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Joao Palhinha scored a stunning bicycle kick to open the scoring in Tottenham Hotspur’s Carabao Cup third round tie against Doncaster Rovers.

The League One side started the game well with two decent chances to open the deadlock and it proved to be costly in the fourteenth minute.

A corner from the left found its way into the penalty area and Palhinha who was facing his own goal, showed great composure to score with an acrobatic effort after Doncaster tried to clear their lines.

Joao Palhinha scores acrobatic goal vs Doncaster Rovers

Palhinha, who is on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich scored his first goal for Tottenham in the Premier League win against Manchester City last month.

Thomas Frank has named his Tottenham Hotspur team for the Carabao Cup third round tie against Doncaster Rovers.

The League One side make the trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this evening having beaten Accrington Stanley 2-0 in the last round.

Spurs come into the game on the back of the 2-2 draw against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday.

Frank will be keen to avoid a potential banana skin against lower league opposition and keep the strong early season momentum behind him.

What is the Tottenham team vs Doncaster Rovers?

Frank revealed in Tuesday’s pre-match press conference that Antonin Kinsky would start in goal in place of Guglielmo Vicario to give the 22-year-old his first minutes of the season.

Randal Kolo Muani and Ben Davies remain injured having both picked up small knocks which also ruled them out of the draw at Brighton.

Dominic Solanke and Kota Takai have both returned to training, but are not involved this evening, along with long-term absentees Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison.

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This is the Tottenham team that starts under the lights in North London this evening:

Who do Tottenham play next in the Premier League?

Tottenham turn their attention back to the Premier League on Saturday when pointless Wolves are the visitors to N17 in a late evening-kick-off.

Hopefully, the Spurs players can put the game against Doncaster behind them early on and bring off some of the players who are likely to be involved on Saturday to keep them relatively fresh.

Tottenham Hotspur have identified an extremely consistent La Liga midfielder as the ideal fit for their side, and they are ready to make a move in January.

Tottenham’s midfield depth has come to the fore at the start of the season, but the Lilywhites are currently short of options in the attacking midfield role.

While Pape Sarr and Lucas Bergvall have been used in the position, Xavi Simons is the only natural number ten available for Thomas Frank at the moment.

That is due to the injuries to James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, who are still a long way away from returning, and it has now emerged that Frank wants to add more creativity to his squad in the winter.

Tottenham ready to make a move for Real Sociedad star Brais Mendez

Fichajes have now claimed that Spurs have set their sights on Real Sociedad attacking midfielder Brais Mendez, who has emerged as one of the most consistent players in his position across La Liga.

His performances for club and country have allegedly caught the attention of the North London club, who see the 28-year-old as someone who would significantly improve their squad.

Mendez’s ability to move between the lines, provide goals and assists has attracted Tottenham, who are showing a ‘strong interest’ in the player.

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It is asserted that Spurs are ready to pay €40m (£35m) for the Spain international, while some sources believe that a deal can be clinched for just €30m (£26.1m).

What do Real Sociedad feel about Tottenham’s interest in Brais Mendez?

Fichajes say that Mendez is one of the Sociedad’s most important players and the club are of the belief that losing him would be a serious setback to their aspirations of European qualification.

However, given the high figure that Tottenham are potentially willing to pay, the La Liga side are expected to listen to offers for their key man in January.

A Football finance expert has warned that Daniel Levy’s exit from Tottenham Hotspur could harm the North London club, just as a high-profile exit did for another Premier League giant.

Levy left as Tottenham chairman after 24 years at the helm, and in that time, he oversaw an impressive off-pitch transformation at Spurs.

There are still question marks over his record on the footballing side, with some seeing Levy as the main reason for the club’s shortage of silverware over the last two decades.

The Lewis family have said that they want to usher in a new era of on-pitch success at Tottenham, but an expert has warned Spurs fans that it may not all be sunshine and rainbows.

Tottenham warned they could go down Man United’s road

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has said that, given the control that Levy enjoyed at Tottenham for so long, his exit may create a vacuum.

He pointed to the negative impact that David Gill’s exit had on Man United and suggested that the Lilywhites may be underestimating the ease of replacing the 63-year-old.

When asked about the impact of Levy’s exit, Maguire told TBR Football: “There is a lot of unpicking to do before Tottenham can move past the Daniel Levy way. I am always slightly concerned that when you get rid of a chief executive and your man on the shop floor in the manager as well, that can create a void.

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“You only have to look at what happened at Man United – it wasn’t just the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson; it was the fact that David Gill left at the same time. Also, as far as Ferguson was concerned, he was somewhat similar to Levy in that he ran the club as a personal fiefdom as far as the footballing side was concerned. There are similarities there.

“He was very ably supported by Gill. When they left, Man United were a rudderless ship. It might be a bit different at Spurs because they have had a much more rotational policy as far as the manager was concerned. But at the board level, they will perhaps find that they underestimate just how many things that Levy was overseeing.”

Levy’s exit had been in the pipeline for a long time

According to reports, Levy was completely blindsided by ENIC’s decision to remove him, with the former Spurs chairman only finding out his fate hours before the club’s public announcement.

However, it has been claimed by some sources that Levy’s departure from Tottenham had been in the pipeline for many months.

Journalist Dean Jones has told TEAMtalk that Tottenham Hotspur may have to battle two European giants to land Harry Kane this summer.

The speculation linking Kane with a return to Spurs has intensified over the last couple of weeks after a clause in the England captain’s contract came to light.

According to reports from Germany, Kane can leave Bayern Munich for £57m as per a clause in his contract.

However, over the last few days, an increasing number of sources have reported that Barcelona are also keen on landing Tottenham’s record goalscorer at the end of this season.

Barcelona are not the only big club after Tottenham legend Harry Kane

Journalist Dean Jones has confirmed to TEAMtalk that the Catalan giants are indeed keen on securing the 32-year-old’s services.

According to Jones, Barca see Kane as the natural heir to Robert Lewandowski when he leaves Camp Nou this summer.

He asserts that Tottenham Hotspur remain interested in re-signing the centre-forward, but they also face competition from their London rivals, Chelsea, who have held a long-term interest in the striker.

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Jones adds that there has always been a feeling in Germany that Kane may leave at the end of the 2025-25 season, and a three-horse race now appears to be developing.

What do we know about Kane’s stance on his future?

While the former Tottenham man has kept silent on his future, we have heard some interesting revelations about his plans.

According to Flashscore, sources close to Kane have made it clear that he intends to compete at the highest level for major trophies.

A new report sheds light on what it would take for Tottenham Hotspur to prise Conor Gallagher away from Atletico Madrid in January.

Spurs Web has relayed a number of reports over the last two weeks stating that Tottenham view Conor Gallagher as a perfect fit for their midfield.

However, Spurs are expected to face plenty of competition for Gallagher’s signature, with several Premier League clubs keeping an eye on his situation.

Some sources have said that Atletico Madrid may not be too keen on losing the Spurs target in January, given the difficulty in finding a replacement mid-season.

How much would Tottenham have to pay for Conor Gallagher?

Tuesday’s print edition of Mundo Deportivo (as relayed by Sport Witness) has now confirmed that prising the midfielder away from the Metropolitano Stadium will not be easy in January.

Even though Gallagher has only made two starts so far this season, it is asserted that Tottenham Hotspur may find it difficult to convince the La Liga side to sell the 25-year-old.

This is because Diego Simeone’s men see the former Chelsea man as an important squad player. It is asserted that the Colchoneros would demand €60m (£52.3m) to part ways with Gallagher.

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Gallagher’s World Cup hopes are hanging by a thread

However, Mundo Deportivo say that the England international’s prospects of forcing himself into the Atletico side are not high as he does not seem a great fit for Simeone’s side.

As a result, it is pointed out that the player is at risk of missing out on a place in the England squad for next summer’s World Cup.

Journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed what Joao Palhinha is thinking about making a permanent move to Tottenham Hotspur.

The Athletic rated Tottenham’s Palhinha deal as the best Premier League signing of the summer, and it is not hard to understand why.

Spurs secured the Portugal international on loan with an option to buy for £27m, just 12 months after Bayern spent £47m to sign him from Fulham.

Even Thomas Frank has admitted that he is surprised Bayern agreed to loan Palhinha, and the 31-year-old has fitted in seamlessly in the base of the Dane’s midfield.

What Joao Palhinha is thinking about his Tottenham future

If the midfielder continues in the same vein, it would be a no-brainer for Spurs to take up the permanent option, and it has now emerged that the player would also be in favour of that.

In fact, journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed that even back in the summer, Palhinha’s preference was to make a permanent switch to N17 rather than the temporary one, with the former Fulham man not being keen on a straight loan deal.

Jacobs told GiveMeSport: “I think the Joao Palhinha signing has been excellent for Tottenham. The original agreement had an option to buy, which is set at £27 million. That was something that both Tottenham and the player were very keen on factoring in as part of the deal.

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“Palhinha, in particular, viewed the loan as being contingent, in many ways, on having that option to buy because he would like to be permanently back in the Premier League.

“If Spurs choose to take up the option, the player will be very happy with that because he dove into the move, wanting that permanence to begin with.”

Tottenham may make Palhinha transfer decision in January

The experienced midfielder has certainly hit the ground running at N17, with no player in the Premier League making more tackles than Palhinha this season.

It has been suggested that Tottenham may not wait until the end of the season to activate the option to buy the Portuguese star.

Tottenham supporters are once again discussing the possibility of Harry Kane returning to north London, with new boss Thomas Frank opening the door to the idea of the England captain coming back to N17.

Tottenham Hotspur were once famously labelled the Harry Kane team by Pep Guardiola, only for the Manchester City manager to quickly see those words thrown back at him when Spurs proved they could compete without leaning entirely on their talisman.

Yet while Tottenham are far more than a one-man side, it is hard to deny that the void left by Kane since his move to Bayern Munich three seasons ago has not been directly filled.

Speculation around a return refuses to go away, particularly with Spurs holding a first refusal clause that allows them to match any offer for Kane in 2026, which has naturally reignited discussion about whether a reunion is on the cards.

Tottenham fans react as Thomas Frank leaves door open for Harry Kane return

The new Tottenham boss has wasted no time in signalling his willingness to welcome Kane back should the opportunity arise, with Thomas Frank making it clear when asked that the door would always be open for the club’s record goalscorer.

His stance has sparked plenty of debate among the Spurs faithful, many of whom feel the idea of Kane returning to N17 could bring both benefits and complications to the squad that Frank is shaping in his own image.

One Tottenham supporter expressed concern over history repeating itself, stating: “It would simply become the Harry Kane team and I do not think that is what we need at all. We need a younger prolific striker.” Another fan agreed, saying: “I don’t want him to return, to be honest. We need to move on.”

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Yet the counter-argument was just as strong, with another fan insisting: “Imagine Kane, Kudus, Simons and a top left winger as our frontline. I do not care that Kane is in his 30s, he can still compete at the top level.”

Others were even more emphatic, calling for the move to happen immediately, while one comment went as far as to suggest that Tottenham could win the league if Harry Kane returned: “With Kane and a good left winger at the club we win the league to be honest.”

One Spurs fan read between the lines, “Thomas Frank is not exactly putting the fire out at all!” Another simple screamed, “Get him back immediately!”

Spurs striking options after Kane exit

Tottenham have been working to reshape themselves into a more balanced side since Kane’s departure, with the emphasis on spreading the goals across the team rather than attempting to replace a player who is, in truth, irreplaceable.

That has been reflected this season, with multiple players chipping in to the goal tally, though Richarlison remains the club’s leading scorer and continues to shoulder much of the responsibility in the final third.

Tottenham Hotspur’s chances of landing Harry Kane may have increased after Daniel Levy’s exit for one very interesting reason.

According to reports, Kane’s contract has a release clause of £57m next summer, leading to speculation that the England captain may leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season.

Tottenham added a first refusal clause when they sold Kane to Bayern, which means that he will be offered to the Lilywhites first if he decides to leave the German giants.

We have heard over recent days that Kane is also wanted by Barcelona and Chelsea, but one big factor may be working in the North London club’s favour if they look to bring the striker back to the club.

Harry Kane has a very good relationship with a key Tottenham figure

The Telegraph have now pointed out that following Daniel Levy’s exit, the Lewis family are keen to usher in an era of sporting success at Tottenham and one way they may prove their ambition is by re-signing the club’s record goalscorer.

The report says that the 32-year-old’s return is now considered more likely following the exit of Levy, and that is down to one very interesting reason.

Vivienne Lewis, who is Joe Lewis’ daughter, is now one of the people calling the shots at Tottenham, and she is alleged to have a very close relationship with Kane’s family.

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In fact, when the former Spurs striker held a gender reveal party in 2020 ahead of the birth of their third child, Vivienne was one of the few invited onto the Zoom call.

Additionally, the outlet reveals that the Bayern Munich star’s favourite holiday spot is the 600-acre luxury Albany resort in the Bahamas, which is co-owned by the Lewis family and the Tavistock Group.

What Kane and Bayern are thinking about the future

According to the Telegraph, there is fear at Bayern that this could be the Tottenham legend’s final season at Munich.

However, sources close to Kane insist that he and his family are very happy in Bavaria and have refused to comment on the possibility of him leaving the club next summer.

Thomas Frank has made a very interesting comment about a Tottenham starlet ahead of the club’s Carabao Cup third round clash against Doncaster Rovers.

Tottenham Hotspur are blessed with some top talents in their academy setup at the moment, and the club will be hoping that many of those players will follow in the footsteps of Mikey Moore and make an impact in the first team.

One young man who certainly appears to be following in Moore’s footsteps is Luca Williams-Barnett, who was the standout player for Tottenham’s U18s last season, scoring 19 goals and registering nine assists in 20 appearances.

The 16-year-old has been promoted to the U21s set up this season and he has found the transition to be very simple, with Williams-Barnett netting a 39-minute hat-trick against Leicester’s U21s on Friday.

Luca Williams-Barnett has impressed Thomas Frank in Tottenham training

On the back of his hat-trick against the Foxes, the attacking midfielder already has six goals and four assists in six matches across all competitions so far for Wayne Burnett’s men.

Thomas Frank has now revealed that he and his coaching staff have been keeping an eye on the 16-year-old’s heroics in youth football and revealed that the teenager has impressed when he has trained with the senior squad.

The Tottenham head coach said about Williams-Barnett (via Football.London): “Of course, he’s been training with us, Luca, a few times and I get good info from the academy and from our transition coach, Stuart [Lewis]. So yeah, I’m well aware of Luca’s talent, and I like what I see. He’s young, obviously, but his composure and technique and vision is very good.

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“I think it’s the fine balance that he needs to play and develop somewhere where he gets pushed enough but it’s not too tough. And other times where he needs to be pushed very hard and it’s tricky for him to cope with the intensity or the physicality. So it’s just to try to strike that balance.”

Williams-Barnett could make his debut against Doncaster Rovers

Back in April, Williams-Barnett admitted that he is dreaming of playing and scoring goals for the senior Spurs side in front of a packed stadium.

The youngster may get an opportunity to do so much earlier than he expected, with Frank refusing to rule out using the teenager in this evening’s Carabao Cup clash.

When asked if Williams-Barnett could feature against Doncaster, the Dane responded: “Yeah, he’s a player that we like a lot. Let’s see tomorrow, but that could be an opportunity.”