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Tottenham Hotspur have conceded plenty of cheap goals recently and Guglielmo Vicario has been responsible for a number of them – so is it time for Ange Postecoglou to take action?

Spurs have struggled in defence this season, conceding 57 Premier League goals, which is more than 14 other teams.

This poor defensive record looks unlikely to change before the end of the season, as Tottenham have only kept one clean sheet since February 2. This was in the pleasantly surprising 1-0 victory against Frankfurt in the Europa League.

No one player is responsible for such problems at the back, and injuries to Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven certainly played a key role. The defenders have missed 27 and 30 games respectively during the current campaign. However, there is one player who has been particularly underwhelming in recent matches, causing Spurs to concede goals.

Guglielmo Vicario is in poor form for Tottenham

Guglielmo Vicario was at fault for two of the goals conceded in a 4-2 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers in mid-April. It could have been even worse, as the hosts missed a sitter, after he gave the ball away to Nelson Semedo in his own box.

A positive performance against Frankfurt was then followed by another poor league display against Nottingham Forest, as Vicario was largely responsible for both goals in the 2-1 home defeat.

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There was little the Italian could have done when Spurs let in five goals against Liverpool at the end of April. However, his shaky distribution caused his team unnecessary problems. His passing accuracy was 66 per cent that day, while only five of his 16 long balls were accurate.

Next up, Vicario conceded from the first shot on target he faced against Bodø/Glimt, before allowing Jarrod Bowen to score through his legs when Spurs drew with West Ham last weekend.

According to Sofascore, Vicario has a negative figure for goals prevented in seven of his past eight starts. This means he has conceded more goals than expected, with the quality of shots taken into consideration. Essentially, he is allowing opposition shots that he is expected to save to turn into conceded goals.

Spurs have backup options in Brandon Austin and Antonin Kinsky

Antonin Kinsky has been the goalkeeper on Tottenham’s bench in recent weeks and the youngster has already shown potential. His performances were not perfect, as he often kept the ball at his feet too long and made some handling errors. However, there were signs Kinsky could be a solid Spurs goalkeeper in the future.

Then there is Brandon Austin, who played well a few months ago when he filled in for the injured Vicario and Fraser Forster. He looked full of confidence at set pieces on his debut against Newcastle United, winning 100 per cent of his aerial duels.

The 26-year-old then prevented 0.87 goals in the Europa League against Hoffenheim. After this, he kept a clean sheet against Elfsborg, although in fairness, the Swedish team failed to land a shot on target.

Ange Postecoglou should give his backups a chance to play for Spurs

Ange Postecoglou described Austin as ‘great’ after his January debut against Newcastle United. He said: “Really good. The moments we are going through putting big tasks on players and they’re rising to occasion. The performance deserved a victory.”

Postecoglou had nothing but good things to say about Austin when he played and he seemed pleased with Kinsky too. With this being the case, it makes no sense for either shot-stopper to be continuously left out of Tottenham’s starting lineups when Vicario has been off the mark.

Forster was playing well when he was called on a few months ago, but he has been left out of the Tottenham first-team squad due to some major errors he made. Why is Vicario not being held to the same standard? Just because a player is signed to be a regular starter, does not mean they should play every game, regardless of form.

Spurs have nothing left to play for in the league, except to restore some dignity, so there is no harm in giving Austin or Kinsky a game each. Ultimately, Vicario should not continue to be one of the first names on the team sheet when he continues to disappoint. He is a good goalkeeper on his day, but it has not been his day in weeks.

Atletico Madrid are not wasting time in their pursuit of Cristian Romero, with negotiations said to be progressing quickly as the Spanish side looks to prise Romero away from Tottenham Hotspur.

With the summer window set to open earlier than usual on 1 June 2025, Tottenham Hotspur are expected to be busy.

Reports have it that Spurs centre-back Cristian Romero is itching for a move away from Tottenham, with the centre-back being linked with Atletico Madrid.

The Spanish side themselves are not wasting any time, as it has been revealed that Atletico are already preparing an offer for Romero.

But there is an issue. According to various sources, there is a significant gap between Atletico Madrid and Tottenham’s valuation of Romero – a gap that is yet to be bridged.

Atletico Madrid advancing in talks for Romero transfer

Journalist Uriel Iugt has now provided an update on the Atletico Madrid and Cristian Romero saga. The journalist has stated that Atletico Madrid continues to advance in negotiations for Cristian Romero.

In fact, it has been revealed that both clubs are expected to hold a meeting in the coming days, and that Spurs have already informed the Spanish club of the player’s valuation. It is said that Romero himself is open to the move.

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The journalist tweeted: “Atletico Madrid continues to advance in negotiations for Cristian Romero. The clubs are expected to hold a meeting in the coming days. Tottenham has already informed the Spanish club of the player’s value. The defender wants to go to Spain.”

Tottenham’s stance on Cristian Romero fee

In recent weeks, sources have also revealed just how much Tottenham are looking to make from the sale of Romero.

It was revealed earlier this week that Atletico Madrid are willing to pay €40m (£34m) for Romero, but Tottenham are holding out for €58m (£50m) for the player.

Exactly a week after their 3-1 win in the first leg in North London, the Lilywhites now travel to the Arctic Circle for what is unquestionably their most important fixture of the season so far. This is the second-last step in a gruelling European staircase, and reaching the top means glory, pride, and history.

How both teams go into Bodo/Glimt v Tottenham

Tottenham ended their three-game winless run with a 1-1 draw against West Ham on Sunday, in a match that was about as exciting as watching Mikel Arteta’s team hold on to a lead. The main objective was to avoid injuries and rotate the squad- and that was achieved.

Before that, there was of course the electrifying first leg at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Brennan Johnson got the opener inside 40 seconds, followed by strikes from James Maddison and Dominic Solanke. Although the visitors grabbed one back in the dying moments, the 3-1 scoreline preserved their unbeaten European home record – something to be proud of, regardless of domestic form.

As for Bodo/Glimt, they’ll be quietly pleased they were able to nick one away in North London, reducing the mountain they need to climb on Thursday. That goal was more than a consolation. It was a statement that they won’t go down without a fight. They’ve had a full week to prepare while Spurs had weekend duties, giving them both rest and the benefit of a tactical debrief.

Do Bodo/Glimt actually have that big of a home advantage?

Bodo/Glimt have only lost once in Europe this season, an impressive record given they’ve been underdogs more often than not. Many assumed there would be a yawning gulf in quality between them and their opponents, but reality hasn’t quite matched that assumption.

Much of their strength comes from the immense home advantage. Whether it’s the cold, their artificial pitch, or just the element of surprise, they make teams uncomfortable. But don’t buy too much into the Arctic hysteria. In fact, while writing this, there was only an 8-degree difference between the temperatures in London and Bodo, also checked just a couple of minutes before kickoff time.

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They’ve underperformed their xG just twice in Europe; against Qarabag and Twente. And as for the pitch, Tottenham have already played on artificial turf this season, in the 3-0 win over Tamworth. They struggled for long spells in that game, though Bodo’s surface should be an upgrade.

Tottenham team news

Tottenham will be without James Maddison, who might miss the rest of the season after limping off in the first leg. If that’s confirmed, he joins Lucas Bergvall on the sidelines for the remainder of the campaign.

Both Dominic Solanke and Heung-Min Son remain doubts. Updates are expected from Ange Postecoglou in his press conference later today.

Bodo/Glimt team news

The Norwegians were missing a few key names in the first leg. However, they are now bolstered by the returns of Andreas Helmersen, Patrick Berg and Hakon Evjen; all suspended last week. Defender Odin Bjortuft, who also missed out due to injury, faces a late fitness test. Daniel Bassi has resumed training, though there’s been no final word on his availability.

Predicted Tottenham lineup

Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie, Kulusevski, Bissouma, Bentancur, Johnson, Solanke, Tel

There’s little debate about the backline unless there’s a shock injury. Van de Ven might get a breather due to the dreaded artificial turf because Van de Ven and artificial turf don’t belong in the same sentence.

In midfield, Bentancur was rested entirely against West Ham, and the reason is self-explanatory. With Maddison out, Kulusevski becomes the creative linchpin.

And let’s not forget Bissouma, who was a monster the last time Spurs played on this kind of pitch. He was one of the very few who looked Premier League standard in that game. He was also solid in the first leg, so that’s two reasons why he’ll have his spot retained in the #6 role.

Odobert scored against West Ham in an effort to try and get Ange to start him in this fixture, but it’s unlikely he drops Johnson after his quickfire goal last week.

Richarlison might come in for Tel or for Solanke if he isn’t ready. But Richarlison + 90 minutes + turf = horror story.

Son could start on the left too over Tel if fit, independent of what the situation around Richarlison is, although that decision won’t sit well with many Tottenham fans.

Players to watch out for

Dejan Kulusevski: It’s shocking—and frankly frustrating—how quickly fans turn on him. With Maddison sidelined, this could be his redemption arc. Watch his pre-injury comps and tell me he’s not the man for the job. He’s had enough time after his injury, and something about this game feels like he’s going to pop up and shush his doubters.

Bissouma and Bentancur: Wondering why two names here? I wouldn’t have added either of their names if just one of them starts. But here it’s a case of “two negatives make a positive” and we’re here for it.

Ulrik Saltnes: The captain and the scorer of Bodo’s only goal in the first leg. By a mile, he looked much better than his teammates – but now he has his actual teammates back. Expect box runs, slick link-up play, and a desire to add salt to Spurs’ wounds (sorry, had to throw that one in).

Patrick Berg: Back from suspension, he has been the heart of the Norwegian side’s midfield for quite a while now. Bodo’s highest-rated player this season, without a single goal or assist. Bissouma will need to be glued to him.

Our prediction

More than the team itself, people are obsessing over the wind, the grass, the glaciers, the icebergs, and the penguins (which don’t exist in Bodo, by the way). These factors will still play a role but nowhere near what social media is making them out to be.

The last time Tottenham took a two-goal lead to the home stadium of a lesser-known European team? Call it that night of disaster in Croatia. Dinamo Zagreb came back from a 2–0 deficit in the round of 16s of the Europa League, winning the second leg 3–0. That result had a very big impact on the then manager Jose Mourinho’s future and he was eventually sacked less than a month later.

Not in a much different position is Ange Postecoglou in, albeit Mourinho’s team wasn’t 16th during that loss nor was it a European semi-final. The Tottenham boss will do anything to get his famous ‘I always win things in my second season’ quote tagged as one of the coldest in football history.

We’ll take a draw. But we’re predicting a win.

Predicted score: Bodo/Glimt 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Archie Gray continues to show maturity beyond his years, and now the Tottenham Hotspur youngster has opened up on the impact of Ange Postecoglou during a challenging season.

It has been a difficult 2024/25 campaign for Tottenham Hotspur, who currently sit 16th in the Premier League table with just three games remaining.

Nineteen defeats from their last 35 matches have left them level with the most losses they have ever suffered across a full league season.

Indeed, it has been hard to identify many positives in what has largely been a dismal domestic campaign. Yet amid the gloom, one or two glimmers have emerged.

Archie Gray hails Ange Postecoglou’s influence after strong Spurs breakthrough

The development of a few youngsters is perhaps the biggest silver lining that Tottenham Hotspur can cling to, and among them, Archie Gray has stood tall.

The teenager, along with Lucas Bergvall, has impressed, with Gray going on to win the Young Player of the Year award at the London Football Awards this season.

After making his 42nd appearance of the season in the draw against West Ham United on Sunday, Gray reflected on his progress and expressed gratitude for the trust shown in him by Ange Postecoglou.

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Speaking to the club’s Review Show, as relayed by Tottenham’s official website, the 19-year-old said: “I am just grateful for the gaffer trusting me in these different positions, it is priceless experience at this level.

“I am grateful for every appearance that I get, and I just want to work my hardest and show what I can do in every game.

“This was a tough game today, there was not much time on the ball, but it was another good game to be involved in and to get another appearance.

“If we could not win, it was important for us not to lose the game, now we can take that into Thursday (UEL semi-final second leg against Bodo/Glimt).

“It has been a great season for me, obviously we have had tough times, that is part of football, but we have got such a golden opportunity in these next few weeks.”

Gray and Tottenham eye Europa League glory

Archie Gray has been a top professional since making the move to Tottenham Hotspur last summer.

The teenager has slotted into various unfamiliar roles when called upon, doing a job both at right-back and left-back despite being a natural central midfielder.

On Sunday, once again, he impressed with a composed display, keeping West Ham United’s tricky winger Mohammed Kudus quiet in a tight game that offered very few clear-cut chances.

Atletico Madrid have just reportedly taken a huge step towards securing the services of Cristian Romero from Tottenham, but the La Liga club still have some work to do to finalise the transfer.

Based on the reports over the last few days, it appears that Diego Simeone’s side are seemingly wasting no time in pushing ahead with a move for the Tottenham Hotspur centre-back.

Even though we are still almost a month away from the opening of the transfer window, some outlets have indicated that Atletico are already preparing an offer for Romero.

However, according to various sources, there is a big gap between Atletico’s and Tottenham’s valuation of Romero, which is yet to be bridged.

Atletico Madrid agree personal terms with Cristian Romero

Journalist Ruben Uria has now revealed on Twitch (as relayed by Fichajes) that the Spurs vice-captain believes that his time in North London is now up and is ready for a new challenge.

The 27-year-old is said to be thrilled by the prospect of joining Atletico this summer and has already given his approval for the transfer.

In fact, it is asserted that the Spanish club have already ‘reached an agreement’ with Romero on a five-year deal with the option of a one-year extension.

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However, it is revealed that Atletico are yet to even begin negotiations with Spurs. The publication backs up what we have already heard from other sources by revealing that the two clubs do not see eye-to-eye on the transfer fee for the defender right now.

Romero deal is expected to progress over the coming days

Uria explains that while Atletico are willing to pay €40m (£34m) for Romero, Tottenham are holding out for €58m (£50m) for the player.

However, he says that willingness on the part of both parties to overcome their differences and reach an agreement.

In fact, the journalist asserts that talks between the Premier League and the La Liga side are expected to progress over the next few days.

Tottenham Hotspur may have a chance to sign a Bundesliga striker who has scored 16 goals this season on a cut-price deal this summer, but they are now facing competition from around the Premier League as well as from across Europe.

With Richarlison expected to depart Spurs this summer, one would expect the North London club to be in the market for a number nine to compete with Dominic Solanke.

However, Tottenham are not in a position to spend big this summer, with reports indicating that Spurs would have to sell before buying, given the state of their finances.

That is perhaps why it emerged a couple of days ago that Tottenham have turned their attention to Borussia Monchengladbach’s striker Tim Kleindienst, who is expected to be available on a discount after the Bundesliga club failed to qualify for Europe.

Tottenham facing plenty of competition for Tim Kleindienst

A fresh report in CaughtOffside has now backed up Spurs’ interest in the Gladbach forward and they too confirm that the player could be made available for just €30m-€35m (£25.4m-£29.6m) this summer.

This is due to the German club’s current financial situation, which might force them to cash in on some of their biggest names this summer.

While this figure is considered ‘a very reasonable investment’ by Tottenham Hotspur, they are not the only ones tempted by the opportunity.

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The outlet says that West Ham United, Everton and Wolves are all now considering pushing ahead with a move for Kleindienst when the transfer market opens next month.

European clubs also contemplating a move for Kleindienst

The competition for the 29-year-old’s signature does not end there, with the player also said to be attracting interest from Serie A.

Both Inter Milan and AS Roma are said to be keen on adding more firepower to their forward line and both clubs are now allegedly keeping an eye on Kleindienst’s situation.

Finally, the publication adds that Bayern Munich are also ‘evaluating’ the German international right now as they prepare their summer shopping list.

It turns out that Davinson Sanchez could soon find himself back in the Premier League, two years on from swapping Tottenham Hotspur for Galatasaray, with one English club now showing keen interest in the former Spurs man.

Sanchez initially joined Tottenham Hotspur in a £42m deal from Ajax back in 2017, and the centre-back spent six years at the North London club, making a total of 207 appearances for the Lilywhites.

While the Colombian initially showed a lot of promise, he never truly managed to establish himself as one of the club’s important players and was eventually sold to Galatasaray in 2023.

The 28-year-old has been nearly flawless for the Turkish giants over the last two years, emerging as a leader at the back for the club and playing a key role in their Super Lig win last season and their outstanding title defence so far this campaign.

Tottenham could face Davinson Sanchez again next season

A report in the print edition of the Turkish newspaper Sabah (as relayed by Sport Witness) has now suggested that the centre-back could be set for a shock return to the Premier League this summer.

The report says that Everton are keen on adding to their defensive stocks this summer and have set their sights on Sanchez.

The outlet does not provide any detail on the fee that the Toffees would have to pay to sign the former Spurs man, but it is said that the Merseyside club have already made a contract offer to the centre-back.

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However, there is thought to be confidence at Galatasaray that they can hold onto their star defender despite Everton’s interest.

Sanchez compared to Virgil van Dijk in Turkey

The former Tottenham defender has been so dominating and consistent in the Super Lig that some rather outlandish statements have been made about him over the last month.

One pundit insisted earlier this season that Sanchez is better than Virgil van Dijk, which is an opinion that Spurs fans might find it hard to get their heads around.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly battling two of their Premier League rivals for Yann Bisseck and a fresh report has now revealed the fee that Inter Milan are demanding for the centre-back.

With reports suggesting that Cristian Romero is expected to depart Tottenham this summer, it is unsurprising that we are suddenly seeing a whole host of centre-backs across Europe being linked with a move to N17.

Among the names most heavily linked is the Inter star, with a number of outlets claiming over recent weeks that Tottenham have set their sights on Yann Bisseck.

It was revealed last month that Spurs may have to battle West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton for Bisseck, and a new update has now revealed that the 24-year-old is not expected to come cheap.

Tottenham can sign Yann Bisseck for just under £50m

CaughtOffside have now become the latest outlet to talk up Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in the German defender.

Interestingly, the report names Man United and West Ham as Spurs’ two biggest competitors in the race for Bisseck, explaining that Inter would be happy to cash in on the centre-back.

However, the Nerazzurri have no interest in selling the former Koln man for a cut-price fee and will demand €55m (£46.8m) for the player’s services.

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The publication adds that as things stand, no Premier League club have launched any offers for Bisseck or even reached out to Inter regarding the player’s availability.

Which other centre-backs are on Tottenham’s radar?

Over the last couple of months, we have seen reports suggesting that Spurs are eyeing the likes of Marc Guehi, Dean Huijsen, and Jarrad Branthwaite.

Additionally, Bisseck is not the only Serie A centre-back on the Lilywhites’ radar, with Tottenham also thought to be interested in AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw.

Bryan Gil has opened up on his mental health struggles at Tottenham Hotspur and has revealed how his loan move to Sevilla in 2023 saved him and helped him regain his love for football.

Gil has good reason to feel hard done by at Tottenham Hotspur, with the winger being overlooked by three different managers: Nuno Espirito Santo, Antonio Conte and Ange Postecoglou.

What would have made the situation particularly hard to swallow for the 25-year-old is the fact that he gave a decent account of himself for the Lilywhites whenever an opportunity came his way.

The winger has demonstrated his quality once again at Girona this season and he looks destined for a summer move as Gil confirmed just a few days ago that he will leave Tottenham permanently at the end of this season.

Bryan Gil opens up on his struggles at Tottenham

The Spain international has now been candid about what he was going through in North London, admitting that he fell into a depression during his time at Hotspur Way.

Gil confessed that he only rediscovered his love for the game when he returned to Sevilla on loan in January of 2023, admitting that it was a dream come true to be part of the club’s Europa League title win.

The Tottenham man said in an interview with Post United on YouTube (as relayed by Estadio Deportivo): “The truth is, the return was very beautiful. For me, it was a dream come true to win a title with Sevilla after six months in London that weren’t very good, after that first year in which I think I practically fell into depression, to see that football rewards you, that you enjoy playing football, it was incredible.

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“I didn’t expect it at all because when I arrived, we were in a dangerous situation, and no one expected we would finish the year the way we did. I had that lack of motivation from the first six months; I didn’t imagine that’s what being a footballer was all about.

“I only thought about enjoying myself and always playing, but you have a lot of rough patches that are important to overcome in order to mature.”

Girona’s stance on a permanent move for Gil this summer

Given how well Gil has done at Girona this season, one would expect the club to sign the winger permanently this summer.

However, over recent months, some sources have claimed that Girona are unlikely to activate their €15m (£12.5m) option to buy Gil as they consider the price excessive.

Ramon Vega does not believe that Ange Postecoglou has been given a chance to succeed at Tottenham Hotspur, insisting that the club’s poor recruitment over the last two years has made the Australian’s job impossible.

Spurs find themselves in a very strange situation at the moment. Even though they are just one game away from a European final, Postecoglou’s future as Tottenham manager is uncertain beyond this summer.

That is natural when one considers the team’s abject results domestically this season, but many Tottenham fans have directed their anger at the club’s owners rather than at Postecoglou.

That is a sentiment that Ramon Vega shares, with the former Spurs defender pointing out that too many top managers have failed at N17 for the finger to be pointed at the coaching.

The pundit believes that just like his predecessors, Postecoglou has been hung out to dry by the owners, given their lack of emphasis on adding the required quality to the squad over the last few transfer windows.

Ramon Vega says no manager in the world could succeed with current Tottenham squad

Vega believes that the issues at Spurs lie with their poor recruitment, insisting that no manager in the world can guide a squad full of teenagers to a top-four or top-five finish.

The 53-year-old remarked that despite all that Daniel Levy and the current owners have done to improve the infrastructure at N17, they are not going to get the supporters onside unless they deliver trophies.

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Interestingly though, Vega believes that Ange Postecoglou is the right man to take Tottenham Hotspur where they want to get to and called on the club to back the 59-year-old this summer rather than sacking him.

When asked his thoughts on how Tottenham are being run, Vega told Spurs Web in an exclusive interview: “Let’s start with the positives: Tottenham have a great infrastructure. They built up a fantastic stadium and some great training ground facilities. I wish I’d had something like that when I was there. If you saw our training ground at the time, you would laugh. Now, it’s like a 5-star luxury resort.

“All of that environment has been pretty much built all great, but the one major thing is the football is still the main dominating principle driver of any football club. If you’re not successful on the pitch, you can have the best luxurious stadium in the world. You still are not going to convince the fans, simple as that.

“You might make money through non-football orientated revenue streams, and that’s what Spurs have been doing, but the whole emphasis on winning something is not there for a lot of wrong reasons.”

“First of all, they didn’t put emphasis into recruitment for a long, long time, which I think is a crucial part. That’s where you have 4-5 to up to 10 years forecast, where you can build that success over a period of time and have a certain stability.

“That stability with so many coaches going through Spurs…we are talking now within the last 5 to 6 years, nearly 3-5 coaches, and we are talking the best coaches in the world have not won anything with the club. This shows it’s not the coach’s fault anymore.

“I think Ange is a great coach who did a fantastic job at Celtic. I told everybody when Ange joined Spurs that they should be grateful that he signed up, because who wants to come to Spurs?

“This environment or support for players… Ange Postecoglou had these issues this year at Tottenham from not having this support in the summer or January transfer market and on top of that, more than half of the squad is injured. No manager in the world can actually be successful. It’s impossible.

“You’ve got 7-8 teenagers on the pitch who have no experience…it’s impossible to finish in the top 4-5 positions. That’s where we are now, and I think this is what the board has to look into. In the future, they have to support Ange, but also look into recruitment, and that’s one of the key elements they have to invest in.”

Ramon Vega doubts whether things will change at Spurs

Vega believes that the priority of the Tottenham ownership should now be to do all they can to make the team successful on the pitch.

However, he doubts if that will be the prevailing thinking at Hotspur Way, suggesting that they might continue to prioritise the bottom line.

Vega added: “Now the infrastructure is done, let’s get the football done, but I have doubts, he is going to do it because they’re looking at any penny like a business, but football is not just about that as well.

“It has to have a balance behind that, and I think if the football pitch is successful, I think the outcome of earning more money will be much higher than what they’re earning now, and I think that should focus on that now.”