The Boy Hotspur

Mathys Tel, currently at Spurs, has been linked with a loan switch to Roma in the January 2026 transfer window. He’s reportedly unhappy at Spurs due to limited playing time, including repeated exclusions from the Champions League squad (most recently replaced by Dominic Solanke), which has frustrated both him and his camp.

The BBC has now referred to the now-lost star as ‘bemused‘, which surely tells its own tale.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Roma are not only in talks for Radu Dragusin but have also sent an offer to get Mathys Tel on loan from Tottenham.

Roma, under coach Gian Piero Gasperini, sees him as a strong fit to boost their attack—particularly on the left wing/flank—for more pace, penetration, and versatility. They’ve made contact with Tottenham, sent an offer for a loan deal, and view it as a realistic option since Spurs aren’t open to a permanent sale (they bought him for around £35m and want to keep him long-term).

Roma have actively pursued him alongside other targets like Radu Dragusin (also from Spurs on loan). Reports from sources like Football Italia, and RomaPress indicate ongoing talks/offers, with Tel open to a loan for more minutes.

However, Tottenham are reluctant to let him go right now, especially amid their own squad issues and results – some reports suggest the door isn’t fully open yet, and competition exists (e.g., Napoli recently made contact too, plus interest from Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Villarreal, and Ligue 1 clubs).

It’s a live rumour in the January window, centred on a loan rather than a permanent transfer, but no deal is confirmed yet—Spurs’ stance could shift depending on their form and other moves.

Tottenham Hotspur are going through a difficult run, and manager Thomas Frank is under significant pressure.

They are in mid-table positions in the Premier League, and a club of their stature should be doing a lot better.

After winning the UEFA Europa League last season, they invested in quality players and changed the manager as well. However, things have not gone according to plan for them. They would have expected to secure a place in the top four and do well in the domestic competitions. Instead, they are 14th in the league table.

It remains to be seen whether they can bounce back strongly. Thomas Frank will certainly hope to keep his job and look to get the best out of his players in the coming weeks.

Tottenham could lose key players

Meanwhile, former scout Mick Brown has suggested that some players are not performing at their best and that they are already exploring moves away from the club. He has named Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Richarlison as players already considering their futures at the club.

It will be interesting to see if the North London club is willing to sanction their departure at the end of the season.

Three players could move on

“Part of the problem is some of these players are looking elsewhere,” Brown told Football Insider.

“They think they’re better than where Tottenham have been over the last couple of years, so they’re starting to think about which clubs might come in for them.

“Even players like Cristian Romero, Richarlison, Van de Ven, all of them can be fantastic on their day but they’re not stepping up for Tottenham at the moment.

“They know that even if Spurs are struggling, there will be somebody who wants them.”

Tottenham need their best players to step up and turn things around this season. They could still salvage the campaign and finish on a high. However, if players are distracted by their futures, they are unlikely to perform at the highest level.

It will be interesting to see how the situation develops.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in the former Barcelona manager, Xavi Hernandez.

The 44-year-old manager is currently a free agent, and Tottenham is considering him as a replacement for Thomas Frank, as per Fichajes.

Xavi Hernandez to replace Frank?

The Danish manager is under a lot of pressure after a disappointing run of form, and Tottenham are in the mid-table position in the Premier League. They could consider making a change if the results do not improve dramatically.

The Spanish manager could be an interesting option for them. He is also a target for Manchester United. The opportunity to take over a Premier League club will be exciting for him. Tottenham have an ambitious project and the resources to build a formidable squad. The 44-year-old could be attracted to the idea of joining them.

Xavi could be a quality option

He has previously won the league title with Barcelona, and he has the pedigree to manage the Premier League. He has a 63% rate in his managerial career, and his modern attacking philosophy could be a good fit for Tottenham. There is no doubt that they have quality players at their disposal, and the right manager could bring out the best in them.

The 44-year-old has managed one of the biggest clubs in the world, and he knows what it takes to thrive at the highest level. As a player, he was extremely successful with club and country. His winning experience could prove invaluable. It will be interesting to see if Tottenham follow up on their interest with an official offer to appoint him. Manchester United are monitoring his situation as well and should act quickly if they want to get the deal done.

ESPN, amongst many, are suggesting that Tottenham are shaping up to secure an exciting defensive reinforcement in Pierre Kalulu.

Tottenham Hotspur are heavily linked with him, but they’re not alone. Recent reports from Italian sources like Calciomercato (widely covered in English media) indicate that Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Tottenham are all monitoring the player. Interest stems from his strong performances in Italy, where he’s been a regular starter (28 appearances this season, all starts, with 1 goal and 4 assists).

Tottenham’s interest makes sense given their defensive needs and desire for versatile, high-quality options to build a trophy-contending squad. Kalulu has been praised as a “true leader” in some reports, which could appeal to Spurs.

International profile:

Kalulu made his debut on June 5, 2026, against Spain in the Nations League semi-final at MHP Arena in Stuttgart. He even started that match on his 25th birthday — a memorable milestone.

As of mid-January 2026, his senior caps stand at a small number (debut plus any subsequent appearances haven’t been heavily detailed yet, but he’s not yet a regular starter due to France’s stacked defence with stars like Saliba, Konaté, Upamecano, and others).

However, scouts from the France team have been closely monitoring him recently, with reports (including from Nicolo Schira) suggesting Didier Deschamps rates him highly and views him as a contender for the 2026 World Cup squad if he maintains his consistency at Juventus, where he’s been a near-ever-present in the backline.

It’s a classic case of a young talent knocking on the door: not a guaranteed starter yet, but his versatility, ball-playing ability, and current club form make him a strong option for depth, especially at right-back or in a back three. With the World Cup on the horizon, expect more call-ups if injuries hit or if he keeps shining.

Bottom line: It’s genuine interest from Spurs (and competition from United/Villa), but don’t expect a done deal anytime soon. Juventus are digging in, and this feels like a summer story at best. If anything changes in the next few days of the window, it’ll be big news

Additionally, the chaos currently surrounding THFC doesn’t provide great optics for anyone…

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for the Brighton manager, Fabian Hurzeler.

The German manager has done quite well at the Premier League clubs since taking over, and a report from Football Insider claims that the Tottenham hierarchy has been impressed with the 32-year-old.

Thomas Frank has failed to deliver

Tottenham are currently 14th in the league table after a disappointing start to the season, and naturally, Thomas Frank is under a lot of pressure. He could be shown the door if the results do not improve dramatically.

The 32-year-old could be an interesting option for Tottenham. He has a contract with Brighton until 2027, and he could be tempted to take over at the north London club. It would be a step up for him, and he would get to manage a team with quality players. He will look to fight for trophies with Spurs.

Hurzeler has done well at Brighton

Despite limited resources and a substantially weaker team, Hurzeler has lost just 18 of his 70 matches with the English club. He is likely to do a lot better at Tottenham with better players at this at his disposal. Hurzeler has a 44% win rate at Brighton.

It will be interesting to see if Tottenham decide to make a move for him at the end of the season.

The German is unlikely to abandon Brighton in the middle of the campaign. Also, it would not make much sense for Tottenham to sack Frank in the middle of the season. They should give him until the end of the season to turn things around. It is highly unlikely they will be relegated, so they should continue with the Danish manager for now. It will be interesting to see if he can help his team bounce back.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in signing the Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones.

The 24-year-old has been an important player for Liverpool over the years, and he could prove to be an excellent acquisition for the north London club. They need more creativity and control in the middle of the park, and Jones could be ideal for them.

Curtis Jones needs more game time

He is not a guaranteed starter for Liverpool, and he might prefer to play more often at this stage of his career. It will be interesting to see if Tottenham are prepared to provide him with an exit route. According to a report from The Times, the North London club is interested in him as they look to shore up the midfield unit.

The technically gifted midfielder could be attracted to the idea of playing for Tottenham, especially if they are willing to offer him regular opportunities. In an ideal situation, it does not start for Liverpool, especially if every player is fit. It would make sense for him to join a club where he has a prominent role.

Jones could be ideal for Spurs

Tottenham have an ambitious project and quality players. They could use a player like Jones, and he is likely to be an important member of the team. It will be interesting to see if that London club make an approach to sign him at the end of the season.

They could use players with his quality and experience. He has won the Premier League twice with Liverpool, and his experience could prove invaluable. Furthermore, he is a “complete” midfielder who will add control, creativity, and defensive cover to the side. He is also versatile enough to slot into multiple roles in the middle of the park.

The Boy Hotspur’s Substack spotted a fan named Trevor Wright @trevortheyid, who was filmed approaching Viv Lewis after the match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on January 17, 2026.

Tottenham lost narrowly 2-1 to West Ham in a tense London derby, with Callum Wilson’s stoppage-time winner sealing the deal for the Hammers.

This defeat added to growing fan frustration with manager Thomas Frank amid a poor run of form (Spurs sitting mid-table with multiple losses).

The fan claimed he told her directly what he thought about the team’s performance, demanded Frank be sacked, urged the family to “sell up,” and highlighted spending £24k on season tickets for “this guano.”

According to his account (and a video clip shared by another user), Viv Lewis simply walked away without responding, and even club legend Steve Perryman ignored him.

He mentioned speaking to her before the game as well, in the corporate section of the stadium.

This comes amid heightened pressure on the Lewis family (Joe Lewis’s daughter Vivienne, along with relatives like son-in-law Nick Beucher), who have taken a more visible role at Spurs since Daniel Levy stepped down as chairman. Fans are increasingly directing their anger at the ownership after recent results, including this West Ham defeat, that left many calling for major changes.It’s a classic case of passionate (and heated) fan-ownership interaction in the post-match chaos—though Viv Lewis stayed composed and didn’t engage.

Steve Perryman was close to the action, but quite rightly refused to get involved,

Thomas Frank’s position as Tottenham Hotspur manager is under significant pressure following a dismal run of form, particularly after the 2-1 home defeat to West Ham United on January 17, 2026. In that match, Spurs conceded a last-gasp winner to Callum Wilson, leading to toxic scenes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium where significant sections of fans booed Frank off the pitch and chanted “you’re getting sacked in the morning.”

This came after eight defeats in their last 14 Premier League games, leaving the team struggling in the bottom half of the table. One only has to look at the data as displayed here by Sky Sports to see the size of the task ahead of Frank.

Multiple outlets, including the Daily Mail and others, report that the board is weighing up his future following the “toxic atmosphere” against West Ham, with some describing it as a point where the hierarchy is seriously considering dismissal after just seven months in charge.

Sami Mokbel of the BBC posted the morning on X:

“Thomas Frank losing internal support at Tottenham as the club considers calling time on his seven-month reign. At least one club executive has actively recommended his dismissal.”

Transitional period

The ownership (including the Lewis family) and CEO Vinai Venkatesham (who has experience supporting Mikel Arteta through tough times at Arsenal) appear to want to break Tottenham’s cycle of frequent managerial sackings.

There is an internal acknowledgement that Frank inherited a squad far from Champions League-ready, with ongoing cultural and structural changes at the club (e.g., recent appointments like John Heitinga as assistant and shifts in the sporting director role).

Articles from The Telegraph and others emphasise that while pressure is mounting, the board still backs him for now, viewing this as a transitional period.

Frank himself remained defiant in his post-match comments, insisting results will improve and highlighting positive aspects from Venkatesham’s open letter to fans (which called for patience but notably avoided direct mention of the manager).

The mood is dire—fans protested before the West Ham game, and the defeat has amplified calls for change—but no decision has been announced as of today (January 18, 2026). If form doesn’t turn quickly, especially with upcoming fixtures, his seven-month tenure could indeed be nearing its end.

This saga feels all too “Tottenham”, with high expectations, rapid toxicity, and board hesitation.

Spurs versus West Ham sees us sat in 14th place in the Premier League table. We’ve won just two of our ten league matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season, ranking us near the bottom for home form in the division.

We’ve been winless in 2026 so far, including a recent FA Cup exit to Aston Villa and a 3-2 league defeat to Bournemouth. However, we did dominate the reverse fixture earlier this season with a convincing 3-0 win at the London Stadium.

West Ham themselves are in even deeper trouble, languishing in 18th place, seven points from safety, and on a ten-match winless run in the league (their longest since the 2006/07 season). They’ve lost all six of their London derbies this season and have struggled defensively, conceding a league-high 11 headed goals and failing to keep a clean sheet in their last 19 matches across all competitions.

Tottenham are dealing with a lengthy injury list:Out: Dominic Solanke, James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur (hamstring surgery), Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski.

Doubts: Richarlison (hamstring, sidelined for around seven weeks), Lucas Bergvall.

Away: Pape Matar Sarr (AFCON)

Boost: New £34.7m signing Conor Gallagher is available and could make his debut in midfield.

Plausible Spurs XI: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Gray, Palhinha, Gallagher; Simons, Tel, Kolo Muani.

West Ham are also struggling defensively and have not recorded a clean sheet in recent months, making them vulnerable to Spurs’ set-piece threat, as they lead the league in goals from corners.

We are clear favourites according to most analyses – currently around 60% chance of victory per supercomputer models, thanks to their superior recent record in this fixture, new signing boost, and West Ham’s dire form. However, Tottenham’s shaky home record and injuries mean it’s not a foregone conclusion — West Ham could nick something if they exploit set pieces.

Prediction: Tottenham 2-1 West Ham — a hard-fought win would ease the pressure on Thomas Frank

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing the Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton.

The 21-year-old is one of the Premier League’s finest young talents and has attracted the attention of multiple clubs. According to a report from TEAMtalk, Tottenham are now prepared to step up their interest in the player, and they could submit a very significant offer for him at the end of the season.

Adam Wharton is a promising player

It will be interesting to see if Crystal Palace is willing to sanction his departure. He is an important player for them, and he has been described as “incredible” by his former teammates.

Wharton is an elite talent who deserves to compete at the highest level. The move away from Palace would be ideal for him at the end of the season. Tottenham have an ambitious project, and they could be the ideal destination. They could offer him regular football at a high-level, and he would be able to push for trophies with them.

Spurs could use Wharton

Meanwhile, Tottenham need more control and composure in the middle of the park. He will help them control the tempo of the game from the deep. In addition, he is excellent at reading the game, and he will help protect Tottenham defensively.

Crystal Palace will not want to lose one of their best young players easily. They are likely to demand a premium, and it will be interesting to see if Tottenham are prepared to break the Bank for him.

Wharton is on the radar of multiple clubs, and the Eagles will hope for an auction in the summer to recoup as much as possible from his departure.