Spurs Web

The Tottenham Hotspur players and backroom staff have boarded their flight to Hong Kong to continue their pre-season preparations.

The North Londoners played two friendlies on Sunday, firstly Tottenham drew 2-2 with Wycombe Wanderers at Hotspur Way and were later held to a 0-0 draw at Luton Town.

Tottenham will next face North London rivals Arsenal on July 31st at the recently opened 50,000-capacity Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong and it represents the first time the two Premier League sides have faced each other overseas.

Spurs will later travel to South Korea to take on Newcastle United at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on August 3rd.

Which Tottenham players have made the trip

Dominic Solanke and Destiny Udogie both did not feature on Sunday due to injury precautions, while Rodrigo Bentancur missed the Wycombe match due to illness as a late withdrawl.

The following players within the Tottenham first-team squad have made the trip to Hong Kong.

Dejan Kulusevski and Radu Dragusin have not made the trip and will continue their rehabilitation from their respective knee injuries. Destiny Udogie, Kota Takai, Bryan Gil and Manor Solomon will also remain at Hotspur Way for treatment.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Mikey Moore, Alfie Devine and Dane Scarlett have all not made the trip as they look to secure loan deals.

Tottenham need to step up their transfer activity

The match at Luton Town once again highlighted the need to sign a new number ten who can influence matters in the final third of the pitch.

It is a huge frustration once again that Tottenham have not been able to get enough signings over the line to allow any new arrivals plenty of time to settle in with their new team-mates.

Morgan Gibbs-White will not be joining Tottenham after he signed a new contract to remain at Nottingham Forest.

We have seen the likes of Liverpool move quick to get their summer business done early and now we appear to be back to the drawing board when it comes to signing a number ten with Eberechi Eze also said to be closing in on a move to Arsenal.

The squad depth was simply not there last season, and we’re about to head into a campaign which will see us in the Champions League. If Levy is expecting Thomas Frank to compete in both the Premier League and in Europe, without some experienced players, this is a disaster waiting to happen.

Tottenham supporters have been left stunned by just how physically imposing Luka Vuskovic is, even compared to vice-captain Cristian Romero.

Tottenham Hotspur fans have already had a glimpse of their new centre-back Luka Vuskovic, who linked up with the rest of the Spurs squad this summer window.

Vuskovic featured for Tottenham during pre-season, playing forty-five minutes in the clash against Reading, where he impressed in all facets of the game.

The towering centre-back helped his team keep a clean sheet and also chipped in with a goal and an assist in his brief but eye-catching cameo.

Spurs signed Vuskovic from Hadjuk Split two seasons ago for 12m, when he was 16, and with the centre-back now 18, he is finally eligible to play for the Lilywhites.

Tottenham fans react to Luka Vuskovic’s height in training

Tottenham fans have been pleased with their new signing and will be hoping to see more of him during the remainder of pre-season.

Still, the Croatian centre-back continues to grab attention for his sheer size, with many Tottenham supporters in awe of just how tall the 18-year-old is.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Taking to X, one Tottenham fan said: “This kid Vuskovic is an absolute tank… Unit!!”

Another supporter asked: “How big is Luka? He is built like a rugby player. Imagine a back three of him, Romero and Van de Ven. Brick wall!”

A third was quick to compare the youngster to a rival club’s centre-back: “Honestly, seeing him live at Reading, he absolutely towers over everyone on corners. He is going to be a menace like Gabriel is for them down the road.”

“He is massive, what a presence. So physically imposing, he is bold and will grow to be one of the leaders in the group, you can already tell,” claimed another.

Another stated: “Luka’s height for an 18-year-old is crazy, what are they feeding him.”

One fan added: “Luka is an absolute unit.”

A final chimed in: “Vuskovic is an absolute beast.”

Luka Vuskovic aerial ability and potential loan to Hamburg

Vuskovic does have something unique that other Tottenham defenders do not possess, and that is his aerial ability and goal-scoring instinct.

Despite being a centre-back, the Croatian managed to score seven goals while out on loan at Westerlo, and he was also quick to remind Spurs of his threat in the box during the pre-season fixture against Reading.

Thomas Frank is now facing a big decision on the future of Luka Vuskovic, with a number of clubs now showing an interest in signing the Tottenham 18-year-old on loan.

Some sources have said over recent days that Thomas Frank may decide against signing another centre-back on the back of Vuskovic’s showing in pre-season.

Spurs fans are certainly excited about the 18-year-old and are hoping that he can have a similar impact to what Lucas Bergvall did last season.

It has been reported over recent weeks that a host of clubs around Europe want to take Vuskovic on loan, but an increasing number of sources are now backing Vuskovic to be promoted to the Spurs first-team.

Thomas Frank is contemplating Luka Vuskovic’s future

The Daily Mail have now said that the new Spurs head coach has a ‘big decision brewing’ on the Croat’s future over the coming weeks.

It is revealed that several Bundesliga clubs are now clamouring to sign the teenager on loan for the upcoming season and are waiting for a decision from Tottenham Hotspur.

The report states that while Frank has been impressed by Vuskovic, it is pointed out that the youngster is behind a cluster of more senior centre-backs in the pecking order.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Amidst the growing interest in his service, Frank now has to decide what is best for Vuskovic’s progress and ensure that it does not stall.

The outlet says that the Dane and his coaching staff may prefer the idea of blooding him in English football rather than loaning him out to a German club.

Luka Vuskovic is battling Kota Takai for a place in Tottenham’s first-team

It was explained by Alasdair Gold a couple of days ago that one of Vuksovic or Kota Taka will be loaned out by Spurs this summer.

The journalist suggested that, as things stand, the Japanese centre-back is expected to stay at Hotspur Way while the Hajduk Split academy graduate looks likely to leave on loan.

However, if Vuskovic continues impressing in pre-season, one would not be surprised if Frank decides to keep him over Takai.

One of the best creative players Tottenham Hotspur have had across their Premier League history has been the subject of a shock approach from Wrexham.

Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs side may not have got over the line and won silverware, but they are fondly remembered by Tottenham fans for the kind of energetic and entertaining football that they produced on a regular basis.

One of the men who made that Tottenham Hotspur side tick was Christian Eriksen, who followed in Spurs’ rich history of creative and dazzling number tens, who got fans off their seats.

Eriksen holds the third most assists for the Lilywhites in Premier League history with 62 to his name, with the Dane finishing with overall stats of 88 goals and 69 assists in 305 appearances across all competitions for the Lilywhites.

Tottenham icon Christian Eriksen is a shock target for Wrexham

The Daily Mail have now revealed that the former Tottenham man, who departed Man United in the summer when his contract ran out, has emerged as a shock target for Wrexham.

The Welsh side are showing ambition after winning promotion to the Championship, and it has been confirmed by Eriksen’s agent that they made a lucrative offer to the 33-year-old.

However, while the Denmark international was impressed by the club’s offer, he turned down the proposal as he intends to continue his career in one of the top European leagues.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Eriksen expects Thomas Frank to thrive at Spurs

Last month, Erisken asserted that Thomas Frank is the right fit for Tottenham, backing his compatriot to succeed at the North London club.

The attacking midfielder played down the chances of returning to Spurs, denying that Frank has been in touch regarding a reunion at N17.

The famous Bill Nicholson Gates have now officially been reopened by Tottenham Hotspur at their new stadium, almost a decade on from being removed from White Hart Lane.

After holding discussions with the Fan Advisory Board (FAB), Tottenham announced that the Bill Nicholson Gates will be reinstated at the stadium.

The famous black gates at the entrance to White Hart Lane, which are forever linked with the legendary former Spurs player and manager, Bill Nicholson, were taken down when the new stadium was built.

Last week, the club confirmed that the Bill Nicholson Gates will be placed between the ticket office and the historic buildings to the north of the stadium, and the gates have now officially gone up.

Bill Nicholson Gates inaugurated by Tottenham legends

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that the gates are now officially back home, having been formally reopened by Daniel Levy and Bill’s daughter, Jean Bell.

The ceremony to open the gates was attended by the club’s board, Bill’s friends and family, as well as representatives of the Fan Advisory Board (FAB) and Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST).

Additionally, several Spurs legends who played under Nicholson – Steve Perryman, Cliff Jones, Pat Jennings, Martin Chivers, Phil Beal, John Pratt, Terry Naylor, and Peter Collins – attended the ceremony to click pictures in front of the historic gates.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Tottenham fans’ voices have been heard by the club

Spurs fans have been demanding the reinstatement of the gates for a long time, and they will be delighted that the club have agreed to preserve a part of their traditions.

Along with this move, Spurs agreed to create a revamped Tottenham Hotspur Hall of Fame during their meeting with the FAB earlier this month.

Mathys Tel has spoken about his decision to make the permanent switch to Tottenham earlier this summer, explaining what impressed him about the club during his loan spell last season.

Tottenham paid £30m to land Tel permanently earlier this summer, which was a considerable discount on the £45m purchase option they had on the forward.

The reason Bayern Munich were forced to drop their price was that the youngster certainly did not set the world alight during his loan spell at N17, being unable to establish himself as a regular in Ange Postecoglou’s starting eleven.

Some pundits are not convinced that Tottenham made the right choice in signing Tel, but the Frenchman has revealed that he never had any doubts about returning to N17.

Mathys Tel reveals why he signed for Tottenham

The 20-year-old forward has now opened up on his decision to swap the Allianz Arena for the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium permanently.

He explained that he enjoyed his time at N17 and developed a good connection with his teammates and fans, which made the decision straightforward.

When asked if it was an easy decision to return to Tottneham, Tel told Sky Sports: “I would say yes. I can say that the project was great for me.

MORE SPURS STORIES

“I appreciated my time here, teammates, fans, everything was very good. That’s why I wanted to stay here, and just try to help my team, my club, have more success.”

Tel made a great impression behind the scenes at Spurs

While the France Under-21 international may not have given Spurs fans too much to get excited about on the pitch last season, he is thought to have impressed everyone at the club behind the scenes.

Alasdair Gold revealed that Tel showed excellent character and mentality in training last season and was a great influence on the changing room.

The journalist asserted that the decision-makers at the North London club saw enough glimpses to believe that the forward can evolve into a top player.

Saturday’s double-header ended in two Tottenham ties as Thomas Frank’s men played out a goalless draw at Kenilworth Road.

To put it in the nicest way possible, it was a dull affair. But Thomas Frank won’t be losing sleep. Nearly every player got some minutes, a range of formations and setups were trialled, and there were no injuries to report – that, after all, is what pre-season is for.

It was Frank’s third game in charge of Spurs, and for the third time running, he named a starting XI only to pull someone out minutes before kick-off. Mind games? Overthinking? Only Thomas Frank knows the answer to that.

As promised, he split the squads between the two games fairly, with a strong side lining up at Kenilworth Road. However, there was no sign of Dominic Solanke in the squad, and the reason behind his absence should become clear soon.

First half: Luton 0-0 Tottenham

Things actually began brightly. Or at least, as expected with a front three of Mohammed Kudus, Mathys Tel, and Brennan Johnson. Tel led the line, with Mikey Moore tested as the number 10.

Spurs had their best chance early on when Tel darted down the right and played the ball into the box for Kudus. The delivery drew Josh Keeley off his line, leaving Kudus with a near-open goal, but the Ghanaian’s effort was blocked by a recovering Luton defender.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Luton, to their credit, transitioned quickly and put together a slick move that nearly ended in a goal, but the linesman’s flag spared Spurs.

The game slowed down drastically after the 10 -15-minute mark or so. What followed was a mix of aimless running, back passes, hopeful crosses, and wasted set-pieces. Neither side could create clear-cut chances.

George Saville had attempted one on target from just outside the area, which flashed wide. Luton’s best chance came just before half-time when a loose pass from Djed Spence allowed Alli to strike across goal. His effort deflected off Kevin Danso and bounced across the goal line, but Spurs escaped.

The whistle blew soon after, and the first half ended with little to shout about.

Second half: Luton 0-0 Tottenham

Antonin Kinsky replaced Guglielmo Vicario at the break, with the Italian handing the armband to Micky van de Ven.

Kinsky was involved straight away. He made two excellent saves in quick succession: first, stopping a powerful volley from Wells, and then keeping out a shot from Alli.

But overall, the second half carried the same lull as the first. Players began to tire, the game lost structure, and it wasn’t until around the 75th minute that the substitutes were ready to come on, and the Tottenham players on the pitch went all-out attack one last time before they all left.

Kudus was again at the heart of it, holding up play before slipping in a low cross to Johnson. The Welshman almost bundled it home, but a deflection off a Luton defender turned it goalwards. Fortunately for the hosts, Keeley got hold of it.

Immediately after, the changes were made. Only Jamie Donley stayed on as all eyes turned to Yang Min-hyeok, making his long-awaited debut since joining the club last winter.

The fresh legs made a visible difference. Yang and Olusesi, especially, brought energy, aggression, and showed real intent to win the ball back and create chances.

Their best moment came with just two minutes left on the clock. Olusesi pressed high to win possession in a dangerous area and played in Will Lankshear, who sliced his effort wide.

Unfortunately, 15 minutes simply wasn’t enough time for the youngsters to make an impact. And with that, for the first time in over two years, Spurs fans sat through a goalless Tottenham game.

What’s next for Spurs?

So ends a curious double-header Saturday. Two games, two draws, and two somewhat different performances. Safe to say, the early kick-off offered more entertainment.

With all the League One opposition now ticked off the list, Spurs next head off on their pre-season tour of Asia, starting with a trip to Hong Kong.

And yes, fans might not care much for pre-season results, but this one’s a bit different. The first-ever overseas North London Derby is on the cards.

Tottenham supporters have wasted no time identifying their preferred Morgan Gibbs-White alternatives after another frustrating transfer collapse left fans disappointed once again.

It did feel too good to be true when reports emerged that, a day after completing the £55 million signing of Mohammed Kudus, Tottenham moved quickly and activated the £60 million release clause of Morgan Gibbs-White.

Tottenham even had a medical booked just 24 hours later, as the club looked to make a bold statement, spending £115 million in the space of 48 hours to strengthen Thomas Frank’s squad ahead of the new season.

A legal back-and-forth quickly ensued between both clubs – one that saw Nottingham Forest file a formal complaint against Tottenham – and yesterday, the final nail was put in the coffin, as reports confirmed Gibbs-White had extended his stay at Forest.

Tottenham fans react to Morgan Gibbs-White collapse with new transfer suggestions

Tottenham must now move on after losing out on yet another key transfer target, in what is now becoming a frustratingly familiar theme that harks back to the Paulo Dybala days.

Regardless, Spurs fans have wasted no time reacting to the latest blow, and many have already begun naming their preferred alternatives, hoping the club will pivot quickly and decisively.

One fan said: “I have kept saying, but now it is urgent. Get Eze before the scum get him. Immediately pay his release clause, it is an emergency.”

MORE SPURS STORIES

Another added: “Give me Wharton. That is more of a priority anyway.” A third Tottenham fan commented: “Rodrygo Real Madrid.” Another supporter stated: “Xavi Simons, Fermin Lopez.”

Wharton came up once more: “Wharton 100% – we can spend 80, Cirkin and a quality winger.”

Another fan named Lucas Paqueta, alongside other options: “Wharton, Baleba, Stiller in my opinion – bigger money ball progressors from deep midfield. Starting left winger and sell Sonny. If Frank wants another 10-type player, I have read Paqueta is available for £30 million.”

A further suggestion included: “Morgan Rogers.” Rogers mentions continued: “Eze, Morgan Rogers, Leao – any of those three, as well as Palhinha.”

One final fan added: “Rodrygo (if the deal can be done fast) and more importantly a 6. Another 10/8 was not the best idea anyway. It was a good market opportunity, but not what the squad needs.”

Spurs midfield targets like Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton pose challenges

Over the past few weeks, Tottenham have been linked with several midfielders, with seven names reportedly on their shortlist.

Kobbie Mainoo, Joao Palhinha, Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba have all been linked to Spurs, but in the cases of Wharton and Baleba, any deal is said to be far from straightforward, as Crystal Palace and Brighton and Hove Albion are unwilling to sell.

Eberechi Eze and Xavi Simons are both deep in talks with two of Tottenham’s direct rivals, Arsenal and Chelsea, which makes it very unlikely for Spurs to swoop in and hijack a deal at this stage.

The Rodrygo links have since been reported as false, although Real Madrid are understood to be open to selling the versatile winger if the right offer comes in.

Tottenham Hotspur have once again been held to a draw in a performance where the defence was solid, but creativity was scarce.

Tottenham Hotspur supporters may be feeling a little sleepy after watching their side struggle to break down Luton Town. While the 2-2 draw with Wycombe Wanderers at least provided some entertainment, this afternoon’s game was very dull, as Spurs only managed two shots.

On a positive note, most members of the Tottenham first-team squad were able to feature, which should give Thomas Frank a better idea of which players he wants to use and how he wants to utilise them.

Not many players covered themselves in glory against Luton, but here are the three winners and losers from the match:

Callum Olusesi created the best Tottenham chance of the game

Callum Olusesi played little more than ten minutes against Luton, and yet he was more impactful than most of his teammates. The teenager set up Will Lankshear in what could have ended up being the winning goal for Spurs.

Olusesi definitely deserves some credit for showing up and doing his best. It must be a little frustrating only receiving 13 minutes of play at Hotspur Way against Wycombe, only to travel to Luton and once again receive minimal match time.

Antonin Kinsky looked more confident for Spurs

Antonin Kinsky made an error against Reading, which could have cost Tottenham a goal, but today he was much better. The shot-stopper made a couple of good saves and was willing to play the sweeper role when needed.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Guglielmo Vicario is still likely to remain as first-choice as things stand, but after Brandon Austin’s error against Wycombe, Kinsky will definitely not be under threat for the second-in-command position.

Yves Bissouma was solid for Tottenham

Much of the attention from this afternoon’s lacklustre display will be on the failure to score a goal, but Spurs did manage to keep a clean sheet.

Yves Bissouma played his part, getting involved and covering a large stretch of space at the back. The midfielder does not have long left on his Tottenham contract, but if he continues to perform well, who knows what the future may hold?

Djed Spence is a loose cannon

Djed Spence had a mixed display against Reading, but he really struggled against Luton. The right-back conceded a free kick in a dangerous area, and later on, he passed the ball straight to his opponent, which could have seen Spurs go behind.

The difference between Pedro Porro against Wycombe and Spence against Luton is night and day. If Spence wants to play, he needs to cut out the unforced errors in his game because they are emerging all too often.

Mathys Tel was off the mark for Tottenham

Mathys Tel managed to score twice at the Euro U21s tournament this summer, but today he never came close. Despite playing up front, he failed to get a single shot away

One of Tel’s notable stats from the game is that of the eight crosses he attempted, not a single one was accurate. He also failed to make a tackle during the game. He really needs to show more to convince Tottenham supporters he has what it takes to make it at this club.

Johnson again ole ole

Brennan Johnson was named on the Tottenham losers list after the 2-0 victory over Reading, and he is back on the list for a second consecutive appearance.

The Welshman was more involved than he was last week, taking up a position on the left side of the pitch. However, he struggled to beat his defender in another poor individual performance. In fairness, his attacking teammates were not great either, including Mikey Moore.

Still, once all Tottenham’s players return from injury, it is difficult to see where Johnson fits in the first-team, unless he ups his game.

Thomas Frank’s second game in charge of Tottenham ended in a 2-2 tie at Hotspur Way, despite a brace from Pape Sarr and a decent all-round performance.

Watching a match streamed behind closed doors with no fans in sight took us right back to the lockdown era, with only the commentary, player calls, and the sound of the ball meeting the boot as the only background noise.

Many expected Thomas Frank to field a youthful XI for this early kick-off, especially with another friendly scheduled just four hours later (against Luton Town).

However, the Dane surprised us by putting out a relatively strong side. Rodrigo Bentancur was originally in the starting XI, but a late illness saw him replaced by academy midfielder George Abbott.

Despite Spurs taking an early lead, Wycombe turned the game on its head shortly after the break, only for Pape Matar Sarr to score again and rescue the draw.

First half: Tottenham 1-1 Wycombe Wanderers

Spurs nearly made the perfect start inside two minutes, as Wilson Odobert’s clever cutback found Heung-min Son, but the skipper fired over the bar. Minutes later, Richarlison sliced wide from another inviting Odobert delivery.

Pedro Porro then threatened from a free-kick, but his effort landed comfortably in Van Sas’ gloves.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Tottenham eventually broke the deadlock with a well-deserved opener. It came down that threatening right-hand side again. Vuskovic released Porro down the flank, who squared it for Odobert. The Frenchman’s low strike was parried away, but Pape Matar Sarr was first to react and tucked in the rebound.

Porro nearly made it two shortly after, as he found himself through on goal, but he hesitated and saw his shot blocked for a corner. He then repaid Odobert for the earlier assist by setting him up in a similar position, but the French U21 international’s poor finishing let him down.

Then came a moment to forget for Brandon Austin, who allowed a soft low strike from Quitirna to slip through his hands and legs, gifting Wycombe an equaliser on the half-hour mark.

Richarlison had a couple more sights at goal but couldn’t convert, and the half ended level despite Spurs enjoying more control and chances.

Second half: Tottenham 2-2 Wycombe Wanderers

With no changes at the break, and less than 10 minutes later, the second half kicked off.

Just five minutes in, Wycombe took the lead. Quitirna found space inside the box after being set up by Daniel Udoh and smashed home past Austin, who stood no chance this time.

Tottenham responded well, with Son wriggling his way into the box before setting up Porro, whose deflected shot hit the crossbar.

On the hour mark, Thomas Frank made his first set of changes, introducing academy players Tynan Thompson and Oliver Irow for Richarlison and Odobert.

The change paid off immediately as just minutes later, Thompson drove down the left and sent in a perfect low cross into the box. Sarr, once again in the right place at the right time, scored his second of the day. Credit also to Cristian Romero for his high pressing, which caused Wycombe’s midfield all sorts of problems in the build-up.

Son had another go from a good angle, but his curled effort lacked power, while Thompson himself tried his luck from distance but couldn’t find the right contact.

With 15 minutes to go, Frank brought in more changes, replacing the entire team except Austin and the two recent subs. The fresh legs injected some serious energy, and Spurs came close to a winner, especially when Thompson broke through 1v1, but his shot drifted just inches wide off the post.

And with that, the full-time whistle blew. Spurs 2, Wycombe 2.

Takeaways from the draw against Wycombe

That right-hand side was on fire. Porro, Bergvall, and Odobert linked up very well, with one setting up the other, then being set up in return, and so on. It will be interesting to see whether Frank sticks with these three or tests other combinations, given the number of options he has.

In contrast, the left side offered little movement. It would be unfair to judge Son based on this performance, especially considering he didn’t have an overlapping full-back to support him. But if the Tottenham captain continues this run of form, it’ll be hard to see him fitting into Frank’s plans – and a move away from the club could become even more likely.

The kids impressed. George Abbott put in a quietly excellent shift, reading danger and intercepting loose passes well. 17-year-old Tynan Thompson caught the eye too after he was involved in almost every one of Spurs’ progressive plays.