TBR Football

TBR Football understands that Tottenham Hotspur’s hierarchy were ‘deeply concerned’ by their result against AZ Alkmaar and have told Ange Postecoglou that the result was unacceptable

Postecoglou has been under a lot of external pressure this season as many have called for the Australian to be sacked amid Tottenham’s poor run of form.

However, Tottenham have stuck by Postecoglou so far, and the message out of Tottenham has largely been that of sympathy amid Spurs’ recent injury crisis.

Unfortunately for Postecoglou, that sympathy can only go so far, and after Tottenham’s defeat to AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League this week, the pressure is amping up on the Australian.

What Tottenham have told Ange Postecoglou after AZ Alkmaar loss

According to TBR Football’s Graeme Bailey, Tottenham have told Ange Postecoglou that this week’s result was unacceptable and there is a deep concern around this defeat.

Spurs have nothing else to play for this season other than the Europa League. The competition is the primary focus given the winner will gain entry to the Champions League – something that Tottenham will be unable to accomplish via the Premier League.

Tottenham have provided constant backing for manager Ange Postecoglou – pointing out the injuries the squad has sustained this season as a primary reason for their relatively dismal campaign.

However, as TBR Football has previously revealed – some sections of Spurs’ hierarchy have felt that a change of head coach could be required and work has been done on possible alternatives.

As we confirmed Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Brentford’s Thomas Frank and Fulham’s Marco Silva are all names that have been discussed within the corridors of power at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and all are admired for the work they have and are currently doing.

Iraola is stalling on a new Bournemouth contract as things stand.

We can also confirm that another name appreciated by the club is Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna and we are told the one-time Spurs youth player and former coach, should not be ruled out of contention.

Spurs have been insistent that they are not looking to make a change this season, no matter what, and that remains the message coming down from club boss Daniel Levy – but TBR Football can confirm that Spurs’ 1-0 loss to AZ on Thursday has rocked the club.

TBR Football understands that whilst the club have not told Postecoglou that he will be sacked if he does not win the Europa League, they have made it clear to the Australian that their latest defeat was deemed ‘unacceptable’ by the club and sources have told us they were ‘deeply concerned’ by the result and performance.

Tottenham play host to Bournemouth this weekend before welcoming AZ to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next Thursday in what is now seen as the biggest game of the Postecoglou era.

Ange Postecoglou compared to possible replacements

Postecoglou is under pressure at Tottenham, and there is a strong case to make that Spurs should look to replace the Australian.

Postecoglou should’ve been sacked months ago in the eyes of some, and when you compare his record to his potential replacements, it’s easy to see this logic.

Indeed, despite having hundreds of millions of pounds spent on his squad, Postecoglou isn’t massively outperforming managers such as Silva, Iraola and Frank, despite the fact they manage Fulham, Bournemouth and Brentford respectively.

Postecoglou has had plenty of backing from the board too, so that excuse doesn’t quite wash either.

Postecoglou has to improve things at Tottenham if he wants to save his job, and that game against AZ Alkmaar next week could well be make or break for the Australian.

Tottenham Hotspur have some big decisions to make in this upcoming summer transfer window.

Indeed, this season really hasn’t gone to plan for Spurs, they’re in the bottom-half of the Premier League table and they’re out of both domestic cup competitions.

It may be time for wholesale changed at Spurs, and there are some uncomfortable conversations to be had about who stays and who goes.

Some players are safe, for example Dejan Kulusveski is Tottenham’s best player, while Archie Gray looks like a future star.

However, other players’ futures have been questioned.

Richarlison isn’t good enough in the eyes of some, and he could be sold, while other players have also flattered to deceive.

Speaking to ESPN, Jamie O’Hara has been discussing which Tottenham players he would keep or sell, and he made a rather interesting call around Heung-Min Son.

Jamie O’Hara says he’d sell Heung-Min Son

O’Hara was asked to give a rundown of what he’d do with the Tottenham squad.

The pundit was brutal in his analysis, claiming that he would actually sell Son, despite his years of good service at Tottenham.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard this sort of thing said.

David Pleat said he’d sell Son as well, and when you look at the attacker’s stats this season, it’s hard to understand why.

Yes, Son isn’t scoring as much as he once was, but he’s still contributing massively and he’s the club captain.

O’Hara made a few more interesting calls on Spurs’ key players.

Jamie O’Hara’s Tottenham audit

Son is a ‘world class’ attacker at his best, but O’Hara reckons it’s time for Spurs to move him on.

That wasn’t the only call O’Hara made on a key Tottenham player, as he ran down basically the entire squad.

O’Hara is also ready to cash in on a few more key players at Tottenham, and, to be honest, we can understand why.

Spurs have been nothing short of terrible this season, and changes need to be made if Ange Postecoglou is going to get this team moving in the right direction again.

Of course, finding suitors for these players won’t necessarily be easy, a lot of these players are high earners on long contracts, but if Spurs are going to kick on, they need a squad refresh in the summer.

This will be an interesting summer transfer window at Tottenham, that’s for sure.

Tottenham Hotspur are expected to be active in the summer transfer window.

Spurs left it late, but they did some good business towards the end of the winter window – Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel were both signed in the final days.

Despite that, Spurs are likely to be busy in the summer as Ange Postecoglou needs reinforcements in several other areas of his pitch.

One player who has been linked with a move to Tottenham is Jack Grealish of Manchester City. However, a deal to sign the Englishman is unlikely.

Tottenham are more likely to sign Eberechi Eze than Jack Grealish

Tottenham need attacking reinforcements in the summer.

Son Heung-min doesn’t look like the player he once was anymore, while Brennan Johnson has struggled to be consistent. Timo Werner is set to go back, while what happens with Tel is still unclear.

A new versatile attacker who can play out wide as well as through the middle as a number 10 would be perfect for Spurs, and there are options – Grealish is one of them.

However, Grealish will have to take a pay-cut to join Tottenham this summer – one potentially as big as 33 per cent.

GiveMeSport claim that the more realistic signing for Spurs than Grealish would be Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze this summer.

The ‘unbelievable‘ Englishman was heavily linked with a move to Postecoglou’s side last year, but a move did not materialise in the end.

The report claims that Tottenham are believed to be targeting Eze, and the Eagles star’s ‘financial demands may be more in line with the north Londoners’ wage structure too, making him a more achievable option for the club to consider’.

Eberechi Eze vs Jack Grealish stats compared

Eze and Grealish are both fantastic players.

The two England internationals are brilliant on the ball, can dribble past almost every single player in the league and have proven that they can have a positive impact in the final third.

But, which one of the two has been better over the last few years?

As the table shows above, Eze has scored more goals than Grealish since the start of the 2021/22 season despite playing fewer games.

Grealish has five more assists than the Palace star, but you have to take into account that he is playing with significantly better players at Manchester City.

More importantly, Eze is three years younger than Grealish and his wage demands are likely to be less. That makes him a much better option for Tottenham this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move to sign Jack Grealish from Manchester City.

The England international was one of the best players in the Premier League during his time at Aston Villa, but his role has diminished at City in recent years.

The 29-year-old has started just 14 games in all competitions under Pep Guardiola this season and has played just 34 minutes in the Premier League since the turn of the year.

That has led to speculation that Grealish could be on the market, and Tottenham have been linked with a move to sign him from Manchester City.

Jack Grealish has to do one thing if he wants to join Tottenham

Grealish’s future is up in the air.

The Englishman, on his day, has what it takes to win games on his own, but at Manchester City, he is nowhere near the top of Guardiola’s pecking order.

Fabrizio Romano revealed recently that Grealish could leave City in the summer transfer window, and it will be interesting to see how many options he will have.

Reports claimed that Tottenham were interested in signing Grealish in January, but no move materialised in the winter window.

It remains unclear if Spurs will make a move for him in the summer, but if Grealish wants to go to Tottenham, he will have to do one thing – reduce his wages.

That’s according to GiveMeSport, who claim that the Manchester City star currently earns around £300,000-a-week at the Etihad.

Tottenham’s highest-earner Son Heung-min, on the other hand, pockets £200,000-a-week.

The report claims that Spurs will be unable to match Grealish’s current wages, and the former Aston Villa man, if he wants the move, ‘would have to accept a considerable pay cut, potentially as much as 33 per cent.’

The real reason why Tottenham did not sign Jack Grealish in 2018

Tottenham were really keen to sign Grealish from Aston Villa in 2018.

The Villans had failed to achieve promotion back to the Premier League, and their financial constraints at the time meant that they had to sell their best players.

Daniel Levy saw an opportunity, and he tabled a bid of £3 million plus Josh Onomah. That, unsurprisingly, was rejected by Villa.

Spurs slowly upped their bids but by the time they could offer a big fee, Villa had found new investors and they were no longer in need of cash.

Tottenham’s final offer of £25 million was also turned down.

Tottenham Hotspur will look to edge closer to the top half of the Premier League table when they host Bournemouth on Sunday.

Tottenham have endured a difficult season and currently sit a lowly 13th in the Premier League table, though they’re still in the Europa League.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth sit seventh in the table and, with how few points there are between the teams chasing Europe, a top-four spot is very much up for grabs.

TBR Football looks at who Ange Postecoglou could name in the Tottenham starting XI for Sunday’s clash.

Tottenham v Bournemouth team news

Ange Postecoglou hopes both Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven will be able to feature against the Cherries.

Both were named in Tottenham’s matchday squad against AZ but Postecoglou opted not to risk them.

The Spurs boss also hopes both Dominic Solanke and Ben Davies will be able to be part of the squad for the game.

Spurs striker Richarlison remains sidelined through injury.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie is dealing with ‘something chronic’ but hasn’t been ruled out of the Tottenham game.

However, Enes Unal, Marcos Senesi and Adam Smith remain on the sidelines.

Paul Merson is among the pundits who has predicted how Tottenham will fare against Bournemouth.

Mathys Tel backed to drop out as Tottenham’s first-choice centre-backs rested

Postecoglou will no doubt have an eye on Thursday’s Europa League last-16 second-leg clash with AZ.

With that in mind, he could well prioritise that game, though he’ll probably still go with a fairly strong line-up against the Cherries.

Pedro Porro, who didn’t start against AZ, could return to the XI in place of Destiny Udogie, with Djed Spence shifting to the left.

Although Van de Ven and Romero are fit again, Postecoglou may be reluctant to risk them both from the off, so we predict they’ll start on the bench.

Lucas Bergvall may have scored an own goal in midweek, but he did well overall and was very unlucky with regards to what happened.

That said, we predict there’s a chance he could be given a rest, with Pape Matar Sarr pushing for a recall.

Elsewhere, we predict Wilson Odobert will be handed a start against the Cherries, with Mathys Tel making way and Son Heung-min playing centrally.

Tel, who Spurs have signed on loan with a £50million option to buy, struggled in midweek and could be handed a rest before being brought on later on.

Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth are set to lock horns in the Premier League on Sunday.

Tottenham are all-but out of contention for a European finish through their Premier League position, with the Europa League now their best chance to qualify next term.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth sit seventh in the table and, with how few points there are between the teams chasing Europe, a top-four spot is very much up for grabs.

Paul Merson has now predicted how Spurs and Bournemouth will fare on Sunday as he shared what there is “no chance” of happening, in his opinion.

Paul Merson backs Bournemouth to win 2-1 at Tottenham

Merson believes Tottenham will be fully preoccupied with the Europa League at present, with the tie still not a foregone conclusion.

The pundit’s prediction came before Spurs’ 1-0 loss to AZ in their last-16 first leg.

However, the narrow defeat ahead of the second leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium means Spurs are still in with a chance.

Indeed, Glenn Hoddle said after the game that Tottenham will be happy with the result and, as such, will be focusing on the second leg.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth will have had more rest and will be fully focused on domestic matters, which is why Merson has backed the visitors to win 2-1.

“This is all going to come down to what happens with Tottenham in the Europa League,” Merson wrote on Sportskeeda.

“I don’t think Spurs have any interest in this match.

“Considering their upcoming fixtures, they have no chance of getting into Europe through league standings!

“So I won’t blame Tottenham if they rest players this weekend.

“Spurs will have one eye on AZ Alkmaar and I feel Bournemouth will win because of that.

“Three points here would put Bournemouth in contention for a top four finish, what an incredibly exciting time for this football club.

“Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Bournemouth.”

Tottenham v Bournemouth team news

Spurs could welcome a host of players back to action on Sunday.

Ange Postecoglou hopes both Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven will be able to feature against the Cherries.

Both were named in the matchday squad against AZ but Postecoglou opted not to risk them.

The Tottenham boss also hopes both Dominic Solanke and Ben Davies will be able to be part of the squad for the game.

Spurs striker Richarlison remains sidelined through injury.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie is dealing with ‘something chronic’ but hasn’t been ruled out of the Tottenham game.

However, Enes Unal, Marcos Senesi and Adam Smith remain on the sidelines.

Tottenham Hotspur endured a bad day at the office as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to AZ in their Europa League last-16 first leg in the Netherlands.

Lucas Bergvall’s unfortunate own goal ended up being the difference the two sides, with Spurs unable to trouble the hosts thereafter.

In the 18th minute, a corner kick was swung in deep, and former Tottenham forward Troy Parrott flicked it back towards goal.

Bergvall attempted to clear, but connected poorly and ended up miskicking the ball into the back of his own net.

Tottenham couldn’t recover from this setback, going on to register just one effort on target all game as Bergvall appeared apologetic after the match.

To make things worse, Spurs striker Dominic Solanke was then forced to come off after a collision with the AZ goalkeeper.

Ange Postecoglou, speaking to the press after the Europa League match, provided an update on the Tottenham forward.

Dominic Solanke knock appears to be ‘nothing too serious’

Despite Solanke appearing to be visibly in pain after suffering the blow on the pitch, Postecoglou had a positive update in that it appears to be a knock.

Although Postecoglou suggested it’s too early to fully determine the extend of the knock, he didn’t seem too worried about what had happened to Solanke.

“I haven’t seen him yet, but it looks like it was just a knock, so hopefully nothing too serious,” he told the Tottenham website.

Postecoglou also told TNT Sports: “We think it’s a knock, so hopefully nothing too bad. He’s a bit sore.”

What happened to Dominic Solanke in AZ match

Solanke was back in the Tottenham squad for the trip to AZ after having missed the last two months with a knee injury.

The England ace began the match on the bench and was brought on in the 72nd minute as Spurs looked to get back into the game.

However, Solanke fell to the ground after being involved in a collision with AZ goalkeeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro.

The collision came as both players jumped for a late cross whipped into the home side’s box.

Solanke fell to the ground and began hitting the turf, suggesting he was in pain and sparking concerns over another injury lay-off.

The England international lasted 20 minutes as Dane Scarlett took his place for the latter stages of the match.

However, Postecoglou’s initial update on Solanke seems positive and hopefully, once more checks are done, it turns out to be nothing major.

Tottenham are next in action this Sunday when they host Bournemouth in a 2pm GMT kick-off in the Premier League.

Spurs then play the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie against AZ on Thursday 13 March (8pm kick-off) at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham Hotspur are among a host of Premier League clubs who are keeping close tabs on Sunderland full-back Dennis Cirkin, TBR Football exclusively understands.

Having come through the Tottenham academy, Cirkin left the club in 2021 without making a senior appearance for Spurs.

The 22-year-old has now amassed 108 appearances for Sunderland since leaving and has been a crucial part of the club’s attempts to get promoted from the Championship.

Cirkin has been a consistent starter for Regis Le Bris and has contributed three goals and two assists playing at left-back.

Tottenham considering move to bring Dennis Cirkin back to north London

That being said, Graeme Bailey – TBR football chief correspondent, understands that a host of Premier League clubs are doing work on the Sunderland full-back.

Cirkin is out of contract with the Wearsiders in 2026, a defender who last extended his deal with the club in 2023.

The Irish-born left-back represented England at under-20 level in the past, earning two caps back in 2021 playing alongside the likes of Morgan Rogers and Jarrad Branthwaite.

Now, it can be revealed that Spurs have kept a close eye on Cirkin’s progress ever since he left N17.

A number of well placed scouts have told TBR that Cirkin is seen as the Championship’s outstanding full-back right now.

And it’s not just Tottenham who are keeping tabs on the defender – Chelsea, Crystal Palace, West Ham United, Everton and Leeds United have also all watched him this season too.

Jose Mourinho said Dennis Cirkin had a ‘lot of quality’ at Tottenham

Speaking in November 2019, then Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho actually praised Cirkin during a press conference before a Premier League match.

Mourinho mentioned Cirkin’s name when talking about the club’s youth team, shortly before Cirkin then signed his first professional deal with Spurs.

Mourinho said: “I couldn’t be at the game but I watched on video our youth team playing in the [UEFA Youth League], and we also have [Cirkin].

“Okay, he’s 17, but he’s a kid with a lot of quality, and I look forward to bringing him to train with us, and to help his development.”

An interesting situation to keep an eye on, and Spurs could definitely do with better cover for Destiny Udogie at left-back, even if Djed Spence has been excelling on that side.

Unless they somehow manage to plumb new depths next season, Tottenham chairman and co-owner Daniel Levy will look back on 2024-25 as the nadir of his time in North London.

Ange Postecoglou’s are 13th in the Premier League table and out of both domestic cup competitions. Their hopes of salvaging something from the campaign now rest solely on the Europa League.

Daniel Levy’s premiership at Spurs began in 2001 when he was appointed – at first on an interim basis – as the club’s chairman by ENIC owner Joe Lewis.

In the grand sweep of history, Levy may well be remembered as the most consequential figure in Tottenham’s history.

The move to the lucrative Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has dragged Spurs into the game’s financial elite overnight. Revenue has almost tripled since they played their last match at White Hart Lane.

But the accusation from supporters is that commercial growth has come at the expense of success on the pitch, with the club’s DNA mutating to a point where financial returns are favoured over silverware.

In truth, the accusation is a little unfair.

Levy and ENIC are attempting to run the club sustainably in a division where wage and transfer inflation is out of control. Under their control, Tottenham is one of the only clubs where the numbers add up.

But while the ownership are right to point out that sustained investment is only possible in tandem with sustained revenue growth, the lack of silverware in N17 speaks for itself.

Whoever eventually takes over, they will inherit a club with the infrastructure, profile and balance sheet to compete for the very biggest honours – but there is no doubt that new ideas are needed.

That is why it stirred the passions of bedrock fans when former Newcastle United executive and co-owner Amanda Staveley was linked with buying into Spurs last summer.

Through her PCP Capital Partners investment firm, Staveley is said to have raised £500m for a new football project.

At that price, however, the financier – who is believed to have the backing of investors from the US and Middle East – would only be able to afford a small chunk of the club.

Levy values Tottenham at £3.75bn, which means a full takeover is within the price range of only a select few. Sovereign wealth funds are among that pool.

Private investors from Qatar, as well as two sovereign wealth funds in QSI and QIA, have also been linked with the club, either for a full, partial or phased takeover.

But a deal is not understood to be close, with Levy’s price point and the structure of a deal a supposed sticking point.

How much are Spurs really worth and what profile of investor would suit them? TBR Football spoke exclusively to Liverpool University football finance lecturer Kieran Maguire to find out.

It is a quirk of football that, despite being in the bottom half of the league, Spurs’ season could potentially still go down in history if they go all the way in the Europa League.

That’s a big if, however. That would mean that not only will the silverware drought be creeping close to the two-decade mark but also that there will be no European football next season.

According to Maguire, that is a problem for investors with big bank balances and even bigger egos.

“While Spurs continue to be the most profitable club in the history of the Premier League, those profits only average around £6m per year,” the Price of Football author told TBR.

“Therefore, to expect a potential buyer to be willing to pay billions, you have to add something to that, such as the prospect of winning trophies.

“That’s one area where Daniel Levy has struggled to deliver – and the situations with the fans has deteriorated because of that.

“There is a lot to admire in terms of the future-proofing of the stadium and the forensic attention to cost control, it’s glory as well as financial returns that investors are looking for.

“Financial returns for a price of £3.75bn are actually quite modest, so you’re looking at on-field returns.

“That is why there is caution from prospective investors. They are far from guaranteed to get into the Champions League, let alone win trophies.

“In the minds of most observers, the excitement is with A-grade opponents coming to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on a regular basis in the Champions League.”

Could European Super League be Daniel Levy’s Tottenham salvation?

One sure-fire way to increase the enterprise value of your football club overnight is to take it into a league where profits are guaranteed.

In 2021, Daniel Levy and ENIC tried to do exactly that with the European Super League, a closed-shop league which was modelled on the same principles as commercially-geared US franchise sport. ‘

Of course, thanks to the collective will of fans in N17 and beyond, the plot crashed and burned before a ball was kicked.

However, the European Super League is back.

The new ‘Unify League’, which is backed by Levy’s chum Florentino Perez, has more meritocratic pillars and looks similar in form to the revamped Champions League.

Its CEO, Bernd Reichart, insists that he has spoken to 10 English clubs about the possibility of joining up. It isn’t known whether Spurs, who have repeatedly distanced themselves publicly, are among that number.

If the competition could deliver the revenues it is promising, Tottenham’s value would explode and Levy could – in theory – ride off into the sunset with his capital appreciation dreams fulfilled.

However, besides the obvious issue of uproar among fans, the imminent independent regulator for English football is likely to block any attempts to join up.

The government backed regulator will be in place either in late 2025 or early 2026 and will have the power to prevent clubs from joining breakaway leagues.

Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Newcastle United are just a few of the clubs said to be keen on Kingsley Coman.

All four Premier League sides are likely to be busy in the summer transfer window as they look to improve and/or consolidate the quality of their squads.

Liverpool are flying high this season and will be keen on adding more quality in order to sustain the high levels they’ve reached.

Arsenal and Newcastle will want to fine-tune their squads so they can reach the next level, while Spurs are a work in progress and will be keen on more quality.

Coman looks set to be available in the summer window and a report has now emerged discussing the Bayern Munich star’s apparent transfer preference.

Kingsley Coman would prefer Premier League or La Liga move over Saudi Arabia switch

Coman has been linked with Arsenal of late, while CaughtOffside have now reported that Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle are also in pursuit.

The France international is reportedly set to be available for around €45million (£38million) after suffering a small dip in form at Bayern.

Coman is not only open to a move to the Premier League, but his preference is either England or La Liga in Spain amid interest from Saudi Arabia, added the report.

The 28-year-old has a contract with Bayern until 2027, but it seems there is now a concrete chance of him leaving ahead of his deal expiring.

What Kingsley Coman could bring to the Premier League

Coman is the definition of ‘serial winner’, having lifted virtually every trophy that can be obtained in Germany, France and Italy.

He has lifted one Champions League trophy, one FIFA Club World Cup, eight Bundesliga titles, two Scudettos and two Ligue 1 titles along with a host of domestic cups.

Coman is a technically gifted winger who boasts great dribbling skills, superb vision, and impressive speed.

Former Bayern manager Julian Nagelsmann once labelled Coman as one of the best players in Europe.

“In the end it’s all about the stats,” Nagelsmann said, as per iMiaSanMia.

“He can certainly improve a bit there, but he has already improved – his numbers have improved.

“For me he is one of the best wingers in Europe. When he is fit, he’ll always help us. He has unbelievable acceleration.”

Bayern’s official website, meanwhile, has said: ‘Coman can accelerate like no other player in European football.

‘With his incredibly fast steps from a standing start, combined with his nimble movement, he regularly leaves opponents behind.

‘When the winger twists and turns, the defenders are left for dead.’