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Micky van de Ven has been compared to Jan Vertonghen after his incredible scoring form for Tottenham this season.

Van de Ven’s goal in Tottenham’s 4-0 win over Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday was a thing of beauty.

Starting from the edge of his own penalty area, he carried the ball into the opposition box, gliding past several Copenhagen players, before firing home.

While Xavi Simons was Man of the Match on the night, football lovers will be talking about Van de Ven’s brilliance for years to come.

Micky van de Ven climbing centre-back rankings

His brace in Spurs’ 3-0 win over Everton last month saw Van de Ven become Tottenham’s current top scorer.

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Meanwhile, the Dutch international’s Champions League goal has ensured the title remains his for the time being.

As a result, speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, Tottenham expert and Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham believes Van de Ven can continue to make his mark on English football, now that he’s developed that goalscoring edge.

“This is a guy who’s six foot four, athletic. He should be getting six, seven goals a season. He should be looking at Gabriel [Magalhaes] and [William] Saliba and thinking, I want to be up there with those guys,” Wenham said.

“But now he’s scoring all sorts of goals as well, which is the beauty of it. The goal against Copenhagen was a real magical moment in the stadium and sort of really continues building his profile as one of the best defenders in English football.

“He’s having a similar season to like that year Vertonghen had when he scored those goals, and Vertonghen was one of the best centre-backs Tottenham had in the Premier League era, so hopefully Van de Ven continues to grow and get to that level as well.”

Thomas Frank cannot keep relying on Micky van de Ven to score

While Van de Ven is netting at an insane rate, Spurs attackers need to start sharing the goalscoring load.

Richarlison netted in Spurs’ 2-2 draw to Manchester United for the first time since their draw to Brighton in September.

However, Randal Kolo Muani’s recent injury will come as a huge blow, given that his hold-up and link-up play enabled his teammates to get into the game.

Still, their goalscoring numbers are worrisome:

Meanwhile, Joao Palhinha and Van de Ven, two defensive-minded players, have 10 between them.

While it is true that the best teams score goals from anywhere on the pitch, Spurs attackers need to carry their load.

Tottenham are interested in signing Takefusa Kubo from Real Sociedad to strengthen their offensive options.

Despite Tottenham’s 4-0 victory over Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League, they have struggled to create quality goalscoring opportunities all season.

As a result, the Lilywhites are set to enter the summer market for Kubo after several failed previous attempts, according to Spanish source Fichajes on 6 November.

The versatile winger is reportedly keen on the possibility of arriving in the Premier League, and Tottenham could finally seal their long-standing target this summer.

Takefusa Kubo interested in Tottenham transfer

Thomas Frank is on the hunt to boost Spurs’ offensive options, and Kubo is considered to be the right man for the job.

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The report states that Real Sociedad want around £52.7million for his services, which is close to his termination clause.

It is believed that the right winger is not convinced with his current team’s sporting project and is ready to embark on a new challenge.

As a result, a potential move to North London appeals to him greatly, and according to the report, he believes that Tottenham can offer him the competitive jump he longs for.

Meanwhile, Spurs are looking for a player who brings balance, creativity and goals, and Tottenham believes Kubo fits the bill.

While Real Sociedad are keen to keep Kubo, they are aware that it is difficult to economically compete with the big English clubs.

The reported £52.7m fee would be a record transfer for the Spaniards, who hope the transfer will be finalised as soon as possible so that they may have enough time to find a suitable replacement before the start of next season.

Takefusa Kubo would not be an upgrade on Mohammed Kudus

Kubo primarily plays on the right wing for Real Sociedad, so it is logical to assume that he’ll have a similar role at Tottenham.

Mohammed Kudus signed for Spurs over the summer and is currently Tottenham’s main creator in the Premier League.

Indeed, the right winger has arguably been the Lilywhites’ best player since his arrival, and it would take something spectacular for another player to start over him.

Given their start to the season, it is safe to say that Kubo is not a worthy opponent.

While Kubo slightly edges the Spurs star when it comes to non-penalty goals, dribbles and ball carrying, Kudus greatly outperforms him on assists, key passes and accurate crosses.

As it stands, Kudus is the better and more complete forward and while Kubo could make a good reserve option, he is yet to show that he can compete with the Tottenham ace at the highest level.

Tottenham set to make final Jamie Donley decision as pitiful loan at Stoke City continues

Tottenham could recall Jamie Donley this January after a difficult start while on loan at Stoke City.

The Lilywhites have had more misses than hits when it comes to loan spells in recent years.

Tyrese Hall started well for Notts County this season, while Tottenham have been criticised for their handling of Bryan Gil before he signed for Girona over the summer.

There was a point in time when Tottenham would’ve been considering recalling Mikey Moore from his loan at Rangers. But after netting his first goal in their 3-0 win over Dundee, that seems unlikely.

But given his minutes thus far, there is little to suggest that Donley’s situation at Stoke will reverse like Moore’s has at Ibrox.

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Jamie Donley has hardly featured for Stoke City

Both Ashley Phillips and Donley departed Tottenham and signed for Stoke City on loan over the summer.

Phillips, who enjoyed a season-long loan with the Potters last season, has featured heavily for boss Mark Robins. Meanwhile, Donley has not yet started a single Championship game.

As a result, Tottenham must be considering recalling Donley from his loan, according to Football London on 10 November.

The 22-year-old has not been included in the past three matchday squads, and Spurs will be concerned that his development is being stunted due to the lack of playing opportunities.

While Donley will be hoping his fortunes change like Moore’s did, there is a strong chance that he’ll be playing elsewhere in 2026.

Will Jamie Donley play under Thomas Frank?

Tottenham recalled Dane Scarlett back in the 2024/25 season after a difficult loan spell at Oxford United.

However, instead of going out on another loan, the young striker was integrated into Ange Postecoglou’s side.

The only issue was that due to high levels of competition and subsequent injuries, Scarlett made just three appearances in the Premier League upon his return.

It is difficult to believe that Donley will start over Xavi Simons, and competition in the midfield will be rife with Dejan Kulusevski set to return before the end of January.

As a result, it would be in all of the parties’ best interests if the attacking midfielder were loaned elsewhere for the rest of the season.

The reveal that shows why Thomas Frank could face Ange Postecoglou sack fate at Tottenham

Tottenham should be 16th in the Premier League on expected points, according to Opta’s Supercomputer.

Tottenham conceded late against Manchester United to draw 2-2 on Saturday and extend their winless streak at home in the Premier League.

Indeed, Spurs’ home form under Thomas Frank has been dreadful, somehow collecting just five points in their last six games.

Tottenham’s 4-1 defeat to Chelsea was where it went wrong for Ange Postecoglou in his first season. And after a recent 1-0 defeat to the Blues at home, Frank could soon suffer a similar fate.

Tottenham’s expected points should concern Thomas Frank

Tottenham should’ve collected an average of 12.7 points in the Premier League this season, according to Opta’s Supercomputer.

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This would have seen them 16th on the table, just above Fulham and Wolves, who average 12.3 and 11.1 points respectively.

Currently in fifth, Guglielmo Vicario’s stunning form in the Premier League is one of the reasons the Lilywhites maintain an acceptable position.

Furthermore, luck has also played a role in their season. Spurs have netted 19 goals from 11 expected goals, which is a gross overperformance.

Tottenham sacked Postecoglou over the summer, despite his team lifting the UEFA Europa League, due to his poor league form, finishing 17th in the end.

The Lilywhites ended the season with 22 defeats, the highest recorded for a side that avoided relegation.

Vicario won’t be able to bail Spurs out forever, and when the goals dry up, Frank could face the same fate as the Australian.

What’s next for Thomas Frank?

The Dane will need to reevaluate his tactics over the international break and hope his side can turn things around once the club season resumes.

Randal Kolo Muani’s broken jaw comes at an unfortunate time, given that the French international had finally started to settle in North London.

With Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, and now Kolo Muani sidelined, Frank’s attacking options are beginning to look quite thin.

However, Frank will need to work with the cards dealt to him over the coming weeks and with Xavi Simons starting to perform and Richarlison netting his first Premier League goal in months against United, things may slowly be clicking into place.

Tottenham now face a potential blow in their pursuit of Lautaro Rivero, with Chelsea now showing interest in the River Plate defender.

This comes from River Noticias on 9 November, with the 22-year-old’s stock continuing to increase.

Tottenham have been linked to Rivero multiple times throughout the past month, with the centre-back impressing in Argentina.

However, with Chelsea now having the defender on their radar, it could put a halt to Spurs’ plans.

River Plate remain firm despite Lautaro Rivero interest

River Plate face a massive battle if they want to keep hold of their upcoming star.

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It was reported just last month that, alongside Spurs’ interest, the City Group had entered preliminary contact for Rivero.

Now, with Chelsea joining the race for the Argentine international, Tottenham could find themselves priced out of the battle for his signature.

River Plate already have a £86.7million release clause in his contract, with Rivero believed to be “causing a sensation” among the big clubs in Europe.

Yet, despite this, the report claims that River Plate have no intention of letting their star man go.

Do Tottenham need Rivero?

As good as Rivero is, the question remains should the North London club splash the cash on the upcoming centre-back.

Micky van de Ven is still only 24 years old and has been great for Tottenham this season, while Cristian Romero is 27 years old.

On top of this, Luka Vuskovic has been fantastic while on loan at Hamburg, is actually four years younger than Rivero.

When comparing the two young centre-backs’ stats, the Spurs loanees’ is far more impressive this season, according to Fotmob on 10 November.

Therefore, Thomas Frank may do better investing his money elsewhere and instead look to integrate Vuskovic into Tottenham’s first team next season.

Luca Williams-Barnett could be on his way out of Tottenham on loan when the January transfer window opens.

The 17-year-old prodigy is one of the most promising young talents coming through the ranks at Hotspur Way at the moment, and he was even on the bench for the first team in the Champions League last month.

Williams-Barnett made his senior Tottenham debut in the Carabao Cup victory over Doncaster Rovers back in September, and he is firmly on the radar of Thomas Frank and the rest of his staff.

The attacking midfielder is tipped to have a huge future ahead of him in N17, and he could be ready to take the next step in his journey after the Premier League’s latest announcement.

Luca Williams-Barnett nominated for PL 2 Player of the Month again

Williams-Barnett is away from Tottenham at the moment while he represents England at the U17 World Cup in Qatar.

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However, the starlet’s exploits for his country have done nothing to stop the accolades coming his way from back home of late.

The Spurs gem has been nominated for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for the second successive month, having ultimately claimed the prize for September.

Williams-Barnett notched two goals and an assist during the U21s’ win over Newcastle at the start of the month, before adding an assist in the defeat to Manchester United on 25 October.

His current stats in Premier League 2 make for eye-catching reading, as he now has 10 goal involvements to his name from just seven appearances.

That tally cannot be matched by any other PL 2 player, and also leads the entire league when it comes to both chances created and big chances created.

When you then factor in that he is effectively playing four years below his age group in that competition, it is surely time for him to take on a new challenge in the second half of the season.

Loan spells further down the professional pyramid are invaluable in the development of young players, and Spurs will surely look to find a suitable grounding for Williams-Barnett in January, given his recent progress.

Tottenham should try to find a League Two loan for Luca Williams-Barnett

Tyrese Hall has gone from strength to strength away from Tottenham so far this season, as he has excelled in his loan spell with Notts County.

The midfielder has already become a key player for the League Two outfit, and his recent exploits could provide the perfect blueprint for Williams-Barnett in January.

The fourth tier has a good mix of seasoned professionals who rely on their physicality, as well as several incredibly gifted technical players.

With that in mind, it often provides the ideal grounding for players from Premier League academies when it comes to their first loan, and they can then work their way up through the leagues from there.

It has become abundantly clear that PL 2 isn’t challenging enough for Williams-Barnett at present, and with that in mind, Spurs should surely look to get him out on loan and try and accelerate his progress as much as possible.

Mohammed Kudus has not joined the Ghana squad for their upcoming international friendlies.

The African nation are preparing for the upcoming World Cup in the summer after finishing top of their qualifying group.

Therefore, they would have likely wanted Kudus, who has been sensational for Ghana, in their squad for their friendlies against Japan and South Korea over the next week.

However, given Kudus’ recent injury at Tottenham, he has not travelled according to Football London on 10 November, likely to the delight of Thomas Frank.

Mohammed Kudus staying at Tottenham will be a huge boost for Thomas Frank

For Frank, the manager will be pleased to see the winger stay at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during the international break.

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The 25-year-old has missed Spurs’ last two matches through injury, in what has no doubt been a blow for the Dane.

According to Fotmob on 10 November, Kudus has been sensational for Tottenham to date, with his 87% passing accuracy being a particular highlight.

Now, with the winger expected back for the Arsenal game, Frank will be pleased that he isn’t travelling, so he can ensure that Kudus is in the best possible condition for the North London derby.

However, Ghana are likely fuming with the news, as they look to get their squad in the best possible shape for the World Cup.

While Kudus is almost certain to be in the squad in the summer anyway, he is now set to miss potentially important training sessions just months before the tournament begins.

What has Frank said about Kudus’ injury?

While Kudus remains on the sidelines, Frank is pleased about the progress he is making.

Speaking about the winger before the Manchester United game, the manager is hopeful he will be back after the international break.

He said: “Very confident that he (Kudus) should be available for the next one”.

As a result, the winger should be in the team for the Arsenal match, barring any further setbacks.

Mathys Tel could be set for imminent Tottenham reprieve as two-month Kolo Muani timeline shared

Mathys Tel could be set to drastically benefit from Randal Kolo Muani’s latest injury issue at Tottenham.

The latter has had to wait patiently for his opportunity in the Premier League, as fitness issues have marred his time in N17 so far, after his loan move from PSG was sealed on deadline day.

Kolo Muani started for Tottenham in their chaotic draw with Manchester United on Saturday, and appears to have sustained an injury to his jaw after a collision with Harry Maguire.

Thomas Frank has only just got the frontman back up to speed with the rest of the squad, but he could already be set to lose him again for several months.

Tottenham can add Mathys Tel to Champions League squad

Kolo Muani’s latest injury at Tottenham is now understood to be more serious than first thought, as medical tests have revealed a fracture.

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The exact length of his absence is not yet confirmed, but he has been withdrawn from the France squad for the upcoming international break as a result.

The latest setback is hugely unfortunate for the 26-year-old, but it could be about to play perfectly into the hands of Tel.

Frank opted to leave the youngster out of his squad for the Champions League earlier in the season, but he could now come into the group in place of Kolo Muani, according to The Standard.

They suggest that the injured star could be set to face up to two months on the sidelines with his latest issue, with UEFA rules outlining that players can be replaced in the Champions League squad if they are set to miss over 60 days of action.

Tottenham would have to provide medical evidence to UEFA, and must do so before matchday six of the league phase, which comes on 6 December.

Tel is understood to be the “most likely” candidate to come into the group if a change is made, but with Spurs having just under a month to make the call, a decision will need to be made imminently, one way or the other.

Mathys Tel has the best minutes per goal in the squad in 2025-26

Tel has fallen badly out of favour at Tottenham since Frank’s arrival at the start of the summer, and that culminated in the decision to leave him out of the Champions League squad in the first place.

Nevertheless, the former Bayern Munich starlet has battled back well since that snub from his boss and has displayed an excellent attitude when he has received opportunities to impress.

The Frenchman came off the bench to net a vital goal for Spurs just five minutes after his introduction on Saturday, and he was part of the group of substitutes who changed the game for their team.

Tel has certainly made the most of his chances in recent weeks, and that can be highlighted by the fact that he boasts the best minutes per goal ratio of anyone in the squad in Premier League action.

The youngster is currently averaging a goal every 130 minutes in league action, which puts him at the top of the tree in terms of his teammates.

Throw in the fact that his conversion rate also currently stands at an impressive 33 per cent, and he could certainly argue that he deserves more starts in the coming weeks.

Kolo Muani’s latest injury will be a source of huge frustration for everyone else in N17, but for Tel, it could be the springboard that he needs.

Richarlison once again suffered the embarrassment of celebrating a last-minute goal wildly before Tottenham conceded one of their own.

Tottenham’s 2-2 draw to Manchester United on Saturday leaves them fifth in the Premier League table, as their winless run at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium continued.

Richarlison thought he’d won the game for Spurs after diverting his header past Senne Lammens in the 91st minute, only for Matthijs De Ligt to head home from a corner in the dying seconds to level it.

The draw represents another missed opportunity to secure a win against a top-four rival, and Gary Lineker was not impressed with Richarlison‘s celebration, something he has now created history with.

Richarlison creates history for all the wrong reasons

It’s a feeling of deja vu for Tottenham fans who have seen their Brazilian forward’s exuberant celebrations backfire.

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In April 2023, Richarlison scored a last-minute equaliser to complete Spurs’ comeback from 3-0 down against Liverpool, only for the late Diogo Jota to go down the other end and score a winner for the Reds.

After what he did against Man United, Richarlison is the first player in Premier League history to be booked twice for celebrating a 90th-minute goal only to see his side concede afterwards.

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast on 10 November, Lineker criticised the rule of booking someone taking their shirt off, whilst also not holding back on Richarlison’s actions.

He said: “I think it’s a stupid law to get a yellow card for excessive celebrating. Even so, I know you can get overexcited, but you can do something other than ripping your shirt off. It’s a bit daft.”

Richarlison started the season brilliantly for Tottenham. However, after scoring three goals in his first five league matches, he has since been dropped for Randal Kolo Muani up front.

He has been inconsistent throughout his Tottenham career, and the January transfer window could see him leave in favour of regular minutes.

This season, Richarlison has registered a terrible pass accuracy of 63.6 per cent, while only having a dribble success rate of 50 per cent.

After signing from Everton for £60million in 2022, the 28-year-old has only scored 20 league goals in over three seasons, and it’s fair to say that it hasn’t worked out.

Thomas Frank started Richarlison and Kolo Muani against Man United, and the decision to play the Brazilian on the left wing somewhat backfired.

Thomas Frank’s Richarlison experiment fails badly

In the first half, Frank’s decision to try Richarlison on the left was incredibly poor as Spurs were completely outrun, and he was deployed through the middle for the second half.

The goal papers over the cracks that show he is simply not good enough to be counted on for Tottenham, despite scoring some crucial goals this season.

Richarlison’s Tottenham exit is on the cards, and it’s important to note that his performances off the ball can be horrific.

Odobert’s brilliant introduction on the left wing spurred on Tottenham’s revival, and he produced a lesson in how to provide a threat from a wide area.

Frank is keen on signing a new striker, with Brentford’s Igor Thiago said to be at the top of the list.

Richarlison may have overperformed his xG by 1.84, but it doesn’t hide from the fact that he is not trusted by Frank to frequently lead the line.

Keith Hackett has shared whether Amad Diallo could face retrospective action after the Manchester United player kicked a ball into the stands during the 2-2 draw with Tottenham.

Tottenham led United 2-1 heading into the 96th minute of Saturday’s eventful contest after Matthys Tel and Richarlison struck to cancel out Bryan Mbuemo’s opener.

However, Matthijs de Ligt headed in a last-gasp equaliser to earn Man United a 2-2 draw with Spurs in North London.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium playing surface raised eyebrows, but the match certainly lived up to expectations with talking points aplenty – particularly in the second half.

Amad Diallo kicks ball towards Tottenham fans

Tottenham’s home form remains a real concern, with De Ligt’s late goal giving Thomas Frank plenty to ponder.

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In the aftermath of that dramatic leveller at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, United attacker Amad was seen to boot a ball into the home section.

It was a foolish act from Amad and rightly angered the Tottenham fans sitting in the front rows of the stand.

However, speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, former PGMOL chief Hackett said it is unlikely Amad will face any retrospective action.

“This action by Amad should have been dealt with by the referee on the day,” Hackett said.

“It is unlikely that any retrospective action will be taken, even taking into account the danger to fans of being hit by the ball from Amad’s kick.”

Spurs’ final Premier League position predicted by supercomputer

Opta’s supercomputer had Tottenham to finish 11th at full-time of Saturday’s match, but it has since updated to place them 10th.

Finishing just inside the top half would be an improvement on what we saw under Ange Postecoglou last season, but would clearly still not be good enough for Spurs fans.

Frank’s men are currently fifth, but the supercomputer can only see the Lilywhites dropping down the division.

That is a worry, but football is played on grass rather than spreadsheets.

The hope is that Spurs come back fired up ready for the huge showdown with Arsenal after the two-week break.

That is followed by a repeat of the 2025 UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain a few days later, so it is imperative Frank’s charges hit the ground running in a fortnight’s time.