tottenhamhotspurnews.com

Damola Ajayi looks set to leave Tottenham for the second time this season.

Tottenham recalled Ajayi from his loan at Doncaster Rovers, as it was not going the way that they had planned.

However, it seems Thomas Frank is not resting on his laurels, as several young players are being found new loans, where they should play more.

Ajayi is one of them, with two football league clubs interested in his services.

Damola Ajayi backed amid Tottenham exit news

John Wenham, who is an expert when it comes to Spurs’ youth academy, believes it is the right move for the 20-year-old.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, he said: ”He played one Europa League game last season, came off the bench and scored and was never seen again.

“He started the season on loan at Doncaster, but owing to lack of game time, he has been recalled early.

“The report from Tom Barclay, said that he would that he would either link up with Bromley or AFC Wimbledon.

“Just to get out there, playing senior mens football is so important for these players, so I think that would be an excellent move for him.

“Another player, I read that Alfie Devine, who is on loan at Preston has already made 100 senior appearances, that shows how valuable these loans are.

“To have 100 games under your belt at 21 years of age is fantastic, and shows why the loan market continues to be really beneficial for clubs to send players out.”

Why Ajayi needs to take his chance away from Tottenham

Ajayi made just 11 league appearances for the Rovers, failing to notch a single goal or assist.

He needs to impress wherever he ends up, as he will surely not make it at Spurs if he cannot perform in lower leagues.

There is a spot on the flanks waiting to be taken, with the likes of Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel not exactly staking a claim.

Ajayi could be the man for the position, if he can thrive away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and come back with confidence and goal contributions under his belt.

If he struggles to get into his new team though, he may be in trouble.

Tottenham have made a bid to sign Santos’ Souza in an attempt to address their issues at left-back.

Destiny Udogie was linked to a Tottenham exit in the summer after being the regular starter under Ange Postecoglou.

The Italian has had the current campaign wrecked by injury while Thomas Frank’s arrival has seen Djed Spence, naturally a right-back, establish himself on the left, although not without controversy.

Ben Davies made just his second Premier League appearance of the season on Sunday and scored for the first time since August 2023 as Tottenham were held to a 1-1 drew by Sunderland.

Santos reject Tottenham bid for Souza

According to The Athletic Tottenham tabled an offer of £8million for the 19-year-old Souza but Santos have turned it down.

MORE SPURS STORIES

The youngster reportedly has a pair of release clauses in his contract, worth €100m (£87.1m) to foreign clubs, or €60m (£52.2m) for another Brazilian side.

Santos are “hesitant” to accept an offer for him at this stage as they believe his value will increase in the future.

The teenager only made his first-team debut in May last year but was part of the side that successfully escaped relegation to the second tier.

Who else could Tottenham bring in?

Despite some heavy spending in the summer when Frank replaced Postecoglou there appears to be an appetite to back the Dane again this month amid faltering form that has left Spurs 13th in the Premier League.

Spence’s performances have been good enough that left-back doesn’t leap out as an area of desperate need compared to forward areas.

Omar Marmoush has been heavily linked to Spurs from Man City, while fellow Etihad men Oscar Bobb and Savinho are also in the frame.

Controversy has surrounded Guglielmo Vicario’s place in goal and a commanding presence there would surely be a popular one, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen an intriguing option for Tottenham.

As a prospect the Souza deal could be a solid one to pursue, but it doesn’t appear Santos are ready to let him go for a small fee.

Ange Postecoglou continues to see his name linked with a return to management.

Postecoglou was sacked by Tottenham in June despite leading Spurs to Europa League glory the month prior, ending a 17-year trophy drought.

Postecoglou was then embarrassingly dismissed after 39 days by Nottingham Forest, with the Athens-born Australian failing to win any of his eight games in charge, losing six.

Still, there appears to be clamour for his services, with his former club Celtic among those linked with Postecoglou should they part ways with the under-fire Wilfried Nancy.

And there is a possibility that one of Spurs’ biggest rivals could now make a move, according to the latest bookmakers’ odds.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Ange Postecoglou in contention for shock Premier League return

Postecoglou will always be remembered warmly for that memorable night in Bilbao, as Spurs defeated Manchester United 1-0 to bring home the Europa League trophy.

But a 17th-place finish for Tottenham in the Premier League was a huge underachievement, even in the context of a campaign decimated by injuries, and the writing was always on the wall.

His ill-fated tenure at Nottingham Forest has seemingly not irrefutably damaged his reputation, though, and Postecoglou’s name has appeared on the bookies’ list of candidates for the next West Ham manager if they opt to wield the axe on Nuno Espirito Santo.

With odds of 25/1 at BetVictor, he is considered right now as somewhat of an outside shot, but it is certainly interesting that his name is among those thought to be in contention.

Former Hammers boss and centre-back Slaven Bilic is the 4/6 favourite to take over, with talkSPORT reporting that the 57-year-old is ready to “answer an SOS call” should one arrive.

Who else is in contention to replace Nuno Espirito Santo at West Ham?

Spurs fans will, obviously, have little sympathy for the plight West Ham find themselves in, with a woeful 3-0 defeat at rock-bottom Wolves leaving them 18th and four points adrift of safety.

The Hammers have already parted ways with one boss in the form of Graham Potter this season, and Nuno’s future is looking increasingly perilous.

Another man with connections to West Ham and Tottenham is second-favourite behind Bilic, with Michael Carrick rated as a 2/1 shot to take over at the London Stadium.

Gary O’Neil is given odds of 8/1, with Frank Lampard (14/1), Gareth Southgate (16/1), Kieran McKenna (20/1), and Lee Carsley (20/1) all featuring high on the list.

Steven Gerrard, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Vitor Pereira, and Erik ten Hag are all alongside Postecoglou at 25/1.

Kota Takai has left Tottenham to join Borussia Monchengladbach on loan.

Tottenham signed Takai from Kawasaki Frontale last summer, but he has not been given an opportunity by Thomas Frank.

He is yet to play for Spurs, despite the hype surrounding his potential, so a loan exit makes sense for all parties.

The Tottenham defender has reportedly already linked with up with the Bundesliga side for their warm weather training camp in Turkey.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Why Tottenham do not need another centre-back

John Wenham believes that Spurs are fine with their current depth at centre-back after Takai departed on loan.

Asked whether Frank’s side needs to add another defender, he claimed that they do not need to enter the market.

Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, he said: “In my opinion, no, Kota Takai has not played a second for Tottenham this season, I think he was signed as a player for the future.

“I think it is an excellent loan for him. I read up on Borussia Monchengladbach after the loan was announced, and they play with three at the back and haven’t got much depth in that position.

“If he can go there and get a lot of gametime, I wouldn’t be adverse to, if the loan goes well, him staying there for next year, and it effectively becomes an 18-month loan.

“Tottenham are very well stocked at centre-back with Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Radu Dragusin, who has just come back from injury, Kevin Danso, even Ben Davies has only made one league appearance this season.

“They also have the wonderkid Luka Vuskovic doing extremely well at Hamburg. I would be more than happy to let Takai, if it goes well, to do another full season in the Bundesliga too.”

Why is Takai loan so exciting for Spurs?

Well, for starters, supporters should get to see a glimpse of Takai after not seeing him in action for their own team.

Also, he is heading to a quality outfit in a top league, which should help prepare him for the trials and tribulations of the Premier League.

If as Wenham claims, he can forge a first-team berth quickly, it could be a very profitable move for the Lilywhites for his long term development.

Bundesliga expert reveals how much it would take Tottenham to sign star who only Harry Kane bettered in December

Tottenham are one of several clubs to show interest in RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande.

Tottenham target Diomande has lit up the Bundesliga this season with seven goals and four assists in 16 appearances.

German journalist Florian Plettenberg has mentioned Spurs as one of the interested clubs in Diomande, and they could make a move after Brennan Johnson’s Tottenham exit was confirmed.

Thomas Frank is looking for a new winger, but he may be left disappointed if the Ivory Coast star is the man that he wants.

MORE SPURS STORIES

How much would Diomande cost as Tottenham eye transfer?

Tottenham are understood to face competition for Diomande’s signature, with Liverpool and Barcelona also linked.

Kevin Hatchard, who commentates on the Bundesliga for Sky Sports, believe that it would take a hefty fee for anyone to sign Diomande this month.

Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, he said: “He is quick, skilful, has a great work-rate without the ball.

“I’d be surprised if anyone could persuade Leipzig to sell mid-season, and I’d think we’d be talking minimum £52million, if not a lot more.

“Actually, I think Leipzig would need an offer of £87m to consider it, which isn’t going to happen”

Diomande was only bettered by Harry Kane in December

Harry Kane is a name that is beloved by Spurs supporters, and Diomande put up similar numbers to the North London favourite in December.

Kane was the only Bundesliga player to record more goal contributions than the 19-year-old for the month.

Diomande notched an assist against Madgeburg in the DFB Pokal and then scored a hat-trick in a 6-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the league.

Kane nabbed five strikes in December, with a hat-trick against Stuttgart and goals against Mainz and Heidenheim, in a typical showing from the England captain.

The Ivorian was nominated for the Bundesliga’s Rookie of the Month award as a result of his exploits, which only the ex-Spurs man could better.

Anyone who is rivalling Kane in terms of numbers, is surely worth an approach, even if it may be doomed to fail as Hatchard states.

The Lilywhites have a good relationship with Leipzig after signing Xavi Simons in the summer, so it may be worth reaching out.

Brennan Johnson may not be the only Tottenham attacker on his way out this January.

Johnson’s move to Crystal Palace from Spurs is now complete, with the Eagles having confirmed his arrival for a fee in the region of £35million.

The Welshman scored 19 goals for Tottenham last season, only to see his gametime reduced significantly due to the arrival of Thomas Frank.

However, he could be joined by yet another Tottenham attacker, who could depart North London in the coming weeks.

Mathys Tel exit can’t be ruled out

Like Johnson, Tel has hardly featured for Tottenham this season, with just 287 minutes of Premier League action under Frank.

MORE SPURS STORIES

In the three starts he has made, the Frenchman has two goals, which is only one fewer than he managed in the previous campaign despite starting far more frequently.

Tel’s stats per 90 (FotMob)

Now, Alisdair Gold has claimed via Football London that Tel could be the next attacker to depart Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, this time on loan.

Tel only joined Tottenham in June for a reported fee of £30m, and for his exit to be considered already, it showcases how poor the recruitment has been over the last few years.

Unless that changes, it’s unlikely that Tottenham’s fortunes will.

Where could Tel be off to in January?

Given the quality that he showcased when afforded the chance at Bayern Munich, Tel is unlikely to be short of suitors if an exit does occur.

However, these potential destinations will almost certainly be abroad, given the fact that he has struggled to demonstrate his worth in English football.

Roma have been credited with an interest, with reports claiming that talks started as early as November in Italy, with teams from France also likely to be monitoring him.

With that said, if Tottenham lose Johnson and Tel, it would ramp up the pressure on them to recruit more quality in the forward areas, with Spurs also set to miss out on the signing of Antoine Semenyo.

Brennan Johnson has left Tottenham just months after scoring the winner in the Europa League final.

Johnson won Tottenham their first major trophy in 17 years with his striker against Manchester United in Bilbao in May.

However, Johnson has now been sold by Tottenham, in a £35million move to London rivals Crystal Palace.

Spurs confirmed that the Welsh attacker had departed on 2 January, wishing him the best for the future in a post on their official X account.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Where Tottenham could spend Brennan Johnson fee

John Wenham believes that it is the right time for Johnson to leave, and highlighted the fact that Spurs have essentially paid £12.5m to win a trophy as excellent business.

He also pointed out where the money that the North London club have received may be spent.

Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, he said: “Last season, he was our top goalscorer, scored a goal that have will go down as a Tottenham legend forever more, you know his name will always be mentioned with that vital goal that helped us lift a major European trophy.

“But the reality is, this season only six league starts, Kudus was signed in the summer for big-money, and for me, no disrespect to Johnson or his ability, but he is a significantly better player.

“While Johnson scores a lot of goals, he doesn’t contribute much to the team other than goals, Kudus is on the ball a lot more, offers more to the team as an all-around team player.

“Tottenham have been blamed in the past for not selling players at their peak time, £35million represents decent money, albeit they signed him for £47.5m.

“I read an article that basically said the remaining balance that Tottenham owe to Nottingham Forest is £35m, so, this fee covers the remaining payment for him.

“If you look at it that way, it has been £12.5m for a two-and-a-half season loan, in which he has scored the goal that got Tottenham a major European trophy and back into the Champions League.

“He has been a good player for Tottenham, but I think for all parties, this was a good time for the player to move on, and I think it was a very fair fee for a player of his ability.”

Who could Tottenham go for to replace Johnson?

Tottenham are clearly focusing on upgrading on the flanks, as they wanted to sign Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo.

Unfortunately, it looks like Manchester City have his signature lined up, with it only being a matter of time before he is in Sky Blue.

If Semenyo joins City as expected, then that could open the door to an Oscar Bobb departure, and the Lilywhites have been linked with him previously.

Savinho and Omar Marmoush have also been reported as Spurs targets in the past, so it may make sense to try and sign one of them.

An alternative replacement is RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, but it is unknown what kind of fee it would take to prize him away from the Bundesliga.

One thing is for sure, it should be an exciting transfer window for supporters in North London.

Tottenham may already have a replacement in mind for Brennan Johnson.

Johnson looks set to join Crystal Palace with the January transfer window now open for business at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Thomas Frank may face further issues this winter, with the Tottenham dressing room unlikely to be happy with Johnson’s exit at this stage.

That is hardly surprising after Tottenham drew 0-0 with Brentford as their struggles in front of goal continued in the Premier League.

That may be the case, but the general feeling around Johnson and his imminent departure could change if an alternative is brought in quickly.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Brennan Johnson funds to be reinvested at Tottenham

Tottenham and Crystal Palace have reached an agreement for Johnson that will see the Wales international move to Selhurst Park.

The forward scored the winning goal in the Europa League final in May, but now his journey in North London is set for a frustrating end.

Johnson signed for Spurs from Nottingham Forest in 2023 for over £40million, with his sale three years later representing a loss.

Former scout Bryan King is surprised by the fee involved in this deal, but has suggested a replacement will likely be found to utilise the funds.

Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, King said: “They’re going to lose money on him because he cost around £40m.

“The minimum I expected them to get is the fee they paid for him, but Palace have made an offer for a player who isn’t in Frank’s plans, and it’s a way to move him on and then bring another player in.

“Johnson wants regular football, he’s more focused on that than cash.

“There will be clauses in the deal for sell on clauses and stuff like that for a fee that big.

“He’s got to pick his game up, he’s proven that he can be inconsistent, so he’s got to prove himself at Palace.“

Tottenham must learn from Eberechi Eze saga with Johnson funds

To bring in over £30m for a player who seemingly isn’t in Frank’s plans is wise, but only if the fee is reinvested wisely this winter.

The summer showcased just how poor the Lilywhites can be with their business, so they need to now move quickly to land their priority targets.

Eberechi Eze was strongly linked to Tottenham and then joined Arsenal, so that sort of story can’t be replicated this month.

Spurs must showcase their mite and allow improvements to come in and help them move forward after a poor start to the season.

Luca Williams-Barnett has sent what could be perceived as being a cryptic message to Thomas Frank over a squad decision made for Tottenham’s draw at Brentford.

Tottenham were held to a 0-0 draw against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Thursday, as full-time boos sounded from the Spurs away end.

Frank is already under pressure from Spurs fans to deliver, and after Tottenham only managed to get three shots on target during the match, the Dane hasn’t helped his own case.

Williams-Barnett is a top talent for Spurs and has been lighting it up in the youth ranks the past couple of years.

However, after the teenager was once again unable to make Frank’s bench, he seems to have made his feelings clear on social media.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Luca Williams-Barnett does not seem happy

Williams-Barnett has featured on Frank‘s bench on a couple of occasions this season, and even made his professional debut against Doncaster in Tottenham’s third-round Carabao Cup win in September.

The 17-year-old has featured seven times for the Lilywhites’ Under-21s in the Premier League 2 this year, scoring six goals and assisting four.

Williams-Barnett took to Instagram to share a picture of himself in a Spurs top with a rather cryptic emoji, which could indicate his frustration towards Frank.

The Spurs Express reposted the youngster’s Instagram story, which was later taken down from his page.

On the other hand, he could also be disappointed by the fact that there haven’t been any under-21’s matches since November, with the next one coming on 9 January.

However, the timing of the post certainly raises eyebrows.

Thomas Frank showed another glaring issue vs Brentford

Frank’s snubbing of Williams-Barnett only highlights the underlying problem that he is neglecting the Lilywhites’ youth stars.

Ange Postecoglou had no issue in promoting young talent at Tottenham, and even gave gems the chance to shine in the Europa League.

Frank continues to play players who are perhaps underperforming at the moment, as he refuses to hand fresh talent opportunities from the bench.

If anything, it must be deflating if you are a young player at Tottenham, and in the case of Williams-Barnett, it’s been proven that no matter how well you play in the academy, you won’t get a chance.

Thomas Frank is facing the task of getting a fragmented Tottenham side to play at their best.

With the January transfer window now open, Tottenham will be looking to make some signings, though the only news as of late has concerned outgoings.

Kota Takai is heading to Borussia Monchengladbach on loan, Jamie Donley looks set to join Oxford, and Brennan Johnson seems to be edging closer to a permanent move to Crystal Palace.

However, it is the latter of the three moves that has sparked concern, and it will do nothing but increase the pressure on Frank at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham squad unhappy with Brennan Johnson developments

Johnson was an integral component of Tottenham’s Europa League success under Ange Postecoglou, and had it not been for his goals in the Premier League, there is a genuine chance that Spurs could have been playing Championship football this season.

MORE SPURS STORIES

However, the arrival of Frank in North London changed that, with the Wales international very quickly becoming a squad player at best.

It’s been a stop-start campaign for Johnson, who has started just six Premier League games, with a move to Crystal Palace now pending.

However, according to Alisdair Gold, that pending move has caused unrest in the dressing room at Tottenham, with several first-team players said to be frustrated to lose a “popular” figure.

If Spurs replace him adequately, that unrest may die down, but having seemingly missed out on Antoine Semenyo, it remains to be seen how they will do that.

What’s the latest on Johnson’s move to Crystal Palace?

According to BBC Sport reporter Sami Mokbel, Johnson’s move to Crystal Palace is “completed”.

Tottenham will receive £35million for his departure, having signed him for £12m more from Nottingham Forest back in 2023.

Johnson completed the first part of his medical on New Year’s Day and is reportedly set to be available for the Eagles when they face Newcastle United on Sunday.

Neither club have confirmed the deal at the time of writing, though official confirmation could come within the next 24 hours.