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Tottenham’s former academy star Dennis Cirkin played a key role in Sunderland’s return to the Premier League via the playoffs.

Cirkin signed for Sunderland in 2021, having never made a senior appearance for Tottenham, and has gone on to establish himself as the Black Cats’ first-choice left-back.

The Ireland-born defender was instrumental in Sunderland’s promotion last season, making 39 appearances and playing every minute of their dramatic playoff campaign.

The 23-year-old is now set for his first taste of Premier League football, but it might not be with Sunderland following recent developments at Tottenham.

Tottenham prepare bid for Cirkin

Cirkin’s progress in the North East has been tracked by Tottenham, who are in dire need of club-trained players to satisfy a UEFA Champions League quota.

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The rules state that clubs competing in Europe’s premier competition must have a minimum of four players who have spent at least three full seasons with the club between the ages of 15 and 21, with Brandon Austin the only senior player who currently fits this criteria at Tottenham.

Due to this, and the young defender’s growth in the North East, Tottenham are keen to sign Cirkin this summer, and are lining up a formal offer, as reported by The Northern Echo (22 June).

Ex-Spurs scout Bryan King – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes Sunderland would accept a bid of £20million for Cirkin, but is unsure whether the deal is in the Lilywhites’ best interest.

“Cirkin is still only 23 years old,” King said.

“Therefore, it would probably take a bid of about £20m for Sunderland to accept. I know they need to address this issue, but they’re linked with Kyle Walker-Peters as well.

“Tottenham don’t want to sign too many players in that position because they’ve already got quite a bit of coverage in the full-back areas.

“If Tottenham can bring through some Under-21 players to address that issue, that would be a much cheaper option than going out and buying a player like Cirkin. I wouldn’t think Sunderland would be too happy about it either.”

Tottenham need more support from the academy

Last season, Tottenham were docked two spaces in the Europa League squad for only being able to register two homegrown players, with Ange Postecoglou infamously leaving Djed Spence out of the squad for the first half of the campaign.

With Alfie Whiteman now departed, Tottenham are looking into potentially signing Kyle Walker-Peters and Cirkin to help solve that issue, but the longer-term solution lies within the academy.

Mikey Moore’s trajectory is a promising start, but Tottenham need more young players to come through the ranks to avoid this issue further down the line.

Daniel Levy recently opened up about the sacking of Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham.

With Thomas Frank now in post, Spurs have no distractions between now and the start of pre-season, with a remarkable amount of work to do after recent frustrations.

Postecoglou took Spurs to a 17th-place finish in the Premier League, which ultimately led to his sacking, despite winning the Europa League.

However, after his exit was confirmed, Levy spoke to Tottenham club channels to explain the decisions, and he has taken a huge risk with the words he used.

Postecoglou sacking was a ‘collective’ decision

It was inevitable that Postecoglou would be sacked, but the reaction to it in the aftermath certainly wasn’t.

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Levy came out and claimed the sacking wasn’t his decision, in a statement that has caused some confusion in North London.

Paul Robinson, when speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, said: “Daniel makes the decisions, he’s the one that has to, he fronts the board, he sits there and he’s the one that, in the end, will have the final say and have the final decision.

“I think there was a personal connection there, obviously with him and Postecoglou, it’s the reason that he stayed so long.

“He was unfortunate to lose his job, but you can understand why, and I think there was probably a personal connection there, which is why Daniel found it so hard. And Postecoglou can probably take that as a compliment because Daniel’s never said that about anyone else he’s ever sacked.”

Tottenham cannot afford a repeat of last season

Tottenham’s domestic performances need to improve massively from the ones that were on display last season, and that is the task that Frank faces.

However, to do that, recruitment needs to be perfect, and as it stands, Mathys Tel remains the only piece of business they have conducted this summer.

Spurs will be afforded no margin for error when it comes to the decisions they make between now and the start of the season.

Ashley Phillips is expected to be considering his future after a strong season away from Tottenham.

Frank is looking to make his mark after being appointed Tottenham Head Coach earlier this month.

Spurs supporters might perhaps be eager to see Phillips feature for the Lilywhites next season after an excellent season on loan at Stoke.

However, their hopes could soon deflate as the Englishman’s plans could take him away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Frank wants to keep Phillips at Tottenham

Tottenham have been focused on the development of Phillips, loaning the defender out to Plymouth Argyle and Stoke City since signing him from Blackburn Rovers two years ago.

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And the 19-year-old’s most recent loan spell at the bet365 Stadium has caught the attention of Frank.

As reported by Alan Nixon via his Patreon (22 June), Frank is a huge admirer of Phillips and wants him as part of his squad next season, amid loan interest from Sheffield United and Stoke.

However, Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes Phillips would prefer to join one of the clubs interested in his services on loan.

“Sheffield United are always one of the favourites to come up,” Wenham said.

“Phillips did exceptionally well at Stoke last year, and I know it has been suggested that he’ll be kept around at Tottenham. However, he needs to be playing.

“You can’t go from playing regularly to being a fifth-choice centre-back, it doesn’t work like that. He wouldn’t accept that role in the squad; he’ll want to go out and play and keep developing. Therefore, I think it would be wise for Tottenham to loan him out.”

Tottenham should trust Phillips next season

Football is currently experiencing a huge shift where youngsters are being integrated into the first team at a much faster rate.

Myles Lewis-Skelly has become a consistent first-team player for Arsenal, while Mikey Moore worked himself up to start for Spurs on several occasions last season.

With the addition of UEFA Champions League football next year, there will be several opportunities for Phillips to get some minutes.

Therefore, Tottenham will need to trust the young defender to make his mark at the North London club.

Thomas Frank will urge Tottenham to target players with pedigree to complement his young squad.

Tottenham have focused the majority of their recruitment on lesser-known players in recent transfer windows. As a result, the Spurs squad had the third-lowest average age in the Premier League last season

Daniel Levy will be hopeful that Frank’s excellent track record in developing young talents will pay dividends to that strategy of recruiting youth.

However, with UEFA Champions League football on the horizon, the Dane needs to target players with European experience, and could look to bring in a Barcelona defender following a recent update.

Andreas Christensen is expected to leave Barcelona

Much of Tottenham’s early focus in the transfer market has been spent exploring wide forwards such as Mohammed Kudus to bolster their attacking options and make a statement of intent.

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However, Spurs’ principal downfall last season was conceding too many sloppy goals, highlighting the need to address the defence.

Especially with Cristian Romero likely to leave this summer, Frank will want to bring in at least one established centre-back, and could target his fellow countryman, Andreas Christensen, following Fabrizio Romano’s post on X (22 June) stating that the 29-year-old is expected to leave Barcelona this summer.

The former Chelsea defender had a torrid season as he has battled multiple injuries, limiting him to just six appearances across all competitions.

The emergence of teenage wonderkid Pau Cubarsi also played a part in limiting Christensen’s game time, and the Dane now has one year left on his contract with Barcelona.

Therefore, Johan Lange and Frank could be tempted to capitalise on his situation with the Catalans and call their compatriot to enquire about potentially bringing him to Tottenham.

Christensen would be a huge gamble

Christensen has shown throughout his career, both at club and international level, that he is an intelligent defender with all the ball-playing attributes that modern defenders are required to have.

His calmness in and out of possession, and his vast experience, would give Frank an excellent option and would perfectly complement Micky van de Ven’s attributes.

His injury record, however, is a red flag, and one Tottenham are all too familiar with.

He has struggled to remain fit despite being in the prime of his career, and with the wage demands he is likely to command, bringing him to N17 would be a huge gamble.

Tottenham expect several departures this summer as Thomas Frank looks to streamline the squad.

According to the official club website, Spurs have 31 senior players registered on their books, which does not even include academy products who have contributed to the first team, such as Mikey Moore.

Frank is keen to bring in new faces like Mohammed Kudus, but will first have to offload some players, both to recoup finances and free up space.

Other clubs are looking to capitalise on the Lilywhites’ need to slim down their overinflated squad, with Colchester United the latest beneficiaries of this situation.

Jaden Williams joins Colchester United after leaving Tottenham

The increased productivity of Tottenham’s academy was one of the highlights of last season, with a handful of young prospects like Reiss Elliott-Parris recently signing new contracts.

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With first-team debuts given to Callum Olusesi and Damola Ajayi last season, Spurs are facing equally difficult decisions to regulate their numbers within the academy.

As a result, Jaden Williams confirmed his departure from Tottenham via an Instagram post (1 June), posting a heartfelt message which started, “After 14 unforgettable years, the time has come for me to embark on a new chapter.”

The forward featured in all but four games for Spurs ‘Under-21 team last term, making 12 starts and scoring five goals.

Ultimately, he was released by the Lilywhites, with Colchester United confirming almost three weeks later via their Instagram (20 June) that they had snapped up the opportunity to sign the 20-year-old on a long-term contract.

Levy must be more ruthless with outgoings

Tottenham have been held to ransom by players on long-term lucrative contracts not wanting to leave North London, despite no longer being in the first team picture.

Daniel Levy loathes not getting the maximum value out of a deal, but the 63-year-old must take a more ruthless approach this summer.

Inevitably, there will be players that Frank will not see as part of his plans, and Levy must be prepared to accept what he can get for those players to maintain harmony within the squad and ensure unnecessary wages are not being paid.

Tottenham are among several clubs to hold an interest in Viktor Gyokeres.

The Sporting CP star lit up the Champions League last season with six goals and one assist in eight matches in Europe’s premier competition.

Thomas Frank will lead Spurs into the tournament next season after they won the Europa League, and they are looking for a marquee addition for their new manager.

Tottenham handed Gyokeres blow amid Arsenal latest

Tottenham face competition from Arsenal for Gyokeres’ signature, and it appears as though their North London rivals hold the advantage.

Portuguese outlet Correio Da Manha has reported in its print edition (23 June, page 30) that Sporting are seeking £68.5million for the Swedish striker.

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It states that Mikel Arteta wants to sign the 27-year-old before the Gunners’ tour of Asia, which will see them face AC Milan, Newcastle and then Spurs.

Gyokeres could appear against Tottenham in pre-season

The Lilywhites will face their arch-rivals in Hong Kong on 31 July, and Gyokeres could be lining up against them if the latest update from Portugal is correct.

Frank needs a big addition himself, with Bryan Mbeumo another reported target, but it looks like Arteta and Co are the favourites to sign the former Brighton and Coventry ace.

Gyokeres would have been a brilliant signing for Spurs, as he notched 39 strikes in 33 matches in Liga Portugal and finished second to Kylian Mbappe and ahead of Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in the European Golden Boot award.

If the Gunners sign the ex-Seagulls star, it will be a huge blow for Daniel Levy and Co because they will surely have a huge advantage when it comes to winning the biggest honours next season.

If he does sign for the Emirates Stadium outfit, then Frank will potentially get a glimpse of what he missed out on when the sides meet in their pre-season friendly.

There could still be twists in the tale, but it looks as though the Gunners will secure a major addition and be even stronger next season, while Tottenham‘s transfer plans have yet to take shape ahead of a pivotal summer.

Brennan Johnson could be set for an awkward first encounter with Thomas Frank at Tottenham.

Johnson seemed to have finally established himself last season after signing for Tottenham in 2023.

It was expected that the Welshman, who won the hearts of Tottenham fans by netting the winner in the UEFA Europa League final, would have a huge role to play under Frank.

However, it appears as though that may no longer be the case after recent transfer developments.

Tottenham transfer targets to spell trouble for Johnson

Tottenham have been linked to Bryan Mbeumo this summer and are plotting to hijack his transfer to Manchester United.

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The Cameroonian excelled at Brentford under Frank, who is thought to want the forward to follow him to Hotspur Way.

The Lilywhites are also in the running for Mohammed Kudus. However, both of these players play on the right wing and would be competing with Johnson for a starting spot.

This will undoubtedly leave the 24-year-old furious, as if Tottenham are planning to spend big money on a right-winger, it suggests his spot in the side isn’t guaranteed next season, despite him finishing as Spurs’ top scorer last year.

Should either of these transfers happen, Johnson may continue and try to prove himself. However, it seems likely that he could leave before the end of the summer or the following transfer window if his minutes decline.

Therefore, Johnson’s situation will definitely be one to watch as the summer continues to evolve.

Kudus is a good alternative for Mbeumo

While Tottenham have set their sights on Mbeumo, it seems that the 25-year-old is leaning towards Manchester United. However, Kudus would arguably be a better signing than the Brentford star.

Indeed, the Ghanaian can play across the frontline and even in the midfield. This would be invaluable for Spurs during the UEFA Champions League next season.

With over 50 potential games to be played if the Lilywhites go far in Europe, Frank needs depth.

One of the biggest issues under Ange Postecoglou was the limited replacements for injured players. Kudus could help Tottenham overcome setbacks in the midfield and attack next season.

Therefore, if Mbeumo does end up pushing Spurs to sign Kudus, it could be the best outcome for all involved.

Son Heung-min’s potential Tottenham exit could cause some complications for Daniel Levy.

After almost a decade in North London, Son could leave Tottenham this summer after finally winning a trophy with the Lilywhites as the 32-year-old lifted the UEFA Europa League.

Tottenham News understands that there is a 50 per cent chance that Son leaves this summer. However, it seems his departure might not be so straightforward.

Son is contractually obliged to feature in South Korea friendly

As reported by The Times (17 June), Son is contractually obligated to play in a pre-season friendly for Tottenham against Newcastle (3 August).

Tottenham are participants in the Coupang Play Series and will play against the Magpies at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in South Korea.

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As a result, while Tottenham are considering selling Son, it has been reported that any exit is highly unlikely to come before the clash with Eddie Howe’s side.

However, Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes that Spurs could simply pay a fine if Son does not participate in the fixture against Newcastle.

“Son has been linked to a few different clubs,” Wenham said.

“If he goes to Saudi, it could be a fee of £50-60m perhaps, anywhere else, probably around the £30m mark. However, if the right move opens up, I’m sure if there’s a penalty for him not playing in the South Korea friendly, Tottenham will just pay it and do the deal.

“It could be a fine of £2m, whatever it is, if Tottenham get a good offer for Son that suits all parties, and there is a fine to break that contractual agreement, I’m sure they’ll just encompass that cost in the fee they receive for selling Son.”

Son could be a good rotational option

While Tottenham could collect a decent fee for Son if he leaves this summer, the South Korea international could still be useful next year.

The Lilywhites could play in well over 50 games next season if they go far in the UEFA Champions League. As a result, squad depth will be vital.

Not only does Son have experience in Europe, but he is still a very good rotational option despite his age. Therefore, it may benefit Spurs to keep their captain for one final season.

Mathys Tel recently made his loan move to Tottenham permanent, and the Frenchman is showing very exciting signs for the future.

Tel joined Tottenham from Bayern Munich in the winter transfer window. However, he struggled to make a major impact in North London.

As a result, questions were raised over whether his loan deal should be made permanent. However, Tottenham have decided to sign Tel, and there are reasons for fans to be excited.

The 20-year-old was named in the France squad for the UEFA Under-21 European Championship and made a huge impact for his country on Sunday (22 June).

Tel scores winner for France in quarter-final v Denmark

Tel featured for France as their Under-21 side booked their place in the Under-21 Euros semi-finals with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Denmark.

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The Tottenham star scored the winner late on to send France through, with a stunning individual effort which showcased his dribbling and shooting ability.

And after footage of the goal emerged on X, Spurs fans were quick to praise the forward.

Tel can be a long-term Son Heung-min replacement

Son Heung-min could leave Tottenham after a difficult individual season. Therefore, the winger will need to be replaced.

While Spurs may enter the market for an attacker such as Bryan Mbeumo, Tel can also be considered a long-term replacement for Son on the left wing.

Tel’s goal against Denmark highlighted his ability to cut inside and finish, much like Son.

While there is still a long way to go for Tel, there are hugely encouraging signs ahead of next season for the young attacker. In the long run, he will hope to be a starter with the same level of influence as Son.

The former Bayern Munich wonderkid has now scored twice at the Under-21 Euros.

And with France in the final four, Tel will be looking to add to his tally once more.

Vinai Venkatesham is already drawing praise after beginning work as Tottenham’s Chief Executive Officer.

Daniel Levy is overseeing major changes at the boardroom level at Tottenham as the Lilywhites look to kick on after winning the UEFA Europa League and qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

These changes include the arrival of Venkatesham, who recently sat down with Levy in North London to discuss all things Tottenham.

Venkatesham praised after sit-down interview with Levy

Tottenham fans have already hailed Venkatesham’s impact after several noticeable changes within the communications department.

The former Arsenal CEO recently spoke for the first time since making the move across North London.

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In a sit-down interview with Levy (17 June), Venkatesham outlined the three key priorities he has for Tottenham, which include: developing the men’s and women’s football departments, engaging with staff across all levels, and building rapport with fans

Levy also stated his ambitions for Spurs, confirming that he wants the Lilywhites to win the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League in the future.

And Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – was particularly impressed with how Venkatesham came across in the interview.

“I thought Venkatesham came across really well,” Wenham said.

“It seems like he is an outstanding communicator, someone who is very transparent about what is going on and very honest as well.

“I think all those principles were on display in that sit-down interview. I thought the whole interview was quite good and Levy came across well too.”

Tottenham must turn their attention to the summer transfer window

Now that Thomas Frank has been appointed as head coach, Tottenham must begin making moves in the summer transfer window.

Indeed, if Levy is serious about his desire to win even more with Spurs, the 63-year-old needs to bring in players to improve their chances. This includes signings that the manager wants and has approved.

Tottenham are already considering a move for Bryan Mbeumo. The Cameroonian flourished under Frank at Brentford and Tottenham are hoping he does the same in North London.

Furthermore, Spurs are looking to bring in several young talents to continue their strategy of developing younger players.

However, Levy will need to make sure he supplies Frank with experienced players as well. Therefore, the Lilywhites must make the most out of this summer if Frank has any chance of starting on the right path.