3 Added Minutes

Four English clubs are believed to be interested in the Elche youngster

Sign up to our newsletter for the most distinctive football content delivered direct to your inbox

Sign up

Thank you for signing up!

Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to 3 Added Minutes, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Submitting...

It was a stunning summer of spending in the Premier League but given the iffy start to the league by at least four of the big six, that’s unlikely to change in the January transfer window and a midfield prodigy from La Liga is catching the eye of top flight scouts in London and the north east.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Elche’s Rodri Mendoza has super-clubs across the continent chasing the 20-year-old who has a release clause of only €20 million (£17.6m), with the journalist saying on YouTube:

“Arsenal had their scouts already at two games between October and November to follow Mendoza,” Romano said. “Arsenal are keeping a close eye on the player. Not only Arsenal, because also Italian and Spanish clubs are monitoring him.

“Spanish, quality player, 20 years old, €20m could be a bargain. Arsenal are very good with these opportunities. There are more clubs interested in him, so let’s see what’s going to happen, but for sure an interesting player to follow.”

The Gunners aren’t his only admirers in England though as according to TEAMtalk, Chelsea value his defensive tenacity and see him as a Moises Caicedo protege while Thomas Frank thinks Mendoza could ignite Tottenham Hotspur going forward with his progressive passing. However, the perfect landing spot for Mendoza - as with almost any talented midfielder apart from Kalvin Phillips - is with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

Mendoza can be Manchester City’s next evolution

Without wishing to put too much pressure on a 20-year-old who’s only played 10 top-flight games, Mendoza could have the same impact at the Etihad Stadium as his compatriots Rodri and David Silva.

While Mendoza’s hinted at solidity out of possession, he’s yet to become a true enforcer though standing six feet tall, there’s still plenty of time for that to develop. And even if he can’t, he can still become a master conductor under Guardiola (Kevin de Bruyne and Xavi didn’t do too badly despite their defensive shortcomings after all).

Mendoza’s ability to progress the field either by dribbling or passing is what immediately stands out with the youngster and would help him slot in seamless to The Citizen’s style. Deployed as a six or eight, Mendoza is in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons per Opta via FBref, averaging two per game which would put him ahead of a host of stars including Eberechi Eze, Morgan Rogers, Amad Diallo and Jack Grealish if he could replicate it in the Premier League and he’s in the top 3% for progressive passes received too.

Few midfielders (especially so such deep-lying ones) make as many entries into the final third and opposition penalty area as Mendoza who is also in the top 7% for progressive carries, and ranks similarly highly for balls into the 18-yard-box. If he can hone these skills under the tutelage of arguably the best to every coach it then there’s no telling how high Mendoza could fly.

However, if he has that much talent, why can’t he succeed at one of London’s big clubs?

Guardiola presence puts City ahead of London rivals

It might seem strange to discount Arsenal based on their strength in depth in midfield given Manchester City have more options in that area on paper, but it’s hard to imagine Mikel Arteta wanting to disrupt his incredibly settled side. Meanwhile Guardiola is notoriously more predisposed to tinker, and 27-year-old Tijjani Reijnders is his second-youngest front line midfielder excluding out-of-position options like Nico O’Reilly, Rico Lewis and Matheus Nunes.

We don’t know if Rodri will ever return to his best in sky blue but Mendoza could expect to be rotated much more heavily for Nico Gonzalez and Reijnders than Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice, while Spurs could be too far towards the opposite end of the spectrum. Given Frank’s struggles at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Mendoza could end up shouldering

The much more accomplished Xavi Simons has shown how difficult it can be to adapt to Premier League midfield play and paired in a double-pivot with either Joao Palhinha or Rodrigo Bentancur, Mendoza would immediately take on most of the responsibility to create from deep.

That leaves Chelsea as the only viable option, who currently boast one of the best midfields in the Premier League and indeed across Europe. Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez certainly didn’t come cheap but both aged 24, they can expect to be locking the top flight and Champions League for years to come.

Mendoza wouldn’t be the first ultra-talented player or midfielder to get lost at Stamford Bridge (and ironically the poster boy for that club ended up starring for Manchester City), but Guardiola’s record for developing players like the 20-year-old is unbeatable.

If the Catalan is committed to the Etihad Stadium long-term then he can turn Mendoza into the next Rodri or De Bruyne - what player wouldn’t want that?

Tottenham and Brighton could engage in a stand-out swap deal in the winter window

Sign up to our newsletter for the most distinctive football content delivered direct to your inbox

Sign up

Thank you for signing up!

Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to 3 Added Minutes, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Submitting...

Tottenham Hotspur might be one of the more active sides in the top flight in the January transfer window, as Thomas Frank’s men look to improve on an inconsistent first half of their Premier League season.

The Lilywhites currently sit not-so-pretty in the bottom half of the league table – a zone in which they will have hoped never to find themselves again after the domestic horrors of last term – though they are just a couple of good results away from beginning a charge for the Champions League spots once again.

All is not lost, therefore, and a couple of key reinforcements in the winter window could make all the difference as Spurs hope to take their campaign to the next level.

One of Brighton & Hove Albion’s top players has been linked with the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and that could open the door for a headline-grabbing swap deal which could see both sides gain an intriguing new face for the latter half of the campaign.

Tottenham links with Jan-Paul van Hecke emerge

As per reports by TEAMtalk, Tottenham have been linked with Brighton centre-back Jan-Paul van Hecke, who has quietly become one of the first names on the Seagulls’ team-sheet in recent years.

The 25-year-old has not missed a single minute in the league this term and almost reached the same fate when available last season, becoming an irreplaceable part of Fabian Hurzeler’s impressive Seagulls outfit. This has, therefore, caught the attention of some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs, and Spurs are reportedly ready to bid £40 million for the player as part of a transfer ‘splurge’ in 2026.

Considering Brighton bought the Netherlands international for just £3m in 2020, this would represent a significant profit – but the Seagulls have European ambitions of their own and so will be reluctant to sell one of their key players. But Spurs may be able to get their own way if they include one of their own stars as part of a deal for Van Hecke.

Van Hecke could sign for Tottenham as part of major swap deal

As a player who is believed to be surplus to requirements at Tottenham but still fondly remembered at the Amex, Spurs could decide to offer Yves Bissouma as part of a deal in exchange for Van Hecke.

The 29-year-old Mali international has not played a single competitive minute under Frank and is believed to be on the transfer list for January, as long as he can shake off an ankle injury which required surgery in the autumn. While a return to former club Brighton would be an unorthodox step, it could represent a heart-warming homecoming for a player who needs the right surroundings to get his career back on track.

The quality still possessed by Bissouma when fit is undeniable, as he featured 44 times under Ange Postecoglou last season and was key on the way to winning the Europa League. But he is evidently not fancied by Frank due to reported off-field issues, and so he could return to the club which he called home for four years and 124 matches.

A straight swap between the two players would be unlikely due to Bissouma’s lack of recent action and injury record, in addition to the fact that he is in the last year of his contract and set to walk away for nothing next summer.

A price tag of €15m (£13m) was previously touted in the summer, with this likely to drop down towards £10m in the final six months of his deal. Therefore, a bid by Spurs of Bissouma plus around £30m could be enough to secure the signature of Van Hecke, in what would be one of the biggest moves of the window.

England have been drawn into Group L for the 2026 World Cup

Sign up to our newsletter for the most distinctive football content delivered direct to your inbox

Sign up

Thank you for signing up!

Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to 3 Added Minutes, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Submitting...

After a lengthy draw in Washington D.C., England finally discovered their 2026 World Cup group stage opponents.

The Three Lions were the final pick from Pot 1, putting them at the top of Group L. Meanwhile, Scotland have been drawn into a tasty pool in Group C, which will see them come up against Brazil, Morocco and Haiti.

As for Wales and Northern Ireland, their position hangs in the balance as one nation must still progress through the play-offs. Whoever qualifies for the tournament - out of Northern Ireland, Wales, Italy, and Bosnia and Herzegovina - will be the final team drawn into Group B against host nation Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.

The first match of the 2026 World Cup will take place between hosts Mexico and South Africa.

Who will England face in the World Cup group stage?

England have been drawn against Croatia, Ghana and Panama for their group stage games at the World Cup.

Thomas Tuchel’s side will be thrown straight into the action with a tricky first tie. Their first game of the tournament will be against Croatia on June 17th - a repeat of the 2018 semi-final, which ended 2-1 to Croatia after extra time, knocking England out of the competition.

England will then face Ghana on June 23rd, followed by their clash with Panama on the 27th.

Tuchel will use these remaining months to finalise who he wants on the plane for next summer. It’s going to be a crucial period for all nations, and England have some tough opponents to beat if they want to progress into the knockouts.

In-demand Premier League star to face England at World Cup

Most England fans will be focusing on the 2018 semi-final repeat against Croatia but Ghana could prove to be a sticky rival to come up against as well. The Black Stars boast secret weapon Antoine Semenyo in their ranks, who has become one of the most sought-after players in world football over recent months.

Semenyo has been turning the heads of multiple clubs recently, particularly those at rival clubs in the Premier League. The winger is currently impressing with his performances for Bournemouth but the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool are showing huge interest in potentially signing him next year.

After contributing 11 goals and seven assists for the Cherries last season, Semenyo is on track to better his tally. The 25-year-old has nine goalscoring contributions in 13 Premier League appearances, making him hot property at the Vitality Stadium.

The latest transfer rumours surrounding Semenyo claim Liverpool are one of the clubs at the front of the queue hoping to snap up the winger. The Reds are on the market for a long-term successor to Mohamed Salah, but Tottenham have also been named as keen admirers of the Ghanaian, and they could attempt a move as early as January.

Based on his form, we can expect to see Semenyo in action for Ghana next summer, which could make for a tough outing for England.

Most of England’s starting regulars will know Semenyo well from the Premier League and will be well aware of the threat he poses in attack. Tuchel’s side must focus on keeping the influential wide player quiet when they face Ghana in June.

The latest Spurs team news and predicted starting XI for their Premier League match against Brentford.

Sign up to our newsletter for the most distinctive football content delivered direct to your inbox

Sign up

Thank you for signing up!

Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to 3 Added Minutes, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Submitting...

Tottenham Hotspur will hope to snap a five-match winless streak and pick up their first home league win since the opening weekend of the season when they host Brentford on Saturday – but will they have any of their injured players back for the match against Keith Andrews’ side?

Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski and Kota Takai are among the players who have been missing for some time but who are pushing to make their comebacks this month, while there are also concerns over the fitness of Destiny Udogie after he was seen limping towards the end of Spurs’ midweek draw with Newcastle United.

Ahead of Saturday’s game, we’ve collected all of the latest Spurs team news and injury updates, along with our prediction for Thomas Frank’s starting line-up below.

Will Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski or Kota Takai be back to face Brentford?

Spurs have six players who are either out or doubts for the game against Brentford, all of whom have been unavailable for some time – and they include key players like striker Dominic Solanke (ankle) and winger Dejan Kulsuevski (ACL).

When asked after the 2-2 draw against Newcastle whether those players could be close to making their long-awaited comebacks, however, Frank poured a certain amount of cold water on the idea, simply saying that “when they are ready to be close to joining the squad, then I will provide an update” – a pretty clear hint that neither will be available this weekend.

Solanke’s return date is unclear, while Kulusevski is expected back before the end of the month, according to his national manager Graham Potter. There’s also no fresh news on the status of midfielder Yves Bissouma (ankle) who could be out for a while longer, while James Maddison (ACL) may not play this season.

There’s better news on the status of summer signing Kota Takai (thigh) and fellow centre-back Radu Dragusin (ACL): Takai played his first minutes for the club in a behind-closed-doors Under-21s match against Dagenham & Redbridge this week, alongside Dragusin. Both are building up towards full fitness but are not expected to be ready for this weekend.

Is Destiny Udogie injured for Tottenham Hotspur?

A fresh worry over the health of Destiny Udogie emerged after he was spotted struggling in the final minutes of the midweek match at St. James’ Park, with Frank unable to replace him having used all of his substitutes.

Frank, however, has moved to play down concerns over the Italian full-back’s fitness, saying that he was “pretty sure” Udogie was fine, adding that he “hadn’t heard anything” to suggest a serious injury concern. Djed Spence could come back in to replace Udogie if required.

Elsewhere, there are no further injury concerns heading into the weekend. It remains to be seen whether Micky van de Ven will be restored to the starting XI after losing his place to Kevin Danso during the week, while Xavi Simons could be handed his first start in five matches.

Tottenham Hotspur must add some firepower to their squad this January transfer window to ease some pressure off Thomas Frank

Sign up to our newsletter for the most distinctive football content delivered direct to your inbox

Sign up

Thank you for signing up!

Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to 3 Added Minutes, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Submitting...

Tottenham Hotspur struck late to earn a 2-2 draw away at Newcastle United last time out. Centre-back Cristian Romero scored twice for Thomas Frank’s side in the North East. The London outfit are now positioned down in 11th place in the Premier League table.

They have 19 points on the board from their first 14 fixtures and will be aiming to find some more consistency over the coming weeks. Frank’s men are only five points off the Champions League places and have plenty of time to turn things around. They are back in action this weekend with a home clash against Brentford as they seek to return to winning ways amid simmering pressure on their head coach.

Tottenham Hotspur should target Crystal Palace striker Jean Philippe-Mateta

Spurs have the chance to bring in new signings in the January transfer window next month. They also have the opportunity to let some players head out the exit door as well this winter to free up space and funds in their squad. Frank delved into the market in the summer to snap up the likes of Xavier Simons, Mohamed Kudus and Joao Palhinha, among others, to freshen up his ranks but there are still some gaps to be plugged.

Crystal Palace will ‘consider’ bids for striker Jean Philippe-Mateta, according to The Sun. He is under contract at Selhurst Park until June 2027 but is currently in limbo. Despite holding talks regarding a new deal, nothing has been agreed yet and his long-term future in south London is up in the air. Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Leeds United have been linked with him, according to Caught Offside.

With that in mind, Spurs should now try and lure him over to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ahead of others. The France international, who has three caps under his belt so far in his career, is a proven performer at the top level now and has been a key player for the Eagles. He joined them on an initial loan that was later made permanent in 2022 and he has been excellent overall.

Why Crystal Palace star Jean Philippe-Mateta would suit Tottenham Hotspur

Mateta would give Spurs more firepower at the top end of the pitch, which is what they desperately crave. His strength, pace and power has caused problems to opposition defenders over the past few campaigns. He would give them something different to the likes of Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani.

The Frenchman scored eight goals in 35 games during his temporary stint at Crystal Palace. He then properly hit the ground running after his full-time transfer and has found the net on 47 occasions in 138 outings. The forward fired 17 goals last term as Oliver Glasner’s team went on to win the FA Cup against the odds after beating Manchester City in the final at Wembley.

Prior to his move to England, Mateta spent time in Germany with Mainz 05. He was a hit during his spell in the Bundesliga and scored 27 goals in 71 outings. The player has also had spells in the past with the likes of LB Châteauroux, Lyon and Le Havre in his native country.

Spurs need to ensure that they get their recruitment right and Mateta would be perfect. He is experienced, knows where the back of the net is and is in his prime. This is an opportunity that they can’t afford to pass by with Crystal Palace said to be open to bids. It would be a massive blow if he went to a league rival.

Rounding up the latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton, Chelsea, Newcastle and more.

Sign up to our newsletter for the most distinctive football content delivered direct to your inbox

Sign up

Thank you for signing up!

Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to 3 Added Minutes, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Submitting...

We’re just four weeks away from the start of the January transfer window and the gossip columns are starting to burst at the seams with stories – and to help you keep track of everything, we’re here with our latest digest of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours.

We’ll kick things off today with a tale that may interest fans of both Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur – because TeamTalk claim that Spurs are “working hard” to sign a new goalkeeper to replace Guglielmo Vicario, and are now “huge admirers” of Seagulls stopper Bart Verbruggen.

Verbruggen is one of two players mentioned as being under consideration (the other being Manchester City’s James Trafford) and Spurs are said to be “making checks” on the 23-year-old’s availability. There’s no hint as to how much Brighton might demand to sell their current first choice, although it said that they want to keep him if they can.

There may be a bigger problem for Spurs than Brighton’s asking price and willingness to do a deal, however – Bayern Munich are also “very much in the mix” for Verbruggen as they look for a long-term replacement for Manuel Neuer. Vincent Kompany’s side are said to hold “strong interest” in the Dutchman and could rival Spurs if they do make a move.

The 3AM Verdict: It’s not explicitly stated, but we presume that we’re looking at a deal which would take place next summer, if at all. Either way, we suspect that this is all a little speculative and long-distance – although rumours that Spurs want to move on from Vicario pre-date his being booed at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during the recent defeat to Fulham, and may well prove to be true.

Chelsea becoming ‘confident’ of double wonderkid deal

Let’s check in with the latest happenings at Stamford Bridge now – according to Caught Offside, Chelsea are “confident” of completing deals for two of the brightest young stars in French football: Ayyoub Bouaddi and Brian Madjo.

Bouaddi – a Football Manager wonderkid par excellence – is also of interest to Manchester United with both clubs “very keen” on the 18-year-old midfielder, but Chelsea appear to believe that they’re in pole position to complete a deal ahead of his other suitors.

They also “really like” 16-year-old Metz forward Madjo and the pair are “high up” in the Blues’ plans for the next two transfer windows. There’s no suggestion that any negotiations have taken place, nor is there a mention of how much either player would cost.

The 3AM Verdict: We’re not sure what evidence there is here to suggest that Chelsea are ahead of other teams in the race to sign these players, to be honest, and it’s all a little thin at the moment. With Bouaddi, in particular, there are bound to be many teams in the mix - we’ve also seen Arsenal mentioned - and he isn’t likely to move until the summer. These are certainly signings that fit Chelsea’s business model, however, so we have every reason to believe that the interest would be there.

Newcastle considering record bid for ‘next Dominik Szoboszlai’

Let’s wrap up with another story from TeamTalk which claims that Newcastle United are getting “serious” about a bid for up-and-coming Hungarian midfielder Alex Tóth, who plays for Ferencváros and already has nine caps for his national team at the age of just 20.

Described as the “next Szoboszlai,” Newcastle aren’t the only team who are keen but the Magpies are said to be “leading the chase.” Most of the big Bundesliga sides are said to be scouting him, Juventus and Brighton are both mentioned, and indeed Liverpool are apparently want to sign Tóth to play alongside the original Szoboszlai.

Supposedly valued at anywhere between €8m and €15m (a rather broad £7-13m range), Tóth’s contract runs out in 2027 which suggests that Ferencváros will look to sell sooner rather than later to maximise his value. A January bid is being “considered” by Newcastle, it’s suggested.

The 3AM Verdict: Tóth is a dynamic midfielder with plenty of technical quality, and Newcastle want some extra depth in their midfield, so why not? With so many teams said to be keeping tabs it’s hard to be confident as to who might be best placed to get a deal done, however, so we’d caution Newcastle fans from getting too excited just yet. The price is certainly affordable for them, though.

Spurs will be on the hunt for a new striker in January

Sign up to our newsletter for the most distinctive football content delivered direct to your inbox

Sign up

Thank you for signing up!

Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to 3 Added Minutes, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Submitting...

Tottenham are expected to be in the market for attacking reinforcements in January, as they look to rejuvenate their push for Champions League qualification this season.

A number of attacking options have been touted as potential signings, including England international Ivan Toney, but as it stands the name that seems to be at the top of Thomas Frank’s list is Samu Aghehowa of FC Porto, according to TEAMtalk.

Tottenham aren’t the first English giant to be linked with the promising Spain international. Chelsea went close to signing him in the summer of 2024 before instead turning their attention to Joao Felix once discussions broke down, while the likes of Newcastle and Manchester United were also mentioned as potential suitors during their respective scrambles for strikers.

Aston Villa, after losing Jhon Duran nearly 12 months ago, could also be in the fray. They are yet to see Ollie Watkins at his best and could be in the market for further competition in that area.

Why Tottenham are interested in Samu Aghehowa

Tottenham are still in the early stages of their rebuild under Frank after finishing 17th in the division last season, as Ange Postecoglu put all his eggs in the Europa League basket - Spurs won the competition after edging the final against Manchester United, but paid the price of humiliation in the Premier League, which ultimately cost Postecoglu his job.

Almost all of Tottenham’s attacking options, with the exception of Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons, were lined up well before Frank entered the building and were either identified by Postecoglou before him or his predecessor, Antonio Conte.

Ideally, Frank would like to make his mark on the club with a signing so he can continue to build a Spurs team in his image. He’s hardly seen Dominic Solanke due to injury, doesn’t seem convinced by Mathys Tel as a forward and instead shifts him onto the wing - this means Richarilson and Randal Kolo Muani are often the two competing for a striking role.

Richarlison, who has scored a respectable five goals, has been linked with a January move away. Whereas, Kolo Muani only arrived on loan and for the most part has struggled for fitness. Aghehowa is 21-years-old, 6ft 4”, is great in the air, has fantastic sprint speed to run in behind defenders and is regarded as one of the best young strikers in world football.

Based on his 27 goals across all competitions in his debut campaign in Portugal, he has many of the characteristics required to potentially fill that Harry Kane hole in the squad, in terms of consistent scoring.

What will Tottenham need to do to buy Samu Aghehowa

Aghehowa is one of the most in-demand strikers on the planet, at a time where there is a deficit of top strikers in the Premier League.

FC Porto are keen to keep their talisman up top to boost their own chances of achieving silverware, but know there could be a potential window of opportunity to capitalise on Premier League interest as their rivals Benfica have in the past with sales such as Darwin Nunez to Liverpool and Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea for inflated fees.

Report suggest the Portuguese giants are looking for somewhere in the region of 80 million euros (£70m) for the Spaniard, which means Spurs would need to spend a club-record amount to prise him away from Estádio do Dragão. This figure could soar even higher if, say, a team like Man United or Aston Villa decided to join in the bidding war. This threat leaves Tottenham in a position where they may need to get creative to get what they want.

While he’s not there most valuable player at present, Yves Bissouma could act as a handy makeweight in the deal. The Mali international hasn’t yet kicked a ball for the Lilywhites under Frank and looks almost destined to run out his contract, having last played in the Europa League final.

The former Brighton man isn’t worth anywhere near the same amount as Aghehowa, but has still got qualities that would benefit Porto. He’s a 46-time international, a Europa League winner, has just under 200 matches of Premier League experience and is a robust workman of a midfielder. He’s set to leave without Spurs making a penny regardless, so it could make sense for Tottenham to offer around £60m, with Bissouma as part of the deal to try and entice Porto into a potential deal.

That way Porto would get a large portion of their valuation, a significant profit on what they paid Atletico Madrid, and another experienced name to join the midfield and compete with Gabri Veiga, Alan Varela and others. Whether sporting director Andre Villas Boas, formerly of Spurs, would do business with his old employers, however, remains to be seen.

The latest Spurs team news and predicted XI ahead of their Premier League encounter with Newcastle.

Sign up to our newsletter for the most distinctive football content delivered direct to your inbox

Sign up

Thank you for signing up!

Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to 3 Added Minutes, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Submitting...

Tottenham Hotspur will go in search of their first win in five games when they take on Newcastle United on Tuesday evening – and manager Thomas Frank badly needs a win to ease the pressure after a string of disappointing performances.

While an away game may come as a welcome relief after the recent 2-1 home defeat to Fulham generated a hostile response from Spurs’ own fans, Frank will still have to make do without at least six first-team players due to injury, although at least one key defender will be back for the game at St. James’ Park.

Ahead of a potentially pivotal match, we’ve collected all of the latest Spurs team news and injury updates below, along with our prediction for Frank’s starting line-up.

Cristian Romero return as Guglielmo Vicario faces pressure from Spurs fans

While Spurs will miss several players through injury – more details on their fitness and likely return dates can be found below – they will at least be able to welcome Cristian Romero back after he served a one-match suspension for collecting five yellow cards in the Premier League.

The Argentine will likely partner Micky van de Ven once more as Spurs search for ways to protect under-pressure goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who was controversially booed by his team’s fans after his mistake led to Fulham’s second goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium over the weekend.

Frank backed Vicario in his pre-match press conference, telling the press: “Everyone can make mistakes but the way he carries himself impressed me very much. [Vicario] is remarkable. His character is fantastic in every aspect." There are no indications that the Italian faces being dropped for the Newcastle match.

Elsewhere in defence, the only immediate question is whether Destiny Udogie or Djed Spence starts on the left, which will likely depend on whether or not Frank chooses to persist with the 4-2-2-2 formation he deployed unsuccessfully against Fulham and PSG last week.

Six out as Dominic Solanke and Kota Takai remain sidelined against Newcastle

Frank told the media that Spurs would have the same players available for selection as they had against Fulham (with the exception of Romero) meaning that players such as striker Dominic Solanke (ankle) and defender Kota Takai (thigh) remain unavailable.

Takai has returned to training but is short of match fitness after sustaining consecutive injuries since signing for Spurs this summer, while Frank has suggested that Spurs will be cautious with Solanke’s reintroduction to avoid a recurrence of an ankle issue which required surgery earlier in the season. Both are likely to be back in mid-December.

Dejan Kulusevski, meanwhile, is still not back in training as he rehabilitates from an ACL injury but is expected back for the Christmas period, James Maddison is out for the season, also due to a ruptured ACL, and centre-back Radu Dragusin is still working back to full fitness after his own ACL injury. The final injured Spurs players is midfielder Yves Bissouma – Frank has still not provided the media with a possible return date after he sustained ankle ligament damage while on international duty in October.

Rounding up the latest Premier League transfer rumours, with news from Manchester United, Manchester City, Spurs and more.

Sign up to our newsletter for the most distinctive football content delivered direct to your inbox

Sign up

Thank you for signing up!

Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to 3 Added Minutes, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Submitting...

Yet another day’s worth of Premier League transfer rumours has been sent spinning out into the world via the globe’s gossip columns, and that means that it’s time for our regular morning round-up of the biggest and spiciest stories from the last 24 hours – starting with a story for both Manchester United and City fans alike.

According to TeamTalk – who draw heavily from The Daily Mail and Sky Sports journalist Sacha Tavolieri – United have been “rocked” by the news that Elliot Anderson has decided to join Manchester City instead of moving to Old Trafford next summer, with the midfielder said to have “informed his close confidants” that he is “prioritising a move” to the Etihad.

Anderson is said to be United’s “favourite” midfield target even ahead of Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton, but City are set to provide some “stiff competition” for the Nottingham Forest man’s signature – although there are conflicting comments from the article’s sources about whether City are ready to meet Forest’s £100m asking price.

Nevertheless, Pep Guardiola and sporting director Hugo Viana are said to be “smitten” with the 23-year-old and to believe that the opportunity to sign Anderson is “too good to refuse.” United, for their part, were said to want to sign all three of Anderson, Baleba and Wharton over the course of a couple of seasons if they could.

The 3AM Verdict: United were never likely to get all three players and won’t have an easy time competing with Manchester City for signings unless they can get back in the Champions League – but as it stands, the story suggesting that Anderson has already made up his mind only has one core source in the shape of Tavolieri. It may well prove to be the case, but there’s a lot of road less to run with stories surrounding Anderson’s future.

Spurs prepare to make £52m ‘defensive statement’ in January

Let’s take a look at a story from Caught Offside, now, which claims that Tottenham Hotspur want to make “a major defensive statement” in January, with Juventus centre-back Gleison Bremer “emerging as one of their primary targets.”

Despite a number of stories which link Spurs with attacking players, this report claims that defensive reinforcements are the club’s “number one priority” for the winter, and that Bremer has “risen to the top of the shortlist.”

It’s alleged that Juve will demand at least €60m (£52m) for his services and that they feel “no financial pressure to sell” – while it’s further claimed that both Manchester United, Chelsea, PSG and Bayern Munich are all “monitoring” the 28-year-old, suggesting that Spurs could face plenty of competition if they do make a move.

The 3AM Verdict: There’s a lot we don’t believe in this story – starting with the idea that Spurs are prioritising a centre-back in January, moving onto the claim that Juventus aren’t under financial pressure to sell players (they absolutely are) and finishing with one or two of the other clubs named as suitors, such as Chelsea, who would have to completely change tack in the transfer market to sign an expensive 28-year-old. In short, we’re not much convinced by any of the details here, even if it does turn out that Spurs are keen.

£30m Spurs star could be set for shock exit

The final story in today’s digest also concerns Spurs, but this time it’s a tale about a player leaving north London: Football Insider reckon that Mathys Tel is “wanted” by Serie A side AS Roma and than the Italian outfit are plotting a January bid for the young forward.

Tel has struggled to make the impact that had been anticipated after his permanent £30m move from Bayern Munich this summer, and is now in Roma’s sights should they fail to secure a deal for their preferred target, who remains Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee.

Spurs “do not want to lose” Tel next month but there are apparently concerns that Tel could push to leave after struggling for first-team minutes since the arrival of Thomas Frank. There’s no discussion of what the terms for such a deal might look like.

The 3AM Verdict: This is a very speculative article, and while that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s wrong we’d certainly like to see more corroboration before we buy the story.

Tottenham Hotspur have expressed an interest in a highly-rated Everton star

Sign up to our newsletter for the most distinctive football content delivered direct to your inbox

Sign up

Thank you for signing up!

Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to 3 Added Minutes, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Submitting...

When it comes to giving managers time, Tottenham Hotspur have rarely been the most tolerant and patient. They've hired and fired 17 managers alone in the Premier League era, and that’s without including the various interim head coaches they’ve had in between those appointments.

Thomas Frank recently became the 18th manager to take on the Tottenham’s manager job - and though things initially started splendidly with three wins from four league matches, it’s clear already that the tide is starting to turn against the former Brentford boss, leaving him with plenty to do if he’s to get the fanbase on side again. Admittedly this is the start of a very different era for Tottenham after more than 20 years under a chairman in Daniel Levy, who divided opinion with large sections of the support.

However, the defeat to Fulham and the fact that many Tottenham players, including Vicario were booed off by their own supporters, is never a good sign - and it’s something which will only compound the need for Frank to deliver results sooner rather than later.

The January transfer window could prove a watershed moment for Tottenham, both to get the crowd back on side and to inject a bit of quality in a team which, barring the Europa League triumph, has had a torrid time domestically in terms of performance and results.

Thomas Frank has golden opportunity to strengthen in January

According to Foot Mercato, Tottenham are one of the front-runners to sign Everton playmaker Iliman Ndiaye.

The Senegal international has been in top form for Everton this term with four league goals and one assist, leaving him well on course to eclipse last season’s impressive tally of nine league goals. Tottenham have been criticised for a lack of entertainment under Frank, despite being the third highest scorers in the league with 21 goals.

This in many ways is backed up by the XG table, with Tottenham sitting sixth lowest, suggesting that the Lilywhites are taking more of their chances than expected and that they are relying on individual moments more than repeated periods of pressure, something which perhaps isn’t sustainable over the course of the campaign.

Ndiaye would bring a great deal to Tottenham that they’ve been missing in Dejan Kuluveski’s absence. He’s among the top three players for successful dribbles leading to a shot attempt (7), has a 62.5% shot on target rate which is higher than any Spurs player this term and crucially presses exceptionally well, winning the 13th most tackles of any player in the entire league and the most for any attacker in the division.

He’s been crucial to Everton under David Moyes and is integral to his style of play. However, Tottenham could offer him the allure of Champions League football and a chance to show what he can do on the big stage. It’s far from a simple deal though, with Liverpool bizarrely emerging as contenders to sign a player from their bitter rivals along with Manchester City.

Everton need a striker

Tottenham have a lot of forward thinking players already when everyone is fit and available. Dominic Solanke, the club’s record-signing at £65m, has barely kicked a ball this season.

Mathys Tel has been signed as one for the future. He was a centre forward at Bayern Munich but has at times done a job on the wing. Randal Kolo Muani also joined in the summer and is capable of playing in a number of roles. Meanwhile, Richarlison has often led the line under Frank since his arrival. The Brazilian is currently on five league goals for the season and has often been the first choice, but whether that remains the case once Solanke returns remains to be seen.

Richarlison hasn’t really hit the heights expected of him at Tottenham despite a bright start to this season, but one club where he remains a fan favourite is Everton, despite his decision to leave for £60m more than three years ago. When he left Everton, the forward posted on X: “It's very difficult to say goodbye to a place that has become my home; fans who welcomed as if I were one of them; and a club that treated me kindly and helped me develop my sense of community and empathy. Neither all the love I have is enough to thank you. Love you!”

Furthermore, Football Insider has claimed that Tottenham are willing to listen to offers for the 28-year-old, who has just 13 months remaining on his deal in north London.

Everton were linked with Richarlison over the summer, and may well still be in the market for a striker. Their current options Beto and Thierno Barry have only scored once between them in the league this season despite having one of the most creative players in the league in Jack Grealish playing behind them. They won’t want to lose Ndiaye, but if the player does want to leave, a smart compromise could be to try and get a big fee for the Senegalese international and a Richarlison return as part of the deal.