfire Tottenham teammate in Team of the Week

Romero has been getting plenty of praise after his resolute defensive performance and brace on Tuesday, and unsurprisingly, he makes it into WhoScored’s Team of the Week.

The Spurs centre-back was the third-best-rated player across gameweek 14, with only the Man City duo, Phil Foden and Erling Haaland, getting a higher rating.

He was joined in the Team of the Week by Guglielmo Vicario, who, despite receiving a lot of stick of late, stepped up with a big performance, which showcased his self-belief and his character.

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Tottenham fans showed some love to Guglielmo Vicario

The travelling Tottenham fans at St James’ Park sang the goalkeeper’s name on the back of his tough outing against Fulham, where he was booed.

That was not lost on the staff and the players, with Thomas Frank praising the Spurs supporters for signing Vicario’s name throughout the game.

Chris Sutton has logged his prediction for Tottenham Hotspur’s upcoming Premier League fixture against Brentford and he has listed two reasons for the hosts to be concerned.

It is a well-known fact by now that Tottenham Hotspur have the second-worst home record in the Premier League this season. Spurs were most recently beaten at their own ground by Fulham, in a third London derby defeat of the season.

Tottenham are generally in poor form anyway, having recently suffered away defeats to Arsenal and PSG. They would have faced the same fate against Newcastle on Tuesday, had it not been for the heroics of Cristian Romero.

One positive for Spurs is that Brentford have the fourth-worst away record in the league, picking up three points from seven matches. However, Fulham had a worse record ahead of their visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, yet still walked away with all three points.

Chris Sutton believes Tottenham have two big problems

Ex-Premier League striker Chris Sutton believes Thomas Frank needs a big result against Brentford. However, he has little confidence in their attack, especially since a centre-back was required to bail them out against Newcastle.

Sutton has also raised concerns about what the environment will be like inside Tottenham’s stadium, with the fans loudly voicing their disapproval last weekend.

Making his prediction for Brentford’s visit, he told BBC Sport: “Brentford were competitive against Arsenal on Wednesday but they have now lost six of their seven away games this season.

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“That should be good news for Spurs, but right now it is impossible to back them at home. They don’t seem to have a functioning front line at the moment, which is why they needed Cristian Romero to pop up at Newcastle with a couple of goals.

“Things are not right on the pitch and, off it, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is not a happy place either – the fans are making their feelings pretty clear. So, wouldn’t it be typical for Thomas Frank’s former team to go there and nick a result?

“It could end up being a war of attrition, because Bees boss Keith Andrews will try to play on the break and I can see his side getting something.

“It feels like Frank doesn’t just need a win, he needs a kind of statement win and performance, to convince the Spurs fans. That’s unfair because he needs time, but that’s something Premier League managers don’t get.”

Sutton’s prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Brentford

Thomas Frank simply has to deliver a Spurs victory

Tottenham cannot continue failing to pick up three points; otherwise the decision will have to be made to send Frank packing. Recent results have been unacceptable, even for a new manager still finding his way at the club.

Brentford are not a bad team, but they are not a team that should be taking points from Spurs at their own stadium. If Frank cannot get a win tomorrow, it is difficult to see how he can continue to be trusted with his role.

One Tottenham Hotspur star has made it into Troy Deeney’s Premier League Team of the Week, and there is no prize for guessing who it is.

The pressure was immense on Spurs and Thomas Frank heading into St James’ Park after the massive fallout following Tottenham’s 2-1 loss to Fulham last week.

The relationship between the Tottenham players and the supporters was worsening, and they needed their big names to stand up and be counted.

That is exactly what Cristian Romero did, with the Spurs captain not only being dominant defensively, but stepping up with two important goals in the other box to help the Lilywhites salvage a point.

Troy Deeney was impressed by Cristian Romero’s finish for Tottenham

While Romero’s overhead kick in stoppage time has got a lot of media attention, it is the Tottenham man’s equaliser that stood out to Deeney.

The former Watford man named the Spurs captain in his Team of the Week and admitted that the header produced was that of a true striker.

Deeney wrote on BBC Sport: “Hugely effective in the draw at Newcastle from an attacking and defensive point of view. Wonderful first goal getting across the front man like a true striker, and the second, although it bounced 16 times, to have the audacity to do an overhead kick in the last minute, you have to give him credit. They didn’t get the win, but he came across really well in the game.”

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Thomas Frank and Spurs players lavish praise on Romero

Thomas Frank paid heed to Romero’s character and his leadership following Tottenham’s 2-2 draw at Newcastle.

The Tottenham boss pointed out that while tactics and organisation are important, a team needs key players to step up during big moments as the captain did at St James’ Park.

Thomas Frank has faced criticism for the way Tottenham are playing, but Ian Wright has taken issue with what he is like off the pitch.

Tottenham Hotspur are a club in crisis, no matter which way you look at it. Last season’s disastrous Premier League campaign was saved by a Europa League triumph, but now there is nothing to paper over the cracks.

Spurs have been free-falling down the Premier League table in recent weeks and now sit in 11th position, which is below where their supporters would like them to be.

To make things worse, Frank has made himself the object of further criticism due to the comments he has made during interviews and press conferences. Most recently, Frank took aim at the Tottenham fans who booed Guglielmo Vicario, claiming they were not real supporters of the club.

Ian Wright calls on Thomas Frank to adjust to the size of Tottenham

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has had his say on how Frank speaks to the media and the pundit has claimed that he needs to act differently from how he did at Brentford.

This was in response to Gary Neville, who read out the quotes from Thomas Frank’s book about when he was interviewed by Manchester United and Chelsea on the same day.

Wright told The Overlap: “The thing with Thomas Frank, and what you do like about him, is there’s an honesty … about him.

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“Maybe being at Brentford, you know, you can say certain things that don’t carry so far, but then you go to Tottenham, you say something, like it starts to feel like, whoa, what are you talking about?

“You need to … and I think that he’s probably adjusting to the to the size of the club.”

Frank needs to do his talking on the pitch

Managers who find themselves in Frank’s position should be careful not to draw attention to themselves for what they choose to reveal.

Ultimately, the Dane finds himself in a difficult position, and he needs the backing of Tottenham’s supporters to make things click at the club.

Instead of being brutally honest, Frank should try filtering what he says and instead focus on getting results on the pitch.

Kota Takai has opened up on his goal for the rest of the season, after his first Tottenham Hotspur match since his summer move.

Tottenham Hotspur are yet to see much of summer signing Kota Takai, who joined the club for £5 million, a record fee for a Japan international moving from the J League.

The 20-year-old is one for the future with clear potential, although he has not yet featured in a competitive match for Spurs since arriving from Kawasaki Frontale.

Takai has been sidelined with an injury since his move, but he has now played his first minutes in a Tottenham shirt during a behind-closed-doors friendly with Spurs’ under-21s as he works toward full fitness.

Tottenham defender Kota Takai discusses first Spurs minutes

Kota Takai spoke about how it felt to play 45 minutes for Tottenham finally, and he admitted that he enjoyed the runout but knows there is more work ahead as he aims to improve his sharpness.

He told the official Tottenham channel: “Well, yeah, it was only 45 minutes, but I enjoyed playing football, and I felt I need to get my condition even better from here.”

He was then asked about the tough road back from injury, and the defender explained that it took time to return, but he appreciates the help he received throughout his recovery.

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He added: “Yeah… It took time to get back on the pitch, but with the help of many people, I think I was able to make it this far.”

Takai also shared how he felt after the match, and he expressed relief simply to come through without any setbacks while making clear that the next step is pushing toward a first-team debut.

He continued: “First of all, I am just glad I finished without getting injured. And now, I want to work hard toward making my debut for the first team next.”

Kota Takai opens up on his next steps after Tottenham match

The Japanese international has spent the last four months in London since his summer move, and he opened up on life in the UK.

Speaking about his experience in London, he said: “It has been really fun, and from around the end of Halloween, the city already started to feel very Christmas-like. The city is beautiful, and I find it very comfortable to live in.”

On his aims moving forward, Takai kept things straightforward and made it clear that breaking into the Tottenham first team is his focus from here, saying:

“My goal? Well, first and foremost, making my debut on the pitch with the first team – that is my biggest goal right now.”

Tottenham Hotspur could offload one of their most experienced players to a Premier League rival in order to make room for a Thomas Frank target.

With the January window fast approaching, the speculation on Tottenham’s transfer targets has gone into hyperdrive.

Several outlets continue to suggest that Spurs want to add a top-class number nine to their squad in January, and they could turn to a player that Thomas Frank knows well.

Tottenham have been mooted as the front-runners to bring Ivan Toney back to the Premier League, 18 months on from the striker’s switch from Brentford to Al-Ahli.

Tottenham could cash in on Richarlison and land Ivan Toney

A report in ESPN has claimed that a significant portion of the £100m equity pumped into Tottenham by ENIC will be diverted into the club’s January transfer kitty.

One of the players that the Lilywhites could use those funds to sign is Toney, with the Spurs head coach said to be keen on reuniting with the 29-year-old at N17.

It is claimed that Everton are also interested in the former Brentford star, but Tottenham could sell Richarlison back to the Merseyside club to make room for Toney in their squad.

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Chances of Toney returning to the Premier League played down

While this update from ESPN may excite Spurs fans, many other sources have played down the chances of Tottenham being able to land the England international in January.

This includes journalist Ben Jocobs, who revealed that Toney is unlikely to leave Al-Ahli in January despite being the subject of enquiries from English clubs.

An experienced coach has reacted angrily to claims that Thomas Frank’s position at Tottenham Hotspur is under threat.

Several pundits have raised serious question marks over Frank’s fit for Tottenham, criticising the Dane’s negative tactics.

The 52-year-old has been making a lot of changes to his starting eleven and formation over recent weeks, and some reports indicate that the Tottenham players are frustrated by Frank’s tinkering.

Some sources have even claimed Spurs have already started eyeing potential replacements for the former Brentford boss, but one pundit feels that is ridiculous.

Coach says Thomas Frank is doing best with the resources at Tottenham

Danish coach Glen Riddersholm, who has managed Denmark U17s, FC Midtjylland and served as an assistant coach at Norwich City, has blasted suggestions that Frank should fear for his job.

He claimed that the 52-year-old has done an ‘excellent’ job at N17, claiming that Spurs’ struggles are down to the shortcomings of their squad.

Riddersholm told Tipsbladet (as relayed by Sport Witness): “I think it is completely ridiculous that Thomas Frank should fear for his job. I think he is doing a fantastic job.

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“Everyone who is close to Tottenham and follows it from a distance knows that what he has done so far has been excellent. You can only play with the cards you are dealt, and I think there are obvious shortcomings in the squad he is coaching.”

Frank is confident he will get time at Spurs

Reports have indicated that the Tottenham board will not take any hasty decisions on Frank, and they view it as a long-term project.

It was even claimed by journalist Dean Jones that Spurs are planning to show the kind of faith in Frank that Arsenal did in Mikel Arteta during his early struggles.

Tottenham Hotspur have a clear favourite in mind to replace the under-fire Guglielmo Vicario as their number one.

Vicario has been the centre of a storm over the last week after being booed by Tottenham fans during their 2-0 defeat to Fulham.

Thomas Frank has insisted that Vicario will remain his number one, but reports suggest that the 29-year-old may be on his way back to Italy.

Inter Milan are keeping tabs on the Spurs goalkeeper’s situation, and it has even been claimed by some sources that Vicario himself is keen on a move to the San Siro.

Tottenham identify Aston Villa star Emi Martinez as Guglielmo Vicario replacement

It is now being reported by Gazzetta dello Sport that Spurs have already begun looking for replacements for the former Empoli man, amidst Inter Milan’s overtures.

The report claims that Emi Martinez has now emerged as the North London club’s ‘favourite target’.

The Argentine, who was close to joining Man United last summer, may become the subject of interest from Tottenham in the upcoming transfer windows.

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However, Martinez only penned a new deal at Villa Park last year, with his contract running until 2029.

Another Premier League goalkeeper is on Spurs’ sights

This report from Gazzetta comes just a couple of days after reports in the British media suggested that another Premier League shot-stopper is on Tottenham Hotspur’s radar.

TEAMtalk claimed that Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen is on Spurs’ wishlist, with Thomas Frank’s men said to have been impressed by the Seagulls shot-stopper’s performances at the Amex Stadium.

However, the same update revealed that Chelsea also have a long-standing interest in Verbruggen, while the Dutchman was also the subject of enquiries by Bayern Munich in the summer.

It has been reported that events over recent days may have caused one Tottenham Hotspur star to seriously evaluate his future at N17.

The relationship between Spurs fans and the players has been worsening this season, mainly due to the team’s struggles at home.

Some players, such as Pedro Porro, have gotten into arguments with Tottenham fans on social media.

However, the man who has borne the brunt is Guglielmo Vicario, who was booed and mocked by Spurs fans after his mistake against Fulham last week.

Booing may be the last straw for Guglielmo Vicario at Tottenham

It has emerged over recent days that Inter Milan are plotting a move for the Spurs number one next summer.

In fact, some reports from Italy have even claimed that Vicario is open to joining Inter and that his agent has opened dialogue with the Serie A club.

A new report from Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness) has now suggested that the jeers from the Tottenham Hotspur fans may have been the reason why the 29-year-old is now considering an exit from North London.

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Gazzetta state: “Those jeers, however, risk becoming the last straw in a cup that has gradually filled up for the national team goalkeeper, one that is now making him seriously consider whether his future is better away from London, perhaps in Serie A and perhaps at Inter, who are starting to wink at him.

“However, the newspaper adds: ‘…in the eyes of Tottenham fans, Vicario is no longer a pillar. He has three years left on his contract with Tottenham, but it’s impossible not to wonder whether Spurs is still the best place for him, for his development. Especially if, from being an idol, you suddenly find yourself booed by your own fans.”

Thomas Frank has dismissed Vicario transfer rumours

There have been rumours that Tottenham could replace Vicario with Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen, having been impressed by the Dutchman’s performances this season.

However, despite his mistake against Fulham, Frank has dismissed the idea of Tottenham signing a new number one, making it clear that he has full faith in the Italian.