The Boy Hotspur

Samu Aghehowa is one of the breakout names of 2025-26 and a headline story for the winter window. The 21-year-old Spanish striker has shown real pace, clean finishing and sharp off-the-ball movement for Porto, putting himself on the radar of Premier League and La Liga clubs.

Tottenham Hotspur is amid their ongoing search for a reliable centre-forward. Since Harry Kane’s departure in 2023, Spurs have struggled with consistent goal scoring, and Aghehowa’s profile, blending physicality (6ft 4in), pace, and clinical finishing, fits manager Thomas Frank’s evolving system perfectly.

Porto owns the rights (again)

Porto fully owns the player’s rights and is holding firm on the €100m release clause. The club is pushing a “not for sale in January” stance, but there’s a feeling that, depending on finances, they could be more flexible for summer talks. The market expectation is that an €80–100m package could be explored after the season, with room for add-ons and performance bonuses.

Tottenham are tracking him closely. With injury issues and rotation pressure up front, Spurs are open to a move only if the right January opportunity appears.

It’s time to reinforce Frank’s side

It is plausible that Tottenham are prioritising Aghehowa as their “dream” striker option, with reports of an imminent €80 million bid in the January window. The club views him as the ideal long-term solution to their attacking woes, especially with Dominic Solanke injured, Richarlison underperforming, and loanee Randal Kolo Muani struggling. No formal offer has been submitted yet, but Tottenham’s interest is “concrete” and tipped to escalate, according to The Boy Hotspur’s Substack.

This would be an eye-catching double January swoop, pairing Aghehowa with Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo (£60m+ release clause) to create a dynamic front line. This £145m combined deal would “terrify defences,” blending Aghehowa’s hold-up play with Semenyo’s pace and creativity on the flanks.

Newcastle held informal talks with Porto late in the summer, but the player’s loyalty and lack of pressure to leave meant it didn’t reach a formal bid. With the front line reshaped by Nick Woltemade and Yonne Wissa, Aghehowa is no longer a January priority there, though he remains on their medium-term list.

Speaking on Sky Sports, the former Tottenham and Aston Villa gaffer hasn’t pulled any punches when speaking about the transfer strategy at Tottenham.

Perhaps Tim is broadly echoing fan sentiment?

Tim has repeatedly highlighted what he sees as a pattern of wasteful spending on “average” players, missed opportunities on high-impact talents, and underutilization of academy prospects. His comments come amid Tottenham’s mixed form under head coach Thomas Frank in the 2025/26 Premier League season, where the Spurs sit mid-table despite significant summer investments.

Sherwood effectively accused Tottenham of self-sabotage by dragging their feet in negotiations, allowing rivals Arsenal to “hijack” the £65m deal for Eze. He called it a recurring issue:

“It happens time and time again!”

He argued that Spurs’ hesitation stems from indecisive scouting under technical director Johan Lange and advisor Fabio Paratici, leading to lost targets.

Echoes of the Daniel Levy era, having not quite vanished, after all, perhaps.

Tim blasted the summer 2025 window’s seven major signings (totalling over £250m), claiming most are “bang average” and failing to gel under Frank.

Time Sherwood is far from happy with Tottenham

Xavi Simons (£60m from PSG): Sherwood says the Dutch midfielder has been “starved of creativity” due to poor team balance but could become a “hero” if deployed centrally against Arsenal. However, he questioned the wisdom of the signing given Simons’ adaptation struggles.

Mohammed Kudus (£55m from West Ham): While praising Kudus as “refreshing” and Tottenham’s standout (6 goal contributions in 10 games), Sherwood warned he’s inconsistent and the team is overly reliant on him.

Sherwood’s barbs aren’t new; the very well-spoken pundit has critiqued Spurs’ dealings since his playing days (e.g., his 2003 fallout with Glenn Hoddle), but they’ve intensified this month amid Tottenham’s home form slump under Frank. Spurs spend plenty, but on mediocre players, gaining traction. If Tottenham missed out on another target like Semenyo, expect more fireworks from the ex-Spurs man.

On November 19, 2025, the K-League’s disciplinary committee announced a five-match suspension for Mauricio Taricco, the 52-year-old Argentine assistant coach at Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, following a racist gesture made during a match on November 8, 2025, against Daejeon Hana Citizen FC. He was also fined 20 million South Korean won (approximately $13,600 or £12,000).

According to the Daily Mail, during the match, Taricco was protesting a non-call for a handball penalty in favour of his team. He was initially sent off by referee Kim Woo-seong for dissent.

As he left the dugout, Taricco reportedly shouted “racista” (Spanish for “racist”) at the referee and then pulled the corners of his eyes outward with his fingers—a widely recognized “slant-eye” gesture mocking East Asian features.

In his statement to the committee, he claimed the motion was meant to indicate that the referee “had not seen” the handball, not to offend anyone. He emphasised no racial intent. As per the committee’s ruling, Taricco’s alleged intentions were beside the point.

The K-League, unsurprisingly, rejected this explanation, stating that:

‘The disciplinary committee stated that ‘the evaluation of a specific act should be based on the universal meaning of the act as expressed, rather than the perpetrator’s stated intentions’, the K-League said in a statement.

‘Based on these criteria, coach Taricco’s actions were identical to the widely known “slant-eye” derogatory gesture against Asians and sufficiently inflicted feelings of racial insult on the recipient.’

A former defender for Tottenham Hotspur (1997–2004), where he made over 100 appearances, plus stints at Ipswich Town, Sunderland, and others. He represented Argentina at youth international level.

Joined Jeonbuk in 2024 as assistant to his ex-Tottenham teammate Gus Poyet. Prior roles include assistant at Sunderland, AEK Athens, and Real Betis.

Jeonbuk, the defending K-League 1 champions (their 10th title), will miss Taricco’s input for the remainder of the season, including playoffs.

No public apology from Taricco has surfaced yet, but the ban is effective immediately.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing the River Plate defender, Lautaro Rivero.

The 22-year-old defender is highly rated in South America, and he has a bright future. Clubs like Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid are interested in securing his signature. According to a report from El Desmarque, Tottenham currently ‘dream of a partnership’ between Cristian Romero and Rivero at the heart of their defence.

Lautaro Rivero could be an expensive signing

The defender has a €100 million release clause in his contract. It will be interesting to see if Spurs are prepared to break the Bank for him. According to the report, the player is likely to be sold for a more reasonable amount of money, and it remains to be seen how the situation unfolds.

Tottenham need more quality and depth in the defensive unit. They have been overly dependent on Romero and Micky van de Ven. Signing Rivero could prove to be a wise decision. He could be a key player for Tottenham in the long run. He is still quite young, and he will only improve with coaching and experience. The move to the Premier League could be ideal for him as well. Regular football in England could bring out the best in the player and help him fulfil his potential.

Where will Rivero end up?

Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid will be attractive destinations for the young defender as well. However, he must choose his next club carefully. He should look to join a club where he will get regular opportunities. Sitting on the bench at a big club will not benefit him. It could be detrimental to his growth as a player. Tottenham must provide him with a clear plan for his development and regular opportunities if they want to convince him to join the club.

Good morning, all, and welcome to another instalment in this series of daily shorts from The Boy Hotspur himself, sharing opinions on and insights from behind the scenes at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.

The North London Derby performance was underwhelming in itself, but goodness me, the idea that Thomas Frank is now close to losing his job, quite frankly, beggars belief. If you think I’m kidding, tale a look at the Opta Stats prediction for this season.

Chris and I go head-to-head here, with one of us (him) thinking that the fans deserve more, and the other (me) wanting to know who could get a tune out of a squad that essentially finished 17th last time out, after losing 22 games.

“The Boy Hotspur” is a long-running Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs) fan blog and podcast, providing behind-the-scenes insights, opinions, and analysis on the club since 2005. The “3 Amigos” is a popular recurring video series on their platform, featuring three hosts (often referred to as the Amigos) delivering humorous, candid takes on recent matches, transfers, and club drama—like a Spurs-themed riff on the 1986 comedy Three Amigos!.

These shorts are typically 5-15 minutes long, blending banter, rants, and football expertise. The series is hosted primarily on The Boy Hotspur’s YouTube channel (youtube.com/@theboyhotspur

), with teasers and embeds on their website (theboyhotspur.com). Recent episodes (as of November 2025) focus on hot topics like Daniel Levy’s exit, transfer mishaps, and match reactions.

Full Playlist: Head to The Boy Hotspur YouTube Channel and search “3 Amigos” for the complete archive—over 20 episodes total, with more weekly during the season.

Subscription: Free on YouTube; some deeper dives are on their Substack (theboyhotspur.substack.com) for paid supporters.

Vibe: Expect Spurs die-hard passion—equal parts rage at underperformance and witty jabs at rivals. If you’re a fan, it’s essential viewing; neutrals might enjoy the Levy roasts.

Enjoy this week’s show!

Tottenham Hotspur defender Luka Vuskovic is currently on loan at Hamburg.

The talented young defender has done quite well for the German club, and his performances have attracted multiple clubs. Tottenham are now hoping to secure his long-term future, and they are prepared to offer him an extension.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, they are looking to secure his long-term future amid growing interest from other clubs. Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange are now prepared to act and finalise his extension.

Luka Vuskovic is highly rated

It will be interesting to see if Tottenham can secure his long-term future quickly. He has been labelled as a “huge talent” recently, and there is no doubt that he could develop into a key player for the North London club.

“He’s a huge talent – that was already clear during his youth days at Hajduk Split,” Niko Kovac said recently.

“He made a good move to Tottenham, and now he’s at HSV alongside his brother (Mario, editor’s note).

“With his quality, he can already contribute to the team at a young age. Sooner or later, he will surely become an important part of the Croatian national team.”

Spurs must keep players like Vuskovic

Vuskovic demonstrated his quality with Tottenham during pre-season, and he will aim to establish himself as an important player in the Tottenham first-team squad. The North London club are looking to build a formidable squad for the future, and they need to hold onto players like him.

He has a bright future ahead of himself, and he will hope to force his way into Thomas Frank’s first-team plans next season.

Tottenham will likely need to provide him with a clear plan for his development and his potential role next season before he commits his long-term future to the club. It remains to be seen of the situation unfolds.

Tottenham suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the latest Premier League North London Derby.

Under manager Thomas Frank, Spurs adopted a defensive setup but were overrun by Arsenal’s attacking prowess, with Eberechi Eze’s hat-trick (including a stunning long-range strike) and Leandro Trossard’s opener proving decisive.

Richarlison’s audacious halfway-line lob was the visitors’ only highlight, but it couldn’t mask a dismal team performance marked by poor possession (just 28%), one shot on target, and defensive lapses.

VICARIO 5: Shocking distribution from so called the so-called fan favourite. His passing accuracy was just 55%. I’ve no idea how he gets away with it.

PORRO 5: Another masterclass in the art of going Missing In Action. Struggled against Saka’s pace; lost possession, leading to Arsenal’s second goal; minimal attacking threat. Minimal defending talent. Passing accuracy in the opposition’s half dropped to 25/1.

ROMERO 4: Offered no leadership; beaten for pace and power on Eze’s hat-trick goal; picked up a needless yellow. The lack of spine and poor communication are depressing.

MICKEY 5 : Mr Reliable down to a tragic passing accuracy, just 71%. Frequently gifted possession to Arsenal; subbed off late.

DESTINY 5: Caught out of position for Trossard’s goal; defensive lapses compounded by lack of forward surges…

BENTANCUR 5: Another fan favourite, who’s actually worthless. Harry Winks 2.0: no progressive passes or tackles won; anonymous.

PAULINHA 5: Battled hard but couldn’t stem Arsenal’s dominance; one interception but lost duels in key areas, despite this, he was less depressing than most. However, his good key pass and passing generally weren’t awful.

KUDUS 5 : Rusty and ineffective on the right; zero shots, dribbles, or chances created; subbed early in a bid to salvage the game – and he was a potentially shining star – when we got him…

Conclusion:

It really is down to the Lewis family to get this ship turned around and pointed in the right direction. This is not all down to Frank; this is all down to the club that gifted the poor man with a squad that, with few exceptions, finished 17th last season!

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Ademola Lookman from Atalanta in January.

The 28-year-old has been linked with an exit from the Italian club in recent months, and the North London club continues to monitor him. According to a report from Quotidiano Sportivo, they are ‘waiting’ to sign the player and bring him back to London.

Other clubs are keeping tabs on his situation as well, and the North London club should move quickly in order to get the deal done.

Spurs need Ademola Lookman

It is no secret that they need more quality on the flanks. The Nigerian will add goals and creativity to the side. He has played in the Premier League before, and he could settle in quickly. The opportunity to move back to London could be an exciting one for him. Lookman scored 20 goals last season, and picked up seven assists.

Lookman could be keen on Premier League return

Lookman is capable of operating anywhere across the front three, and he could be the ideal acquisition for Tottenham. The player is at the peak of his powers, and he could be open to taking on a new challenge. He has previously failed to make his mark in English football, and he will feel that he has unfinished business in the Premier League.

Lookman has been labelled as a “top player” by Gian Piero Gasperini in the past.

It remains to be seen whether Tottenham can agree on a reasonable deal to sign the player.

Tottenham need to improve their squad in January if they want to do well this season. After an impressive start to the season, they have struggled in recent weeks. They are currently ninth in the league table, and a club of their stature should be pushing for a place in the top four.

Tottenham Hotspur crashed to a 4-1 defeat against rivals Arsenal in the Premier League yesterday.

They will be thoroughly disappointed with the performance against their bitter rivals, and Thomas Frank will need to bring in improvements in certain areas of the pitch.

Rodrigo Bentancur was underwhelming

Midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was quite disappointing in particular, and Spurs should look to bring in a quality alternative in that area. The South American player was ineffective throughout the game, struggling to provide defensive cover and control in the middle of the park.

Tottenham needed more physicality and defensive steel in the midfield, but Bentancur struggled throughout the game. The Uruguayan International failed to win a single successful tackle or duel in the game.

He has been quite inconsistent since joining the north London club, and it is high time Tottenham looked for an upgrade. They will be hoping to fight for major trophies in the coming seasons, and they need quality players at their disposal.

Spurs need a reliable partner for Palhinha

Joao Palhinha has done quite well since joining the club, and signing a quality partner for him should be a top priority for Tottenham now. Bentancur could still be a very useful player for Tottenham, but they cannot rely on him to start every week and perform at a high level. Apart from his inconsistencies, his availability has also been a concern.

It would be ideal for Tottenham to look for a quality midfielder in January. It will be interesting to see if they can improve in that area of the pitch. It could help them bounce back strongly during the second half of the campaign.

The defeat leaves Tottenham ninth in the league table with just 18 points from 12 matches.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing the Como midfielder Nico Paz.

The 21-year-old has done quite well in Italy, and he has been linked with a move to Inter Milan and Real Madrid as well. The Spanish club have an option to bring him back to the club for a set fee.

Spurs keen on Nico Paz

According to a report from Spanish publication AS, a return to his boyhood club seems very likely now. However, Tottenham have not given up on the pursuit of the player, and they are hoping to sign the playmaker.

They have reportedly ‘made inquiries’ for the Argentina international, and it will be interesting to see if they decide to come forward with an offer to sign the player. Como will certainly prefer to sell the player to a club other than Real Madrid. The Spanish outfit have an option to bring him back to the club for just €9 million in the coming summer. On the other hand, Como could fetch a lot more from other clubs.

It remains to be seen what the player decides. If he is tempted to join Real Madrid, the Italian club will be under pressure.

Paz is highly rated

Tottenham will certainly hope to convince him to join the club. He is a tremendous talent with a bright future, and he has impressed Lionel Messi.

Messi said of him: “Nico Paz has an incredible mindset, and that’s why he’s where he is. Nico has a lot of quality and understands the game perfectly.

“He has an incredible mindset, and he’s with Cesc Fabregas as a coach who is my friend and will help him grow a lot.”

There is no doubt that he could be an important player for Tottenham if they manage to get the deal done. They need more technical ability and creativity on the side. The South American would be a long-term investment.