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Tottenham in talks over Niko Kovac appointment after £9.6m blow

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Tottenham have enquired about Borussia Dortmund boss Niko Kovac as they seek to appoint a permanent manager in the summer.

That is according to Bild, with the German publication stating that Tottenham have made contact with Dortmund about the Croatian’s availability.

The former Monaco boss has a contract with the German giants until 2027, but after their Champions League exit on Wednesday, speculation is mounting over his future.

The report adds that as a result of their play-off loss to Atalanta, with BVB losing 4-3 on aggregate after being 2-0 up after the first leg, Kovac’s side are set to miss out on around £9.6million in revenue.

That could have a knock-on effect on their ability to retain defender Nico Schlotterbeck, who has been linked with Liverpool. But other clubs have also reportedly turned their attention to Kovac, too.

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Tottenham in competition with Premier League rivals for Niko Kovac

Bild claims that Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea have all shown interest in Kovac during the season and reached out to BVB.

Chelsea have since hired Liam Rosenior on a long-term deal, but the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium outfit and United are not in the same position.

Igor Tudor has been tasked with guiding Tottenham to Premier League safety for the rest of the season, while Michael Carrick is caretaker manager until the summer at Old Trafford.

The report adds that Kovac can see himself moving to England, which should please the likes of Tottenham and other potential suitors.

Kovac has done a stellar job at Dortmund so far, guiding them to second in the Bundesliga behind runaway leaders Bayern Munich this season.

During his time at Bayern, he was in charge for their Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal triumphs in 2019 before departing later that year. BVB are understood to want to retain him but an exit is not beyond the realms of possibility.

What are Igor Tudor’s chances of getting the Tottenham job?

Tudor was appointed until the end of the season following the sacking of head coach Thomas Frank on 11 February, less than eight months into his tenure.

The former Juventus boss was given a brutal reality check of the severity of their situation with a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of bitter rivals Arsenal on Sunday.

The result means Spurs are just four points above the relegation zone, with the Europa League holders languishing in 16th in the Premier League.

Tudor has issued a rallying cry to his new Tottenham squad in their bid to stay up but he has admitted this will be his toughest relegation fight yet.

One factor that doesn’t help Tudor is how he has managed 12 teams in 11 years – with many of those leading to sacking or resignations after fallouts with the club’s board.

He is known as a firefighter, which is just what Tottenham need to get out of their current bind. But reports suggest that Tudor is not among the favourites to get the job permanently, even if he keeps them up.

Robbie Keane and Mauricio Pochettino are thought to be more serious contenders, although Tudor will be given a chance to stake his claim in the remaining months of the season. All of this will be irrelevant, though, if Tottenham go down.

Brad Friedel shares American view on Mauricio Pochettino return to Tottenham already

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Brad Friedel would love Mauricio Pochettino to stay with the USMNT, but can see him re-joining Tottenham after the World Cup.

Following the sacking of Thomas Frank at Tottenham, Igor Tudor has been tasked with guiding the north London team to Premier League safety this season.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium outfit are just four points above the relegation zone in 16th and haven’t won in the Premier League since 28 December.

If Spurs do survive, former manager Pochettino has been linked with a return to his old club, but for now, he is focusing on guiding the USMNT at this summer’s World Cup.

Now, ex-United States international and Tottenham goalkeeper Friedel has given his perspective on where the Argentine’s future lies.

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Mauricio Pochettino will have options amid Tottenham interest

Pochettino has been in charge of the US team since September 2024, and since then, he has won 13, drawn two, and lost seven of his 22 matches in charge.

The former Chelsea manager has spoken about his desire to return to club management one day, amid persistent links with Tottenham.

Now, Friedel, who played for Spurs between 2011 and 2015, has given his American perspective on Pochettino’s next move.

He said on talkSPORT: “I would love Pochettino to stay at the US and do another four years to really galvanise the mentality of the US player. Do I see that happening? Probably not.

“Do I think he’s good enough to come back to the Premier League? Absolutely. Would it be tempting? Yes. He’s one of the best in the game. It wouldn’t surprise me if he did, and it wouldn’t surprise me if people are already trying to speak with him.”

For the time being, though, Tudor will do his utmost to keep Tottenham in the Premier League. He may also have desires of leading Spurs beyond this season if he does a good job.

Would Pochettino even want to return to Tottenham?

As Friedel alluded to, Pochettino is a big name in football. He won trophies at Paris Saint-Germain, turned Tottenham into a different beast, while just falling short of silverware, and still has a good reputation.

When he thrived at Tottenham, he had players like Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, Mousa Dembele, and more, as they qualified for the Champions League and reached the final of that elite competition.

While Spurs are Europa League holders and breezed into the last 16 of the Champions League, they are just above the bottom three in the Premier League and are on a nine-match winless run.

The stars of yesteryear left Tottenham long ago.

When Pochettino needed extra backing to help Tottenham kick on to the next level in 2019, he didn’t really get it, and the Argentine was sacked later that year.

He would have a young squad to nurture at Tottenham, but so much work needs to be done to fix Spurs these days.

One, Pochettino definitely won’t come if they get relegated. And secondly, if he does leave the US job, the ex-Chelsea manager will likely have more tempting and less difficult offers at his disposal.

If Tottenham stay up and get their ducks in order this summer, it could happen, but it still seems a long shot.

Lucas Bergvall to become the face of Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham revolution

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Lucas Bergvall could be set to benefit from Mauricio Pochettino’s potential return to Tottenham.

Pochettino is the heavy favourite among Tottenham Hotspur Stadium supporters to take over from Igor Tudor at the end of the season.

Bergvall has been a rare standout in another dismal campaign for Spurs, making 26 appearances in all competitions, with one goal and four assists.

The 20-year-old is likely to play a key role if the United States national team boss comes back to North London after his World Cup duties are over.

Why Bergvall will become a Pochettino favourite at Tottenham

John Wenham believes that Pochettino will love Bergvall, and he will emerge as one of his top player if he returns to the dugout.

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Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, he said: “You can just imagine how good a player he will become, and how he will flourish and develop under the tutelage of Mauricio Pochettino next season.

“Pochettino always built his side around those young, hungry, energetic midfielders, Bergvall seemingly ticks all the boxes.

“He has got a massive part to play with Tottenham in the long-term, and I see him as a key player under Pochettino.

“Someone who would become a face of Pochettino’s Spurs in his second attempt in North London.

“It doesn’t surprise me that there is interest in him, he is an outstanding player, you have to remember when Tottenham signed him, he was so close to signing for Barcelona, and Tottenham managed to swoop in there in front of Deco and Barcelona.”

Why Tottenham are fully in control of Bergvall’s future

Bergvall is under contract with Spurs until 2031, having signed a new long-term deal in April 2025.

That means that the Lilywhites can dictate his future, because they are able to turn down bids from interested clubs like Liverpool and Chelsea.

If they did decide to sell, it would take a huge amount to even consider it, much more than the £57million price tag that was reported last summer.

If Pochettino returns in the summer, he will likely see the Swedish ace as one of his key players when he takes over, and that should only further cement his future in N17, rather than elsewhere.

The youngster will spend his formative years in North London and likely become world-class under the Argentine, if he becomes the new permanent Spurs boss.

Igor Tudor could make unwanted Premier League history as Tottenham prepare for Fulham test

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Igor Tudor got off to the worst start as Tottenham’s new head coach after Sunday’s 4-1 loss to Arsenal.

Spurs fans don’t have all that much faith in Tudor to turn things around, especially after the dreadful North London derby performance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

With the Lilywhites sitting just four points above the relegation zone, there is a real fear among fans that they could be playing in the Championship next season.

After conceding four times against Arsenal, Tudor could break Premier League history with a similar performance away to Fulham this Sunday.

And it’s safe to say that Tottenham’s recent record at Craven Cottage doesn’t make for good reading.

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The unwanted record Igor Tudor could set at Craven Cottage

Tottenham played a 3-5-2 formation in their 4-1 defeat to Arsenal, and it was abundantly clear that the Croatian head coach’s tactics didn’t work well.

Only Martin Jol has lost his first two in charge of Spurs, doing so in November 2004.

In addition, no manager in Premier League history has conceded four or more goals in each of his first two games, but Tudor could be at real risk of breaking that record.

Tottenham have lost their last two matches at Craven Cottage by an aggregate score of 5-0, which shows they can’t afford to be on the back foot.

Fulham have won three of their last four Premier League games against Spurs, and not only is that as many as they had in their previous 26, but it clearly means that they’ll be full of confidence going into the match.

Therefore, Tudor has to field an attacking starting line-up, as using three centre-backs will be an admission of fear that Marco Silva’s side could exploit.

If the Cottagers take control of the match, then who’s to say Spurs won’t concede four times. On the basis of the defensive shambles against Arsenal, nothing can be ruled out.

What are Tottenham’s remaining away matches?

Sunday’s result was a terrible start for Tudor, and it’s clear that the current mentality of Tottenham’s players is at an all-time low.

Although Fulham recorded an impressive 3-1 away win against Sunderland last time out, they haven’t won at home since 24 January.

This is definitely one of Tottenham’s easier away matches that remain this campaign, with trips to Liverpool, Chelsea and Aston Villa still to come.

Spurs are desperate to secure their first league win in 2026, but all the signs point to them dropping points on the road again.

And if Tottenham start poorly, then Tudor could find himself breaking all the wrong records.

Luca Williams-Barnett in line to benefit as Igor Tudor jiggles Tottenham coaching staff

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Stuart Lewis has been working with Igor Tudor at Tottenham ahead of this weekend’s clash with Fulham.

Tudor has a huge task on his hands to get Tottenham heading in the right direction, and one of the changes he has made has been to promote Lewis to the senior coaching staff.

Lewis had previously been working for Spurs’ Under-18s, working alongside some of the exciting talent looking to make that step up.

And that could have a very promising impact for some of those looking to make their way to the top in North London, including Luca Williams-Barnett.

Who is Luca Williams-Barnett?

Tottenham have plenty of promising prospects in North London, and Williams-Barnett is right up at the top of the list.

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Despite being just 17 years old, the midfielder has made his way to Under-21 level, where he has seven goals and six assists in 11 appearances.

But what will be even more promising for the teenager is that he has already caught the eye of the senior staff members at Tottenham, having made an appearance in the Carabao Cup earlier this season.

Williams-Barnett started the campaign working under Lewis at the Under-18s, where he scored two goals in two appearances, before then scoring seven in six appearances for the Under-19s.

No one will know his quality more than Lewis, and his so-called promotion to the first team could provide the pathway needed for Williams-Barnett to feature more regularly.

Who else could benefit from Lewis’ first-team role?

Williams-Barnett isn’t the only promising youth player in north London, with several other names already looking ready to make the step up, and this change will only increase their chances of doing so.

Rio Kyerematen is currently Tottenham Under-21’s top scorer with seven goals and four assists in 11 Premier League 2 starts.

The 20-year-old is an incredibly versatile player, but has featured more often than not in the wide areas for Spurs, and he has found a lot of success there.

Kyerematen has created 17 chances so far this season, while also having completed 10 dribbles.

Like Williams-Barnett, it may not be long until we start to see him integrated into the first-team setup with Lewis now involved.

Tottenham fans delighted after Kevin Danso announcement, demand player now be dropped vs Fulham

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Kevin Danso has returned to team training as Tottenham face Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday.

Spurs will travel to Craven Cottage on 1 March as Igor Tudor looks to get his first points on the board after being appointed as interim manager until the end of the season.

The Croatian manager suffered defeat in his first game in charge of the Lilywhites, with Arsenal winning the derby 4-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

As things stand, the North London outfit are four points above the relegation zone as they deal with multiple injuries in their squad, but Danso and Pedro Porro could soon be back in action.

Tottenham fans want Radu Dragusin dropped from starting lineup vs Fulham

Tottenham supporters on X have expressed their delight over progress in Danso and Porro’s road to recovery.

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One supporter wants to see the duo return to the starting lineup immediately, as the defenders are desperately needed at Craven Cottage.

Another expressed delight over the fitness update, being thankful for the small blessings in what has been a rather underwhelming campaign.

There have been quite a few among the Spur fanbase who now want Radu Dragusin dropped to the bench after some poor displays in recent matches.

With Tudor preferring to play three centre-backs, one fan believes Danso and Porro’s return will be a massive boost for the manager’s system and hopes they can get through the week without any issues.

Igor Tudor to drop another Spurs player for trip to Craven Cottage

Tottenham spent around £51.8million on Xavi Simons last summer, but it’s safe to say the Netherlands international hasn’t lived up to expectations this season.

The 22-year-old has made 21 appearances in the Premier League this season, scoring one goal and providing four assists.

Against Arsenal, the attacking-midfielder was one of the worst players on the pitch, completing 79 per cent of his passes, losing possession 25 times and committing two errors that led to shots, as per Sofascore.

Simons is another player Tudor should be looking to replace against Fulham, with Dominic Solanke the perfect replacement to bring more attacking impetus to the North London outfit.

Igor Tudor experiment must end at one game, it only means one thing for Tottenham vs Fulham

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Igor Tudor’s 3-5-2 formation was ruthlessly exposed in Tottenham’s 4-1 loss to Arsenal.

During Thomas Frank‘s eight-month tenure at Tottenham, he vacillated between playing two central defenders and three, with mixed results.

In the end, neither approach did him much good as the Dane was sacked, leading to Tudor‘s swift appointment at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium until the end of the season.

The Croatian was given a brutal reality check in his first game in charge when Spurs were routed in the North London derby on Sunday, a result that left them just four points above the relegation zone.

Ahead of a trip to Fulham on Sunday, data suggests that moving away from the 3-5-2 formation may be the way to go for the former Juventus boss.

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The worrying Tottenham trends that needs addressing

Tottenham have not won in the Premier League since a 1-0 victory at fellow strugglers Crystal Palace on 28 December.

They are currently on a nine-match winless streak, something 18th-placed West Ham have taken advantage of – after three wins in their last six games – as they eye Premier League safety.

One approach that may stand Tottenham in good stead, however, is ditching the 3-5-2 formation Tudor utilised against Arsenal.

Credit: Breaking Media

Indeed, Opta states Tottenham have won just one of their last 10 league games when playing three at the back (three draws and six losses) and none of their last six (two draws and four losses).

Moreover, Tottenham are in danger of matching an unwanted record with their winless run. Opta adds that only once have they gone 10 games without victory, doing so between January and March 1994 under Osvaldo Ardiles.

Finally, Tottenham are the only Premier League side without a victory in 2026 so far. It’s only the fourth time they’ve gone through January and February without a league win, along with 1935 (seven games), 1994 (seven games), and 1999 (six games).

The key factors that are not helping Tottenham’s relegation fight

While Tottenham are enduring a wretched season, and the coaches in charge have not done a good job, their hands have been somewhat tied.

Undoubtedly, a team such as Tottenham should not be hovering just above the relegation zone in 16th, but injuries haven’t helped, either.

Indeed, they have been without playmakers Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison for the whole season due to serious knee injuries.

They may not return this campaign, while midfielders Lucas Bergvall and Rodrigo Bentancur are also sidelined amid this barren run.

Winger Mohammed Kudus may not return until April, while fellow wideman Wilson Odobert could miss most of the calendar year with a knee problem.

Spurs are hopeful that Pedro Porro and Kevin Danso will be back available after respective thigh and ankle injuries as the north London team aim to beat the drop.

Games against Fulham and Palace in the next fortnight represent a good opportunity to pick up points. But Tudor will need his side to be a lot better than they were against Arsenal to do just that.

Tottenham eye Noah Atubolu transfer as Freiburg set price tag

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Tottenham want to sign Noah Atubolu from Freiburg this summer.

Guglielmo Vicario has been linked with an exit from Tottenham, and as a result, the North Londoners have identified Atubolu as a potential replacement.

That is according to a report from Fussball Europa, which states that Inter Milan are the latest side to have shown an interest in Vicario.

Atubolu has made 32 appearances for Freiburg this season, including eight in the Europa League, where he has kept four clean sheets and conceded just four goals.

The Bundesliga outfit are unwilling to let go of the 23-year-old without a fight, and are believed to have placed a price tag in the region of £26million this summer.

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What does this mean for Guglielmo Vicario?

Vicario has been poor at Tottenham for a while now, and all signs certainly point towards his exit from North London in the summer.

However, whether Spurs make a move for Atubolu or not will largely depend on the future of the Italian, who has also been linked with Juventus.

As per xG, Vicario has conceded 1.91 more goals than he would have been expected to in the Premier League this season when taking into account the quality of shots faced.

Added to that, the Italian has also made two errors that have led to a goal at Tottenham, showcasing his tendency to drop a howler.

However, Atubolu is not the only goalkeeper to have been linked with Spurs as they look to strengthen their goalkeeping department.

Who else could replace Guglielmo Vicario at Tottenham?

A lot of this will depend on which league Tottenham are in, with relegation a real possibility.

But working on the assumption they can avoid the drop, there are several options that they have already been linked with.

Robin Roefs has been a star for Sunderland this season, and he has been mooted for a move to North London in recent weeks.

However, the Black Cats are said to want a fee in the region of £50m for their Dutchman, which makes a deal seem unlikely.

Elsewhere, James Trafford has also been linked, which, when taking into account his lack of importance at Man City, seems like a much more reasonable option.

Tottenham clouds parting for Igor Tudor thanks to ‘good news’ from training base

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Igor Tudor finally looks set to welcome back a couple of first-team players to his Tottenham squad.

Spurs were without 11 senior outfield players for Sunday’s disappointing 4-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

However, Pedro Porro and Kevin Danso are now back involved at Tottenham‘s training base and may be ready to return to action against Fulham on Sunday.

Tudor needs all the help he can get right now on the basis of the heavy home loss to Arsenal, which many will hope is the nadir of the campaign.

Pedro Porro and Kevin Danso back in Tottenham training

Porro has missed Tottenham’s past five matches without a hamstring problem, while Danso has not been involved in four matches.

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As pointed out by James Green live on Sky Sports News on Wednesday, that is “good news” for Spurs fans – and indeed Tudor.

It means nine first-team players are still absent, the most notable arguably being James Maddison as he continues to recover from a season-long problem.

Porro’s return in particular will be welcomed by Tudor, with the Spain international having started 21 times in the Premier League this term.

Among Tottenham players, only Guglielmo Vicario (27) and Micky van de Ven (25) have started on more occasions in the top flight.

He has completed 74 per cent of his passes and has chipped in with a couple of assists.

Porro’s 1.1 dribbles per game, meanwhile, are bettered only by Conor Gallagher (1.3) among those to have started at least one game.

Could Danso return alter Tudor’s plans vs Fulham?

Danso has eight starts to his name in the league this season, albeit the most recent coming a month ago in the 2-2 draw at Burnley.

That game with Burnley saw the defender produce a terrible display, as he failed to win any of the two tackles he attempted and lost possession 13 times.

But it may be that the Austria international, who averages a Sofascore rating of 6.88 – so below average – is brought back into defence this weekend.

That may even force a reshuffle, as it has emerged Tottenham have won just one of their last 10 league games when playing three at the back (three draws and six losses) and none of their last six (two draws and four losses).

That is simply not good enough and it is a large enough sample to suggest something must be done.

If nothing else, Porro and Danso’s returns give Tudor something to smile about in what has been a tough week.

Tottenham learn possible Randal Kolo Muani price tag amid Juventus transfer links

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Tottenham may face competition to sign Randal Kolo Muani permanently this summer amid persistent interest from Juventus.

Tottenham secured the season-long loan deal of Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, but so far, the move has not gone to plan.

The France international has scored just four goals in 28 matches in all competitions at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium outfit, with just one of those coming in 19 Premier League matches.

Juventus tried to lure Kolo Muani out of Tottenham in January but the north London team stood firm on the striker. Now, reports suggest the Italian giants may make a move for him again ahead of next season, but PSG may be wary of doing business with them again.

That could work in Tottenham’s favour if they choose to pursue him again. However, their troubles in front of goal and their lowly league position of 16th may lead them to look elsewhere.

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Juventus eye Randal Kolo Muani again amid Dusan Vlahovic dilemma

According to Tuttosport, Juventus’ “favourite” striker target is Kolo Muani. The 27-year-old scored 10 goals in 22 games for the Italian team in the second half of last season, and it seems they want to bring him back to the Old Lady again.

The report states that Juve are prepared to offer around £35million for the Frenchman’s services, but whether PSG would accept that is another matter.

The French champions forked out an initial £63.4m for Kolo Muani’s services in 2023 from Eintracht Frankfurt but as the move has not worked out, they may need to accept a smaller fee.

Kolo Muani did impress in Tottenham’s 4-1 loss to Arsenal last Sunday but unless he has an excellent end to the season, the two are likely to part ways this summer.

That will definitely be the case if Tottenham fail to preserve their Premier League status, with Spurs currently four points clear of the relegation zone.

Incidentally, Juventus are still deciding what to do with forward Dusan Vlahovic, who is out of contract this summer.

The Serbian is reportedly keen on a Real Madrid move (aren’t we all?), and a Premier League switch is not beyond the realms of possibility.

His contract expires this summer and if there is no breakthrough, the 26-year-old will end his Juve stay. That will likely lead to a renewed pursuit for Kolo Muani from the Italian outfit.

Igor Tudor faces huge uphill struggle at Tottenham

Igor Tudor was sworn in as Tottenham boss until the end of the season following Thomas Frank’s sacking on 11 February.

The Croatian did little to lift the gloom around the club after a 4-1 drubbing in the North London Derby on Sunday in his first game in charge.

Tottenham have scored 37 goals in 27 games but their Expected Goals tally is 28.1. Had it not been for their sharp shooting in front of goal, they would be one point outside the relegation zone, according to Fotmob.

To make matters worse, they are without a whole host of key players: including Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Bergvall and more.

Pedro Porro and Kevin Danso could return for Tottenham’s trip to London neighbours Fulham on Sunday but they need to improve a huge amount if they want to secure their first Premier League win since 28 December.

Tudor has a huge job on his hands, as at this rate, Tottenham are sliding towards relegation off the back of their current nine-match winless streak.