Sports Mole

Third-best meets dead worst in gameweek six of the 2025-26 Premier League season, as Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers collide at the former's North London headquarters on Saturday night.

Both sides have been buoyed by midweek EFL Cup wins, as the Lilywhites cruised past Doncaster Rovers while Vitor Pereira's men restored a slice of pride by eliminating Everton.

Match preview

Deprived of domestic success since the 2007-08 EFL Cup final, Tottenham's quest to conquer the competition for the first time in nearly two decades got off to the perfect start in midweek, as Spurs barely needed to get out of second tier to send Doncaster packing.

Joao Palhinha and Brennan Johnson both made the net bulge either side of an own goal in a 3-0 triumph for Tottenham, whose new boss Thomas Frank has settled into his new surroundings comfortably and has now overseen three wins and a draw from his last four matches in all tournaments.

That stalemate may have even felt like a victory for a handful of Tottenham fans, who witnessed their side fight back from 2-0 down to hold Brighton & Hove Albion to a 2-2 draw last weekend, a result which leaves them behind Arsenal only on goal difference in the Premier League standings.

To put Spurs' current points haul into even greater context, Frank's record of 10 from his first five Premier League matches as Tottenham manager is double what Ange Postecoglou achieved in his final 12 top-flight games in charge of Spurs, who are also acclimatising to life without the long-serving Daniel Levy at the helm.

Many managers came and went during the Levy years, but there has been one constant in recent times; Tottenham are unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League home games against teams starting the day at the bottom of the table, winning 12 of them.

If there is any crumb of optimism for the Wolves faithful to cling onto, a particularly superstitious supporter might note that each of Tottenham's last five losses to teams at the bottom of the Premier League table have been against clubs beginning with W - three to West Bromwich Albion and one each vs. West Ham United and Wigan Athletic.

Beyond funky coincidences, the travelling contingent can also take heart from an increasingly rare win against a top-flight team, as Marshall Munetsi and Tolu Arokodare fired Wolves to a 2-0 win over Everton and a spot in the fourth round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday evening.

While Pereira's men have taken down the Toffees and West Ham United in knockout action, there is nothing for the Old Gold to shout about in the Premier League, where they are rooted to the foot of the division on account of being the only side to lose each of their opening five games.

Only Portsmouth in 2009-10, Crystal Palace in 2017-18 and Norwich City in 2021-22 have ever lost their first six Premier League games of a season, and as well as potentially joining that unwanted party, Wolves could set an unwanted competition record at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

If Wolves are losing when the half-time whistle blows, it will mark the 10th straight Premier League game where they have been behind at the interval - an unprecedented feat - although they often find their bite when faced with the Lilywhites.

Indeed, the visitors have impressively won four of their last five games against Tottenham and have not been beaten by the Europa League winners since a 1-0 loss in August 2022, when Harry Kane scored his 250th Spurs goal.

Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form:

Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):

Wolverhampton Wanderers Premier League form:

Wolverhampton Wanderers form (all competitions):

Team News

A quadruple fitness boost is not beyond the realm of possibility for Tottenham, who could firstly welcome the man pictured back to action following an ankle injury, as Dominic Solanke has been taking part in team training of late and is on course to make the squad.

Kota Takai (foot) is in the same boat, while Randal Kolo Muani (thigh) and Ben Davies (knee) are pushing to return from their minor issues too, but Radu Dragusin, James Maddison (both ACL), Dejan Kulusevski (knee) and Yves Bissouma (unspecified) remain out.

Even if Solanke and Kolo Muani are cleared to feature, Richarlison is bound to lead the line against one of his favourite opponents; the Brazilian has scored six Premier League goals against Wolves, his joint-most vs. a single team in the competition alongside Leicester City.

Meanwhile, Wolves' win over Everton in the EFL Cup did not come without sacrifice, as midfield fulcrum Andre was forced off with a calf problem in the 87th minute and is an early doubt for the clash with Tottenham.

However, Andre is only one of two concerns for Pereira to manage alongside long-term knee victim Leon Chiwome; if the former misses out, recent scorer Munetsi will surely be given the nod from the first whistle.

Arokodare's delightful chip in the Everton victory has also given Pereira food for thought up front, and the 24-year-old may very well get the nod over Jorgen Strand Larsen for the second Premier League game running.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Palhinha, Bergvall; Kudus, Richarlison, SimonsÂ

Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Sa; Mosquera, Toti, Agbadou; Doherty, J. Gomes, Munetsi, R. Gomes; Lopez, Hwang; Arokodare

We say: Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

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Wolves' magnificent record over Spurs in recent times is something to behold, but something that will surely bear no weight this weekend given the visitors' pitiful Premier League performances thus far in 2025-26.

Furthermore, only Liverpool have out-performed their Expected Goals (xG) total by a bigger margin than Spurs' 3.9 this season, and the Lilywhites should net multiple strikes once again in a resounding home success.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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Two teams at opposite ends of the Premier League table will meet on Saturday night when Tottenham Hotspur host Wolverhampton Wanderers.Â

Spurs sit third in the standings with three wins, one draw and one defeat in five league games, while Wolves are rock bottom of the table and remain the only team without a point on the board.

Here, Sports Mole provides details of how to tune into the Premier League encounter.Â

What time does Tottenham Hotspur vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers kick off?

The Premier League contest will kick off at 8pm, BST, on Saturday evening.

Where is Tottenham Hotspur vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers being played?

The contest will take place at Tottenham Hotspur's home ground, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which has been their home ground since 2019.

It is the third largest football stadium in England and the largest club stadium in London, boasting a capacity of 62,850.

How to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers in the UK

TV channels

The Premier League contest in London will be available to Sky Sports subscribers, with Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event both showing the match.

Online streaming

Sky Sports subscribers will also be able to access the game on the SkyGo on their phone or tablet device.

Highlights

Sky Sports will show highlights on their social media and YouTube channels, as well as on their dedicated app. UK viewers can also watch the highlights of the game on Match of the Day, which will start at 10:50pm on BBC One on Saturday night.

What is at stake for Tottenham Hotspur vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers?

Tottenham Hotspur will be aiming to record their fourth Premier League victory in six fixtures under new manager Thomas Frank, while they are also looking to build on their current four-game unbeaten run across all competitions.Â

Meanwhile, Wolverhampton Wanderers are looking to maintain the momentum from their 2-0 win over Everton in the EFL Cup as their search for a first Premier League point continues.

A return to winning ways in the Premier League will be on the agenda for Tottenham Hotspur when they tackle basement boys Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

Thomas Frank's men missed the chance to leapfrog bitter rivals Arsenal in the top-flight table last week, although they nevertheless showed applaudable resolve to draw 2-2 with Brighton & Hove Albion after falling 2-0 down.

The Lilywhites atoned for some of those South Coast errors in midweek, cruising past Doncaster Rovers 3-0 to book their spot in the fourth round of the EFL Cup.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up all of Tottenham's latest injury and suspension news ahead of the visit of Wolves, who are the only team without a point on the board in the current Premier League season.

Randal Kolo Muani

Status:Â Major doubt

Type of injury:Â Dead leg

Possible return date:Â September 27 (vs. Wolves)

Paris Saint-Germain loanee Randal Kolo Muani has been missing from Tottenham's last two matchday squads due to a dead leg, but the Frenchman should be eyeing a return on Saturday.

Ben Davies

Status:Â Major doubt

Type of injury:Â Knee

Possible return date:Â September 27 (vs. Wolves)

Likewise, Ben Davies sat out the Lilywhites' clashes with Doncaster and Brighton due to a twisted knee, but he might be cleared to return for the meeting with the Old Gold too.

Yves Bissouma

Status:Â Out

Type of injury:Â Unspecified

Possible return date:Â Unknown

Yves Bissouma's unspecified injury from the start of the season has proven to be more serious than initially thought, and Frank does not know when the Malian midfielder might be back in contention.

Kota Takai

Status: Major doubt

Type of injury:Â Foot

Possible return date:Â September 27 (vs. Wolves)

Kota Takai is finally in team training following a troublesome foot injury, and there is an outside chance that the summer signing could make his first Premier League matchday squad this weekend.

Radu Dragusin

Status: Out

Type of injury:Â ACL

Possible return date:Â October 19 (vs. Aston Villa)

Radu Dragusin should soon be entering the final stages of his recovery from the ACL injury he picked up in January, and a return in the autumn is not beyond the realm of possibility.

Dejan Kulusevski

Status: Out

Type of injury:Â Knee

Possible return date:Â November 29 (vs. Fulham)

The luckless Dejan Kulusevski has been out since the end of last season with a knee problem, one that will not heal fully for another couple of months.

James Maddison

Status: Out

Type of injury:Â ACL

Possible return date:Â Unknown

James Maddison is on the extremely long road to recovery from the ACL injury he suffered in pre-season, and it is still not known whether he might be able to feature before the campaign ends.

Dominic Solanke

Status: Minor doubt

Type of injury:Â Ankle

Possible return date:Â September 27 (vs. Wolves)

Dominic Solanke is finally closing in on a return from an ankle problem, and having trained with the team for a few days, he should be given the green light to face Vitor Pereira's side.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUSPENSION LIST

Tottenham have no players suspended for this match.

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Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur progressed to the fourth round of the EFL Cup after beating League One's Doncaster Rovers 3-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday night.

The clash got off to a lightning start as Rovers had two shots - the second of which was blocked by Pedro Porro - within the first two minutes, before Thomas Frank's men had a big chance of their own when Wilson Odobert crossed to Mathys Tel, who missed from six-yards out.

The Frenchman then failed to convert another gilt-edged chance when Brennan Johnson squared a pass to him, only for the former Bayern Munich man to miss the ball with his strike from close-range.

However, Tel's blushes were spared when Joao Palhinha opened the scoring with an overhead kick moments later after the visiting defence made a mess of a Xavi Simons corner.

Odobert then forced an own-goal from Doncaster centre-back Jay McGrath following some excellent wing play that saw him beat Tom Nixon on the left, and fire in a powerful low cross that the defender was unable to deflect anywhere but into his own net.

The second half was largely disjointed and less lively than the first - perhaps due to the combined 16 changes each team made for this game - but Johnson managed to seal the victory with a late third in stopage time.

SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT

Spurs endured a tough campaign in 2024-25, but Frank has made a strong start to life in the Lilywhites' dugout, losing just one of his seven competitive games in charge so far.

The hosts may feel capable of securing another trophy this season after ending their 17-year silverware drought with the Europa League last term, and fans will be pleased to see everything go as expected in the EFL Cup's third round.

That being said, Tel should have scored a hat-trick on Wednesday, and missing three sitters will do little to help the low-on-confidence forward.

As for Doncaster, they enjoyed some positive spells, especially in the first half when they forced a block from Porro and a fine save from Antonin Kinsky, but the Premier League side proved too much for them.

In any case, Grant McCann's men continue to push for promotion to the Championship, and currently sit seventh in the League One table, level on 16 points with sixth-placed Barnsley and fifth-placed Huddersfield Town in the playoff spots.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR VS. DONCASTER ROVERS HIGHLIGHTS

Joao Palhinha goal vs. Doncaster Rovers (14th min, Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Doncaster Rovers)

Simons swings in a corner from the left, and after a combination of Doncaster goalkeeper Ian Lawlor and the visiting defence fail to clear the ball, Palhinha reacts quickly to put an impressive overhead kick into an near-open net from the centre of the box.Â

Jay McGrath own-goal vs. Doncaster Rovers (17th min, Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Doncaster Rovers)

Odobert looks dangerous on the left flank, driving towards his full-back with speed and stepovers as he works his way into the area near the byline.

The former Burnley man then whips a powerful cross into the six-yard box that McGrath tries to clear but unfortunately can only convert into his own goal.

For the third time tonight, Tel has failed to finish a chance created by his teammates from inside the box.

On this occasion, Johnson makes a run behind the Doncaster defence and picks out the Frenchman, who misses the ball once again.

Brennan Johnson goal vs. Doncaster Rovers (90+4 mins, Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Doncaster Rovers)

Lucas Bergvall, who had his own effort scuppered by an offside call just moments earlier, carries the ball through midfield before picking out Johnson with a fine through pass.

The Welsh forward then tries a chip one-versus-one with Lawlor, who makes contact but is unable to stop him from sealing the tie.

MAN OF THE MATCH - JOAO PALHINHA

Featuring out of position at centre-back on Wednesday, Palhinha kept Tottenham's fifth clean sheet of the season alongside Kevin Danso.

The Portuguese midfielder also opened the scoring with a perfectly executed bicycle kick early in the first half, and maintained a 90% passing accuracy throughout the game.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR VS. DONCASTER ROVERSÂ MATCH STATS

Possession: Tottenham Hotspur 55%-45% Doncaster Rovers

Shots: Tottenham Hotspur 18-10 Doncaster Rovers

Shots on target:Â Tottenham Hotspur 5-2 Doncaster Rovers

Corners:Â Tottenham Hotspur 9-4 Doncaster Rovers

Fouls:Â Tottenham Hotspur 12-9 Doncaster Rovers

WHAT NEXT?

Tottenham will host struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers for a Premier League clash on Saturday, while Doncaster will travel to face Luton Town in League One on the same day.

Tottenham Hotspur reportedly have a 'priority' option to sign Harry Kane if he decides to leave Bayern Munich in 2026.Â

The England striker scored a club-record 280 goals in 435 matches for Spurs before moving to Bayern in August 2023.

Kane has been simply outstanding for the Bavarian giants, scoring 98 goals in 103 appearances across all competitions and helping the side win the Bundesliga last season.Â

The 32-year-old, who won the Bundesliga Golden Boot in the last two seasons, has been in terrific form this season, scoring eight goals and providing three assists in four league games so far.Â

Kane is under contract at the Allianz Arena until June 2027, but speculations are rife that he could return to the Premier League next summer to chase down Alan Shearer's all-time Premier League goalscoring record.Â

Tottenham have 'priority' option to sign KaneÂ

In recent weeks, it has been reported that several Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Newcastle United, are interested in signing the Bayern striker.Â

However, according to Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham are the first ones who could make an offer to sign Kane if the striker decides to leave Germany.Â

Thomas Frank, who hailed him as an 'unbelievable' player, has opened the door for a potential return. The Spurs boss is a big admirer of Kane and has stated that the striker is "more than welcome" to make a return to his former club.

Romano adds that Kane is currently focused on Bayern, and the England captain believes that the German giants have a strong squad capable of competing for the Champions League this season in a serious way.Â

Could Kane be tempted to make a return to Tottenham?Â

Kane has scored 213 goals in the Premier League, and he is just 48 goals away from breaking Shearer's record, which should be the biggest motivation for him to return to England.Â

Having won the Bundesliga with Bayern, Kane would be looking to lift the Champions League with the German side. If he manages to do that this season, he can happily bid farewell to Bayern next summer to return to his old club and help them win a trophy.Â

There is reportedly a ‘secret’ clause in his contract that would allow him to leave Bayern for €65m (£56.7m) in the summer of 2026, but Kane must inform the club of his desire to leave before the end of the January transfer window.Â

It would be a fairytale moment if he makes an emotional return to Spurs next summer, but many factors need to fall in place for that to happen.Â

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified Borussia Dortmund playmaker Julian Brandt as a potential winter transfer target.

Thomas Frank has enjoyed a strong start to life at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, recording four wins, two draws and one defeat from his seven games in charge.

Spurs sit in third place in the Premier League table after five games and have prevailed in their opening Champions League fixture of the season.

As such, the North Londoners are in a positive mindframe going forward, while Frank has also publicly hinted that trying to secure a reunion with Harry Kane in the future is not out of the question.

Nevertheless, as per Fichajes, Spurs are giving consideration to trying to negotiate a deal for another Bundesliga player with a big reputation in 2026.

Spurs interested in Brandt deal

The report alleges that Spurs are one of three clubs that are toying with making an approach for long-serving Dortmund star Brandt.

Since 2019, the Germany international has contributed 47 goals and 66 assists from 271 appearances in all competitions.

Brandt has also made five outings this campaign, yet the 29-year-old has entered the final 12 months of his contract.

Therefore, Spurs, Newcastle United and Aston Villa are all considering trying to tempt Dortmund into a sale for a cut-price fee at the turn of the year.

Should Brandt not leave the Westfalenstadion in January, he will be able to entertain pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs.

Which Premier League team needs Brandt the most?

With Spurs having been unable to include a player such as Mathys Tel in their Champions League squad, it is clear that they are not short of suitable options in the final third.

That is something that may come into Brandt's thinking when considering his next move, with only 193 minutes racked up across five games in all competitions during 2025-26.

He may not be viewed as first choice at Newcastle either, but Villa boss Unai Emery would likely jump at the chance to include a player of his proven quality into his goal-shy team.

Other European teams will inevitably enter the race if it becomes apparent that he is not penning fresh terms with Dortmund.

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank has confirmed his stance over a possible blockbuster return for Bayern Munich's Harry Kane as speculation over his future hots up.

The England captain ended his lengthy association with Spurs in 2023 in pursuit of silverware, a mission he has now succeeded in thanks to Bayern's 2024-25 Bundesliga triumph.

Now that Kane has fulfilled his desire for a top-level team honour, talk of a return to the Premier League has heightened in recent weeks, especially following the revelation of a supposed secret exit clause in his Bayern contract.

If the 32-year-old informs the German champions of his desire to leave before the January transfer window - giving the Bavarians plentiful time to secure a replacement - he will supposedly be allowed to depart for €65m (£56.7m).

Kane is unsurprisingly being tipped to return to England in order to chase down Alan Shearer's all-time Premier League goalscoring record; the Three Lions skipper sits on 213 goals in the competition, 47 fewer than the Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers legend.

Frank: 'Kane would be welcome back at Tottenham'

Ahead of Spurs' EFL Cup third-round clash with Doncaster Rovers on Wednesday, Frank was asked about Kane's alleged secret clause and whether the door is still open for the striker to return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the near future.

"I didn’t know there was a clause," Frank responded. "He is an unbelievable player who did fantastic for Spurs and is doing fantastic for Bayern. Top player. I think there’s a lot of Tottenham fans, including myself, who would like to see Kane back.

"Personally, I don’t think he will do it right now if I’m honest. He’ll probably stay in Bayern and continue performing well. He was top scorer last year, won the championship and he’s doing fantastic now.

"I don’t know what he’s thinking. Myself, I’m a traveller, I like to travel, I like to explore things as well. He’s been here for many years so why not enjoy the time at Bayern a little bit more? But he’s welcome. If he wants to join us, he’s more than welcome!"

Kane has made a blistering start to the 2025-26 campaign with 13 goals and three assists from seven appearances in all competitions, including two Bundesliga hat-tricks against RB Leipzig and Hoffenheim.

In total, the England captain has been directly involved in a staggering 127 goals in 103 matches for Vincent Kompany's side in all tournaments - 98 of his own and 29 assists.

Which other clubs are interested in Kane?

In spite of Kane's deep emotional connection to Tottenham, the reigning Europa League champions will face stiff competition to bring him back to North London, both from rival Premier League clubs and abroad.

Barcelona have been heavily linked with a move for the 32-year-old as they plan for a future without Robert Lewandowski, who is five years older than Kane and is out of contract at the end of the season.

Manchester United, Chelsea, Newcastle and even Arsenal have also been credited with an interest in Kane, although a move to the latter is surely out of the question lest he risk burning bridges with the entire Tottenham fanbase.

Kane scored an unparalleled 280 goals in 435 appearances for the Lilywhites after coming through the academy network, but the 32-year-old was never able to fire Tottenham to a major team trophy.

Joao Palhinha reportedly wants to stay with Tottenham Hotspur after the end of the season rather than returning to Bayern Munich.Â

The Portuguese midfielder moved to Spurs on loan from Bayern during the summer window, with the north London club having the option to sign him permanently for £27m.Â

Palhinha has made a strong impact already since returning to the Premier League, and Spurs are reportedly expected to open talks over his permanent signing in the summer transfer window.Â

Transfer expert Ben Jacobs has suggested that the former Fulham midfielder is keen to remain in the Premier League, and he would be very happy if Spurs decide to take up the option of signing him permanently.Â

Palhinha's time at Bayern is as good as overÂ

After emerging as a standout performer for the Cottagers, Bayern signed him in 2024 for a fee of £43.1m, following an initial attempt to secure his services a year earlier.Â

Palhinha featured 17 times in the Bundesliga for Bayern, making only five starts. Clearly, the move did not work out for him, as Vincent Kompany preferred the technical qualities of Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic over the former Sporting CP midfielder.Â

Injuries prevented him from becoming a regular, but most importantly, Kompany was not impressed by his perceived lack of invention and quality on the ball.Â

The 30-year-old was voted the league’s most disappointing player by 216 of his Bundesliga peers, and by sanctioning a loan deal to Spurs, the Bavarian giants made their intention very clear -- his time at the Allianz Arena is as good as over.Â

Tottenham must sign Palhinha permanently next summerÂ

Palhinha probably would not have survived had Ange Postecoglou remained in charge because of his cavalier approach. However, he has proved to be a perfect fit in Thomas Frank's system, where defensive structure is prioritised.Â

The midfielder produced one of his best performances of his career against Manchester City away from home, and it became very clear that he would be a key player for Spurs this season.Â

Frank may not need him during some of the home games against relatively weaker opposition, but he would definitely be required in all those matches where Spurs need to control possession and build attacks with patience.

There is plenty of football left in Palhinha's legs, and paying £27m to retain his services is an absolute no-brainer.Â

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank has provided the latest update on the fitness of his squad ahead of Wednesday’s EFL Cup third-round tie at home against Doncaster Rovers.

Spurs are in the thick of a busy fixture schedule across multiple competitions and have put together a three-match unbeaten run, winning twice and drawing once over a seven-day period.

After securing back-to-back wins without reply against West Ham United and Villarreal, beating the latter in the Champions League, Spurs were held to a 2-2 draw at Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.

Frank had to cope without eight players for the trip to the Amex Stadium and four of those who remain sidelined long-term are Dejan Kulusevski, Radu Dragusin, James Maddison (all knee) and Yves Bissouma (knock).

Providing an update on Kulusevski's recovery, Frank told reporters on Tuesday: "Of course, Kulusevski is a top player. I have always liked him when I saw him from afar. He is a key player for us and a key player for me.

“Instead of putting an exact month, I just want him back as soon as possible. It's not tomorrow, but hopefully it's not too far away."

Kolo Muani, Davies ruled out as Frank issues positive Solanke, Takai update

Randal Kolo Muani and Ben Davies also missed the draw with Brighton and Frank has confirmed that Wednesday’s contest will come too soon for the pair as they continue to recover from respective knee and dead leg issues.

"Everyone last time (who was involved against Brighton) is available again,” said Frank. “Ben and Randal will not be available for selection tomorrow. It's a minor injury for both of them, but it's just too short a turn around."

Frank had also provided a fresh update on the fitness of defender Kota Takai and striker Dominic Solanke, adding: "They are both progressing - both trained today with the team, so that's good."

While Takai has been sidelined since pre-season with a plantar fascia issue, Solanke is nursing an ankle problem and has not played for Spurs since making a substitute appearance in the 2-0 win at Manchester City on August 23.

One player who ‘will start’ in Wednesday’s cup tie against Doncaster is goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, who is in line to replace first-choice shot-stopper Guglielmo Vicario.

Kinsky “will start” for Spurs against Doncaster, says Frank

"Antonin will start tomorrow,” said Frank. “I'm very happy with him as a goalkeeper. I think he's a very good goalkeeper with very good potential.

"For any player not starting, they're not happy. Some probably understand it a bit more. How can I say... outfielders, sometimes, you're young, you're trying to get your way into it, but at some stage you always want to play. Same for goalkeepers.

“The easy thing for Antonin would have been to stay at his former club. Now it's a bigger stage, a bigger challenge. He has a great future here at Tottenham, I like what I see from him, he just has to keep training well and doing well."

Kinsky made his debut for Spurs in last season’s EFL Cup, just five days after joining from Slavia Prague for a reported £12.5m, and he impressed between the sticks as he kept a clean sheet in a narrow 1-0 home win over Liverpool in the first leg of a semi-final tie.

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Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly looking to submit a bid for Real Sociedad midfielder Brais Mendez in the January transfer window.Â

Spurs have made a strong start in the 2025-26 Premier League campaign under Thomas Frank, sitting third in the table with 10 points from five games.Â

The north London club bolstered their attacking midfield areas during the summer by signing Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig, but they need more options in that department following the ACL injury to James Maddison.Â

With Simons being mainly used as a left-winger by Frank, there could be room for another versatile attacking midfielder, and probably that is why Spurs have reportedly set their sight on the Galician forward.Â

Spurs ready to submit lucrative offer for Mendez?Â

According to a report from Fichajes, Spurs are looking to open talks on a deal for the 28-year-old former Celta Vigo midfielder, who has become a key player for Sergio Francisco's side.Â

The interest in the midfielder appears concrete, and such is their determination, the north London club are ready to bid around €40m (£35m), with the Spanish club being willing to listen to offers.Â

The report claims that negotiations are expected to intensify in the coming months, and Real Sociedad are worried about losing one of their key players as early as the January window.Â

While the midfielder has found his stability at the Galician club, he could be tempted by the glamour of playing in the Premier League. Moreover, Spurs can also offer him Champions League football if they reach the knockout stages.Â

Should Spurs look for other options?Â

Mendez has developed an uncanny ability to score from outside the box, and he can play in multiple positions, which makes him an exciting candidate for Tottenham's attacking midfield role.Â

Last season, he scored eight goals and provided five assists across all competitions, and could be a valuable option for Frank, who prefers a dynamic brand of football.Â

At the same time, Mendez will turn 29 in January, and Spurs need to consider whether it makes sense to spend more than £30m on someone who will have very little to no resale value.Â

Tottenham believe that a player of his calibre would help them secure Champions League football next season, and they will probably have no problems meeting his asking price. However, the money could be better used elsewhere, and Frank should consider signing young talent instead. Â