TBR Football

With Cristian Romero’s future up in the air, Tottenham Hotspur might need to dip into the summer market and sign a brand-new centre-back.

Romero could leave Tottenham despite winning the Europa League after Spurs’ famous 1-0 win against Manchester United recently.

Atletico Madrid are keen on signing Romero in the summer to bolster their defence.

It’s safe to say that replacing the World Cup winner will be a tall task for Tottenham Hotspur, as he is the leader of their backline.

Tottenham target Jarrad Branthwaite could be another Micky van de Ven

However, The Times have reported that Jarrad Branthwaite is one of the options on Tottenham’s shortlist.

In Branthwaite, Spurs could sign a defender who is not just stylistically similar to Micky van de Ven but could be another success story just like the Dutchman has been since moving to North London.

Much like Van de Ven, the Englishman is one of the best young centre-backs in Europe, renowned for his incredible athleticism, calmness with the ball at his feet and intelligent reading of the game.

While Ange Postecoglou’s future at Tottenham is uncertain, Branthwaite would allow the Australian to play his signature high line due to his searing recovery pace and ability to defend out wide if the 59-year-old keeps his job.

Tottenham have tracked Branthwaite for ages, who much like Van de Ven is the modern centre-back, capable of not just defending in wide areas but inside the box as he has often had to as a part of Everton’s deep block.

Branthwaite is valued at £50 million by Everton, who expect him to leave in the summer, which is good news for Spurs.

Considering Van de Ven signed for the Lilywhites at the same age as the former Carlisle colossus (22), the latter could be an addition who could aid Tottenham in the present and the future.

Jarrad Branthwaite stats compared to Micky van de Ven

However, Liverpool are scouting Branthwaite as well and considering Arne Slot’s side won the Premier League last season, they could potentially have an advantage over Spurs in the race to sign him.

Tottenham will be analysing Branthwaite’s stats in comparison to Van de Ven to see how he stacks up against arguably their most consistent centre-half.

The numbers show that when it comes to tackles, interceptions and clearances, the Everton gem has the edge on the former Wolfsburg speedster.

However, Van de Ven has attempted more passes (65.44 as compared to 42.94) and progressive passes (5.1 in comparison to 2.37) than Branthwaite per game over the past year; which indicates that the 24-year-old plays in a far more ball-dominant side than Branthwaite.

Everton are showing an interest in one of Tottenham Hotspur’s top performers from the Europa League final.

Tottenham Hotspur could be set for big changes this summer with Ange Postecoglou’s future in North London now looking increasingly in doubt.

Thomas Frank has held talks with Tottenham about being the man to replace the 59-year-old should the two parties decide to part ways.

Meanwhile, following a dismal Premier League campaign, big changes are also expected to arrive in the playing squad, and that could involve one of their top midfielders being sold.

Everton could enter the mix for Yves Bissouma

Everton have been tipped to enter the race to sign Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma by journalist Ben Jacobs. The Lilywhites are ready to offload the midfielder should they receive the right offer.

The Toffees are expected to be on the hunt for new midfielders this summer and the Malian international is one who they could target.

Jacobs told the Last Word On Spurs: “Bissouma is aware of this volume of interest, even Everton, I’m told, could come into the mix because they’re going to be losing a couple of midfielders and also looking to strengthen in that area.”

The 28-year-old is set to be available for transfer this summer, and he has a host of clubs that are also keen to sign him. Tottenham signed Bissouma for £25m back in the summer of 2022.

Aston Villa, Leeds United and Saudi Pro League clubs are amongst the parties who have also expressed an interest in him.

Would Yves Bissouma be a good fit for Everton?

Bissouma’s performance in the Europa League final was superb as the former Brighton player showed exactly why Spurs signed him in the first place.

Postecoglou spoke to Bissouma about how important he can be for the team and it appeared to work with the midfielder’s fortunes being transformed.

But regardless of his improved form, Tottenham are ready to sell Bissouma and have been working to offload him for quite some time now.

If David Moyes and Everton were able to get the version of Bissouma who finished the season at Tottenham so strongly, that could be a significant coup for the Toffees.

Thomas Frank is being closely linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur and there is one player in particular he will be excited to get his hands on.

Tottenham Hotspur are expected to decide Ange Postecoglou’s future this week, however, TBR Football understand it is likely that the two parties will agree to part ways.

Frank has held talks with Tottenham about the possibility of replacing the 59-year-old and it is looking increasingly likely that he will get the job.

The 51-year-old has done a brilliant job at Brentford raising the level of some of the Bees’ best players – something which Spurs will be hoping he can now repeat in N17.

The Dane will be excited about working with several members of Spurs’ current squad, but none more so than one of their best players, whom he attempted to sign for Brentford.

When Thomas Frank tried to sign Brennan Johnson

Thomas Frank appears to be a big fan of Brennan Johnson, with the Danish manager having attempted to sign him for Brentford back in the summer of 2023.

Frank bid for Johnson in what would have been a club-record deal for Brentford, however, the Lilywhites ended up bringing the youngster to North London instead.

Tottenham signed Johnson for £45m in a deal which has caused much division amongst the fanbase up until his winning goal in the Europa League final.

Johnson, who Postecoglou called ‘really clinical’, has proved to be a pivotal signing for the Lilywhites as he was a key player in their Europa League-winning campaign.

Not only did he score in the final against Manchester United, but he managed six goal contributions overall throughout the competition.

Now, Frank might finally get the chance to work with Johnson, and it could be fantastic news for the Spurs attacker.

Why Thomas Frank could help Brennan Johnson explode

Frank could be the manager who really takes Johnson to the next level following the Welsh winger’s most productive season to date.

Johnson ended the campaign as Tottenham’s leading goal scorer as he netted on 18 occasions across all competitions, including the winner in the Europa League final.

But despite the goals, the 23-year-old’s overall contribution to the team has been questioned at times, and this is something Frank could help fix.

The Brentford boss has a remarkable record of improving attackers by getting the best out of them and minimising their weaknesses.

Frank has improved players like Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbuemo and Yoane Wissa, all of whom are now considered top Premier League attackers.

Tottenham Hotspur found out that they will play Paris Saint-Germain in the Super Cup in August following the Parisians‘ Champions League final triumph over Inter Milan.

PSG were immense in Munich and Tottenham fans watching on would be forgiven for feeling slightly apprehensive ahead of their meeting in two months’ time.

Of course, Spurs fans will also just be delighted to be competing on that stage, one they’ll hope to follow a seriously productive summer in the transfer market.

Although, before a signing is made, Daniel Levy will need to decide Ange Postecoglou’s future.

Postecoglou has asked Levy for more time, but it’s still widely believed that the Spurs boss will be relieved of his duties in due course.

Ange Postecoglou wanted to sign Desire Doue for Tottenham

That being said, things might have worked out very differently for Postecoglou had he managed to sign Desire Doue for Tottenham.

Tottenham wanted Doue from Stade Rennais last summer, before he agreed a move to French champions PSG.

In fact, Postecoglou was personally pushing to sign Doue according to reports, a winger who is now taking Europe by storm.

Djed Spence compared Doue to Neymar recently, a comparison he doubled down on when posting on X after watching the Champions League final.

Doue scored twice in a brilliant 5-0 PSG win and UEFA in turn announce that he had won the Player of the Match award, one that was richly deserved.

Of course, were Doue aware of Spurs’ interest at the time, he’s unlikely to have any regrets — it’s fair to say that his move to PSG is going to plan.

But in terms of Postecoglou, he might be endlessly frustrated that his ambitions weren’t matched behind the scenes, should those reports be true.

Spurs also wanted Randal Kolo Muani from PSG

It’s worth noting that Tottenham were also interested in a PSG player in January too.

Tottenham were in talks to sign Randal Kolo Muani, who instead embarked on a loan move to Juventus in Serie A.

Spurs’ big January addition ended up being Mathys Tel instead, who has shown promise in N17, without seriously disrupting the status quo.

And perhaps these missed opportunities will be a frustration for Postecoglou should he be looking back on his time at Spurs in a month or so.

Levy has been criticised by fans for not showing enough ambition in the transfer market, and perhaps that is a struggle Spurs’ next manager will fail to win as well.

Levy has backed Postecoglou to an extent, but it’s hard to say that Tottenham couldn’t have done more over the past few windows.

Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer plans could run into some constraints this summer and here’s why.

Spurs supporters will have been hoping for an exciting summer transfer window following their Europa League-winning campaign and qualification for the Champions League.

Champions League football often means an increased budget and being more attractive to the best players, however, the North London club could have some issues actually bringing in these top stars.

Along with the fact that Tottenham could yet sack Ange Postecoglou, right now, the Lilywhites’ supporters are facing a summer of uncertainty.

Tottenham still owe more than £330m in transfer fees

BBC Sport’s report, speaking with football finance expert Kieran Maguire, reveals that Tottenham Hotspur still owe over £330m in transfer fees.

It is believed that whilst Spurs do have the capacity to make additions ahead of the new season, they could run into some issues with spending, given what they still owe.

The report adds that Tottenham owe ‘a considerable proportion’ of that £330m in the summer of 2025, and this could be ‘the biggest constraint’ to their transfer plans.

Sporting director Johan Lange and potentially Fabio Paratici, therefore, might need to start being creative in terms of who they target and who they offload.

Both have proved to be rather shrewd in players they have signed with Paratici having been credited for bringing in the likes of Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, Destiny Udogie and Pape Matar Sarr, all for relatively cheap fees.

Meanwhile, Lange signed the likes of Lucas Bergvall, Kevin Danso and Archie Gray, all of whom have been big successes in N17.

How much will Tottenham’s top targets like Eberechi Eze cost?

Eberechi Eze appears to be one of Spurs’ top transfer targets. Eze’s release clause is set at £60m and this could prove to be a great fee considering the impact he could have.

Bryan Mbeumo could become a target for Tottenham. Brentford value Mbeumo at £50m and Thomas Frank being linked with Tottenham could accelerate that move.

Xavi Simons is valued at £50m and could be a great opportunity for the Lilywhites, Spurs have shown a reported interest in the Dutch international.

Tottenham Hotspur have been rather slow movers in the transfer window so far, however, the North London club have already made one bargain signing.

Given the doubts surrounding Ange Postecoglou’s future at the football club, it’s been tricky for the Lilywhites to make concrete transfer plans ahead of next season.

Spurs have been linked with several names, but at this stage, they aren’t particularly close to making any immediate signings to help bolster Postecoglou’s squad.

Although, despite any serious links to new players, the North London club have already made a signing for just £21 million, which could prove to be one of the best deals of this summer.

Tottenham sign Kevin Danso for just £21m

Tottenham Hotspur have already signed Kevin Danso for £21m after triggering their obligation to buy him from SC Lens, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed.

Spurs stole Danso from under the nose of Wolverhampton Wanderers, who looked set to sign the Austrian international in January.

The Lilywhites agreed an initial loan deal with the obligation to make the transfer permanent in the summer, and now that looks to be an absolute steal.

Danso said he joined Tottenham to win trophies and that’s exactly what he’s done as he helped them to end their 17-year wait for silverware.

The defender played a vital role in their successful Europa League-winning campaign as he featured against AZ Alkmaar, Frankfurt and Manchester United.

Tottenham fans hailed Danso’s performance in the Europa League final against Man United as he came on to form a back-three and see out the victory.

The 26-year-old seamlessly fitted into Spurs’ defence as he batted away everything the Red Devils threw at them in the final stages of the match.

To sign a player of such quality for just £21m, who will also add great depth to Postecoglou’s defensive options, Johan Lange should be getting big praise for doing that deal.

How many goals did Tottenham concede with Kevin Danso playing?

Danso was on the pitch whilst Spurs conceded 26 times in 15 appearances for the Lilywhites.

However, the defender was often involved in matches where Postecoglou had made several changes with other matches in mind.

The defender helped them to keep three clean sheets during these appearances, including twice in the Europa League against Frankfurt and Man United.

Thomas Frank held talks with Tottenham Hotspur this week to discuss a potential move across London.

Tottenham could sack Ange Postecoglou and have started looking at replacements for the Australian manager.

One of the top names on their list is Thomas Frank, according to Foot Mercato, and talks have taken place this week to understand whether the Dane could be the right man to take on the job.

Possible transfer targets are believed to have been on the agenda, and here are three Brentford players who TBR Football think the 51-year-old could look to bring with him.

Tottenham need to enter the race for Bryan Mbeumo

The most obvious candidate for Frank to take from Brentford to Tottenham is Bryan Mbeumo, who was on fire for the Bees last season.

The Cameroon international hit the 20-goal mark in the Premier League for the first time in his career and now, he looks ready to make that move to a European club.

Arsenal have spoken to Mbeumo and Spurs should most certainly be looking to do the same thing, regardless of whether Frank comes to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium or not.

Brentford value Mbeumo at £50m and for that sort of fee, Tottenham should certainly be making a strong push to get him.

Kevin Schade could be an underrated Tottenham target

Kevin Schade could be an underrated player to replace Son Heung-min under Frank, given how much he developed across the second half of the Premier League season.

The German international finished the season with 11 goals in the top flight, and his form saw him called up to Julian Nagelsmann’s squad back in March.

Back in 2023, Frank said he was convinced that Schade would become a ‘very good player’ for Brentford following a slow start to life in the capital.

Schade hasn’t received much attention in the transfer window yet, however, the 23-year-old is a player who some of the top clubs should be taking a look at.

The Saudi Pro League are keen on Son, which means Spurs may well need to seek his successor, and Schade could be a very solid fit.

Nathan Collins could be possible Cristian Romero replacement

Similarly to Schade, Nathan Collins would certainly be an underrated signing for Tottenham if they were to move for the Irish international.

TBR Football has previously revealed Arsenal’s interest in Collins and he is a defender Spurs should look at if Cristian Romero were to leave.

Romero could push to leave if Postecoglou was to be sacked and Collins could be more than the ideal candidate to replace him.

The 24-year-old is very comfortable in possession and has proven himself to be one of the best central defenders on the ball in the league.

Tottenham are already working on new signings, just days after winning the UEFA Europa League.

Spurs are still yet to back Ange Postecoglou publicly amidst widespread uncertainty at Tottenham in the wake of glory in Bilbao, but despite this, recruitment plans are ongoing.

Leroy Sane is one player Tottenham are pushing to sign, and an interesting exchange between the Bayern Munich No.10 and Heung-min Son has added a new dimension to the saga.

Heung-min Son and Leroy Sane have already met up at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

The South Korea international could be decisive this summer.

TBR Football understand Tottenham have opened talks to sign Sane on a free transfer, as his contract at the Allianz Arena nears expiry.

Now, footage has emerged from after the pre-season friendly between Tottenham and Bayern Munich last summer, where Son can be seen in a playful mood around the Germany international, tickling his beard before the pair walk down the tunnel together while embraced.

Sources have also told TBR Football that Arsenal are keen on Sane – who Bayern Munich spent £44.7m to sign from Manchester City in July 2020 – so the relationship between the German and the Tottenham No.7 could well prove decisive this summer.

The pair have never played together, although Sane and Son were in the Bundesliga at the same time while playing for Schalke 04 and Hamburger SV – they have also played for Bayer Leverkusen at different stages, offering another connection.

Not only is the 29-year-old close with Son, but his agent, Pini Zahavi, has a tight bond with Daniel Levy.

Christian Falk even claims that Zahavi is urging Sane to join Tottenham this summer, and there is another potentially key detail to digest, as the attacker’s family live in London.

With all of the above taken into account, a move to N17 for the Bayern Munich star would not be a surprise by any means.

Jean-Philippe Mateta has been hailing a player from Tottenham Hotspur, whom he’s found is very tricky to play against due to one key trait of his.

Mateta netted against Tottenham Hotspur back in October and featured on both occasions against the North London club as the Eagles did the double over them.

The Frenchman truly announced himself as a top Premier League striker this season after ending the campaign with 14 goals in the Premier League.

Crystal Palace’s striker has been discussing his thoughts on one of Spurs’ top performers this season and revealed why he can be so tricky to face one against one.

Jean-Philippe Mateta hails Micky van de Ven’s speed

Mateta has hailed the speed of Micky van de Ven and labelled the Tottenham defender as a ‘very good’ player.

Van de Ven, who Glenn Hoddle loves, is the fastest recorded player in Premier League history, and his raw speed has earned him the prestige of being one of the league’s best defenders.

Speaking about the Dutch international’s pace, Mateta told the Premier League: “As a striker, you always make the runs. But this guy always comes to take the ball, you know. He’s very good!”

@premierleague The fastest player in #PremierLeague HISTORY is? 🫢 @spursofficial ♬ original sound – Premier League

Van de Ven was superb in the Europa League final as the 24-year-old played such an important role in helping Spurs end their 17-year wait for silverware.

Tottenham fans also praised Van de Ven for his match-winning clearance to deny Rasmus Hojlund a near-certain goal, which would have levelled the score at 1-1.

Son was wowed by Van de Ven’s speed when the defender produced one of the best assists of the season against Man United as he set up Brennan Johnson on the way to a 4-0 win at Old Trafford.

How fast is Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven?

Van de Ven was the only Premier League player to record a top speed of over 37km/h this season as he dominated the leaderboard, as per the Premier League.

The Spurs defender became the quickest player ever recorded in the Premier League in 2024 when he hit a top speed of 37.38 km/h against Brentford.

Thomas Frank is being linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur this summer to replace Ange Postecoglou.

Postecoglou’s future at Tottenham remains in doubt, with Daniel Levy considering whether or not he should sack the Australian manager.

Despite winning them their first major in 17 years, Spurs could yet sack Ange Postecoglou due to the team’s 17th-place finish in the Premier League.

Tottenham have been considering replacements since January, as revealed by TBR Football, and one of the leading contenders is Brentford’s Thomas Frank.

Why Tottenham really like Thomas Frank

Frank is a manager whom Tottenham Hotspur strongly admire and it is believed that the Dane is a leading candidate to replace Ange Postecoglou, according to the Telegraph.

The 51-year-old has done an impressive job across the capital with Brentford, having turned them into a solid Premier League club

Frank took charge of the Bees whilst they were in the Championship and guided them into the top flight after just three seasons with the club.

His work in West London has now caught the eye of Spurs and Brentford could face a tricky test to fight off interest from the Champions League club.

It is believed that Frank’s ability to work with young players and develop them into top Premier League players is something which has impressed Levy and the Spurs board.

The Danish manager has helped improve players like Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins during his time with the Bees.

The North London club have a young squad themselves and a transfer model which is somewhat reliant on uncovering gems and turning them into superstars. Therefore, Frank could be just the right man for Tottenham.

Thomas Frank should bring Bryan Mbeumo to Tottenham

Should Tottenham decide to sack Postecoglou and appoint Frank, one of his first moves as manager should be to sign Mbeumo.

The Cameroonian international has been one of his most impressive players during his time at Brentford, and he looks set to leave the G-Tech Community Stadium this summer.

Arsenal are linked with Mbeumo, however, their North London rivals should be looking to intervene and bring him to N17 instead.

The 25-year-old was really impressive under Frank this season as he netted 20 Premier League goals for the first time in his career.