TBR Football

After his goal against Liverpool, Ryan Sessegnon has been speaking about what has changed for him since he left Tottenham Hotspur to return to Fulham.

Sessegnon netted his third goal for the West London club since making his return on a free transfer as Fulham defeated the Premier League leaders, Liverpool.

Goals from the 23-year-old, Alex Iwobi and Rodrigo Muniz secured vital three points for Marco Silva’s team, who are now in strong contention to qualify for Europe.

The former Spurs player has now explained what he feels is happening differently for him at Craven Cottage from his time at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Ryan Sessegnon on his position change after moving from Tottenham to Fulham

Ryan Sessegnon believes that his position change from playing as a defender at Tottenham Hotspur to now playing as a winger at Fulham is helping him to get his attacking instincts back.

The 24-year-old scored his second goal for the Cottagers since making his return and his switch back to an attacking role looks to have really benefitted him.

When asked about whether he’s getting his attacking instincts back, Sessegnon told Match of the Day 2: “A little bit. I’m getting my attacking instinct back a little bit.

“Obviously my time away from the club when I was at Spurs, I was probably used as more of a defender. So I feel the more games I play higher up the field, it’s all coming back to me.”

Ryan Sessegnon’s stats by position at Tottenham

Tottenham invested £30m in Sessegnon and will be left wondering how they failed to get the best out of him.

During his time at Spurs, he featured mostly at left-back and left wing-back as he made just 57 appearances for the club in four years.

Sesessegnon, who scored against Tottenham last month, netted on just three occasions with the Lilywhites and since returning to West London, he has already matched that tally.

The Fulham academy product has four goal contributions in his last five Premier League matches and could play a key role in helping his team qualify for Europe.

In his first 35 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur, Dominic Solanke has scored 11 goals and provided eight assists for his teammates.

In total, seven of those goals have come in the Premier League meaning that Solanke is still stuck behind Tottenham teammates James Maddison (nine) and Brennan Johnson (11) in the standings.

Of course, it has to be mentioned that Solanke has suffered two injuries in his first season in N17 – the striker sustained an ankle injury last September before enduring some knee troubles in March.

And whilst those issues have slowed down his progress, some Spurs fans have begun to doubt the striker’s contributions of late.

Tottenham supporters are worried about Dominic Solanke

Against Southampton on Sunday in a 3-1 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Solanke played 87 minutes before being replaced by Mathys Tel, who then scored a penalty.

Tel was determined to take the penalty ahead of Brennan Johnson who was on for a hat-trick.

But rather than that incident being the talking point for Tottenham fans after the game, a fair few were left debating the merits of Solanke’s contributions in front of goal.

Taking to X, one Tottenham fan concluded: “Extremely concerned about Solanke, dreadful first touch and not physically strong enough to hold it effectively.

“I’d sell in summer if can get reasonable fee.”

Another fan shared similar sentiments saying: “Is anyone worried about Solanke long term? I’m just not sure he’s a top 6 striker.”

Interestingly, one fan then replied to that tweet perhaps recognising that Solanke had been below par but in turn blaming Ange Postecoglou for his form.

Of course, not all Tottenham fans are worried about or blaming Solanke – a striker who perhaps isn’t getting the service that many expected at Spurs.

One fan replied to criticism by saying: “Stop blaming Solanke when no one helps the guy and he is constantly being marked by two 6ft+ defenders.”

Daniel Levy is planning to buy a new striker

Irrespective of Solanke’s form, Tottenham want a new striker this summer according to reports, someone who can compete with the England international.

But perhaps these Tottenham players could be unlocked under a different manager – it’s hard not to conclude that Postecoglou isn’t getting the best from his players right now.

Spurs managed to beat Southampton relatively comfortably on Sunday but that’s hardly a point of celebration – a side relegated with several games left to play.

Clearly there will be some difficult decisions to make in north London this summer, and Daniel Levy’s biggest will be deciding who is fit to lead this project forward.

Tottenham Hotspur fans have been left wondering why Brennan Johnson didn’t take the penalty he to complete his hat trick, with Mathys Tel instead took and scored.

Tottenham Hotspur returned to winning ways with a 3-1 win over Southampton, which sent the visitors back down to the Championship.

Johnson’s brace and then Tel’s first Premier League ensured that Ange Postecogolou secured a much-needed win to somewhat ease the pressure on him for now.

Meanwhile, for Johnson, it was a confidence-boosting display for him, although he was denied the chance to clinch his first league hat-trick by having the penalty which he won taken away from him.

Why didn’t Brennan Johnson take Tottenham’s penalty vs Southampton?

Brennan Johnson looked set to complete his first Premier League hat-trick after winning a penalty in the final stages of the win over Southampton.

The Welsh international collected the ball, ready to score his third, however, the chance was taken away from him by vice captain Cristian Romero.

It seems as though the Argentine decided that Mathys Tel needed the goal more than Johnson, with the Frenchman still waiting for his first goal in the league.

Romero gave his teammate a small hug before taking the ball from him to give to the 19-year-old who slotted home in first Premier League goal and just his second in total since his move from FC Bayern.

Ange Postecoglou lauds Brennan Johnson’s performance vs Southampton

Ange Postecoglou has lauded the performance of Johnson, as he scored his 15th and 16th goals of the season in the win.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Postecoglou said: “He was outstanding and he also earned the penalty. His general play was really good, not just his goals so really pleased for him.”

The 23-year-old is having a great season in front of goal and is now five goals clear as Spurs’ leading scorer.

TBR Football understands that Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur were all in attendance at Portman Road on Saturday to watch Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap.

Sources have confirmed that all three Premier League clubs were there to watch Delap along with several other players as Wolves won 2-1 in a major boost for their survival hopes.

Darwin Nunez’s future at Liverpool is unclear and the Reds have been looking at several different attacking options, including Delap, whose form has seen tipped to play for England.

Tottenham and Newcastle are also keen to bolster their attacking options and have joined the race to sign the 22-year-old this summer.

Tottenham, Liverpool and Newcastle watch Liam Delap vs Wolves

Sources have told Graeme Bailey – chief correspondent at TBR Football that Tottenham, Liverpool and Newcastle all watched Liam Delap score against Wolves on Saturday afternoon.

The striker scored the opening goal of the game for the Tractor Boys, however, the visitors managed to turn the game on its head to win 2-1 at Portman Road.

Kieran McKenna’s side now find themselves 12 points adrift from safety and look set for the drop. Relegation to the Championship would almost certainly lead to Delap’s departure.

The race for the former Manchester City man is starting to heat up, with the trio of Premier League clubs joining Chelsea in the race to land him. Arsenal have also shown an interest in Delap, as Mikel Arteta aims to bring a new number nine to North London.

Last month, TBR Football revealed that Chelsea were preparing a £50 million bid for Delap, with the player having already closely worked with him.

Tottenham and Liverpool also watch Joao Gomes, Andre and Rayan Ait Nouri

Liverpool and Spurs would also had the chance to check on Wolves’ Brazilian duo Joao Gomes and Andre, who they have both been to watch previously.

Although, as confirmed by TBR Football’s sources, Gomes does not have a release clause in his new Wolves contract, which could make a deal quite expensive.

Rayan Ait Nouri is another player who has been impressive under Vitor Pereira and he has a host of clubs wanting him, including Liverpool and Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur are continuing to push hard to sign England international Angel Gomes on a free transfer from Lille this summer.

Gomes left England as a number 10 but his change in position has since inspired an England call-up, earning four caps under Lee Carsley.

Of course, Gomes’ form has caught the attention of Tottenham who have spotted a potential bargain deal for the midfielder.

Gomes has decided to leave Lille once his contract expires in the summer and Spurs are determined to be the club at the front of the queue.

Tottenham are pushing hard to sign Angel Gomes on a free transfer

That considered, TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey understands that Tottenham remain confident of securing Gomes’ signature.

Gomes has been the subject of approaches and offers from nearly a dozen clubs across Europe, but Spurs have long been leading the chase.

The 24-year-old Londoner is expected to make his final decision on his new club in the coming weeks and Spurs are hopeful that their offer is enough.

In fact, TBR sources confirm that Spurs were in attendance for Lille’s clash at Lyon on Saturday, a game which Gomes started.

Tottenham will have also taken the chance to check on Jonathan David and Rayan Cherki whilst at the game.

Cherki came off the bench in the first 10 minutes before scoring the winner for Lyon in a 2-1 victory.

Paulo Fonseca has explained why Angel Gomes can thrive at Tottenham

Of course, Gomes could turn out to be the missing piece in Ange Postecoglou’s midfield, should he opt for a move to N17.

Widely-respected Lille manager Paul Fonseca praised Gomes’ profusely when speaking to BBC Sport last year, describing the midfielder as the most ‘intelligent’ player in his squad.

Fonseca said: “Angel is maybe the most intelligent player I have in my team.

“He understands faster than the others everything about the game, he loves the game, he loves to learn and he is a player with big skills, big technique.

“He is a player who under pressure it is not easy to steal the ball off him and who discovers the space so easily.

“He is young, he has a big talent. I believe with the right coach, with the right project, with the right game for him, he can have a possibility to have a big step in his career.”

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs won more games against Tottenham Hotspur than any other club in his career.

The legendary Welshman is among United’s greatest-ever players, and very few can match his accomplishments at Old Trafford.

Tottenham have had some great players over the years too, but none of them achieved the success that Giggs did during their time in North London.

However, one-time Spurs striker Darren Bent thinks one of his old teammates was actually better than the Manchester United legend.

Darren Bent explains why Tottenham icon Gareth Bale was better than Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs

Gareth Bale spent six years at Tottenham Hotspur during his first spell at the club.

The Welshman started off as a left-back at White Hart Lane, and there were a lot of doubts about him early on in his Spurs career.

However, the North Londoners gave him a chance to prove himself, and he went on to become one of their greatest-ever players.

Bale secured a then-record move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2013, and he achieved incredible things as a Galactico.

The biggest highlights of Bale’s career came in Spain, but Bent thinks he ranks above Giggs in the Premier League too.

He said on talkSPORT: “I would have Bale above Giggs. I know people are going to talk about longevity and trophies.

“But, if you’re talking about the peak of their powers, I didn’t see Giggs reach the same levels that Bale reached.

“Giggs won the PFA Player of the Year later on, I think he was like 37, and there are question marks around him winning that. Bale won two.”

Ryan Giggs vs Gareth Bale career stats compared

Giggs and Bale both had fantastic careers at the top level.

The Manchester United icon is arguably far more appreciated at Old Trafford than Bale was at Real Madrid, but the latter’s numbers show how great he was.

Here’s how Bale and Giggs’ stats compare against each other.

Giggs was definitely the more successful player, having won 13 Premier League titles during his time at Manchester United.

But, Bale scored more goals than his compatriot despite playing over 400 fewer games.

That is perhaps why Bent is convinced that his old Tottenham Hotspur teammate ranks higher than the Manchester United icon.

Tottenham Hotspur have endured what can only be described as a truly terrible Premier League campaign.

Spurs are closer to a relegation battle than they are a Champions League push, and, fingers have been pointed left, right and centre this season.

Ange Postecoglou is under massive pressure right now, and Postecoglou even turned on his own fans earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Tottenham fans have protested against Daniel Levy.

However, Levy has spent a lot of money at Tottenham in recent times, including the club-record signing of Dominic Solanke.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Paul Merson has been discussing Solanke after a difficult first season at Tottenham, and, interestingly, the pundit continued to back the striker.

Paul Merson backs Dominic Solanke, says Arsenal could’ve signed him

Merson spoke about Solanke after his difficult season so far.

The pundit says that he’s still a fan of Solanke, and he actually thinks he would’ve been a decent signing for Arsenal if the Gunners had decided to go down that avenue.

Arsenal were linked with Solanke at one point, but, of course, Tottenham got a deal done.

“I thought it was a good signing when he signed. I still believe it will be but he hasn’t hit the heights he did at Bournemouth, he’s a bit nervous at first, a bit stop-start. He will get better.”

“I’m a big fan of his. I thought he was a good signing for Tottenham. I thought Arsenal could have probably got him to be honest, but I don’t think he’s fulfilled his potential.

“I do like him, he’s a good player.”

Is Dominic Solanke an Arsenal fan?

Merson reckons that Solanke would’ve been a good signing for Arsenal, and the striker probably would’ve been open to a deal had the opportunity arose.

Indeed, Solanke actually supported Arsenal as a kid, and often used to go to watch the north London club.

“Would have probably been Arsenal. Yeah my Dad was an Arsenal fan so I used to follow them,” Solanke said when asked what was his first ever football shirt.

“I went to a few Emirates Cups back in the day.”

“Do you think about that when you play Arsenal?” The striker was asked.

Solanke said: “Not anymore. Back in the day when you’re young you love watching football and stuff but when you actually grow up and start playing against those teams I think it’s a bit hard to support a team, you know?”

Of course, we’ve seen Arsenal fans play for Tottenham before, and vice versa, but it is interesting to ponder where Arsenal and Solanke would be if this deal had happened in the summer.

Who is the greatest midfielder of all-time? That’s a question that is very difficult to answer.

Zinedine Zidane achieved incredible things during his career, pulling all of the strings from the midfield.

Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard was a phenomenon at Liverpool too.

Luka Modric won the Ballon d’Or a few years ago, and the Croatian boasts more Champions League wins than any other player.

Speaking to TalkSPORT, Sol Campbell has been asked to name who he believes to be the best midfielder ever, and he gave an interesting answer.

Campbell picked a former Tottenham player as the best midfielder of all-time, but it wasn’t Modric.

Paul Gascoigne is the greatest midfielder ever

Sol Campbell was asked to name who he believes is the greatest midfielder of all-time.

The former Spurs defender didn’t hesitate when he named Paul Gascoigne as the greatest midfielder ever.

Wayne Rooney recently named Gascoigne as England’s greatest ever player, and Campbell believes he’s the most talented midfielder ever.

Campbell did note that he was picking Gascoigne on the basis of him not being injured, but he still believes he’s the best midfielder to ever lace up a pair of boots.

Paul Gascoigne’s injury history

Campbell noted that Gascoigne would’ve been a marvel if he never got injured, but, sadly, injuries played a massive part in shaping the midfielder’s career.

Gazza famously went off injured in the 1991 FA Cup final after injuring his ACL, an injury that would put him out for a year.

Meanwhile, Gazza would suffer a double leg fracture in 1994 when he was at Lazio, missing more than a year of action once again.

Of course, Gascoigne would return triumphantly to make a massive impact for England at Euro 96, but he wasn’t quite the same player after having so many injuries.

Gascoigne’s career path and CV don’t quite stand up against the Zidane’s and the Modric’s of the world, granted, but, make no mistake about it, he was one of the most talented footballers of his generation.

As Tottenham chairman, co-owner and a lifelong supporter, Daniel Levy is financially and personally and financially invested in Spurs.

You have to have thick skin to be a club owner. The world of football finance can be unforgiving in the extreme – you get the stick when it goes wrong but rarely the credit when it goes right.

The problem at Spurs, who last night lost 1-0 to Chelsea and whose tally of 34 points could in Premier League seasons gone by have left them at serious risk of relegation, is that it rarely goes right.

The future of Ange Postecoglou is the most pressing issue for Tottenham at present, but the pressure on Daniel Levy and ENIC’s the club’s owners since 2001, is approaching critical mass.

The North Londoners have lost their way – and there is no quick fix.

For a fanbase desperate for a first trophy since 2008, with the Europa League their only remaining shot this season, this dynamic is inspiring equal parts weariness and fury.

Protests against the ownership have intensified, and the decision to play arch-rivals Arsenal in a ‘friendly’ in Hong Kong in the summer has not quelled accusations that they are fixated on commercial income.

As a strategy, Tottenham’s focus on sponsorship, merchandise, events and brand building in markets like Hong Kong has been extraordinarily successful since the move away from White Hart Lane.

Their commercial operation is the best in the Premier League and, quite possibly, the world. Their recently released accounts, which encompass a period lucrative without European football, are case in point.

Turnover remained largely steady at £528m, while commercial income shot up to a new club record of £255m. They have essentially disentangled financial performance from results on the football pitch.

This surge, driven by the money-printing Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has allowed them to spend more, just as Levy said it would. The problem is not how much is spent but rather how it is spent.

The wages-to-turnover ratio is low, yes, but this means Spurs have no issues whatsoever with Profit and Sustainability Rules. And as, Levy recently said, Tottenham “cannot spend what we don’t have.”

As a total, wages have risen in line with turnover, while overall squad cost – that’s wages and transfer fee amortisation – has skyrocketed since the move to the new stadium.

So, while Spurs fans may pine for more big-name signings, it isn’t the level of spending that is necessarily the problem, it’s how funds have been allocated and wasted with no coherent football masterplan.

This is where the accusation that Levy and ENIC need to concentrate less on commercial performance and more on football comes from – and, at its heart, its a fair one.

With that in mind, the latest news from the sports business ecosystem might alarm supporters.

Could Tottenham launch NBA franchise?

Levy has not been shy about signalling his ambitions for Spurs to capitalise on the popularity of other sports, though his rhetoric has cooled somewhat in recent years.

Tottenham famously enjoy very close, lucrative with the NFL, as well as Formula One. Some within American football have insisted Spurs one day want to launch an NFL franchise.

But what about basketball? After the NFL, the NBA is the world’s second most lucrative sports league – and it has its sights set on European expansion too.

This week, NBA commissioner Adam Silver confirmed that his organisation is looking at launching an officially endorsed professional European basketball league.

In recent days, it has been reliable reported that the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona – who already have popular basketball teams – have been invited to sign up, with a rumoured expansion cost of £400m.

Significantly, Manchester City are also said to be in the mix, as well as other Premier League clubs. And, naturally, there is a desire for a London-based franchise too.

Could that open the door for Spurs? It surely wouldn’t go down well with disgruntled fans telling the board to ‘stick to football, explains University of Liverpool football finance lecturer Kieran Maguire.

“This would align with what Spurs at board level want to do,” Maguire said in exclusive conversation with TBR Football.

“It’s a multi-sport model and gives Daniel Levy lots of opportunities to open the stadium. Where the matches would take place, we will have to wait and see. The stadium as it is is too big for basketball.

“We have seen basketball do okay in the UK but ultimately struggle. There have been some strategy and funding issues.

“Previously, we have seen clubs in Europe broaden their sports portfolio. Some clubs are sports clubs, not just football clubs.

“We’re operating in a market where you don’t want fall behind your neighbours.

“If Spurs don’t do it and Real Madrid do, that gives them a competitive edge. If Arsenal take the opportunity in London, Spurs are at a disadvantage, for example.

“I think Spurs are in a very strong position in that they have the resources do something like this. They made £140m worth of EBITDA profit last year, which in theory allows them to invest in other projects in theory.

“It makes sense. The only concern would be – and Daniel Levy has very thick skin – is Spurs fans are very unhappy with the business model being used. He could well just ignore that.”

Takeover latest: Daniel Levy’s options as Spurs talks continue

Adding a whole new sports team into the mix would surely move the dial in Daniel Levy’s attempts to bring new investment to Spurs, but what is the latest with the talks?

Amanda Staveley was in talks to acquire a minority interest in the club as long ago as June 2024, but there have been very few updates in recent months.

A Qatari-financed bid for Spurs, either in the form of a full or partial takeover, has also been mooted.

In news that could be read one of two ways for Spurs, sovereign wealth-backed Qatar Sports Investments are in advanced talks to acquire Malaga.

Is that a signal that QSI have given up on Spurs? Or, is it a tactic admission that Paris Saint Germain’s owners have said to hell with UEFA’s conflict of interest rules and could sanction more takeovers soon?

Another name loosely linked with Tottenham is football investment giant David Blitzer, who co-owns Crystal Palace.

This week, Blitzer announced he is selling his MLS and NWSL franchises, Real Salt Lake and Utah Royals. Could this be a reorganisation of funds for a Spurs bid?

He would have to divest his Palace stake first, and there have been conflicting reports about whether or not that is on the cards, with co-investor John Textor looking for a way out.

TBR Football can exclusively confirm what AC Milan are now doing that could give Tottenham Hotspur the chance to swoop for Fabio Paratici once again.

Last week, TBR Football revealed that AC Milan were close to agreeing a deal for Paratici to join, even though Tottenham were making a late attempt to get him.

Daniel Levy had been pushing for Paratici’s return to Tottenham following the good work he carried out at N17 prior to his ban from football.

Earlier this week, TBR Football revealed that Milan were on the verge of winning the race for Paratici, but there has been a twist that could let Tottenham right back in.

AC Milan now stalling on Fabio Paratici deal with Tottenham ready to pounce

TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey has confirmed that Paratici’s deal with Milan has stalled.

The Italian agreed terms with yesterday, but the Rossoneri are now seeking legal agreements that protect them in the future.

As such, the deal has not been signed, and Milan are now again considering other options.

Levy has been talking to Paratici in the last week as he wants him back and, with Milan stalling, this could allow Tottenham the chance to swoop in and land him.

Some of Fabio Paratici’s best signings at Tottenham

Paratici made a multitude of signings for Tottenham and a fair few of them have been great for the club.

For instance, Paratici brought Cristian Romero in, who is a formidable force when he’s firing on all cylinders.

Likewise, Dejan Kulusevski has gone from a Juventus flop to a key player for Ange Postecoglou at Spurs.

Tottenham are likely to have a busy summer on the transfer front and Paratici would be a big asset in their search for reinforcements in wake of a nightmare season.

Indeed, it remains to be seen whether Paratici would also be saddled with the task of finding a new manager for Spurs.

Ange Postecoglou has been told he needs to get Tottenham into Europe as the bare minimum, which is now a tall order given their league position and a tough European tie against Eintracht Frankfurt.