Football London

Tottenham transfer plans ahead of January window deadline explained with deals expected for Thomas Frank

Tottenham travel to Germany for their final Champions League group phase clash against Eintracht Frankfurt but behind the scenes, there is no shortage of transfer activity

Under-fire Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has already made it clear he does not want to weaken his squad any further ahead of next week's transfer deadline.

However, Spurs are attempting to swat away vast interest in a number of their players and there could still be at least one departure before February 2.

Frank, who is feeling the heat again following Saturday's 2-2 draw at Burnley, has been forced to name a number of youth players in Tottenham's travelling squad for their final Champions League group phase fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt due to availability issues.

Yves Bissouma, Mathys Tel and new signings Conor Gallagher and Souza are not registered to feature in the Champions League while there is some concern Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro could miss the contest as they were both absent from open training at Hotspur Way on Tuesday morning.

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Antonin Kinsky was present despite strong reports claiming he is close to joining West Ham on an initial loan. The same applies to Randal Kolo Muani, who is attracting interest from Juventus where he spent time on loan during the second half of last season.

Any deal would require Tottenham to sanction the early termination of his current loan and there would also need to be an agreement between Juve and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively.

Understandably, the Europa League winners would be reluctant to warm to that proposition given they're already notably light on numbers in attack but the desire of the player could carry weight given he has his heart set on a place in France's World Cup squad.

Kolo Muani is evidently behind Dominic Solanke in the Tottenham pecking order at this moment in time and the Frenchman's form has also nose-dived in the past two months, when he has also found himself playing out of position on the wing.

As reported by football.london earlier this month, Kinsky is keen to leave Tottenham on loan now they're out of both domestic cup competitions because outside of a potential injury to Guglielmo Vicario, there's a firm chance he may not play again this season.

West Ham have been probing for several weeks but any agreement would require Spurs to source a replacement for the Czech. If that proves difficult then it's hard to see a deal going through but it's a story that just won't go away, perhaps indicating there's a real chance it materialises.

Meanwhile, Torino are optimistic they will conclude an initial loan deal for Spurs youngster Callum Olusesi after Tottenham have played Frankfurt. The 18-year-old has travelled with the squad to Germany and the Italians are also seeking to negotiate a potential buy-option within the deal.

Rio Kyerematen (20), Malachi Hardy (17) and James Rowswell (19) are also understood to have travelled to Frankfurt with the Tottenham squad alongside last week's debutant Jun'ai Byfield, per images on the club's website.

So far, Spurs have continued to hold firm amid huge interest in defender Radu Dragusin. Roma have already seen one loan approach rebuffed but other clubs are now entering the fray with RB Leipzig, Napoli and AC Milan all linked.

Roma are also believed to have had an enquiry knocked back for Tel according to sources close to the player, though it's unclear when that contact took place. It goes without saying that Spurs do not want to lose the former Bayern Munich winger this month despite his omission from Frank's recently-updated Champions League squad.

Former Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has been out of work since he was dismissed by Nottingham Forest in October

Just days after observing Arsenal in Champions League action, former Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou will be monitoring another Premier League side closely. Postecoglou has been keeping himself busy in his fresh capacity as a UEFA technical observer, having witnessed Mikel Arteta's Gunners claim a 3-1 victory over Inter Milan at the San Siro last week.

This Wednesday, he'll be stationed at the Parc des Princes to observe Newcastle United's clash with defending champions Paris Saint-Germain. Both sides enter the encounter level on 13 points, with a top-eight league phase finish in line for the winner.

According to UEFA's official description, 'The UEFA Technical Observer Group will be monitoring UEFA's club competitions in depth, with stats and video assistance enabling them to deliver detailed reports on the latest developments in coaching which are shared among the footballing community to give a dynamic account of the state of the game'.

Postecoglou isn't the only former Premier League boss chosen for the role, with others including Gareth Southgate, Roberto Martinez and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The technical observers select the player of the match for each fixture they oversee, whilst also contributing to determining the player, young player, team and goals of the season.

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Postecoglou's official assessment of the Inter versus Arsenal match was published on UEFA's website. "[Gabriel] Jesus' alertness in the box gave Arsenal a cutting edge to complement their ability to create opportunities from various avenues,"

"Both goals [scored by Gabriel Jesus] were instinctive. The first was from a mis-hit shot that he was able to capitalise on and the second from a rebound off the crossbar. Both are a demonstration of a goalscorer's instincts as, while others are watching, he is anticipating an opportunity to score".

Postecoglou, who left Spurs over the summer, briefly returned to management with Nottingham Forest in September. He oversaw two Europa League fixtures during his tenure at the City Ground but was gone within weeks and hasn't returned to the dugout since Forest gave him his marching orders in October.

The Australian tasted glory in the Europa League final with Spurs last term and has Champions League experience with Celtic. This week, he will be observing another manager who finds himself under scrutiny, with Newcastle chief Eddie Howe not believed to be in immediate danger but still feeling the pressure after a weekend defeat at home to Aston Villa.

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Thomas Frank is holding his press conference on Tuesday evening ahead of Tottenham's Champions League match at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Spurs travel to Germany knowing that a victory against a managerless Frankfurt side that cannot progress to the knockout stages will book their own place in the round of 16, as finishing in the top eight in the big league phase guarantees those clubs will miss out on the play-off stage.

Frank needs all the positive results he can get right now as while Tottenham's European adventures have been good, their Premier League form has been dreadful with just two wins from 14 matches, including Saturday's disappointing draw at 19th-placed Burnley which was only grabbed by captain Cristian Romero's late goal.

Frank will be asked about his future as well as the prospect of further transfers in the final days of the winter transfer window. The Dane will also provide updates on Joao Palhinha's injury as well as any fresh concerns with Pedro Porro and Micky van de Ven not spotted in training.

Our Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold is among those putting the questions to Frank as well as his striker Dominic Solanke. Scroll down for the latest updates from the press conference at the Deutsche Bank Park.

football.london is on hand to provide you with the latest Tottenham transfer state of play ahead of the rapidly-approaching February 2 deadline

Tottenham have already brought in two new January arrivals in the form of Conor Gallagher and Souza. However, the Europa League winners may not be finished yet in the market despite uncertainty over the future of head coach Thomas Frank.

Frank has already made one thing clear; his preference would be that no more players depart N17 before next week's January 2 deadline.

Instead, he would ideally like the club to focus on incomings with a wide forward still among Tottenham's top priorities.

When Spurs ruthlessly sold Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace for £35million, supporters were optimistic the board already had a replacement lined up.

But signing a top-class forward mid-season has so far proven difficult. Enquiries were made for Yan Diomande but RB Leipzig won't consider offers until the summer and Spurs were also ready to move on Antoine Semenyo but were effectively ousted by Manchester City.

Maghnes Akliouche of AS Monaco remains appreciated but Tottenham are yet to make any concrete moves for the Frenchman, who is a key player for the Ligue 1 outfit.

The cash is there to spend but Spurs do not want to risk making a big-money mistake and given Frank is under enormous pressure, there's an argument it wouldn't make logical sense to invest huge cash on a player specifically tailored to an under-fire head coach's brand of football.

A deal for Andy Robertson has also been placed on hold until the summer when the Scotland captain is due to leave Liverpool as a free agent.

Spurs were ready to pay a small fee to land the 31-year-old left-back after losing Ben Davies to a fractured ankle.

Liverpool, however, are now indicating they won't sanction Robertson's departure this month as they're light on numbers.

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Tottenham had agreed a deal in principle with their Premier League counterparts that would have seen Robertson arrive in north London after Wednesday's final Champions League group phase match against Qarabag.

But that verbal agreement has now been pulled because AS Roma have struggled to find a replacement for Kostas Tsimikas, who could return to Liverpool from his loan this month even though there is no recall clause.

Spurs still have a very slim chance of landing Robertson before the deadline but that would require Roma to sign left wing-back cover amid interest in Wolves' David Moller Wolfe.

Unfortunately, it is possible there are more exits even though there have already been a raft of departures. Manor Solomon moved to Fiorentina on loan - terminating his Villarreal loan prematurely - with an £8.7m buy-option.

Kota Takai headed out on loan to Borussia Monchengladbach and Yang Min-hyeok joined Coventry City on loan, terminating his Portsmouth loan early.

There's been movement elsewhere too with Jamie Donley teaming up with Will Lankshear at Oxford United following a short spell on loan at Stoke. That deal is also an initial loan with a buy-option.

Spurs U19 striker Oliver Irow has also headed to League One side Mansfield Town on loan, where he notched two goals on his debut.

Italian reports claim Torino are interested in signing Callum Olusesi on an initial loan that could also include a permanent option. Fellow Serie A club Roma are not only targeting Radu Dragusin but they're also interested in Mathys Tel.

They aren't alone though as Paris FC and Villarreal are also keen but Spurs have no desire to let the Frenchman leave, even though he's thought to be unhappy with being removed from the club's Champions League squad.

Dragusin wants to play regular football following his return from knee surgery but Spurs are reluctant to weaken their squad even further. Unless a suitable permanent offer lands on the table, the Romanian will be staying put.

Antonin Kinsky would like to go on loan but any deal would require Spurs to also sign a replacement, which appears unlikely and does not make too much sense.

Talks between Tottenham and Liverpool over a deal for Andy Robertson have stalled but Spurs remain keen on concluding a deal for the 31-year-old Scotland captain

Liverpool sources insist Andy Robertson will not be leaving Anfield for Tottenham this January.

However, Roma are still working on securing a potential replacement for loanee Kostas Tsimikas and should a deal materialise, there is a small possibility Spurs' interest in Robertson could yet be revived before next week's January 2 deadline.

The Italian side have had contact with Liverpool about terminating Tsimikas' loan, though that is only likely to happen after their final Europa League group phase match at Panathinaikos on Thursday.

Sporting director Ricky Massara has confirmed those discussions, telling Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport: “It’s true, there is a discussion with Liverpool. We’ll see how the solution evolves in the coming days.”

Roma have also already held initial talks over a move for Wolves wing-back David Moller Wolfe, who has been an unused substitute in each of his current side's last three Premier League matches.

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Wolfe has also been subject of interest from Turkish giants Besiktas and is not the only name on Roma's shortlist.

Other targets include Atletico Madrid's Matteo Ruggeri and 19-year-old Toulouse gem Dayann Methalie.

Should Roma secure an agreement for either of those players, there's a firm chance Tsimikas could head back to Liverpool.

Spurs are said to have agreed a deal in principle to sign Robertson once this week's final Champions League group phase fixtures are out of the way. Liverpool have since pulled the plug on that, however.

There have also been rumblings that the verbal agreement was worth around £5million inclusive of bonuses.

Robertson is not thought to be pushing desperately to depart Liverpool this month and there's recognition at Anfield that it makes little sense to move him on this window.

Milos Kerkez was subbed off at half-time in the 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth because he was "in the red zone" while Joe Gomez was also forced off through injury.

Arne Slot's defensive numbers are significantly depleted and outside of maybe recalling Tsimikas, they are not expected to do any other further transfer business this month.

Robertson will become a free agent on June 30, providing there are no fresh developments in terms of Liverpool offering him a fresh contract.

He joined the Premier League champions from Hull City in the summer of 2017 and has won nine trophies during his nine-year spell on Merseyside.

Tottenham brought forward their interest in the Scotland captain after losing Ben Davies to a fractured ankle.

The injury required not one but two operations and there's a strong likelihood the Wales international has now played his final game for Spurs.

The arrival of teenage left-back Souza from Santos means the Europa League winners are still well stocked at left-back with Djed Spence already competing with Destiny Udogie for a starting berth.

Tottenham have been one of the busiest clubs in the January transfer window – and there could still be more incomings and outgoings before next Monday's deadline

Tottenham Hotspur’s hopes of signing Andy Robertson suffered a setback over the weekend after Liverpool pulled the plug on a deal. Talks had taken place between both clubs last week as Thomas Frank sought to add some much-needed experience to his squad.

Robertson has started only four Premier League matches this season, having lost his place to Milos Kerkez. His contract is also set to expire at the end of the season but the former Hull City man now looks set to remain at Anfield until the end of the campaign.

But with just a week to go until the window closes, and Frank still under pressure following Saturday's 2-2 draw with Burnley, Tottenham continue to be the subject of transfer news and gossip.

Veliz deal in danger of collapsing

Tottenham remain open to selling Alejo Veliz to Bahia - but a deal is in danger of collapsing. The striker is currently on loan at Rosario Central, any hopes Spurs had of recalling him have now ended.

That is because the recall clause in the deal is no longer valid as Veliz has played 1,430 minutes so far this season. As a result, Spurs will need the 22-year-old and Rosario Central’s approval to terminate his loan deal.

But Bahia, according to journalist German Garcia Grova, took matters into their own hands and made a formal offer to Rosario Central to terminate the loan agreement immediately. However, and this is the important part, the offer they have made expires today, meaning all parties face a race against time to get a deal completed.

Rayan medical

Conor Gallagher and Souza have already joined Spurs, this month, but now look set to miss out on a deal for Rayan. A report from Brazil claimed last summer that talks with Vasco da Gama over a deal for the forward had taken place.

However, it is now being reported by multiple outlets that Rayan has agreed personal terms with Bournemouth ahead of a proposed £30m transfer. The teenager is set to undergo a medical today (Monday).

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Spurs join Svilar transfer race

Given Tottenham have conceded 31 goals this season, more than most top half teams, it is little surprise to hear they have joined the race to sign AS Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Spurs, Chelsea and Bournemouth are thought to be keen, as well as Bayern Munich are keen on signing the 26-year-old. The report claims that the Serie A side, as of the middle January, valued the Belgium international at €70m.

Andy Robertson first emerged as a potential target for Tottenham Hotspur late last week, with Thomas Frank desperate to turn things around in north London

Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a major blow to their hopes of signing Andy Robertson. The 31-year-old defender was heavily linked with a move to the Lilywhites over the weekend, but Liverpool appear to have pulled the plug on any potential deal.

football.london understands that Thomas Frank wanted to bolster his squad with more experience and leadership, hence the arrival of Conor Gallagher earlier in the transfer window. Last week, Spurs agreed a deal in principle with the Reds to sign Robertson following the conclusion of the UEFA Champions League 'league phase' on Wednesday night.

However, the deal hinged on whether Liverpool could recall Kostas Tsimikas from his season-long loan at Roma. As it stands, the reigning Premier League champions haven't been able to do so.

It's understood that the Italian giants are trying to find a replacement for the 29-year-old defender, so the deal could still happen. But, with the transfer window set to slam shut at 7pm on Monday, February 2, time is running out.

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It's also understood that Robertson, whom Liverpool signed from Hull City for just £10m in July 20217, hasn’t pushed for a move this month.

Speaking to reporters following the Reds' defeat to Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday evening, Virgil van Dijk insisted that he wants Robertson to stay at the club. The Liverpool skipper said: "He's my vice-captain.

"Robbo is a very important member of our team, and I want him to stay, but whatever happens, let's see."

Robertson has struggled to force himself into Arne Slot’s side this season, starting just four times in the Premier League this season. The Scot came off the bench at half-time on the south coast.

When asked whether he expects Robertson to be at Anfield for Wednesday night’s clash against Qarabag in the UEFA Champions League, Van Dijk said: “That's not on me, is it?"

The Netherland international was then asked about his memories of Robertson, but he kept his cards close to his chest and insisted that he would only ‘speak about that’ if the move materialised.

Meanwhile, Slot refused to comment on Robertson’s future at the club. The Liverpool boss said: “What do you think my answer is going to be?

“Have I ever said anything about transfers in front of these microphones. My answer is always the same, and it's quite boring to always give the same answer - we don't talk about transfers in public."

Liverpool have reportedly rejected the chance to sell left-back Andy Robertson to Tottenham Hotspur despite talks between the two clubs in the January transfer window

Liverpool have blocked Andy Robertson's potential transfer to Tottenham Hotspur despite discussions taking place between the two clubs, according to reports.

The Scotland international appeared poised for a switch to North London, but the Reds are reported to have halted any negotiations and will not entertain his departure.

It has been suggested that Spurs were prepared to offer approximately £5m for the defender, with manager Thomas Frank eager to bring additional experience into his squad. Talks progressed well, with discussions at an advanced stage and a deal agreed in principle.

However, after weighing up the proposal, Liverpool have opted to block the move and keep Robertson at Anfield, whilst the defender himself has not pushed for a move away.

Following his side's narrow loss at Bournemouth, Arne Slot made clear his intentions to retain Robertson at the club.

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He said: “I think I need all my players. Robbo had to come in at half-time, in my opinion.

"I always knew that for Milos (Kerkez), another 90 minutes against a very intense Bournemouth side was not a possibility for him, so I knew I would have to bring (Robertson) in.

“I had already had one substitution in the first-half, then you only have two moments left, so I thought ‘let’s bring Robbo in at half-time to make sure Milos stays available for the rest of the season’.

“There’s a lot of games to be played with the players available. I have to manage that as well. The last thing we could need right now is another injury.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk has expressed his wish for the club to keep Robertson.

He stated: "He's my vice-captain. Robbo is a very important member of our team and I want him to stay but whatever happens, let's see."

Robertson's future at Liverpool still remains uncertain, with the defender being out of contract at Anfield in the summer where he would leave as a free agent.

The update also comes at a time when the Reds are reported to have begun talks with Roma about potentially recalling left-back Kostas Tsimikas from his loan spell with the Serie A club.

The 31-year-old moved to Liverpool from Hull City in 2017 and has since made 364 appearances at Anfield. During his time at the club, the Reds have clinched two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the League Cup.

It now remains to be seen what plans Tottenham will have for the rest of the transfer window, with Spurs having until February 2 to strengthen their ranks with more new signings.

Spurs have already signed Souza from Santos earlier this month and it's unclear if that will now remain the only incoming business completed by the club.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has made clear he wants Andy Robertson to stay despite talks over a potential transfer to Tottenham Hotspur before the January window closes

Virgil van Dijk has expressed his desire for Andy Robertson to remain at Liverpool despite ongoing discussions with Tottenham Hotspur regarding a potential transfer before the January window closes.

Robertson had been in talks with Liverpool about a new contract beyond the end of the season prior to Spurs' unexpected approach earlier this week. The two clubs are currently engaged in negotiations, with no decision reached so far.

Liverpool appreciates the significant contributions their vice-captain has made over the past eight-and-a-half years, though this season he has found his game time limited following the signing of Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth.

Naturally, Robertson wishes to secure regular first-team football ahead of captaining Scotland at their first World Cup finals since 1998 later this year, and Spurs have their accelerated plans to the current transfer window.

Speaking to football.london's sister site, the Liverpool ECHO, after Liverpool's 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday evening, club captain Van Dijk revealed that he has discussed the situation with his deputy and hopes that the long-serving left-back will stay on Merseyside for the rest of the season at least.

"Of course I speak to him," said Van Dijk. "I speak to him every day, he's my vice-captain. Robbo is a very important member of our team and I want him to stay but whatever happens, let's see.

"Do I expect him to be here on Wednesday [for the Qarabag game]? That's not on me, is it? Let's speak about [my best memories of him] when [a move] happens."

Liverpool's 13-match unbeaten run was halted in their loss at Bournemouth, with Robertson entering the fray in place of Kerkez with the scoreline 2-1 to the hosts at half-time.

On his decision to use Robertson as a substitute whilst transfer talks with Tottenham take place, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot told Sky Sports: "I think I need all of my players.

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"I thought, let's bring Robbo in at half-time to make sure Milos [Kerkez] stays available for the rest of the season, because there are a lot of games to be played with the players that are available.

"I have to manage that, as well, because the last thing we need right now is another injury."

Meanwhile Spurs were winding down from their 2-2 draw with Burnley at Turf Moor earlier the same day. After that result, Thomas Frank was asked directly whether Robertson would have contributed defensively for his side in the game.