Daily Express

Tottenham Hotspur have announced the return of Fabio Paratici. The club have confirmed Paratici as their new co-sporting director, who will work alongside Johan Lange.

Paratici enjoyed a two-year spell at Tottenham before resigning in April 2023. His resignation came after he lost an appeal in Italy against his 30-month ban from the game.

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"We are delighted to announce the return of Fabio Paratici to the club as sporting director," a statement from Tottenham read. "Fabio will partner with Johan Lange, who was promoted to also become sporting director.

"This is part of a new structure for our men’s football operation, designed to strengthen leadership, collaboration and long-term decision-making across all areas of the men’s and boys’ game.

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"Together, they will lead our men’s football strategy and drive an ambitious new chapter for the club. This evolution forms part of the club’s continued investment in world-class men’s and women’s football structures designed to deliver sustained on-pitch success.

"Johan and Fabio’s combined expertise will ensure that every decision, from player pathways and performance development to scouting and recruitment, is aligned and supports one overarching goal – to build a winning, world-class men’s team that endures.

"This partnership reflects a progressive approach to modern football operations - uniting two proven leaders with complementary experience, and a commitment to collaboration and innovation."

Paratici said: "I’m delighted to be returning to a club that I love. I have been working with Johan, Vinai and Thomas as a consultant for a number of months and I now look forward to returning to London and joining the team full-time.

While Lange, who joined Tottenham in November 2023 following stints at Aston Villa and FC Copenhagen, said: "I firmly believe we are building something special here at Tottenham Hotspur, and I am looking forward to working with Fabio as part of our new men’s football structure.

"We have a talented group of staff and players here at the club and we can look forward with confidence and positivity."

Vinai Venkatesham, who was named as the club's new chief executive officer in April 2025, said: "This is an important evolution in how we operate. The remit of a sporting director today is vast, and by uniting two exceptional leaders in Johan and Fabio, we’re setting the foundations for sustained success.

"They are both outstanding football minds, with complementary expertise and strong track records. This structure reflects our ambition and our determination to compete at the very highest level to deliver for our supporters.

"Together, Fabio and Johan will lead with purpose - building not only a competitive men’s squad, but a connected football ecosystem where every detail contributes to our shared ambition: to make our club a benchmark for excellence in world football."

Tottenham Hotspur have forked out on a private charter flight to bring Cristian Romero from international duty with Argentina back to London, to avoid another club vs country debacle. On Sunday, Tottenham host Aston Villa in their first Premier League clash after the international break.

Last season, the north Londoners found themselves at odds with the World Cup winners and Romero. After Argentina were beaten by Colombia in a World Cup qualifier in September last year, Tottenham chose not to fly Romero back on a charter flight. When Spurs lost to Arsenal, the defender insinuated the lack of a charter flight gave the Gunners the advantage, as their rival Brazilian stars got back to north London earlier as a result of a charter flight. Despite Tottenham insisting it would not have made a difference, they have opted to pay for a charter flight for Romero, which will bring him back after Argentina's friendly with Puerto Rico in Miami.

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The Telegraph claim Spurs have dipped into their coffers to ensure Romero can get back with plenty of time before Sunday's clash against Villa. Usually, national teams are the ones responsible for scheduling flights, but English clubs often split the cost of a private charter when their journey back is especially long, as will be the case for Romero.

Last year, they chose not to pay for a charter flight, which resulted in Romero hitting out at their travel plans on social media. He reposted a social media post which said the Gunners had an advantage as their Brazilian stars Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus were able to get back to the capital earlier than Romero.

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Tottenham disputed this comment, stating that Thursday is always a day off for the players, while Arsenal often train on that day. However, as they did last September, the club spent the extra money on a flight for their skipper.

Romero's international team-mate Emiliano Martinez will also be in goal for Aston Villa this Sunday. Tottenham paying for the flight will ensure there is no potential advantage for the Villans, who will have the shot-stopper between the sticks for them.

It also ensures Romero, who signed a new deal in the summer to become the club's highest earner, will be kept happy. At present, he has little to be upset about at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Under Thomas Frank, Spurs have started brilliantly with four wins, two draws and a loss in their opening seven Premier League matches. They are only two points behind first-placed Arsenal and one off reigning Premier League champions Liverpool.

Romero provided the defensive fortifications in Spurs' 3-0 away victory over West Ham United, which took place on the first weekend back after the last international break.

The club had forked out on a charter flight for that match also, with Romero and his international colleagues hosting Venezuela in the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires earlier that week.

Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma was carried off the pitch with a distressing injury just moments into his first game of the season on Sunday night. The 29-year-old had missed the start of the campaign due to a knee injury but had managed to regain fitness in time to be called up by Mali for this international break, joining them for their second World Cup qualifying match of the fortnight against Madagascar.

Bissouma joined the action at the Stade Modibo Keita in the 66th minute in what would eventually result in a 4-1 victory for Mali. He intercepted a stray pass from a Madagascar corner, only to be tackled by an opposition player as he attempted to dribble away with the ball, leaving him writhing in pain on the pitch.

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The Tottenham midfielder was clearly in severe pain and looked distressed, clutching his left ankle and pounding the turf repeatedly with his other hand as the medical staff rushed over.

Bissouma pulled his shirt up over his head as his team-mates tried to comfort him. He was unable to leave the pitch unaided and needed a stretcher to carry him off.

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The playmaker's knee injury had dashed any hopes of a move away from N17 this summer. The former Brighton man's contract at the north London club is now nearing its final nine months and Spurs were considering letting him go.

A transfer to Turkey and other Premier League clubs had been suggested, but Bissouma received no opportunities.

He had been excluded from the UEFA Super Cup squad at the start of the season by his new head coach Thomas Frank due to persistent lateness and then from his Champions League squad for the league phase of the competition.

Last month, after the transfer window closed, the Spurs boss stated: "There are no hard feelings at all. Not before, not now, not at all. Train well and everyone has an opportunity.

"He has just started to run outside, so he is not part of the group but everything I've seen when I've said hello to him and every day with the players, he seems good."

Now, Bissouma appears to be dealing with another injury. If it is indeed an ankle problem as suggested by the footage, the Mali international has had a similar issue in the past.

He missed a significant part of his first season at the club due to a stress fracture in his left ankle which required surgery.

The Liverpool team may have been feeling a tad downcast as they headed into the October international break. After a forgettable week leading up to the latest window, the Reds suffered three consecutive losses against Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea. Both domestic defeats were the result of last-minute winners, a tough blow for Arne Slot's team as the current Premier League champions relinquished their top spot in the table to Arsenal.

However, it appears that a change could be just what most of Slot's squad needed, with an impressive 15 of his senior players called up for international duty. They all seem to be in high spirits too, judging by the various photos and videos shared by their respective national teams, as the Liverpool contingent aims to recover from their club-level difficulties.

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Florian Wirtz is putting in extra hours training with Germany as he seeks to kickstart his career with the Reds, while Andy Robertson has shrugged off injury worries after sustaining a knock against Chelsea to participate in full training with Scotland.

The first day of fixtures took place on Wednesday, with Mohamed Salah having a day to remember. And with several of his Liverpool team-mates also set to play over the next few days,Express Sport takes a look at how Liverpool's internationals are getting on during the break...

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Frimpong tells 'sore loser' Spurs star to 'have respect'

Whilst Jeremie Frimpong may not have enjoyed the most promising beginning to his Liverpool career on the field, his influence away from it cannot be questioned. The Netherlands star is undoubtedly a vibrant personality, and he has lost no time in bonding with his fresh teammates.

Unsurprisingly, he remains a beloved figure within the Dutch squad as well. And he couldn't help but deliver a playful jibe at Tottenham Hotspur's Xavi Simons' expense during the Netherlands' recent training session.

In footage shared on social media by the Dutch national team, Frimpong can be observed participating in a keepy-uppy rondo alongside several team-mates, including Simons and fellow Liverpool ace Cody Gakpo.

Frimpong needed to stay sharp to maintain possession following a volleyed delivery from Simons, colliding with the filming cameraman in the process, with the rondo subsequently ending when possession eventually returned to the Spurs midfielder.

Simons complained before the rondo resumed, but after failing once more, the exasperated midfielder took the ball and launched it skywards.

"See, this is what losers do, bro!" Frimpong then quipped to the cameras. "Sore loser, bro. Why did he kick the ball away?" Addressing Simons directly, he then declared: "Hey, have respect, have respect bro!"

Both Frimpong and Simons will be candidates to feature on the right flank for the Netherlands when they face Malta in their upcoming World Cup qualifier on Thursday evening, before welcoming Finland on Sunday.

Ekitike creates a stir to impress two-time World Cup winner

Hugo Ekitike has made a brilliant start to his Liverpool journey, netting five times in his opening 10 appearances, and will be eager to carry such momentum into the international period with France.

The forward earned his maiden cap and second appearance for his nation - both coming off the bench - during the previous break, but might be set for a first start this time round.

The 23-year-old has been given the number nine jersey, and with Kylian Mbappe facing fitness concerns, plus several of France's regular attacking choices missing the squad due to their own injuries, Ekitike stands as at least a candidate for a more significant role on this occasion.

He has certainly boosted his chances during training sessions too, as he continues to catch the eye of boss Didier Deschamps - with the Frenchman amongst just three individuals to have claimed the World Cup as both player and coach.

The France national team shared footage of a finishing drill on their social media platforms, with Ekitike spotted finding the net with efforts from both his right and left foot.

And his clinical display drew admiration from Deschamps, as the two-time World Cup champion could be heard declaring: "Oh yes, that's what happens when you're two-footed!"

France welcome Azerbaijan in their next World Cup qualifier on Friday before making the trip to Iceland on Monday.

Konate moves closer to fitness comeback Despite suffering a quad injury during Liverpool's loss to Chelsea, Ibrahima Konate remains with the French squad, suggesting the issue is minor.

The centre-back has been spotted training, although he has also been seen working individually alongside Mbappe as France cautiously manage the pair.

L'Equipe reports that both players trained "without any apparent discomfort at the start of the session" during France's latest Wednesday session, before proceeding with their individual training.

While it's uncertain whether Konate will be fit to play against Azerbaijan on Friday, Liverpool can take comfort in the fact that his injury sustained at Stamford Bridge was not severe.

Salah breaks records and ends social media 'silence'

During Liverpool's Premier League title charge last season, a post-match selfie from Mohamed Salah was a common sight. Fans certainly enjoyed these small glimpses into the celebrations of the soon-to-be champions after each victory, with Salah often pictured alongside his fellow goal scorers.

However, this trend hasn't continued into the current season, with Salah's performances not quite reaching the lofty heights of last year. As a result, his performances have come under scrutiny.

Liverpool's star forward has been quiet since their 3-2 triumph over Atletico Madrid three weeks ago. With the Reds suffering three consecutive losses, his last social media post was following Slot's team's Merseyside derby victory against Everton.

However, that 'silence' was broken when Salah made history, helping Egypt secure their spot in the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday evening.

The striker netted twice in a 3-0 win against Djibouti, first with a clever finish in a one-on-one situation in the first half, and then by lobbing the goalkeeper with a first-time volley late in the second half after being played in behind the defence.

These goals propelled Salah to become Africa's all-time leading scorer in World Cup qualification, with his tally now at 20, moving him two ahead of Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto'o and Islam Slimani.

The 33-year-old is now poised to participate in his second World Cup, having also scored the goal that secured Egypt's place in the 2018 finals in Russia.

Despite Sergio Ramos hindering his performance in that year's tournament, Salah will be aiming to overcome those past setbacks as Egypt gear up for what will be only their fourth-ever appearance at the World Cup.

Understandably, the Pharaohs were ecstatic after the final whistle. Salah even ended his social media 'silence', sharing a picture of the squad celebrating in the dressing room, accompanied by a heart emoji.

Bradley vs Wirtz round II

Conor Bradley is set to face off against his Liverpool colleague Florian Wirtz in Northern Ireland's second match of the October international break, when they welcome Germany on Monday.

In the previous encounter between the two nations, Wirtz emerged victorious, netting a spectacular free-kick as Germany claimed a 3-1 victory.

Before their clash with Germany, Northern Ireland will first play host to Slovakia on Friday. However, after witnessing their upcoming opponents defeat the Germans in World Cup qualification, the Liverpool player isn't taking anything lightly.

"Windsor Park will probably be at its best over the two games so we have to manage the expectations of that," he stated ahead of the double-header. "I've a lot of faith in the team. We have a really good group of players.

"We feel more prepared than we did for the last Euros campaign. We've a bit more experience now and hopefully that will help us.

"I was surprised they (Slovakia) beat Germany, I think everyone was. Germany are a top team and not many sides have beaten them in the last few years.

"Slovakia are a very good team with good players, but we have some good players too, so we're looking forward to it."

Arsenal are considering a temporary move to Wembley Stadium while they expand the capacity of their Emirates Stadium home. The Gunners are looking into ways to increase their stadium's capacity from its current 60,700 and could expand it to over 70,000, which would make it the largest football ground in London. There are several options on the table as the club consider what the best option is.

It is believed that Arsenal could alter the gradient of the stands and modify the seating plan to accommodate more fans, while maintaining the outer bowl's appearance largely unchanged. However, this could necessitate relocating their home games to Wembley, as reported by The Telegraph.

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This is a step that was previously taken by their north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur when they demolished White Hart Lane to construct their new stadium on the same site. Next season will mark two decades since Arsenal moved from Highbury to their modern stadium just a few streets away.

At the time of its completion, it was the largest club stadium in London and the second largest in the Premier League. However, the Emirates has since been surpassed by West Ham's London Stadium with a capacity of 62,850 and Spurs' new stadium at 62,500. Liverpool's renovated Anfield also now has a larger capacity than the Emirates, at 61,276.

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The proposed expansion of the Emirates, which could cost £500million if they add 10,000 extra seats, would be expected to generate tens of millions in additional annual revenue, and the increased capacity could help to meet some of the demand from the season ticket waiting list, which currently exceeds 100,000. Plans have accelerated this year, but they are intricate.

It's probable that the work would involve augmenting nearly every part of the stadium rather than just one stand and cost hundreds of millions to complete.

Arsenal are also constrained by a 17-acre site in a predominantly residential community. The Victoria and Piccadilly Tube lines, as well as several nearby stations and the Great Northern train line, run adjacent to the ground. However, it's reported that discussions with architects have been optimistic about the potential to enlarge the stadium within its current footprint.

Tottenham Hotspur star James Maddison has provided an update on social media as he continues his rehabilitation from injury. The midfielder was carried off on a stretcher following what appeared to be a routine challenge for the ball during a pre-season friendly against Newcastle United this summer.

It was subsequently revealed that the 28-year-old had torn his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), requiring surgery. Maddison is expected to remain sidelined for a considerable period, though he could potentially return in the latter stages of the season should his rehabilitation progress smoothly.

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The injury represented a devastating setback for Tottenham's creative midfielder, who now faces missing next summer's World Cup for England in the United States. However, the former Leicester City star appears to be putting in considerable effort during his recovery process - sharing an update via his Instagram stories on Monday.

"0 resistance BFR (Blood Flow Restriction). If you know the struggle, you know the struggle," he posted, accompanied by a laughing face emoji. Maddison was exercising his right leg on a leg extension machine.

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Speaking shortly after Maddison's injury occurred, Spurs boss Thomas Frank said: "I think it's disappointing but also devastating for me and mainly for Madders that he's out of the team.

"We will miss him and no doubt he will miss playing football."

Writing on Instagram in August, he described the injury as the "lowest low I've ever had". "Heartbroken at the fact this injury has occurred at this time in my career," penned Maddison.

"With the [Uefa] Super Cup tomorrow, the Premier League season on the horizon, the exciting Champions League campaign and it being a World Cup year for England it all feels very, very cruel."

Maddison moved to the club from Leicester in 2023. He netted 12 goals across 45 appearances for the north London outfit last season.

Harry Kane has essentially ruled out the prospect of returning to the Premier League next summer. The England captain, 32, has indicated he is prepared to pen fresh terms at Bayern Munich as he remains "all in" on extending his stay in Germany. The former Tottenham frontman still has two years remaining on his existing agreement, though Bayern have already signalled their desire to prolong his tenure.

Kane has a complicated clause permitting his departure for £56.7million next summer, with Tottenham holding first refusal as part of the arrangement that secured his move to Germany just over two years ago. Manchester United have also long admired the Three Lions skipper. But the Bayern talisman, who claimed the Bundesliga title last season and has already netted 19 times for club and country, declared: "In terms of staying there longer, I could definitely see that.

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"I have not had those conversations with Bayern yet but if they were to arise I would be willing to talk and have an honest conversation. Obviously, it depends on how the next year or so goes and what we achieve together. Right now, I would say we are in a fantastic moment and I am not thinking about anything else.

"In terms of the Premier League, I don't know. If you had asked me when I first left to go to Bayern, I would have said for sure I would come back. Now I have been there a couple of years, I would probably say that has gone down a little bit, not so much, but I wouldn't say I would never go back.

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"What I have learnt in my career is that different opportunities and different timings happen and things fall in place. Going back to my first point with Bayern right now, I am fully all in with Bayern."

Kane also made it clear that his loyalty to Bayern also comes from enjoying his new adventure in the Bundesliga even if it probably ends any chance of a Spurs return or even a move to Major League Soccer in the future.

He added: "If there was a conversation about extending then we will see, but I have still got this season and another season. It is not like I am in my last year, it is not like there is any panic in that sense.

"I am calm, I love the manager at Bayern, I think he is fantastic and as always in my career as long as we are improving and I am improving then I am happy to see what we can achieve. I think MLS is too early for sure the way I feel right now, the way I am playing right now. The MLS would be something later in my career when I am thinking about the last couple of years or so."

Tottenham have released a statement to the London Stock Exchange confirming that Brooklyn Earick does not intend to make a firm offer to buy the club. The tech entrepreneur, who earlier this year failed in an attempt to buy Formula E team Maserati, was leading a £3.3 billion takeover bid from a group of American investors, including NFL and NBA backers. An additional £1.2bn had reportedly been earmarked as transfer funds for head coach Thomas Frank.

However, following numerous social media posts on the topic, it has emerged that a firm offer will not be forthcoming. On Monday, Tottenham released a statement which read: "The Board of Tottenham Hotspur notes the recent announcements from the Firehawk and Mr Earick's consortiums that they do not intend to make an offer for the club. The Board thanks them for the constructive approach taken in the discussions with the club's and the Lewis family's representatives and respecting the clear position of the Lewis family that the club is not for sale.

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"Following the announcements made by the consortiums, the club is no longer in an offer period under the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers."

Earick also submitted a statement of his own, saying: "Further to the announcement made by the Board of Tottenham Hotspur Limited on 26 September 2025 regarding an informal expression of interest in relation to a proposal to acquire the entire issued, and to be issued, share capital of the company, Mr Brooklyn Earick confirms that he does not intend to make a firm offer for the company."

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This update comes after last week's news that the Asia-based consortium of investors led by Firehawk Holdings Limited also confirmed they would not be making a bid for a Tottenham takeover.

Spurs announced early last month that they had "received, and unequivocally rejected, separate preliminary expressions of interest in relation to proposals to acquire the entire issued, and to be issued, share capital of ENIC from PCP International Finance Limited and a consortium of investors led by Dr Roger Kennedy and Wing-Fai Ng through Firehawk Holdings Limited."

PCP quickly confirmed they would not be pursuing a bid, and on Friday, the Asia-based consortium led by Firehawk followed suit.

Spurs turned down Earick's informal approach, completing the trio of potential buyers who have withdrawn from making a formal offer.

It comes just over a month after Daniel Levy left his role as executive vice-chairman, having been involved with Tottenham for the last 24 years.

At the time, Levy was quoted as saying: "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.

"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.

"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."

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."