Sports Mole

Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to end a four-game winless run when they play host to London rivals West Ham United on Saturday.

Spurs saw a potential trophy opportunity disappear at the earliest opportunity in last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round.

That defeat only piled the pressure on Spurs head coach Thomas Frank, whose team are sitting in 14th spot in the Premier League table after mustering 27 points from 21 matches.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up Tottenham's latest injury and suspension news ahead of the contest against a West Ham team managed by former Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

Rodrigo Bentancur

Status: Out

Type of injury: Hamstring

Possible return date: Unknown

Rodrigo Bentancur sustained a hamstring injury in Tottenham's defeat to Bournemouth earlier this month. The Uruguayan has since undergone surgery and is expected to be out for a significant period.

Mohammed Kudus

Status: Out

Type of injury: Thigh

Possible return date: Unknown

Mohammed Kudus will not be available to face his former club after he picked up a thigh injury in the 1-1 draw with Sunderland on January 4. Frank does not expect the Ghana international to return until after March's international break.

Richarlison

Status: Out

Type of injury: Hamstring

Possible return date: Unknown

Richarlison is the latest player to be added to Tottenham's injury list. The striker was forced off in the first half against Aston Villa on Saturday with a hamstring problem, which is currently being assessed to establish the severity of the injury.

Lucas Bergvall

Status: Major doubt

Type of injury: Muscle

Possible return date: January 17 (vs. West Ham)

Lucas Bergvall picked up a knock in the defeat to Bournemouth and was subsequently left out of the squad for the FA Cup loss to Aston Villa. Bergvall will now be doing all he can to prove his fitness in time for the weekend.

James Maddison

Status: Out

Type of injury: ACL

Possible return date: Unknown

Maddison is currently working on his rehabilitation from the ACL injury he sustained in August. The 29-year-old's focus will be on returning to fitness for pre-season ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

Dejan Kulusevski

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: Unknown

Kulusevski has not played since April due to a long-term knee injury. Frank recently revealed that the attacker could back on the grass in the next three to four weeks, but he still seems some way off from returning to first-team action.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR’S SUSPENSION LIST

Spurs have no players suspended for this fixture, but Pape Sarr remains away with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations, with his country set to face tournament hosts Morocco in Sunday's final.

After suffering an early FA Cup exit, Tottenham Hotspur will be looking for a positive response when they play host to relegation-threatened West Ham United on Saturday.

Spurs are sitting in 14th spot in the Premier League table, while the Hammers are languishing in the bottom three.

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

What time does Tottenham vs. West Ham kick off?

The match will kick off at 3pm on Saturday afternoon.

Where is Tottenham vs. West Ham being played?

West Ham will head to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which can hold up to 62,850 spectators.

Mohammed Kudus, who joined Spurs in the summer, scored West Ham's only goal in a disappointing 4-1 defeat in their most recent away meeting with Tottenham in October 2024.

How to watch Tottenham vs. West Ham in the UK

TV channels

Unfortunately, this will not be available to watch live due to the UK's 3pm blackout rule.

Streaming

The blackout also means that the game will not be streamed live for UK audiences.

Highlights

There will be highlights of the game shown on Match of the Day, which will start at 10:30pm on BBC One on Saturday. BBC Sport will also upload the match's highlight package on their website from around 8pm on the same day.

Alternatively, you can also head over to the Sky Sports app or Sky Sports Premier League YouTube channel to find a recap of the game.

What is at stake for Tottenham and West Ham?

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is under pressure to spark a turnaround, with his team in the bottom half of the table and winless in four competitive matches.

In fact, they are looking to avoid a third consecutive loss after losing to Bournemouth and Aston Villa in the league and FA Cup, respectively.

Like Frank, former Spurs manager Nuno Espirito Santo has also seen his position come under scrutiny, having overseen a 10-game winless run in the top flight.

The Hammers will at least enter Saturday's fixture on the back of a win after beating Queens Park Rangers in extra time of their FA Cup third-round clash.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly determined to keep hold of Mathys Tel beyond the end of the winter transfer window.

Tel joined Spurs on a permanent transfer from Bayern Munich in the summer after he spent last season on loan with the North London club.

The 20-year-old penned a long-term deal until the summer of 2031, but he is already being linked with a potential move away.

Tel is believed to be open to a winter exit after growing frustrated with his lack of minutes under Spurs boss Thomas Frank.

The Frenchman has started just five of his 14 Premier League appearances this season and was initially left out of Tottenham's squad for the Champions League league phase.

Spurs outline Tel exit stance

The fact that he has featured in Frank's last two Premier League lineups has not stopped him from being the subject of interest from elsewhere.

According to journalist Florian Plettenberg, French side Paris FC are 'working' on a loan move for the Tottenham forward.

The Ligue 1 outfit are willing to offer Tel the chance to play in his preferred position as a number nine.

The update claims that are Tottenham are currently 'blocking' any proposals, as they look to keep the attacker at the club.

Should Tottenham consider Tel exit?

Tel has struggled to produce his best football during his time with Tottenham, having scored just six goals in 39 competitive appearances.

With that in mind, there may be sense in the suggestion that he should head out on loan to play regular football and develop his game.

But while a loan move could have long-term benefits, Spurs can ill afford to lose any more attackers at this current stage.

Tottenham sold Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace before Mohammed Kudus suffered an injury that is set to keep him out until April.

As a result, Spurs are unlikely to sanction any attacking exits without bringing new arrivals through the door first.

After being the victims of a high-profile transfer hijack in the summer - missing out on now-Arsenal playmaker Eberechi Eze - Tottenham Hotspur have now become the hijackers if reports are to be believed.

The Lilywhites and Aston Villa were in a two-horse battle for Atletico Madrid's Conor Gallagher, whom the Lions appeared to have stolen a march in the race for, reaching an agreement with Los Rojiblancos over a fee.

However, Gallagher turned his nose up to a move to Villa Park in favour of joining Spurs, who have now agreed a £34.7m deal with Atletico for, and the ex-Chelsea man will soon return to his homeland for a second stint of Premier League football.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the shirt numbers available to Gallagher in North London.

Can Conor Gallagher keep current shirt number for Tottenham?

For club and country, Gallagher currently dons the number four jersey; a peculiar number for a central midfielder and one that he should not be bestowed with at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Indeed, centre-back Kevin Danso has been in possession of the '4' since his original loan move from Lens, and the Austrian defender should not cede his shirt to the new arrival so soon.

However, a handful of Tottenham midfielders have sported the number four shirt down the years, such as Oliver Skipp, Didier Zokora, Glenn Hoddle and the late Terry Yorath.

Shirt numbers Conor Gallagher could take at Tottenham

In terms of available numbers, Gallagher could still take another shirt usually associated with defenders, as Spurs' '5' has been vacant since Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg left the club for Marseille.

Should the former Chelsea man be handed that jersey by the Lilywhites, he would emulate all of Sol Campbell, Jan Vertonghen, Edgar Davids, Gary Mabbutt and even Sir Alf Ramsay, England's World Cup-winning manager who sported that number in the 1950s.

Gallagher could also have his pick of the 12, 16 or 18 shirts, although the latter two have most recently been in the possession of two loan players in Luka Vuskovic and Yang Min-hyeok respectively.

The '22' is also awaiting its next owner following Brennan Johnson's exit to Crystal Palace earlier in the January window, but the '23' that Gallagher sported at Chelsea and Crystal Palace is currently held by Pedro Porro.

Kota Takai and Manor Solomon's loan exits have also left the 25 and 27 vacant, but the 26 has been unofficially retired since Ledley King hung up his boots in 2012.

Tottenham Hotspur attacker Mathys Tel is reportedly open to leaving the club in the January window after getting frustrated with a lack of game time.

Tel joined Spurs initially on loan from Bayern Munich in January 2025 and made 20 appearances for the north London club last season, scoring three goals.

As part of the deal, Tottenham had an option to buy the forward for £45m, but they renegotiated and reduced the fee to £30m to secure his signature on a six-year deal.

The 20-year-old has been restricted to five Premier League starts this season, scoring three goals, and has made only one substitute appearance in the Champions League.

Tottenham stance on Tel amid interest from several clubs

According to a report from The Guardian, Tel has informed Spurs that he is open to leaving on loan this month.

Paris FC and Turkish clubs Fenerbahce and Galatasaray have reportedly registered interest in signing the French striker on loan.

Tel initially had set his sights on the World Cup and hoped to be part of the French squad, but that dream is almost over due to a lack of regular game time.

Although the young striker wants a move away from Spurs, the north London club are unlikely to let him go after they sold Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace.

Tel unlikely to leave Tottenham

The report claims that Tel has given no indication that he wants to leave them permanently, but at the same time, he is seeking more first-team action.

With Mohammed Kudus also out injured, and Richarlison also picking up a hamstring problem, Frank could give Tel more opportunities in the coming matches.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly looking to sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher, and they have been told the terms for signing him.

The 25-year-old joined Rojiblancos from Chelsea in 2024 and made 50 appearances in his first season, scoring four goals, mostly playing on the left flank.

This season, the England midfielder has been restricted to substitute appearances, managing only four starts in La Liga, and has made a further 15 appearances from the bench, scoring two goals.

Gallagher has started in three of his six Champions League appearances, and his lack of starts could cost him a place in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the World Cup.

Tottenham told terms to sign Conor Gallagher

According to a report from the Daily Mail, Spurs have been told they cannot sign Gallagher on loan without a clear obligation to buy.

Spurs have reportedly asked about signing Gallagher this month, but the La Liga club have made it clear that a straight loan deal is not on the table.

Atletico have clearly told them that either Spurs will have to sign him permanently or a loan with an obligation to buy next summer, but they are willing to consider selling him this month.

The north London club could reportedly face competition from Premier League rivals Aston Villa, who are in talks to reach an agreement.

Tottenham's injury crisis deepens

Spurs suffered a big blow after midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur picked up a hamstring injury, for which he requires surgery.

The 28-year-old is reportedly set to miss at least the next three months of the season, and as a result, a new midfielder is required.

Spurs are also without James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, both of whom are long-term absentees, and now Richarlison has also picked up a hamstring injury.

This is going to be a busy month for Spurs, as they are reportedly close to landing Santos' left-sided full-back Souza, with the Brazilian talent due to undergo a medical before completing his £13m transfer.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly explored a move for Aston Villa-linked midfielder Conor Gallagher.

The 25-year-old is currently in his second season at Atletico Madrid after joining the Spanish club from Chelsea in the summer of 2024.

Gallagher spent a significant part of his first Atleti campaign playing in an unfamiliar position on the left flank.

The former Chelsea man has played in his preferred central midfield position this term, but he has largely been restricted to subsitute appearances in Diego Simeone's side.

In fact, Gallagher has started just four of his 19 La Liga appearances this season, with his lack of starts denting his hopes of making England's World Cup squad.

Spurs battling Villa in Gallagher race

Aston Villa are believed to be eyeing a potential move to bring Gallagher back to the Premier League before the end of the winter transfer window.

The Villans are keen on an initial loan move, while Atletico are reluctant to sanction a temporary departure unless the deal includes an obligation to buy.

However, Unai Emery's side are facing competition in the race to sign Gallagher, with TEAMtalk reporting that Spurs are 'exploring' Gallagher's current situation.

Tottenham are long-term admirers of the midfielder and are currently weighing up a possible move despite having concerns over his wages.

Spurs are wary that Gallagher's salary at Atletico would put him towards the top of the club's wage structure.

Why are Tottenham keen on Gallagher?

The report claims that Tottenham's interest in Gallagher comes at a time when they have 'concern' over their current midfield options.

Yves Bissouma does not appear to have a future at the club, while Pape Matar Sarr has struggled to establish himself in Thomas Frank's starting lineup.

Uruguay international is set to miss around three months after sustaining a hamstring injury that requires surgery in last week's defeat to Bournemouth.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly learned how long Rodrigo Bentancur will be sidelined for after the Uruguayan sustained a serious hamstring problem against Bournemouth.

Injury was added to insult for the Lilywhites during their 3-2 Premier League loss at the Vitality Stadium last week, as Bentancur was forcibly withdrawn on the 86-minute mark before Antoine Semenyo's late winner.

Spurs boss Thomas Frank admitted after the game that Bentancur's injury looked like a "bigger one", and the midfielder was unsurprisingly not involved in the 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Aston Villa.

Now, TyC Sports reports that the former Juventus man is set for at least three months on the sidelines, having suffered a ligament tear which will require an operation.

Bentancur is not expected to return to action until the latter stages of the season, and his hopes of representing Uruguay at the 2026 World Cup have also been plunged into jeopardy following the news.

Tottenham games Rodrigo Bentancur will miss with hamstring injury

Owing to their eliminations from the EFL Cup and FA Cup, Spurs are only competing on two fronts for the remainder of the season, but Bentancur will still miss a plethora of high-profile matches.

The Lilywhites conclude their Champions League league phase against Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt later this month, and they are on course to progress to the knockout rounds playoffs, sitting 11th in the league-phase table.

However, Bentancur would miss both legs of those ties in February, as well as any possible last-16 battles, and potentially the quarter-finals if he does not recover by mid-April.

As far as the Premier League is concerned, Bentancur will miss meetings with the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Arsenal next month, in addition to Fulham, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool in March.

In total, Bentancur could be out for approximately 20 matches if he takes the full three months to recover, potentially putting him on course for a return against Brighton & Hove Albion on April 18.

Which injured Tottenham player will be the next to return?

Thanks to the presence of Archie Gray and Joao Palhinha - as well as Yves Bissouma's imminent Africa Cup of Nations return - Tottenham have enough options to cover for the stricken Bentancur in midfield.

However, the South American is now one of seven players in the Tottenham treatment room, a list that includes long-term absentees Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus and James Maddison, while Richarlison hurt his hamstring at the weekend too.

Lucas Bergvall was also absent from the Villa FA Cup loss with an unspecified issue, while Dominic Solanke's ankle concern is proving especially tricky to overcome, and he may not return for another few weeks.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven is not yet prepared to sign a new deal due to frustrations, the latest report has claimed.

Spurs suffered yet another loss on Saturday, losing 2-1 against Aston Villa at home in the third round of the FA Cup.

The competition was the Londoners' only realistic chance of winning silverware given the Premier League title is beyond them, and they have not yet shown they can be competitive in the Champions League.

Boss Thomas Frank is thought to be under serious pressure given his side are 14th in the Premier League, and there are fears that Spurs may not be able to keep their star players happy under the Dane.

The Telegraph claim that while Tottenham are keen to renew Van de Ven's contract, the defender is not currently convinced that the club are being ambitious enough.

Should Tottenham sell Micky van de Ven?

There is no doubt that Van de Ven is among the league's best defenders when at the peak of his powers, but Spurs have failed to impress with him in the side this season.

The 24-year-old has struggled to build out from the back when under pressure, and he has not looked particularly comfortable next to his partner Cristian Romero.

Van de Ven's contract expires in the summer of 2029, so there is little need to rush contract negotiations, though perhaps it would be sensible to look for suitors.

The defender has frequently been on the treatment table having missed 36 Premier League games in the past two seasons, and his recurring injury issues have been problematic.

Amid reported interest from both Liverpool and Real Madrid, Spurs would likely be able to demand a sizeable sum, and they could look to reinvest any transfer fee into more reliable centre-backs.

Should Tottenham sack Thomas Frank to help the dressing room?

Van de Ven was criticised by pundits for refusing a handshake from Frank after the team lost 1-0 against Chelsea in November.

Some observers have suggested that Frank has not been able to win over the dressing room, and while it is impossible to know for sure, other players have also hinted at dissatisfaction behind the scenes.

Romero apologised to fans in an Instagram post after Wednesday's 3-2 loss against Bournemouth, but he appeared to swipe at key figures, saying: "At times like this, it should be other people coming out to speak, but they don't. They only show up when things are going well."

The Argentine may not have been speaking directly about Frank, but if the head coach cannot control the dressing room, there is an argument that he stands no chance of succeeding at Spurs.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin's future in North London remains uncertain.

Despite promising so much after his €25m (£21.5m) transfer from Genoa two years ago, the Romanian's impact has been mixed, with an ACL injury suffered a year ago sidelining him until October 2025.

Regardless of his layoff, Dragusin received a Europa League winner's medal after Spurs defeated Manchester United in the competition's final, guaranteeing Champions League football for the 2025-26 season.

The defender has played only once under Thomas Frank since returning from his knee injury, bringing him to 38 appearances altogether for the London club, and reports now suggest he may have made his final appearance for Spurs.

Serie A club 'accelerate' negotiations for Dragusin

According to a report from Sportmediaset via Get Football Italy, Roma are making significant progress in their attempt to sign Radu Dragusin from Spurs.

The Giallorossi have reportedly accelerated negotiations over the last few hours and have already reached an agreement on personal terms with the 23-year-old.

The Romanian international has reportedly given his full approval to the move as he seeks more consistent playing time following a recovery from his long-term injury.

Discussions between the two clubs are now focused on finalising a loan formula, with only minor details understood to remain before the deal reaches a definitive conclusion.

Dragusin 'identified' as ideal defensive reinforcement

The pursuit of the former Genoa man is understood to be driven by Gian Piero Gasperini, who views Dragusin as the ideal profile to strengthen his defensive rotation.

The manager is said to value the defender's physical presence and proven track record in Serie A, where he established a reputation as one of the division's most promising young stoppers.

For Dragusin, a return to Italy this month offers a chance to revitalise his career after a stop-start period in North London under first Ange Postecoglou and now Frank.

Roma already have the joint-best defence in Serie A, conceding 12 goals after 19 matches, and the Romanian's potential addition to the fold could bolster the capital club in the second half of the season as the title outsiders hope to get back into contention for the Scudetto.