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Luca Williams-Barnett could be about to become a regular part of the first-team squad at Tottenham.

The youngster is rapidly making a name for himself in N17 and made his senior debut earlier in the campaign when he came off the bench during the 3-0 Carabao Cup win over Doncaster Rovers.

Williams-Barnett recently signed his first professional contract at Tottenham at the end of September, and it is already clear that he has a huge future ahead of him at his boyhood club.

The attacking midfielder is already firmly on the radar of Thomas Frank, and he may already have a clear plan for the starlet’s development.

Luca Williams-Barnett to train regularly with Tottenham first-team

Williams-Barnett is already excelling at youth level for Tottenham, and he was named as the Premier League 2 Player of the Month for October after a series of eye-catching displays.

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He notched a staggering 27 goal contributions from just 20 U18 Premier League games last season, and is now already on his way to conquering the U21 level, despite having only recently turned 17.

The youngster has 11 goal contributions in 11 games in all competitions so far this season, which includes a goal and an assist against senior opposition in the Vertu Trophy.

The next natural step is for Williams-Barnett to become a more regular feature with the first-team, and ex-Spurs scout Bryan King – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes that he could now be set to become part of the squad on a permanent basis.

“I would keep him involved with the first team,” King said.

“He’s going to be getting his games in the youth team, which is okay. What you want is for him to be involved regularly with the first team.

“He’s obviously already played a game for them, and there will be a few more cup games on the horizon. If I were Frank, I’d want to see him around the first team and see how he handles that before Spurs even think about putting him out on loan.

“Confidence is a great thing, and whenever he’s training with the first team, that’s only going to help him.”

Spurs must avoid Mikey Moore repeat with Luca Williams-Barnett

Tottenham will surely regret sending Mikey Moore on loan to Rangers, and it is vital that they ensure they don’t make a similar mistake with Williams-Barnett.

Youth development is a very precarious issue, and selecting the wrong loan club can really harm a starlet’s progress and can easily knock their confidence as a result.

With that in mind, whenever Spurs do decide to try and get Williams-Barnett more experience in senior football, it is vital they send him to a club that they trust to nurture him effectively.

He is clearly a player with huge potential, but the Lilywhites must be careful to ensure that they don’t damage that in the coming years.

Tottenham will be seeking to continue their fantastic start to the Premier League season with a statement win over Aston Villa on Sunday.

The Lilywhites will be glad to return to Premier League action and continue the momentum from their last game as Tottenham beat Leeds 2-1 before the international break.

Tottenham‘s game against Aston Villa will prove to be a tough test against an Unai Emery team that are in good form.

Spurs will look to harness Mohammed Kudus’ terrific form for club and country as players like Pedro Porro and Christian Romero also return from international duty.

Tottenham News rounds up everything that you need to know ahead of the game.

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Form Guide

Spurs: W, D, D, W, D

Aston Villa: W, W, W, W, D

Team News

Randal Kolo Muani is in contention for Tottenham as his first Premier League appearance nears.

During the international break, Yves Bissouma suffered a brutal injury that forced the midfielder to be taken off the field in a stretcher, as he will not be available for Thomas Frank.

Djed Spence started two games for England while away, with Destiny Udogie also pushing for a start at left-back.

As for the visitors, striker Ollie Watkins picked up a knock while away with England but is expected to feature for Villa, as Tyrone Mings and Emiliano Buendia are doubts for the game.

Likely lineups

Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie, Bentancur, Palhinha, Bergvall, Kudus, Simons, Richarlison

Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Bogarde, Kamara, Rogers, McGinn, Malen, Watkins

Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Aston Villa

In the reverse fixtures last season, Tottenham smashed Villa 4-1, but a lot has changed since then.

Aston Villa have won four out of their last five games after they started the season horribly, with claims for Emery’s sacking now gone quiet.

Tottenham are also in a good moment, and bar Lucas Bergvall’s horror miss and Bissouma’s injury, Tottenham have had pretty much nothing but top performances from their international deputies.

Both teams are coming into the game looking for a win, but right now, it doesn’t look like either side can lose.

With that considered, Tottenham Hotspur News predicts Spurs will be held to a 1-1 draw in North London as Villa prove one of the toughest tests of the season so far for Frank‘s side.

Daniel Levy certainly had a broad vision for Tottenham despite all his shortcomings as chairman.

The Lewis family are now in charge at Spurs, but they will arguably want to make the most of the foundations that the previous management has laid.

While Levy wasn’t a popular figure among Tottenham’s fanbase and they wanted to see a change in the hierarchy, the 63-year-old’s legacy will remain in N17.

The New York Jets recently played the Denver Broncos at the Northumberland Development Project, and bigger and better things are expected in North London in the near future.

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to host Super Bowl

Levy always wanted Spurs’ home to host the Super Bowl after the tie-up with the National Football League, John Wenham says.

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The multi-million deal with the NFL has led to the emergence of the NFL Academy, which the Lilywhite Rose owner believes could potentially serve as a training base as well.

With American football trying to make inroads in the UK, there’s always been an ambition among the North London outfit’s hierarchy to host the Super Bowl in N17.

Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, Wenham said: “I think there’s always been an ambition of that when Levy was at the club.”

He added: “Obviously, we’ve got the tying with the NFL over that multi-year deal. We’ve got the NFL Academy in London as part of the development of the women’s training ground that they’ve bought in Enfield in Whitewebbs Park.

“I imagine part of that will be an NFL training base as well. They haven’t confirmed that yet, but that’s the impression I get. So I think we’ve always been working towards that ambition and that goal.”

Super Bowl prospect will be down to Daniel Levy at Spurs

Levy should be praised as the architect for the Super Bowl at Spurs if the Lilywhites do end up hosting the biggest game in American football.

Tottenham must surely be generating a steady income from NFL matches recently, with ticket sales, merchandise, food and drinks all contributing significantly to the revenue in N17.

The North London outfit’s former chairman had the foresight to make the only purpose-built NFL stadium outside of the United States, and they are now reaping the rewards.

If the Super Bowl does come to Spurs, it will arguably be down to Levy’s vision.

Tottenham are reportedly on the verge of losing out on a defender dubbed as “the next John Stones”.

Decision-makers at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are already making plans for the winter transfer window, with Spurs considering a move for Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo.

Thomas Frank‘s side have made a superb start to the season, but still look to be lacking in several areas of the pitch.

Spurs are also looking closely at Kevin Schade from Brentford, with the German impressing in the Premier League so far this season.

And on the youth side, Spurs have signed Austen Ball from Luton Town, as they continue to look to bolster their academy ranks.

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Newcastle United set to beat Tottenham in race for young defender

Luka Vuskovic is impressing massively on loan at Hamburg, with the young defender presenting a perfect example of the benefits of Spurs‘ efforts to stock up on young talent.

The Croatian was signed at the age of just 16 in 2023, but has spent the last three seasons out on loan away from North London.

Vuskovic had played a part in pre-season and impressed massively, but Frank ultimately decided that the 18-year-old’s development would be better served on loan.

Spurs have looked to acquire another hugely talented young defender in Barnsley’s Josh Kenchington, but look to have lost that race.

Mail Sport reported on Thursday that Newcastle are set to beat Spurs and others to the England Under-15s star, billed as “the next John Stones.”

Kenchington was awarded Academy Player of the Year for Barnsley last season, and is considered among the most exciting young English defenders.

The Magpies have agreed a deal for the teenager, with the move’s completion expected imminently.

Spurs miss out on ‘John Stones’ once more

Spurs had reportedly made efforts to sign Stones when he was making his name at Everton, back in 2014.

The North London club had made an offer for the defender, 20 at the time, but had their bid knocked back by the Toffees.

Just two years later, Stones would sign for Manchester City in a deal worth around £50million. He would go on to win six Premier League titles with the Citizens, and the Champions League.

Kenchington is extremely young, and some way off first-team football just yet, but Spurs will hope they have not just made the same mistake.

Xavi Simons has not had the electric start to his Tottenham career that most people were expecting so far.

The arrival of the Netherlands international prompted plenty of excitement within the fanbase when it was confirmed in the latter stages of the summer, not least because the Lilywhites beat Chelsea to his signature.

Simons joined Tottenham for a fee of around £51million, which ensured that he immediately slotted into the N17 outfit’s top five most expensive buys of all time.

However, he hasn’t really produced the goods for his new club so far, and there is an ongoing issue that may have played a significant part in his struggles to settle into the team.

Xavi Simons’ positional issue at Tottenham

Simons has featured out on the left wing for Tottenham in the majority of his appearances so far this season, but there as an ongoing debate as to where his best position actually is.

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The 22-year-old can also play in an attacking midfield role, which brought him success on a regular basis during his time with RB Leipzig.

However, he has largely had to operate from the left flank for Spurs so far, with Thomas Frank often opting for the added defensive security of playing Lucas Bergvall as an extra midfielder, knowing that he is capable of supporting both the attack and the defence.

Simons did get the opportunity to play in the number 10 role in the recent win over Leeds United, but his performance in that game did little to quash the debate surrounding how to get the best out of him.

However, these stats from his time in the Bundesliga should tell Frank and his coaching team everything that they need to know.

Simons’ RB Leipzig stats highlight need to play centrally

Simons’ early issues at Tottenham may be down to issues settling in off the pitch as much as anything at the moment, but Frank will surely be keen to help his new star thrive in his group as quickly as possible.

With that in mind, the Dane has to find a way of allowing the youngster to play in his preferred central role more often, based on these stats from last season provided by Opta.

Simons attempted over 100 dribbles last season, but with a success rate of just 32.67 per cent, it’s clear to see that one-on-one dominance isn’t his main strength.

That has been highlighted once again at Tottenham so far this season, where he is still completing just 45 per cent of his dribbles (Sofascore).

Throw in the fact that only six players completed more progressive carries, and it becomes clear that the Dutchman needs to be involved with the play going on around him, rather than being isolated out wide against a full-back.

Moving Simons centrally could also help Mohammed Kudus

Mohammed Kudus has made an excellent start at Tottenham in recent weeks, but moving Simons centrally could have an even greater effect on his game.

The Ghana international’s pace and direct running is already causing major problems for defences, and if Simons could move into a central area, it would allow the pair of them to link up with ease.

The former West Ham star could benefit massively from a quality passer who can thread the eye of a needle to help him get in behind defences, which provides yet another plus point behind a potential move for Simons.

Frank has had plenty of success with a counter-attacking style at Spurs so far, but it could now be time for him to take the handbreak off a little in order to get the best out of the jewel in his crown.

Tottenham will be looking to stay in pursuit of top spot in the Premier League when they host Aston Villa this weekend.

Spurs were 2-1 winners at Leeds United in their most recent match and now switch focus to Villa’s visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

Thomas Frank could make some changes to Tottenham’s lineup for the clash with Villa, which comes three days before a trip to Monaco in the Champions League.

Spurs know they’ll have their work cut out given that Villa have won their last four matches in all competitions to get their season back on track.

It is a match that is tough to call, but Jeff Stelling seems certain on something that will likely happen in North London.

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Tottenham and Aston Villa matches do not finish goalless

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be packed this weekend, but Spurs have issued important travel advice ahead of the Villa game.

Those in attendance should be treated to goals. Indeed, it has been 27 meetings since the sides last played out a goalless draw.

Providing a prediction for the match for talkSPORT, presenter Stelling pointed out that fact and said it is therefore a certainty goals will be scored this weekend.

“Spurs have been a bit hit-and-miss but are two points off the top of the table,” Stelling said. “That said, are they coming up against a Villa side at precisely the wrong time?

“They’ve won four on the bounce in all competitions and Morgan Rogers is getting back to his best as well.

“One thing you can expect is goals – there hasn’t been a goalless draw between these sides in 27 meetings. I’m going 1-1.”

Not only has it been 27 matches since the most recent stalemate between these sides, they have not drawn any of the past 23 at all. That run stretches back to a 1-1 draw in May 2012.

Tottenham have poor recent head-to-head record vs Aston Villa

Spurs have lost four of their past six Premier League meetings with Villa, which is as many as they suffered in the previous 29 matches.

That includes a 2-0 win for Villa over Spurs in the most recent meeting between the sides in May, with Ezri Konsa and Boubacar Kamara netting that day.

Remarkably, Spurs have won just three of their past 17 Premier League home games overall. No ever-present side in the division has lost more home matches during that period, or picked up fewer points (13).

Tottenham’s past seven meetings with Aston Villa (all comps):

Villa, meanwhile, have won 10 matches in the Premier League since the start of March – even accounting for their poor start this season – which is a return only Manchester City (11) can better.

Spurs will point to the fact they are better off in the league, though, as all the reason they need to be confident on Sunday.

Tottenham could be set for a big January transfer window as they aim to build on their promising start to the season.

The Lilywhites have started strongly in the Premier League this weekend, and could go top of the early-season table, providing they beat Aston Villa and other results go their way.

Tottenham already have Brentford’s Kevin Schade on their list of targets for the winter window, and that looks set to grow with every passing week as we near the end of the year.

Thomas Frank is keen to add to his group further, and that may require big-money investments from the club’s hierarchy.

Tottenham scouts ‘shocked’ by Lautaro Rivero at River Plate

Tottenham are eyeing a move for Brazilian youngster Rayan at the moment, having taken in several displays from the forward of late.

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Their scouting setup in South America has now brought another exciting young talent to their attention in the form of River Plate’s Lautaro Rivero.

Scouts from the N17 outfit are understood to have been “shocked” by the centre-back after taking in one of his recent displays, according to journalist Sebastian Srur in El Intransigente.

Atletico Madrid are also showing an interest in the 21-year-old, who is said to be “causing a sensation” among the big clubs in Europe.

Rivero has already played 10 games for River Plate so far this season, and made his senior debut for Argentina in a 6-0 friendly win over Puerto Rico on Wednesday.

However, Spurs and any other interested parties have a major obstacle to overcome if they want to sign the defender, as he has a £86.7million release clause in his contract.

River Plate are currently understood to be unwavering in their stance on the starlet, who will only be allowed to leave if that clause is met.

Spurs are right to target promising youngsters

Luka Vuskovic only arrived at Tottenham this summer, and there is already plenty of excitement surrounding the way that he is developing.

The Croatian has already become a vital player for his loan club Hamburg, and he is on track to become the perfect example of the benefits of targeting young players.

It is no surprise to see the Lilywhites continuing to explore the market for players aged 21 and under, given the success that it has already brought them with the likes of Vuskovic.

It’s a perfect way to unearth exciting talents, however on this occasion, it would be no surprise to see Tottenham put off by River Plate’s somewhat overwhelming asking price.

Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall are candidates to win the 2025 Golden Boy award after impressing throughout the year at Tottenham.

Bergvall’s stunning form with Spurs has seen him tipped for future captaincy, with the 19-year-old Sweden midfielder wowing in North London since his arrival from Djurgarden in July 2024.

Barcelona were left “disappointed” when Bergvall signed for Tottenham over them, and it’s been easy to see why with the teenager impressing in the Premier League and helping Spurs reach the Europa League final last season.

Unfortunately for Bergvall, he missed the 1-0 win over Manchester United with an ankle injury, but fellow teenage sensation Gray did have a role to play in Bilbao as a late substitute.

Gray officially signed for Tottenham from Leeds the day after Bergvall did last year and he’s since shown the qualities of a future England international.

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As a result, it’s no surprise to see the two youthful Spurs stars named on a glittering list of candidates for the 2025 Golden Boy award.

What is the Golden Boy award?

Italian newspaper Tuttosport started the Golden Boy awards in 2003.

All nominees must be men’s footballers under the age of 21, born on or after 1 January 2005, and play for a squad in one of UEFA’s top 25 leagues.

The Golden Girl award was started up in 2022, with WSL stars Michelle Agyemang, Iman Beney, Wieke Kaptein and Lily Yohannes all nominated for the 2025 award.

The winner of the award is voted for by 50 sports journalists from across Europe.

As of right now, there’s no confirmation of when the votes will be made and when the winner will be announced.

Who are Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall up against?

Tottenham‘s dynamic duo are up against some tough competition.

However, they won’t have to face up against Barcelona’s youth star Lamine Yamal because he’s been omitted from the 2025 awards.

He’s eligible in all ways except that as he’s the current holder of the award, Tuttosport states that no player can win it more than once.

Desire Doue seems like the stand-out favourite at this stage, especially after PSG’s Champions League victory and win over Tottenham in the European Super Cup.

Previous winners of the Golden Boy award

Gray will be bidding to become the fourth English winner of the Golden Boy award, while Bergvall will have sights on becoming the first Swede to win the vote.

Tottenham have never had a winner. However, ex-Spurs midfielder Rafael van der Vaart was the first ever winner in 2003 when he was at Ajax.

Tottenham have never had a winner of the award, so the two 19-year-olds will also be vying for that honour.

However, there’s no doubt that the two have some tough competition and will be very lucky to beat some of the aforementioned nominees.

Thomas Frank could be set to tweak his attack as Tottenham return to Premier League action this weekend.

The Lilywhites have had several stars playing for their countries in the recent international break, but that should do little to affect the manager’s team selection for this Sunday’s clash.

Tottenham host Aston Villa in the Premier League this weekend, as they chase a victory that could see them climb to the top of the table if Arsenal and Liverpool drop points.

Frank has had a chance to take stock of where his squad is at over the recent break, and with that in mind, he could be about to make a couple of slight tweaks to the starting XI for Sunday’s game.

Mathys Tel and Wilson Odobert drop to the bench vs Aston Villa

Mathys Tel started for Tottenham in the win over Leeds United last time out and netted his first goal of the season.

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The Frenchman has struggled for gametime so far during Frank’s reign, and was notably left out of the squad for the Champions League.

He has shown signs of regaining the manager’s trust in recent weeks, but he could be set to return to the bench this weekend, after completing just 29 per cent of his passes in the clash against the Whites.

The 21-year-old scored with his only shot on target in the game, but was left fairly isolated at the top of the pitch, as he enjoyed just 13 touches of the ball, the lowest total of any player who started the game.

Randal Kolo Muani will need to be eased back into action after his lengthy injury lay-off, so Richarlison is likely to come in and lead the line.

Elsewhere in the side, Frank is likely to stick with largely the same XI that survived the potential banana skin at Elland Road at the start of the month.

However, he may be tempted to bring Lucas Bergvall back into the side in place of Wilson Odobert in a bid to bolster the midfield against a dangerous Villa team, with Xavi Simons heading back out to the wing.

Mathys Tel has to think carefully about Tottenham future

Tel has had a turbulent few months at Tottenham, which nobody would have foreseen when he turned his loan move from Bayern Munich into a permanent switch at the start of the summer.

The forward is averaging just 38 minutes per game in the Premier League at the moment, while he is typically getting no more than 11 touches on each outing.

He is not getting the level of gametime that is needed for a young player to develop effectively, and with the likes of Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke drawing closer to full fitness, it won’t get any easier for him to earn opportunities moving forward.

With that in mind, Tel surely has to assess his situation carefully in January, as a loan move or even a permanent departure could seriously benefit him.

Tottenham have a busy season ahead as the Lilywhites seek more trophy success.

Thomas Frank has been backed to bring glory to Tottenham in his first season as head coach after an excellent start.

It was announced that Joe Lewis’ family do not want to sell Tottenham ahead of a £100m cash boost that will see Frank have more money to play with in January.

Frank‘s side have already started planning for transfers, with Julian Brandt the latest to be linked to Tottenham.

However, ahead of a busy December period, Tottenham have been impacted by the Premier League’s latest update.

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Premier League fixture rescheduling leaves Tottenham in the dark

It was announced on 15 October that Spurs have had three Premier League games moved in December.

However, the Premier League made a promise on their official website in June that on or around 15 October, Tottenham’s fixtures from December to January would be locked in.

This included games from match week 14-24, but only Tottenham’s match week 14,15 and 16 fixtures have been confirmed.

Tottenham have not received any update about their games in late December or January, ahead of a congested period that will need to be navigated carefully.

The lack of transparency will not help Tottenham fans in the slightest, given they need to make arrangements well in advance.

Tottenham’s midfield area may struggle in winter

The winter period is always the busiest time of year for any club, as Spurs also have crucial Champions League fixtures against the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt as well as domestic games.

With AFCON also being played through December and January, Pape Sarr will most likely be travelling with Senegal, as Tottenham will be another man light in midfield after Yves Bissouma’s nasty injury.

James Maddison’s long-term injury will keep him out until after the winter period, as Frank and Spurs may need to wrap the likes of Joao Palhinha and Lucas Bergvall in cotton wool.

The Premier League should stand by what they promised ahead of the season and ensure both the club and its supporters are given plenty of advanced warning for these inevitable fixture changes.