TBR Football

Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens has been left ’embarrassed’ by his own comments about Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou.

Spurs are going through a really difficult campaign. They have dropped down to 16th in the Premier League table ahead of their game against Brentford on Sunday.

Injuries have been the biggest reason why Postecoglou’s side are in such a bad position at the moment, and the Australian definitely deserves some sympathy for that.

However, Wellens needlessly used Postecoglou’s name in an interview recently, and he has now issued an apology for his comments.

Leyton Orient suffered a 1-0 defeat to Stockport in League One on Saturday.

The Os have signed two players on loan from Tottenham Hotspur – Josh Keeley and Jamie Donley – and both of them started the game at Brisbane Road.

You would imagine that Orient boss Wellens would only have good things to say about Spurs, but his comments after the game against Stockport suggested otherwise.

When he was asked about injuries, Wellens said, as per The Evening Standard: “I’m not Ange Postecoglou, keep using it as an excuse.”

That led to a lot of criticism from Spurs fans, and Wellens has now come out and issued a public apology and even branded his own comments as ‘stupid’.

He said in a statement released on Leyton Orient’s website: “After today’s game, I was asked about the injuries within our squad and, without thinking, I made a stupid comment about Tottenham Hotspur.

“That comment was brought to my attention later in the evening and having watched my interview back, I am deeply embarrassed and regret what I said.

“At Leyton Orient, we have a strong relationship with Tottenham Hotspur and it was never my intention to say anything that would jeopardise that. Their manager, Ange Postecoglou, is a world-class coach and I want to apologise for my comments and wish Spurs all the very best for the second half of the season.”

Postecoglou’s luck with injuries is about to change

Wellens’ comments were completely out of order and he is right to issue an apology.

Postecoglou has had to go through a lot because of injuries this season. He has been without several of his key players for large parts of the campaign and that has hurt him.

But, in what is good news for Spurs fans, a number of injured players are expected to be back.

Postecoglou confirmed in a recent press conference that Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Destiny Udogie, Wilson Odobert and Timo Werner are all expected to be back in the next seven to 10 days, while Dominic Solanke should return a week after that.

That is huge news and it could help Spurs completely turn their season around in the next few months.

Tottenham Hotspur are yet to make a single outfield signing in the winter transfer window, but things are about to change now.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have been looking all over the market for reinforcements. A new striker has been the priority, while additions in defence have become very important too.

Radu Dragusin’s injury forced Tottenham to push for a new centre-half, and it looks like they have finally found their man.

After Fikayo Tomori rejected Spurs, Daniel Levy has sealed the deal to sign another defender.

Fabrizio Romano shares when Kevin Danso will have his Tottenham medical

Kevin Danso has been on Tottenham’s radar since the transfer window opened.

The North Londoners were keen to sign the Lens defender weeks ago, but the French club’s asking price was deemed too much at the time.

However, a deal has now been struck.

TBR Football exclusively revealed late on Saturday that Danso is set to sign for Tottenham after Spurs hijacked Wolves’ deal to get him.

Now, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed the claim above and has revealed that Spurs have booked a medical for Danso on Sunday.

Wolves had agreed a deal with Danso too and a medical was arranged. But, after Spurs came in, the Austria international decided to head to North London.

Romano tweeted late on Saturday night: “Kevin Danso to Tottenham, here we go!

“Agreement in place for the Austrian centre-back. €25 million package, deal until June 2030 and medical booked on Sunday… after Wolves had verbal agreement in place and also medical ready.

“Hijack completed!”

Tottenham could sign another centre-back after Danso

Tottenham have wanted a centre-half since the start of the window, but Dragusin’s injury has increased the need for another one.

Danso, branded as a ‘dominant’ player by Breaking the Lines, is set to arrive now, but Spurs are in talks to sign another centre-back too.

TBR can confirm that Tottenham could still sign Chelsea star Axel Disasi after Spurs enquired about signing him on Saturday.

TBR Football understand Tottenham are now set to sign Kevin Danso from RC Lens – leaving Premier League rivals Wolves furious.

Spurs look set to be busy as we approach Monday night’s transfer deadline, with a central defender wanted by Ange Postecoglou after Radu Dragusin suffered a serious knee injury in the 3-0 UEFA Europa League win over Elfsborg on Thursday.

Tottenham have made an approach to sign Axel Disasi from Chelsea to cover for the Romania international, as Spurs aim to rise away from 16th in the Premier League.

Now – however – sources have confirmed to TBR Football that Tottenham are close to signing Kevin Danso from RC Lens, a development which has left Wolves seething.

Tottenham set to sign Kevin Danso

Graeme Bailey – Chief Correspondent at TBR Football – has now been told Spurs are close to signing the Austria international.

We understand Danso will join the north Londoners in a £21m permanent switch from the Ligue 1 outfit – in a move which will go some way to helping Tottenham’s lack of depth in defence.

Sources have also informed TBR Football that Wolves are furious at this development – with those at Molineux feeling they have been used by the RC Lens No.4’s agent to get a better deal.

RC Lens and Wolves have been locked in discussions for the past week as the Old Gold aim to sign a new central defender for Vitor Pereira.

Wolves felt they had negotiated an initial loan deal for Danso – who once said he dreams of playing for Arsenal – although Tottenham have now swooped in.

TBR Football understand Wolves now feel resigned to missing out on the 26-year-old to Spurs.

What we know about Tottenham and Axel Disasi amid Kevin Danso hijack

It remains to be seen if Tottenham sign both Danso and Disasi.

All eyes are on the transfer window, but Tottenham Hotspur have a game to play against Brentford before deadline day.

Spurs are actively looking for reinforcements in the market.

Ange Postecoglou wants to sign a new attacker before the window shuts on Monday, while another defender may prove to be a necessity too if Radu Dragusin’s injury turns out to be serious.

Daniel Levy and Johan Lange are busy dealing with transfers, but Postecoglou’s focus is on the tough game away at Brentford on Sunday.

Paul Merson predicts the result of Brentford vs Tottenham

Tottenham’s form in the Premier League has been dreadful over the last two months.

Spurs have lost four games on the bounce and haven’t won any of their last seven fixtures. That has pushed them down to 16th in the table.

Relegation is not on anyone’s mind now – Spurs are too good to go down at the moment. But, they have a few very difficult fixtures coming up, starting with Brentford on Sunday.

The Bees have lost just three games at home all season. They are a very difficult side to face, which is probably why Paul Merson is convinced that Tottenham will lose.

The pundit has even claimed that Spurs will end up in a relegation battle if his prediction comes true.

“I’m being kind when I say Tottenham are struggling. They’ve been atrocious and it could get worse this weekend,” Merson started off saying on Sportskeeda.

“I expect Brentford to push Tottenham to their limits in this game. It could even become really painful to watch if you’re a Spurs fan! I don’t think it’s fair to sack Postecoglou now. Tottenham have seven or eight solid players out injured at the moment. If all of them return, Spurs will automatically become a good, competitive team.

“I’m not saying Tottenham will get relegated, but they could be involved in a nasty fight at the bottom of the table. If Tottenham fail to beat Brentford after Ipswich and Leicester win their games this weekend, Spurs are in the relegation battle in my opinion!

“Let’s see if Ipswich and Leicester can do it because I think Tottenham are definitely losing against Brentford.”

Merson’s prediction: Brentford 3-1 Tottenham

Tottenham’s record against Brentford in the Premier League

Brentford have been magnificent since they gained promotion to the Premier League in the summer of 2021. Thomas Frank deserves a lot of credit.

The Bees have managed to beat several top teams over the years and they have got the better of Tottenham too – but only once.

In seven games against Brentford in the Premier League, Tottenham have lost just one time, which should give them some encouragement going into the game on Sunday.

But, nothing has really gone to plan for Tottenham in the league recently, and there’s every chance they could get battered against Frank’s tough Brentford side.

We’re getting towards the bitter end of the transfer window, and Spurs are yet to make anything substantial happen.

Spurs have signed Antonin Kinsky, but they haven’t managed to bring in any new outfield players.

However, it hasn’t been for the lack of trying.

Indeed, Spurs have been active in the transfer window, but their attempts at signing new players have often led them up a dead end.

Randal Kolo Muani was a Tottenham target, but he’s gone to Juventus instead. Meanwhile, Spurs wanted Mathys Tel, but the Bayern Munich star has knocked Tottenham back.

Tottenham do still have a few avenues open to them, for example, Tottenham would love to sign Tyler Dibling this month.

Dibling is a Spurs target, and Tottenham may have an interesting way to get this deal done.

Tottenham could do part-exchange deal for Tyler Dibling

According to The Express, Tottenham could do a swap deal for Tyler Dibling including Tyrese Hall.

Meanwhile, GiveMeSport report that it’s actually Dane Scarlett that Southampton want in a part-exchange deal for Dibling.

Scarlett scored for Tottenham in the Europa League this week, and Scarlett was described a ‘brilliant’ by Peter Crouch after the game.

Now, Southampton could be looking to bring Scarlett to St Mary’s if Dibling heads to north London in something of a part-exchange deal.

This isn’t likely to be a straight swap deal in the traditional sense if this deal does happen as recent PSR changes have led to ‘mirror deals’ being more popular – a la Archie Gray and Joe Rodon’s respective moves to Tottenham and Leeds over the summer.

According to GiveMeSport, Dibling is open to a move to Tottenham, and Spurs are confident of eventually doing a deal, be that in this window or in the summer.

Southampton’s past academy stars

Tottenham are optimistic about signing Dibling, and they could be getting a potential superstar here.

Not only has Dibling been incredible in the Premier League this season, but he’s coming from an academy that has a remarkable pedigree for producing top players.

Indeed, the list of Southampton’s academy graduates is a who’s who of some of the best players we’ve seen in the UK.

Buying Southampton’s best academy products is never a bad bet, and it looks like Dibling could be the next top-class player to come out of the St Mary’s system.

Tottenham know first-hand how good these young players from Southampton can be. After all, Gareth Bale become a two-time PFA Player of the Year at Spurs after signing from the south-coast club all those years ago.

Tottenham Hotspur are having a really tough time of it in this January transfer window.

Indeed, Spurs have pursued a lot of different transfer options this month, but, most of the time, their pursuits have been to no avail.

Tottenham have made one signing in the shape of Antonin Kinsky, and while Kinsky has received praise for his performances in recent times, his addition alone isn’t enough.

Spurs need to do more work in this window, and they have been looking at signing a new striker.

Tottenham wanted Randal Kolo Muani earlier this month, while Mathys Tel was a Tottenham target before he decided to snub Spurs.

Yoane Wissa has been linked to Tottenham recently too, but, unfortunately, it doesn’t sound as though Wissa will be on his way to north London either.

Tottenham not in Yoane Wissa talks

Speaking on The Tottenham Way Podcast, Tom Barclay spoke about Spurs’ links to Wissa.

The journalist says that the recent reports linking Tottenham with Wissa are wide of the mark, claiming that talks between the two parties haven’t occurred.

“It feels like whether you agree with the whole approach or not, it is sticking to their approach. It’s not suddenly going, oh, we need someone. Like, for example, there were talks about Yoane Wissa, who would probably be a good signing, to be fair,” Barclay said.

“But the other day, there was a suggestion that Spurs had opened talks. My understanding is that not the case. That would be, at 28 turning 29, a dramatic shift from where they’ve been going so far.

“Not to say that he wouldn’t be a good signing because he’s a good player. But that would be more suggest or smack of a desperate attempt to change the approach they’ve gone down. So at least, again, whether you agree with it or not, Tel is joined up thinking with how they’ve been going so far.”

Age profiles of Tottenham’s recent signings

Barclay says that Wissa wouldn’t fit into Tottenham’s recent transfer policy, and he’s not wrong.

Wissa isn’t an ageing player by any stretch of the imagination, but at the age of 28 now, he doesn’t have tons or room to develop.

Tottenham’s recent signings have all been in that lower age bracket. In fact, Spurs haven’t spent a fee on a player aged 28 or over since they signed Matt Doherty from Wolves back in 2020.

Tottenham’s focus is clearly on signing younger players, and Wissa, as talented as he is, doesn’t fit into that recruitment policy.

The £22m-rated man and he would be a very good signing for Tottenham given their current situation.

However it would appear that Daniel Levy and Johan Lange have their own, different ideas on how Spurs should be conducting their business at the moment.

Spurs won’t be signing Wissa, but one thing is for sure, they need a new attacker through the door in the coming days.

Tottenham Hotspur could do with reinforcements in multiple areas of their pitch.

The North Londoners have had a terrible season in the Premier League so far. They are 15th in the table and could find themselves in a relegation battle if things don’t improve.

Ange Postecoglou is working very hard on reinforcements. Spurs are on the market to bring in a new forward and a defender before Monday night’s transfer deadline.

However, Paul Merson believes Spurs need new signings in another area of their pitch too.

Paul Merson tells Tottenham to sign upgrades on Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr

Tottenham’s midfield, on paper, is really good.

James Maddison has the ability to win a game on his own, while Yves Bissouma has shown his class in the Premier League over the years.

Rodrigo Bentancur has produced several good performances for Spurs as well, as his young Pape Matar Sarr.

The big problem with all of them is their inconsistency, especially Bissouma and Sarr.

That’s why Merson has urged Spurs chairman Daniel Levy to dive into the market and sign better midfielders than the two players mentioned above.

He wrote on Sportskeeda: “Daniel Levy must look to invest in midfield for Tottenham.

“Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr have been very inconsistent and that’s where the main problem lies for them.”

Tottenham already have two midfielders who can replace Bissouma and Sarr

Bissouma was brilliant for Brighton when he was there, but he hasn’t been able to produce similar performances at Tottenham on a consistent basis.

Sarr has been much better than Bissouma, but his consistency is an issue as well, which is a shame as he has the quality to be a great player.

But, Tottenham don’t need to dive into the market for midfield reinforcements.

Postecoglou has two exceptionally talented players in Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, and they have proved that they aren’t just the future but the present as well.

Spurs’ midfield is not the issue at the moment, it’s the other two areas of the pitch – attack and defence.

Levy and Postecoglou should focus on reinforcements in those areas before the deadline on Monday night.

Tottenham Hotspur are currently looking to bring in a new centre-back as the defensive crisis at N17 rumbles on.

Spurs’ season has been hampered by the amount of injuries to key players, particularly in defence, and they are now looking for reinforcements.

Radu Dragusin is the latest Tottenham centre-back to suffer an injury, and he could be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Tottenham are in talks over Fikayo Tomori, but Fabrizio Romano has now reported that Spurs have made an approach for another defender.

Fabrizio Romano says Tottenham have made their move for Axel Disasi

Romano, taking to X, says Tottenham have approached Chelsea defender Axel Disasi over a potential move to N17.

Although Disasi has already agreed personal terms with Aston Villa, Romano suggested he’s considering the Spurs lead.

“He’s now expected to make a decision soon… up to the player,” wrote the transfer insider.

Disasi’s current situation at Chelsea

Disasi, who joined Chelsea in a £38.5m move from Monaco back in August 2023, has struggled under Enzo Maresca so far this season.

Since the turn of the year, Disasi has picked up just 13 minutes of Premier League football, coming off the bench against Wolves.

However, the France international did play the full 90 minutes in the FA Cup win over Morecambe.

Trevoh Chalobah’s recall from his loan spell at Crystal Palace is likely to push Disasi further down the pecking order at Chelsea.

TBR Football sources have confirmed that Chelsea are currently stalling in talks with Villa over Disasi, which in turn has left the player unhappy.

Disasi could do with a change of scenery and Tottenham wouldn’t be a bad place for him to try and kickstart his career.

Should Spurs land him, they’d be getting a player who has been Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig has deemed “complete and dominant”.

Disasi has also been likened to Liverpool and Netherlands star Virgil van Dijk.

Tottenham Hotspur seem to be going down transfer dead end after transfer dead end this month.

Indeed, Spurs seemingly can’t catch a break in the transfer window at the moment.

Tottenham wanted Randal Kolo Muani, but the PSG ace went to Juventus on loan instead, while Mathys Tel has now rejected a move to Tottenham.

Luckily, there is still time to run in the transfer window, and Spurs do have a few irons in the fire.

However, it seems as though there is another potential target who is set to snub Tottenham.

Tottenham were looking at signing Fikayo Tomori from AC Milan, but the defender seemingly isn’t keen on a move to north London.

Indeed, according to Di Marzio, Tomori wants to stay at AC Milan instead of signing for Tottenham.

Fikayo Tomori wants to stay at AC Milan

According to Di Marzio, Tomori is not open to a transfer to Tottenham and he wants to stay at AC Milan.

Tomori wants to stay at Milan rather than signing for Spurs, and it’s hard to blame him.

Indeed, while Milan aren’t having the best of seasons, they’re still firmly in the race for the Champions League in Serie A and they’ve just made something of a statement signing in the shape of Kyle Walker.

Meanwhile, Tottenham are 15th in the Premier League and they have almost no hope of reaching those European places this season.

The £25m man is set to stay in Milan, and it looks like it’s back to the drawing board for Spurs in terms of searching for a new defender.

Tottenham’s nightmare transfer window

Things aren’t going well on the pitch for Tottenham at the moment, but, somehow, their work off the pitch is almost just as embarrassing.

Indeed, Tottenham have missed out on target after target this month.

The sad reality for Tottenham is that they can’t fish in their usual ponds right now.

Spurs have been established as a part of the Big Six in recent times, and they’ve been able to go for some of the bigger names and prospects in European football.

Unfortunately, at the moment, Tottenham are the 15th-best team in England, and players like Tomori and Mathys Tel won’t want to sign for a side that looks almost destined to finish in the bottom-half of the table.

Tottenham Hotspur’s move for Fikayo Tomori is just missing the approval of the player with a £25 million deal being verbally agreed with AC Milan.

Spurs have agreed a deal for Tomori with Milan as Ange Postecoglou looks to bolster his options in central defence.

Tottenham have already been rejected by Mathys Tel and will now be hoping that they don’t face another embarrassment as they wait for Tomori’s verdict over a move to North London.

Tomori has also been linked to Aston Villa and the defender’s stance about making his long-awaited return to the English top-flight has been revealed.

Fikayo Tomori open to Premier League return

Fikayo Tomori is open to returning to the Premier League after spending four years in Milan, according to the Times.

Tottenham are currently waiting for Tomori to make his decision over a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but their chances of landing him have been boosted by his willingness to come back to England.

Spurs think they have lost Radu Dragusin to a ‘serious injury’ after the Romanian landed awkwardly against Elfsborg and hyperextended his knee.

The Lilywhites are now looking at potentially signing two central defenders in the final days of the window and Tomori looks to be one of them.

AC Milan fans are happy to be selling Tomori for £25 million with suggestions the England international’s form has suffered a significant dip this campaign.

Tottenham ask about also signing Fikayo Tomori’s teammate

Tottenham have also asked about signing Tomori’s AC Milan teammate Noah Okafor, however, they are yet to follow up on that initial enquiry.

But after missing out on their top target Mathys Tel, a move for the Swiss forward could be back on the cards, according to the Times report.

Okafor hasn’t had the best season at the San Siro having scored just once in all competitions and making just 17 appearances.