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Atletico Madrid are ready to battle Tottenham Hotspur for a talented young South American defender who is thriving for River Plate.

Even though Kevin Danso has performed admirably in the absence of Cristian Romero, and Radu Dragusin is edging close to a return to action, it has been widely reported that Tottenham want to add another centre-back to their squad in January.

One Argentine youngster’s impressive performances back in his home country have allegedly brought him to the Lilywhites’ attention.

It first emerged last month that Spurs have expressed an interest in River Plate starlet Lautaro Rivero, who is quickly building a reputation as the best young defender in Argentine football.

Atletico Madrid ready to challenge Tottenham for Lautaro Rivero

A new report in La Razon has revealed that Atletico Madrid are also keen on securing the 22-year-old.

Jose Maria Gimenez is struggling with injuries, while Clement Lenglet has not performed to the expected level, which is why the Spanish side are now keen on adding Rivero to their squad in January.

The outlet backs up what we have heard from other sources by revealing that the young centre-back has a release clause of €100m (£87.7m) in his contract.

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Atletico fear competition from Spurs for Rivero

La Razon explain that Diego Simeone’s men are hoping to land the River Plate defender for around €50m (£43.8m).

However, they are worried about Tottenham Hotspur, and they fear that competition from the Premier League club will push Rivero’s price up.

Despite being protected by the defender’s big release clause, River Plate feel they may not be able to hold on to the centre-back if there is an approach from a big European club.

Tottenham Hotspur are weighing up a January move for another West Ham United star, as Jarrod Bowen continues to shine in West London.

Reports from last month claimed that Tottenham Hotspur are looking to poach another one of West Ham United’s stars in the January transfer window.

Last summer, Spurs managed to secure the services of Mohammed Kudus for just £55 million, and that signing has proven to be a shrewd piece of business, with the Ghana international becoming a main man in N17.

However, recent reports have now claimed that Spurs could be in for another West Ham talisman, Jarrod Bowen, as they look to bolster their attacking ranks.

West Ham stance on Jarrod Bowen amid Tottenham interest

TBR Football are now reporting that West Ham United will not sanction a sale for Bowen to leave the London Stadium in the winter transfer window.

It is claimed that West Ham are aware of Spurs’ interest, and while sources suggest that nearly every player in their squad could be on the trade block, Bowen is not one of them, no matter what.

It is believed that the Hammers do need to raise funds to help bolster their budget in the January window, as new boss Nuno Espirito Santo is hoping to see his squad enhanced in the next few months, but selling Bowen is not the route they would be taking to do that.

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The Englishman has scored three goals for Nuno’s side so far this season in the Premier League and is just nine goals away from surpassing Michail Antonio in their all-time top goalscorers list in the Premier League, having been West Ham’s top scorer in the last four seasons.

Why West Ham are unlikely to sell Bowen in January

TBR Football also claim Tottenham are in the market for a wide forward and that they would happily take Bowen.

Kudus has impressed since his move to N17, but the left-hand side of Tottenham’s attack has been subpar so far this season, following the departure of Heung-min Son.

It is understood that Spurs have asked numerous times about Bowen, and once again made it known through intermediaries that they would be interested, though they have been told that Bowen is not available.

The Hammers are currently in a relegation scrap and surely need all the help they can get, and even if Bowen is to depart, one would expect a move perhaps in the summer window.

Mauricio Pochettino has shared his thoughts on Daniel Levy’s departure from Tottenham, offering heartfelt words about the long-serving former chairman.

Tottenham Hotspur have been looking to get back to competing at the very top following last season’s disaster, which had them finish down in 17th place.

Tottenham still managed to secure silverware after winning the UEFA Europa League – their second trophy under Daniel Levy, who had been chairman for well over two decades.

That was not enough to paper over the cracks, though, as ENIC decided to part ways with the chairman who had served the longest in the club’s history during his time in north London.

Mauricio Pochettino speaks on Daniel Levy’s Tottenham departure

Daniel Levy had formed good relationships with several people during his time as Spurs chairman, including Mauricio Pochettino, one of the club’s most successful managers in the modern era.

There had even been talk of Pochettino potentially returning to Spurs when Ange Postecoglou was under pressure, but it always felt too soon for such a reunion.

The Argentine has now spoken publicly about Levy’s exit, expressing his surprise and admiration for the man who first brought him to north London.

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Speaking to BBC Sport, Pochettino said: “I was very surprised [at Levy’s departure]. His legacy is there. It is amazing what he did for the club.

“My relationship always was good with him, during my period in Tottenham and after I left. He was a really important person because he gave me the possibility to manage a club like Tottenham.

“That is, for me, one of the best clubs in the world, with an amazing fanbase.”

Thomas Frank tasked with writing new Tottenham chapter

Spurs have since moved on to hire Thomas Frank, who has not enjoyed the most successful start to life in north London, with his side struggling for consistency.

The Dane has drawn comparisons with Pochettino, whose early spells in charge of Tottenham mirrored that of the Argentine – steady performances that showed promise despite early stumbles.

But the former Spurs manager eventually found rhythm and led the club to a UEFA Champions League final in 2019, remaining a beloved figure in N17.

Tottenham will now be hoping for much better success under Frank as they embark on a new era.

Danny Murphy believes that one Tottenham Hotspur star could solve a big problem for Thomas Frank this season.

Frank has had some big challenges in his first few months in charge of Spurs, not least Tottenham’s bloated injury list.

Nowhere has the problem been as acute as upfront, with Dominic Solanke out with an injury while neither Richarlison nor Mathys Tel have pulled up any trees while leading the line.

Randal Kolo Muani has got the nod to lead the line in three of Tottenham’s four matches after putting his injury issues behind him, and the Frenchman picked up an assist against Copenhagen on Tuesday, setting up Wilson Odobert for an easy finish.

Danny Murphy believes Randal Kolo Muani could be one to watch for Tottenham

The on-loan striker – who PSG signed for £76m from Eintracht Frankfurt – troubled the Copenhagen defence with his pressing, physicality and runs in-behind, but he would have been disappointed not to get on the scoresheet.

However, Murphy saw enough positive signs from the Frenchman to be convinced that he can solve Thomas Frank’s issues upfront.

The former Spurs midfielder said on talkSPORT Daily: “And the other thing, and you’ll see a couple of really poor misses from Kolo Muani and that doesn’t do his performance justice. He could be a player for Tottenham.

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“I know they’ve got some problems up front at the minute, but he’s getting fitter and stronger, and he was an absolute handful. He looks a decent player.”

Thomas Frank says there is more to come from Kolo Muani

Speaking after the game, the Tottenham boss praised the France international’s efforts, pointing out that he was a handful for the Copenhagen backline.

Excitingly, Frank suggested that Kolo Muani is still not firing on all cylinders, backing the striker to be even more effective once he builds up his sharpness.

Danny Murphy believes that one moment in the second half of Tottenham’s win over Copenhagen may cause Thomas Frank to revisit the formation that he is using.

Tottenham managed to beat Copenhagen comprehensively to move up to 10th place in the Champions League table, with the Lilywhites now just a point away from the top eight, which will give them automatic passage to the Round of 16.

It was a much-needed performance and win for Spurs, given that the critics of Thomas Frank’s tactics were growing increasingly louder before the game.

Tuesday’s clash will be remembered for Micky van de Ven’s astounding solo goal, which is a contender for the Puskas Award, and one pundit has suggested a change in formation could get more out of the Dutchman.

Thomas Frank told to change Tottenham formation to help Micky van de Ven

This is not the first time that the Dutchman has produced those lung-busting runs from the edge of his own box, which have ended up with the ball in the back of the net.

Van de Ven produced similar runs against both Man United and Everton last season, with the 24-year-old setting up Brennan Johnson and Heung-min Son, respectively, with easy finishes after carrying the ball the length of the pitch on both occasions.

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Danny Murphy has now suggested that Frank may be thinking about shifting to a back three from a back four so that the former Wolfsburg man has more freedom to bomb forward.

The pundit said on talkSPORT Daily: “It’s an unbelievable goal, honestly. And actually, I was looking at it thinking, maybe we’d see this more often if he plays in a three [at the back].

“Maybe that’s something Thomas Frank’s thinking about, because we saw Brentford play in a three many times, didn’t we? And that will give him the license to go and do this type of thing. It’s just a beautiful, wonderful goal.”

Frank has been hesitant to play a back three

Until the 2023-24 season, we saw Frank use a back three a lot. However, he rarely did so at Brentford last season and has been hesitant to do that so far at Tottenham.

The Super Cup final against PSG is the only game where the Dane set up with a back three from the start, and even though his tactics worked well in that game, he has not gone back to that.

The Premier League have confirmed the full list of officials for Tottenham Hotspur’s big clash against Man United on Saturday.

Wayne Rooney thinks the result of Saturday’s game could be season-defining for both Spurs and Man United, and one can certainly understand why he feels that.

Both clubs are tied on 17 points, and while United have recovered after a poor start to the season, the Lilywhites appear to be sliding after a solid start, with the pressure now starting to mount on Thomas Frank.

Spurs will take confidence from their morale-boosting win over Copenhagen on Tuesday, and they have now discovered who the officials will be for the big upcoming clash.

Samuel Barrott will be the referee for Tottenham v Man United

The Premier League have announced that Saturday’s lunchtime kickoff at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be refereed by Samuel Barrott.

His assistants will be Tim Wood and Nick Greenhalgh, while the fourth official will be Rob Jones. John Brooks will be the VAR for the game, and he will be assisted by Tony Harrington.

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According to Transfermarkt, Barrott has only been in charge of three Tottenham games, out of which Spurs have won two and lost one.

Spurs won a 1-0 FA Cup match against Burnley and a 2-1 Premier League win over Brighton under Barrott. However, they did lose 6-3 to Liverpool in a crazy 2024/25 fixture.

He has only handed out four yellow cards to Tottenham players across those three matches, which indicates that he is not trigger-happy in going to his notebook.

Can Spurs turn around their home form?

Tottenham have only won three of their last 19 Premier League matches at home, and they are winless this season in the league at home since the opening day of the season.

Spurs’ performance against Chelsea was the poorest of the season so far, and the Tottenham supporters will be keen to see a response when the players come out on Saturday.

Thomas Frank desperately needs a good performance and a win in front of the Spurs fans to relieve some of the pressure that has been building on him.

A former Tottenham defender, who hung up his boots from the game in the summer, has announced that he will soon appear on the big screen.

Toby Alderweireld played 236 times for Tottenham across six years, being an integral part of the side which challenged for the Premier League title and made the Champions League final.

The 36-year-old hung up his boots in the summer after three seasons back at his boyhood club, Royal Antwerp, and he has been keeping himself busy since his retirement.

Alderweireld was unmasked as the mystery Eagle Owl in Belgium’s version of The Masked Singer last week, and he has announced that he is also trying his hand at acting.

Tottenham legend Toby Alderweireld confirms acting role in action film

The defender has now announced that he will make his debut as a film actor in an action film, ‘Paradise’, which will be out in Belgian cinemas during the New Year, according to The Sun.

While it is only a small cameo, it is a role that the former Tottenham Hotspur man is very excited about.

The centre-back is quoted as saying: “I have a cameo role in the film Paradise. It is the role of my life. I don’t play myself – instead, I am a prison warder. When they asked me if I wanted to do it I thought, ‘why not?’

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“But let’s put things into context. I only appear in the opening scenes. I do have lines to say, but it is just two sentences. I can’t say what they are. It is down to the filmmakers to reveal them. But I have seen the pictures, and can say it’s going to be a film that’s full of action. Lots of action.”

The 36-year-old is taking a route that few footballers have post-retirement, drifting towards an entertainment career rather than the typical punditry or coaching route.

After spending three decades obsessed with football, Alderweireld admitted that he is extremely keen to try new things.

He added: “Ever since I was five years old, I have been fully involved with football and nothing else. I’m happy that I now have the chance to do other things – and I find it hard to say no.”

Tottenham Hotspur got back to winning ways in the Champions League with a thumping win over Copenhagen, and the result has seen them move up Opta’s prediction table.

Spurs were held to two back-to-back draws away from home against Bodo/Glimt and Monaco after beating Villarreal at home in their first game of the competition.

The Lilywhites thus needed to get a win on the board against Copenhagen, and they got the job done easily, brushing aside the Danish side 4-0 despite playing with 10 men for more than 30 minutes.

Tottenham are still on course to finish in the top eight if they continue winning at home and drawing away from home, as 16 points were enough for a top-eight spot last season.

Tottenham move up Opta’s Champions League prediction table

After playing out a 0-0 draw at Stade Louis II two weeks ago, Opta predicted that Spurs would finish in 12th place, accumulating an estimated 13.17 points.

However, their comprehensive victory at home against Copenhagen has seen Opta revise their predictions, with the Lilywhites jumping two places up their predicted table.

The supercomputer now suggests that Tottenham Hotspur will finish in 10th place by accumulating an expected 13.98.

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According to the algorithm, that would see them just miss out on the automatic Champions League knockout spot by a point to Newcastle United.

What are Spurs’ chances of qualification for the knockout stages?

Tottenham have a difficult end to the league phase of the Champions League, with the club due to face Eintracht Frankfurt, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund.

Opta puts Spurs’ chances of finishing in the top eight and securing direct passage to the quarterfinal at just 28.14 per cent.

However, the North Londoners are overwhelming favourites to make it to the knockout stages (which requires a top 24 finish), with the supercomputer giving them a 71.17 per cent chance of doing so.

Opta’s Supercomputer has made an interesting prediction ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s clash against Manchester United on Saturday.

Spurs have won both their home matches in the Champions League, but their record at home in the Premier League has been shocking.

The Lilywhites have not won at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since the opening league game of the season against Burnley, and even more worryingly, Spurs have won just three of their last 19 league matches in front of their supporters.

Manchester United will be the next side to visit N17 this Saturday, and Tottenham fans will be surprised by Opta’s prediction ahead of the game.

Opta’s Supercomputer claims Tottenham are big favourites against Man United

Saturday’s game is huge for both sides, who are tied on 17 points, and Tottenham fans have very little reason for optimism, given their shocking home record.

However, despite that record, Opta’s website have made Spurs big favourites, giving them a 47.5 per cent chance of beating Man United.

The Red Devils are given just a 26.4 per cent chance of taking all three points on Saturday, while a draw is deemed just as likely at 26.1 per cent.

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Thomas Frank and Spurs players have urged fans to do more

The Tottenham boss acknowledged that the team deserved to bood after the final whistle against Chelsea, but Frank has called for better support from Spurs fans during the game.

He suggested that the fans getting behind the side could be the difference between winning and losing, given the fine margins in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur are set for another heated battle with Manchester United, as both sides prepare to renew their rivalry in what promises to be a fiercely contested Premier League encounter. Let’s take a look at our predicted Tottenham XI to face Man United.

For the first time since the UEFA Europa League final back in May, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United will be locking horns once again.

Last season, it was a clean sweep for Spurs, who secured victory in each of their four encounters against the Red Devils, including their triumph in the Europa League final.

Ruben Amorim’s side will be desperate for revenge this time around, while Thomas Frank will be looking to extend Tottenham’s six-game unbeaten run against the Manchester club at the weekend.

We have now attempted to predict Tottenham’s starting XI for their clash with Manchester United.

Predicted Tottenham XI vs Manchester United

Goalkeeper – Guglielmo Vicario: The Italian secured a clean sheet in goal last time out against Copenhagen, as it was a less hectic outing for him, and we expect him to retain a starting spot at the weekend.

Right-back – Pedro Porro: The Spanish full-back featured again from the off last time out following Djed Spence’s knock and is yet to have sufficient rest, but he should still start here on Saturday.

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Centre-back – Cristian Romero: Returned to the starting XI in the Champions League, and Spurs put in one of their best displays of the season. He is vital and should continue at the back against the Red Devils.

Centre-back – Micky van de Ven: A wondergoal last time out against Copenhagen saw Van de Ven right the wrongs of his error against Chelsea last weekend. He is in good goal-scoring form and should be lined up at the back with Romero.

Left-back – Djed Spence: Destiny Udogie got the majority of the game time last time out and could very much be given a nod once more against United, but we would be backing Spence to return to the starting XI.

Pivot midfielder – Joao Palhinha: The Portuguese continues to impress for Spurs since his move. He added another goal to his tally on Tuesday, and we do not expect him to be dropped despite not featuring from the start against Copenhagen in the Champions League.

Pivot midfielder – Rodrigo Bentancur: Frank should return to his double pivot against United, as he would want to keep things tight at the back, and that should see Bentancur and Palhinha start together.

Centre midfielder – Xavi Simons: Put in his best performance in a Tottenham shirt against Copenhagen, which should do his confidence a lot of good. We expect him to build on that with yet another start.

Right winger – Mohammed Kudus: Missed the Champions League tie against Copenhagen last time out because of a knock, but he should have shaken it off and would be in line to start here.

Striker – Randal Kolo Muani: Showed glimpses of his quality during the midweek and managed an assist for Wilson Odobert’s goal. He needs game time to build his confidence, and we expect Frank to stick with him as his number nine.