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The latest Arsenal injury news ahead of the North London Derby - with updates on new issues suffered by Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori.

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Arsenal will put their 14-match unbeaten streak to the test in the North London Derby this weekend – but their chances of defeating local rivals Tottenham Hotspur may be set to go down after some bad news from the international break.

Defenders Gabriel Magalhães and Riccardo Calafiori both picked up injuries while on international duty over the weekend, which could deepen Mikel Arteta’s selection headache ahead of Sunday’s match. Players such as Viktor Gyökeres, Noni Madueke and Martin Ødegaard are also battling for fitness ahead of the game, and as many as eight players could miss out for Arsenal.

To help their supporters keep track of the team news ahead of the showdown with Spurs, we’ve collected all of the latest Arsenal injury news below along with the stricken players’ expected return dates when available.

Gabriel & Calafiori pick up international injuries for Arsenal

Saturday proved to be a difficult day for Arsenal defenders, with Gabriel injured during Brazil’s 2-0 win over Senegal while Calafiori was sent home from Italy’s camp within hours of each other.

Gabriel was replaced after a little over an hour of Brazil’s win – which happened to be hosted at the Emirates – after going down with what later turned out to be a quad injury (reported, seemingly wrongly, as a knee injury by some media outlets).

The Brazilian FA stated that tests on Sunday had confirmed the problem, with Gabriel remaining in London before the rest of the national squad travelled to France for a friendly against Tunisia. No detailed prognosis has yet been made available and no return date provided, but it is likely that the centre-back misses at least a short stretch of games, including the North London Derby.

Calafiori, who was sent home from the Italian camp on Saturday after failing to recover from a hip injury, is more likely to be involved this weekend. His withdrawal from the squad is not believed to represent a major issue, however, with The Daily Mirror echoing reports from Italy suggesting that he will be ready to play against Spurs despite the knock.

Will any of Viktor Gyökeres, Noni Madueke or Martin Ødegaard be back to play Spurs?

Arsenal have also been sweating on the fitness of four players who weren’t able to take part in national duties this week – with Ødegaard, Madueke and Kai Havertz (all knee) pushing for a return while summer signing Gyökeres and winger Gabriel Martinelli also face potential late fitness tests due to a pair of unspecified injuries.

Arteta has yet to confirm the availability of any of the five, but did say prior to the international break that they were “not far off” and that they should be “very close” to making their comebacks once the November break was over.

Since then, however, Arteta has sounded a more negative note concerning the fitness of club captain Ødegaard, cautioning that he was “some distance away” from making a comeback, with reports suggesting that his return has been delayed until early December. The remaining four should be back in November, with all having a reasonable chance of playing at least some part against Spurs - although the lack of information about Gyökeres’ situation makes it very hard to be sure that he is close to being involved.

One player who will certainly miss out is striker Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian, who is rehabilitating after rupturing his ACL in January during an FA Cup matcha against Manchester United, is back in team training but is not scheduled to return to action until late December at the earliest.

Thomas Frank’s Spurs need a left-wing upgrade and have been linked with stars like Antoine Semenyo and Ademola Lookman

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After Thomas Frank’s era at Tottenham Hotspur began so brightly, he’s starting to lose his lustre in the dugout and will require an impactful January transfer window to reinvigorate the project in north London.

Spurs struggle to play through a press effectively - at least when Micky van de Ven isn’t unleashing his inner Diego Maradona - with Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur not the most creative double-pivot in world football, and can’t break down a dug-in low block easily either.

Despite ranking fifth for the most possession in the Premier League this season, Tottenham are shockingly 17th for shot volume, having taken only three more than Wolves, and over 50 less than both Liverpool and Arsenal who are top of the ranking. They’re also 14th for shot volume, below Aston Villa who couldn’t even hold a goal of the month competition in August, and mid-table in terms of the most touches in the attacking third.

Another area they could target to improve this is the left wing position. Too often Tottenham’s attacking plan seems to just be ‘give it to Mohamed Kudus and hope’ and only five top-flight sides have launched more attacks down the right flank than Frank’s men. And while they’ve been linked with a host of big names like Antoine Semenyo and Ademola Lookman, a more prudent signing could be Vasco de Gama’s 19-year-old Rayan.

Gareth Bale regen Rayan could electrify Tottenham attack

“A technically skilled left-footed player who is fast, powerful, and elegant,” was the CIES Football Observatory verdict on Rayan, a description that could just as accurately be applied to a young Gareth Bale after Harry Redknapp moved him from full-back to left midfield.

And interestingly, their closest player comparison was to another Tottenham January target on the wing, Antoine Semenyo. The analysis also highlighted the teenagers’ versatility (“[he] primarily plays as a right winger, but can perform well in any attacking position”), his finishing being more threatening than his creation at this early stage, both of which are similar to the Welsh wizard who is only a centimetre taller than Rayan.

Bale was shortlisted for the FIFPro World XI while playing on both wings, recorded seven goals to two assists in his first season as an attacking player, and it’s no exaggeration to say Rayan could follow the same trajectory in north London.

Despite Vasco having a poor season in 2025, Rayan scored 12 times in 30 games so he’s already shown his eye for goal, and his ability to beat a defender then turn it into a shot which is an attribute Frank and Tottenham desperately need to electrify their attack. If he could transfer his average of 3.06 shots per full game from Brazil to England’s top flight, he would rank fourth Premier League for shot volume (according to Opta via FBref.com excluding those who’ve played less than five games).

Of course, it’s not realistic to except him to seamlessly adapt to the Premier League but Bale (or Jeremy Doku as a more recent example) show the returns that can be reaped from giving such a talented dribbler the runway to develop in the division.

Vasco star fits Thomas Frank signing profile

While the signing of Mohamed Kudus and Xavi Simons showed Frank will be working a higher calibre of recruit than Brentford, the Dane remains one of the best managers in Europe for Rayan to develop under.

Former Blackburn Rover David Raya, Posh star Ivan Toney, Addick Ezri Konsa and ex-Troyes forward Bryan Mbeumo were among the Bees’ gems signed from outside the top five leagues and even more well-known additions like Kevin Schade, and Yoane Wissa came from clubs who have been in the second tier within a few years of selling to Brentford.

Meanwhile Sepp van den Berg and Christian Norgaard did come from bigger clubs but had combined for less than 600 minutes for Liverpool and Fiorentina, so building up Rayan from a practically unknown prospect to a Premier League star would be far from uncharted waters for Frank.

Despite Rayan’s contract expiring on New Year’s Eve 2026, he’s been valued at €30 million (£26.4m) with a release clause of €40m (£35.1m) according to ESPN, and given the clubs that are interested in him it’s not inconceivable that the bidding will go that high.

Real Betis reportedly considered the Brazilian as an alternative target to Antony while Porto, Fiorentina and Aston Villa were also apparently interested while he was on the radars of Saudi Pro League clubs Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal before making it clear he wanted a move to Europe.

Vasco de Gama are resigned to losing their star before the start of the next Campeonato Brasileiro season, and Tottenham can be one of his most attractive landing spots. They’re the biggest club confirmed to be chasing Rayan and he can bring

Tottenham Hotspur could secure a massive swap deal with Real Madrid as they aim to sign a world-class Los Blancos star

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Tottenham Hotspur have seen an inconsistent start to life under Thomas Frank as the Lilywhites look to return to where they feel they belong in the Premier League after last season’s 17th-placed finish under Ange Postecoglou.

With that in mind, Spurs have begun the season well as they currently sit fifth. However, their home form has left much to be desired and multiple new signings have struggled to settle in thus far. With the pressures of playing twice a week likely to set in as we approach the busy winter period, Frank and his staff could use this international break to devise a plan for the January transfer window.

A new face or two could ultimately prove the difference as the north London side look to kick on in the spring, with one star in particular taking their fancy as the winter window fast approaches.

Tottenham interested in Real Madrid wing wizard Rodrygo

Spurs were reportedly interested in Real Madrid and Brazil star Rodrygo over the summer, but a move failed to materialise and the Brazilian stayed put at the Bernabeu. He has failed to make a significant impression on new boss Xabi Alonso, though, making just two La Liga starts and playing a measly 255 minutes of football as Los Blancos begin the campaign top of the league.

For a man cited as being worth €100 million (£87m) for much of the summer, the amount of time he has spent sat on the bench is neither good enough for the player nor a good business move by the club, who must be worried that the 24-year-old’s value will depreciate if he continues not to get regular minutes.

In could step Spurs. Frank’s side remain interested in a move for the Brazilian as per Fichajes, while Fabrizio Romano recently confirmed via his YouTube channel that links between Rodrygo and Chelsea are completely false. This could leave the door wide open for Spurs to approach Real with a stunning proposal ahead of rival suitors Manchester City.

Rodrygo and Lucas Bergvall swap deal could be huge solution

If Spurs are to secure a massive deal for a player who would be a massive game-changer for Frank’s side, they may have to reluctantly sanction the sale of one of their own young stars in part-exchange for Rodrygo.

Real Madrid were linked with 19-year-old midfielder Lucas Bergvall earlier this year, and Los Blancos may come calling again if Spurs push forward with their interest in Rodrygo. Sweden international Bergvall is capable of playing in a variety of midfield positions and has caught the eye with his classy displays and ambition in the middle of the park. Real have a history of securing future world-class players such as Luka Modric and Gareth Bale from Spurs, and wonderkid Bergvall could become the latest to swap London for Madrid.

Former Brentford manager Martin Allen recently said of the player: “He’s got his best years ahead of him. Tottenham must have tied him down to a long-term contract because clubs like Real Madrid are going to be looking at him; they are going to be taking an interest. So they’re going to do well to keep hold of him, I think.”

Spurs would likely have to pay a hefty sum on top of the services of Bergvall in exchange for Rodrygo, with the Swedish teenager currently worth €40m according to Transfermarkt. But the inclusion of the wonderkid in a deal could convince Real that north London is the right destination for their Brazilian star, who is likely to attract increased transfer interest as long as his bit-part role under Alonso continues.

Breaking down the latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Manchester City, Manchester United, Spurs, Everton and more.

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Another busy day on the gossip columns is in the books and that means it’s time for 3 Added Minutes’ daily round-up and review of the biggest and spiciest new Premier League transfer rumours – starting with a story concerning both Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

TeamTalk report that Pep Guardiola’s side have “emerged as frontrunners” to sign Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, who is now ready to leave this winter due to concerns over his playing time under Xabi Alonso – and it’s said that Spurs’ chances of getting a deal done have been “quashed” as City establish themselves as favourites to get a deal done.

Real would prefer to wait until next summer to let Rodrygo leave but the player may push for an early exit. City are said to be readying a bid worth between €60m and €80m (£53-70m) and view his wage demands as “within reach” – something which may not be true for Spurs, who are apparently also worried that he wants too high of a weekly wage for their tastes.

Chelsea have also “kept tabs” on the situation but are not likely to make a January bid, apparently, while Bayern Munich have “cooled” initial interest of their own, leaving the path clear for Manchester City unless Spurs make a seemingly improbable late push.

The 3AM Verdict: Extensive reporting on Rodrygo’s future from Spain suggests that a move is quite likely - although Real Madrid are loathe to let him leave mid-season, which could the biggest barrier for City’s bid. We suspect that it’s touch-and-go for a January deal, but that it likely will happen in the summer should it prove impossible to get a deal done in the coming months.

Manchester United could bring £44m midfielder back to Old Trafford

Let’s follow that up with a rather surprising story from Caught Offside, now – they allege that United are among club “eyeing up” a move for none other than Scott McTominay, who was discarded by the Red Devils only to flourish in Italy with Napoli.

They’re now “keen to bring him back,” while Newcastle and Spurs are also said to have some interest in the Scotsman, who is said to be happy in Naples and would apparently command a fee of at least €50m (£44m). There are no indications that McTominay would push for such a transfer to take place.

Curiously enough, McTominay isn’t even the only ball-winning midfielder from Napoli linked with United in the past 24 hours. Italian outlet Tuttosport also reckon that United are “tracking” his 30-year-old team-mate Stanislav Lobotka, although there’s no mention of a price or much detail at all in their story.

The 3AM Verdict: We seriously doubt that this story has much basis in fact and there are few indications that McTominay will be going anywhere any time soon. Perhaps Lobotka is somewhere on the shortlist if he’s cheap, but at 30 years old he’s unlikely to be a priority signing. United will sign a midfielder eventually, but we wouldn’t be on either of these.

Four Premier League teams battling for rising Brazilian star

Let’s wrap up with a story from Sport Witness, who combine media reports to provide us with a report on widespread interest in 21-year-old Palmeiras midfielder Allan Elias. Apparently Fulham, Everton and West Ham United are all “following” the Brazilian’s progress, while Brighton & Hove Albion have also been linked with a bid.

Allan attracted bids from Saudi Arabia and Russia over the summer, it’s said, but Palmeiras rejected two offers in the area of €20m (£17.5m) – so we know that Premier League teams would have to pay more than that, especially given that the youngster’s form has only improved since then.

He has a massive €100m (£84m) release clause which none of the sides mentioned are likely to trigger, but at least three of the four sides mentioned are reported to have “made enquiries” about Allan as they weigh up a bid in the near future.

The 3AM Verdict: There’s no clear indication of whether we’d be looking at a January deal or a summer move, or what Palmeiras would actually demand to make a deal happen, making it tricky to assess which of these teams might be in the best position to sign Allan. We’ll find out more soon, hopefully…

The latest Arsenal injury news ahead of the North London Derby against Spurs - with updates on Viktor Gyökeres, Noni Madueke and Martin Ødegaard.

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Arsenal’s winning streak may have drawn to a close at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, but they will still head into the November international break with a 14-match unbeaten run under the belt. Unfortunately, they are also going to spend the next two weeks fretting over the fitness of several key players.

Five players, including summer signings Viktor Gyökeres and Noni Madueke and club captain Martin Ødegaard, have missed Arsenal’s most recent matches and are doubts for their next Premier League match – which just so happens to be against fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

We’ve got all the latest Arsenal injury news ahead of that massive match next weekend below, along with the expected return dates of all six of the Gunners’ stricken players when available.

Will any of Arsenal’s injured players be back to face Spurs?

Five of Arsenal’s senior players face a fitness battle over the international break, but Mikel Arteta has offered some cause for cautious optimism ahead of the upcoming North London derby.

“Some of them, all of them I don’t know,” Arteta said when asked how many of his injured players could be back in action in time for 23 November. “There are a lot of things that have to happen in the next two weeks, and everything has to be perfect, but I think we’ll be very close with most of them to be in a really strong position.”

Madueke is believed to be the most likely of the five to be fully fit to face Spurs, with media reports suggesting that the winger, who has missed the last 12 games with a knee injury, was close to making the squad for the 2-2 draw against Sunderland before the decision was made to keep him on the sidelines.

He could well be joined by Ødegaard and Kai Havertz (both knee), who both remain doubts but are in line to return by the end of the month, and Gabriel Martinelli (muscular) who has missed two games after limping off after the match against Crystal Palace.

There is far less clarity over the availability of Swedish striker Gyökeres, who sustained an apparent hamstring injury during the recent win over Burnley. Although the club have sent the player for scans, Arteta claimed that there was “no news” on his status going into the game against Sunderland save that he remained unavailable. He was not selected for Graham Potter’s first Swedish national squad. No return date is available as it stands.

Gabriel Jesus closes in on return from ACL injury

There has been recent good news concerning Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus, who has now returned to team training as he ramps up his rehabilitation following a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament sustained against Manchester United in January.

Arteta told the press that Jesus had been “full of energy” since returning to the squad for the first time in 10 months, adding that it was “great to have him back.” Still, Arsenal are unlikely to rush the 28-year-old back into action, with Arteta confirming that they were taking Jesus’ reintroduction one small step at a time.

Assuming all goes according to plan, Jesus could return to the matchday squad before the end of December, but the club have not set a specific target date as yet while they wait to see how he reacclimatises to full training.

Barring further setbacks, Jesus should be Arsenal’s only remaining injured player by the end of the month, with the key question being how many of the players current unavailable will be ready to take on the Gunners’ deadly rivals in a little under a fortnight.

The latest Premier League transfer rumours analysed - with news from Chelsea, Newcastle, Spurs, Bournemouth and more.

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It’s once again time for 3 Added Minutes’ daily round-up and analysis of some of the biggest and juiciest new Premier League transfer rumours – and we’ll kick things off with a story which claims that Chelsea are taking steps towards making a major deal happen.

According to Caught Offside, the Blues have made an “official inquiry [sic]” to Italian outfit Como concerning their rising midfield star Nico Paz – but they’re not alone in their interest in striking a deal for the 21-year-old, and getting a move sorted will apparently be “complicated.”

That’s partly because Real Madrid, whose academy the Argentine international came through, have a buy-back option worth just €9m (£8m) in 2026, and intend to use it, although other sides are hoping that they can buy Real out. Inter Milan, who are said to be “serious contenders” for Paz’s signature, are planning to pay €58m (£50m) to buy the Spanish giants out.

The other problem is simply that so many teams are keen on the player, with Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur among four Premier League teams “monitoring the situation closely.”

The 3AM Verdict: All indications point to the overwhelming likelihood that Real Madrid sign Paz next summer, and we would be surprised if Chelsea, or any other Premier League team, could sneak in and sort out a deal of their own. The terms Real have to buy Paz back are just too favourable for them to pass up, especially with Xabi Alonso seemingly keen to rebuild the Real midfield over the course of 2026.

Newcastle get ‘encouragement’ over key January deal

Let’s take a trip up to Tyneside next, with a story from Sport Witness – who cite Italian media sources – which claims that Newcastle United are receiving “encouragement” to resurrect a deal which fell through over the summer.

Eddie Howe’s side were linked with a deal for Inter midfielder and part-time Lee Bowyer lookalike Davide Frattesi but a deal failed to materialise in the last transfer window – now, however, the 26-year-old could be available as he sees his playing time in the San Siro diminish.

Apparently Newcastle’s loan-to-buy bid from the summer “wasn’t good enough… at the time” but were they to offer a similar deal in January then “it’s expected a deal will go through.” Inter are even said to want Newcastle to make a move now that the Italy international has dropped down the pecking order.

The 3AM Verdict: It’s worth noting that there is no evidence presented that Newcastle want to rekindle the deal, but their summer interest was sincere so it’s certainly possible that they repeat their offer. Howe may well want to boost his midfield for the rest of the 2025/26 campaign at least.

Spurs ‘very hot’ on Bournemouth starlet

Let’s wrap up in North London with a tale from TeamTalk – who claim that Spurs are “very hot” on sorting out a deal for Bournemouth (and now England) midfielder Alex Scott.

Apparently Spurs were “in the market” for the 22-year-old before he made his move from Bristol City to the south coast, and “remain interested” while they consider options for a midfield move in the near future.

It’s suggested that a January move is relatively unlikely even though several members of Spurs’ recruitment team are keen on the player – attacking reinforcements are said to be the “main focus of attention” this winter, so a deal for Scott would likely be one for next summer.

The 3AM Verdict: This is a very speculative article which doesn’t imply that Spurs are actively pursuing a deal – merely that Scott has admirers at the club. Bournemouth are very unlikely to sanction a sale in January and would demand top dollar in the summer, so there’s every chance that Spurs look elsewhere when the time to sign a midfielder comes.

Tottenham Hotspur have the opportunity to freshen up their squad in the January transfer window

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Tottenham Hotspur are positioned in 5th place in the Premier League table after 11 fixtures heading into the international break. They drew 2-2 at home to Manchester United in their last league game. Attacking pair Mathys Tel and Richarlison got their goals against the Red Devils at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Mathijs de Ligt scored a last-gasp equaliser for their opponents though so they were forced to settle for a point. Thomas Frank was picked as Ange Postecoglou’s replacement in the summer. Prior to his move, he caught the eye with fellow top flight side Brentford.

Tottenham Hotspur eye ambitious Rodrygo deal

Spurs have been linked with a surprise move for Real Madrid winger Rodrygo. According to Spanish news site Fichajes, they are interested in a swoop for the £70 million-rated attacker. Frank has the chance to bring in some new faces when the January transfer window opens up for business to freshen up his ranks.

Rodrygo, 24, is under contract in Spain until 2028 but his long-term future is up in the air at this moment in time. The Brazil international, who has 35 caps to his name, isn’t guaranteed regular minutes with the La Liga giants under the guidance of Xabi Alonso. Therefore, an exit this winter may well be beneficial to his career.

Spurs would be able to provide him with a platform to show what he can do in England. He would get regular minutes with the London club which is what he needs right now. If he joined, he would give them more competition and depth at the top end of the pitch and would inject more pace and quality into their squad.

Rodrygo was snapped up by Real Madrid back in 2019. Prior to his switch over to Europe, he rose up through the academy at Santos and was a regular for them at various youth levels as a teenager before breaking into their first-team. Since his transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu, he has scored 68 goals in 283 matches and has won the league title, Champions League and Copa del Rey.

Tottenham Hotspur should offer Real Madrid swap deal

Rodrygo would be an ideal acquisition for Spurs but they may have reservations about forking out a hefty £70m for his signature, especially mid-way through a campaign. Therefore, they need to think outside the box as to how they can lure him in. With that in mind, they should offer them a player to help bump down his price tag.

Midfielder Yves Bissouma has had a frustrating time of it of late and they should offer him to Real Madrid. Although he probably wouldn’t start for Alonso’s men, he could provide solid back-up. In addition, he is an experienced operator now and has played over 250 matches altogether.

Bissouma is currently nursing an injury and won’t be back until later in November or early December as things stand. He has struggled to get into manager Frank’s plans before he was sidelined though and was left out in August due to persistent lateness. Cutting ties with him would probably be the most sensible avenue to go down in a couple of months time.

The Mali international joined Spurs in 2022 after his impressive stint at fellow top flight side Brighton and Hove Albion and he has since made 100 outings, finding the net on two occasions. He enjoyed plenty of action last season under Postecoglou and helped win the Europa League. Things haven’t gone to plan for him recently though and a change of scene to Real Madrid in return for Rodrygo would make sense for all parties involved here.

The latest Spurs injury news and expected return dates - including updates on the fitness of Cristian Romero and Randal Kolo Muani.

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Tottenham Hotspur were denied their second home win of the Premier League season by a late equaliser from Manchester United on Saturday, but Matthijs de Ligt’s goal wasn’t the only headache Thomas Frank had to endure this weekend after two more players went off with injuries.

Cristian Romero and Randal Kolo Muani both had to be substituted due to fitness problems, potentially deepening an injury crisis which already meant that 10 first-team players were unavailable against United. With a North London Derby looming after the international break, Spurs fans will be hoping for good news on the health of their two newly-stricken players.

We’ve got the latest Spurs injury news and fitness updates below heading into the November break, along with players’ expected return dates when available.

How bad are Cristian Romero & Randal Kolo Muani injuries for Spurs?

Forward Kolo Muani was the first to be withdrawn against United when he was replaced by Wilson Odobert at half-time, while defender Romero followed him to the dressing room with just two minutes of normal time remaining – but head coach Frank’s comments to the media after the game suggest that neither issue is too serious.

There is rather more concern over Kolo Muani’s fitness, however, with the striker, who has been dogged by injury problems since signing on loan from PSG at the end of the summer transfer window, revealed to have suffered a fractured jaw.

Frank initially played the injury down as “nothing big” but Kolo Muani has since withdrawn from France’s squad to face Ukraine and Azerbaijan. Fractured jaws can take around six weeks to heal fully, suggesting that the Frenchman could be out for an extended period and is highly unlikely to return immediately after the break, although the extent of the damage is not clear and Spurs have not announced a target return date.

Could Dominic Solanke be back to face Arsenal?

With that fresh blow, Spurs will be hopeful that at least some of their many injured players can mount a comeback in time to face Arsenal in a fortnight’s time – and striker Dominic Solanke’s fitness could be key if Kolo Muani is indeed ruled out.

Prior to the draw against United, Frank was asked about Solanke’s availability after the break and simply said that “I do hope” that the striker will be back, adding that the former Bournemouth man’s recovery was “on track” after ankle surgery. That being the case, he has a fighting chance of being available against Arsenal.

Other players who could be back in action after the break include Lucas Bergvall (concussion), Yves Bissouma (ankle), Radu Dragusin (ACL), Archie Gray (calf), Kota Takai (thigh) and Ben Davies (hamstring).

Dejan Kulusevski, meanwhile, could be back in full training by the time the international players return, but is unlikely to be close enough to full fitness to play against Spurs’ local rivals. An early December comeback is more probable. James Maddison remains likely to miss the entirety of the 2025/26 season with his ACL injury.

Spurs have been linked with a transfer deal for a talented defender in the mould of Micky van de Ven - but so have Liverpool.

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Tottenham Hotspur have had an up and down time of it since Thomas Frank took charge. Their away form has been stellar and their league form considerably better than it was last season, but they are struggling to win at home and were jeered from the field following last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Chelsea. There is still plenty of room for improvement.

A slew of injuries presents a good excuse for Spurs’ attacking struggles so far this season, but despite having a strong back four on paper, only five teams in the top flight have conceded a higher total of expected goals. They have been getting a little lucky at the back, and need to tighten up before they revert back to the mean, as most teams ultimately do.

The January transfer window offers some opportunities to improve, of course. While there are very few criticisms that can be levelled at Spurs’ starting centre-backs, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, their back-ups have not been convincing when called upon. That may explain why the club has been linked with a move for a young centre-back who has been impressive in the Bundesliga – and who has been compared favourably with Van de Ven himself.

Why Spurs may be targeting Konstantinos Koulierakis – and why he’s been compared to Micky van de Ven

The comparison with Van de Ven is partly because Koulierakis is playing at VfL Wolfsburg, the same side with which the Dutchman made his name before moving to Spurs, but their playing styles have certain similarities as well.

Like Van de Ven, Koulierakis is aggressive and effective in one-on-one situations, a strong passer and a willing runner with the ball – not that he’s yet managed to score a goal after dribbling from his own half, as Van de Ven did against FC København last week.

That isn’t the only area in which he has yet to quite reach Van de Ven’s standards, as one might imagine given his relative inexperience. He can be rash in the tackle, as neatly demonstrated when he needlessly gave away a penalty against Hamburg recently, and while his passing is good it lacks the precision of the very best ball-playing defenders, especially over long range.

There are some ways in which he could perhaps exceed Van de Ven, however. He’s already slightly better in the air, although there is still room for improvement in the way he leverages his size and strength, and he’s already carrying the ball more frequently and more successfully. The student could, perhaps, better the master one day.

For now, Spurs would most likely see Koulierakis as a back-up to Van de Ven and future competition – and, maybe, an upgrade on players like Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin, who have not quite lived up to expectations in North London thus far. But how reliable are the stories linking them with Koulierakis, are they likely to strike a deal in January, and will they face competition for his signature from Liverpool?

Will Spurs sign Koulierakis in January?

Although several media outlets have now covered the story linking Spurs with a bid for Koulierakis, the primary source for the story appears to be TBR Football, who first published their report into Spurs’ interest on Wednesday.

As it stands, none of the most reliable media sources in England or Germany have yet reported on any interest, so this is a story which needs further corroboration – but there certainly seems to be strong indications that Spurs are in the market for another defender.

Spurs have had their name connected with a number of centre-halves in recent weeks, such as Inter Milan’s Yann Bisseck, and could very well make a move over the winter, but not only is it difficult to discern which of the rumours suggest genuine targets for the club and which are wide of the mark, but it’s hard to say with any certainty that their defence is the priority when Frank is also believed to be chasing a new striker and a central midfielder.

Even if they do decide to expend their resources on a defender this winter and do indeed target Koulierakis specifically, they could face competition, with Liverpool – down to the bare bones at the back and potentially in need of a long-term replacement for Ibrahima Konaté – also said to be interested.

Koulierakis has the quality and potential to be worthy of investment by sides like Spurs and Liverpool, but thus far none of the reports regarding his future have hinted at a formal offer being made imminently or suggested what the finances of such a deal might be. He is under contract until 2029, so Wolfsburg have no incentive to sell him cheap, and a deal could stretch relatively scarce January resources.

Spurs are likely to be busier than most Premier League teams over the winter and they may well be keeping a close eye on Koulierakis, a gifted player whose profile and playing style matches Spurs’ methods – but that doesn’t make a deal in the immediate future especially likely. This is a transfer that most certainly could take place, but we’re not close to a point at which it becomes a probability.

The latest Fantasy Premier League injury news ahead of Gameweek 11 - with updates on Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres, Mohammed Kudus and many more.

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Another Fantasy Premier League deadline is fast approaching, and for Gameweek 11 we need to make our transfers in time for an 11:00 GMT deadline on Saturday ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s match with Manchester United – but we have a host of injury issues to plan around, with Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres and Mohammed Kudus among the players who could miss out.

To help you get your team set up before the weekend, we’ve combed the media reports and listened in to the manager’s pre-match press conference to bring you all the latest FPL injury news.

Isak, Gyökeres & Kudus among big FPL names at risk for Gameweek 11

Alexander Isak: Isak has missed the last four Liverpool matches courtesy of a groin injury but could be involved this weekend after returning to training on Friday. He’s also been called up to the Sweden squad, which bodes well, but comments from both Arne Slot and Graham Potter suggest that he’s relatively unlikely to play a full 90 minutes this weekend. Probably worth waiting until after the international break before signing him, if he was in your plans.

Andrew Robertson, Alisson Becker & Jeremie Frimpong: Isak isn’t the only Liverpool player struggling for fitness – Robertson could be rested this weekend after Slot said he was “tired” following the win over Real Madrid, Alisson won’t be back until after the international break and Frimpong likely a week or two later still.

Viktor Gyökeres: The Arsenal striker hasn’t been as productive as many FPL managers expected and probably won’t be adding any goals to his tally this weekend, either – he is expected to miss the match against Sunderland with a muscular problem and unlike Isak has been omitted from the Sweden side for their final World Cup qualifiers. We don’t have a return date as yet, so if you’re hanging on it may be time to bite the bullet and sell. Mikel Merino will likely start up front again, if you’re looking for a differential.

Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli & Martín Zubimendi: Arsenal also have quite a few more Fantasy-relevant players who aren’t likely to be involved - Ødegaard could be back after the international break along with Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli, while Zubimendi is a minor doubt for the weekend with a knock, for the 3.2% of players who have the Spaniard in their team, not that Mikel Arteta was willing to provide a proper update on him.

Mohammed Kudus: We’d be here all day if we had to go through all of Spurs’ injuries, but one new doubt that will worry a lot of FPL managers is Kudus, who picked up a knock against Chelsea last weekend and subsequently missed the Champions League win over FC København. Frank suggested before that game that Kudus would be fit enough to play, so it’s unlikely that it’s a major issue and while we await confirmation from the Spurs coach, we suspect that he’ll play against Manchester United.

Chris Wood: The Nottingham Forest striker has now missed three weeks with a knee injury but is “making good progress” as he works to return to face Leeds United this weekend. We’re waiting for confirmation from Dyche as it stands, but he looks likely to play at least some part.

Gordon, Neto, Ndiaye & Alderete among FPL outs and doubts

Anthony Gordon: If you haven’t given up on the out-of-form Newcastle winger just yet, then you’re out of luck this weekend by the sound of it – according to Eddie Howe, there is “every chance [Gordon] might miss our game on Sunday” as the club await the result of a scan on a minor hip injury. He should be fine going forward, at least, and it’s not believed to be a serious problem.

Pedro Neto: The Chelsea winger was in light training with the physio on Thursday and will train in full on Friday, according to Enzo Maresca, meaning that he’s a minor doubt for the weekend but sounds likely to play without any major problems.

Iliman Ndiaye: The on-song Everton winger had to be hauled off after scoring against Sunderland on Monday night and seems to have picked up a knock – but the Senegal international was pictured doing gym work earlier in the week and looks like he’s in good enough shape to play this weekend.

Omar Alderete: The Sunderland centre-back is listed as a doubt for the game against Arsenal as it stands, but even though he was spotted in training earlier this week it looks as though he is set to miss out as he remains in concussion protocol. According to journalist Christian Martin, Alderete has been ruled out of both the Arsenal match and the international break due to his head injury.

Kaoru Mitoma: It seems like Mitoma is close to a return every week – the Japanese winger has now missed the last four league games while being listed as a doubt at every turn thanks to a muscle injury. He sounds unlikely to be included in the Brighton squad this weekend, either, and will probably come back after the international break.