TBR Football

Leaving Tottenham – or any club for that matter – having just won a trophy is arguably the best way to bow out.

Heung-min Son did exactly that during the summer, departing for LAFC after helping Spurs win the UEFA Europa League, a romantic end to his decade at Tottenham.

However, Paul Robinson has now revealed that he actually regrets leaving Tottenham for Blackburn shortly after winning the League Cup in February 2008.

Paul Robinson admits he should have tried to outlast Juande Ramos instead of leave Tottenham

Speaking on the An Echo Of Glory podcast, the man who made 175 appearances for Spurs revealed that he was too hasty when leaving Tottenham for Blackburn in July 2008.

Robinson said: “That’s why I left. Me and him (Juande Ramos) didn’t see eye to eye at all. With hindsight, I should have stayed and outlasted him, but sometimes you can’t see the wood for the trees. You know, we just won the Carling Cup, as it was the League Cup at the time.

“But I knew (even) playing that final that I was leaving at the end of the season because he didn’t want me around and I wasn’t going to play. At that point, he’d taken me in and out of the team.

“The man management and the way he handled that situation, I wanted to get out. I wanted a fresh start and I needed to play. But Juande Ramos left, obviously, and like I say, hindsight, you look back, could have probably seen that coming. And then Harry (Redknapp) came in, a manager that I’d have probably loved to have played for, but I couldn’t see past the end of the next week and I wanted to play every week. And with Juande Ramos, I wasn’t going to be there. He was never the right fit for Tottenham.”

It turned out to be the final trophy Robinson lifted in his career, but he did scoop the 2010/11 Player of the Year award at Blackburn after an outstanding campaign with eight clean sheets in 36 Premier League appearances.

Tottenham made £4m from the sale, ensuring a small profit on the £1.5m they handed Leeds for the goalkeeper back in May 2004.

Paul Robinson exit was a lose-lose

Not only does Robinson – who Daniel Levy annoyed – regret leaving Tottenham, but the north Londoners also failed miserably when it came to replacing the Yorkshireman.

£8m was spent to sign Heurelho Gomes from PSV Eindhoven, but the Brazilian ended up becoming a laughing stock in N17 due to a string of notable mistakes, including an error in a UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid of all stages.

Therefore, perhaps Tottenham also regret the manner in which Robinson departed.

Xavi Simons has claimed one of his Tottenham teammates could be an NFL quarter-back due to his passing ability.

The NFL is back in the UK this week as American Football heads to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Of course, while American Football and ‘soccer’ are two totally different sports, they do share certain similarities.

Indeed, the players who thrive in these spaces are often the fastest and the strongest players, while, in certain positions, you need a bit of skill and finesse.

Speaking to Tottenham’s TikTok page, Xavi Simons has been building his NFL team made up of his Tottenham teammates, and for the most important position, quarter-back, he made an interesting choice.

Xavi Simons hails Rodrigo Bentancur for his passing

Simons was asked to create an NFL team made up of his Spurs teammates.

Inevitably, Simons was asked who his quarterback would be, arguably the most important position in the side.

The Dutchman picked Rodrigo Bentancur, citing the Uruguayan’s incredible eye for a pass as his reason to choose the midfielder in such a role.

“My quarterback would be Rodrigo Bentancur, because he has really good vision, and yeah, he would be my quarterback,” Simons said.

Paul Merson tipped three Premier League players for the NFL

The idea of Premier League stars going to the NFL has been discussed before.

Harry Kane wanted to play in the NFL at one point, while Clive Allen famously had a go at being a kicker.

According to Paul Merson, there are three Premier League players who could make the switch.

“Wow, well I’d go for Traore at Fulham. He could play as a defensive lineman or you could have him as a wide receiver,” Merson said.

“I mean he could definitely play in my opinion.

“Saka, Saka as a wide receiver. I know he’s small, but he’s bright and he makes good runs. And I’m going to go Odegaard as a quarter-back, I’m going to go Odegaard as a quarterback.”

Of course, playing American Football is a totally different skillset, but that ability to spot a pass does translate well between being a midfielder and a quarterback in both sports.

Who knows? Perhaps Bentancur could join his former Spurs teammate Harry Kane over in the NFL one day.

David Trezeguet believes the striker Tottenham want to sign ahead of Harry Kane is better than him.

Kane has been scoring goals for fun since joining Bayern Munich in an £86million deal in 2023, but speculation over a potential return to the Premier League continues to rumble on.

Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank poured fuel on the fire after admitting he would like to see the frontman back in the top-flight, while TBR Football revealed Spurs could easily afford him.

A clause in Kane’s contract means he could leave Bayern for less than £60million at the end of the season and he could be tempted to move back to England to chase down Alan Shearer’s goals record.

However, Trezeguet has surprisingly ranked another top ace ahead of the 32-year-old.

David Trezeguet says Dusan Vlahovic is better than Harry Kane

Trezeguet, the Juventus legend and former France international, was put on the spot by La Gazzetta dello Sport after being given the names of 10 elite strikers and asked to put them in order of quality.

Lionel Messi went straight to the top of the pile, while the free-scoring Erling Haaland came second and Kylian Mbappe ended up in third place.

Harry Kane was put in ninth while Dusan Vlahovic, the striker Tottenham have their eye on, finished seventh, with Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez separating them.

TBR Football exclusively revealed that Vlahovic is targeting a move to the Premier League in 2026 and both Tottenham and Chelsea have been spoken to by intermediaries.

The 25-year-old becomes a free agent when his Juventus contract runs down next July, and he is not expected to stay in Turin after talks over a new deal broke down.

Vlahovic boasts 134 goals in his 310 appearances at club level across his career and Spurs could certainly do with a frontman who finds the net with such regularity, especially if they miss out on Kane.

Harry Kane compared with Dusan Vlahovic

Kane holds the edge over Vlahovic in the scoring stakes this season, having scored an impressive 18 goals already in his 10 appearances across all competitions.

Vlahovic, meanwhile, hasn’t quite found the same relentless form. He has scored four goals in his eight total appearances this campaign, but does have two from two in Europe.

Jermaine Pennant has claimed Tottenham Hotspur have a player he really wouldn’t mind at Liverpool.

Liverpool have one of the most well-rounded squads in the Premier League.

As reigning champions, Liverpool are the best team in the land, and, on paper, their squad looks borderline unbelievable.

Alexander Isak arrived this summer alongside the likes of Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz to bolster the Reds’ attacking roster.

However, speaking on the Wildcards Podcast, Jermaine Pennant has named another attacker he would quite like to see in a red shirt.

Indeed, according to Pennant, he was keen to see Mohammed Kudus sign for Liverpool back when he was at West Ham.

Jermaine Pennant wanted Mohammed Kudus at Liverpool

Pennant spoke about Kudus amid his good form for Tottenham.

Kudus joined Spurs this summer for £55m, and Kudus has earned plaudits recently for his solid showings.

Interestingly, Pennant says he actually wanted Liverpool to go in for Kudus back when he was at West Ham.

“Kudus. I wanted Kudus when he played at Liverpool with West Ham and there were rumours about Kudus and other teams. That’s like he’s strong, he’s quick, he’s effective, works hard, work rate back as well,” Pennant said.

Jurgen Klopp was impressed by Mohammed Kudus

Pennant wanted Liverpool to sign Kudus when he was at West Ham, but, intriguingly, the Ghanaian first caught the eye of Jurgen Klopp back when he was at Ajax.

Kudus scored a fantastic goal against Liverpool when he was at Ajax.

After seeing this strike, Klopp was impressed, describing the goal as incredible.

“The opponent doesn’t need a lot (to score) and the goal they scored was incredible. Pretty much every other shot Ali would have saved, but this one was one you couldn’t save. The reaction to show that we are still able to show these kind of things was the most important thing tonight,” Klopp said after the game.

Kudus would certainly be a fantastic player in this Liverpool team, but after making his big-money move to Tottenham this summer, the Anfield ship may well have sailed for the attacker.

James Maddison has provided Tottenham supporters with an insight into the ACL injury that has hampered his season.

The 28-year-old was stretchered off against Newcastle during the pre-season friendly in South Korea and is expected to miss the entirety of the 2025/26 campaign.

While his absence has been felt, new boss Thomas Frank has enjoyed a phenomenal start to his tenure, guiding Spurs to third in the league table, only two points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

Maddison played an influential role in North London last season, providing 12 goals and 10 assists across all competitions as he helped his side lift the Europa League.

Now, the Englishman has showcased the graphic aftermath of his recent knee surgery during the early weeks of his rehabilitation.

James Maddison reveals image of knee post-surgery

In a video released on his personal YouTube channel, Maddison has documented his recovery from the ACL injury.

The Tottenham medical staff can be seen working on the stitches, with the scar stretching from the bottom of Maddison’s knee to the top of his shin.

Tottenham’s £52 million acquisition Xavi Simons will likely be the main option in the number 10 role for Frank this season, with the brutal reality of Maddison’s injury setback laid bare.

He faces a long road to recovery before he can take the pitch again at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and his injury could not have been more ill-timed – he was playing some of the best football of his career.

Maddison compared his scar to that of teammate Radu Dragusin, who suffered an identical injury during Spurs’ 3-0 win against Elfsborg in the Europa League back in January.

Although he is currently nursing one of the most severe injuries a football player can sustain, there is a glimmer of hope that the England international could still play a role for Spurs this season.

Dragusin returned to Tottenham training in September, and while he has yet to be named in a matchday squad, he endured only a seven-month absence.

James Maddison is on track for a full recovery

Maddison has received further encouragement that he will make a smooth recovery in North London after meeting with one of the doctors.

He said that he hopes to return to action sooner than anticipated so he can help his teammates in any capacity during the back end of the season.

After a scan, the doctor informed the midfielder that no concerns were found and that, for now, he is progressing as expected towards a full recovery.

“I’ve done so many. I give you percentages, etc. And your percentages are very good, and you should be fine. I’ve not seen anything on your scan that worries me.”

Tottenham Hotspur have improved during the 2025-26 season, with the North London club going into the international break in third place on the Premier League table.

New manager Thomas Frank has made Tottenham more resilient and versatile, with Spurs beating Leeds United 2-1 at Elland Road last time out.

Tottenham signed Joao Palhinha over the summer on loan from Bayern Munich, with the Portuguese battler making the London club more compact in the centre of the park.

However, with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski both sidelined with long-term injuries, Spurs’ midfield balance still doesn’t feel right.

Archie Gray itching for an opportunity

Tottenham signed Archie Gray from Leeds last summer for a reported £40 million and the teenager had an impressive first season in the Premier League.

With Spurs suffering defensive injuries, the England under-21 star filled in at centre-half on plenty of occasions and excelled despite playing out of position.

Tottenham have more options at the back now and Gray has been starved of action this term, making only two Premier League appearances from the bench so far.

Frank clearly rates the likes of Pape Matar Sarr and Lucas Bergvall, but Gray deserves more of a chance to contribute in the Spurs first team.

Palhinha or Sarr alternative

Gray is comfortable on the ball, has football intelligence beyond his years and the energy to get from box to box.

While Palhinha has been a mainstay in the Tottenham team this season so far, there is an argument that someone like Gray has more ability on the ball and could be an alternative in home games where Spurs will dominate possession.

Although he does not have the same incredible engine as Sarr, Gray offers a smarter footballing option than the African.

Despite signing a new contract, Rodrigo Bentancur has been off the pace this season and does not look like the same player after recovering from serious injury.

Moving forward, playing Palhinha, Gray and a creative option like Bergvall or Xavi Simons feels like a better balance for Frank’s Tottenham team.

Tottenham have a genuine wonderkid on their hands in Luka Vuskovic.

Spurs boldly spent £12m to sign the Croatian from Hajduk Split in September 2023 when he was just 16 years of age – and the precocious central defender is showing exactly why with some inspired displays on loan at Hamburg.

The Croatia international has even been nicknamed “Air Vuskovic” in Hamburg due to his towering aerial presence.

Naturally, Tottenham fans have wondered whether this impressive form will lead to Luka Vuskovic being recalled – but SHZ now claim that is not the plan.

Tottenham told Hamburg they intend to leave Luka Vuskovic in Germany until the 2025/26 campaign ends

The German news outlet have now shared details of what was discussed between Tottenham and Hamburg during talks over the 18-year-old last summer.

SHZ claim that Spurs told Hamburg they “absolutely” want Vuskovic to see out the season on loan, and do not plan to disturb his progress by recalling the teenager.

Furthermore, it is said that Tottenham have a recall clause, but it can only be triggered on certain conditions. Firstly, Spurs need to have suffered two serious injuries in the defensive department under Thomas Frank for a recall to be allowed.

The north Londoners also need to inform Hamburg a recall is happening before the middle of January, to allow them ample time to find a replacement.

Ultimately, the relationship between Tottenham and Hamburg is considered to be “exemplary” – and Spurs have no intention of bringing Vuskovic back to N17 unless extreme circumstances occur.

However, SHZ add that Spurs made it clear to Hamburg that the Croatian will not be allowed to remain with them beyond the 2025/26 campaign, suggesting those at Hotspur Way intend to integrate him under Frank next term.

£12m investment could prove to be a superb bit of business

Eyebrows were raised when Tottenham spent £12m to sign Vuskovic – who had plenty of admirers – when he was just 16, but it is already looking like a move which will pay off handsomely.

It can take just one standout season in the Premier League for a defender’s value to absolutely soar.

For example, the CIES Football Observatory now rate Nottingham Forest No.5 Murillo at a sum of £63m after he helped the Reds finish seventh last season, a player they signed from Corinthians for just £11m in August 2023.

Vuskovic is five years younger – incidentally – so if he can take the Premier League by storm next term, Tottenham could well have an £80m asset on their hands, at least.

Tottenham Hotspur received further investment from ENIC this week as another £100m was pumped into the club.

It’s been a real period of change at Spurs as of late, particularly at boardroom level.

Daniel Levy left the club last month, while Vinai Venkatesham arrived over the summer in a senior role.

Meanwhile, Tottenham knocked back a takeover approach in recent weeks, and ENIC have made their commitment to Spurs even more concrete with a further cash injection.

Of course, this cash injection comes with a new allocation of shares, and according to Alasdair Gold, speaking on his YouTube channel, ENIC’s percentage ownership of Spurs has now changed.

How much of Tottenham do ENIC now own?

Gold spoke about Tottenham’s ownership structure and what ENIC’s current standing is.

According to the journalist, ENIC now own over 87% of Tottenham Hotspur and have increased their holding by a marginal percentage after this latest round of investment.

“The next question some of you might be asking, do ENIC now own more of the club?” Gold said.

“Now, from what I understand, yes, fractionally, just a tiny bit. Apparently, from what I understand, the new ownership percentage for ENIC in Spurs is 87.62%.

“There are documents that went into Companies House today that showed there’s an allotment of millions of shares that have gone out there. If you’re wondering what it was before, well, before today’s event, ENIC ownership was 86.91%.”

‘More to come’ as ENIC commit to Spurs

ENIC have thrown some serious money at Tottenham in recent days, and, excitingly, there’s more to come.

Indeed, according to Alasdair Gold, this isn’t the end of the money being pumped into Spurs.

“I know there’s some people already saying ‘100 million is that it?’ kind of thing in today’s world all of this sort of stuff. I get it. But there is more to come from what I understand.

“And also that’s if you even with 100 million, if you’re looking at it as that’s the only fee that will be paid for a player, it’s not really how it works today with instalments and things like that.”

Tottenham’s latest investment will certainly help the club reach the next level, and with more financial boosts in the pipeline, Spurs could be set to make a real leap in the coming years.

The post-Daniel Levy era sounds as though it could be very exciting for Spurs.

Alasdair Gold has provided an update on the future of Tottenham wonderkid Mikey Moore as he continues to struggle at Rangers.

TBR Football recently reported that Spurs are closely monitoring Moore’s situation at Ibrox, especially after Russell Martin was sacked.

We understand that Martin convinced Moore to join Rangers ahead of several big Championship clubs, but the teenager has endured a difficult spell north of the border.

Martin was dismissed following the 1-1 draw at Falkirk and Rangers have agreed a deal in principle with Steven Gerrard to replace him. The decision will closely affect Moore’s development.

As such, the prospect of Mikey Moore returning to Spurs has been mooted.

Alasdair Gold says Mikey Moore could return to Tottenham

It is unlikely that Tottenham will act until they have learned the new manager’s plans for the forward, but Gold is confident there will be an option to recall him if needed.

Speaking in his latest YouTube video, the journalist said: “I’m sure there’ll be an option to bring him back in January if it continues this way.

“Because if the new manager, I mean, there’s been talk of Steven Gerrard, whoever it may be, if they don’t play him, you’ve got to get him back straight away.”

Gold then added: “There are a few Championship clubs I think sniffing around him.”

Thomas Frank believes Moore is a ‘big talent’, and he will be concerned with Moore’s progress at Rangers.

Meanwhile, supporters have been critical of Moore’s performances, especially when he has started this season.

Mikey Moore once compared to Neymar

Moore impressed at Spurs under Ange Postecoglou after being handed his first-team breakthrough, and James Maddison was so blown away that he even compared him to Neymar.

Speaking after Moore dazzled in a 1-0 victory against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League last October, Maddison said: “I thought we had Neymar on the left wing!

“He is fearless, [he has] that young, fearless mentality. He’s a brilliant lad, he has bags of ability.

“I will hopefully help him with wise words but he has all the ability, and well done to him.”

Adam Williams has now provided insight regarding what the Lewis family could do next at Tottenham.

Plenty has happened at boardroom level for Spurs recently, with Daniel Levy departing Tottenham and the north Londoners also parting company with Rothschild & Co – who had been helping the club find investment across the last two years.

As of yesterday (Thursday 9th October) the Lewis family trust also injected £100m worth of new capital into Tottenham

Adam Williams – Head of Football Finance and Governance Content for GRV Media – has now told TBR Football what his “instinct” is amid these boardroom developments at Spurs.

Exclusive: “No doubt” Lewis family would sell Tottenham if £5bn was offered

Williams said: “Ultimately, only the Lewis family and their financial advisors know for sure whether they are interested in selling Spurs. However, the mood music is that they are still very much open to investment, if not a full sale.

“They have parted company with Rothschild & Co – who have helped them look for investors over the last two years. They say that is proof they aren’t for sale now, but equally it could also be a tactic to help drive up the price.

“Also, there are some suggestions that, if an investment does come, it could be at ENIC level rather than directly in Tottenham themselves. Because ENIC are registered in the Bahamas, where financial reporting requirements are virtually non-existent, we don’t know if ENIC themselves could have retained Rothschild. We basically don’t know anything about the company, and they are not subject to the UK Takeover Code, so the Lewis family aren’t required to document any bids for equity at that level.

“As an aside, if they haven’t been looking for investment for some time, it would have made sense to dump Rothschild ages ago given that some of these firms charge £50,000 to £100,000 per month as a retainer.

“My instinct is that Spurs are still for sale but the Lewis family have extended their timeline ahead of an eventual exit. Whatever Levy was doing to drum up interest in an investment wasn’t working, so they’re reorganising the club and going for something different. They have always been for sale at the right price; it’s a matter of how you get that price. If someone came and offered them £5bn tomorrow, I’ve no doubt that they would take it.”

Tottenham are a highly attractive asset

It remains to be seen if anybody offers £5bn for Spurs, but if they did, you can see why.

Tottenham are the home of American football in Europe, with the NFL partnership bringing in £10m annually.

Not only that, but they are also based in the heart of London, and have several exciting talents who could become multi-million pound superstars such as Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray.

While £5bn is no small fee – to say the very least – there are enough exciting developments at Spurs right now to justify that figure.