The Boy Hotspur

Andrei Ratiu set for January move amid Tottenham transfer interest

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Tottenham Hotspur are keen on signing the Rayo Vallecano defender Andrei Ratiu.

The 26-year-old right-back has impressed with his performances for the Spanish club and multiple clubs are keen on him. According to a report from Mundo Deportivo via SportWitness, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and Roma are keen on securing his signature.

It will be interesting to see if Tottenham can win the race and secure his services. The defender has a €25 million release clause in his contract and Tottenham certainly have the financial muscle to get the deal across the line.

Ratiu could be attracted to the idea of competing in the Premier League and the opportunity to move to Tottenham will be hard to turn down. They have an exciting project and a talented squad. Even though they have been inconsistent the season, they will be an attractive destination for the player.

The Romanian has established himself as a key player for Rayo Vallecano and he has the quality to do well in the Premier League as well. He could be an understudy to Pedro Porro at the North London club for now. The Spanish international has been linked with a move away from Tottenham and Ratiu could be his long-term replacement.

The 26-year-old is entering the peak years of his career, and he will want to compete at the highest level. Tottenham could provide him with the platform to push for trophies in the coming seasons.

The report states that the player is very likely to change clubs in January and it remains to be seen where he ends up. Tottenham need to add more quality and depth to their squad in order to do well across multiple competitions. Signing the 26-year-old full-back could prove to be a wise decision.

Tottenham in talks to sign Tyrick Mitchell

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Crystal Palace defender Tyrick Mitchell will be out of contract at the end of the season and Tottenham Hotspur are keen on securing his signature.

According to Caught Offside, top European clubs are keen on securing his signature and he is on the radar of the two London clubs – Arsenal and Tottenham.

Tottenham have reportedly held talks with him regarding a potential move, and it will be interesting to see if they decide to make a move for Mitchell in January. The 25-year-old will be a free agent in the summer and signing him for free would be a major coup. He is a proven performer in the Premier League, and he will add more quality and depth to the Tottenham defensive unit.

Ben Davies needs to be replaced in the summer when his contract expires and Destiny Udogie has been underwhelming with his performances this season. More competition for places would be ideal and Mitchell could compete with the Italian international for a starting spot.

The 25-year-old is well-settled in English football and he could hit the ground running at Tottenham. It will be interesting to see how the situation develops. The opportunity to join the North London club is likely to be an attractive proposition for the 25-year-old defender. It would be a major step in his career, and he will look to compete for trophies with them.

The opportunity to play for clubs like Arsenal will be attractive for the defender as well. It will be interesting to see where he ends up eventually. Whoever ends up signing him on a free transfer at the end of the season will have a major bargain on their hands.

The player is entering his peak years and he could improve further with coaching and experience. Joining a big club and playing alongside top-class players could bring out the best in him.

Ange Postecoglou tries to explain latest Spurs setback in Wolves draw

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Fraser Forster has been blasted for his role in Tottenham slipping to a draw at home to Wolves on Sunday.

After coming from behind to lead 2-1 at half-time, Spurs couldn’t see off the game in the second 45 minutes.

And late on, they were punished as Jorgen Strand Larsen blasted home at the near post in the 87th minute following some poor defending from Radu Dragusin.

Although it was a powerful effort, Forster will be frustrated at conceding a goal at his near post and former England international Stephen Warnock has criticised the stand-in goalkeeper for his efforts.

“Fraser Forster has been done near post. The run from Jorgen Strand Larsen is lovely, as is the pass from Rayan Ait Nouri, and Strand Larsen lashes the ball as hard as he can near post, top corner,” Warnock told BBC Final Score.

“Forster almost turns his back on it rather than standing tall and being brave. He should not be beaten from there.”

Ange Postecoglou comments on Spurs 2-2 Wolves

Spurs have now won just two of their last nine Premier League matches, slipping to 11th in the table, 11 points adrift of the Champions League places.

But Ange Postecoglou is trying his best to cut his players some slack, with Spurs suffering a chronic injury crisis this season — especially in defence.

“It’s a disappointing outcome,” Postecoglou said of Sunday’s result (via Football.London). “Obviously we went a goal down but after that, I felt we controlled the game. It wasn’t easy always to get openings but we did look pretty threatening every time we did get forward. We scored a couple of goals, we obviously missed the penalty and then second half, I just thought we had some really big moments to kill the game off.

“They weren’t really creating much, I mean I think Fraser had one save to make with his feet, that was about it. You felt we kind of needed that third goal and obviously they score at the end and you’re kind of left with a disappointing outcome, but it’s not through the want of trying. It’s obvious, you know, the lads are fairly fatigued, especially in that front third, we’re not as sharp as we can be, which is understandable because we’re asking a lot of a sort of small core group of players and, as I said, it’s not for the want of trying and they’re trying to get the outcomes for us.”

Ange Postecoglou gives Destiny Udogie fitness update following

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Ange Postecoglou has given an update on the fitness of Destiny Udogie and Radu Dragusin following Sunday’s clash with Wolves.

After coming from behind to lead 2-1 at half-time, Spurs will be desperately disappointed to only take a 2-2 draw from Sunday’s match.

The Lilywhites have now won just two of their last nine Premier League matches and none of their last three, slipping 11th in the table and 11 points adrift of the Champions League spots in the process.

Postecoglou has, of course, not been helped by a chronic injury crisis in his Tottenham squad, especially in defence.

Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Ben Davies and Guglielmo Vicario are all sidelined at present, while Djed Spence was also suspended for Sunday’s match.

And now he may have a further headache with Udogie coming off in the 50th minute against Wolves, just weeks after returning from an injury of his own.

Postecoglou has confirmed the Italian full-back has picked up a hamstring problem brought on by being overworked in a threadbare squad.

“Yeah, I think it was a hamstring,” Postecoglou told reporters (via Football.London). “Again like I said, we’ve been relying on a core group of players because we just haven’t had the ability to rotate so at some point it was going to catch up with us. Unfortunately, it caught up with Destiny.”

Ange Postecoglou comments on Radu Dragusin performance

Postecoglou also commented on Dragusin’s situation.

The Romanian defender didn’t cover himself in glory on Wolves’ second goal. But, of course, in better circumstances, he wouldn’t have even played on Sunday after coming off injured late into the defeat against Nottingham Forest earlier in the week.

“Well we had no choice, if Radu doesn’t play, I don’t know who plays,” Postecoglou said of Dragusin, who managed the full 90 minutes against Wolves.

“He wasn’t 100%, but he felt he could get through with his ankle and again, I think the players are all giving everything they can at the moment. It’s just unfortunately we can’t give them what they really need and that is some recovery and rest because we’ve got so many players out, but Radu wanted to play today and you know while he wasn’t 100%, we had no choice to put him out there.”

Spurs XI to beat Wolves and our prediction [graphic]

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Suddenly it’s a big game for Angelos, certainly one of far greater significance than many might have suspected when the fixture list was released. Some fans are talking about a six-pointer…

Ange’s luck with injuries this season has been horrific, and yet the Australian’s unwillingness to change his tactics has surely played its part in Tottenham’s struggles.

The Wolves may scent blood this afternoon, having enjoyed two strong Premier League wins, scoring five goals in the process.

Tottenham could prioritise move for Patrick Dorgu in January

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Tottenham Hotspur are considering a move for the Lecce defender Patrick Dorgu.

According to a report from Give Me Sport, the 20-year-old Denmark international is at the top of the shortlist heading into the January transfer window. The player is reportedly on the radar of multiple European clubs, and it will be interesting to see if Tottenham can beat the competition for his signature.

The 20-year-old is capable of operating as a left-back as well as a left-sided winger. He could contribute at both ends of the pitch.

Ben Davies will be out of contract in the summer of 2025, and Destiny Udogie has been quite underwhelming in recent matches. Tottenham need more quality and depth in the left full-back position, and Dorgu would be the ideal long-term investment for them.

He has shown his quality in Italian football and he has the physical and technical attributes to succeed in England as well. He could develop into a key player for Tottenham with the right guidance. It will be interesting to see if the North London club can agree on a reasonable fee for him.

The 20-year-old is still quite young and he will only improve with coaching and experience. The transfer could look like a major bargain in the long term if Tottenham can sign him for a reasonable amount of money.

It will be interesting to see if Lecce are willing to sell the player midway through the season. He is a key player for them and losing him in January would be a major blow. They will struggle to replace him.

Tottenham could be made to wait until the summer transfer window for the talented young full-back. It remains to be seen how the situation develops over the next few weeks.

Tottenham could reignite interest in Ko Itakura

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Borussia Moenchengladbach defender Ko Itakura is reportedly on the radar of Tottenham Hotspur heading into the January transfer window.

The 27-year-old Japanese international has been linked with a move to the North London club in the past as well and Ange Postecoglou is currently considering a move for the player next month, as per GMS.

Postecoglou has followed the player over the years and he wanted to sign Itakura for Celtic as well. It will be interesting to see if Spurs can get the deal done.

Earlier this year, Fabrizio Romano said: “It’s a player they like, especially Ange Postecoglou. From what I heard Postecoglou already knew the player very well since he was at Celtic, so he always had him on the list.”

It is no secret that Tottenham need to bring in defensive reinforcements and signing the 27-year-old central defender could prove to be a wise decision. He is at the peak of his powers and he has the qualities to succeed in English football. He will add quality and depth to their defensive unit.

Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are sidelined with injuries and Spurs have struggled in their absence. They have conceded 15 goals in the last six matches in all competitions. They cannot hope to finish the season strongly in their current form and they need to plug the weaknesses in their squad.

Itakura is capable of operating as a full-back, a central defender and a defensive midfielder as well. He could be the ideal utility man for the North London club.

The opportunity to join Tottenham could be exciting for the player as well. He would get to compete in the Premier League and test himself against top-class players. Tottenham have an exciting project and they could be pushing for trophies in the coming seasons.

It will be interesting to see if they follow up on their interest with an official proposal in the coming weeks. It is fair to assume that they have to financial muscle to get the deal across the line.

Tottenham boost as Ange Postecoglou confirms return dates for two key first-team players

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Tottenham’s season has been heavily disrupted by an ongoing injury crisis, with several key players sidelined, including in the forward line.

However, manager Ange Postecoglou has delivered encouraging news about the return of two important attacking options, Richarlison and Mikey Moore.

Ange Postecoglou shares update on Richarlison and Mikey Moore

Postecoglou confirmed that both forwards are nearing the end of their recovery and are expected to rejoin first-team training next week.

This development comes at a critical time for the Lilywhites, who have struggled with injuries and inconsistent performances throughout the campaign. The Australian manager said (Via Football London):

“Yeah him [Mikey Moore] and Richy [Richarlison] in the final phases. Next week they can start training.

“We’ve got a bit of a gap before the Newcastle game. The plan is Mikey and Richy come back into first-team training next week.”

Richarlison’s season has been particularly challenging. The Brazilian striker has been out of action since November with a hamstring injury, adding to earlier fitness issues that have seen him miss a total of 22 games.

Prior to his injury, Richarlison managed only seven appearances across all competitions, clocking just 173 minutes. His prolonged absence has significantly limited Tottenham’s options in attack, leaving the team short of firepower during crucial fixtures.

Similarly, academy graduate Mikey Moore has been sidelined since early November, missing 12 matches. The young forward, who made his first Premier League start earlier in the season, has demonstrated his potential in eight appearances across all competitions. His imminent return is expected to bolster Tottenham’s attacking depth, providing fresh energy, particularly as an impact substitute.

The return of both players comes at a vital moment as Spurs face a demanding run of fixtures, including a key encounter against Newcastle next week.

Having additional attacking reinforcements could be instrumental in addressing the team’s struggles and improving consistency.

“It was a mistake to sign him” – Former Tottenham scout makes interesting claim about recent Spurs signing

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Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Radu Dragusin has become the subject of transfer speculation, with reports suggesting he could leave the club next summer.

The 22-year-old Romanian joined Spurs in January 2024 in a record-breaking €25 million transfer from Genoa, making him the most expensive Romanian footballer to date.

Since then, Dragusin has been thrust into regular action due to injuries sidelining Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, Tottenham’s first-choice central defenders.

This season, Dragusin has made 19 appearances across all competitions, starting in 17 of them, and has provided crucial depth during a turbulent period for the team. However, concerns have been raised about whether he is a long-term fit in Ange Postecoglou’s system.

Bryan King on Radu Dragusin

Former Spurs scout Bryan King has weighed in on Dragusin’s future, expressing doubts about an imminent move.

The pundit believes that while a transfer might be on the horizon, it is unlikely to happen before the summer. With Romero and van de Ven still recovering, the Lilywhites cannot afford to lose Dragusin midseason.

Speaking to Tottenham News, King stated:

“They can’t cash in on him at the moment.

“They’ve got their two main defenders out. Therefore, I can’t see him leaving until the end of the season. However, this seems to be an agent who knows that the writing is on the wall. Life does seem to be easier in Italy than it is in the Premier League.

“He has only just joined the football club, whether it was a mistake to sign him, that is still under scrutiny. For me, when you lose those two main centre-backs, he is not your immediate answer. However, they’re going to have to stick with him until the end of the season.”

Dragusin’s time at Spurs has been a mix of highs and lows. Although he has shown glimpses of potential, the club’s aggressive playing style often leaves defenders vulnerable, making it difficult for any centre-back to shine consistently.

His debut season has featured both promising performances and challenges, including a red card during his Europa League debut against Qarabağ.

However, Tottenham’s defensive struggles cannot be pinned solely on Dragusin. The team’s injury crisis and tactical approach have played a significant role in exposing the backline, leaving the young defender with little margin for error.

As the season unfolds, Dragusin will have more opportunities to refine his game and prove his value within Postecoglou’s setup. Whether Tottenham decides to retain him as a key squad member or explores a transfer next summer may depend on how he adapts and performs during this critical period.

Tottenham make Ange Postecoglou sack decision

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Tottenham’s Premier League woes persisted with a 1-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day, marking their fourth loss in the last five league outings.

This poor run has seen the Lilywhites drop to 11th place, intensifying scrutiny on manager Ange Postecoglou’s position.

Amid the growing concerns, Tottenham’s board has now made a decision on Ange Postecoglou’s future.

According to the Mail Sport, while his job remains safe at present, the upcoming League Cup semi-final against Liverpool in January could play a defining role in his long-term prospects.

Postecoglou continues to have the backing of chairman Daniel Levy, with Spurs’ ongoing participation in the Europa League and Carabao Cup working in his favour.

The chance to end the club’s 16-year wait for silverware—Tottenham’s last trophy being the 2008 League Cup—has been a significant factor in the board’s decision to support the manager through this difficult spell.

The Australian’s history of achieving success in his second season offers some hope for the future. Postecoglou has previously secured league titles with South Melbourne, Brisbane Roar, Yokohama F. Marinos, and Celtic during his second year at each club.

The 59-year-old’s tenure as manager of the Australian national team also saw him guide the squad to an Asian Cup victory two years into his role, highlighting his ability to achieve long-term results.

However, Tottenham’s injury crisis has exacerbated their struggles this season. The absence of key players such as goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven has left significant gaps in the team’s defence, contributing to their inconsistent performances.

As Spurs gear up to face Wolves at home this weekend, a victory is essential to relieve the mounting pressure on Postecoglou.

While the League Cup semi-final remains a pivotal test, the team’s immediate focus must be on securing results to stabilise their season and reaffirm confidence in their manager.