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Tottenham Hotspur are set to appoint a new head of academy operations, and the chosen candidate has been named.

Danetta Powell was head of the Tottenham Hotspur academy operations from November 2023 until this summer. However, she has left the role to become the Director of Operations at BEP, a Birmingham charity championing a school-led system of continuous improvement.

As a result, Spurs will appoint a new head of academy operations at a time when their youth setup is under the spotlight. Last month, the Tottenham academy set-up featured on Football Academy, a BBC programme highlighting the journeys of players in the junior Spurs teams.

Another big moment for the Tottenham academy was when graduate Luca Williams-Barnett signed his first senior contract at the club. This came just days after the 17-year-old made his debut against Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup.

Tottenham to appoint Charlton academy manager

According to BBC Sport, Spurs will appoint Charlton Athletic academy manager Tom Pell to fulfil their vacant role.

Charlton confirmed last week that Pell would leave his current position to take up a role with an unnamed Premier League team, which now appears to be Tottenham.

Pell was appointed as Charlton’s academy manager in May 2022, arriving from Cambridge, where he spent 16 years.

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The future looks bright at Spurs

There has been a bit of a disconnect on the men’s side between the Tottenham first-team squad and the academy. However, Williams-Barnett is showing great potential and could find himself breaking into the first-team more regularly if he keeps up his form.

In fact, Williams-Barnett and Rio Kyerematen have been nominated for Premier League 2 player of the month award.

Spurs could do with some locally trained players going all the way to the club’s senior team, and hopefully appointing a new head of academy operations will increase the likelihood of this occurring.

Cristian Romero is the proud bearer of the Tottenham Hotspur captain’s armband, but he might not be allowed to wear it during the North London derby.

Cristian Romero will be hoping to get as many minutes under his belt as possible this season. The Tottenham Hotspur skipper missed a large part of the previous campaign due to injuries, and this played a key role in Spurs finishing 17th in the Premier League table.

Romero missed Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League due to a short-term issue, but he was straight back in the starting lineup against Leeds.

However, there are concerns Romero could miss the North London derby in November, and it has nothing to do with his fitness levels.

Cristian Romero is at risk of a Tottenham suspension

Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has already been suspended this season after picking up five yellow cards and Romero is not far behind. The centre-back has received three yellow cards in seven Premier League appearances.

His most recent booking was highly unnecessary. Romero had a face-off with Leeds United’s Noah Okafor and picked up a needless yellow card as a result.

If Romero keeps up his card-per-game ratio, he will reach five yellow cards during his 11th Premier League match. This would be a big problem, as Tottenham’s 12th league fixture is against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

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Spurs would be much weaker without Romero

Kevin Danso is the obvious option to replace Romero, but he did not have a great game against Bodo/Glimt. In fairness to the defender, it is not easy to come into the first-team and immediately reach the levels of a player who has experienced a lot more action on the pitch.

However, there is no room for excuses when a player fails to perform in the North London derby. Spurs badly need a win against Arsenal in the Premier League, and the game could have a real impact on the Premier League table.

Romero is one of the club’s most important players, and if he does get himself suspended before derby day, Thomas Frank will have some thinking to do.

Justin Jefferson has revealed what he thinks of the NFL pitch at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and he and his teammates have even given it a name.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been a major talking point since it was fully completed in 2019. Although the state-of-the-art arena came at a huge cost to the club, it is quickly generating that money back.

One of the issues regarding the stadium relates to the atmosphere. White Hart Lane did not have a reputation for being one of the loudest grounds, but there was a passion for Tottenham Hotspur there.

However, the new stadium has boosted the reputation of the club on a global scale. It has hosted big-name artists such as Beyoncé, as well as rugby and NFL matches.

NFL stars name the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium pitch

The NFL matches show just how impressive the Spurs Stadium is because all matches are played on the underground surface beneath the football pitch.

NFL wide receiver Justin Jefferson has revealed the Minnesota Vikings even have a special name for the pitch due to the speed it generates.

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He told Football London: “We call it a speed track. You know, it’s pretty much thinner than normal, than what we’re used to. I love it!”

“It makes you run faster. It makes you look like you got a little extra speed on you, but I mean, it really doesn’t matter about the surface. It’s just all about your technique and your footwork and getting in and out of your breaks. I will never blame the turf or the surface.”

Spurs are struggling at home

The Minnesota Vikings have won their past two matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which is a better record than Spurs themselves have recorded.

Thomas Frank’s team have picked up more points than any other Premier League team away from home, but they have the fifth-worst home record.

This is because Tottenham have been defeated by Bournemouth and dropped points against Wolves. If Spurs are to maintain a high position in the Premier League table, it is crucial they get back to winning ways when in North London.

Tottenham Hotspur have entered the international break in a good position, with plenty of reasons to be encouraged.

Tottenham Hotspur are third in the Premier League table and Thomas Frank will likely be pleased with the start he has made at his new club.

Here are five reasons for Tottenham to be feeling positive about the season they have had up to this point.

There is competition in the Tottenham squad

Particularly during the Mauricio Pochettino era, Spurs were a team with an established starting lineup which was only changed for domestic cup fixtures. This meant the regular starters were top-quality players, but the wider Tottenham first-team squad lacked depth.

There is more competition in the current squad, with the midfield and wing positions frequently seeing players swap in and out of the starting lineup. Wilson Odobert and Brennan Johnson’s battle for the left wing role has been interesting, although some might say both have been selected because neither is good enough.

This is certainly not the case with the midfielders. Lucas Bergvall and Pape Matar Sarr have both started the season well, but there have been matches when there is only space for one of them. Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence are competing for the left-back position too, with both players pushing each other to do better.

Mohammed Kudus is the real deal

Mohammed Kudus might just have been Tottenham’s best player so far this season. The winger’s dribbling is a joy to watch, and he is not an easy player to dispossess.

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He combines his pace with strength to become a formidable force on the right wing and has shown he knows how to create opportunities, which lead to goals too.

Dejan Kulusevski will be eager to return after his lengthy spell on the sidelines, but he may have trouble making his way back to the first team if Kudus keeps up his brilliant form.

Spurs are a tough team to beat

Tottenham are one of only four teams in the Premier League not to have lost more than one match. Their only defeat came directly before the last international break, and it was by a single goal against Bournemouth.

Spurs have suffered some underwhelming results, such as the draws against Bodo/Glimt and Wolves. However, every point matters, and they are still in good positions in the Premier League and Champions League tables.

The fact that Tottenham are a difficult team to defeat could prove useful in the knockout rounds of cup competitions. If Frank’s team can force matches to extra time or penalties, it gives them the platform to go and win the game.

Tottenham will soon have more striker options

Spurs have relied heavily on Richarlison this season, and he has three goals and an assist to his name. However, two of those goals came in the first Premier League game of the season.

The good news is Tottenham should have Randal Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke back after the international break.

Muani has not yet been able to show what he can do at Spurs, while Solanke should have additional motivation to perform after being benched at the start of the season.

Mathys Tel has opened his goalscoring account this season

Tel is another player to have taken up the central striker role, and until last Saturday, he had failed to show he was good enough to be at Tottenham.

The 20-year-old did not have a huge amount of involvement on the ball against Leeds, but he made his touches matter.

Tel scored his first goal of the season and came close to a second when his header collided with the crossbar. He did score a good goal against Aston Villa, which did little to help him improve last season, but hopefully the Frenchman’s strike against Leeds has done enough to rebuild his confidence and will help him find his way at Spurs.

Tottenham’s recent win has lifted spirits across the fanbase, but it is the emergence of one player in particular that has caught the attention of club legend Jermain Defoe.

Tottenham Hotspur ended their run of consecutive draws in the Premier League with a hard-fought 2-1 win over newly promoted Leeds United at Elland Road.

That victory has restored the feel-good factor around the club, who head into the international break buoyed by a much-needed result and currently sit third in the Premier League table.

Spurs remain unbeaten in seven matches since suffering defeat against Bournemouth at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and one player in particular has been earning high praise from former striker Jermain Defoe.

Jermain Defoe praises Tottenham star Mohammed Kudus

Jermain Defoe has admitted that he is now a ‘massive’ fan of Mohammed Kudus following the Ghana international’s standout performance against Leeds, where he grabbed his first-ever goal for Tottenham in a competitive match.

Speaking on Premier League Live, Defoe discussed his admiration for the 25-year-old and highlighted just how influential he has become within this Tottenham side.

He said: “Oh, massive. I just felt like everything he did today, he was probably the main man. Every time his teammates got it, he was the one they looked at to try and create something.

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“Deserved the goal, he works hard for the team, he did his work back, but every time he lands on it, you just feel something is going to happen. Technically, he is just so good and took his goal really well.”

Mohammed Kudus makes Spurs history

Kudus spoke about his recent strike for Tottenham, stating that he hopes it will be the first of many more to come. The midfielder also entered the club’s record books by becoming the first Ghanaian player ever to score for Spurs.

Defoe also weighed in on another player’s performance, claiming that Xavi Simons delivered his best display yet for Tottenham after being deployed in his preferred number ten role.

“They created a few more chances, I just felt like at the top end of the pitch when you have got players you do not need to coach, probably just let them go and play free,” added Defoe.

“I think Xavi Simons had his best performance for Tottenham, where he could just roam and pick up those little pockets, receive it on the half turn, and players in and around have to try to make runs. I just thought he was fantastic.”

Spurs could be facing fresh takeover speculation after a familiar investor – Amanda Staveley – was seen at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

ENIC continue to hold a majority stake at Tottenham Hotspur with their 86.58% ownership, while the remaining shares belong to minority investors.

Spurs remains one of the most financially stable clubs in England, turning steady profits season after season, which naturally makes it an attractive proposition for investors across the globe.

Over the years, several consortia have shown interest in buying the club outright, but the Lewis Family has consistently maintained that Tottenham is not for sale, despite the offers placed on the table.

Among the most notable of those approaches was a record £4.5 billion bid rumoured to have come from Earick’s consortium, which ENIC ultimately turned down.

Amanda Staveley spotted at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium amid takeover talks

With the Premier League season now paused for the October international break, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has once again transformed into a multi-purpose venue, hosting an NFL clash between the Minnesota Vikings and the Cleveland Browns.

According to Alan Nixon, among those spotted at the event was former Newcastle United co-owner Amanda Staveley, alongside members of Joe Lewis’ family who were also seen in attendance.

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Staveley is understood to be leading a Qatari-backed consortium exploring a potential bid for Tottenham, and according to claims, the former Newcastle United co-owner and her backers remain open to pursuing a deal to acquire Spurs if the circumstances are right.

However, it is understood that Tottenham has already rejected an initial expression of interest from her firm, PCP International Finance Limited, indicating that no formal discussions are currently underway.

Could the Lewis Family ever sell Tottenham Hotspur?

It remains uncertain whether the Lewis Family would ever decide to part ways with Tottenham Hotspur, as their position has consistently been that the club is not on the market.

Yet, football often shifts quickly, and that sentiment could change if a truly irresistible offer emerged.

Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has voiced his belief that the family might eventually consider selling, but only if a valuation that meets their expectations is reached.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank shared a touching moment with Mathys Tel after the young forward’s standout display against Leeds United.

In Tottenham Hotspur’s last Premier League fixture against Leeds United, Thomas Frank made a few tweaks to his starting line-up in search of a response from his players, following back-to-back draws.

One of the more notable changes saw Mathys Tel come in for Richarlison, after the Brazil international failed to impress when handed a start in the Champions League against Bodo/Glimt.

Frank’s decision to go with Tel as his striker was justified as the young Frenchman opened the scoring and gave Tottenham a perfect start in the fixture.

Thomas Frank and Mathys Tel share heartfelt moment in front of Tottenham fans

At full-time, Thomas Frank made sure Tel received the recognition his effort merited, guiding him towards the travelling Tottenham supporters so that he could soak up their applause.

Tel has featured five times in the league this season, and while his performances have been somewhat inconsistent, his display on Saturday felt like a breakthrough moment.

The forward’s tireless work rate and willingness to press from the front caught the eye, and his goal was no more than he deserved.

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It was a small but telling gesture from a manager who has never shied away from showing faith in the young forward who has had to deal with a few disappointments early on this season.

Watch Thomas Frank’s classy gesture to Tel after Leeds United clash here:

Tel continues to earn more recognition after Leeds display

After the match, Thomas Frank admitted he was left emotional by Tel’s performance, particularly given how challenging the start of the season had been for the forward.

The forward had previously been left out of Frank’s Champions League squad and had also endured the disappointment of missing a penalty in the UEFA Super Cup.

Tottenham Hotspur finally found their rhythm again in the Premier League, and one standout performer has now earned a deserved spot in Alan Shearer’s Team of the Week.

Tottenham Hotspur finally got back to winning ways in matchweek seven of the Premier League, as Thomas Frank’s men secured a much-needed 2-1 win over Leeds United.

Frank’s side became the first team to secure a victory at Elland Road this year, as the newly promoted side has made their home ground a fortress.

It took goals from Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus for Spurs to get all three points, with the win not coming easily, as Leeds fought hard to protect their unbeaten record at Elland Road.

Alan Shearer includes Tottenham star in his Premier League Team of the Week

Alan Shearer has now named his Premier League Team of the Week, and he has included one Spurs player whom he described as unstoppable.

Mohammed Kudus was immense for Tottenham, not just grabbing a goal, but also assisting Mathys Tel’s opener, yet it was his overall display that truly earned him a spot in the former Premier League striker’s team, down on the right flank.

Writing about Kudus, Shearer said on the official Premier League site: “Leeds simply could not stop Kudus as he scored the winner at Elland Road – his first goal for Spurs – after assisting Mathys Tel’s opener.”

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Mohammed Kudus continues to impress under Thomas Frank

Kudus has definitely been impressing since his switch from West Ham United last summer and has taken little time to adapt to Spurs.

It comes as no surprise, as Kudus is very familiar with playing in the Premier League, which has ultimately reduced the adaptation period.

The Ghana international’s best spell in England so far saw him grab eight goals and nine assists in the league, and this season, with seven games gone, he has already managed a goal and four assists. He could very well surpass his best performance if he continues in this vein of form.

Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in one of the most exciting midfielders in Europe has not gone away despite being unable to strike a summer deal.

During the summer transfer window, it was reported that Spurs had a €40m (£34.6m) offer for Nico Paz rejected by Como, and some sources even suggested that Tottenham were ready to pay €70m (£60.7m) for Paz.

However, the Argentine decided to remain at the Serie A side, with the Lilywhites completing the signing of Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig instead.

Some outlets have said Real Madrid played a big role in preventing Spurs from signing Paz, as Los Blancos have a buy-back option on the midfielder, which they intend to activate in the future.

Tottenham joined by two London rivals in Nico Paz race

TBR Football have now claimed that Thomas Frank’s men have maintained a watching brief on the 21-year-old after being snubbed in the summer.

However, the Lilywhites now face competition from close to home for the Argentine starlet, with the youngster’s impressive performances at the start of the campaign piquing the interest of other London sides.

It is revealed that Arsenal are fans of the attacking midfielder, while Chelsea’s recruitment team have identified him as a backup option in case they fail to land Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa.

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Tottenham’s pursuit of the player may get even trickier as it is not just Premier League clubs that are looking closely at the Argentina international ahead of January.

Paz wanted by Spanish and Italian clubs but his priority is clear

TBR Football says that Atletico Madrid have also been impressed by the midfielder’s performances at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia this season, while Inter Milan are also looking into his situation closely.

The outlet also spoke to transfer market expert Graeme Bailey, who revealed that despite the growing interest in Paz’s signature, the player’s priority is simple: to book a place in Argentina’s squad for next year’s World Cup.

When asked about the Real Madrid academy graduate, the journalist told TBR: “Paz is one of the form players in Europe. He has been outstanding for Cesc Fabregas and Como. Real Madrid have told him they intend to bring him back, but that will depend on the player.

“Chelsea are one of the sides to pay close attention to him this season, and it is clear he has impressed them. Paz, for his part, is concentrating on his football as his main aim this season is to make Argentina’s World Cup finals squad.”

Former Everton and Aston Villa CEO Keith Wyness has spoken about Tottenham’s transition from the Daniel Levy era into a more decentralised leadership structure.

Levy was in charge of Tottenham for 24 years, and in that time, he oversaw an impressive off-pitch transformation at the club, but had trouble translating that to on-pitch success, particularly since 2019.

The Lewis family have said that they want to usher in a new era of on-pitch success at Tottenham, expressing their commitment to get the club challenging for the biggest trophies in the game.

Some experts have said that Levy’s exit leaves a big vacuum at Spurs, and the Lilywhites have been warned about how to go about replacing their old leadership structure.

Keith Wyness issues a warning to Tottenham CEO Vinai Venkatesham

Wyness certainly knows a thing or two about running Premier League clubs, and he believes that Spurs’ decision to move to a more decentralised leadership approach with more voices at the top is the right one.

However, he warned that from his experience, any leadership group that is too large is bound to fail at clubs of Tottenham’s size.

When quizzed about suggestions that Spurs CEO Vinai Venkatesham has assembled a six-man leadership team to take the club forward, the former Everton chief told Football Insider: “Provided everybody’s got their own area of expertise, I think six is about the maximum number you want on your senior leadership team.

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“It’s probably about the most I’ve had, although I tried to keep it lower than that if possible. Matthew Collecott, who’s been around Spurs for ages, will be involved. I remember working with Matthew on their training ground, a good guy who knows the club inside out.

“Vinai (Venkatesham) is a good operator. He will be on top of the details, but he does work very closely with his senior leadership guys. I think he’s a very good leader. He’s a very, very knowledgeable guy as well. Well-liked, treats people well, but has a clear vision and can also drive things. He is across the detail and has a presence based on football knowledge.

So I think six is going to be okay, and I think people will understand their roles, their directions, and there’ll be no crossing of power and nobody trying to confuse things. I think they’ll be okay, and that’s probably one of the best things they could’ve done, that move within Spurs away from the Daniel Levy-only leadership model.”

Tottenham have faced challenges in the post-Daniel Levy era

It was reported by The Athletic a couple of weeks ago that Levy created a particular personal culture at Tottenham as he had ultimate power.

As a result, Spurs have faced challenges in finding a new way of working and organising the club after Levy’s departure.

The publication explained that the Lilywhites are trying to transition from their old model of an all-powerful executive chairman to one where the executive team is empowered.