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John Wenham notices something ‘extremely good’ about Tottenham ahead of showdown vs Man United

Tottenham face Manchester United in a crucial Premier League clash on Saturday.

Thomas Frank has eased some of the pressure on his Tottenham job, with his side unbeaten in their last four in all competitions.

Tottenham secured a stunning comeback in the 2-2 draw with Manchester City last time out, but that result still left them sitting in 14th place in the table.

They will hope to get their season back on track at Old Trafford when they come up against their former midfielder Michael Carrick’s side.

Why Tottenham will believe that they can beat Manchester United

John Wenham, who runs the popular Lilywhite Rose account on X, believes that Frank and Spurs will be confident heading into the game.

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He thinks that the potential returns of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, combined with their record against the Red Devils recently makes for encouraging reading.

Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, he said: “We go into the game at Old Trafford, we’ve probably got Romero back, and hopefully Van de Ven too, it was said he was very close to making the Man City game.

“Fulham scored two goals there, and they relied on a last-minute goal, to get that win, so we will be going there full of confidence.

“We have an extremely good record against them recently, winning five of our last 10 meetings, so we will be going for three points again.

“After that, we have got Newcastle on the Wednesday, and they are not the same outfit they have been in recent seasons.

“Tottenham have got an opportunity, despite having some daunting-looking fixtures, to really climb up the table and make some progress.”

What can Tottenham achieve this season?

Unfortunately, the Lilywhites have already been eliminated from the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, but they can still taste some sort of success this season.

They look like unlikely contenders for the Champions League, and their chances of domestic league glory are over already, but there is still hope.

If they can go on a positive run from now until the end of the campaign, they could still end up in the European places, and potentially secure another chance at glory next season.

The ultimate aim would be to qualify for Europe’s premier competition, but that seems like an extremely hard task at the moment, given their position.

Thomas Frank has struggled badly since taking over at Tottenham last summer and the supporters are firmly against him.

Spurs currently sit 14th in the Premier League, having picked up just 29 points from their first 24 games this season.

Not only have the results failed to live up to expectations, but the performances have been lacklustre and uninspiring as well.

Frank still retains the support of the Tottenham hierarchy for now, but there is little respite for the Dane as he battles with a severe injury crisis.

Dejan Kulusevski still miles from a return

The likes of James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Bergvall, Rodrigo Bentancur, Kevin Danso and Ben Davies are all currently missing due to injury.

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Dejan Kulusevski is the most notable absentee though, given he hasn’t played a single minute for Tottenham this season.

Last month, Frank hinted that the Swedish international could be close to a return, but that now looks to have been false hope.

Kulusevski has been left out of Tottenham’s Champions League squad for the knockout stages of the competition, hinting he is still a fair distance away from full fitness.

Frank has made three changes to his squad as the North London side go into the last 16, with Mathys Tel, Radu Dragusin and Conor Gallagher replacing Davies, Bentancur and Brennan Johnson.

It means that, as well as Kulusevski, Yves Bissouma also misses out despite his recent return to the fold.

Thomas Frank can blame medical team

Kulusevski was one of Tottenham’s most important players last season, but he hasn’t featured since suffering a knee injury against Crystal Palace back in May.

At the time, there were rumours that he would be fit for the Europa League final against Manchester United, but those were clearly wide of the mark.

The creative midfielder hasn’t been seen for 271 days, and Spurs fans are still no closer to knowing a return date.

Obviously, there have been some setbacks in his recovery, but Frank will be fuming at his medical team.

Kulusevski would have been a massive help for the Dane, even if he was just fit for the second half of the campaign, but now he may not even feature at all this season.

If Frank does get the sack, he will know who to point the finger at.

Xavi Simons has shared a pitch with many players throughout his career, one of whom has just announced his retirement from football.

Tottenham had high hopes for Simons, and while it is still early days, the midfielder has yet to live up to those expectations.

The 22-year-old has started 18 of Spurs’ 24 Premier League games this season, with five goal contributions to his name.

Simons’ best spell in his career so far certainly came with PSV, when he scored 22 goals and registered 11 assists in 48 appearances in Holland.

And one of the players he shared a pitch with then has now announced his retirement.

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Former Chelsea midfielder announces his retirement

The PSV side that Simons was a part of featured several Premier League stars past and present, including the likes of Jarrad Branthwaite at Everton, Cody Gakpo at Liverpool and even Savinho, who is now at Manchester City.

However, one player who struggled massively for gametime that season was Marco van Ginkel, who was once on Chelsea’s books between 2017 and 2017, albeit making just four first-team appearances.

His exit from Holland took him to Portugal last summer, where he has since made just 11 appearances for Boavista.

But now, the 33-year-old midfielder has announced his retirement from football after a 16-year playing career.

The former Stamford Bridge midfielder announced it via his Instagram, with Simons replying with two love heart emojis.

Xavi Simons shared a special moment with Marco van Ginkel that Spurs fans will love

Simons is now looking to make his way to the Premier League elite status, and while that seems unlikely this season, he has showcased in the past that he has the quality, and that will come clear with more time.

The Dutchman has featured against English sides on various occasions in European competitions, one of which came back in October 2022.

Simons was named in the starting lineup for PSV as they secured a 2-0 win over Arsenal in the Europa League group stage, with plenty of celebrations after the game.

Among those celebrations, Van Ginkel was pictured alongside Simons holding an Arsenal shirt, having prevented the Gunners from achieving automatic qualification to the Round of 16.

Kevin Danso joined Tottenham in the 2025 winter window on loan with an obligation to buy.

The Austrian defender has struggled to make himself a regular feature under Thomas Frank, after previously starting nine out of 10 games available in the Premier League last season.

Danso was recently slammed for ‘comedy’ defending alongside his teammates during the 2-2 draw against Burnley.

However, Danso has also impressed at times this season, in what has been a difficult league campaign for the London club.

Kevin Danso reacts as Austrian teammate returns to youth club

Danso is aiming to return for Tottenham as soon as possible after recently picking up an injury against Eintracht Frankfurt.

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In that game, the centre-back snapped the ligament in his big toe, which kept him out of Tottenham’s 2-2 draw against Manchester City. Now, he is still ruled out for Spurs’ clash against Manchester United.

However, while he is focused on a return himself, the player is keeping tabs on things back over in his home country.

And in that sense, there has been a return as well, but this time in the transfer market.

Former Premier League striker Andreas Weimann has returned to Rapid Wien on loan for the rest of the season. Weimann played in the youth setup at the Austrian club between 2005 and 2007.

Danso, who has played with Weimann on six occasions for Austria, reacted to the post by giving it a like.

What has Frank said about Danso this season?’

Although his playing time does not show it, Frank is a big admirer of Danso and has admitted how much he enjoys working with him.

Speaking ahead of facing Manchester United, Frank said, “I think every time he has been called upon this season, he has just delivered. It is fantastic to work with him in every aspect.”

At the moment, there is no timeline on his return from injury, but it is said to be soon. The Dane will be delighted to welcome the Austrian back into the fold, as his options are looking quite slim.

The injury came at a bad time for the player, as it could have been a chance for him to prove his worth. Over the course of the season, he has been named as an unused substitute (10) more times than he has been in the starting lineup (eight).

Mikey Moore has been loving life out on loan with Rangers this season.

Moore signed for Rangers on a temporary basis in early August 2025, having broken into the first-team picture at Tottenham.

The teenager became Spurs’ youngest ever player to appear for the Lilywhites in the Premier League when he came off the bench against Man City in May 2024, aged just 16 years, nine months and three days.

It’s been no secret that Moore has always been tipped for Tottenham stardom, and having signed a new long-term contract last summer, time is on his side to reach that.

Rangers legend pleads for Mikey Moore Ibrox return

So, with no real rush to force him into a big senior role before he might be ready for it, Tottenham made the decision to loan Moore out to Rangers for the 2025-26 season.

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That’s looking like a very wise move indeed, as the 18-year-old forward is evolving into a key player in Danny Rohl’s side, having previously endured a slow start to the campaign under Russell Martin.

Indeed, in Rangers’ most recent game against Kilmarnock, Moore grabbed a goal and an assist in the 5-1 rout, showing once again just how much star potential he has.

As such, he’s quickly become a fan favourite among the Ibrox faithful, and he does a familial connection to the Glasgow giants too, having confessed that his family have always loved the club upon signing for them.

As per Sofascore, 15 of his 33 shots taken in the Scottish Premiership this season have been on target, whilst he’s also completed 27 dribbles, played 19 key passes and is recovering 3.4 balls per game.

As per the above graphic from Sofascore, Moore is also making 8.43 passes into the final third per match, and his heatmap shows just how versatile he is too, getting on the ball in all areas of the pitch.

So, it’s no surprise to see many Gers fans calling for Moore to be kept on for another season if possible, and one of those pleading for his return is Rangers legend Barry Ferguson.

Speaking via his Daily Record column, Ferguson said: “If it was down to me I’d be on the blower to Spurs this morning asking to have that chat.

“And while I fully understand there will probably be a lot of ‘ifs buts and maybes’ around the discussion, I’d be making a very strong case for the two clubs agreeing another 12-month loan deal to keep the young man in Glasgow next season.

“Obviously, the guys at Tottenham will have their own thoughts on what the future should hold. It’s not even certain that Thomas Frank will still be in the manager’s seat next season so there’s a lot to factor in.

“But, even so, there’s a very strong argument to be made that the best thing for Moore’s development would be signing on for one more year at Rangers.”

Tottenham handed first team ‘guarantee’ if Moore rejoins Rangers

Having already made 21 first-team appearances for Tottenham, Moore just wasn’t able to do quite enough production-wise to retain his place in the senior side before moving to Rangers.

So, Spurs will surely want to be convinced that when the time comes to hand him another first-team chance in N17, that the youngster will be ready to grab it with both hands.

And, Ferguson believes that if Tottenham allow Moore to stay with Rangers for one more season, then he will return to North London in the summer of 2027 primed to waltz into Spurs’ first-team.

“Of course, they might want him back down the road as soon as possible. They may have their own plans for him because they clearly believe he’s destined for big things. And they’re right about that,” Ferguson continued.

“But if their idea involves Moore going back onto the fringes of their squad next season then there’s also a danger that it will stall his growth.

“So give him 12 more months and, by the time Spurs get him back, I’d almost guarantee he’ll be ready to walk straight into the first-team. And stay there.”

Sitting as England’s sixth most successful football club, Tottenham Hotspur have collected their fair share of memories under different management over the years.

From their first ever manager in Frank Brettell, to the recent exploits of Mauricio Pochettino and Ange Postecoglou, and current stewardship of Thomas Frank, Spurs have become a staple of the nation’s top flight.

With the complete guide of Tottenham managers, Tottenham Hotspur News takes a look at some of the most iconic figures at the helm throughout Spurs’ illustrious history.

Tottenham misfire under Thomas Frank

Following the departure of Postecoglou last year – more on him shortly – Frank took charge in North London, aiming to recover Tottenham’s domestic form after a 17th-placed finish.

However, things have not gone to plan under the Dane as of yet, with Spurs sitting 14th in the Premier League – picking up just 29 points from 24 outings.

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At the time of writing, Frank’s side are winless in the league in six, having failed to pick up three points since the turn of the year, creating a far-from-ideal record for a side looking to make the next step after lifting the Europa League last May.

Things are going well in the Champions League, though, with Spurs securing an automatic pathway to the round of 16 via a fourth-place finish.

Nonetheless, the domestic form under Frank leaves him under serious pressure.

Ange Postecoglou ends on a high

“I always win things in my second year,” said Postecoglou after Tottenham’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in September 2024. And in remarkable fashion, the Australian coach was proven right.

Spurs started like a house on fire under Postecoglou in 2023, before eventually securing a fifth-place finish in the Premier League in his debut campaign.

However, amid an ongoing injury crisis, Tottenham limped to 17th last term, with their top-flight safety only really made a certainty thanks to the hapless promoted trio of Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton, who all amassed fewer than 30 points.

Postecoglou did achieve what no Spurs manager was able to do in the 21st century, though, and bring silverware to the club.

Beating Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final, thanks to a Brennan Johnson goal in front of the Spurs contingent in Bilbao, the Lilywhites picked up their first trophy since winning the League Cup in 2008.

Postecoglou would lose his job following the season’s conclusion with a win percentage of 46.5 from 101 matches, leaving the experienced manager’s legacy intact at the club.

Mauricio Pochettino revives Tottenham

Much of what is thought of modern Tottenham can be put down to Pochettino, who joined the club from Southampton in 2014.

After overseeing the emergence of Harry Kane that term, Spurs continued to go from strength to strength under the Argentine, becoming genuine title contenders across multiple terms under his guidance.

The aforementioned Kane was at his undoubted best in England under Pochettino, while Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen, Son Heung-min and more all blossomed into world-class talents.

Spurs would reach the Champions League final in 2019 following their move to the brand new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, before Pochettino lost his job later that year after racking up a win percentage of 54.27 from 293 matches.

Helping to transform the club from the nearly men to a genuine top-four club, Pochettino will always be held in high regard at the club.

Who are some of Tottenham’s most popular managers?

Harry Redknapp

Not just at Spurs, Harry Redknapp is a well-renowned and much-loved figure across English football.

Taking over from Juande Ramos in 2008, with Spurs sat rock bottom of the Premier League, Redknapp guided Spurs to eighth, and the League Cup final, before the eventual defeat to Manchester United.

Taking the club to the Champions League in 2010, he oversaw the emergence of both Gareth Bale and Luka Modric, who really launched their sensational careers at White Hart Lane.

Leaving the Lane in 2012, Rednkapp racked up a win percentage of 49.49 from 198 games.

Terry Venables

After making over 100 appearances for the club, Terry Venables took charge of Tottenham in November 1987.

While Spurs remained in the mid-table region of the top-flight for large parts of his tenure, he remains much-loved for the development of both Gary Lineker and Paul Gascoigne, alongside their FA Cup triumph in 1991.

After 165 matches at the helm, Venables achieved a win percentage of 40.61 – by far the lowest out of those mentioned, but Venables will always be held in high regard.

Bill Nicholson:

Arguably the greatest Spurs manager of the time, Bill Nicholson led Tottenham to the First Division and FA Cup title in 1961, with the club being the first to do the double in the 20th century.

It would then be under his leadership that Spurs became the first British club to triumph on the continental stage, when his side beat Atletico Madrid in the European Cup Winners’ Cup back in 1963.

Being in charge for a remarkable 823 matches, Nicholson racked up a win percentage of 48.72.

Luka Vuskovic could be set to leave Tottenham in the near future.

Vuskovic is one of the most exciting talents at Tottenham, and is currently starring for Hamburg on loan in the Bundesliga, as the Sofascore graphic below highlights.

John Wenham feels Spurs need to keep a spot for Vuskovic when he returns, such is the extent of his ability, at the age of 18.

However, he may not ever feature at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after what a former star has heard about his future.

Vuskovic tipped for Tottenham exit in the summer

Tottenham youngster Vuskovic looks set for big offers after the World Cup, and there are huge question marks over whether the Lilywhites can keep him around.

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Former Lilywhites ace Ramon Vega launched an explosive rant over the centre-back’s future on 3 February, saying: “This player is not coming back to Spurs! Another of many players the Spurs had a chance with, but they made the wrong decision.

“This is an example of the problem Spurs have been having within the football department! A total neglect.

“They will make good money, for sure, but there’s no football direction within the club, off to Bayern he goes, no wonder, I will not blame him.”

He later claimed that he has heard through the grapevine that he is not coming back and would be sold for £100million in the summer, as the Spurs hierarchy would not refuse that money.

He said: “Let’s just say it Heard it through the grapevine.

“Of course, Spurs still have to accept the fee they are offering.

“£100million, they will take the money as usual.”

Why Tottenham cannot sell Vuskovic

The N17 outfit cannot afford to lose Vuskovic at any costs, he looks like a true superstar in the making.

That was evident in the 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich on 31 January, as the Spurs loanee was one of the best players on the pitch.

The graphic from Sofascore shows how good he was, scoring one goal, making seven clearances and winning three of the four aerial duels that he attempted.

If he can perform like that against the champions elect at such a young age, he could be the kind of player to transform Spurs’ fortunes.

They need to keep hold of him, no matter what kind of offers that they receive in the summer, even if it seems to good to refuse.

The money would help them to rebuild their squad and add more genuine world-class players, but it it not worth it to lose such a generational talent.

That would send the wrong message to supporters and more importantly, to the club’s rivals, that they are not a serious threat for any of the biggest honours, as they will sell their biggest talents at the first chance that they get.

The new leadership need to prove Vega wrong, and show that they will not capitulate under pressure, and want to keep hold of their future stars.

Alejo Veliz’s unsuccessful Tottenham stint is set to draw to an underwhelming close.

Tottenham signed striker Veliz from Rosario Central in the summer of 2023 for £13million on a six-year deal.

The then 19-year-old’s move made him Rosario Central’s most expensive sale, surpassing Facundo Buonanotte’s move to Brighton in 2022 and Angel Di Maria’s switch to Benfica in 2007.

However, to date, the forward has played just 10 times for the Lilywhites, with Veliz repeatedly being linked with an exit.

Following ineffective loan spells at Sevilla and Espanyol in recent seasons, Veliz’s Tottenham adventure is set to end.

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Alejo Veliz finally set for Tottenham transfer departure

Last July, Veliz returned to boyhood club Rosario, with the 22-year-old netting six goals and one assist in 19 appearances in his second spell with the Argentinian outfit.

The young forward, who has two Spurs goals to his name, will remain at Rosario for the rest of the 2025-26 season, but he won’t be turning that move into a permanent deal.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Brazilian top-flight side Bahia have agreed to sign him for £7.8million but he won’t link up with them until the summer.

He adds that barring a failed medical, which will take place in June, Veliz will join Bahia, ending his unproductive Tottenham stint.

Spurs will end up losing money on their original outlay, but will be able to get a fringe player off their books.

That modest fee, though, could help contribute towards another signing, a new contract extension, or something else at Tottenham.

Will Tottenham’s winter signings work out for them?

Tottenham signed six players during the winter window, but most of them are unlikely to move the needle much at Spurs.

Conor Gallagher’s capture from Atletico Madrid was their standout recruit, and perhaps Santos left-back Souza can get first-team action this season.

But the rest are signings for the future, with Tottenham fans aiming their ire at technical director Johan Lange for their transfer approach.

Tottenham’s two biggest concerns right now are their league table position, with Spurs languishing in 14th, which is putting pressure on head coach Thomas Frank.

And the other huge issue is their injury crisis. Captain Cristian Romero said it was “disgraceful” that Tottenham could only field 11 fit senior players for their 2-2 draw against Manchester City last Sunday.

If multiple key players remain out injured, that could cost Frank his job and derail another season, which started so promisingly, for Spurs.

Tottenham swiftly move on from Cristian Romero heartbreak as £34m replacement already eyed up

Tottenham are beginning to plan for life with Cristian Romero following the bombshell news of his potential summer exit.

Spurs are going through a rough period under Thomas Frank, and the winter transfer window hasn’t exactly made things any better.

Conor Gallagher was the Lilywhites’ marquee signing, despite Joe Lewis pocketing £35million for the sale of Brennan Johnson.

The direction that Tottenham are going in has players reportedly unsettled, and Romero’s recent comments on social media about the 2-2 draw against Manchester City have proved that.

Real Madrid are said to be tracking the Argentine, and the Lilywhites may already be planning for his departure from N17 in just a couple of months.

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Tottenham set their sights on Aitor Paredes as Cristian Romero

Tottenham fans have been enraged by Romero’s wish to leave and have directed their ire at internal figures due to their suspected lack of ambition.

With Frank in charge, there are serious doubts about where the club is headed, and now it’s taking its toll on one of the Lilywhites’ biggest stars. However, Johan Lange has started planning for Romero‘s replacement.

According to Spanish outlet Fichajes on Tuesday, Tottenham are keen on signing Athletic Bilbao’s Aitor Paredes, and believe the defender has the suitable skillset to play in the Premier League.

The Spanish side have placed a £34.5million price tag on the centre-back’s head, who they see as crucial to their own plans.

The 25-year-old has been performing well in La Liga this campaign, but may be keen on a switch to play in the Premier League next season.

The links are coming at a convenient time, considering the winter window is now closed, and Romero’s recent statement was just days ago.

Why Tottenham could have a new look defence next season

Micky van de Ven has also been linked with an exit, as he and Romero have both arguably been Frank’s best players this season.

As highlighted by Sofascore in the graphic below, Romero has averaged a 7.28 rating in all competitions and has been an ever-present force in Tottenham’s backline.

Van de Ven is drawing interest from Barcelona as well as Real Madrid, and both the centre-half’s would deserve their moves if they were to leave in the summer.

Things can change, but as it stands, Spurs’ current situation may not be enough to keep the defensive pairing at the club beyond this season.

James Wilson’s decision to join Tottenham when he did has been heavily scrutinised.

Tottenham secured the loan signing of Wilson from Hearts this week, with an option to make the move permanent in the summer.

The 18-year-old striker became Hearts’ youngest European goalscorer of all time in December 2024 when he netted against FC Petrocub in the Conference League.

Due to some of his achievements at Hearts, Arsenal were also interested in signing Wilson, but Spurs eventually prevailed.

Wilson will now join Tottenham’s Under-21 squad, which has drawn some criticism from journalists around Scotland.

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James Wilson slammed for making Tottenham move

Wilson has a lot of potential to succeed at Tottenham, but it is questionable that he would leave Scotland at this stage in his career.

Hearts are in with a chance of winning their first league title since 1960, and to jump ship now for non-senior football has raised eyebrows.

Over the course of last season, Wilson picked up six goals and three assists across 32 appearances in all competitions.

He averaged 0.53 goals and assists per 90 minutes of football and notably scored a dramatic equaliser in the Edinburgh derby against Hibs.

Speaking on the Daily Record Hotline Live on 4 February, Scottish football journalist Keith Jackson was not a fan of the youngster’s move to Tottenham.

He said: “Do you know what my worry is for Wilson? He’s just walked away from a club that is on the brink of something truly historical.

“Might there be a moment between now and the end of the season that Wilson could have scored a goal of monumental importance that would secure his place as a legendary figure in Scottish football.

“And he’s chucked that away to go and play in the academy? He might have got a chance at Hearts, and I think he’s been badly advised.”

Having made his senior debut for Scotland in May 2025, he clearly has a big future, but he has to prove to a lot of people that it was the right decision to join Spurs.

One thing that’s for certain is his impressive career so far, and there is a chance that he could play a part in Spurs’ first-team matches.

Here’s why Wilson can break into the first team

The centre-forward first started making waves in Hearts’ youth teams, where he bagged an impressive 14 goals and six assists in just 26 games in the Scottish Lowland League (the fifth tier of Scottish football) at just 16 years of age.

The young striker also worked his way through Scotland’s youth teams, bagging eight goals in 14 games for his nation in the younger age groups.

Wilson has proved himself to be far too good to play at a level that’s lower than senior football.

Luckily for him, he’s joined Spurs, where a striker seemingly faces a new problem every single week.

Richarlison is currently out with a hamstring injury, while it’s safe to say that Dominic Solanke doesn’t have the greatest track record when it comes to maintaining his fitness.

It won’t take much for Wilson to be named on the bench of a Premier League matchday squad.

And if he can manage to make an impact during the first opportunity he gets, then leaving Hearts won’t have been a bad thing for his development at all.