Spurs Web

It was a very busy international break for many Tottenham stars, the majority of whom were involved in World Cup qualification action across different parts of the globe.

Thomas Frank and his coaching staff would be hoping that his entire Spurs squad returns from the break unscathed, and at this point, there do not appear to be any additional injury concerns.

Cristian Romero was suspended for Argentina’s clash against Ecuador, which meant that the Tottenham defender returned to Hotspur Way early.

However, a number of players have been in action over the last 48 hours, thus potentially giving Frank things to ponder over ahead of the London derby against West Ham in a few days.

Total minutes for each Tottenham player during the international break

The one positive for Spurs is that among the 18 players who were on international duty over the last week and a half, only two players played 180 minutes of football.

That was Rodrigo Bentancur for Uruguay and Ben Davies for Wales, while Mohammed Kudus also had a heavy workload, playing 166 minutes for Ghana across two matches.

Pedro Porro played a total of 152 minutes for Spain, starting both games, while Micky van de Ven got 118 minutes of football in his legs as a left-back across the two games for the Netherlands.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Will this impact Thomas Frank’s selection decision?

Frank will be relatively pleased with the fact that many of his key players were not run into the ground during the international break.

The only concern for the Dane might be Bentancur, who had a long travel to South America and completed both matches, including the intense 0-0 draw with Chile on Tuesday.

New analysis has revealed that two Tottenham Hotspur stars perform better at home than they do away in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur have an abundance of attacking talent this season, with a variety of traits and attributes across their frontline that make each player unique.

Thomas Frank will no doubt be delighted by this, as it provides him with a wide range of options to turn to in different game states and tactical scenarios, allowing for greater flexibility across competitions.

Already this season, we have seen Mohammed Kudus and Brennan Johnson regularly occupy the wide positions, but a new statistic has shed light on an intriguing detail about two Tottenham wingers.

Tottenham wingers among top five for home advantage

This report comes from Ticket-Compare, who carried out an analysis of performance data that reveals which current Premier League players tend to perform better at home compared to away fixtures.

According to their findings, Tottenham’s Wilson Odobert ranks fourth on the list, with his performance improving by an average of 6.10% when playing at home compared to away. His Sofascore rating goes from 6.71 away to 7.12 on home ground.

Completing the top five is another Tottenham player, Brennan Johnson, who records a 6.08% rise from a 6.51 rating away to 6.91 at home, underlining his stronger displays at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

MORE SPURS STORIES

The study used player and team ratings from Sofascore across the 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons, comparing home and away performances across the Premier League, before averaging and calculating the percentage differences.

Spurs home and away performance compared

Interestingly, Tottenham’s summer transfer target Savinho ranks first among players who see their performance improve at home, recording the biggest rise in average rating when playing in front of his own fans, moving from 7.11 away to 7.58 at home – a 6.59% increase.

However, Tottenham as a club also fall into the category of teams that perform better at home than away, ranking ninth in the league for this particular metric, showing a consistent trend across several seasons.

One Spurs defender is attracting interest from Real Madrid, causing Tottenham Hotspur to take action.

Micky van de Ven has been a crucial first team player since making the move from Wolfsburg to Tottenham Hotspur. His agility and pace, coupled with defensive attributes, have made the Dutchman one of the best defenders in the Premier League.

Brennan Johnson is remembered as the hero of the Europa League final, but had it not been for van de Ven’s goal line clearance late in the game, Spurs might not have sealed the victory. van de Ven has revealed Tottenham supporters still thank him for his vital contribution, which is surely his greatest moment at the club up to this point.

The longer van de Ven is around in N17, the better. Therefore, Spurs fans will be delighted that van de Ven hopes to be Cristian Romero’s centre-back partner at Tottenham for a long time. However, news has emerged that Real Madrid are interested in the 24-year–old, a move which would be difficult to turn down.

Tottenham want to tie Micky van de Ven down to a new contract

Van de Ven is contracted at Spurs until 2029, but TBR Football report that the North London club are ready to recognise the progress he has made since joining.

As a result, Tottenham are looking to double van de Ven’s wages in order to keep him happy. They are aware of interest from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Chelsea, so Vinai Venkatesham is ready to begin talks with van de Ven about the prospect of an improved deal which is more in line with his market value.

Van de Ven is currently on £50,000 per year, so this would likely make him the fifth highest earner at the club, narrowly behind Dejan Kulusevski. However, the Netherlands international would still be earning far less than Cristian Romero, who is on £195,000 per week.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Micky van de Ven would be difficult for Spurs to replace

There is something unique about van de Ven as a central defender. Some similarities could be drawn between Romero and those behind him in the pecking order, but no one else at Spurs can offer what van de Ven does.

Even if Real Madrid or another team were to place a bid amounting to £100m or more, it is difficult to see why Tottenham would even consider van de Ven leaving North London.

It is good they are recognising his brilliance by offering an improved wage, but regardless of whether he accepts or not, there is no reason to listen to offers in the immediate future.

Tottenham Hotspur are set for a heated London derby clash with West Ham this weekend, and all eyes will be on new signing Xavi Simons as he looks to make his first start under Thomas Frank. Let’s take a look at our predicted Tottenham XI to face West Ham United.

Tottenham Hotspur would be looking to get the better of their London rivals at the London Stadium when the two lock horns in matchweek three.

For Thomas Frank and several other new arrivals, this will be their first taste of the fixture, with many more heated derbies certain to follow over the course of the campaign.

Frank will be hoping to secure three points against the Hammers, especially with his first Champions League fixture with Tottenham looming the following week. Let us now see how Thomas Frank could line up this weekend.

Tottenham vs West Ham predicted xi as Xavi Simons makes debut

Goalkeeper – Guglielmo Vicario: The Italian has been one of Tottenham’s standout performers, keeping two clean sheets in their opening three games while also making the most saves of any goalkeeper in the division, so he should continue in goal.

Right-back – Pedro Porro: Underlying numbers have revealed that Porro has been dribbled past more than any other player so far, highlighting a need for improvement, but he is still expected to keep his place on the right.

Centre-back – Cristian Romero: The Argentine returned early from international duty after missing Argentina’s second fixture during the break due to suspension, and he should be fully ready to feature against West Ham.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Centre-back – Micky van de Ven: Rotation could be on the cards with the Champions League returning on Tuesday, but van de Ven could still start in this derby clash.

Left-back – Djed Spence: Fresh from his England debut, Spence could be thrown straight back into the line-up at the weekend despite Destiny Udogie returning to fitness.

Pivot midfielder – Joao Palhinha: A major addition for Tottenham, Palhinha is no stranger to Premier League battles, but this will be his first London derby in a Spurs shirt, and he is likely to start.

Pivot midfielder – Rodrigo Bentancur: Frank has shown his faith in the Uruguayan in two of the opening three league fixtures, and Bentancur could continue in the pivot role once more this weekend.

Centre-midfielder – Xavi Simons: A first start looks to be on the cards for Simons, who joined Spurs two weeks ago. The 22-year-old featured during the international break for the Netherlands and returned injury-free, giving him the match sharpness needed to make his debut.

Right midfielder – Mohammed Kudus: The Ghana international is set to line up against his former club for the first time since leaving West Ham. Kudus has featured in all three league games for Tottenham so far and is expected to continue.

Striker – Richarlison: The Brazilian did not register a goal contribution in Tottenham’s 1-0 defeat last time out, but with Randal Kolo Muani still awaiting his debut and Dominic Solanke building fitness, Richarlison looks set to lead the line once again.

Tottenham return from the international break with a huge Premier League test against London rivals West Ham United, as Thomas Frank looks to get Spurs back to winning ways. Here’s how to watch the clash between Tottenham and West Ham.

Tottenham Hotspur’s international break curse, one that has haunted them since 2023, showed no signs of disappearing, with Thomas Frank unable to prevent it from striking again.

A 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth in matchweek three put an abrupt end to what could have been a flawless start to the campaign, as Spurs’ chance to make it three wins from three slipped away.

Now, with the pause in fixtures behind them, attention swiftly turns back to Premier League action, where Tottenham must navigate a tricky London derby against West Ham United, who come into the clash with renewed confidence after dismantling Nottingham Forest 3-0.

When and where is the game?

The clash between Tottenham and West Ham United will be staged at the London Stadium on Saturday, 13 September 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 17:30 (UK time).

How to watch Tottenham vs West Ham in the UK

Supporters in the UK can follow the action live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR, with full coverage beginning ahead of the evening kick-off.

Tottenham and West Ham team news

West Ham are managing a couple of concerns going into this game. George Earthy remains a doubt with a knock, while Luis Guilherme is sidelined until mid-October with a broken collarbone.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Tottenham have their own issues, with Dejan Kulusevski ruled out until early November due to a knee injury, while James Maddison faces a lengthy spell out with a cruciate ligament problem that keeps him sidelined until mid-February 2026.

Radu Dragusin is also unavailable with a cruciate ligament injury, though he is expected to return by mid-October.

There are additional doubts over Dominic Solanke, Kota Takai and Yves Bissouma, all of whom are nursing knocks and could face late assessments to determine their availability.

Spurs Web prediction for Tottenham and West Ham

Tottenham will approach this clash determined to put right their slip against Bournemouth, yet the challenge will not be simple, given the hostile atmosphere and West Ham’s growing confidence.

Graham Potter’s side will aim to use the home crowd to their advantage and build momentum after their dominant win against Nottingham Forest, particularly after a shaky start that saw them concede eight goals in two matches.

Despite those factors, Spurs remain the stronger side on form, and with Thomas Frank eager to lay down a statement in a London derby, we would back Tottenham to edge this contest.

Tottenham Hotspur once broke their transfer record to sign Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon, a midfielder who was tipped to transform their team, but where is the Frenchman now?

Tottenham Hotspur have never been the type of club to consistently throw huge sums of money around in the market, yet on rare occasions, they have gone all in when a player seemed too good to ignore.

One such moment arrived in the aftermath of their incredible Champions League run to the final in Madrid, a night that ended in heartbreak with a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.

That summer, Spurs splashed out £63 million to sign Olympique Lyonnais midfielder Tanguy Ndombele, making him the most expensive player in the club’s history at the time. But where exactly is Ndombele now?

Tanguy Ndombele’s career path after Tottenham

Ndombele’s spell at Tottenham was nowhere near what the club would have expected when they secured his signature at 22 years of age. For a player who arrived with such raw talent and technical promise, he never quite lived up to his potential.

Across five years in north London, he made 91 appearances in all competitions and scored 10 goals, yet his impact was inconsistent, and his lack of intensity without the ball often drew criticism.

After falling out of favour in north London, Ndombele made a temporary return to Lyon in January 2022, featuring 15 times and scoring once, though it was clear that his Spurs career was heading towards its conclusion.

MORE SPURS STORIES

He then spent the 2022-2023 campaign on loan at Napoli, where he was part of the squad that stormed to their first Serie A title in over three decades, contributing 40 appearances and two goals across all competitions.

His next stop was Turkey with Galatasaray for the 2023-2024 season, where he played 26 times, and although his individual numbers were modest, he left with a league winner’s medal and the Turkish Super Cup in his collection.

He has since played 25 games for Nice in the 2024-2025 season, netting twice. However, injuries, including a sports hernia and a groin issue that required surgery, cut his season short.

Has Tanguy Ndombele revived his career since leaving Spurs?

A player once valued at £64 million now holds a TransferMarkt value of €7 million (£6 million), underlining just how far his stock has fallen.

The Frenchman has not played for his country since March 2021, leaving him capped at just seven senior appearances, and while he has lifted silverware in Italy and Turkey, he has never truly nailed down a permanent starting role at any of his clubs since leaving Spurs.

Now 28, Ndombele looks to have his home at Nice, where he has featured consistently for Franck Haise. However, a recent injury has left him sidelined, with a return date pencilled for later this month.

Tottenham midfielder Pape Sarr has decided to do something heartwarming with his international match bonuses after scoring two for Senegal this week.

In a day and age where footballers, rightly or wrongly, have a reputation as being prima donnas and arrogant, Sarr is cut from a different cloth.

The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder is always playing with a smile and is a complete team man, happy to play in any position and willing to run through a brick wall for his side.

It turns out that the 22-year-old is also setting an example to his fellow professionals off the pitch by donating some of his earnings to charitable causes.

Pape Sarr’s classy charity work for orphaned children

According to Football.London, Sarr has decided to donate the bonuses he gets while playing for Senegal to help the orphaned children back in his country.

The bonuses he receives for his two appearances during the current international break will be donated to the National Office for the Pupils of the Nation (ONPN), a public institution that supports orphans of the armed forces and other victims who died in service to Senegal.

Sarr will be rounding out the amount he earned in bonuses to around 5million CFA francs (£6,600) to be donated to the children in his homeland.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Additionally, the report reveals that the Tottenham man runs the Pape Matar Sarr Foundation in Senegal, which helps youngsters push for better education, sports and health for the future generation.

Football.London explain that through his foundation, Sarr has visited orphanages and spoken to government officials to discuss key social and educational development issues.

He also ensured the distribution of food kits to families in his childhood neighbourhood, and the youngster is hopeful that other footballers will follow his lead.

When asked about his charitable contributions, Sarr said: “These are children who need our support because they no longer have their parents by their side.

“I have made a commitment to them, and I will do my best to ensure they lack nothing. This is only a small gesture. Others will certainly follow through my foundation. In the meantime, I hope this small gesture can bring relief to some of them.”

Dutch pundit Valentijn Driessen says Micky van de Ven has a clear weakness, urging Ronald Koeman to drop the Tottenham star from the team.

Almost all of Van de Ven’s 12 caps for the Netherlands have come at left-back, which speaks to the world-class options that Koeman has in central defence.

Virgil van Dijk partnered Jan Paul van Hecke, who is incidentally a target for Tottenham, at centre-back in the 1-1 draw against Poland, while the Liverpool man played alongside Stefan de Vrij in the heart of the Dutch defence against Lithuania.

While the Tottenham Hotspur man played at left-back against the Poles, Nathan Ake got the nod to start against Lithuania, but Driessen does not believe either of those players should be playing at full-back.

Calls to drop Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven from Netherlands XI

Driessen has said that while he is a fan of Van de Ven and the attributes he brings, the 24-year-old is not a natural at left-back.

He named Burnley’s summer signing Quilindschy Hartman and Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber as better fits for that role.

When asked if the Spurs defender is the best option for left-back, Driessen said (via Soccer News): “The ultimate left back plays at Burnley. That’s Hartman. He’s the best left back, but he’ll have a few months to get back to his old level.

MORE SPURS STORIES

“Then I think he’s the best left back on the Dutch national team. Jurriën Timber played there too. If you don’t play him in the centre, you can put him at left back. Van de Ven has a lot of energy, speed, and strength. He can run really fast to the byline, and then he doesn’t know what to do. That’s a problem.”

Why Thomas Frank may not like to see Van de Ven at left-back

Thomas Frank has said he has drafted a plan to ensure Tottenham do not have an injury crisis this season, and one would imagine that involves lowering the training load and minutes for certain players.

Van de Ven is one of the players whose workload Frank and his staff will have to carefully consider, given the former Wolfsburg man’s history of hamstring injuries.

That is why there may be some concerns at Spurs that he is being used at left-back for his national side, with the position requiring a lot more sprints up and down the field than the centre-back role.

Rio Ferdinand has delivered a major verdict on Tottenham Hotspur defender Djed Spence, with the Manchester United legend tipping him for a big role in the England setup.

The last year has been a big one for Tottenham Hotspur’s Djed Spence, who has had to work tirelessly to revive his career after several setbacks following his move to north London.

Once well down the pecking order under Antonio Conte, Spence has turned his fortunes around, becoming a key part of Tottenham’s squad and playing his role in helping the Lilywhites secure Europa League glory.

That hard work and resilience have now been rewarded, as Djed Spence has earned his first England cap after being called up by Thomas Tuchel during the international break.

Rio Ferdinand backs Spence for key England role

Rio Ferdinand has now shared his thoughts on Djed Spence and where he believes the Tottenham defender fits in this current England squad.

Speaking on the player’s development, Ferdinand insisted that Spence is good enough to take on the Kyle Walker role thanks to his versatility and his ability to dominate in defensive situations.

“He is the number one one v one defender in the England squad right now, no one comes near him,” Ferdinand said, speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Asked whether he would still start Kyle Walker, he added: “If you are going to play three centre backs I would. But if you are not going to have three centre-backs, I would not.

“I think Djed Spence is now prime and ready to take over the Kyle Walker role. He can play right-back, left-back, and if you had to play three at the back, he could slot in at right centre back because he is so quick he can cover everything.”

Tottenham set England record thanks to Djed Spence debut

Djed Spence has now become the 80th England international from Tottenham to represent the Three Lions, making Spurs the club with the most England internationals in history.

He is also the first Muslim Englishman to represent England, which marks a personal milestone that he will undoubtedly take pride in as he continues his journey at the highest level.

Tottenham have had plenty of global superstars over the years, from Gareth Bale to Luka Modric and Harry Kane, but they may have another on their hands.

On the back of an outstanding season on loan at Belgian side Westerlo last season, Luka Vuskovic made his senior debut for Croatia aged just 18 in the summer.

That shows how highly the youngster is thought of back in his home country, and there is also a lot of excitement at Spurs about Vuskovic on the back of his impressive showing in pre-season.

Vuskovic has joined Hamburg on a season-long loan deal and is still waiting for his debut for the Bundesliga club, and the youngster will be hoping that he can make a big impact in German football.

Luka Vuskovic backed to evolve into Croatia’s next superstar

Vuskovic has set his sights on becoming a first-team fixture at Tottenham, and in order to do that, he will have to catch the eye of Thomas Frank and his coaching staff with his performances in Hamburg.

Former Hamburg and Croatia forward Mladen Petric has admitted that he is very excited to see how the teenager will do in the newly promoted Bundesliga club, and he revealed that the Spurs man reminds him of a young Josko Gvardiol.

When asked about the centre-back, Petric told BILD (as relayed by Sport Witness): “Luka is a pretty hot prospect, one of the top talents in Croatia. He reminds me of the young Josko Gvardiol, who now plays for Manchester City. Vuskovic could become the next superstar in our country.

MORE SPURS STORIES

“I’m curious to see how quickly Luka settles into his role as defensive leader at HSV, leading the team from the back. That could take a while. He’s definitely an asset to my former team. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for him and the team.”

Vuskovic declined the option to stay at Tottenham

Vuskovic has admitted that Tottenham were happy for him to stay, but he decided to leave on loan in order to get regular football under his belt.

According to reports, Spurs charged an extremely modest loan fee from Hamburg for Vuskovic, which is perhaps evidence that the player really wanted to join the north German club.

Only time will tell if the young centre-back has made the right decision as we wait to see if he can become a regular in the Bundesliga club’s backline.