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Tottenham Hotspur got off to a fantastic start in their Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt, earning a 3-1 win and a two-goal cushion to take to Norway next week.

Let’s take a look at the five things we learned from the Europa League match:

Atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Wow. We haven’t seen an atmosphere like that at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since our 2019 Champions League run – and that includes North London derbies. Everything about last night was perfect, from the players and the staff down to the fans and volunteers.

A huge well done to THFC Flags for working with Spurs to organise such a memorable tifo. Thank you to Tottenham for providing the flags in every seat, which was a fantastic touch under the lights. And a huge congrats to the 60,000 Spurs fans who sang and supported their hearts out for 90-plus minutes. We have endured some quiet, dreary, and dismal Sunday afternoons this season in the Premier League, but it just goes to show how powerful this modern stadium can be under the right conditions. It has to be said, the players really lived up to that energy too last night.

James Maddison steps up in the big moment

James Maddison was accused of not stepping up enough in the big moments by Roy Keane, but he did exactly that once again last night. Let’s not forget, Spurs were only in the semi-final to begin with because Maddison made a superb run and took one for the team to earn a crucial penalty against Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarters. Last night, he was at his creative best in midfield, pulling the strings when dropping deep and looking dangerous in and around the box. You just get the feeling that we haven’t seen the last of that long ball from Pedro Porro into a deep run from James Maddison, too. It has been such a weapon for Tottenham in Europe this season.

We all know what a world-class player Maddison can be; it’s all about showing that consistency. I honestly think that with a team playing well around him – like we saw at the start of Ange Postecoglou’s era – Maddison could elevate his game to the next level. Let’s just see if Spurs actually commit to building that kind of high-quality team.

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Rodrigo Bentancur back to his pre-injury best

We were starting to wonder whether Rodrigo Bentancur would ever reach the heights of his first year at Tottenham again. You see it time and time again – players coming back from year-long injuries and struggling to ever get back to where they were. This season, Bentancur has struggled with the pace and physicality of a Premier League midfield. His entire game is built around composure, being press-resistant, and finding those clever passes between the lines.

When you are not at 100%, it is so difficult to play that kind of role with the consistency you need to positively impact games without giving the ball away in dangerous areas. However, over the last month, we have seen a return to the Bentancur of old – and just in time, too! Fingers crossed this is not just a purple patch and Rodrigo can keep setting the Spurs tempo over the next (hopefully) two European matches this season. He was our Man of the Match last night.

A few injury concerns for Tottenham

Tottenham and injuries have gone hand-in-hand this season. Spurs fans would have feared the worst last night when both James Maddison and Dominic Solanke went down with respective injury problems. Not to mention the fact that Lucas Bergvall was seen on crutches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Fortunately, Postecoglou has provided a positive update on Maddison and Solanke, but it remains to be seen whether they will be involved at the weekend, or even next Thursday. One thing is for certain: if Spurs have any chance of lifting silverware this season, they need their strongest XI to stay fit.

That pesky artificial pitch at Bodo/Glimt

One thing stands between Tottenham Hotspur and a European final: an away leg on Bodo/Glimt’s artificial pitch. It is well known in football that astroturf pitches are harder to run on and increase the likelihood of injuries – which is something Spurs need no help with this season. It will be interesting to see who Postecoglou risks on the artificial pitch vs who he protects.

It’s full-time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after Spurs secured a 3-1 win over Bodø/Glimt in the Europa League semi-final first leg.

A valiant showing from a determined Spurs side tonight and things are looking good ahead of the trip to Norway courtesy of goals from Brennan Johnson, James Maddison and Dominic Solanke.

Let’s take a look at our player ratings following the final whistle between Tottenham and Bodø/Glimt.

Tottenham player ratings vs Bodø/Glimt in the Europa League

Guglielmo Vicario – Other than a late scare in the first-half, Vicario had nothing to be worried about until Bodø/Glimt had their first shot. He failed to make a save, although in fairness there was little he could have done to stop the deflected effort. 6

Pedro Porro – Porro played an important role in Tottenham’s first two goals. His long balls were on point tonight and he did his shift in defence. 8

Cristian Romero – Almost had an assist in the first-half when he played a ball over the top to Maddison. In the second he won Spurs a penalty, reaching his leg up well to draw the foul. Sadly, the skipper on the night began showing his all too familiar antics with a pointless off the ball foul which saw him booked. He could have perhaps done better for Bodo’s goal, but not a bad showing overall. 7.5

Micky van de Ven – The former Wolfsburg man usually finds a way to be involved in every game he plays, but tonight he had a fairly quiet game. 6.5

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Destiny Udogie – Initial excitement about Udogie turned to disappointment this season. His performances haven’t been at the required level. Tonight was a different story, as he posed a threat on the left wing. A good performance on the night. 7.5

Yves Bissouma – Looked poor in the first-half, but he was livelier in the second. He was eager to close down the opposition and make interceptions. 7.5

Rodrigo Bentancur – The Uruguayan midfielder looked good for much of the game, but he got in Romero’s way and then deflected a Bodø/Glimt shot into the back of the net. 6.5

James Maddison – Scored Tottenham’s second goal, showcasing excellent control and completing the move with a fine finish. Unfortunately he went down injured not long after the hour mark. Hopefully Maddison is back quickly because that was some performance from the vice-captain. 9

Brennan Johnson – Opened the scoring for Tottenham and won a free kick in a promising position not long into the second-half, which came to nothing. 7

Dominic Solanke – The England international was fairly quiet for much of the game, although he was good on the ball. He had his moment when he stepped up and converted a penalty with an ice-cold spot kick which left the keeper helpless. He was replaced by Odobert after 75 minutes. 8

Richarlison – It didn’t take long for the Brazilian to get involved, as he helped Spurs take the lead with a headed assist. He did his job effectively and was replaced at half-time by Tel. 7.5

Subs

Mathys Tel – Tottenham lacked attacking momentum in the second-half. Richarlison would have probably offered more than Tel had he stayed on the pitch. 6

Dejan Kulusevski – Came on for Maddison and didn’t live up to his predecessor. He had a chance at the end, but failed to convert. 6

Latest reports suggest that Real Madrid are keeping tabs on Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Lucas Bergvall despite him signing a new contract.

Tottenham Hotspur earlier this week shared a welcome bit of news, confirming that Lucas Bergvall has put pen to paper on a new six-year deal, keeping him at Hotspur Way until 2031.

The 19-year-old midfielder has made a swift impression since arriving in North London and has not been shy about his ambitions.

Following his new deal, Bergvall spoke openly about his desire to win trophies with Tottenham, making it clear that he sees himself as part of the north London club’s future success.

With Ange Postecoglou’s side now just three wins away from European silverware, having reached the semi-finals of the Europa League, the Swede will no doubt be hoping his breakthrough campaign ends with something tangible to show for it.

Real Madrid eye future move for Tottenham star Lucas Bergvall

While Tottenham continue to rebuild and aim for sustained success, Real Madrid are a club where winning has long been the norm.

Their rich history and record in Europe often attract the very best, and Lucas Bergvall is now a name being quietly monitored.

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According to a fresh report from GIVEMESPORT, the Spanish giants have not taken their eyes off the Swedish midfielder.

Although he has just signed a new contract at Tottenham, the suggestion is that Real Madrid still consider him one to watch for the future.

The report indicates that there are no plans from Bergvall’s end to push for a move this summer, nor do Madrid expect anything immediate.

However, the Spanish side remains keen on adding the most promising young players in world football to their squad, and Bergvall’s progress has not gone unnoticed in the Spanish capital.

Spurs must show ambition to keep Lucas Bergvall long-term

Since leaving Sweden, Bergvall has caught the eye with a series of mature displays in midfield, often competing for minutes with the likes of Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr. His rise has been rapid, and it is clear he is well thought of within the Tottenham setup.

GIVEMESPORT has also stated that despite Madrid sniffing around, Bergvall is fully committed to Tottenham after earning his new contract.

The youngster is said to be focused on cementing his place in the Spurs side and has been pleased with the strides he has taken this season under Ange Postecoglou.

Although Real Madrid are always a threat when it comes to poaching elite-level prospects, the Lilywhites can retain Bergvall if they continue to build a project he believes in.

The player reportedly backs Tottenham’s recruitment vision and remains unfazed by their current mid-table position or concerns about European football next season.

Still, if the club wish to keep him away from Madrid’s clutches, long-term ambition will be vital.

Tottenham are in the driving seat for one of France’s brightest young stars, with Lyon’s Rayan Cherki firmly on their radar heading into the summer window.

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with Rayan Cherki for some time now, with initial interest surfacing during the winter window.

It was reported back then that Tottenham explored a move for Cherki, though nothing concrete materialised at the time. Spurs have since continued to monitor the 21-year-old closely.

Earlier this month, Tottenham scouts were in attendance to watch Cherki live, with the Frenchman making a decisive impact by scoring a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw against Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United in the Europa League.

Following their scouting, reports suggest that the north London club’s representatives were left impressed by his overall display.

Tottenham lead race for Lyon star Rayan Cherki

While Spurs are not the only side eyeing a move for Cherki, they are reportedly at the front of the queue for his signature.

According to a fresh report from Caught Offside, Tottenham Hotspur are currently leading the race to land the highly-rated Ligue 1 talent.

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Manchester United are also in the mix and remain a strong contender. The Frenchman has registered 12 goals and 19 assists for Lyon this season. The Ligue 1 side are said to value him at around £26-30 million (€30-35 million).

It is reported that Rayan Cherki’s low price tag, when compared to his peers, is one of the reasons why interest is strong from both Tottenham and Man United.

Premier League clubs circle as Cherki considers move

Of course, given the relatively modest asking price for a player with 31 goal contributions this season, several other top European clubs are believed to be watching developments closely.

Bayern Munich have also been linked, while AC Milan, Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Aston Villa are all reportedly keeping tabs on Cherki’s situation.

Crystal Palace have emerged as a surprise suitor, viewing the creative midfielder as a potential replacement should Eberechi Eze depart Selhurst Park this summer.

Cherki is understood to be open to a fresh challenge and sees the Premier League as the ideal environment to take the next step in his career and test himself at the highest level.

With a host of clubs circling, it will be interesting to see where he ends up come the start of next season.

James Maddison has shared his honest take on whether he would pay £45m for Mathys Tel, and his response says a lot about how the Frenchman is viewed at Tottenham.

Convincing Mathys Tel to join Tottenham Hotspur on winter deadline day was not a straightforward task.

Ange Postecoglou had a conversation with Tel before the young forward could make the switch from Bayern Munich to Tottenham, after the forward rejected Levy’s approach.

The Frenchman has since been settling into life in north London, featuring 14 times and scoring 3 goals; however, his long-term future remains unclear.

Reports suggest that Tottenham are not keen on paying the full option-to-buy clause for Tel this summer, and are instead aiming to negotiate a lower figure than the £45 million initially agreed with Bayern Munich.

James Maddison gives his verdict on £45m Mathys Tel deal at Tottenham

While Tel’s numbers have not exactly been groundbreaking, there is no doubt that the forward has displayed flashes of real quality and promise.

With Heung-min Son currently injured, Tel has been the one occupying that left-wing spot at N17, and he has impressed in that role.

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Ahead of a big clash against Bodo/Glimt, James Maddison was asked whether he would personally pay £45 million for Mathys Tel.

The midfielder joked that he does not have that kind of money, but praised Tel for the impact he has made since breaking into the side.

He told football.london: “I have not got £45m! Mathys has been very good since he has come in. Very direct player. I think he has done well.

“He has not played a lot but he has come into the team recently. I am there on the left and we have been developing more of a relationship there.

“Obviously I know what Sonny is going to do there and it is about learning.”

Tel must prove he can replace Heung-min Son at Spurs

Heung-min Son has once again been ruled out, meaning he will not be involved on Thursday when Tottenham face Bodo/Glimt.

Mathys Tel is undoubtedly on trial at Spurs and will need to deliver performances that convince the club he is worth the £45 million outlay.

There is competition for that left-wing spot, with Richarlison and Wilson Odobert options to come into the side, but we expect Tel to start against Glimt.

Tottenham’s search for a potential buyer is set to be affected significantly as a new regulator for English football will soon be passed into law, and a very interesting detail has now come to light about the new regulator.

Over the last 12 months, there have been plenty of rumours doing the rounds regarding a potential takeover or a minority investment into Tottenham Hotspur.

It was first reported that former Newcastle owner, Amanda Staveley had held talks with Daniel Levy, but that now appears to have fizzled out.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that several American investors had shown interest in buying a stake in Spurs, but even that has not amounted to much so far.

More recently, it has been rumoured that a group of private investors from Qatar have shown interest in a full buyout of Tottenham.

However, none of these talks have progressed, with Spurs fans still waiting for concrete news regarding a potential takeover of the club, with many Tottenham supporters wanting to see the back of Daniel Levy and ENIC.

TBR Football point out that Spurs have been on the market since April of last year and one factor is about to affect Daniel Levy’s search for an investor.

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A regulator for English football will soon be passed into law, with a bill currently making its way through parliament.

Among his many duties, the incoming regulator will have the power to introduce a new owners’ and directors’ test, and he could veto any takeovers if he feels that the parties buying any Premier League club do not pass the test.

Interestingly, the outlet reveals that the government’s preferred candidate to chair football’s new independent regulator, David Kogan, is a Spurs fan.

Kogan, who has an impressive CV spanning media, marketing and politics, will be expected to be impartial in that role, but TBR Football suggest that it might help Tottenham to have someone who understands the club in a position of power.

Tottenham hierarchy will have one immediate concern

It does not appear as if a takeover is imminent and the club will thus have to plan for the upcoming transfer window without the expectation of any outside investment.

Daniel Levy has already warned that Tottenham’s recent transfer spending is not sustainable, which indicates that the club are not prepared to take any gambles this summer.

Eric Dier could be set for another fresh start, with the former Tottenham defender reportedly on the verge of leaving Bayern Munich for a new challenge in France.

Several players have departed Tottenham Hotspur and gone on to lift trophies elsewhere, finding success that often eluded them in north London.

Eric Dier, who found himself sidelined under Ange Postecoglou, could now be close to joining that list.

The Englishman may yet get his hands on silverware should Bayern Munich clinch the Bundesliga title before the season wraps up.

That would be a parting gift for Dier, who, according to recent reports, appears to be nearing the end of his time with the German giants.

Eric Dier set for AS Monaco move after Bayern Munich spell

Eric Dier has featured 45 times across his two seasons with Bayern Munich, registering two goals and one assist for the Bavarian outfit.

With only three matches left in the Bundesliga campaign, the defender now looks to be heading for a send-off, closing the chapter on his time in Germany.

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Reports from Fabrizio Romano indicate that Dier has agreed on a deal with AS Monaco. The Journalist has appended his “here we go” seal of approval, suggesting an agreement is already sealed.

The proposed move will see Dier sign a contract with the Ligue 1 side until June 2027, with an option for an additional year.

Dier eyes Bundesliga title before summer transfer

Dier’s move to Bayern Munich certainly raised a few eyebrows at the time, largely due to the perception that the former Spurs man was past his peak years. Still, he has proven a reliable option when called upon.

He even managed to get on the scoresheet in Bayern Munich’s Champions League quarter-final second leg tie against Inter Milan, although his contribution was ultimately not enough to see the team through.

Now, with a Bundesliga title still within reach, Dier has a chance to bow out on a high and finally secure a major honour in his career.

Tottenham Hotspur are one of two Premier League clubs exploring a move for Nico Gonzalez, who is currently on loan at Juventus, but the English duo will have to overcome a couple of roadblocks to sign the player.

While Tottenham’s focus for the moment will solely be on winning the Europa League, one would expect the club’s recruitment department to have started planning for the upcoming transfer window, even though we do not know which manager will be in charge of Spurs this summer.

One would expect the Lilywhites to strengthen their forward line, given that Timo Werner’s loan spell comes to an end this June, while Richarlison is expected to leave Tottenham.

It has now been claimed that the North London club are exploring a move for an Argentine international, who has impressed on loan at Juventus this season.

Tottenham eyeing Nico Gonzalez but there is one problem

This report comes from TuttoSport, who say that Nico Gonzalez has emerged as a target for the Lilywhites as well as Brighton.

The 27-year-old, who is on loan at Juventus from Fiorentina, struggled for regular game time at Turin earlier this season but has had a resurgence over the last couple of months.

The winger now has eight goal contributions this season across all competitions but it is revealed that both Premier League clubs are expected to find it difficult to land the player.

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This is because Gonzalez is thought to be feeling ‘indifferent’ about the interest from the Seagulls and Spurs.

One factor could be key to Gonzalez’s future

The report points out that Juventus have not ruled out the possibility of signing the versatile wide-forward permanently this summer.

However, it is explained that given the Bianconeri’s difficult financial situation, they can only sign Gonzalez if they qualify for the Champions League.

The report adds that the Argentine international feels at home in Turin and is determined to make a mark at the Allianz Stadium, thus further complicating Tottenham’s pursuit.

Atletico Madrid are already plotting their first offer for Cristian Romero, but it is expected to be sent straight back by Tottenham Hotspur.

The Tottenham vice-captain’s future has been dominating the headlines over the last few weeks, with several outlets reporting that Romero has said ‘yes’ to joining Atletico Madrid.

Some reports over recent days have even suggested that Romero could agitate to join Atletico this summer if Tottenham try to price him out of a transfer.

The Argentine still has two years left on his deal at the North London club, and it turns out that Atletico are not wasting any time in their efforts to bring the centre-back through the door.

Atletico Madrid’s first offer for Cristian Romero is expected to be turned down

Fichajes have now claimed that Diego Simeone’s men are planning their ‘first former offer’ for the Tottenham Hotspur defender, having been interested in him for a while.

The report says that the La Liga club are ready to put €50m (£42.5m) on the table for Romero early in the transfer window.

However, the outlet says that the bid is not expected to be successful as the North London club are asking for around €70m (£60m) for the 26-year-old.

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Interestingly though, the publication says that Atletico will wait to learn Tottenham’s fate in the Europa League before submitting their offer.

Will Tottenham secretly welcome Cristian Romero’s sale?

Over recent weeks, a number of reports have claimed that Daniel Levy will not make it easy for Atletico to prise Romero away.

However, we also know that the Lilywhites are in a difficult financial situation, with some sources believing that Tottenham need to sell before they can buy this summer.

Johnny Cardoso, who Tottenham were thought to be in the driving seat to land this summer, has reportedly had a change of heart and is no longer keen on a switch to North London.

Until a couple of months ago, some Spanish outlets suggested that it was a foregone conclusion that Johnny Cardoso is on his way to Spurs, given that the Lilywhites have a £21m option to buy the midfielder this summer.

However, the situation seems to have got more complicated over the last two weeks, with several clubs eyeing the USA international on the back of his outstanding performances this season.

We have heard that Man United are pushing ahead with efforts to beat Spurs to Cardoso, and they are not the only club that Ange Postecoglou’s men may have to compete with.

A few days ago, it was revealed that Wolves are ready to triple Cardoso’s salary if he agrees to arrive at Molineux Stadium.

Johnny Cardoso is not convinced about Tottenham move

The print edition of ABC Sevilla (as relayed by Sport Witness) have now revealed that the Real Betis man is ‘not convinced’ about signing for Spurs in light of their poor domestic form this season.

The Lilywhites will not be playing in Europe next season unless they win the Europa League and this is expected to further deter Cardoso from greenlighting a switch to N17.

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As things stand, the USA international is not committed to signing for Tottenham and it is suggested that he might not be particularly keen on joining Wolves either.

The outlet says the 23-year-old could remain at the Estadio Benito Villamarin for one more season. If he does leave, Betis are said to be hoping they can get a fee of around €40m (£34m) for him.

The chickens may come home to roost for Tottenham this summer

This season has been a disastrous one for the North Londoners, with Tottenham on course to achieve their lowest points tally ever in the Premier League.

A club cannot have a season as poor as Spurs have and not expect it to have ramifications in the transfer window.