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Mathys Tel has had a difficult few months since his permanent move to Tottenham was confirmed.

The Frenchman was on loan with the Lilywhites from Bayern Munich in the second half of last season, and it was turned into a permanent switch for a fee of around £30million in the early stages of the summer.

Tel has since struggled to break into the Tottenham team and has been forced to settle for largely substitute minutes in the opening few Premier League games.

Thomas Frank’s men have made an encouraging start to the campaign, but there is not quite the same level of positivity surrounding Tel at the moment.

This article includes exclusive comment from former Tottenham scout Bryan King.

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Mathys Tel and Thomas Frank issue could prompt loan exit

Tel’s future at Tottenham has come under scrutiny in the last week, following the confirmation that the forward has been left out of the squad for the Champions League.

Frank has since handed the 20-year-old the opportunity to start in the win over West Ham, but there is no getting away from the fact that he has still dealt a crushing blow to the youngster.

A lack of ‘club-trained’ players at Spurs made it a challenging selection for the boss, but it was telling that Tel was one of those whom he opted to omit.

Ex-Spurs scout Bryan King – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes that there could be an ongoing issue between the pair, and that may result in Tel heading for the exit in January.

“I could see Tel making a loan move,” King said.

“I can’t see the point of paying £30m for a player and then not including him in the Champions League squad.

“There’s obviously more there than what we’ve seen for Frank to make a decision like that.

“Something’s obviously not right between the two of them.”

Tottenham shouldn’t write Mathys Tel off

Tel’s future at Tottenham may be looking fairly bleak at the moment, but it is important that they don’t cast the youngster aside too early in his stint in England.

He undoubtedly has talent, and a loan move could actually be the ideal way for him to continue in the next stage of his development, especially if a deal could be agreed to see him remain in the Premier League.

If Spurs could strike a deal with a team in the bottom half of the table, it would ease the pressure on the attacker and allow him to settle into English football a little more.

There could be a temptation to try and sell Tel permanently in January if things do not improve, but the North Londoners need to avoid that eventuality at all costs.

Tottenham open their Champions League campaign on Tuesday night when Villarreal travel to N17.

The Lilywhites are competing at the top table of European football for the first time since the 2022/23 campaign, and will be desperate to give a good account of themselves.

Tottenham’s Europa League victory back in May earned them the right to compete among the continent’s best clubs once again, and it will be the first time that they have had a taste of the new league phase format.

Villarreal are their first opponents in this year’s edition of the competition, and the La Liga outfit will be hoping to spring an upset on Thomas Frank’s men on Tuesday night.

Form Guide

Tottenham: W, L, W, W, L

Villarreal: L, D, W, W, L

Team News

Mathys Tel has been left out of the Tottenham squad for the Champions League, meaning Frank will be forced into a change at the top of the pitch.

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Randal Kolo Muani could come in for his debut, while the boss could also turn to Richarlison to lead the line once again.

Rodrigo Bentancur is likely to come back into the midfield, where long-term absentees James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski remain a long way from a return to action.

Dominic Solanke remains a doubt for the clash, while Yves Bissouma, Radu Dragusin and Kota Takai are all absent from the Champions League squad.

For the visitors, Spain international Gerard Moreno is facing a race against the clock to be fit enough to feature, and that could see Nicolas Pepe start up front if the veteran isn’t deemed as being ready to take part.

At the other end of the pitch, Juan Foyth is likely to line up against Spurs after spending three years with them earlier in his career.

Predicted Lineups

Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie, Sarr, Palhinha, Bentancur, Kudus, Kolo Muani, Simons

Villarreal: Luiz Junior, Mourino, Foyth, Veiga, Cardona, Buchanan, Partey, Parejo, Moleiro, Pepe, Mikautadze

Prediction: Tottenham 3-1 Villarreal

Tottenham will be eyeing a respectable Champions League showing this season after a bright start under Frank domestically, and they should have little issue with their opening fixture.

Villarreal finished fifth in La Liga last term, and are coming into the game on the back of a defeat and a draw against Atletico Madrid and Celta Vigo respectively.

They undoubtedly have players who are capable of hurting Tottenham, and they won’t make it a straightforward evening; however, the hosts will surely have too much for them.

With that in mind, Tottenham News is predicting a comfortable 3-1 victory for Frank’s side.

Tottenham have returned fire in the direction of INEOS as the ongoing court battle between the two parties continues.

The petrochemicals giants had signed an agreement with the Lilywhites to see their Grenadier vehicle become the club’s official 4 x 4 vehicle partner.

Tottenham were then left frustrated when INEOS, owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, began to cut ties with several sponsorship agreements in the aftermath of their chief’s takeover at Manchester United.

The saga has continued to rumble on in the aftermath of Daniel Levy’s departure, and the North Londoners are now beginning to fight back on the legal front.

Tottenham deny Audi agreement as INEOS feud continues

It had looked as though the feud between Tottenham and INEOS would be settled out of court at one stage.

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However, that now looks like a distant possibility, as the two parties continue to go back and forth in debate regarding their failed sponsorship deal.

Spurs began the saga by claiming that Ratcliffe and Co. had breached the terms of their five-year agreement, and were demanding £11million in compensation as a result.

INEOS responded by counter-suing the N17 outfit for a fee of £1m, as they pointed to an agreement that had been reached with Audi, one of their key competitors.

Tottenham have now responded, and are claiming that they never reached an agreement with the German manufacturer, which would in turn mean that INEOS had no right to cut ties, according to the Inside Sport section of the Daily Mail.

Mike Keegan writes that “in the latest tranche of papers filed by the high court,” Tottenham have rejected the counter-sue from INEOS.

The Lilywhites are maintaining that they are owed a figure of £4.25m from INEOS, even if their termination of the deal is deemed to be valid, as a result of a payment that was due five days before their agreement broke down.

Tottenham won’t want to compromise with INEOS

Tottenham won’t want to compromise with INEOS, given the obvious connections between them and Manchester United.

In theory, the sums which are at play at the moment are relatively small figures for two hugely successful global companies, but out of principle, Spurs cannot really afford to back down and accept a settlement that is anything less than what they feel they deserve.

They won’t want to be seen to effectively be backing down to Ratcliffe, given their position alongside United as one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.

Why do Tottenham wear all-white in Europe? The genius of Bill Nicholson

Tottenham continue to wear an all-white kit in Europe, but where did that tradition come from?

After winning the UEFA Europa League last season, Tottenham will compete in the Champions League during the 2025/26 campaign, kicking things off against Villarreal on Tuesday night in North London.

Thomas Frank has already demonstrated that his side will be able to hold their own after coming close to beating last season’s Champions League winners, Paris Saint-Germain, in the UEFA Super Cup, ultimately losing out on penalties, with Micky van de Ven issuing an apology to supporters.

Fans might notice their side wearing all-white on European nights at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, rather than the white shirt and navy shorts combination they’ve become accustomed to in domestic competition.

It is a tradition which stretches back 64 years, and Tottenham News takes a closer look at the history behind Spurs’ decision to wear all-white in Europe.

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Bill Nicholson’s genius inspires famous Tottenham tradition

Tottenham were founded in 1882, and in the early days, the North London club wore a navy blue kit with a scarlet shield and white breeches.

However, in 1898, Tottenham began to wear white shorts with navy blue shorts, colours that remain synonymous with the club in the present day.

On Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup matchdays, these are the colours that will be worn by Tottenham for home matches – but in Europe, they wear all-white, a tradition which was inspired by arguably Tottenham’s greatest legend – Bill Nicholson.

Nicholson’s record as a player and manager for Tottenham

Nicholson switches to all-white in Europe for practical reasons

In September 1961, Tottenham played their first-ever competitive European fixture against Polish side Gornik Zabrze.

When the players made their way onto the pitch, they were wearing white shorts instead of their traditional navy. Some supporters might have heard that Nicholson made this switch because of his admiration for Real Madrid, who won the first five European Cups in the 1950s.

However, the real reason is far less romantic, but also an example of the genius that made Nicholson the greatest manager in Spurs’ history.

Top managers are always looking to gain even the slightest advantage, and Nicholson believed that playing in all-white would improve the players’ visibility.

Floodlights weren’t as useful as they are in the modern game in the 1960s, and the players were often playing in gloomy conditions.

Therefore, Nicholson thought that by playing in all-white, the players would be able to spot each other a little easier, which would give Tottenham that edge.

That strategy clearly paid dividends to some end, as in 1963, Spurs would lift the European Cup Winners’ Cup, and to this day, other than on a handful of occasions in the 1990s, Tottenham have always worn all-white in Europe, a tradition which will continue this season under Frank.

Ange Postecoglou could look back towards Tottenham when it comes to finding targets in the January transfer window.

The Australian has just taken charge of Nottingham Forest, and saw his side beaten 3-0 by Arsenal in his return to Premier League management for the first time since his dismissal by the Lilywhites.

Postecoglou was sacked by Tottenham in controversial circumstances after he won the Europa League, and they are now set to be reunited with their former boss much quicker than they would have expected.

Thomas Frank’s side take on the Reds on 13 December, and that clash could be swiftly followed by Postecoglou attempting to raid Spurs’ ranks in January.

This article includes exclusive comment from former Tottenham/Everton/Aston Villa scout Bryan King.

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Nottingham Forest tipped to target Dominic Solanke in January

Dominic Solanke was linked with a Tottenham exit earlier in the summer, as he has largely struggled to make an impact in N17 since his move from Bournemouth last summer.

The frontman notched just nine Premier League goals last term and has been sidelined with injury so far this season, while Richarlison has made a promising start.

The Brazilian’s form, combined with the deadline day arrival of Randal Kolo Muani, could see the 28-year-old fall down the pecking order by the time that he returns from injury.

Ex-Spurs scout Bryan King – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – expects Postecoglou to raid his former employers in January, and sees Solanke as a potential option for him.

“I think Postecoglou will look at Spurs’ squad,” King said.

“He’ll be looking at anyone who isn’t getting regular games, that’s for sure. Maybe somebody like Solanke could be of interest to him.

“If he’s not going to be in the starting XI for Spurs, he needs games to get back in the England team.

“He must have an eye on the World Cup next summer, and if he isn’t playing regularly, then he won’t go.”

A loan move away from Tottenham could suit Dominic Solanke

Solanke’s future at Tottenham could certainly be up in the air if Richarlison continues to impress in the coming weeks.

The former Bournemouth star hasn’t really had the opportunity to impress Frank so far, but it is also unlikely that he will settle for playing a bit-part role in the squad.

With that in mind, a potential loan move to Forest may not be the worst outcome for him or Spurs, as it would allow him to return to playing week in, week out.

Thomas Frank faces some big selection decisions as Tottenham prepare to open their Champions League campaign on Tuesday night.

The Lilywhites take on Villarreal in their opening encounter of the league phase, and they will be desperate to get off to a positive start as they return to the top table of European football for the first time since 2022/23.

Tottenham dismantled West Ham 3-0 at the weekend, and there are several players who will surely have staked a claim to earn a more regular place in the side in the aftermath of that win.

The return to Champions League action will be a hugely important night for Spurs, and with that in mind, Tottenham News predicts the lineup that will take on their Spanish visitors.

Kolo Muani debuts, Djed Spence and Lucas Bergvall benched

Randal Kolo Muani’s arrival at Tottenham has prompted plenty of excitement from fans after his deadline-day loan move from PSG, and they could finally get their first glimpse of their new star here.

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Mathys Tel has been left out of the squad for the Champions League, meaning a change up front is guaranteed after the youngster led the line on Saturday.

Richarlison has made a bright start to the new campaign, but Frank may prefer to throw his new addition in at the deep end and hand him the chance to impress on the big stage with his first start.

Kolo Muani’s inclusion is likely to be one of three changes.

Rodrigo Bentancur was rested in Saturday’s trip to E20, but he will surely be recalled to the XI in place of Lucas Bergvall.

The 19-year-old completed 92% of his passes and notched a goal and an assist against West Ham, but Bentancur’s experience is likely to be preferred on this occasion.

In the backline, Destiny Udogie could be set for his first start since the opening game of pre-season, as Djed Spence may drop to the bench as Frank tries to add a little more balance to his team.

Tottenham need early wins in the Champions League

Tottenham’s return to Champions League action is eagerly anticipated in N17, and it is vital that they get off to a good start in this year’s league phase.

Frank’s men face some favourable fixtures in the early gameweeks, and wins will be invaluable given that what are arguably their toughest two tests are set to arrive in the final few games.

Clashes with PSG and Borussia Dortmund are certainly challenging, and will place even more importance on their ability to get up and running with a good start.

Frank was sensible in rotating a little for the visit to West Ham, and it should allow him to get his strongest XI out for their continental opener as a result.

Tottenham had a busy summer transfer window with eight signings joining the ranks in N17.

Thomas Frank was keen to overhaul the options at his disposal after taking the reins, and there have already been plenty of positive signs from his new-look side.

Tottenham cruised past West Ham with a 3-0 victory on Saturday, as they notched their third clean sheet from their opening four outings in the Premier League.

The Lilywhites find themselves sitting second in the early league table, and one new signing has already established himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet.

Joao Palhinha is the best new signing at Tottenham

Joao Palhinha’s arrival at Tottenham prompted plenty of excitement from fans, and he has certainly lived up to expectations so far.

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The Bayern Munich loanee was previously referred to as “an animal” by Spurs legend Harry Kane during their time together last term, and it’s clear to see why.

The former Fulham star is energetic and combative in the middle of the park, and his robustness in the challenge will be a nightmare for opposition players to go up against.

Palhinha combines superb reading of the game with a calm and understated quality on the ball. He will never do anything particularly eye-catching, but there is an inevitability about the way that he goes about his business.

He hardly ever misplaces a pass, and that was evident during the win over West Ham.

The 30-year-old covered every blade of grass at the London Stadium, and made keeping possession looking effortless at times.

His presence in the midfield has played a large part in Spurs looking like a much more steely proposition this term, as opponents simply never have an easy ride in the middle of the park anymore.

The likes of Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus were certainly more spectacular signings in the summer, but no one has had the same level of impact on the team as Palhinha.

Permanent Joao Palhinha deal is a no-brainer for Tottenham

Tottenham have the option to buy Palhinha for £27million at the end of the season, and it is surely a no-brainer of a decision for them to trigger that clause.

He may be turning 31 next summer, but £27m is hardly an excessive fee in the context of the current market, and he is certainly fit enough to manage at least another two or three seasons in his prime.

While the clause doesn’t come into play until the end of the campaign, Spurs should do everything they can to make it abundantly clear to Bayern that they intend to take up that opportunity.

This will be especially important given the uncertainty surrounding Rodrigo Bentancur’s future, as the Uruguayan could potentially leave for free at the end of the season.

The North Londoners know that they will have the first opportunity to land him permanently, and they absolutely cannot afford to pass that up.

Mohammed Kudus made his return to London Stadium on Saturday.

Kudus was part of the Spurs team that won 3-0 against West Ham, helping his new side to all three points against his former team.

Tottenham have now won three out of their opening four games and are currently joint top alongside North London rivals Arsenal.

Kudus made the move to Spurs from West Ham during the summer and enjoyed a hostile reception from the Hammers fans during the game.

Mohammad Kudus receives touching gesture on West Ham return

Kudus spent two years at the London Stadium, with Saturday’s game the first time he has returned to his old stomping ground.

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The Ghanaian used an iconic wooden elephant to sit on when he scored for West Ham during his spell at the club.

While he hasn’t scored for Spurs yet, when he does, he will be able to replicate his old celebration, having been given the object back from West Ham.

Hammers officials returned the wooden object to Kudus after the game, meaning Spurs fans may see it in action before long.

Kudus spent time talking to the West Ham staff and thanked them for returning the elephant to them.

Tottenham yet to see the best of Mohammed Kudus

Kudus arrived at Spurs this summer for a reported fee of £55 million, signing a six-year deal at the club.

The Ghanaian was seen as a coup for Thomas Frank after shining for the Hammers in the past two seasons.

Kudus has had a mixed start to his Tottenham career, with Spurs fans not quite seeing the same player from West Ham.

He scored 19 Premier League goals across two seasons for West Ham, but has yet to open his account for Spurs in the opening four games.

Spurs fans know the quality Kudus has, and it is only a matter of time before he shows it consistently for his new side.

Tottenham could be about to line up a move for Dennis Cirkin in the coming months.

The Sunderland defender played a major role in their promotion to the Premier League last term, but he has been unable to feature in their top-flight return so far due to injury.

Cirkin was linked with a move to Tottenham over the summer, as the Lilywhites tried to boost the number of ‘club-trained’ players in the squad ahead of their return to the Champions League.

The 23-year-old came through the youth ranks at Hotspur Way, and Thomas Frank and Co. could be about to offer him a route back to his boyhood club.

This article includes exclusive comment from former Tottenham scout Bryan King.

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Dennis Cirkin move would be a ‘no-brainer’ for Tottenham

Tottenham’s hopes of signing Cirkin are boosted by the fact that the left-back is out of contract at the end of the current campaign.

Black Cats boss Regis Le Bris didn’t give a particularly confident answer when questioned on his future recently, and that will have surely made the Lilywhites’ eyes light up.

Destiny Udogie’s future has been uncertain in recent months, and it now seems likely that Cirkin could be available on a free next summer.

Ex-Spurs scout Bryan King – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes that it would be a ‘no-brainer’ for the North Londoners to bring the defender in, and he expects them to make an approach for him.

“If he’s a free agent, then it’s a no-brainer if they’ve been watching him and scouting him for the last few months,” King said.

“Spurs can obviously make an approach for him before the end of his contract. I’m surprised that Sunderland haven’t got him tied up if I’m honest.

“I would say that we’re in agent territory now. He’ll obviously be trying to get the best deal for his client.

“It’s always difficult going back to a club, but he’s at a good age, and why not from Tottenham’s point of view?”

Dennis Cirkin could have solved Mathys Tel issue

Mathys Tel’s future at Tottenham has been questioned in the aftermath of his omission from the Champions League squad for the league phase of the competition.

Spurs could have solved that issue before it even arose by making a move for Cirkin earlier in the summer.

The arrival of another ‘club-trained’ player would have provided Frank with far greater flexibility when it came to naming his group for the competition, and could have potentially negated the need for Tel to miss out.

The opportunity passed them by on that occasion, but in the future, Cirkin would provide plenty of value in that respect.

Tottenham are continuing to eye a January move for Conor Gallagher.

The England international has been away from the Premier League since he swapped Chelsea for Atletico Madrid last summer, but he could now be in line to make a sensational return in the coming months.

Tottenham are showing an interest in signing Gallagher, as they look to strengthen their options in the midfield in the January transfer window.

Thomas Frank still has areas of weakness within his squad, despite their bright start to the season, and he could now be about to address one of those areas.

Tottenham ready to ‘negotiate immediately’ with Atletico Madrid

Gallagher would be a hefty investment for Spurs, given that Atletico are hopeful of at least securing a return of their £34million outlay for the 25-year-old.

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Nevertheless, the North Londoners appear to be undeterred in their pursuit of the energetic star, and they are now primed and ready to take action when the January window opens.

The Lilywhites are understood to be “willing to negotiate immediately” for Gallagher, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes.

They are hopeful of taking advantage of any crack or indecision shown by Diego Simeone’s side, as the player’s future could now be decided “by the coming weeks.”

It is thought that the possibility of returning to London would be “tempting” for Gallagher, who is otherwise “comfortable” in Madrid.

Manchester United are thought to have come close to landing the star in the summer, but now it is Spurs who are starting to make inroads towards a deal.

Conor Gallagher would be perfect for Thomas Frank’s style of play

Rodrigo Bentancur’s contract situation at Tottenham means that additional options in the middle of the park would certainly be welcome for Frank at the moment.

Gallagher is a tireless, all-action midfielder, and he would likely be the perfect fit for one of the three central midfield roles in the new boss’ system.

The Dane employs a slightly more pragmatic approach than several other Premier League managers, and as a result, the value of having a combative ball-winner like Gallagher to call upon would certainly be high.

He was criticised for his quality on the ball at times during his stint with Chelsea, but the Englishman is one of the best around when it comes to breaking up play.

With that in mind, it is no surprise to see that Tottenham remain hugely keen to bring him in this winter.