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Cristian Romero will remain as Tottenham's captain despite his second social media swipe at the club's hierarchy inside a month.

'Leadership is many things,' said Spurs boss Thomas Frank, as he tried to make sense of an issue that has tarnished a brilliant fightback to take a point against Manchester City and four games unbeaten.

'I am 52-years-old,' he added. 'I think I'm pretty good at leadership. Can I get better every single day? Yes. Do I make mistakes? Maybe not every single day but probably weekly.

'Romero is 27-years-old. Is he still going to make mistakes going forward as a leader, does he do a lot of good things? Yes.'

Romero fired his latest social media grenade on Monday soon after the transfer window closed. In it, he wrote it was 'disgraceful' that Spurs had been left with only 11 available players.

Frank said the matter had been dealt with internally. Last month, Romero was not punished for a cryptic post later amended about those people at the club who, 'show up when things are going well, to tell a few lies'.

His discontent casts fresh doubt on his future, reviving rumours of interest from Atletico Madrid despite a new four-year contract signed in August which launched him into the club's top tier of earners.

'That's a question I have no idea about,' said Frank. 'Right now, he is the captain, he has a long-term contract, we signed a new contract with him.'

It has also intensified the spotlight on recruitment strategy at Spurs because Romero's sentiment is echoed by many fans.

Unlike Frank, who arrived last year, they have seen a succession of transfer windows open and close with an anticlimax and a wave of logical excuses. And for them, the Spurs captain has now validated their theories.

Romero is in his fifth season as a Spurs player. He arrived from Atalanta in the summer of 2021, initially on loan converted into a permanent deal a year on. He has experienced nine transfer windows and probably recognises a pattern.

Spurs make all the right noises about how they are going to be ambitious and have money to spend but frequently see players they like end up elsewhere to strengthen rivals. It might be because they are not offering as much money as others or because they predict they are less likely to compete for the major honours. Or both.

It happened last year with Eberechi Eze and Bryan Mbeumo last summer. It has been happening for a long time. Think of Willian, way back. And Virgil van Dijk when he left Southampton or Liverpool hijacking the deal Spurs had set up to sign Luis Diaz from Porto. There was Gabriel Jesus when he joined Arsenal from Manchester City, and it is still happening with Antoine Semenyo in last month.

Spurs can hijack Kevin Danso's proposed move to Wolverhampton Wanderers or muscle Brentford out of the way to sign Archie Gray but rarely win a transfer battle with the biggest clubs in England.

So, Romero is probably thinking he has heard it all before. Maybe also those teammates liking his posts. It's what many of the fans think, too, so they applaud Romero for speaking out and his cult status is reinforced.

On Wednesday, Spurs rolled an interview with sporting director Johan Lange out on their club channels. In it, Lange explained the difficulties of business in January and what a quiet transfer window it had been.

Only 33 signings had been made by Premier League clubs, he pointed out and put this down to limited availability in the market caused by the new format in European competition, fixture congestion and injuries leading more clubs to stockpile players.

Lange has been at the club since October 2023. In his time Spurs have spent £420million on 15 players across five transfer windows, plus four loans not yet or not made permanent.

None have made a definitive impact. Dominic Solanke, signed for £65m, is closer than most and might have done more had he not missed the first half of this season through injury.

Solanke is fit again and Spurs look stronger with him up front. Xavi Simons is starting to sparkle. Mohammed Kudus flickered at times before his injury. So much of it though is a question of promise and pleas for patience be that with Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Wilson Odobert or Mathys Tel.

'I know the club is very ambitious and the owners are very ambitious and I've no doubt we will see that going forward,' said Frank, as he named-checked Simons and Kudus as 'two good signings' from last summer and Joao Palhinha as a 'good loan'.

'So, it's not as though we don't want to loan players to strengthen the squad,' he added. 'And if you compare us to other top six clubs, we think it was a big signing with Conor Gallagher.'

Still, there is no jaw-dropping signing of intent. No statement signing to compare with Arsenal's decisive swoop for Declan Rice made to signal a new era of aggression in the market. Or Liverpool's raid on Newcastle for Alexander Isak.

Action can speak louder than words. When Spurs wanted a wide forward, they did not have the clout to prise Jarrod Bowen out of West Ham and settled for Kudus.

Frank, much like Ange Postecoglou last season, has not been helped by injuries and bemoaned the problems of combining Europe and the Premier League, but Spurs have been in Europe for 18 of the last 20 years.

If they do not know by now what it takes to build a squad to compete on all fronts, perhaps they never will.

This is the direction in which Romero's words point us. Towards a case that many fans disenfranchised by ENIC's ownership have been making for a long time.

Frank's predecessors came up against this and now, despite the exit of chairman Daniel Levy in September and a new regime in control, there are players in the dressing room making the same point led by their seemingly untouchable captain.

Archie Gray accepts his mistake in a heartbeat. 'I've watched it back lots of times,' he says. 'I shouldn’t have taken a touch. I should’ve just played it first time.'

Four days have passed since Tottenham’s 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest, and Gray is revisiting the first goal conceded, when his touch to control a short pass from goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario enabled Ibrahim Sangare to pounce and set up Callum Hudson-Odoi to score.

Some blamed Vicario but Spurs boss Thomas Frank made it clear Gray was at fault. There were no allowances for his tender years. 'Yeah, I agree with him,' nods Gray.

Vicario came under fire for the second goal, also scored by Hudson-Odoi. 'Vic’s fine,' Gray adds. 'Vic’s a grown man. We do this for a living. People criticise us all the time so we’re used to it. I don’t listen to those people. Their opinions don’t matter to me. It’s obviously my mistake and I’ll learn from that.'

Gray is 19, though mature beyond his years on the pitch and if anything has been more impressive than his footballing ability since his £40million move from Leeds in the summer of 2024 it is his Premier League temperament. He plays wherever he is asked to play, quietly commits to the task without fuss, takes responsibility for his actions and is refreshingly free from histrionics. He must be a coach’s dream.

No teenager has played more Premier League minutes than his 2,027 since the start of last season, and across Europe’s big five leagues, he is 10th in the minutes list which is topped by Lamine Yamal of Barcelona.

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Mistakes are inevitable for young footballers learning the trade in these intense arenas. It is an accelerated learning curve, but Gray rarely seems troubled by them, an unflappability he attributes to his upbringing in one of football’s most famous families.

Father Andy enjoyed a long career for a dozen different clubs including Leeds and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. Grandfather Frank, a versatile defender, represented those same two clubs in European Cup finals before its Champions League rebrand, lifting the trophy with Forest in 1980.

'I know my grandad was an unbelievable player,' says Archie. 'Not many win the Champions League and that’s my goal in football, to try and do what he’s done.'

Archie’s brother Harry has an exciting future, too, signing his first professional contract at Leeds upon turning 17 in October. And their great Uncle Eddie, a brilliant left winger, is a Leeds legend from the golden era under Don Revie.

'It’s a massive help,' says Gray, who often finds old memorabilia involving his family sent to the training ground with a message ‘to pass it on’.

The fixture list comes with added significance - be it a return to Elland Road or the City Ground where silhouettes of the trophies won through the years ring the stadium. Or the Parc des Princes where Frank and Eddie played for Leeds in a fiery European Cup final, controversially beaten by Bayern Munich, 50 years ago.

'I’d love to sit down and watch that match, I know it’s got some history behind it,' says Gray. 'They’ve been in the moments I’ve been in. The mistake I made on the weekend, they’ve been there and done that, they know what it’s like and they just help me through.

'I speak to my dad after every game and (after the Forest mistake) he just said, "There’s nothing you can do now apart from see what you could’ve done better". I’m young, I’ll learn from it and when I’m in that situation again, I’ll know what to do. I’m lucky to come from the family I do.'

Perspective comes easily to Gray, who is speaking to Daily Mail Sport at the children’s ward of the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex. Spurs players have been out in the community all week handing out gifts. 'It’s amazing to come here and see the smiles on faces when they’re going through a little bit of a tough time, especially around Christmas,' he says.

On the pitch, having spent much of last season patching up an injury crisis in central defence, Gray has been restored to central midfield as Spurs boss Frank tinkers to find the right blend and formation.

'He wants me to play forward as much as possible, that’s the main thing,' says the England Under 21 international, whose performances since returning from a calf injury have been among the bright spots in a difficult spell for Frank’s team.

'We’ve got a certain structure, and I’ve got a role in the system. We have two pivots and sometimes I’ll have the licence to get into the box. The main message before games is to be positive. Play forward, run forward, be as positive as you can and that’s my natural game. I want to get on the ball and find passes. Running with the ball is probably my main strength.'

He studies the world’s best midfielders, determined to improve, and adds: 'Jude Bellingham is someone all English midfielders look up to because the things he’s been doing are unbelievable. Others like Pedri at Barcelona and the Paris Saint-Germain midfield.'

Spurs received a chastening close-up of the class in PSG’s midfield in November, beaten 5-3 by the European champions in Paris. Gray was instructed to mark Vitinha and made a good job of it, even though the Portugal midfielder scored two screamers and a penalty.

'They’re the best team in Europe,' says Gray. 'Vitinha is so calm in situations and people don’t realise how much he runs in the game. He tires you out little by little.'

These are the standards he aspires to with club and country but first, the task of improving their home form as champions Liverpool visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

Despite only one win in seven Premier League games, Spurs will take courage from last season when the Europa League triumph in Bilbao washed away the preceding weeks of struggle, and proved success is best judged in May.

'There were so many difficult games,' says Gray. 'But we stuck to it in the Europa League. And we knew towards the end, when it was the quarters, the semis, we had a chance to make this season unforgettable for the fans and the club.

'It might have not been the best year in the Premier League and other cups but to win a trophy like that outweighs what happens in the bad performances. To give the fans a trophy is the most special thing and when you win a trophy as a team you will always be good friends because you share in that moment and have such a positive memory.

'For everyone here, winning trophies with Tottenham is our dream. Hopefully we can keep that going.'

Under the management of Ange Postecoglou last season, Tottenham were famed for their bold high-line.

Yet it appears Spurs have shifted their focus onto balding hairlines - or rather, how to stop them.

The club have struck a deal with Turkish clinic Elithair, making them the side's 'official hair treatment partner' in what has been touted as 'a mission to inspire self-confidence'.

Elithair, who are based in Istanbul but have facilities in Britain, Germany and Dubai, claim to be the largest hair transplant clinic in the world and have treated former footballers such as Ricardo Quaresma.

While the deal was not announced by any of the club's players - instead a 60-second advert of an acting Spurs fan - it is understood that many of their past and present stars have used hair transplant treatment in the past.

One current player believed to have had the procedure is James Maddison, while former midfielders Christian Eriksen and Andros Townsend have also appeared with fresh locks of hair in recent years.

Club legend Harry Kane has also been rumoured to have had a hair transplant.

Meanwhile Antonio Conte, who managed Spurs between 2021 and 2023, has long been famed for his thick black hair which, at the end of his playing career, was wisping away.

The unique partnership was announced by the club without any social media fanfare, but fans will quickly see Elithair's 'prominent' branding plastered across the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

'We are proud to partner with Elithair, a brand that has demonstrated undisputed global leadership in its field,' said the club's chief revenue officer Ryan Norys.

'As the world's largest hair transplant clinic, we could not have chosen a better partner than Elithair to engage our fanbase through a mission to inspire self-confidence and offer globally recognised clinical treatment practices.'

Dr. Abdulaziz Balwi, Co-Founder and Medical Director of Elithair, said: 'Partnering with an iconic Premier League club like Tottenham Hotspur is a monumental step for Elithair.

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'It demonstrates the trust and authority we have built through our world-class expertise and international facilities in Istanbul, the United Kingdom, Germany and Dubai.

'This collaboration allows us to bring the same level of commitment and excellence seen at a Premier League level to every patient in the UK.'

The deal's announcement is the first-of-its-kind for a football club, but the procedure has long existed among the most famous faces in the game.

Wayne Rooney famously confirmed that he had underwent a hair transplant on Twitter and has had numerous procedures.

Former Arsenal star Rob Holding is another case, with the defender now possessing a full head of hair despite balding in his 20s.

Tottenham star Dane Scarlett trained with the England squad on Monday morning ahead of their clash against Latvia.

Scarlett, 21, made headlines in November 2020 when he became the youngest ever player to feature for Spurs at the age of 16 years and 247 days against Ludogorets in the Europa League.

His career hasn't quite kicked on since, with the forward enjoying loan spells of mixed success at Portsmouth, Ipswich Town and Oxford United over recent seasons, although he did score his first Tottenham goal against Elfsborg in January.

And on Monday, Scarlett linked up with the Three Lions as they trained at Tottenham's base before flying to Latvia for a World Cup qualifier.

Scarlett was pictured next to England skipper and Spurs legend Harry Kane in one shot, while other photos from the session showed the 21-year-old embracing Thomas Tuchel and mingling with stars such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Scarlett, who has netted 12 career goals in 97 matches, is yet to feature for Thomas Frank's side this season after undergoing groin surgery in May, although he has been an unused substitute in five matches.

Scarlett's inclusion in the training session came after fellow striker Ollie Watkins was sent home from England's camp due to injury.

Watkins suffered a knock during the 3-0 win over Wales on Thursday when he collided with a post as he tried to get on the end of a cross from Elliot Anderson.

The striker limped off gingerly at half-time and was replaced by Marcus Rashford for the second period.

Scarlett is well-known to the English FA given his experience playing for the Three Lions throughout the age groups.

In total, he has won a combined 43 caps for the Under 15, Under 16, Under 19, Under 20 and Under 21 teams over the years, scoring 27 goals.

Scarlett is under contract at Spurs until 2027 and he has previously been tipped for big things by several figures at the club.

Back in 2021 after he made his Premier League debut, then Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho was one such backer.

'He did not touch the ball I do not think,' the Portuguese said at the time. 'But for me the feeling of the kid also coming on means a lot for the academy, means [a lot] for the kid because he is 16, and means [a lot] to me because I wanted to be the one to put him on in a Premier League match.

'Because I know that he will be somebody in a few years.'

Meanwhile, speaking after the Wales game, Tuchel had provided an update on Watkins.

'He's ok,' the German explained. 'It was a clear goal normally for him, but unfortunately, he saw the ball too late and couldn't score and crashed into the post.

'It was very, very painful, but as I understand it now, it's only painful, so no harm done.'

Elsewhere, Harry Kane is expected to be fit for tomorrow's clash against Latvia after missing the victory over Wales through injury.

Tottenham Hotspur star Pedro Porro gave a hilarious response to being hit by a vape thrown from the crowd during his side's trip to Elland Road on Saturday.

The incident came during a hard-fought clash in Yorkshire, with Thomas Frank's side eventually winning 2-1 thanks to goals from Mohammed Kudus and Mathys Tel.

While limbering up to take a corner in front of the home end, the Spaniard was struck by a pink vape, which he picked up and pretended to smoke much to the amusement of Leeds fans.

But Porro's jokes didn't stop there, with the full-back once again referencing the incident in a humorous post on Instagram this afternoon.

Sharing a photo of him showing the the vape to the referee, Porro wrote: 'Didn't feel like vaping today, fancied getting three points instead (laughing emojis)'.

The victory saw Spurs, who were without a win in two before today, climb to second in the Premier League table after a promising start to Frank's tenure.

Speaking post-match, the former Brentford manager praised his side's character, admitting that he's 'very happy' with his start to life in north London.

Frank told reporters: 'I think if you want to build any successful team you need mentality and character and cohesion and togetherness.

'No matter if you play like Inter or Barcelona or whatever style of play, you need that willingness to do everything to win, and I think we are building that more and more in the team.'

Asked whether he's pleased with Spurs' start to the season, the Dane added: 'Yes of course I am. I think 14 points in seven. You know, that's very good.

'So that's all it is, a start. I'm extremely happy that we now on the road have won three and (got) a draw, which I think that's part of that.

'If you want to achieve anything, you need to do that.'

Frank also singled out Mathys Tel out for praise after he bagged his first goal of the campaign.

The Frenchman, who joined Spurs on a permanent deal in the summer from Bayern Munich, has endured a particularly difficult couple of months. After missing a crucial penalty in Spurs' Super Cup clash with PSG, the 20-year-old was brutally omitted from his side's Champions League squad.

'So, so emotional about him,' the boss said.

'So happy for him. I think the character he's shown from a young man just really impressed me from day one. But of course after a setback, not coming in the Champions League squad, not being an established player.

'Maybe playing a good position where I really can see him play and I think he's taking steps. Also been picked a little bit for the left. So just keep training well, which he does. He trains well every day.

'Stay at home, when we the whole team went to Bodo, he trained well. Just ready today.'

Follow Daily Mail Sport's live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Leeds host Tottenham at Elland Road in the Premier League, with Aadam Patel reporting from the ground.

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Jamie Redknapp has issued an apology to Lord Sugar after The Apprentice star sensationally threatened to sue over comments made by the Sky Sports pundit about his tenure as Spurs chairman.

Redknapp, once an England international, claimed during coverage of his former club Tottenham's trip to West Ham last month that Sugar, who spent 10 years in north London ending in 2001, left the club 'in a mess'.

'Whoever takes over,' he said at the time, when Sky Sports' experts were discussing Daniel Levy's departure from the club.

'You think back to how Alan Sugar left the club, it was a complete mess - Daniel Levy has left this club in a really good way and Vinai will know that and the people in charge now can look at this club and really believe that this can go forward.'

His comments sparked an incredibly angry response from Sugar, who threatened to sue both the pundit and Sky Sports in a series of posts on X, as well as dubbing Redknapp 'a double barrel idiot'.

'He talks a load of rubbish,' Sugar's response added, 'He said when Daniel Levy took over Spurs Alan Sugar left the club in a right mess. He and SKY will be hearing from my lawyers Monday @redknapp'

Now, almost a month after his claims about about Sugar, Redknapp has issued a formal apology. Speaking on Friday Night Football live on Sky Sports tonight, the 52-year-old 'set the record straight'.

'I mentioned that Lord Sugar had the left the club in a mess,' Redknapp said during coverage of Bournemouth's clash with Fulham.

'I just want to make clear that he stabilised the club and invested heavily during his time as chairman.

'When he took over in 1991, Spurs were close to bankruptcy and by the time he stepped away the financial position had been turned around.

'He also put significant money into the team and facilities. I apologise to Lord Sugar and his family for any misunderstanding and for any distress caused, and am happy to set the record straight.'

Having seen the apology, The Apprentice star Sugar took to X once again.

He posted: 'On 13th September Jamie Redknapp stated on Sky Sports that I left Tottenham 'in a mess' when I sold the club to Daniel Levy.

'Tonight during Sky's Bournemouth v Fulham coverage, Redknapp has made a full apology and retracted this false allegation. Also, by way of a further apology, a donation of £10,000 has been made to Great Ormond Street Hospital.'

Former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has reportedly been targeted by two European giants as he seeks a return to management.

Postecoglou was sacked by Tottenham at the end of last season despite winning the Europa League, ending the club's 17-year trophy drought.

The Australian, however, had presided over a dismal domestic campaign which saw the club finish 17th in the Premier League.

Postecoglou, according to Fabrizio Romano, could soon be in line for a return to the dugout.

He has reportedly been discussed by both Bayer Leverkusen and Fenerbahce as the two clubs search for a new head coach.

Leverkusen sacked former Man United boss Erik ten Hag on Monday, after just two Bundesliga matches in charge.

The German giants had lost their opening match of the season 2-1 at home to Hoffenheim, before throwing away a 3-1 lead against 10-man Werder Bremen to draw 3-3 on Saturday.

Ten Hag did lead the club a 4-0 win over fourth tier side SG in the German Cup, but it proved to be his sole competitive victory in charge.

Postecoglou would have the chance to coach in the Champions League again should he be offered the Leverkusen job, with the club set to face FC Copenhagen, PSV, PSG, Benfica, Man City and Newcastle in the league phase.

Fenerbahce are also searching for a new head coach following their decision to part ways with another former Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho was sacked last week after Fenerbache's failure to qualify for the Champions League, with his side losing to Benfica in the playoffs.

Fenerbahce will compete in the Europa League this season, offering Postecoglou the chance to win the competition for the second successive campaign.

Postecoglou has previously been linked with a move to to the MLS to manage Los Angeles FC, while he was reportedly approached by Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, who won the AFC Champions League in May.

Last month, Postecoglou was seen relaxing on the Greek island of Paros with a clip showing him dining at Sta Kala Kathoumena, which is owned by celebrity chef Stefanos Saratsis.

Follow Mail Sport's live blog of Tottenham against Bayern Munich as Harry Kane could make a return to face his former club.

Tottenham have agreed a deal worth around £55million for West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus, Mail Sport understands.

The 24-year-old is expected to have his medical at Spurs on Thursday ahead of signing a long-term contract.

West Ham initially rejected a £50m bid for the Ghana international last week before talks continued.

Spurs identified Kudus as a top target for new boss Thomas Frank and have secured a deal for well below the winger’s £85m release clause that ran for the first 10 days of July.

Kudus’ move will see the breaking of an informal transfer embargo between the two sides who have not sold a player to each other in more than 10 years.

Once the deal goes through, he would become the first to transfer from one to the other since Scott Parker joined Spurs from West Ham in 2011.

Kudus, who joined West Ham from Ajax for £38m two years ago, scored five goals in the Premier League last season.

Spurs have shown interest in Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo in a potential reunion with former Bees boss Frank, though it is believed the player would prefer a move to Manchester United.

The deal is expected to trigger West Ham’s activity in the transfer market to help fund Graham Potter’s desired rebuild.

Potter wants to lower the age of the West Ham squad, one of the oldest in the Premier League last season, and is prioritising a new striker, left-winger, a goalkeeper and extra legs in midfield.