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Tottenham have made an out-of-the-blue £50million offer for West Ham United attacker Lucas Paqueta, according to a report from South America.

Widespread reports emerged on Monday suggesting that Paqueta has asked to leave Spurs‘ hated rivals – and next opponents – West Ham this window.

Tottenham were strongly linked with Paqueta in the summer, but nothing came of that speculation as he remained at the London Stadium.

It was claimed at the time that Spurs could land Paqueta for as little as £40m, but it is now apparent that will not be the case.

Lucas Paqueta turns down Tottenham advances

Paqueta has been a hit-and-miss player for West Ham over the past few seasons, but they clearly do not intend to sell below value.

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According to UOL journalist Rodrigo Mattos via X on Monday evening – a reporter with more than 121,000 followers and considered reliable – Spurs tabled a £50m offer for Paqueta.

However, the Brazilian has made clear that he does not want to join Tottenham.

Indeed, it has been widely reported elsewhere that Flamengo are the team Paqueta wants to join as he wants to return home.

Mattos adds that talks were planned between Flamengo and West Ham on Monday, where it is hoped a solution to the transfer saga can be reached.

Paqueta arrival would spell obvious end for one player

This report makes it clear that Tottenham are not going to sign Paqueta this month. Many will question why as much as £50m was offered in the first place.

If this interest was legitimate, however, it adds weight to the reports that Mathys Tel is looking to leave Tottenham this month.

Tel plays mainly as a central attacker and is also capable of being used on the left. Paqueta, by comparison, is a central attacking midfielder who can also play out wide.

It is abundantly clear that Tel is not suited to play for Tottenham, but that is not to say Paqueta is the right option to bring in.

There has to be a happy medium, and hopefully this £50m is now better spent elsewhere before the window closes in three weeks’ time.

Thomas Frank has made a number of mistakes since he became the Tottenham manager.

Frank is under intense scrutiny at Tottenham as his side sit 14th in the table, and the relationship between the fans and the team is completely fractured.

His style of football has left supporters frustrated, and they’ve already been eliminated from both domestic cup competitions.

Frank’s handling of new signings has also been questionable, and Mathys Tel is certainly someone who has every right to feel aggrieved by his lack of first-team minutes.

Mathys Tel ready to leave Tottenham on loan

After spending the second half of the 2024-25 season on loan in N17, Tel was signed permanently for £30million.

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However, he was left out of Tottenham’s Champions League squad in September and was only added in place of the injured Dominic Solanke in December.

According to a report from The Guardian on Monday, Tel has informed Tottenham he is open to leaving on loan, having grown frustrated at his lack of game time under Frank since making the move from Bayern Munich.

Paris FC and Turkish sides Fenerbahce and Galatasaray are interested in taking the 20-year-old forward on loan until the end of the season.

Clubs in Italy and Spain are also believed to have made contact with Spurs, who are thought to be reluctant to let him leave after selling Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace for £35m.

It’s frankly ludicrous that he has been a Tottenham player for six months, and talks about leaving have already begun.

Frank clearly hasn’t gotten the best out of Tel, and the majority of managers in the Premier League would have worked much better with him than the Dane, who is solely to blame.

Tel has scored two goals in five Premier League starts this season and one in his nine league substitute appearances, showing that he is hardly out of form given the lack of first-team action.

The one big reason Tel will want Tottenham exit

The French attacker wants regular playing time to boost his chances of making Didier Deschamps’ 2026 World Cup squad.

Having been recently named the U21 captain, he is not far off making that jump to the senior team.

However, he can’t bridge that gap in time unless he leaves Spurs and showcases his ability at a club that values him.

As alluded to previously, his loan was handled so poorly and it seems laughable that two days after Frank was hired, the option to buy Tel was triggered.

Given how matters have played out, it’s a huge error and a massive waste of £30m.

Frank has to take responsibility for the player he has treated the most unfairly at Tottenham, and he has given Spurs fans an extra reason to want him sacked.

Ange Postecoglou is one of the most polarising managers in Tottenham’s history.

Postecoglou was sacked by Tottenham for their underperformance in the Premier League after leading them to a 17th-placed finish in 2024-25.

Although the 60-year-old won the Europa League in his final game, Daniel Levy decided to replace him with Thomas Frank, and that move certainly hasn’t paid off yet.

Frank is under intense pressure as Spurs find themselves out of both domestic cups at this early stage of the season.

Many fans would love to see Postecoglou return, but Tim Sherwood isn’t so sure that Tottenham will go in that direction.

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Tim Sherwood dismisses claim for Ange Postecoglou to return to Tottenham

It wasn’t long before the Australian was back in management this campaign, but his 39-day spell with Nottingham Forest ended disastrously on 18 October.

He is currently out of a job, and Sherwood believes that there is no chance he will return to N17 if Frank were to be sacked.

Speaking live on Sky Sports News on 12 January, he said: “That won’t happen. I’ve got a lot of respect for Postecoglou; he’s a manager who won something at Spurs when others have failed.

“They sacked a winner, and they made their choice in the best interests of the club. They believed that Postecoglou wasn’t the man to take them forward, end of.

“That is what they’ve done with Frank, they’ve put their belief in him being a success.

“He still might be a success, but he’s clearly not at the moment.”

Postecoglou’s future remains uncertain, although it’s safe to say he has been linked with a number of teams around the world.

What’s next for Ange Postecoglou?

Postecoglou was also tipped to return to Celtic, although they’ve opted to go with Martin O’Neill for the rest of the season.

A Premier League return wasn’t completely out of the question in December, with both Leeds and Fulham emerging as an option for Postecoglou, but both sides have remarkably improved under their respective managers during the festive period.

As we saw during his reign at Spurs, his attacking style of play was scintillating to watch, but not much emphasis was put on defending.

There are not many teams these days that would employ a manager with such a risky approach, but perhaps he could lead Australia on the international stage.

Current head coach Tony Popovic is on a three-game losing streak with the Socceroos, suffering consecutive friendly defeats to the USA, Venezuela, and Colombia through October and November.

With Australia set to feature in the 2026 World Cup, could Postecoglou make a spectacular move to manage his home country in June?

Only time will tell for the Spurs’ trophy-winning hero.

Thomas Frank will be desperate to bring new players to N17 immediately.

Tottenham’s 2-1 loss to Aston Villa in the FA Cup has left fans even more frustrated with what’s happening, and they need players who are ready to go straight into action as soon as possible.

Tottenham have only brought in Mason Melia for a fee of £1.6m, although a £13m deal for Santos left-back Souza has also been accepted.

Interest in Conor Gallagher has emerged, while Spurs appear to have made their move for Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz, but whether Xabi Alonso lets him leave is another question.

Real Madrid won’t sell Brahim Diaz unless an extraordinary offer is made

Alonso has previously spoken about how much he values Diaz, but Tottenham’s interest has thrown his future into contention.

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Spanish media outlet Fichajes reports that Spurs have put a £52million offer on the table for the Moroccan forward, who is currently playing a starring role for his country at AFCON.

Real Madrid’s stance is firm, and Diaz is not for sale unless an exceptionally high offer is made.

Internally, they have a clear figure that they wouldn’t even consider offers below £35m for the 26-year-old.

Tottenham have gone well above that with their first offer, and negotiations may progress despite Madrid’s initial stance.

The Spanish giants may find it hard to turn down that fee for a player who doesn’t even start for them, and they could use that money to reinvest in their ageing defence.

The stats that show why signing Brahim Diaz would be a major coup for Tottenham

Diaz made history on Friday as he became the first Moroccan player ever to score in five consecutive AFCON matches in a single edition, with his side booking a semi-final spot with victory over Cameroon.

He joined Real Madrid for £15m in June 2019 and has played a total of 129 times, scoring 21 goals and assisting a further 23.

He’s also spent three seasons at AC Milan on loan, making 124 appearances in total while scoring 18 and assisting 15, and notably forming a part of the club’s last title-winning team in 2021-22.

Diaz could immediately play on the right wing to replace Mohammed Kudus, and given the fact that Tottenham also sold Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace for £35m, they are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements.

Frank is currently in a precarious position, and he needs to be given all the financial support necessary to finalise the deal for Diaz.

Rodrigo Bentancur faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury during Tottenham’s defeat away at Bournemouth.

Joao Palhinha scored an overhead kick on Wednesday, but Antoine Semenyo’s last-minute winner ensured the visitors went home empty-handed in a 3-2 loss.

To make matters worse for Thomas Frank, Bentancur was taken off in the 86th minute at Vitality Stadium, sparking concerns about his fitness.

It has now been revealed that the Uruguayan international will be forced to undergo surgery and subsequently miss a big chunk of the season.

Rodrigo Bentancur out for at least three months

Bentancur has not been at his best this term, but he has still been an ever-present for Frank in the centre of the Tottenham midfield.

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The 28-year-old has started 17 Premier League games in the 2025-26 campaign, and has appeared in every top-flight match since the middle of September.

However, that run is now coming to an end, as according to TyC Sports, Bentancur suffered a hamstring tear during the defeat to Bournemouth and will now undergo surgery.

The Uruguayan international is expected to be out of action for at least three months, meaning he won’t be available until the middle of April at the very earliest.

Given Tottenham’s current rehabilitation record, Bentancur could be missing for even longer.

Thomas Frank has clear problem at Tottenham

Frank is under huge sack pressure at Tottenham, with the North London side sitting 14th in the Premier League.

However, the Dane is not entirely at fault for Spurs’ horrific season so far, as he has been consistently battling with player availability.

Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Destiny Udogie and Dominic Solanke have all been confined to the treatment room, with Mohammed Kudus now also out until April.

Add Bentancur to that list, and Frank is arguably missing almost half of his best starting line-up, although Solanke did make his first appearance since August against Aston Villa in the FA Cup.

The former Brentford manager clearly has his faults, but the severe injury crisis has done little to help.

Thomas Frank is running out of lives as Tottenham manager.

Tottenham lost 2-1 to Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, leaving Frank‘s side winless in four games in all competitions.

Not only was it another highly disappointing afternoon in regards to the result, but Tottenham also look to have lost Richarlison to injury, with the striker pulling up 30 minutes into the game with what appeared to be a hamstring problem.

Frank is now facing the Tottenham sack, with Enzo Maresca being touted as a potential option for Spurs if the former Brentford boss is axed.

Tottenham to stand by Thomas Frank for now

Tottenham must put their FA Cup exit behind them, as they prepare for a huge London derby clash with West Ham next Saturday.

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With Spurs starting to fall away in the race for European football, and with Nuno Espirito Santo also potentially one more bad result away from being sacked, Saturday’s meeting could have huge implications in both dugouts.

Tottenham and football fans in general have been questioning whether the defeat to Aston Villa would spring the board into action regarding Frank, but it looks as though the Dane has been given a stay of execution at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

That’s because a report from Football.London has claimed that Frank currently still holds the backing of some key figures at Tottenham, including sporting director Johan Lange, and that he will be given four ‘make-or-break’ games to save his Spurs job, starting with West Ham.

Tottenham’s recent head-to-head record vs West Ham

Whilst it appears Frank has a handful of games to secure his Tottenham position, a loss against West Ham on 17 January, on home soil no less, would surely be incredibly tough for him to survive from.

Luckily for Frank, Spurs have a good record against the Hammers in recent times, with the Lilywhites unbeaten against them in their last four meetings in all competitions, with two wins and two draws in that time period.

The aggregate score between the two sides over their last four meetings is 9-3 in favour of Tottenham, with Spurs beating West Ham 3-0 in the reverse fixture this season back in September.

Thomas Frank is looking to strengthen his Tottenham squad in the January transfer window rather than letting players leave.

The Dane is under huge sack pressure after Tottenham were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Saturday evening.

Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers fired Villa into a two-goal lead at the break, and despite Wilson Odobert halving the deficit early in the second half, Frank’s side could not find the leveller.

Attention has now turned back to the transfer market as Spurs have received a bid for one member of their first-team squad.

Tottenham reject approach for Radu Dragusin

Brennan Johnson has already completed a move to Crystal Palace for a reported £35million, leaving Frank short on options in attacking areas.

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Johnson was down the pecking order at Tottenham, but with Mohammed Kudus now ruled out until April, allowing the winger to depart is looking like a big mistake.

According to Alasdair Gold, Spurs have now rejected an approach from Roma for defender Radu Dragusin.

The Italian side wanted to take the centre-back on loan until the end of the season, but the North London outfit have refused the request.

Roma are owned by The Friedkin Group, who have also held a controlling stake in Everton since December 2024.

Dragusin spent the first half of the season out injured before returning at the end of December, coming off the bench in the closing stages as Tottenham beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

The 23-year-old has been an unused substitute in each of Spurs’ last four games.

Who are Tottenham going to sign in January?

As well as holding onto the players they already have, Tottenham are desperate to make some additions in the January window.

Frank’s side currently sit 14th in the Premier League, and a host of injuries has left the former Brentford manager with a depleted squad.

Tottenham are set to complete the signing of Souza from Santos, after having a £13million bid accepted for the left-back.

Spurs are also looking to bring in a new left winger and central midfielder this month, to help address the lack of creativity in the side.

However, it remains to be seen whether the North London outfit can get any further deals over the line.

Jack Grealish could be on the move again this summer, with Tottenham ready to swoop.

Tottenham are in the midst of another difficult Premier League campaign, this time under the stewardship of Thomas Frank.

Home form has been abhorrent, with several players failing to live up to the standards that are expected of them in North London.

Nearly halfway through the January transfer window, Spurs are yet to address that from a recruitment perspective, and may already have their eyes on the summer for a big overhaul.

If so, it will be a huge task, but one that could see Tottenham make a move to sign Grealish.

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Timeline for Grealish transfer emerges as Tottenham enter fray

Grealish has been linked with a move to Tottenham in the past, but it is on Merseyside where he is currently playing his football on loan from Man City.

The 30-year-old has been instrumental for Everton this season, with two goals and six assists in his 17 Premier League starts.

However, that form has caught the eye of Tottenham, who, according to the Sunday Mirror, are interested in a potential transfer.

It’s claimed that Grealish is set to quit Man City for a fee in the region of £30million, which, for a player of his experience and quality, is a bargain.

Everton are leading the race for his permanent arrival, though his future is likely to be resolved in the summer transfer window.

Grealish has already spoken out on failed Tottenham move

Prior to his move to Man City, which was ultimately the one that started to derail his career somewhat, Grealish was the star of Aston Villa.

Everything went through him, and the Villans found a lot of success as a result.

However, between his time at Villa Park and his move to Man City, he was heavily linked with a transfer to Tottenham.

Spurs were said to have made a £25million bid for him back in 2018, and Grealish opened up about the disappointment of missing out on the move.

“Of course, there’s going to be disappointment there,” Grealish said on his failed move.

“They’ve beaten Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford, and they’re playing Barcelona in the Champions League next week.

“I felt that if I’d gone there, I could have maybe been in the England squad by the end of the year.”

Dominic Solanke has hardly featured for Tottenham this season.

Thomas Frank has not been able to call upon his star striker for the majority of the campaign, as he has been on the sidelines.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium outfit are desperate to have the 28-year-old back in action, as they are lacking goals at the moment.

A return does not look to be on the cards for Solanke, with no timeframe on when he will be back on the pitch.

Dominic Solanke sends message as Premier League star set for surgery

Justin Kluivert has been a target for Tottenham in the past, but he is set for a spell on the sidelines himself, after suffering a new injury blow.

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The 26-year-old picked up a knee issue in Bournemouth’s 3-2 loss to Arsenal on 3 January, and missed their win over Spurs.

The Cherries star has confirmed that he has undergone surgery on the problem, taking to Instagram on 9 January, saying: “Surgery done. Thank you all for the support.”

Solanke sent a three-word message, simply commenting “Rest up bro” with a prayer and a white heart emoji.

What has Thomas Frank said about Solanke injury?

Solanke can resonate with Kluivert, as he has his fair share of injury issues, and Frank has shared an update on his fitness.

He has been out since the 2-0 win over Manchester City in August, but he is understood to be getting closer to first-team action.

Speaking ahead of the FA Cup third-round clash with Aston Villa, he spoke about Solanke and Destiny Udogie’s potential returns.

The Dane said: “Yeah, both of them are trained, both of them are getting closer, definitely.

“Destiny is a bit closer than Dom, obviously, because he’s only been out for five weeks-ish. So that’s, of course, less than six months, but both of them are positive and improving.”

It will be a relief to Spurs fans that their star man is on the way back, but Frank refrained from giving an exact timescale on that, which suggests he still has a bit of time away.

The Lilywhites need the forward to come back fit and firing to improve their league position and give them the best possible chance in the Champions League, so rushing him back into action makes little sense.

Solanke will be keen to perform and put himself in the frame for Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad once he is back, but it seems too late for that.

Micky van de Ven could be the latest player to leave Tottenham this year.

Thomas Frank is showing little sign of improvement at Spurs, and it’s starting to affect squad morale.

Van de Ven is not prepared to sign a new contract for the Lilywhites, given the current circumstances and wants to see change before committing to his long-term future.

Brennan Johnson joined Crystal Palace on a permanent deal on the back of scoring the most important goal in Tottenham‘s history last season, with more sales potentially coming in the next few weeks.

Barcelona appeals to Micky van de Ven

Van de Ven has been one of Frank’s top performers so far this season, and without him, the Lilywhites would be suffering a lot closer to the relegation zone.

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Real Madrid are said to be interested in the defender, and it’s clear to see why following his recent exploits at N17.

According to Spanish outlet SPORT on Friday, the Dutch international has a “firm” stance on leaving Tottenham, and his preference is to join Barcelona.

The Catalonian giants are interested in the Spurs man, who they see as a solution to their defensive problems and need for a left-footed centre-back.

However, van de Ven reportedly wants to finish this current season with Spurs before making a switch to the Culers in the summer.

Thomas Frank is pushing Tottenham’s best players away

Tottenham fans are having to suffer from poor results and performances this season, and now they may be watching their best player leave in van de Ven.

The main reason for that is Frank and van de Ven’s preference speaks volumes, considering he is currently in the best goal-scoring form of his career.

Frank has contributed to the current disconnection between the Spurs faithful and their club, and as things stand, it’s only going to get more toxic.

If Spurs were to sell the 24-year-old, then Joe Lewis would bank a hefty profit. However, sometimes money isn’t everything in football, as van de Ven’s exit would be detrimental.

Who else is going to want out of Tottenham while Frank’s here?