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Tottenham Hotspur have now reportedly moved into pole position to sign a Serie A striker who has found the back of the net four times this season.

Injury issues have limited Thomas Frank’s options up front this season, with the Dane having to make do with Richarlison and Mathys Tel for almost every game.

That is perhaps why, according to reports, Tottenham are looking to add a number nine to their squad during the January transfer window.

It emerged two weeks ago that an experienced Serie A striker has been offered to Spurs and other Premier League sides ahead of January, and it turns out the Lilywhites may have an advantage in the transfer race.

Fabio Paratici’s return puts Tottenham in pole position to sign Dusan Vlahovic

The player in question is Dusan Vlahovic, who is reportedly wanted by Tottenham and Chelsea, and is thought to be on the radar of other big clubs across Europe.

A new update in TEAMtalk has now claimed that, alongside Spurs and Chelsea, Vlahovic is also on the radar of Man United.

However, the outlet reveals that Paratici’s return to Tottenham as sporting director gives the North Londoners the upper hand over their rivals in the race for the Juventus striker.

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The Italian has good connections at his former club, and it is suggested that he can use his ties at the Bianconeri to push through a deal for the Serbian.

What is Juventus’ stance on Dusan Vlahovic?

TEAMtalk point out that the former Fiorentina man, who has scored 62 goals and provided 15 assists in 154 matches for Juve, is now into the final year of his contract.

Vlahovic can sign a pre-contract agreement with non-Italian clubs in January, but the Serie A giants are said to be keen to get a fee for him in the upcoming transfer window.

The publication alleges that an offer of around €15m (£13m) could be enough to prise Vlahovic away from the Allianz Stadium.

Tottenham Hotspur have made yet another big appointment, poaching an experienced official from the City Group.

There have been plenty of changes to the Tottenham structure since the summer, with the headline act being the departure of Daniel Levy after 24 years as Spurs chairman.

Just last week, Tottenham announced that Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange will be joining as sporting directors at the club.

Following that announcement, Spurs have now appointed another experienced official, who will be working under the pair.

Tottenham have announced on their official website that they have appointed Dan Lewindon as the club’s new Performance Director.

Lewindon will arrive from the City Group after serving his notice period, and he is expected to be in charge of the medical, sports science, nutrition and psychology departments across both the men’s and women’s sides at N17.

The newcomer is qualified as a physiotherapist from Nottingham University and has extensive experience in sport, having worked with the Northampton Saints rugby team, England Rugby, and the Lawn Tennis Association, before moving to football.

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He has been working as the City Group’s Director of Player Health and Performance since August 2022.

Johan Lange reacts to the new Spurs appointment

The club’s new sporting director, Johan Lange, has expressed his delight at being able to bring Lewindon on board.

The Dane referenced his vast experience across different high-performance environments as his strength and revealed that he was the clear standout candidate for the role at Hotspur Way.

Lange said: “We are delighted that Dan will be joining us as Performance Director. He was the standout candidate and brings a wealth of experience across a wide range of team and individual sports, working in high-performance environments with elite athletes.

“Dan also has a strong academic background, and his expertise will be hugely beneficial to us as we drive this area of the Club with innovative thinking. We look forward to Dan starting.”

Fabio Paratici has added the name of a striker with eight goals already this season to Tottenham’s January wishlist.

Regular readers of Spurs Web will be aware that an increasing number of reports now claim that Tottenham are looking to add a number nine to their squad during the January transfer window.

While that may come as a surprise, given that Spurs have Richarlison, Mathys Tel, Randal Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke in their squad, the latter two have had injury issues, while Kolo Muani is only on loan.

It emerged two weeks ago that Tottenham are keeping an eye on a 21-year-old Spanish striker, and it has now been revealed who is driving the North London club’s interest in the player.

Fabio Paratici will lead Tottenham’s pursuit of Samu Aghehowa

The Tottenham target in question is Samu Aghehowa, who has found the back of the net eight times already this season on the back of scoring 27 goals in his first campaign with the Portuguese club.

TBR Football now claim that Paratici, who has returned to Tottenham as the sporting director, is a big fan of Aghehowa.

The report states that the Italian has added the former Atletico Madrid man’s name to Spurs’ January shopping list in one of his first acts as sporting director.

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The outlet suggests that the 53-year-old is now expected to lead Tottenham’s pursuit of the Porto man in the upcoming transfer window.

What is Porto’s stance on Spurs target Aghehowa?

The report confirms that the 21-year-old has a release clause of £87m in his Porto contract, which potentially poses a stumbling block for Thomas Frank’s men.

However, despite rejecting Newcastle’s advances for Aghehowa in the summer, the Portuguese club may be prepared to sell him for a fee much less than his release clause in January.

This is because Porto have reportedly run into some financial trouble and need to raise cash through player sales.

Tottenham could be without as many as ten first-team players ahead of their crucial Champions League tie against AS Monaco.

Tottenham Hotspur are currently camped outside the automatic qualification places in the Champions League league phase table.

Two matches have been played, but given how competitive the competition is, Tottenham need to start putting points on the board to avoid slipping further behind.

Last time out in Europe, Spurs were held to a 2-2 draw by Bodo/Glimt, as they had to dig deep and come from behind in the Arctic Circle.

Tottenham will now be hoping to record their second win on the international stage when they travel to France to face AS Monaco, a side that drew last time out with Manchester City.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank battling major injury troubles

Thomas Frank, however, goes into the cup tie with several injury concerns to contend with following the latest setbacks among his defensive ranks.

Cristian Romero is nursing a minor abductor problem, while Destiny Udogie missed the clash against Aston Villa due to irritation in his knee.

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That leaves Frank short at the back, with Radu Dragusin, Ben Davies, and Takai also sidelined and unavailable for selection.

The situation could hardly have come at a worse time, as Spurs look to build momentum both domestically and in Europe.

Spurs’ Champions League squad limitations add to Frank’s headache

Frank was unable to register a full 25-man squad for the Champions League, leaving him naturally short of options for rotation.

Mathys Tel missed out on Frank’s Champions League squad, while Dejan Kulusevski, Yves Bissouma, and James Maddison were also among those left out, and given their ongoing injury problems, Frank would have still been left short.

The Dane will likely stick with the same back line he deployed against Aston Villa, with Pedro Porro, Kevin Danso, Micky van de Ven, and Djed Spence expected to form the rearguard once again.

But with options at the back few, Tottenham would be hoping that their defenders do not pick up any more injuries, as games are set to come thick and fast in the coming weeks.

A set of statistics have been released which show that Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur hinder the team when they start together for Tottenham Hotspur.

Tottenham Hotspur have failed to secure a victory in four of their past six matches, causing unrest amongst the club’s supporters.

Although Spurs are sixth in the Premier League table, recent performances have been a cause for concern. This was particularly true on Sunday as Tottenham were defeated 2-1 by an Aston Villa side who had only taken nine points from seven Premier League matches up to that point.

Spurs took the lead in the fifth minute, and it was Rodrigo Bentancur who found the net. However, his midfield partnership with Joao Palhinha has been called into question due to claims that it is obstructing the team from getting forward.

The Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha link-up is holding Tottenham back

Palhinha has become a relatively popular figure at Tottenham since his arrival on loan from Bayern Munich. This should come as no surprise, considering he has already scored three times in all competitions, while also displaying his defensive qualities.

Bentancur, on the other hand, has been criticised for his backwards and sideways passing and consistently choosing the safe option instead of attempting to create chances.

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However, both players have come under fire when they are played alongside each other. DribLab have released a set of stats covering all competitions, which shows how badly the Bentancur and Palhinha midfield pairing is affecting Spurs.

When the duo are playing together, Tottenham have less possession and have lower expected goals and expected threat tallies. Further to this, Spurs concede more goals per 90 minutes when both players are on the pitch, land fewer shots on target and do not have as many touches in the opposition box.

Thomas Frank needs to make Spurs braver

Thomas Frank has exercised caution at Tottenham, and this strategy has worked well in some matches. However, when his team are not dominating against the likes of Wolves and Bodo/Glimt, there is a serious problem.

The Danish boss must understand that the expectations at Spurs are vastly different to those at Brentford. As the club’s motto says, to dare is to do, and his team needs to show a lot more bravery. In order to make this happen, Frank must consider replacing Bentancur with a more attacking-minded player such as Lucas Bergvall or Pape Matar Sarr.

The stats do not lie, and they paint an ugly picture for Palhinha and Bentancur. To continue starting the midfield pairing together risks continuing a run of cagey and uninspiring Tottenham performances.

The Tottenham players have been spotted on the training pitches at Hotspur Way this morning as Thomas Frank prepares his side for their UEFA Champions League tie against AS Monaco.

AS Monaco await Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur at the Stade Louis II in France for match day three of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday evening.

The French side head into the clash on the back of a commanding 5-2 victory over Metz in Ligue 1, a result that will no doubt boost their confidence ahead of Spurs’ visit.

Tottenham, meanwhile, have struggled to find consistency at home after a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, but Frank’s men remain unbeaten away from home, which could provide a quiet sense of belief within the camp.

Monaco come into the match under new management, having sacked Adi Hutter during the international break and appointed former Royale Union Saint-Gilloise boss Sebastien Pocognoli.

Which Spurs players trained ahead of Monaco match?

Thomas Frank and his backroom staff were seen putting the Tottenham first-team squad through their paces at Hotspur Way as preparations continue for their trip to the Stade Louis II to face Monaco.

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Several players were spotted in first-team training as Spurs gear up for the European encounter, while there were also some absentees.

Among the absentees were captain Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie.

Among those involved in the session were Guglielmo Vicario, Antonin Kinsky, Pedro Porro, Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso, Djed Spence, Radu Dragusin, Jun’ai Byfield, Lucas Bergvall, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr, Archie Gray, Joao Palhinha, Xavi Simons, Richarlison, Mathys Tel, Brennan Johnson, Dane Scarlett, Richarlison Wilson Odobert, Mohammed Kudus and Randal Kolo Muani.

There will be no reunion for a former player after Eric Dier was ruled out of the match due to a muscular injury.

Spurs are back in Champions League action this week, with a tie against AS Monaco. Here’s how to watch the clash between Tottenham and Monaco.

Tottenham Hotspur’s focus is set to turn to UEFA Champions League football, following their recent defeat at the hands of Aston Villa.

Thomas Frank would be hoping for a positive response from his players in Europe as they look to maintain their unbeaten run on the international stage.

Spurs’ last tie in the Champions League left a lot to be desired after they struggled to secure a victory over Bodo/Glimt, instead playing out a 2-2 draw in the Arctic Circle.

When and where is the game?

Tottenham face AS Monaco at Stade Louis-II on Wednesday, 22 October 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 (UK time).

How to watch Tottenham vs Monaco in the UK

Supporters in the United Kingdom can watch Tottenham vs Monaco live on TNT Sports 3.

Tottenham and Monaco team news

Both sides have fitness worries heading into this clash, with Tottenham and Monaco each sweating over key players.

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Dominic Solanke is still a doubt, while Cristian Romero faces a race against time after picking up an abductor injury. Destiny Udogie also remains a doubt, having missed the Villa game due to a knock.

Monaco is also without several key men. Goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky is sidelined with a knee problem until early November, while Christian Mawissa and Vanderson are both out with hamstring injuries, expected to keep them out until late October.

Eric Dier is dealing with a muscle injury that will rule him out for a few weeks, and Denis Zakaria, along with Lamine Camara, are set to miss action until late November due to groin and ankle issues respectively.

Paul Pogba remains unavailable with a thigh problem, though he is expected to return before the end of the month.

Spurs Web prediction for Tottenham vs Monaco

While Thomas Frank will be looking to secure a much-needed win, Monaco are no pushovers, having held Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to a 2-2 draw in their previous Champions League outing.

The French side also has a decent record against Tottenham, having won three of the five meetings between the two clubs, with Spurs managing just one win and another ending in a draw.

Monaco also heads into this tie full of confidence after their 5-2 victory over Metz in Ligue 1, and they will be eager to carry that momentum into Europe.

Frank will need his side to be sharper and more composed than they were at Villa Park if they are to secure a result in France, as lapses in concentration could once again prove costly.

Tottenham’s struggles at home continue to raise questions, with Troy Deeney offering a blunt assessment of what he believes to be the club’s £1billion problem.

Spurs’ record at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been dismal to say the least, with Tottenham winning just one of their four league fixtures this season.

It is a poor run and one that stretches all the way back to last season, with Tottenham winning just three of their last 18 home league games.

Aston Villa compounded Spurs’ home worries once more at the weekend after beating Thomas Frank’s side 2-1, coming from behind to do so.

Troy Deeney highlights the problem with Tottenham’s stadium being so nice

Following Spurs‘ recent defeat, former Premier League striker Troy Deeney has now shed light on Tottenham’s ongoing issues at home, suggesting that their state-of-the-art ground has ironically become a disadvantage.

Speaking on BBC’s Match of the Day, Deeney pointed out that last season’s focus on European football was used as a reason for their inconsistencies, but those problems have now seeped into the current campaign.

Deeney said: “Last year, obviously, they were concentrating on Europe, which was the excuse, but what happens is that it starts to bleed into this year. Now, you’ve got to try to stem the tide and try to make it a fortress.

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“The problem is, it’s such a nice ground that everyone enjoys going there, so when you have those moments to put the ball in the box and make it nervous, they’ve got to do that and they’ve got to kill teams.”

Thomas Frank must solve Spurs’ home woes

Thomas Frank is very well aware of Spurs’ abysmal record at home soild and has stated that it is something he is actively trying to fix.

It does indeed need fixing, with Tottenham already boasting one of the worst records at home this term, as they are currently ranked 17th on home form.

In fact, only bottom-of-the-table sides Wolves, West Ham United, and Nottingham Forest have a worse home record than the Lilywhites.

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to bounce back in Europe following a disappointing home defeat against Aston Villa, as Thomas Frank prepares his side for a testing trip to France against AS Monaco. Let’s take a look at our predicted Tottenham XI to face AS Monaco.

Tottenham Hotspur’s poor home form continues, with Frank’s men having suffered yet another defeat on home turf against Aston Villa.

Attention, however, now turns to continental affairs, with Spurs resuming their UEFA Champions League league phase campaign on matchday three.

An away trip to AS Monaco in France is on the agenda, and Thomas Frank will be hoping his players can rise to the occasion and respond strongly following their weekend setback.

We have now attempted to predict how Frank could set up his team for this crucial fixture.

Predicted Tottenham XI vs Monaco

Goalkeeper – Guglielmo Vicario: The Italian conceded two goals at the weekend, and questions will continue to be asked about his shot-stopping from range, but we expect Frank to stick with one of his leaders.

Right-back – Pedro Porro: Tottenham are a little short in defence, making rotation almost impossible at the back, so Porro should keep his spot.

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Centre-back – Kevin Danso: It remains touch and go with Cristian Romero, and that could see Danso continue at centre-back following his start against Aston Villa.

Centre-back – Micky van de Ven: The Dutchman has been ever-present at the back in both Champions League and Premier League fixtures this season, and we expect Frank to stick with him, given the manager’s lack of options.

Left-back – Djed Spence: Destiny Udogie missed out against Villa because of an irritation to his knee, and if he is not fit for Wednesday’s clash, Spence should continue on the left.

Pivot midfielder – Joao Palhinha: The Portuguese midfielder grabbed an assist against Villa but did little to prevent their two long-range efforts. He has been solid this season and should keep his place as one of the pivots.

Centre midfielder – Lucas Bergvall: Frank could go with more energy and attacking intent given Spurs’ lack of effort up top, and that could see Bergvall come in for Rodrigo Bentancur, bringing more running and dynamism.

Centre midfielder – Pape Matar Sarr: Playing Xavi Simons down the middle for Tottenham has not exactly gone to plan in recent weeks, and that could mark the return of Sarr, who has goals in his game.

Right winger – Mohammed Kudus: It was not the best of games from Kudus last time out, and Frank will be hoping it was just a blip, as he will need the Ghana international back to his best against Monaco.

Striker – Richarlison: Mathys Tel failed to impress last time out against Aston Villa and has not been registered in Frank’s Champions League squad, leaving Richarlison and Mauni as his options. We expect the Brazil international to get the nod.

After a disappointing outing in the Premier League at the weekend, Tottenham Hotspur turn their attention to the Champions League as they face Monaco away in their third match of the competition.

Questions were asked of that Tottenham Hotspur performance in their latest 1-2 defeat to Aston Villa at home, where, despite Rodrigo Bentancur giving Spurs the lead early on, Villa scored two world-class goals to snatch all three points in North London. It further worsened an already poor home record for Tottenham.

However, that was only Thomas Frank’s second defeat of the season, and he remains unbeaten in the two Champions League games they’ve played so far. After a narrow 1-0 win over Villarreal on the opening day, Spurs found themselves two goals down against Bodo/Glimt in the Arctic Circle before fighting back to draw 2-2.

Sitting ninth in the Champions League standings and sixth in the Premier League, Frank’s side are far from what you’d call an unimpressive start.

It’s a similar story for the home side. Monaco currently sit seventh in Ligue 1 after a string of frustrating results, drawing their last three games, including a 1-1 draw against 17th-placed Angers at the weekend.

In Europe, they are winless after suffering a 4-1 defeat to Club Brugge on the opening day before former Spurs man Eric Dier rescued a 2-2 draw against Manchester City in their second group game.

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What time does Monaco vs Tottenham Hotspur kick off?

Location: Monaco

Stadium: Stade Louis II

Date: Wednesday, 22 October 2025

Kick-off time: 8 pm BST

Referee: Marco Guida

VAR: Aleandro Di Paolo

Monaco vs Tottenham Hotspur: Head-to-head record

These two sides have met four times in European competition, with Monaco winning twice, Spurs once, and one draw. The last time they faced each other was back in 2016 in this very competition, when Monaco won both matches 2-1. A year earlier, though, Spurs had beaten them 4-1 in the Europa League.

Tottenham Champions League team news

Captain Cristian Romero was pulled out of the starting XI against Aston Villa just minutes before kick-off due to an injury in the warm-up. Thomas Frank later clarified that it was a minor adductor issue Romero had been nursing for a while, and he’s unsure if the Argentine defender will be fit for this game, although we believe he is likely to sit out.

Destiny Udogie was also absent from the matchday squad vs Villa as he returned from international duty with a minor irritation in his knee, and we expect further clarification on his availability in Frank’s press conference on Tuesday.

On the brighter side, Randal Kolo Muani got some minutes against Villa after spending time sidelined, while Ben Davies remains a doubt.

Most of Tottenham’s long-term absentees aren’t part of their Champions League squad anyway, with Dominic Solanke the only confirmed absentee from that list.

Monaco team news

Monaco will be without former Spurs man Eric Dier, who many Tottenham fans were hoping to see in action. He’s joined on the sidelines by first-choice goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky, Christian Mawissa, and Vanderson, although the latter two are nearing a return.

In midfield, Denis Zakaria, Lamine Camara, and World Cup winner Paul Pogba are also expected to miss this clash. It’s a fairly injury-hit Monaco side that will host Spurs at the Stade Louis II.

Predicted Tottenham line-up

Vicario, Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Spence, Palhinha, Bergvall, Sarr, Kudus, Richarlison, Johnson

If Udogie is declared fit, he could come in for either Pedro Porro or Djed Spence. Joao Palhinha, who played the full 90 against Villa and was the standout performer, could also slot into midfield.

Up front, it’s a 50-50 between Richarlison and Kolo Muani, though Frank could also opt to play Kolo Muani on the left instead of Brennan Johnson.

Our prediction

Given how many of Monaco’s starters aren’t available for this fixture, Sebastien Pocognoli will have no option but to stuff in more youngsters in an already young team.

With the absence of a leader like Eric Dier, it’s hard to see them winning against a Spurs side desperate to turn things around after that Villa defeat.

A win here could see Spurs climb up to the automatic round of 16 qualification spots, easing the pressure ahead of tougher fixtures to come against PSG and Borussia Dortmund. That’s why we expect Thomas Frank’s men to get the job done.