tottenhamhotspurnews.com

‘This Tottenham player’s display vs Copenhagen showed exactly why he must leave in January’

Richarlison’s performance against Copenhagen has reaffirmed for some Tottenham fans that this should be his last season in North London.

Tottenham triumphed in a 4-0 victory against Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Richarlison was substituted in the second half and went on to produce on one of the worst cameos seen by a Spurs player this season.

As well as missing multiple goalscoring opportunities, he took the ball from Dane Scarlett, who had won the penalty, and ended up hitting the crossbar.

Indeed, it was a display that fans will not want to see rewarded anytime soon.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Richarlison could leave this January

Richarlison was linked with a departure from Tottenham over the summer window, but ended up continuing his journey at Hotspur Way.

While Richarlison’s start to the season at Spurs began well, his form soon took a turn for the worse.

Due to his drop in form and now his performance against Copenhagen, speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, Tottenham expert and Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham believes the Brazilian could leave Spurs as early as January.

“It was another sort of performance that realigns people’s thoughts that the club needs to move him on,” Wenham said.

“The way Dane won that penalty of individual brilliance, to turn the defender out on the far side, dive into the box, and then lead the defender to commit a foul. It was a real shame that when you’re winning by four and Richarlison took it and then missed.

“I think we’ve talked before about that potential move to South America, as early as the January transfer window. I just think with Randal Kolo Muani now coming into form, with Dominic Solanke back hopefully soon.

“I don’t see many minutes for Richarlison in a World Cup year. He wants to go to Brazil, and he needs to play.”

Randal Kolo Muani is the better option

Kolo Muani could’ve scored a brace in Spurs’ win over Copenhagen after missing several chances in the first half.

While his finishing was not dissimilar to Richarlison’s, the French international showed himself to be a team player when he passed the ball to Wilson Odobert to net his first Champions League goal for Tottenham, rather than taking the shot himself.

It was the right and a selfless decision, which made the Brazilian international’s choice to take the penalty appear that much worse.

The goals will surely come, but for now, Kolo Muani’s general play, selflessness and character have shown he has the talent and mindset to succeed in North London.

How to watch today’s Tottenham vs Man United Premier League clash: TV Channel and kick-off time

Tottenham’s Premier League game against Man United on Saturday could be hugely impactful for Thomas Frank.

Following Spurs’ embarrassing defeat to Chelsea, Thomas Frank will need to get a reaction from his players in a match that could bear a lot of significance when it comes down to European qualification at the end of the season.

Tottenham’s 4-0 win over Copenhagen was a brilliant victory in all aspects, yet there is a desperate need to put an end to the woeful home form in the Premier League.

Sitting level on points with Spurs, Man United have grown in confidence as the season has progressed.

Tottenham News has highlighted everything you need to know ahead of the game.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Where to watch Tottenham vs Man United

Tottenham’s Europa League final win was the last time these two teams faced each other, and Spurs boast an impressive record over Ruben Amorim’s side.

Man United are winless in the last seven meetings between the sides, although they’ll be prove to be a much different test at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

The game will be televised on TNT Sports 1, with kick-off at 12:30pm, and coverage beginning at 11am.

It is also available to watch or stream on Discovery+ UK, with a subscription required, and can be viewed on their website or app.

The last meeting between the sides in the Premier League saw Tottenham secure a much-needed win thanks to James Maddison’s first-half strike.

Tottenham’s 2-0 win over Man City has been the highlight of their season so far, but the manner of the win over Copenhagen in midweek was certainly close.

Tottenham must be wary of Man United’s threat in big games.

Man United’s 2-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield has been a turning point for Amorim’s relationship with the fans.

Their tactical approach to go long and cause problems in the air proved to be incredibly successful, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them deploy that strategy against Spurs.

Frank has come under criticism for not being able to break down teams that sit back, and this was evident in the defeat to Aston Villa.

The Red Devils will pose huge problems on the counter-attack with their pace and power in transition, and it’s up to Tottenham to find a way to play through Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system.

Micky van de Ven to be dumbfounded after Champions League announcement

Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven will not be happy with the latest Champions League announcement that UEFA have made.

Tottenham smashed FC Copenhagen 4-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday, as many players stood out for Thomas Frank, including the likes of Randal Kolo Muani and Wilson Odobert.

Xavi Simons looks to have finally arrived for Tottenham, with his best performance of the season so far, which the Dutchman will look to build against Manchester United on Saturday.

However, Van de Ven’s solo goal against Copenhagen stole the headlines. But despite his immaculate performance, UEFA have decided to snub him in their latest reveal.

Arsenal man beats Micky van de Ven to Champions League TOTW

According to Tottenham Hotspur’s official website, Van de Ven made Champions League history against Copenhagen.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Van de Ven recorded the longest ball carry ending in a goal in the history of the competition, as he ran 67.7 meters before curling the ball into the net.

On top of scoring a goal and keeping a clean sheet, Van de Ven won 100 per cent of his aerial duels and touched the ball 75 times.

As per FBref, Van de Ven is now in the top one percentile for goalscoring centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues.

Somehow, despite his unbelievable performance and a potential Puskas award-winning goal, Van de Ven has missed out on the Champions League’s Team of the Week, as UEFA revealed their decision on X.

He was even beaten by Arsenal’s Mikel Merino in the announcement, but Van de Ven can respond perfectly on Saturday.

Van de Ven loves playing Man United

Tottenham have a lucky Van de Ven omen heading into the Premier League clash against United, as the Lilywhites have never lost to the Red Devils when the Dutchman has started

Micky van de Ven’s record against Man United:

Everyone knows how it played out last time when Tottenham met Man United, as Van de Ven helped Spurs lift their first trophy in almost two decades.

Van de Ven’s goal-line clearance will go down in Tottenham history, as United and their fans continue to have nightmares of Frank’s man of the moment.

Spurs will be hoping to beat Manchester United once more on Saturday, and Van de Ven will hopefully have another standout performance.

‘Be careful’ – Dimitar Berbatov warns Tottenham signing Ivan Toney could ‘breed problems’

Dimitar Berbatov has warned that Tottenham must take the current squad into careful consideration before making a move to bring in Ivan Toney.

Thomas Frank has been linked to bringing ex-Brentford star Toney to Tottenham amid injury and lack of production from his current strikers.

Toney may need to push to leave Al Ahli for Tottenham but with Dominic Solanke out and Richarlison copping heat for his Spurs performances Berbatov has weighed in on a possible January addition.

The Bulgarian scored 46 goals in 102 appearances in North London before leaving for Man United in 2009 but doesn’t feel the club has had a striker with an all-round game that compares to his since Harry Kane left.

Dimitar Berbatov backs Tottenham move for Ivan Toney

But with a possible more for Toney, 29, on the cards Berbatov believes it could be a sensible one for Frank, provided it doesn’t upset egos in the Tottenham squad.

MORE SPURS STORIES

In an interview with talkSPORT he said: “With Harry Kane… he was unbelievable, that’s why I love watching him. Now I don’t think Spurs have a similar profile like him, or me.

“About Ivan Toney, if he decides to go there the way he plays football is, let’s say, interesting, in a way, that he knows where the goal is. He looks calm under pressure. He can score goals, he can sure take penalties as well.

“So is he going to be a good fit? If you ask me, why not? Do Spurs need a striker to put a bit more pressure on the strikers already there? If it’s for good, yes.

“Sometimes you need to be careful because it can breed problems. Because football players, especially the strikers, big egos, big personalities. We all think we are the special one, the chosen one, and sometimes that can lead to more trouble in the team.”

Ivan Toney move to push Richarlison out of Spurs

There’s a lot to like about the idea of Toney returning to the Premier League motivated to get into Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup and reprising his Brentford form under Frank at Spurs.

It’s unlikely to be cheap and his age might make a difference to whether it is deemed value for money, but if he could be a reliable focal point at the tip of the forward line Frank may see it as worth it.

How Solanke does if and when he can finally get a regular run under the new manager may be what makes the decision for the Dane.

And if a move is made it is hard to see Richarlison being long for the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Brazilian has undoubted quality but after his difficult first season for the club it feels like the pressure piles back onto him as soon as he has a dry spell.

The real reason behind Tottenham’s iron-clad Premier League defence, and it’s not Thomas Frank

Guglielmo Vicario has prevented the most goals in the Premier League this season as he continues to silence his doubters at Tottenham.

Fans were keen to see Antonin Kinsky replace Vicario earlier this season after a disappointing run of performances.

But Spurs’ 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup saw Tottenham fans taking to social media and apologising to Vicario for doubting him.

Following that game, Tottenham suffered a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea, and if not for the strong hand of Vicario, fans would’ve endured further humiliation.

Indeed, this season has taught supporters a valuable lesson in appreciating what you have before it’s gone.

MORE SPURS STORIES

A closer inspection of Tottenham’s ‘iron-clad’ defence

Tottenham have conceded eight goals in the Premier League this season, which is the second-fewest behind league leaders Arsenal.

On the surface, that seems like a praiseworthy statistic, but a deeper delve shows that it’s extremely misleading.

Indeed, the Lilywhites have conceded 14.6 expected goals, which is the sixth most in the league this season.

To put that into perspective, three of the bottom four teams are in the top five:

Furthermore, the Lilywhites aren’t exactly a high-creating team, having netted 17 goals from 10.1 expected goals. This is a huge overperformance.

As a result, something, or rather someone, has been working relentlessly to keep opponents out of Spurs’ net.

Gugilemo Vicario is Tottenham’s unsung hero this season

With 5.17 goals prevented, Vicario is the keeper who has prevented the most goals in the Premier League this season.

The gap isn’t small either, with Dean Henderson coming in at second with 3.50 goals prevented thus far.

He also has a save percentage of 81 per cent, just behind David Raya, who has saved an impressive 84.2 per cent this season, according to Sofascore.

Furthermore, he is third behind Martin Dubravka and Matz Sels for saves per 90, which is worrying considering both these keepers are playing for teams on the wrong end of the table.

What is becoming clear is that Tottenham do not have one of the best defences in the Premier League. No, the Lilywhites have the best keeper.

Therefore, Thomas Frank is not the brains behind Spurs’ iron-clad defence this season. But given Vicario’s poor performances last season, he may have been the man to unlock the Italian keeper once again.

Al Alhi aren’t expected to make it easy for Thomas Frank to be reunited with Ivan Toney at Tottenham.

The England international has been linked with a return to the Premier League after thriving during his time under the Dane at Brentford.

Richarlison has come in for criticism at Tottenham this term, while Dominic Solanke is injured, and the likes of Mathys Tel and Randal Kolo Muani have been goal shy, so the addition of a striker in January is on the cards.

Tottenham have been tipped to move for Toney since Frank took over, with the both Toney and the Tottenham boss thought likely to have an interest in the move.

Ivan Toney will have to push for Tottenham move

According to talkSPORT Frank is indeed “open” to bringing the 29-year-old to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

MORE SPURS STORIES

From the forward’s point of view involvement in the England set up is likely to be easier ahead of the World Cup if he is playing in the Premier League, having been left out of Thomas Tuchel’s latest squad announced earlier on Friday.

However, Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli are not thought to be looking to let Toney leave after 41 goals across all competitions since his move two summers ago.

It is believed that the ex-Bees star will therefore need to actively push to join Tottenham if the move is going to have a chance of happening.

Tottenham should have bought Ivan Toney from Brentford

If Frank does indeed end up bringing Toney to North London then it is hard to ignore an element of 18 months wasted on both sides.

As the striker’s time at the Gtech Community Stadium was coming to an end two seasons ago he had long been linked to moves within the Premier League, and although the inevitable pay day in the Middle East would have held some attraction for him either way, it was something of an anti-climax to the transfer race at the time.

If he now as his eye on a return in order to be in the running for the World Cup then it is tempting to conclude that Ange Postecoglou should have gone after him as the ultimate replacement for Harry Kane instead of Solanke that summer.

Clearly there’s no guarantee that he would be a roaring success but perhaps it will be a case of better late than never and Spurs end up with both in their ranks in the near future.

Tottenham have been told that they will need to pay an excessive transfer fee to sign Igor Thiago from Brentford in January.

The Bees frontman is among the top scorers in the Premier League at the 10-game mark, with Erling Haaland the only man to better his tally of six league strikes so far in 2025-26.

Thiago has quickly attracted attention from Tottenham ahead of the January window, with Thomas Frank keen to reunite with one of his former stars.

The Dane has made the 24-year-old one of the main priorities for his side this winter, and progress is already being made towards a deal.

Igor Thiago deal won’t come cheaply for Tottenham as contact made

Tottenham have already made contact with Brentford about the possibility of a deal to sign Thiago in January.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Reports in Brazil have indicated that the Lilywhites have lodged an enquiry over the availability of the former Club Brugge star, with Newcastle also in a similar position.

Frank was still at the helm at Brentford when they signed Thiago for £30million in the summer of 2024, but was unable to use the frontman much due to injury issues last season.

Ex-Spurs scout Bryan King – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes that the player’s form will have created an awkward situation for the N17 outfit to try and strike a deal in January.

“If you look at Tottenham’s centre forward hunt, they missed out on Mbeumo in the summer,” King said.

“Now Spurs are going for another striker from Brentford in Thiago. Unless the offer is right, with him signing for Brentford for £30m, they will want to get a similar amount of money as they did for Mbuemo.

“Because, why should they sell their centre forward halfway through the season. If Spurs want him, they’ll have to pay well over the odds for him.”

Igor Thiago’s conversion rate is fantastic

Richarlison’s inconsistency has continued at Tottenham this season, and it is no surprise that they are keen to upgrade at the top of the pitch this winter.

Thiago has only played a handful of games in the Premier League, but he has already proven himself to be a hugely dangerous finisher.

The Brazilian boasts an impressive conversion rate of 27 per cent across the opening 10 games of the league season (Sofascore), by comparison, Richarlison’s stands at just 19 per cent.

That gets even more impressive when you compare it to Dominic Solanke’s performance from last term, when he converted chances at a rate of just 15 per cent.

Several players have left Brentford and gone on to have major success in recent years, and Thiago could well be the next. But it is now up to Spurs to decide whether they are willing to pay a premium for him.

Thomas Frank has been urged to start Joao Palhinha when Tottenham face Manchester United on Saturday.

Tottenham will face Man United in the Premier League after an impressive 4-0 win over Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League on 4 November.

While Xavi Simons was the Man of the Match for Tottenham, Rodrigo Bentancur was excellent in the midfield.

However, starting both Bentancur and Palhinha in the midfield could be a disaster, as it has been in several games this season.

Tottenham need to be more attacking vs Man United

Palhinha netted in Tottenham’s victory over Copenhagen in what was an excellent cameo from the defensive midfielder.

MORE SPURS STORIES

As a result, speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, Tottenham expert and Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham believes that if Frank has to start one of Bentancur or Palhinha against United, it should be the latter.

“We went in there, just Bentancur as the lone CDM, and he was fantastic as well,” Wenham said.

“So I think for the Man United home game, we have to continue with the single pivot. I would rather see Palhinha in there than Bentancur.

“I don’t think Bentancur plays badly, but Palhinha is an outstanding player.

“So I’d like to see something like Palhinha, Pape Matar Sarr and then Xavi Simons as the three against United.

“If it were at Old Trafford, I’d be completely with Frank and going with Bentancur and Palhinha, but I just think for the home games we need to be more attacking, we need to get on the front foot.

“We need to change something because it hasn’t worked at home so far. The record is abysmal compared to how outstanding it is away from home. So something needs to change.”

Thomas Frank will be tempted to play more defensively against United

Tottenham fans have been craving to see their team play with greater attacking intensity, and their prayers were answered against Copenhagen.

However, a game against United in the Premier League is likely to be a more competitive game.

Indeed, players like Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha can harm Spurs in several ways. As a result, it would be unsurprising to see both Palhinha and Bentancur start for more defensive stability.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has hinted that Mohammed Kudus could still feature against Manchester United.

The Ghana international was absent last time around as Tottenham secured a 4-0 win over Copenhagen in the Champions League.

Xavi Simons came in for Tottenham and grabbed an assist despite putting in yet another frustrating performance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Lilywhites will be hopeful of welcoming back their summer signing from West Ham as Tottenham prepare to host Man United on Saturday.

Frank has now revealed via his press conference on 7 November that Kudus’ chances of making the squad against Ruben Amorim’s side are uncertain.

MORE SPURS STORIES

He said: “Yes, everyone came through [the game] well. The ones that had been out for a small spell, Cuti [Cristian Romero] and Dest [Destiny Udogie], responded well. Kudus is touch and go for tomorrow.“

Mohammed Kudus could transform Tottenham

Brennan Johnson was sent off against Copenhagen as he was handed a direct opportunity to replace the Ghanaian in the starting 11.

The 24-year-old may have blown his chance, despite getting on the scoresheet, especially if Kudus makes his return against the Red Devils.

The former Ajax man may have only missed one game for the Lilywhites, but he would be a big miss if he were absent in the upcoming Premier League clash.

The winger was a rare bright spark in the defeat against Chelsea last time out as he arguably came the closest to netting for the home side.

Kudus took three shots off in North London and also attempted six crosses, while also completing two dribbles.

He maintained the positivity surrounding his performance, achieving a 96 per cent pass accuracy, and also won eight duels, which can only be seen as a positive.

Having him back against United could prove to be a game-changer, following a positive start to life in North London.

Kudus has been star man for Tottenham under Thomas Frank

Spurs’ number 20 has been electric since signing him from West Ham in the summer, and was a miss against Copenhagen.

The 25-year-old has already contributed to five Premier League goals, the most in the Tottenham squad alongside Richarlison.

Having a dangerous wide option available against Man United’s 3-4-3 formation could prove to be game-changing against unpredictable opposition.

Amad Diallo and Diogo Dalot featured as wing-backs for the Reds last time around, with both representing potentially ideal opposition for Kudus if he features.

Xavi Simons will have to deliver a similar performance against Manchester United as he did against Copenhagen.

Tottenham triumphed in a 4-0 victory over Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Despite being substituted off around 30 minutes before full-time after Brennan Johnson received a red card, his performance convinced fans that Thomas Frank had finally unlocked Simons.

However, the Dutch international’s real test will come on Saturday against Man United.

Xavi Simons will need to prove himself further vs Man United

Tottenham take on Man United in the Premier League on 8 November, and will look to get back on track in the Premier League.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Indeed, Spurs’ 1-0 defeat to Chelsea last matchday saw Simons substituted in the second half after replacing Lucas Bergvall in the first half, after he sustained a head injury.

As a result, speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, Tottenham expert and Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham believes all eyes will be on Simons to perform now that he will be coming up against tougher opposition.

“Simons got a lot of confidence, obviously, and that continued in his game. We saw flicks, tricks – he could have finished with four assists in the first half. So his confidence was very high,” Wenham said.

“But against Man United, Bryan Mbeumo, Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, it’s a totally different task than what we saw against Copenhagen.

“Hopefully, he’s in form and confident and is now ready to go into the Man United game and deliver a similar performance.

“But I just think the level of opposition was staggeringly poor. I mean, Copenhagen were terrible. They were dreadful. I mean, like a Championship-level team.”

Xavi Simons’ performance will depend on Thomas Frank

Simons was so impactful against Copenhagen because he received the ball in areas where he’s most dangerous.

Indeed, rather than a double pivot of Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha, Frank opted to play Bentancur as the lone defensive midfielder.

The introduction of Pape Matar Sarr rather than Palhinha gave Spurs a more offensive edge and, in turn, saw Simons become the focal point of the attack.

As a result, Simons could struggle against United in Frank reintroduces his defensive double pivot, and as such, his performance will likely come down to the Dane’s tactical decisions.