Daily Express

When you think of Tottenham in the late 2000s, names like Gareth Bale, Dimitar Berbatov and Luka Modric come to mind - players who defined an era with their dynamism, finesse, and footballing genius. And yet, hidden among them was a player who, at least in former Spurs striker Darren Bent's eyes, outshone them all when the ball was at his feet: Adel Taarabt.

Taarabt was one of football's great teases - a player tipped for superstardom whose raw flair and audacity seemed pulled straight from the streets. His touch, flair and on-ball elegance drew comparisons to the great Zinedine Zidane. But for all the Moroccan's artistry, genuine effectiveness was too often fleeting, much to Bent's surprise. "It's a tough one because he had all the attributes," the 41-year-old said speaking exclusively to Express Football. "He was strong, powerful, he had unbelievable feet... he's got the best feet I've ever seen in terms of dribbling, going past people.

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"A couple of times [at Spurs] he showed flashes [of his brilliance]... but I don't know why, it just didn't happen for him in the Premier League."

Taarabt arrived at Tottenham in January 2007 as a wide-eyed 17-year-old, plucked from French side Lens with the aura of a boy destined for greatness. At first it was just a loan, but within six months Spurs had seen enough of his technical wizardry to make the move permanent.

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Yet in north London, he never really found rhythm. Opportunities were scarce, particularly under Juande Ramos, and flashes of talent were left to wither on the sidelines amid accusations of attitude problems.

It wasn't until he moved to Championship club QPR that Taarabt's light finally began to burn, dazzling in flashes that reminded everyone why he had once been tipped for greatness - even if it came a rung or two below the heights so many had imagined for him.

At Loftus Road, Taarabt became the heartbeat of a revival. In 2011, he played a central role in powering the club back into the Premier League after a 12-year exile, finally granting him a stage that felt worthy of his gifts.

A loan to Fulham followed, where he reunited with his old Spurs team-mate Bent. After that, he enjoyed a brief spell at European giants AC Milan, before heading to Lisbon for a five-year stint at Benfica, where he truly found his feet.

In Bent's eyes, getting the best out of Taarabt was never straightforward, but more than worth the effort. To him, Taarabt wasn't just a mercurial talent with unmatched feet, he was also a nice lad who simply needed the right management to unlock his brilliance.

"He really made his mark that year at QPR in the Championship when he got promoted where he won Top Goal Scorer of the Year, Best Player," Bent said. "I think he won all the awards but I do think sometimes managers have to play their part. I think Neil Warnock knew how to get the best out of him in terms of how to press the right buttons at the right time.

"He was a great guy, one of my favourite guys, even though he found it tough at Tottenham. As a person, you really wanted him to succeed because we saw it in training, we saw how good he can be. He was always smiling, he was always joking, he was always laughing.

"So I'm glad that when he left England and he went to Benfica it really worked for him and he did really well there because again, his ability was top drawer. But for whatever reason, sometimes it doesn't work out, right?

"You come to England and people just don't excel like you'd expect them to but as a person, what a guy. I still speak to him now, fantastic team-mate and a really good person."

Bent, now a talkSPORT pundit, is one of just 34 players to have scored 100 or more Premier League goals. He spent two years at Tottenham, scoring 25 goals in 79 games. He also had notable stints at Ipswich, Charlton, Sunderland and Aston Villa, and earned 13 caps for England.

Darren Bent is raising awareness of The Football Association’s Silent Support Weekend. More information is available on the England Football website.

Thomas Frank's Tottenham Hotspur are set to dust themselves off after a string of disappointing results as they prepare to take on Leeds United in Saturday's early kick-off. New signing Xavi Simons has come under fire for his recent performances.

Joao Palhinha was the saviour for Spurs during their last Premier League outing, securing a point with a well-placed strike in added time against Wolves, resulting in a 1-1 draw. The spoils were split once more on Tuesday when Frank's side journeyed to Norway for a Champions League clash. Bodo/Glimt took an impressive 2-0 lead, but a goal from Micky van de Ven and an own goal from the opposition's goalkeeper managed to claw back a point. Daniel Farke's Leeds are up next. Express Football brings you all the latest news regarding the white half of north London, including new recruit Simons facing criticism, a former Chelsea star's revealing confession, and the reason behind Ryan Mason's departure from Spurs.

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Ex-Chelsea player Oscar reveals why he turned down Spurs

Brazilian ace Oscar made his Premier League debut 13 years ago when he joined Chelsea in a £25million deal from Internacional. He clocked up 200 appearances for the club under various managers, proving himself a valuable midfield asset and helping the team secure two league titles and the Europa League.

In 2016, he surprised many by accepting a move to the Chinese Super League. Oscar inked a lucrative four-year contract with Shanghai Port after transferring for an estimated £60m.

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Speaking on his The Obi One Podcast with former team-mate John Obi Mikel, Oscar revealed that before his move to west London he was courted by Spurs. The 34-year-old, who currently plays for São Paulo in Brazil, confessed that Chelsea were the superior choice.

"I had Tottenham as well, because André Villas-Boas was there," he disclosed. "Villas-Boas was the first one to call me. I played under Villas-Boas in China, and he always said, 'I talked to you, why didn't you come?' But, you know, Chelsea... I cannot compare. Chelsea is better, so I chose Chelsea. And it was the right choice."

Doubts over Xavi Simons raised

This summer, Dutch international Simons made a move opposite to Oscar's when he landed in north London despite being heavily linked with a transfer to Stamford Bridge. He cost Spurs £51m and while he is still acclimatising to English football, some have been quick to question his capabilities.

Former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor expressed his doubts on talkSPORT following Tottenham's 2-2 draw against Bodo/Glimt. "Simons, I'm not sure about," Agbonlahor declared. "It's early on, we don't want to judge players after five, six games, but I'm really not sure about him.

"You know, sometimes you see a player and you're like, 'Oh okay, I like him, yeah, yeah, I like what he's about.' But I watch Simons and I'm like, 'Oh, he's on the floor.' He doesn't seem rapidly quick when I watch him as well."

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Ryan Mason sheds light on Tottenham exit

Mason, a boyhood Tottenham fan who had been with the club since he was eight years old, bid farewell this summer to take up the managerial role at West Bromwich Albion. The 34-year-old, who was forced into early retirement in 2018 due to a severe head injury, played for Spurs from 2008 to 2016 and twice served as interim head coach, whilst also assisting several managers.

Following their Europa League triumph in Bilbao, Mason has now opened up about his decision to leave the club. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "In the last 12 months I had the desire [to go out on my own] and it felt like the time was right," adding that he had consulted Ange Postecoglou, who advised him to trust his instincts.

"I spoke to some clubs in the last 12 months, but nothing felt right. The way the season ended in Bilbao with Spurs was amazing. When I understood [West Brom] Albion were interested, it felt right. It's a massive club with great history and impressive people. I felt a real alignment and connection straight away."

Dominic Solanke is poised to go under the knife for ankle surgery in a desperate attempt to resolve the issue that has plagued the Tottenham striker since the summer. The 28-year-old is yet to feature from the start in a competitive fixture this season following an injury sustained whilst mis-hitting a ball during training sessions. Nevertheless, he seemed to be making progress after rejoining training with his Spurs teammates this month.

This followed an injection administered to the England international's ankle during September's international break, which initially appeared to ease the problem. However, Solanke continued experiencing discomfort in his foot and was forced to halt training activities. Thomas Frank confirmed whilst in Norway ahead of the club's Europa League clash against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday that a decision has been reached for the striker to undergo a minor operation.

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"Dom has got that ankle issue that's been bothering him for a little while. So now we decided to make a minor surgery," he explained.

"It's a small procedure. So that will mean he's not ready for today, of course. And of course, Leeds [this weekend] he's out as well.

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"We will have more news about the timeframe after the international break, but I don't expect it to be long."

Solanke is anticipated to be sidelined for weeks rather than months if everything proceeds smoothly with his minor surgery.

Frank dismissed any notion that recent weeks have been squandered in attempting to sidestep a procedure.

"I think you can look from two ways. That's the easy answer, but it's not that easy," he stated.

"If we knew we could have done the surgery a month ago, we probably would have done it."

"For me, it's always 'it is what it is, we deal from now'. We handled this situation in the way we thought was best because generally, no one wants to undergo surgery, no matter how minor it may be.

Spurs are short on strikers for the match against Bodo/Glimt, with summer signing Randal Kolo Muani's dead leg improving but not sufficiently for the Frenchman to make the trip to Norway, while Mathys Tel was not included in the Champions League squad.

It leaves academy graduate Dane Scarlett as the only natural striker to provide backup for Richarlison.

Cristian Romero has also remained in England, which Frank would only describe as "a precaution" following the centre-back's resilient performance in the 1-1 draw with Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday night.

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The businessman leading a bid to buy Tottenham Hotspur swapped DJing for NASA before establishing himself as a tech entrepreneur. The Sun reports that a consortium spearheaded by American Brooklyn Earick is eyeing up the club, just weeks after two expressions of interest were turned down by Spurs' majority shareholders ENIC, which is controlled by the Lewis family.

Discussions between Earick and the club are believed to have commenced while former chairman Daniel Levy was still in charge but have gathered pace since his surprising exit was confirmed earlier this month. The 12-strong consortium, which is said to feature NFL and NBA backers, are prepared to splash out £4.5billion on the club, £3.3bn to purchase ENIC and the Lewis family's stake, plus £1.2bn for transfers, which could potentially be accessible from January onwards. That total sum would eclipse the record £4.25bn that Todd Boehly's consortium shelled out for Chelsea in 2022. But who exactly is Earick and what draws him to Spurs?

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Who is Brooklyn Earick?

Earick, 41, has certainly lived an eclectic life. He dedicated a decade to DJing and music production, entertaining audiences across North America and Europe while simultaneously nurturing a passion for football. He said in 2011: "It's crazy how big electronic music is everywhere.

"I always relate it to soccer. Soccer is massive everywhere else in the world, and it's just starting to gain a little steam here in the US. It's kind of the same with electronic music."

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However, after becoming "burnt out" by the music scene, he made a drastic career change by securing a position at NASA as an electrical engineer. Speaking in an interview in 2016, he explained: "I spent the better part of a decade as a DJ and music producer. I've played shows all over the U.S, Canada, the Caribbean and Europe, from LA to NYC to London to Ibiza.

"I'm very fortunate to have done that for as long as I did, but I was definitely burnt out towards the end. So I hung up the headphones, moved to San Francisco and landed an internship at NASA Ames as an electrical engineer in the small spacecraft division.

"NASA is where I was first exposed to computer programming. I quickly realised how powerful it was, and loved the fact that if you had an idea, you could open your computer and start it right away. So I started taking online courses for both coding and design, reading books and brainstorming ideas."

The expertise he developed while working at NASA sparked his subsequent career transition into the tech industry, where he worked on numerous projects and established high-level connections. Earick established Redacted RnD, which describes itself as "a thought leader in blockchain innovation and digital assets."

Blockchain is a method of selling and recording digital currency, such as Crypto. He also operates a technology-focused investment fund called Algorith Capital. Earlier this year, he was on the brink of purchasing the Maserati MSG Formula E team, but the deal collapsed.

Why Tottenham?

Apart from last season's Europa League victory, Tottenham have endured a barren spell when it comes to silverware. Yet away from the action, the club represents a tremendous triumph courtesy of their magnificent stadium, widely considered among the finest sporting venues in the world.

Spurs generate approximately £4.8m from every home fixture, while commercial income has soared by a staggering 237 per cent when measured against their final complete campaign at the former White Hart Lane. The London location is also a draw, which certainly appeals to prospective purchasers from abroad.

An insider familiar with Earick revealed to the Sun: "Brooklyn and his team think everything is in place at Tottenham already.

"Spurs has a world-class stadium and training ground, the infrastructure is all in place. But with the investment they are ready to make, it will be the final step to turn the club into winners on the pitch as well."

Spurs' takeover stance

A club statement at the start of September said "Tottenham Hotspur is not for sale" after Amanda Staveley's PCP International Finance and a consortium of investors led by Dr Roger Kennedy and Wing-Fai Ng through Firehawk Holdings Limited were revealed to be interested in acquiring the north London club.

ENIC controls 87 per cent of Spurs, but given that the remaining shares are publicly listed, the club falls under the UK Takeover Code. Consequently, any indication of interest or offer must be submitted to the Takeover Code panel and disclosed publicly.

A source close to the Lewis family trust has confirmed that they have not been informed of any consortium prepared to purchase Tottenham, reiterating that the club is not for sale.

Tottenham Hotspur's owners have stood firm in their stance that the north London club is not on the market, despite rumours of a record £4.5 billion takeover bid from a US consortium. Recent reports emerged that tech entrepreneur Brooklyn Earick is leading a consortium that has expressed interest in purchasing the club, just weeks after Spurs' owners ENIC dismissed two informal approaches to buy their majority stake in the Premier League team.

Earick, who earlier this year failed in his attempt to buy Formula E team Maserati, is said to be spearheading a £3.3 billion takeover bid from a group of 12, including NFL and NBA investors, with an additional £1.2 billion earmarked as transfer funds for head coach Thomas Frank. This total package would surpass Todd Boehly's £4.25 billion acquisition of Chelsea in 2022.

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However, insiders close to the Lewis family, who operate Tavistock, the company behind ENIC, told football.london that their position remains unchanged and Tottenham is still not up for sale. The family are also understood to have received no bid or expression of interest from Earick's consortium at this stage.

ENIC holds 87 per cent of the Lilywhites, but due to the remaining shares being publicly traded, the club is subject to the UK takeover code. This stipulates that any expression of interest or bid must be lodged with the takeover code panel and made public, which has not been the case thus far.

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Whether ENIC would reconsider their position if an actual bid were to be made, particularly one exceeding the club's valuation, remains uncertain.

The Lewis family are key players in a period of significant transformation at Spurs. Daniel Levy, a long-standing chairman, stepped down after 24 years following an internal review instigated by the family.

Vivienne and Charles Lewis, siblings, have been present in the directors' box for recent home matches against Villarreal and Doncaster Rovers in the Champions League and Carabao Cup respectively. Vivienne also joined the club on their summer tour to Asia.

Earlier this month, an Asian consortium of investors led by Dr Roger Kennedy and Wing-Fai Ng via Firehawk Holdings Limited informally indicated their intention to bid for Spurs on the day Levy left his post. Amanda Staveley and PCP International Finance Ltd are also thought to have shown sufficient interest, without formally indicating a forthcoming bid, triggering takeover panel rules on disclosure.

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PCP later clarified that they would not be making an offer. In a statement prompted by the takeover interest, Spurs confirmed that ENIC had "received and unequivocally rejected separate preliminary expressions of interest" to acquire their entire stake in the club.

They declared at the time: "The board of the club and ENIC confirm that Tottenham Hotspur is not for sale and ENIC has no intention to accept any such offer to acquire its interest in the club."

Spurs CEO Vinai Venkatesham emphasised this month: "There's been a lot of newspaper articles and a lot of media speculation around a takeover, so I can be really clear on this. So the Lewis family are really clear. They see their involvement in Tottenham Hotspur being long-term and they see their involvement continuing through the generations.

"We made a statement very late last night and a statement I hope was unambiguously clear that Tottenham Hotspur is not for sale."

The report regarding Earick's bid also references a £250million stadium naming rights agreement having been secured by the consortium, though that sum would represent the lower end of such arrangements unless it covers only a relatively brief period.

The Staples Center in Los Angeles, home to NBA sides the Lakers and Clippers amongst other sporting franchises, was rebranded as the Crypto.com Arena in 2021 under a £565million 20-year naming rights agreement.

Similarly in LA, the SoFi Stadium, which houses the Rams and Chargers NFL franchises, opened in 2020 with naming rights valued at £504million across 20 years.

Given the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium's worldwide recognition for football and NFL alongside other sporting occasions and concerts, anticipation had always been that any naming rights agreement would mirror its standing as amongst the globe's premier venues.

Tottenham could boast an unstoppable XI next season if their proposed billionaire takeover goes through ahead of next summer. The north Londoners have been owned by ENIC and the Lewis family for a quarter of a century, but reports suggest that could soon change. Former DJ and tech entrepreneur Brooklyn Earick is heading a 12-man group who are said to have launched a world-record takeover bid.

The consortium have reportedly offered £3.3billion to buy out the entire club while putting another £1.2bn aside to spend on new players. This sort of money would make Tottenham a force to be reckoned with in next year's summer transfer window. If spent wisely, there is every chance they could turn into Premier League title challengers within the next couple of seasons.

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Express Sport looks at the line-up Tottenham could deploy in a dream scenario for 2026/27...

Goalkeeper - Kobel

While a new goalkeeper won't be at the very top of the shopping list, a billion-pound transfer budget would allow Tottenham to improve in almost every position.

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They could do far worse than to sign Gregor Kobel, who has proven himself as a top-class operator during his time at Borussia Dortmund. He was linked with a £60m move to Chelsea over the summer but Spurs could secure his signature for themselves.

Defence - Kounde, Van de Ven, Romero, Robinson

Two more injections of star quality could arrive in defence if Tottenham decide to refresh their full-backs. Jules Kounde would be a great addition on the right, having emerged as one of La Liga's best operators during his time at Barcelona.

A move for Fulham defender Antonee Robinson would add a new dimension on the left, given the American's tendency to bomb forward at every opportunity. He deserves the chance to test himself at a top club while he is still at the peak of his powers.

Midfield - Palhinha, Mainoo, Bergvall

Tottenham could secure a permanent move for Joao Palhinha next summer following his electric start to life in north London. He has done brilliantly since joining on loan and Spurs would be missing a trick by not bringing him back next season.

He could be paired in midfield with Kobbie Mainoo, who faces an uncertain future at Manchester United and has been linked with Tottenham recently. Lucas Bergvall, meanwhile, has incredible potential and will only continue to get better.

Attack - Simons, Rashford, Kane

Harry Kane returning to Tottenham under new billionaire owners is a move that every fan would be desperate for. He remains one of the deadliest strikers in world football and would surely love to win a trophy back where it all started.

Tottenham could also pursue a move for Marcus Rashford, who has enjoyed a productive start to his Barcelona loan spell. He would be an excellent choice to partner Xavi Simons in what would be a formidable front three to strike fear into opposing defenders.

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It had looked at one point that Tottenham Hotspur would break the bank and secure the services of Manchester City winger Savinho. The Brazilian international was open to the move down south, with City reportedly keen to facilitate a deal.

In the end, a move to Spurs didn’t transpire for Savinho, who ended the transfer window as a City player and has since been reintegrated into the first-team squad. He netted his first goal of the campaign on Wednesday night during a Carabao Cup clash against Huddersfield Town - a goal which sparked a passionate celebration from the 21-year-old.

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Savinho was spotted kissing the City badge after finding the back of the net, but he looks set to take his commitment to the club up a level by signing a contract extension with the Blues. That’s according to Fabizio Romano, who states a new deal is on the verge of being agreed between the player and the club.

According to the same outlet, Savinho was very much open to joining Spurs just a month ago, representing a very quick U-turn on his future plans.

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It’s a stark contrast to the situation Savinho found himself in this summer, when it appeared his brief stint as a City player would be coming to an end. The forward initially joined last summer when he joined from City’s sister club ESTAC Troyes after an impressive loan stint with another side in the City Football Group (CFG) web, Girona.

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Guardiola has praised Savinho extensively in the past, and the Catalan even told reporters he was keen to see him stay at City amid the Spurs rumours. Speaking in the summer, he explained: “The only thing I'm concerned about today is that Savinho will be with us all the season, and hopefully for many, many years.

"Because at 21-years-old with the potential he has, playing a lot of minutes, he has to improve in final decisions, he's an extraordinary player. But at the end, as always, the desire of the player prevails above everything, and after that there has to be an agreement with the club. If you don't make an agreement, the player will be here."

Savinho is yet to start a Premier League match for City this term, having made successive substitute appearances during their win against Manchester United and last weekend’s draw with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. He might get that opportunity this weekend when City welcome recently-promoted Burnley to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Brooklyn Earick, a former DJ turned tech mogul, is reportedly spearheading a consortium of 12 that has tabled a record-breaking £4.5billion bid to acquire Tottenham. Earick and his associates have proposed a staggering £3.3bn to take over the entire club from current proprietors ENIC and the Lewis family, with an additional £1.2bn set aside for player investments.

The 41-year-old entrepreneur has rallied support from NFL and NBA investors to endorse his ambitious plan for the North London outfit. Earick's 'Tottenham 3.0' strategy includes significant financial injections into the squad. He is claimed to be on the verge of securing a lucrative £250million stadium naming rights agreement also. This offer would surpass the £4.25bn record sum paid by Todd Boehly's consortium for Chelsea in 2022.

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An insider told The Sun: "Brooklyn and his team think everything is in place at Tottenham already. Spurs has a world class stadium and training ground, the infrastructure is all in place. But with the investment they are ready to make, it will be the final step to turn the club into winners on the pitch as well."

Earick is said to have initiated preliminary talks with the Tottenham hierarchy, including ex-chairman Daniel Levy, a few months ago.

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Despite the recent departure of Daniel Levy, ENIC, Tottenham's majority shareholder, has firmly stated that the club remains off the market. Spurs made it official on September 4 that Levy has relinquished his duties as Executive Chairman, a post he held for a quarter of a century.

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Levy reflected on his tenure in a heartfelt statement: "I am incredibly proud of the work I have done together with the executive team and all our employees. We have built this club into a global heavyweight competing at the highest level."

He continued to highlight the sense of community fostered during his time: "More than that, we have built a community. I was lucky enough to work with some of the greatest people in this sport, from the team at Lilywhite House and Hotspur Way to all the players and managers over the years."

In expressing his gratitude, Levy added: "I wish to thank all the fans that have supported me over the years. It hasn't always been an easy journey but significant progress has been made. I will continue to support this club passionately."

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Reigning Premier League champions Liverpool will host current FA Cup champions Crystal Palace in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. The fourth round draw threw up plenty of mouthwatering clashes when it was made on Wednesday evening following the conclusion of all third round matches.

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Newcastle will host Tottenham at St James’ Park, while Arsenal will welcome Brighton to the Emirates Stadium in another all-Premier League encounter. And Cardiff will travel to Wrexham for a Welsh derby after leapfrogging their rivals in the football pyramid earlier this year when they were promoted to the Championship at the same time the team from the capital were relegated to League One.

But, of course, six-time League Cup champions Manchester United weren’t in the draw after being knocked out of the competition by League Two side Grimsby in the second round following a penalty shootout. Grimsby were in the hat for the fourth round draw and will host Brentford as they go in search of yet another giant killing. Chelsea, meanwhile, will face Wolves at Molineux, while Pep Guardiola will take his Manchester City team to Swansea.

Reigning Carabao Cup champions Newcastle overcame League One table-toppers Bradford at St James’ Park on Wednesday evening to book their place in the fourth round.

Eddie Howe’s team defeated Liverpool 2-1 in last season’s final at Wembley, with Alexander Isak netting the Magpies’ second goal before completing a blockbuster transfer to Anfield this summer.

Liverpool, meanwhile, scraped through to the fourth round after beating Championship side Southampton 2-1 on Tuesday evening.

The Reds left it late to secure the victory as summer signing Hugo Ekitike scored the winner in the 85th minute after coming on at half time.

But the striker was then sent off for a second bookable offence after removing his shirt to celebrate. The Frenchman ultimately apologised for his actions and will miss this weekend’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace.

Chelsea and Arsenal were also unconvincing in the third round as the Blues edged past League One side Lincoln on Tuesday evening courtesy of a 2-1 win, before the Gunners defeated Port Vale 2-0 a day later.

The fourth round matches will be played on the week of October 27, with the quarter-finals then due to take place just before Christmas. The final will be played at Wembley on Sunday, March 22.

Lucas Bergvall has revealed the bizarre circumstances behind his decision to reject Barcelona in favour of joining Tottenham instead. The 19-year-old sealed his switch to north London from Djurgarden for £8.5million last year. However, the transfer was anything but simple, as Spanish heavyweights Barcelona had also been chasing his signature.

A fresh BBC documentary sheds light on Bergvall's reasoning for spurning the Catalan club, with The Athletic's Spurs correspondent Jay Harris detailing the 'hectic' situation surrounding the midfielder's decision. "They fly over, they meet their sporting director Deco in the mountains," he said. "This is when things get a little bit hectic, they were in a restaurant, they are around 150 fans, paparazzi, trying to get in the restaurant, trying to get a glimpse of him."

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Bergvall added: "Yeah, it was strange and I never seen that ever before. Many paparazzi and such a stressful day." Ultimately, the player and his representatives concluded that Tottenham represented the ideal destination for his development.

Former Brommapojkarna sporting director Peter Kisfaludy disclosed that ex-manager Ange Postecoglou proved crucial in securing the deal.

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"I think Postecoglou was really important, when he met him," he said. "If you come here, trust me, you're going to play."

The youngster required several months to settle into Premier League life but, after finding his feet, he established himself as a vital cog in the Tottenham machine. One teammate, in particular, proved instrumental in easing his transition to England's elite division.

"It was a really big moment for me, for my family, for everybody around me," the youngster said about the move to Spurs. "I still remember the day completely.

"In the beginning it was a bit strange, new culture, a lot of traffic. Everybody was so kind to me and helpful and especially [Dejan] Kulusevski. He helped me to come into the group and to learn - and I'm really grateful for that.

"He's been great since the beginning to help me with everything. Not only on the pitch but also off the pitch. He's the example you want in the team. He's top."