TBR Football

Luka Vuskovic has been making headlines in Hamburger just a few months into his spell away from Tottenham and has now explained why he actually wanted to leave Spurs on loan.

Hamburger fans have called Vuskovic ‘insane’ following his hugely impressive start to life in the Bundesliga.

The German media have already nicknamed him ‘Air Vuskovic’, given how impressive the defender has been aerially this season.

At first, Tottenham fans were unhappy with loaning out Vuskovic, but it’s clear that he is hugely benefiting from the loan to Germany, and he has been discussing the move.

Luka Vuskovic on why he left Tottenham on loan

Luka Vuskovic has claimed that he believed it would be more beneficial for his development to play regular football instead of sitting on the bench at Tottenham Hotspur.

Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have the two centre-back slots on lock in N17, and ultimately, he would have been forced to just wait for his turn.

Vuskovic, who Martin Jol rates highly, claims he is ‘not impatient’ and was happy to spend another season on loan away from Spurs.

Vuskovic told Sportske Novosti: “I’m not impatient. I know that as a very young player, a lot of good things have already happened to me, from the transfer to Tottenham to playing for the national team, but that’s not what made me so excited.

“I’m satisfied with my positions so far, I repeat, I’ve played everywhere and that’s a sign to me that I’m doing well and that the coaches recognise my effort and quality.

“It’s more important for Tottenham that I play than to sit on the bench, and that’s a good decision for me, because I’m aware that the club is very well covered in those positions and that I wouldn’t have much playing time there.

“Therefore, there’s no reason for any disappointment. I’m 18 years old, Tottenham has shown that they have a clear vision for me, and I’m a standard first-team player in a strong Bundesliga team.”

The teenager has impressed so much in the Bundesliga that Tottenham are already considering recalling Vuskovic, although that seems unlikely at this stage.

Hamburger director confident Tottenham won’t cut Luka Vuskovic’s loan short

HSV sporting director Claus Costa is confident that Tottenham will not recall the 18-year-old from his loan spell and spoke about what an important player he is for the German club.

Costa told Index.HR: “He is very convincing in defence, a charismatic player who brings a lot to the team. We have nothing against him staying with us as long as possible.

“We had constructive talks with Tottenham, they are a very professional club. They monitor their players on loan and know what Luka’s situation is.

“I believe they will not weaken us or break the deal, but I understand that they will protect their interests in the worst-case scenario. They are also aware that Luka has all the conditions to grow here and that he has settled well in this environment.”

Tottenham Hotspur have made a fine start to the season under new manager Thomas Frank, even in spite of the likes of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski being out injured.

It’s been a fascinating period of transition for Spurs this summer. Thomas Frank stepped into the job on the back of Ange Postecoglou’s incredible Europa League success, while club legend Heung-min Son moved on after a decade with the Lilywhites.

He’s also had to deal with a number of setbacks when it comes to injuries. Indeed, Frank has not yet been able to utilise Dejan Kulusevski or James Maddison at all yet.

Maddison is out with a serious ACL injury and has been documenting his road to recovery. But, while the English midfielder has been busy getting himself fit again, two of his young teammates have been reaping the rewards of extended runs in the first-team.

James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski injuries paved the way for Spurs success

Lucas Bergvall, the teenage sensation who chose Spurs over Barcelona, showed glimpses of what he could do under Postecoglou last season. However, the Swedish starlet was never really given a consistent run in the team.

In the Premier League in 2024/25, Bergvall started 11 matches. He’s already started four games under Frank in the league this year, plus another two starts in the Champions League. Overall, he’s already played almost a quarter of the minutes he racked up in the entirety of last season

Bergvall has also netted his first goal for Tottenham, with a sublime header in the win over West Ham (a game in which the 19-year-old also registered one of his two assists this season).

With an xG+xAG of just 1.5, Bergvall is clearly performing above and beyond expectations this term. He’s also averaging 2.11 shot-creating actions per 90 (Xavi Simons has 2.27, for reference) and 3.86 progressive passes per 90 (more than Joao Palhinha, who has an average of 2.74 per 90).

Meanwhile, Pape Matar Sarr has been given a more advanced role, higher up the pitch, and has thrived. The Senegalese star was often employed far deeper by Postecoglou, but Frank has clearly recognised the fact that Sarr’s athleticism, vision, and drive can make him an asset in the number 10 role.

Kulusevski was given a similar change of role under Postecoglou and became a revelation in the final third. There’s no denying that Tottenham have lacked that incisiveness and cohesion between midfield and attack since the Swedish playmaker was sidelined, but Sarr (and the arrival of Simons) has certainly helped in that regard.

He’s outperforming his xG+xAG even more dramatically than Bergvall (0.9 against a return of one goal and two assists). Plus, Sarr has an outstanding pass success rate of 82.2% and is heavily involved with 46.8 touches per 90 minutes on average.

Obviously, Spurs miss Maddison’s strong personality and leadership on the pitch. Any team would. But, the fact that younger players like Bergvall and Sarr have been given proper opportunities in the team is invaluable for the Tottenham squad.

Now, Thomas Frank knows that even when he’s missing top quality players, he can rely on the depth of his squad to achieve results. The fact that Spurs have lost just one game this season while Maddison and Kulusevski have been absent speaks volumes for just how far the Lilywhites could go when they return.

Dominic Solanke is key player Tottenham need back ASAP

While the midfield area is looking strong for Tottenham Hotspur, there are still concerns over their attacking options. Richarlison may have three goals and an assist to his name this season, but Frank’s side do appear to lack a certain cutting edge without Dominic Solanke.

Statistically, there is very little to suggest that Richarlison is less effective than his teammate. In fact, the Brazilian has marginally outperformed his xG this season (2.3 xG against three goals) and he has a fairly impressive 42.1% shots on target rate.

In 2024/25, Solanke bagged 16 goals against an xG of 16.1 and registered a 41.8% shots on target ratio. If anything, Richarlison looks to be more clinical, but statistics only tell half the story. What you also get with Solanke is incredible hold-up play, intense pressing, and that almost unquantifiable quality of being in the right place at the right time.

Richarlison is a great back-up striker and a player I can’t help but like. But, having watched Tottenham religiously, I have to admit that the 28-year-old is simply not reliable enough to consistently deliver goals and high-level performances that benefit the team.

Pundits like Gabby Agbonlahor expected Richarlison to excel this season, and he’s just not quite hitting the mark. He’s the kind of player who will score and then go missing for a few games, whereas Solanke is far more steady and consistent.

Obviously, having both players back fit and firing will be a massive boost for Thomas Frank. I believe we’ve only seen a fraction of what this Tottenham team is capable of, and the return of Dominic Solanke could well be the key to taking Frank’s Spurs side to the next level.

Tottenham Hotspur could now be handed a huge boost ahead of Aston Villa’s trip to North London, as they might be missing Ollie Watkins.

Aston Villa travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, having just secured their first two Premier League wins of the season and are looking to build momentum.

Unai Emery’s side are set to face a Tottenham Hotspur team that also won just before the international break, beating Leeds United 2-1 at Elland Road.

However, the West Midlands club could now be without their main number nine and finding an internal replacement for Sunday’s clash could be tricky.

Ollie Watkins suffers an injury ahead of Tottenham clash

Ollie Watkins has been forced to withdraw from the England camp with an injury and has now returned to Aston Villa, report The Athletic.

The striker suffered the knock during England’s 3-0 win over Wales on Thursday, and he was forced off just before half-time.

The 29-year-old suffered a nasty-looking collision with the goal post when attempting to get on the end of a cross.

After the game, Watkins told reporters, ‘I’m fine,’ but he walked through the mix zone rather gingerly and did not look comfortable.

The Aston Villa star is now a doubt to face Tottenham on October 19 when Emery’s team make the trip down to North London.

Watkins, who Villa value at £60m, finally opened his account for the season at the end of last month and then added another goal against Wales.

Morgan Rogers thinks Watkins is back to his best, so if he were to miss the trip to the capital, it would be a major blow for the Villains.

Randal Kolo Muani could make Premier League Tottenham debut

Meanwhile, Tottenham could be handed an injury boost, with Randal Kolo Muani in contention to make his Premier League debut.

Thomas Frank says Kolo Muani has looked promising, but so far, he’s only managed 13 minutes of action since making the switch.

The Frenchman has been struggling with a dead leg for the last few weeks, but was able to play a part for Spurs in a behind-closed-doors game against Watford.

He played 45 minutes against the Championship side and he will now be hoping to make his first league appearance against Villa.

Alejo Veliz had a tough two-year spell in Europe before finally being sent back to Argentina on loan by Tottenham Hotspur.

Following his move to North London back in 2023, the striker netted just five goals in 41 appearances during spells at Spurs, Sevilla and Espanyol.

Veliz impressed Tottenham in training, but never quite hit the ground running on the pitch and eventually pushed to move back to Argentina until the New Year.

The youngster will be back, though, and Thomas Frank could actually utilise him at Tottenham Hotspur, especially after watching his latest goal.

Thomas Frank could utilise Alejo Veliz’s impressive aerial ability

Alejo Veliz netted his fourth goal of the season for Rosario Central with a very impressive header in a 2-1 win over Velez Sarsfield.

The 22-year-old opened the scoring after just 17 minutes with a bullet header, having been left unmarked in the penalty area.

Veliz, who Tottenham signed for £13m back in 2023, is enjoying his time back at Rosario, with the team currently sitting in fourth in the Argentine Primera Division.

Veliz, who is six feet one, has shown he can be a real threat in the air, and this is a trait Frank would surely love to have in his team.

This season, the Argentina youth international is averaging 3.3 aerial duels won per match, and his goal against Velez was his second headed goal of the 2025 campaign.

Currently, the striker will be heading back to Tottenham next summer, as Veliz is only on loan at Rosario, with no option or obligation to buy.

Ange Postecoglou was a big fan of Veliz and raved about him when he first arrived in North London, but Frank didn’t really give him a chance the first time around.

Veliz was eager to return to Argentina following two tricky seasons playing in Europe, but regular minutes at Rosario could do him good.

When he does make his return to N17 next summer, Frank should at least consider him, especially given the aerial presence he could offer and Spurs not exactly being blessed with an outstanding striker option.

Tottenham have Mason Melia arriving in January

Veliz won’t be the only striker arriving at Tottenham in 2026, with the very exciting Mason Melia finally set to make the switch to North London.

£2m is the fee Tottenham paid to sign Melia back in February of this year, and it could prove to be a bargain given the excitement around him.

Tottenham beat five clubs to sign Melia, including Manchester City and Chelsea, who wanted the highly rated striker.

The 18-year-old is one of the best young talents to emerge from the League of Ireland, having scored 22 goals in 91 appearances for St. Patrick’s Athletic.

Micky van de Ven is quickly establishing himself as Ronald Koeman’s first-choice left-back for the Netherlands, and Tottenham Hotspur might take note.

The 24-year-old is one of the Premier League’s top central defenders, but for his national team, the former Bundesliga star is used elsewhere.

The defender’s speed allows him to move up and down the left flank with confidence, and for Spurs, he often demonstrates his confidence in carrying the ball forward.

The Netherlands are set to be one of the favourites for next summer’s World Cup, and the Tottenham Hotspur ace could be a key part of their team.

Micky van de Ven’s speed vs Finland impresses Dutch media

Micky van de Ven had a rather quiet evening during the Netherlands’ 4-0 win over Finland on Sunday evening, but for all the right reasons.

The Spurs star wasn’t getting forward as much during Holland’s latest World Cup qualifier and instead focused on being defensively sound at left-back.

The Dutch media were left in agreement that Van de Ven looked ‘comfortable’ in the full-back role, with his speed meaning he was very rarely tested.

VoetbalPrimeur rated his display 6/10 and wrote: “Not a particularly impressive performance from Van de Ven, who abandoned his trademark rushes.

“Defensively, his speed rarely gets him into trouble. Fortunately, there’s no speed camera in the Johan Cruijff ArenA.”

Meanwhile, Football Oranje gave him a 6.5 and claimed: “Strong but unremarkable performance again from the left back, who was comfortable throughout.”

The defender completed seven recoveries, showcasing his impressive ability to get to the end of loose passes with his speed.

Thomas Frank should consider Micky van de Ven position change

Thomas Frank should consider using the Dutch international at left-back from time to time at Tottenham, especially with Kevin Danso impressing every time he plays.

Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence are already vying for the left-back spot at Spurs, but Van de Ven offers Frank yet another option there.

Van de Ven, who Tottenham hope will sign a new contract, could allow Spurs to be even more defensively solid by featuring at left-back, and give Pedro Porro greater freedom to attack on the other side.

When Ange Postecoglou used the former Wolfsburg player at full-back, he impressed on the whole, and it just offers Frank something to bear in mind moving forward.

One of Tottenham Hotspur’s players has suffered a ‘bad’ injury setback just moments after making his return to action on international duty.

Thomas Frank hasn’t had a great deal of luck with injuries since arriving in North London, having already lost several key players to injuries.

James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke and Radu Dragusin are among the list of players who are currently sidelined for Spurs.

Now, Spurs have had another name added to the list of absentees, and the latest player could be out for a while after needing to be stretchered off.

Yves Bissouma suffers a ‘bad ankle injury’ in action for Mali

Yves Bissouma has just suffered a ‘bad ankle injury’ during international duty with Mali just moments after his return to competitive action, according to Michael McCann.

Bissouma was subbed on in the 66th minute and then was stretchered off injured just six minutes later, and he looked visibly distressed.

The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has not played a competitive match since the final Premier League game of last season.

Bissouma has been omitted from Frank’s Tottenham squad since the Super Cup final and has not been seen since last season.

However, the midfielder has just suffered what looks to be a worrying setback in his return and could be set for a long spell on the sidelines.

Last week, TBR Football revealed that Frank was open to re-integrating Bissouma, as long as he proved himself in training.

Bissouma was close to leaving Tottenham over the summer, but the deal for him to move to Turkey fell through, and he has remained in North London.

Thomas Frank’s stance on welcoming Yves Bissouma back

When asked about bringing him back into the squad, Frank admitted that there were ‘no hard feelings’ and he would be willing to assess him.

Therefore, the latest injury for Bissouma, who cost Tottenham £35m, will be a big disappointment for the Danish head coach.

When asked about the Malian international back in September, Frank told the media: “There’s no hard feelings at all, not before or now, if he trains well, then we’ll have a look.”

Fortunately, Spurs are well stocked with midfielders, and the signing of Joao Palhinha has meant that missing Bissouma has not been an issue.

Tottenham Hotspur have had a great start to the season under manager Thomas Frank, but there is no doubting that they would still take some of their former stars back.

The Lilywhites suffered hardship last season under Ange Postecoglou, finishing 17th in the Premier League table – which will remain their worst-ever effort unless they are relegated.

However, they were afforded reprieve after winning the Europa League final in May, to mark a really tricky situation.

Last season was the worst that Tottenham had played on a consistent basis throughout their Premier League history, but they still ended up with silverware – something they failed to achieve in previous years despite boasting the likes of Harry Kane in their ranks.

And now a return while the club are on the up again could be something Kane would be interested in, according to club legend Gary Mabbutt.

Gary Mabbutt thinks Harry Kane could return to Tottenham by 2027

Harry Kane left for Bayern Munich two years ago, and has continued the form that every Tottenham fan knew he was capable of producing when it comes to winning league titles.

Although the striker missed out on silverware in his first season at the Allianz Arena – their first season without silverware since 2012 – he finally broke that duck last season.

And Mabbutt believes that the England captain has a ‘wide open door’ to return to Tottenham, which he could do within the next couple of years. Mabbutt said: “I think the way it was all done when he left the club to join Bayern Munich, there is very much an opportunity.

“The doors have been left wide open for him to come back if he ever chooses to come back to us.

“So yes, I see no reason why he shouldn’t and who knows? It could well be in the next couple of years.”

It’s a huge task to sort, but if Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has any chance of sorting Kane’s move back to the capital, he should do so as a priority.

Harry Kane still has a chance to break Alan Shearer’s long-standing Premier League record

There are a number of reasons for Kane to return to Tottenham, even if not right now.

On a team basis, finally breaking his Spurs trophy duck would surely be up there in terms of achievements, as well as playing in the Champions League once again to continue his strong European credentials.

However, the clear and obvious reason would be to overtake Alan Shearer’s 260-goal record that has stood since the start of the league’s inception, given the league legend scored 112 goals in just 138 games for Blackburn Rovers – an insurmountable tally so far.

Kane is currently on 213, ahead of Wayne Rooney, and the only player within touching distance of that and still playing is Mohamed Salah, on 188 – meaning he’d need another incredible season.

Kane would need 48 goals, and the 109-cap star’s ability to drop back and link play works in his favour, being able to take up a ‘false nine’ role if he were to move back to Tottenham.

Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani are two strong options, but they don’t compare to Kane – and a fairytale return could be ideal for Thomas Frank.

A Tottenham defender has made the cut, but Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk was nowhere to be seen in Sol Campbell’s top three Premier League centre-backs.

Tottenham have been a transformed team under Thomas Frank and currently sit third in the Premier League table heading into the international break.

Spurs owe much of their success to their defence, which has been astute so far this campaign. Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Djed Spence, and Pedro Porro have all performed excellently for the North London club.

The Dutchman Van de Ven stands out as the cream of the crop, earning high praise from former Tottenham and Arsenal defender Sol Campbell.

Sol Campbell ranks Micky van de Ven above Virgil van Dijk

In an interview with GIVEMESPORT, Campbell was asked to name the top three centre-backs currently playing in the Premier League.

The 51-year-old started with the Arsenal duo of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba before naming Van de Ven as his third choice.

He said, “Oh, current? I would say, number one and number two, Saliba is in there, I think Gabriel is two, and number three is Van de Ven.”

The legendary Premier League centre-back notably left out Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, widely regarded as the best centre-back in world football.

Sol Campbell thinks he’s better than Virgil van Dijk – and many more

In another GIVEMESPORT interview, Campbell was asked to signal whenever the interviewer named a centre-back who he thought was better than him. Only one player cut: AC Milan’s Paolo Maldini.

The list of other top centre-backs included:

Regarding Maldini, Campbell said: “There’s only one!” – the Italian legend being just that. Remarkable confidence from Sol, that’s for sure.

Tottenham Hotspur fans will be looking to the future with a sense of optimism, with the North London club starting the 2025-26 season well under new manager Thomas Frank.

Spurs are in third place in the Premier League table after seven games, with some positive results both domestically and in the Champions League this season.

Tottenham signed Xavi Simons and a host of other new players in the summer and now have a squad with strength in depth to compete on multiple fronts.

However, one ever-present in Frank’s Tottenham team this season is under-performing and the North London club should look to alternatives after the international break.

Rodrigo Bentancur a shadow of his former self

Rodrigo Bentancur is an experienced midfielder and a leader in the Tottenham dressing room, but the Uruguay international has not had a good start to the new season.

The former Juventus man was a revelation after signing for Spurs in January 2022, but has since suffered serious injuries.

While Bentancur has remained fit this season so far, Tottenham’s midfield lacks mobility when he plays as he looks to have lost a yard of pace since serious knee and ankle injuries.

With other midfielders waiting for a prolonged opportunity in the Spurs starting XI, it is time for Frank to use Bentancur as an impact sub to close out games from the bench.

Better options for Frank to choose

While Joao Palhinha has made the holding midfield position his own at Tottenham and Simons appears to be the creator of choice, Frank has a decision to make over his third midfielder.

The new Tottenham manager clearly rates both Lucas Bergvall and Pape Matar Sarr, with both of these young players offering the side more than Bentancur currently.

Archie Gray could be a key Tottenham player and also deserves a chance to prove himself in midfield.

With plenty of games on the horizon, Frank needs to change the make-up of his midfield and dropping Bentancur would make his Spurs side more dynamic and mobile.

Shaun Wright-Phillips believes Tottenham once had a striker who would be a dream fit for Arsenal now.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been flying high at the top of the Premier League and held a one-point advantage over champions Liverpool heading into the current international break.

Formidable at both ends of the pitch, Arsenal look well equipped to go all the way this season, especially after splashing the cash on big-name forwards Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke.

Gyokeres has scored three top-flight goals so far, and after spending £64million to snap him up from Sporting Lisbon, the Gunners will hope he can lead the line for them for years to come.

However, Shaun Wright-Phillips says a legendary Spurs ace would be even better for Arteta’s current crop.

Gary Lineker would be an ideal fit for Arsenal

Indeed, while speaking to HaytersTV, Wright-Phillips named Gary Lineker as the player best suited to Arsenal’s patient style of play.

“He’s the best poacher you will ever know,” said the player-turned-pundit. “There aren’t many strikers now in the game that play like that.

“For a team like Arsenal or City where they’re trying to thread those cute passes into the box, Gary would be a delight for those teams.

“He’s a natural finisher, and he always seemed to execute at the right times.”

Lineker was nothing short of incredible during his glittering career in the top-flight, and his record of 145 goals in 235 appearances speaks for itself.

As Wright-Phillips rightly said, Lineker was renowned for his penalty area prowess, and Arsenal, up until they signed Gyokeres at least, sorely needed a player in that mould.

Viktor Gyokeres admits he must do better

But Gyokeres is facing mounting criticism at Arsenal, having scored just three goals in his first 10 appearances at the club, while he is also under fire for his performances for Sweden.

The 27-year-old played the full 90 minutes in his nation’s 2-0 defeat against Switzerland, leaving them on the cusp of failing to reach next summer’s World Cup.

Speaking after the dismal defeat, he admitted he simply had to do more.

“Of course, it’s not good enough,” Gyokeres told Fotbollskanalen.

“With this team, we have to do much, much better – in every part of the pitch. It’s clear that we need to make things click a lot better than they are right now.”