Sports Mole

Atletico Madrid allegedly hold an interest in signing a Tottenham Hotspur midfielder at some point in 2026.

Diego Simeone has just overseen a major rebuild at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in the hope of closing the gap on Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Instead, Atletico have endured a dismal start to the campaign, failing to win any of their games against Espanyol, Elche and Alaves.

Already sitting eight points adrift of leaders Real Madrid, the vast majority of people will deem that Atletico are already out of the title race.

Meanwhile, uncertainty remains over some of their squad players such as Conor Gallagher, who was linked with a return to the Premier League towards the end of the summer transfer window.

Atletico considering Gallagher replacements?

Gallagher has accumulated just 86 minutes of football across the aforementioned La Liga triple-header, not playing more than 45 minutes in a game.

That pattern has extended since the Club World Cup, casting doubt as to whether Simeone will soon be attempting to sign an alternative.

According to Fichajes, Spurs midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur is someone who is being considered by Simeone.

The 28-year-old has been a valuable asset to Spurs, contributing nine goals and eight assists from 117 appearances since the start of 2022.

However, the Uruguay international's contract is due to expire at the end of the season, making him an attractive option for clubs around Europe and potentially in South America.

Atletico would allegedly only consider signing Bentancur if he becomes a free agent, there being the option of negotiations being held as soon as January.

Simeone is said to view him as someone who could adapt seamlessly to his system and make an impact in the engine room.

Financial benefit a further positive?

Much may depend on whether Atletico are able to at least recoup the fee that they shelled out on Gallagher last year, believed to be in the region of £34m.

When Manchester United reportedly showed an interest over the past two weeks, Atletico were against any kind of loan agreement.

There are still just under four years remaining on the contract of the England international.

West Ham United will take on bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur in a blockbuster Premier League affair on Saturday.

The Hammers will enter the match off the back of a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, but Tottenham suffered a blow before the September international break, losing 1-0 at home to Bournemouth.

Here, Sports Mole provides details of how to tune into the contest.

What time does West Ham vs. Tottenham kick off?

The Premier League contest will kick off at 5.30pm UK time on Saturday.

Where is West Ham vs. Tottenham being played?

The match will take place at West Ham's home ground, the London Stadium.

It was 1-1 when the two sides locked horns in the corresponding Premier League game last season.

Each of the last three league fixtures between West Ham and Spurs at the stadium have finished 1-1, with Tottenham's last away success (3-2) over the Hammers coming in November 2019.

How to watch West Ham vs. Tottenham in the UK

TV channels

The Premier League contest at the London Stadium will be available on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League for viewers in the UK.

Online streaming

Sky customers can access the Premier League match on Sky Go and on the Sky Sports app, while it is also available via Now TV's Sports membership.

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 10:20pm on BBC One.

What is at stake for West Ham and Tottenham?

There is simply no downplaying the importance of this match, with both sets of supporters viewing it as one of their biggest games of the season, and the atmosphere should be incredible.

West Ham will be looking to build on their excellent win over Forest last time out, while Spurs will be under pressure to bounce back from their setback at home to Bournemouth.

The fact that the last three games between the two sides at the London Stadium have finished level suggests that it will be a tight affair, but it is difficult to know what to expect from these two inconsistent teams.

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The return of Savinho to Manchester City training is a “big boost” for Pep Guardiola’s side after a spell on the sidelines with an ‘injury’, Citizens expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole.

Savinho has missed each of Man City’s opening three Premier League matches of the new season since sustaining an unspecified injury during a pre-season friendly win over Palermo, according to manager Pep Guardiola.

The 21-year-old, who was pictured in training towards the end of last week, was in the headlines for much of August because of speculation linking him with a summer transfer to Tottenham Hotspur that ultimately failed to materialise.

McInerney has questioned whether Savinho was really injured during a period of uncertainty when he “made it very obvious that he wanted to leave”, but he is pleased that the Brazilian has stayed put and he hopes to see the winger improve his clinical touch in the final third this season.

“I wanted Savinho to stay and I think Savinho is a cracking footballer,” McInerney told Sports Mole. “The only thing he missed last season was goals and he massively underperformed in front of goal. So bad in front of goal that it felt like an anomaly if that makes sense. I just don't see how he could be that bad in front of goal again.

“He was one of the least clinical players in European football (scoring one Premier League goal in 29 games last season) when previously he'd been a pretty average finisher, at Girona in particular (netting nine goals in 37 La Liga matches). Everything prior to that suggested that he was a pretty competent finisher.

Man City will need Savinho’s “inherent usefulness and quality” this season

“To me, when you look at that and it's such an outlier given how bad he was in front of goal last season, I can only presume that was just linked to confidence and the timing of him joining Man City - if he joined three years earlier I think he probably would have bagged 10 goals last season.

“I feel that Savinho does have that quality. It's just last season was a weird time for the club. It went utterly crazy in the middle of that campaign, around winter where City just lost their heads. I think Savinho had started really well, was a real bright spark for City and was inviting really lofty comparisons, and then he just lost his head as the team did and after that he struggled in front of goal.”

McInerney has backed Savinho to become an important player for Man City and the winger could be available to return ahead of a challenging run of fixtures against Manchester United, Napoli and Arsenal.

“I think Savinho has inherent usefulness and quality that City probably need this season,” said McInerney. “His athleticism, his skill, his versatility, I think he'll be a really, really useful player this year.

“I expect if he plays a lot, he'll score more goals than he did last season - it's not hard admittedly - but I also think he'll prove what a lot of people already know. He's a really great creator and he's a really smart footballer who will hopefully be better in a team maybe not [experiencing] quite as mad of a winter spell where City were losing every single week.

“I think it's a big boost to have him back. He wasn't injured in my personal opinion, it was very much just a transfer rumour thing where you keep the player out the limelight, but I don't think he's going to be unprofessional. I think he'll be fine. I think he’ll worked really hard and he's an asset.

“Oscar Bobb has been lent on that (right) side, but Oscar Bobb - despite being 22, which is not that young - is still very inexperienced at the highest level, as a starter. This is the first time he's ever done that professionally.

“I feel like Savinho being there gives us options because he's a different type of weapon on the right hand side and also can play on the left. He also gives us something that we know, whereas Bobb is still very much an unknown.”

Could Spurs reignite Savinho interest in January transfer window?

Even though the summer transfer window has closed, Savinho continues to be linked with an exit from the Etihad Stadium, as Tottenham are said to still hold an interest in the winger.

According to Fichajes, Spurs are ‘willing to give everything’ to try and prise Savinho away from Man City and are lining up a January offer in excess of £80m.

Sharing his thoughts on whether Man City would be prepared to part ways with Savinho in the winter window, McInerney said: “He's not going to randomly leave in a World Cup year to join Spurs mid-season if he nails down a starting spot (at Man City) and he's in really good form.

“The flip side of that is if Oscar Bobb nails down that starting spot (on the right flank) and [Savinho] doesn't get any joy playing on the left because [Omar] Marmoush or [Jeremy] Doku or whoever starts a lot, and then [Phil] Foden starts to get minutes ahead of Savinho.

January exit for Savinho “unlikely” but ‘not impossible’ amid Spurs interest

“If Savinho is not playing an awful lot, at that point the same argument (from the summer) comes in that he’ll want to get into [Brazil’s] World Cup squad and Tottenham might offer him more of a chance to do that because they might play him more.

“I still think at that point, in mid-season, City will probably just say no. There's a January tax and they'll be looking at making over £80m, otherwise come back in the summer and we can talk.

“I think the likelihood of him going in January is small, because I think City would have to still find a replacement and I just don't see City being fine with that personally.

“Stranger things have happened and it's definitely possible. To counter myself, Hugo Viana (Man City’s director of football) was very happy to be very active last January. A whole bunch of signings: Marmoush, Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Nico Gonzalez - so maybe we could sign a big player in January (to replace Savinho).

“I still would argue that it's unlikely, because I think it has to be really bad for Savinho to want to move, and even then City would have to find a replacement which feels unlikely to me.”

Tottenham Hotspur supposedly have a 'real chance' of making a January move for a former academy defender as they seek to resolve their home-grown issues.

Thomas Frank's squad for the league phase of the 2025-26 Champions League campaign was recently confirmed, but the Lilywhites were unable to name the maximum 25 players due to a lack of association and club-trained players.

In order to name the full squad allocation, at least eight players must have either been part of Tottenham's ranks or another club in English football for three full seasons between the ages of 15 and 21, as per UEFA rules.

However, Tottenham were only able to call up 22 players for the first phase of Europe's premier tournament, meaning that Frank was forced to omit a couple of high-profile names.

As well as the injured James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Radu Dragusin and Kota Takai, new signing Mathys Tel and experienced midfielder Yves Bissouma - who is still being heavily linked with an exit - were both left out of Frank's Champions League squad.

Tottenham have 'real chance' of making 23-year-old move in January

A "revengeful" Tel recently lifted the lid on his Champions League snub, but Tottenham are already making plans to rectify their home-grown problems and could apparently try to re-sign a former youth product when the window reopens.

According to TBR Football, there is a 'real chance' that the Lilywhites make a move for Sunderland left-back Dennis Cirkin over the winter, having been credited with an interest in the 23-year-old during the most recent window.

Cirkin was on the books in North London until 2021, and having represented the Lilywhites for at least three years between the ages of 15 and 21, he would count as a club-trained player for UEFA competitions.

The left-back played a critical role in Sunderland's promotion to the Premier League during the 2024-25 Championship campaign, but the Black Cats have since signed Reinildo Mandava and Arthur Masuaku, leaving Cirkin 'somewhat frustrated'.

The Dublin-born defender is also yet to make an appearance in the 2025-26 season due to a hand injury, although Regis Le Bris is hopeful of having him back in the ranks following the international break.

Tottenham could land Cirkin for 'significant' cut-price fee

Cirkin extended his contract with Sunderland back in the summer of 2023, but he has not put pen to paper since, and his current deal runs out at the end of the season.

As a result, the report adds that Tottenham may have the chance to re-sign the 23-year-old for a 'significant' cut-price fee in January, unless Sunderland run the risk of losing him for nothing when the season is over.

Cirkin never made a senior appearance for Spurs, but he was name-checked by then-head coach Jose Mourinho, who included him in matchday squads in the Premier League, Europa League and FA Cup.

"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," TBR Football quotes Mourinho as saying back in 2020.

Since leaving the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Cirkin has scored eight goals and provided six assists in 116 matches for Sunderland in all competitions, including three goals and two helpers in 36 regular-season Championship matches last term.

Nottingham Forest have sacked Nuno Espirito Santo as head coach, with Ange Postecoglou an early frontrunner to take over the reins at the City Ground.

Nuno's position at Forest has been uncertain ever since he admitted last month that he was "not so close" with owner Evangelos Marinakis.

It was then reported that Nuno had a strained relationship with sporting director Edu, who was appointed to the role by Marianakis in November 2024.

Forest's hierarchy have ultimately decided that Nuno's position has become untenable, confirming in a statement that he has become the first Premier League manager sacked of the 2025-26 season due to "recent circumstances".

Nuno was a popular figure with the Forest fanbase after he led the team to safety in the 2023-24 campaign, before he steered the club to a seventh-place finish last term.Â

For a significant part of the season, Forest looked to be on course for a top-five finish and subsequent Champions League qualification, but they did at least upgrade to the Europa League following Crystal Palace's demotion to the Conference League.Â

Ange Postecoglou emerges as leading candidate for Forest job

Nuno will not get the chance to lead Forest in Europe, but the club could turn to a man who knows how to win the Europa League.

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Postecoglou has emerged as the 'leading candidate' to replace Nuno as Forest head coach.Â

Postecoglou is searching for his new challenge after being relieved of his duties as Tottenham Hotspur boss at the end of last season.Â

The 60-year-old ended Spurs' 17-year trophy drought by leading them to Europa League glory in May, but that success was not enough to keep his job after finishing in 17th place in the Premier League.Â

While Postecoglou is the early frontrunner, Forest have reportedly spent the international window 'sounding out' possible managerial candidates.Â

Could Nottingham Forest turn to Mourinho?

In addition to Postecoglou, Jacobs reports that another former Tottenham boss, Jose Mourinho, is on Forest's managerial shortlist.Â

Forest have 'discussed' Mourinho as a potential option, with the two-time Champions League winner looking for a return to management following his recent dismissal by Turkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce.

Mourinho boasts a wealth of Premier League experience after overseeing 217 wins, 84 draws and 62 defeats in 363 top-flight matches during his time with Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham.

Like Postecoglou, Mourinho has experience of winning the Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup), having previously won the competition with Porto and Roma.Â

Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli could supposedly be set for a dramatic return to England in what may prove a career-saving move.

The 29-year-old is without a club after parting ways with Italian side Como by mutual agreement, having barely featured during his short spell there.

Alli's only appearance under Cesc Fabregas came against AC Milan, where the midfielder was dismissed just nine minutes after coming off the bench in what was his first competitive match in two years.

Dele has endured a turbulent time in recent years and even admitted that he once considered walking away from the game entirely, with his latest setback marking another difficult chapter.

However, The Daily Mail reports that there may yet be light at the end of the tunnel, with three English clubs showing interest in the former Spurs man.

Dele Alli set for revival with Championship side?

Dele enjoyed his finest years at Tottenham, where he made 269 appearances, scoring 67 goals and providing 59 assists.

The 29-year-old was a key figure in Spurs’s run to the 2019 Champions League final and twice claimed the PFA Young Player of the Year award during his peak years in North London.

The midfielder eventually departed the club in 2022, but his career has faltered since with unconvincing spells at Everton, Besiktas and most recently Como.

Now, Championship sides Wrexham United, Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion are reportedly weighing up a move to hand him a chance at redemption.

A lifeline back to the English top flight for Alli?

Dele boasts extensive Premier League experience, having spent around nine years playing at the highest level in England.

It means that the reported interest from the three Championship clubs is not particularly surprising, with all of them harbouring ambitions of promotion.

Wrexham and Birmingham have made steady progress in recent years, climbing through the EFL ranks and now standing as genuine contenders for top-flight football.

West Brom are also firmly in the mix and currently occupy second place in the Championship, which could complicate the promotion hopes of their rivals.

For Dele, a move to any of the three clubs would not only offer valuable Premier League know-how at no transfer cost but also the chance to breathe new life into a career that has long appeared in decline.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly suffered a blow in their efforts to sign Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta.

The North London outfit can claim to have enjoyed a productive summer transfer window, Thomas Frank's squad populated to the extent where he was not able to include Mathys Tel in his Champions League squad.

Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani was signed on loan on deadline day to compete with Richarlison and Dominic Solanke down the middle of the attack.

As such, there is no shortage of options in that area of the pitch, yet Spurs allegedly held an interest in acquiring Mateta's services during the closing days of the summer window.

With Mateta having less than two years remaining on his contract, there is potential for Spurs reigniting their admiration of the 28-year-old.

What is Palace's Mateta stance?

According to Football Insider, Palace are not prepared to consider any offers for their leading marksman during the winter transfer window.

The report alleges that there is "no chance" of Eagles officials being prepared to cash in on one of their most prized assets due to the difficulty of finding a suitable alternative.

Since the start of 2023-24, Mateta has netted 31 goals in the Premier League to establish himself as one of the club's best-ever top-flight frontmen.

Newcastle United and Leeds United have also been credited with an interest in the player, yet they will now realistically end any pursuit of the Frenchman.

The only choice Palace can make

With focus likely to fall on the future of Marc Guehi over the coming months, Palace can and will not consider parting ways with any other key players.

A top-10 finish in the Premier League and winning the Conference League will be the minimum goals of Oliver Glasner this season, and he needs Mateta at Selhurst Park.

Christantus Uche was brought to the club on deadline day and Eddie Nketiah remains an option when he has recovered from injury.

That said, Mateta is the focal point of this team and will be kept at all costs.

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a major injury boost ahead of their return to domestic football, as one of Thomas Frank's knee victims has returned to team training.

The Lilywhites have five days left to plan for their fourth Premier League fixture of the season away to West Ham United on Saturday evening, which kicks off a hectic end to the month for the Europa League winners.

Frank's side then begin their Champions League campaign at home to Villarreal on September 16, before meetings with Brighton & Hove Albion (September 20), Doncaster Rovers (September 24), Wolverhampton Wanderers (September 27) and Bodo/Glimt (September 30).

Injuries have not been kind to Tottenham already this term, but one of their long-term absentees has now taken a huge step forward in his recovery from a devastating issue.

Footage uploaded to X by the official Tottenham account on Monday showed Romanian defender Radu Dragusin working with other players on the training pitches as he steps up his rehabilitation from an ACL injury.

Dragusin back in Spurs training as Frank receives new injury boost

The centre-back has been sidelined for over seven months with the issue, which he sustained in a Europa League victory over Elfsborg on January 30, forcing him to miss the final success over Manchester United a few months later.

Dragusin underwent surgery to rectify the issue, and he was seen undertaking various exercises as part of team training on Monday, including sprints and ball work.

Frank told reporters on August 29 that he was optimistic of having Dragusin back in team training within a week, and the 23-year-old's recuperation therefore appears to be going according to plan.

It will still be some weeks before Dragusin can be considered for a return to competitive football, and he may build his fitness back up with the Under-21s first, but the Romania international is expected to be back on the pitch before the end of the calendar year.

Dragusin has made 37 appearances for Tottenham since joining from Genoa midway through the 2023-24 season, including 14 Premier League starts in the 2024-25 campaign thanks to Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero's own injury woes.

When could Tottenham's other injury victims return?

Dragusin is one of six Spurs players currently in the care of the doctors, but at least one of them - Dominic Solanke - should be back at Frank's disposal for the trip to the London Stadium this weekend.

The England international missed his side's 1-0 defeat to former club Bournemouth two weekends ago due to an ankle problem, but Frank expressed his belief that he would return shortly after the two-week hiatus.

Meanwhile, Yves Bissouma was also absent from the loss to the Cherries due to an unspecified issue, one which Frank described as minor, but he is still being linked with a move away from the club to the Turkish Super Lig.

Tottenham Hotspur attacker Mathys Tel has said that he was 'hurt' by Thomas Frank's decision to leave him out of the Spurs squad for the league phase of the Champions League.

Tel, who joined Spurs on a permanent deal from Bayern Munich over the summer, was a notable absentee when Tottenham head coach Frank confirmed his 22-man squad for the league phase of the tournament.

Tottenham's well-documented issues when it comes to either signing or promoting homegrown players led to some difficult decisions needing to be made, and fellow new signing Kota Takai was also not selected.

Injured duo James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski were also left out alongside Radu Dragusin and Yves Bissouma.

Tel, speaking on international duty with France Under-21s, admitted that he was 'hurt' by the decision, but he has vowed to continue working hard in order to prove himself to his manager.

New Tottenham forward Tel 'hurt' by Champions League snub

"Quite simply, with respect. He called me, he simply told me his choice and then you could see the list appear on the networks," he told reporters.

"It's clear that when you're not on a list, it definitely hurts, but I'm someone who stays pretty positive, no matter the situation, because I think I've worked a lot on the mental aspect, so today it's definitely a disappointment.

"I would have liked to be there. But the coach's choice is the coach's choice, we can only respect it and we're going to work to come back in the best possible way.

"No matter, even if I was on the list, I would have had this desire, to be revengeful, to be able to be effective this season, to be able to start my season in the Premier League, because now, it's a first long season that begins because last year it was in the form of a six-month loan.

"A desire elsewhere? I am under contract with Tottenham [until 2031], so I am a Tottenham player and I will do my best to be able to play quite simply.

"Knowing what I'm capable of, knowing all the abilities I have, I think I could have done better. In any case, we can all do better, but I would say that it's an encouraging setup.

"Why? Because it forces me to know the weak points, the things to improve, so there's always room for improvement that we have to aim for. Whether in life in London or on the pitch, I think it can be better, everything can be better, absolutely everything.

"I learned that no matter the situation, no matter why you're called to a club, you have to be patient because there are times when it happens, times when it doesn't. That's life. Sometimes there are things we deserve, that we don't receive.

"But in life, do we get everything we deserve? Not often. I've grown in maturity, in experience, and I think that today it has shaped my personality and, I would say, my character especially."

Tel struggled at Spurs in the second half of last season

Tel spent the second half of last season on loan at Spurs from Bayern, only managing three goals in 20 appearances, and he was an unused substitute in the Europa League final against Manchester United.

Tottenham paid £30m to sign him over the summer, but he has played just 19 minutes of Premier League football in the team's opening three matches of the 2025-26 campaign, and his absence from the Champions League squad suggests that he will not be considered to be a regular by Frank.

Tottenham Hotspur have emerged as serious contenders for Aston Villa attacker Morgan Rogers, the latest report has claimed.

The Londoners' perfect start to the Premier League season ended on August 30, when they lost 1-0 against Bournemouth in their third game of the league season.

Head coach Thomas Frank will hope that he can help his side iron out their inconsistencies the longer he is in post, though more additions will have to be made in the coming seasons if he has ambitions of competing for major silverware.

Spurs spent just over £170m in the summer transfer window, and while their outlay was by no means insignificant, their expenditure fell short of many of their rivals.

TEAMtalk claim that Spurs could be ready for a new era of spending following the exit of long-serving chairman Daniel Levy, with Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers touted as a serious target despite his £100m price tag.

Should Tottenham sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa?

Rogers has had a slow start to the 2025-26 Premier League season, with the attacker failing to score or register an assist in his side's first three games.

The Englishman did score eight times and produce 10 assists in the league in 2024-25, and the 23-year-old has shown great promise in multiple positions, with the forward able to operate as either a left-winger or as a number 10.

It should be noted that while he specialises as a ball carrier, Tottenham's Mohammed Kudus already excels in that regard, so the need for Rogers in the XI is arguably not clear at this stage.

Xavi Simons was signed from RB Leipzig this summer, and the Dutchman's ability to create dangerous opportunities in the final third means he will almost certainly be used as his side's attacking midfielder.

There may be a spot on the left flank, though Rogers is not as adept in the penalty area as Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson.

How can Thomas Frank close the gap to Arsenal and Liverpool?

During his time as Brentford boss, Frank was able to consistently get the best out of his squad despite the Bees boasting a modest transfer budget.

In his final season in 2024-25, forwards Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa scored 20 and 19 Premier League goals respectively, and the Danish coach has proven he has the ability to maximise the talent at his disposal.

Spurs are unlikely to be able to compete in the same market as the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal considering they are yet to establish themselves as one of the division's best teams.

Perhaps the most sensible approach from Tottenham would be to sign players on the precipice of making the next step in their careers, with Kudus representing a good example of the type of stars they should target.

Kudus already had two seasons of Premier League football under his belt when Tottenham signed him in the summer of 2025, meaning he did not have to adapt to the demands of the English top flight, but he still has room for growth considering he only turned 25 in August.