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This is why Tottenham should avoid £75m Real Madrid transfer agreement this winter

Rodrygo’s situation at Real Madrid has opened the door for a departure this winter, with Tottenham keeping a close eye.

Tottenham were interested in signing Rodrygo over the summer, but the Brazilian was reportedly not keen on signing for the North London club.

As a result, the Lilywhites backed off and signed Randal Kolo Muani on loan from Paris Saint-Germain instead.

However, Tottenham have since revived their pursuit of Rodrygo in the hope of securing his services.

Rodrygo on the out with Xabi Alonso

Rodrygo is going through some of his most difficult moments since arriving in Europe, and his continuation at Real Madrid has become a delicate matter, according to Fichajes on 20 November.

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Xabi Alonso’s technical decisions have minimised his participation and have definitively opened the door to his departure in the winter transfer window.

The Brazilian was once untouchable under Carlo Ancelotti but has lost prominence now that there’s a new sheriff in town.

The former Madrid midfielder has no qualms about displacing Rodrygo from his starting line-up.

Indeed, his actions reflect an internal logic to give minutes to players connected with the current idea of the team. The winger has shown disconnect in training, something that has not gone unnoticed.

Tottenham have shown the most interest in Rodrygo, and contacts with Florentino Perez have already taken place.

The initial proposal would be around £61.7million plus £13.2m in add-ons, which is a considerable figure that accounts for his current situation.

However, Tottenham must strike soon, as other Premier League clubs have enquired about his situation, and a departure this winter is more viable than ever.

Tottenham should steer clear of Rodrygo

There is no doubt that the Brazilian is talented, but his arrival in North London would be a mistake.

The Lilywhites must build a team around players who want to play for the club, and Spurs does not seem to be Rodrygo’s favoured destination.

Whereas Wilson Odobert has shown promise at Tottenham these last couple of weeks and could become an important player if allowed to develop.

While it may take longer, investing in a player who wants to play for the badge may end up being the best decision that Spurs can make.

Tottenham have been urged to recall both Jamie Donley and Ashley Phillips from their loan spells at Stoke City.

The Lilywhites loaned several players during the summer to further their development.

Some youngsters hit the ground running like Tyrese Hall, who has been excellent for Notts County this season.

While others needed a couple of months, such as Mikey Moore, who has settled in at Rangers now that Danny Rohl is the manager.

However, Donley and Phillips could become the two latest stars to make Spurs’ long list of failed loan transfers.

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Tottenham told not to do future business with Stoke City

Donley and Phillips were loaned to Stoke over the summer in the hope of continuing their development plans.

Phillips has started regularly for Stoke, having spent last season on loan at the Championship side.

On the other hand, his teammate has spent most of the season wasting away on the bench.

As a result, speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, Tottenham expert and Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham believes that Spurs should not only recall Donley and Phillips but also stop doing business with Stoke altogether.

“If by December time, he’s still not playing, I’m sure Tottenham will be reaching out to other clubs, and another Championship club will take Jamie straight away with no problems whatsoever,” Wenham said.

“It’s just bizarre the fact that he’s been left out. And actually, because of that behaviour, I wouldn’t be adverse to Tottenham also calling back Phillips and putting him somewhere else, and we won’t deal with Stoke again.

“Thanks for the £18million for Kevin Wimmer, but we won’t be using your services again. I just think it’s ridiculous.”

How many minutes have both players received this season?

Donley received Harry Kane comparisons after netting for Northern Ireland against Luxembourg in the latest FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.

However, the versatile attacker has had minimal minutes under manager Mark Robins this season.

To put this into perspective, he has the same number of goal contributions as Stoke’s starting midfielder Bae Jun-Ho, despite making nine fewer appearances.

Phillips, on the other hand, has been used generously:

Recalling both players would send a message to Stoke that the Lilywhites are not prepared to do business with them if they fail to uphold their end of the bargain.

Therefore, bringing both Donley and Phillips back to Hotspur Way this summer may be in both the club’s and players’ best interests.

Tottenham’s North London derby showdown against Arsenal will create some compelling narratives on the pitch.

Firstly, Bukayo Saka’s battle against Destiny Udogie could be decisive in the contest, with the Gunners ace scoring five goals in three appearances against Spurs.

But Thomas Frank’s men also carry an attacking threat of their own, and that should see Mohammed Kudus cause Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori problems in transition.

Ultimately, though, if Tottenham want to end their six-match winless run in this fixture, they must breach one of the best defences in Europe.

Arsenal’s defence poses huge Tottenham test

Arsenal have only conceded five goals in the Premier League this term, and two of them came last time out in a 2-2 draw against Sunderland.

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Mikel Arteta’s partnership of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba has created the foundations for their success by forming an incredible partnership.

But for all of their dominance at the back, the Gunners were dealt a huge blow last weekend as Gabriel suffered a groin injury during Brazil’s 2-0 win over Senegal.

The 27-year-old will now miss the North London derby and potentially a month of action, handing Piero Hincapie the chance to impress.

While that could hand Spurs the initiative, Hincapie is a quality operator, and he should slot in comfortably alongside Saliba, someone the Lilywhites almost signed.

Tottenham almost signed William Saliba ahead of Arsenal

Tottenham are no strangers to missing out on some world-class players, particularly during the Daniel Levy era.

Supporters will forever curse their former chairman after Spurs missed out on capturing Sadio Mane ahead of Liverpool because Levy wouldn’t match his demands.

Mane, of course, developed into one of the Premier League’s players in the modern day, and the same can be said for Saliba.

In the summer of 2019, Spurs were ready to hijack Arsenal’s deal for Saliba, as per The Standard, by making an upfront offer to Saint-Etienne and handing him a hefty wage packet.

But Arsenal’s former head of football, Raul Sanllehi, was key to ensuring the Frenchman moved to the Emirates Stadium and snubbed their rivals, something the defender was also behind.

“Well, the history, the badge… since I was little, I’ve been watching Arsenal play in the Champions League and so on, and there are a lot of French players who have come through here,” Saliba said when asked why he rejected Spurs for Arsenal.

“So that really helped me to make my mind up.”

Since then, the 24-year-old has been incredible for Arsenal and developed into one of the world’s best, leaving fans wondering what could have been.

Tottenham are in the market to sign attacking reinforcements in January.

Spurs still have several games to focus on before plans are turned into action for the January transfer window, though work will already be underway behind the scenes.

Antoine Semenyo has already been linked with a move to Tottenham, showcasing the fact that the arrival of a new forward is going to be a priority for Thomas Frank.

With that in mind, a new update has emerged on a target who was previously linked with a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Nico Paz back on Tottenham’s radar

Nico Paz has been a Tottenham target for some time now, and with his continued performances in Italy, that interest is only growing.

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The 21-year-old has eight goal contributions in 12 appearances for Como this season, helping his side climb the table up to seventh under Cesc Fabregas.

A report from AS on Thursday states that Spurs have made more inquiries into his availability, with Inter Milan having indicated that they are willing to pay £51million to land his signing.

Real Madrid are likely to be Spurs’ biggest rivals in the race to sign Paz, given the fact that they have a buy-back clause in the deal that saw him move from Spain back in 2024.

Paz has earned his plaudits over the last 12 months, with Francesco Totti one of many who have highlighted the Argentine as one to watch after he was named as the Serie A Young Player of the Season.

Via the Guardian, Totti said: “Let’s say right now there aren’t many,” said Totti. “The only guy I’m watching right now, who isn’t Italian, is Nico Paz. He intrigues me a lot.”

Nico Paz would be perfect for Tottenham

Not only is Paz one of the most highly rated players in European football right now, but he is also one of the most versatile.

Most of his appearances come as a number 10, though Paz has featured in various attacking roles throughout his career, which is something that Frank commonly utilised at Brentford.

With 48 goal contributions in his 116 career appearances, the 21-year-old has showcased his ability to make a difference in games, which is something that Tottenham would benefit greatly from.

Antoine Semenyo’s plans for the upcoming transfer window have emerged with Tottenham firmly in the race to sign him.

Tottenham are thought to be ready to pay Semenyo’s £65 million release clause at Bournemouth as Thomas Frank looks to boost his squad in January.

Spurs are after Semenyo as they want a winger who can play on the left with Mohammed Kudus having largely locked down the other side.

The likes of Liverpool and Man City have also been credited with an interest, and now the Ghanian’s own intentions are starting to become clearer.

Antoine Semenyo wants Premier League stay

According to a new update from talkSPORT there is a crowded race for Semenyo with Tottenham among five of the big Premier League clubs involved, as well as European giants such as AC Milan.

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Of the so-called “big six” in England only Chelsea are thought not to be in for the 25-year-old after signing Estevao, Jamie Gittens and Alejandro Garnacho in the summer.

Despite interest from abroad Semenyo reportedly prefers to stay in the Premier League, and while he is “happy” at Bournemouth he is believed to not be ruling out the prospect of a move in the New Year.

His relatively-affordable release clause, made up of a £60m fee and £5m more in add-ons, was reportedly a “deal-breaker” for him when signing his new deal with the Cherries, suggesting he always intended to keep his options open.

After Tottenham failed in summer approaches for Man City’s Savinho, and Semenyo himself, the club are expected to add in the winter market.

They reportedly may add a winger who can play at number 10, as well as a striker, with Tottenham interested in Ivan Toney but facing difficulties in making that move happen.

Xavi Simons shows winning transfer race isn’t everything

As a proven Premier League operator, with 35 top-flight goals over the past two and a half campaigns, Semenyo would surely be a valuable addition if Frank can come out on top in this race.

But Xavi Simons‘ struggles to make an impact this term have proven that winning in the transfer market is only half the task.

Tottenham hijacked Chelsea to land Simons but the Dutchman has flattered to deceive in 14 appearances for the club so far.

The 22-year-old is also one of those at risk of decreased opportunities if Semenyo is to end up at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, given the Cherries star’s versatility in playing in various forward positions.

It is positive to see that the club are looking to be pro-active in addressing the attacking deficiencies but Frank will have a job on either way to get everything firing properly as a unit.

Chris Sutton has predicted that Arsenal will take the three points in the North London derby on Sunday, despite mounting injury concerns.

Tottenham take on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, with both sides hoping to build on positive starts to the Premier League campaign.

The Gunners are at the top of the table despite dropping points to Sunderland before the international break, while Thomas Frank‘s side sit fifth.

Gabriel is set to be missing for Arsenal against Tottenham, with the defender suffering a muscle injury while on international duty.

Still, Arsenal are strong favourites to beat Tottenham, with Mikel Arteta‘s side holding a dominant record in recent instalments of the North London derby.

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Chris Sutton shares North London derby verdict

Frank has not won any of his last seven games managed against Arsenal, with the Gunners routinely beating Brentford.

The Dane did coach the Bees to beat Arteta’s team on their Premier League debut in 2021, however, which may provide some confidence ahead of Sunday’s clash.

Both teams are set to be without several key players, with Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke, and Gabriel Martinelli all facing a race to make the squad for Arsenal.

Gabriel will miss out, and Riccardo Calafiori’s involvement is also in doubt after the Italy international was left out of his nation’s last game.

Randal Kolo Muani looks set to be declared fit for the clash, despite injuring his jaw against Manchester United, but the likes of Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison remain unavailable.

“While Spurs have picked up some good results, I have still been disappointed with their front line, and their attacking players have not really connected,” Sutton told BBC Sport on Thursday in his predictions.

He continued: “I started off thinking that this game was going to be reasonably close but, the more I think about it, the more I feel like Arsenal will win comfortably.

“The Gunners have some issues too, with Gabriel out injured. He has been such a colossal player for them but Cristhian Mosquera can come into their defence, and I don’t see it affecting them too much.”

Sutton predicted that Arsenal will win 3-0, while singer Olly Murs went along similar lines, predicting a 2-0 win for the home side.

Tottenham will defend deep against Arsenal

Despite being a somewhat uncomfortable truth, many Tottenham fans would admit that attempting to match up Arsenal on Sunday could lead to an unattractive score line.

Instead, Frank will likely set his team up to defend deep and hit the Gunners on the counter-attack.

With that in mind, any positive Tottenham result will be fashioned by defensive solidity and efficient transitions.

The odds seem stacked against Frank’s side on Sunday, but Tottenham may well enjoy their status coming into the game as underdogs.

Tottenham are set to do something for the first time since 2014 when they face Arsenal this weekend.

Arsenal play host to Tottenham on Sunday afternoon in the first of two North London derbies this season.

Tottenham are the perceived underdogs for the clash at the Emirates, though their away form will spark optimism ahead of the game.

Under Thomas Frank, Spurs have won four of their five away games so far this season, with hopes of adding to that against their local rivals.

However, while the clash will promise to provide plenty of excitement, it will also see something happen for the first time in 11 years.

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Spurs set to face Arsenal for the first time since 2014 without two key players

Tottenham are winless against Arsenal dating all the way back to 2022, when two goals from Harry Kane and an early second-half strike from Son Heung-min earned them a 3-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Those two were often the key to victory for Spurs, and Sunday’s clash at the Emirates will be the first North London derby without either of them on the pitch since 2014.

Kane is enjoying the form of his life at Bayern, while Son made the move to LAFC in the summer, where he has since scored 10 goals in 12 games.

In the 21 games he played against Arsenal, Kane scored 15 and assisted two, with Son scoring nine in his 22 appearances across all competitions.

Between them, the duo accounted for 27 per cent of Spurs’ goals against Arsenal, with 22 out of 82.

Randal Kolo Muani is likely to take Kane’s spot this weekend, with Brennan Johnson tasked with filling the boots of Son.

Thomas Frank has dismal Arsenal record to address

Frank‘s time at Brentford was a big success, and in his first game as a Premier League manager, he secured a victory against the Gunners.

However, the German is winless in his last eight, having lost six and drawn two.

Brentford suffered five defeats in a row against Arsenal between 2023 and 2025, before ending their losing streak in 2025 with a 1-1 away draw.

Spurs have the best away record in the Premier League this season, and that could be key to Frank’s ability to secure only his second ever win against the Gunners as a manager.

Serie A giants Roma have expressed their interest in signing Tottenham’s Mathys Tel this January transfer market.

Tottenham bought Tel permanently this summer after initially joining on loan from Bayern Munich in the last winter window.

Thomas Frank has got off to a mixed start at Spurs, but has shown faith in the Frenchman during his first months in charge of the Lilywhites.

Tel has shown signs of progression, but the rate he is developing will cause concerns at N17 due to the hefty £29.8million that Tottenham paid Bayern up front for his signature.

Now, Frank could be given a great opportunity to send Tel to Roma.

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Mathys Tel has underperformed for Tottenham, but Roma want him

Frank has expressed his desire for Tottenham to be more creative from wide areas this campaign after criticism over Spurs’ attacking play.

The head coach has chopped and changed his starting line-up in the Premier League, handing Tel a mixed bag of starts and substitute appearances for Tottenham.

It’s fair to say that Tel hasn’t pulled up any trees so far this campaign.

According to Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, Roma have made their stance on Tel clear – they “like” him.

He is reported to be “at the top” of Gian Piero Gasperini’s list to increase quality on Roma’s left flank, with the Italian side being admirers of the Tottenham winger’s technical abilities.

However, the Lilywhites are not interested in a permanent sale, with a loan deal looking the more realistic outcome.

Spurs are expecting movement in January, and letting Tel leave would be a sensible decision.

Tottenham will be overloaded in attack if they sign Antoine Semenyo

Tottenham want to bring Antoine Semenyo to the club in January, and are looking to make a statement to the rest of the Premier League.

But if they bring the Bournemouth ace, he will only be another number in the growing list of attacking options at N17.

Spurs already have Mohammed Kudus, Wilson Odobert, Brennan Johnson and the returning Dejan Kulusevski in wide areas, and Semenyo’s potential arrival could leave them overloaded.

But Frank should have an easy decision in letting Tel go following his slow progression at Tottenham.

A loan deal could prove a masterstroke if the Frenchman could go away and come back next year as a refined player.

Luka Vuskovic brushes shoulders with Europe’s elite after incredible new reveal away from Tottenham

Tottenham’s Luka Vuskovic has become one of the brightest prospects in European football after excelling on loan at Hamburg.

Vuskovic joined Hamburg on loan despite there being many calls for him to play a part in the senior team under Thomas Frank.

However, the move to Germany has paid off for all parties, with the 18-year-old featuring in eight out of 10 league matches for Hamburg this season.

He is developing into a generational talent, and his overwhelming success in Germany has him rated as the best centre-back in Europe’s top five leagues so far in 2025-26.

Luka Vuskovic named in WhoScored Team of the Season

Vuskovic signed for Tottenham in 2023, with an agreement in place that he would stay at Hadjuk Split until 2025.

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However, it was decided that regular game time was best for development, and Hamburg swooped in to sign Vuskovic on a one-year loan deal.

The centre-back has completed 100 per cent of his dribbles and won 71 ground duels, the most of any player in the Bundesliga.

According to WhoScored, Vuskovic has the highest average match rating (7.38) out of all the centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues, and he’s been named in their Team of the Season.

Vuskovic has exceeded expectations at Hamburg, and etched his name into club history after scoring their first goal in the Bundesliga in 2,688 days in the 2-1 win over Heidenheim on 20 September.

According to FotMob, he has achieved a pass accuracy of 85.7 per cent and a long ball accuracy of 55.6 per cent, showcasing his strengths in possession as well.

At just 18, he is taking Europe by storm, and Tottenham fans will be anticipating him making an impact on the squad next season.

The Croatian gem has adapted to German football brilliantly, and excitement is slowly building over his long-term future in N17.

How high is Luka Vuskovic’s ceiling?

Tottenham already have a host of promising centre-backs, with Kota Takai and Ashley Phillips also set to be in contention to fight for their place in the first team.

Of course, it would be a huge task to displace Micky Van de Ven and Cristian Romero from their starting positions, but Vuskovic is certainly someone who could provide stern competition.

Standing tall at 1.93 metres, the 18-year-old has certainly got the potential to be a starter for the Lilywhites in the coming years.

With the market for talented young centre-backs seemingly scarce at the moment, the deal to sign Vuskovic and slowly develop him at different clubs looks to be a masterstroke, and there is no reason to say that he can’t become one of the best defenders in the world.

Tottenham are keen to sign a “world-class” goalkeeper to compete with Guglielmo Vicario this winter transfer window.

Vicario conceded in the final moments during Tottenham’s 2-2 draw to Manchester United in the Premier League before the international break.

The moment left Spurs supporters furious, with many citing the Italian international’s inconsistency over the past couple of seasons.

A potential departure for Vicario from Tottenham has been on the table before, and it could soon become a reality.

Tottenham want to sign a top-notch keeper

Tottenham are actively pursuing a deal for a “world-class goalkeeper” to replace Vicario, according to the Daily Mail on 20 November.

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The paper cites Emiliano Martinez as a potential option to replace Vicario. The Aston Villa star wanted a departure over the summer, but nothing materialised.

Meanwhile, Marc-Andre ter Stegen was linked with a move to Tottenham earlier this season.

This comes after it was widely reported that the Lilywhites are set to be one of their busiest teams this January.

Indeed, Tottenham are keen to boost Thomas Frank‘s squad as part of the Lewis family’s decision to prioritise Spurs’ sporting success.

Ivan Toney could be reunited with Frank, while Spurs are one of the clubs interested in Antonine Semenyo‘s reported £65million release clause.

While the extent of their movement remains to be seen, Tottenham fans will be expecting to welcome several new faces come January.

Guglielmo Vicario is the backbone of this Tottenham side

Tottenham fans wanted Antonin Kinsky to replace Vicario at the beginning of the season, but were quick to apologise to their number one keeper after Kinsky’s dreadful cameo in their 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle United.

There’s a saying that you don’t know what you have until it’s gone, and it sums up Vicario’s situation in North London perfectly.

Tottenham haven’t been the defensive fortress that most fans have been led to believe.

Meanwhile, Vicario has been one of the best-performing keepers in the Premier League:

Furthermore, the keeper has recorded 100 per cent successful runs out per game and has conceded around 0.9 goals per game, according to Sofascore.

His performances no doubt deserve more respect than some fans have afforded him.

Vicario has been the backbone of this Tottenham side, and unless his name is Thibaut Courtois, replacing one of the best keepers in the Premier League this season would be a mistake.