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Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action on Sunday afternoon as they welcome Manchester City to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Both sides arrive off the back of morale-boosting Champions League victories in midweek, but domestic form tells a very different story, particularly for Spurs.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank remains under pressure after another winless league outing last weekend.

Meanwhile, City travel north looking to close the gap at the summit.

Despite their struggles, Tottenham’s recent history against Pep Guardiola’s side offers a glimmer of hope ahead of a daunting test.

Match preview

Tottenham have continued to struggle this term despite the change in the dugout.

European progress has provided a brief respite, but league form continues to undermine confidence.

Frank is yet to record a Premier League win in 2026, with Spurs drawing three and losing two of their five top-flight matches this calendar year.

Most recently, Spurs played a damaging 2-2 draw away at Burnley.

Currently 14th in the table, Spurs have relied heavily on moments from their centre-backs to stem the tide, with Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven rescuing points recently.

Manchester City, by contrast, are beginning to reassert themselves.

A 2-0 win last weekend ended a four-game winless run in the league and trimmed Arsenal’s lead to four points.

City have also comfortably qualified for the Champions League knockout phase and will sense an opportunity to maintain the pressure with another away victory.

Match stats

Pep Guardiola has lost more Premier League matches against Tottenham than any other opponent (eight).

Tottenham have won nine Premier League doubles against Manchester City, more than against any other club in the competition.

However, City have won their last two league visits to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and could make it three in a row for the first time.

Tottenham team news

Spurs could be boosted by the return of the ‘fantastic’ Micky van de Ven, who missed the midweek win over Eintracht Frankfurt with a minor issue.

Several players are back in the picture after missing the Champions League game, including Conor Gallagher and Yves Bissouma.

Still, injuries continue to ravage Frank’s squad, with James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Pedro Porro and Richarlison among those sidelined.

Randal Kolo Muani remains central to Spurs’ attacking plans despite transfer speculation, and he may again be paired with Dominic Solanke.

Tottenham predicted XI (4-2-3-1)

Guglielmo Vicario; Djed Spence, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie; Joao Palhinha, Conor Gallagher; Wilson Odobert, Xavi Simons, Randal Kolo Muani; Dominic Solanke.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has revealed that Spurs attempted to sign Antoine Semenyo before he moved to Manchester City this month.

Semenyo has hit the ground running at Man City, bagging three goals and one assist in four appearances.

Frank has now revealed the extent to which Tottenham went in their attempts to sign him.

“The club work relentlessly to try to do the best they can to try to improve the squad, especially Johan (Lange), Fabio (Paritici) and Vinai (Venkatesham), and all the people behind them,” Frank said.

“I mean it, we can’t be too obsessed with short-term fixes that don’t help with the long term, because if we don’t do that, then all the hard work we put in now can be limited for the future.

“And that’s not that we don’t badly want short-term success. I can promise that the Lewis family is super committed to this project; they want to do everything.

“And I will go against my rule, hopefully only once, that there’s no doubt it was clear that the club wanted to sign Semenyo.

“They did everything – I think that’s a clear signal that the Lewis family is very committed. That’s a big signing, with finances and all that.

“That’s the quality of players we’re looking for to improve the squad, and if we can’t find that, then it’s definitely better to take the right decisions.”

Tottenham Hotspur are considering recalling midfielder Tyrese Hall from his loan at Notts County, according to the Sun.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium club want reinforcements in the middle of the park for the second half of the season, and Hall appears to have mpressed Spurs manager Thomas Frank.

The 20-year-old has five goals and two assists in 17 appearances for the League Two club since joining them on a season-long loan last summer.

Hall’s fine form has caught the eye of his parent club, and Tottenham have already started discussing cancelling his season-long loan.

They want to assess him in training with a view of handing him a potential first-team role for the second half of the season if Spurs are convinced he is ready.

Frank is currently without James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski due to injuries, and Hall could get a chance to force his way into the senior team.

Tottenham gave their academy graduate a five-year contract in 2024, and they are now ready to include him in the first-team if he is good enough for the Premier League.

However, he could be allowed to finish his loan spell at County if they decide he still needs more development.

Other clubs in the Championship and League Two are also keen on Hall, with the likes of Southampton, Millwall and Hull City also keeping tabs on him.

He will hope to keep playing regularly wherever he spends the second half of the campaign, but the future is bright for the youngster and he has what it takes to be a regular in the Premier League in the coming years.

Spurs are currently crying out for more creativity in the middle of the park, and Hall could prove to be the answer if he can prove himself on the training ground in the coming days.

Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace have reached an agreement over a deal which would see Brennan Johnson join the Eagles, according to The Athletic journalist David Ornstein.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium club will be getting around £35 million from Palace for the 24-year-old Spurs star.

However, Johnson still needs to decide on his future before the situation is finalised, and talks are still ongoing between all parties.

The Wales international attacker has made 21 appearances across all competitions this term, weighing in with four goals.

He made 51 appearances last term, bagging 18 goals and seven assists. Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is open to selling Johnson as he has started just six times in the Premier League.

It remains to be seen whether the Welsh attacker wants to leave, but it appears Spurs want him out, and moving to Palace could appeal to him if he is convinced of their project.

Johnson joined Tottenham in September 2023 in a £47.5m deal but could be on his way out in the coming days.

He will best be remembered for scoring the winner in the Europa League final against Manchester United last season, helping the North London club win their first silverware since 2008.

Spurs are expected to bring in a direct replacement for Johnson, but a move for Bournemouth attacker Antoine Semenyo looks off the cards.

The Ghana international has a £65 million release clause, and Tottenham did try again for him in recent days after a failed summer move, proposing a highly competitive salary.

However, Semenyo politely declined their advances, resulting in Manchester City emerging as favourites.

They are now likely to look elsewhere as losing Johnson means Frank needs a direct replacement to strengthen his attack.

Spurs are desperate to finish in the top-seven in the Premier League this term and qualify for European football, and they will need to make quality additions to their team in the winter transfer window to boost their chances.

Tottenham Hotspur admire Manchester City forward Oscar Bobb, according to the Daily Mail.

Bobb fits the mould of what Tottenham need in attack. Spurs manager Thomas Frank will value his ability to get past players and create chances.

Spurs have been particularly limp on the left flank with Wilson Odobert, Mathys Tel and Brennan Johnson failing to convince.

While Mohammed Kudus has held down the opposite flank, Tottenham do not have enough depth for the position.

Spurs chased Savinho last summer and came up short. They will be hoping not to face a similar failure if they push forward with a move for Bobb, who is stylistically similar.

If Johnson moves on as expected, Bobb would be an excellent solution, especially if they can get him on a six-month loan before a permanent deal next summer.

Described by Man City manager Pep Guardiola as a player with ‘incredible potential‘, he offers close control, intelligence between the lines and the ability to operate in tight spaces.

The 22-year-old City academy graduate also works incredibly hard defensively. He would provide much-needed cover for Kudus, ensuring Spurs are not overly reliant on one profile out wide.

However, while signing Bobb makes sense, the more pressing issue remains on the left. That side of the pitch has consistently lacked incision, consistency and end product.

Spurs can survive with smart depth on the right, but they cannot continue with such limited quality on the left.

If resources are finite, reinforcing that flank with a genuine difference-maker must be the priority, even if Bobb remains an appealing market opportunity.

Tottenham Hotspur winger Yang Min-hyeok had an unforgettable night after bagging a late winner for his team.

The Spurs ace is on loan at Portsmouth and scored a crucial 98th-minute goal to earn his side a win over Charlton Athletic at Fratton Park.

Tottenham signed Min-hyeok from Gangwon FC in January, allowing him to spend time in North London learning English before heading out on loan.

Min-hyeok has bagged three goals and an assist in 16 outings, even though starts have been hard to come by.

This time, he also came on from the bench with 26 minutes left and played an influential role in securing the three points.

Min-hyeok will hope that this performance secures him a starting berth when they take on Bristol City on January 1.

Is Min-hyeok ready to play for Tottenham?

For all the promise in Min-hyeok’s game, it is still too early to suggest he is ready to make the step up to the Tottenham first team.

Moments like this underline his potential, not his readiness.

Spurs are operating at a far higher tactical and physical level, and asking a teenager still adapting to English football to contribute in the Premier League would be premature.

What Min-hyeok needs now is continuity.

Another loan, ideally as a regular starter, would allow him to refine his decision-making, improve his off-the-ball work and develop the physicality required at the top level.

A full season playing in the Championship, where the intensity mirrors the Premier League, would do him a world of good.

Also, a move to the Eredivisie, a development league for young attackers, would be far more beneficial than sporadic minutes in North London.

Tottenham should resist the temptation to fast-track him based on flashes of brilliance.

If Min-hyeok can dominate at a lower level, handle the weekly demands of senior football and show consistent end product, Spurs will have a far clearer picture of his ceiling.

With the right pathway, he can return in 2027 as a more complete winger, ready to compete and make a genuine impact in a Tottenham shirt.

Crystal Palace are pushing to get a deal done early to sign Tottenham Hotspur forward Brennan Johnson, according to the Daily Mail.

Palace are discussing an offer of around £35 million for the Spurs star, who has struggled to break into the starting XI.

The Eagles want reinforcements after failing to add enough firepower in the summer transfer window following the sale of Eberechi Eze.

The decision not to reinforce properly has come back to haunt the club, with Ismaila Sarr heading to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), leaving the team short in attack.

An early swoop for Johnson would help to mitigate the loss of Sarr, who is likely to make a deep run at AFCON with Senegal.

Other Premier League clubs are also in the race, but the Eagles have been pushing for some time and are well placed to land the 24-year-old winger.

Lauded as ‘one of the best counter-attacking forwards in the Premier League‘, he could be a potent weapon in the hands of Palace manager Oliver Glasner.

Palace are also admirers of Manchester City winger Oscar Bobb.

He has shown flashes of real quality at City. He is direct, fearless, and comfortable operating between the lines, but he has struggled to break into the first team.

A short-term loan would bolster Glasner’s attacking options and inject freshness into a side badly in need of momentum.

If the Eagles can pair Johnson’s proven Premier League output with Bobb’s spark, it could be the ideal boost to halt their poor run and kick-start the second half of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur ‘currently have no interest’ in signing midfielder Leon Goretzka, according to The Athletic.

Rumours had swirled that Spurs were keen on a move for the Bayern Munich ace in January, but those reports have been rubbished.

Goretzka has six months left on his deal and could have been a solid pick-up for Tottenham under the right terms.

However, it appears Tottenham are not looking his way and rightly so. The 30-year-old is not the profile of player the North London giants should be looking at.

There is a reason the German international (67 caps) has fallen down the pecking order at Bayern when everyone is fit.

Besides his ability to arrive late in the box, he does not offer other important qualities required in the engine room.

Goretzka does not help control the game enough.

His vision is not special, and even though he works hard defensively, Tottenham can do better than the former Schalke 04 star.

What do Tottenham need in the midfield this January?

Tottenham don’t just need a destroyer. Manager Thomas Frank deserves a true holding midfielder who can break up play and move the ball forward with purpose.

Unfortunately, Spurs may not be able to land a world-class defensive midfielder until next summer.

Joao Palhinha’s loan spell from Bayern Munich has addressed only half of that equation.

His ball-winning instincts and positional discipline have been useful, but his limitations in progression slow Spurs down and leave the build-up overly dependent on centre-backs.

For a side that wants to control games higher up the pitch, that simply isn’t sustainable.

What Spurs need is a No.6 who can screen the defence, play through pressure, and connect phases.

The roster needs someone comfortable receiving on the half-turn and feeding runners between the lines.

Slotting that profile alongside Rodrigo Bentancur would give Spurs balance, tempo, and control. Until then, their midfield will remain functional but incomplete.

Crystal Palace welcome London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to Selhurst Park on Sunday, with both sides desperate to halt worrying Premier League slides.

The Eagles come into the derby on the back of a draining EFL Cup exit against Arsenal, losing on penalties after a resilient display at the Emirates.

That defeat compounded a difficult run in the league, where Oliver Glasner’s side has suffered consecutive losses.

Palace have slipped out of the European places as a result, conceding seven goals across those two fixtures. The focus turns to stabilising their league form.

Match preview

Selhurst Park has often been a platform for Palace in big fixtures, and Glasner will hope the atmosphere can lift a squad that is showing signs of fatigue.

Defensive solidity has deserted the Eagles in recent weeks, with 10 goals conceded across their last four matches in all competitions.

Tottenham arrive in equally poor shape, having lost four of their last six league games and struggling badly on the road.

That fragility offers Palace an opportunity, especially given their recent success in this fixture, having completed a league double over Spurs last season without conceding.

Match stats

Crystal Palace have failed to win any of their last four matches in all competitions (D1, L3).

They have scored just one goal in their last two Premier League outings, while conceding seven.

This fixture has been contested 67 times in total. Tottenham hold the overall edge with 37 wins, compared to Palace’s 15, with 15 draws between the sides.

However, momentum has swung recently, with the Eagles winning both Premier League meetings in the 2024/25 season.

Palace have won two of the last three league clashes against Spurs and are chasing their first successive home league victories over them.

Team news

Palace’s injury list remains a concern, particularly in defence and midfield.

Chris Richards suffered a cut to his foot against Arsenal, but could still be involved, though a cautious approach may see him rested.

Daniel Munoz, Cheick Doucoure, Chadi Riad, Caleb Kporha and Daichi Kamada are all unavailable, while Ismaila Sarr is away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Jean-Philippe Mateta has been managing a knee issue, but played the full 90 minutes in mid-week and is expected to lead the line once again.

The Frenchman scored the winner in this fixture last season and remains Palace’s most reliable focal point in attack.

With Richards unlikely to start, ‘exciting talent’ Jaydee Canvot should slot into a back three alongside Maxence Lacroix and Marc Guehi.

Nathaniel Clyne and Tyrick Mitchell are set to operate as wing-backs, while Adam Wharton and Will Hughes anchor midfield.

Further forward, Yeremy Pino and Justin Devenny are expected to support Mateta, with 26-year-old Eddie Nketiah on the bench.

Crystal Palace predicted line-up (3-4-2-1)

Dean Henderson; Jaydee Canvot, Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guehi; Nathaniel Clyne, Adam Wharton, Will Hughes, Tyrick Mitchell; Yeremy Pino, Justin Devenny; Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Tottenham Hotspur’s demoralising 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest last weekend was fuelled by a dismal performance by goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

The first goal stemmed from a mix-up between Vicario and Archie Gray at the back. The second was all on Vicario, whose poor positioning allowed Callum Hudson-Odoi to score.

Manager Tottenham Thomas Frank can’t keep letting him cost the club points.

Spurs need an alternative to the Italian international to provide competition, with Frank seemingly reluctant to give Antonin Kinsky a chance to take the starting berth.

Tottenham should be at the front of the queue to sign AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who is available this summer for free.

Why Tottenham should be all over Maignan

Maignan established himself in Ligue 1 with Lille, helping them win the title. He joined Milan and helped them win the Scudetto.

The Frenchman won the Golden Glove and played an active role in both title triumphs.

The Spurs goalie has conceded seven goals from outside the box this term, while Maignan has shipped none in their respective leagues.

Vicario has also made two errors leading to goals, but Maignan hasn’t made any.

Maignan is a fantastic shot-stopper who commands his area superbly, making a strong case to be considered one of the most authoritative goalkeepers around.

His ball-playing ability is under-appreciated. He often starts attacks with his accurate distribution, something Tottenham have lacked.

The French international star is also a leader of men, having been appointed Milan captain.

His availability in the free-agent market is an opportunity Tottenham must capitalise on.

Spurs need a reliable goalkeeper and can get one of the best in the world for free if they are proactive.