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Tottenham handed the armband to Christian Romero this summer after the departure of Heung-min Son.

The captain has been reliable in that role, too.

But now, he's missing out on some of the action.

Romero won't be available Sunday as Spurs take on Everton in Premier League action.

MORE: The latest on Dominic Solanke

Why isn't Christian Romero playing today?

Tottenham remain without the captain Romero due to injury.

He has missed Spurs' last two matches with an ankle injury and isn't yet fit to regain his place in the side.

Romero is back to individual training but not yet full team training.

“Positive, progressing, no timeframe, but I don't expect it to be a longer one," manager Thomas Frank told reporters, via the Evening Standard.

Without Romero, Spurs have a pretty straightforward choice at center back. They partner Micky van de Ven with Kevin Danso.

It's van de Ven who gets the armband with Romero out. Surely, he'd like to see his main partner in the back return to the pitch sooner rather than later.

Dominic Solanke was a great addition to the Tottenham Hotspur side last season.

He was an effective finisher at his striker position, and he also was excellent at hold-up play.

This season hasn't been the same for Solanke so far. He's hardly been on the pitch.

That will remain true Sunday when Spurs take on Everton.

Why isn't Dominic Solanke playing today?

Dominic Solanke remains out of the Tottenham side due to injury.

He had surgery on his ankle and is not yet fully recovered.

Spurs manager Thomas Frank has choices to make up top for as long as Solanke is out.

The new guy Randal Kolo Muani has only come off the bench so far but could be a consideration.

Frank has also used Mathys Tel up top, although Richarlison has been the most frequent choice to play as the striker with no Solanke.

Tottenham needs to find a way past Jordan Pickford a couple times to beat Everton and stay near the top of the Premier League, and Spurs will continue to have to find a way to do so without Solanke.

Tottenham Hotspur are on the hunt for a new midfielder in 2026.

Thomas Frank focused on other areas of his squad in the summer transfer market as he secured a season-long loan on Bayern Munich's Joao Palhinha.

The Portugal international has struggled for prominence in Bavaria following his 2024 move from Fulham but he looks revived in Spurs' engine room under Frank.

Palhinha has featured in all eight of Spurs' Premier League games so far in 2025/26, with seven starts, and two goals scored by the 30-year-old.

Frank has a €30m [£36m/$35m] transfer clause to make the move permanent next summer in what looks currently like shrewd option for the Danish coach.

The former Cottagers star has made a reputation as a 'tackle king' - and his early numbers at Tottenham back that up - as the Premier League's No.1 for tackles won [21] and the leading midfielder in that metric across Europe's top five leagues.

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Spurs look certain to activate that clause, with Bayern Munich open to an exit, but Frank is also considering a new midfield partner for him next summer.

Reports from Portuguese outlet Record claim Frank is ready to battle Manchester United for Ruben Amorim's former Sporting CP captain - and fellow Dane - Morten Hjulmand.

The Sporting CP hierarchy are confident of retaining him in the long-term, after receiving assurances from his camp in recent weeks, and a current contract until 2028 in Lisbon.

However, the 26-year-old has an €80m [£70m/$93m] release clause in his contract and that could be tested in 2026 if Spurs secure Champions League qualification at the end of the campaign.

Tottenham want Amorim favourite as new midfield enforcer

Amorim is also keen on a move, after failing to lure Viktor Gyokeres from the Estádio José Alvalade ahead of his switch to Arsenal, and UCL qualification could be the decisive factor in Hjulmand's next move.

The former Leece midfielder has a similar profile to Palhinha, but Amorim has cleared indicated his view on who is the better player, based on their time together in Portugal.

"He's going to be a player to help us control games, he's a mix of Palhinha and [Manuel] Ugarte. I know Ugarte and Palhinha are going to be upset with me, but for me, Hjulmand is the most complete player in that position."

High praise from Amorim on his old skipper, but a United move depends on the futures of Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo, but Spurs' main barrier could be finances.

Tottenham news and related links

Tottenham Hotspur yet to achieve the level of consistency that they would like as they suffered a 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa at home as Premier League action resumed after the international break.

Spurs missed a golden opportunity to rise up on the points table as they suffered their second defeat of the league campaign.

After a few games into the campaign there's a feeling that Tottenham are desperately missing a prolific goalscoring striker who can turn games on his own.

The North London outfit have created a shortlist of different forward but according to reports via TBR Football, Spurs have kept a close eye on Samu Aghehowa's progress at FC Porto.

Spurs sporting director Fabio Paratici, who just returned to the club last week is a big admirer of the Spain international who almost joined Chelsea in 2024 from Atletico Madrid, but the deal eventually fell through.

The Spaniard finally moved to FC Porto that summer and the move worked wonders as he has hammered 35 goals in 57 appearances for the Primeira Liga club.

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The 21-year-old is extremely high rated by several European clubs including Spurs but his £87m ($116.4m) release clause could be a deal breaker for many teams.

Why are Spurs chasing Porto star Samu Aghehowa?

Aghehowa joined Granada's youth setup in 2021 and made a name for himself while featuring for their 'B' team.

He moved to Atletico Madrid in 2023 and was immediately loaned out to Alaves where he finished the club top scorer in 2023/24 La Liga campaign with eight goals.

The Spaniard eventually moved to Porto where he has established himself as one of the most talented young strikers in Europe.

He has been hailed as a modern striker who has physicality to hold up and link play whilst making in behind runs and maneuvering space in the final third.

Aghehowa has already scored eight goals in nine games for Porto this season therefore Spurs are extremely interested in the young Spaniard.

As per reports despite his high release clause, he may be available for a much lesser price due to Porto's financial constraints.

Apart from Aghehowa, Spurs are also looking at Juve's Dusan Vlahovic, who is available for free transfer next summer.

Overall, it will be interesting to see with whom Spurs eventually end up but either way they need a striker who would have an imposing presence upfront.

Tottenham Hotspur news and related links

It's Liverpool vs. Man United top of the bill on Super Sunday but don't forget Tottenham will also be looking to move back to 2nd in the Premier League table when they host a resurgent Aston Villa at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the 2p.m. kick off.

Thomas Frank has enjoyed a strong start in North London with his most recent win coming at Leeds prior to the international break. However, his side have not won either of their last two league home games, losing to Bournemouth before Palhinha rescued a last-gasp point against basement boys Wolves.

The Dane has also never beaten Unai Emery with the Villa boss having the upper hand in their five previous meetings. The Spaniard's side are looking for a fifth consecutive win as they continue to build following a poor start to the season in which they struggled to score.

Can Frank end his Emery hoodoo and go top with Spurs or will Villa continue their revival and jump into the top half? The Sporting News brings you this betting preview complete with the latest tips, predictions and odds for what should be an exciting clash.

Tottenham vs. Aston Villa preview: Can Villa make it five wins in a row?

On paper, these two sides are close to evenly matched and this should be a tight contest from the outset.

Villa have only scored six goals in their seven league games but five of them have come in their last two games, both of which they won. Spurs have been more prolific, scoring 13 albeit just one in their last two games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Expect both sides to score but we think this one will end in a draw, the rarest recent result in this fixture.

BET NOW: Who will win Premier League | Relegation Odds | Sack Race | Golden Boot

Head-to-Head: Tottenham vs. Aston Villa

The two clubs have met on 157 previous occasions with Spurs winning 70 to Villa's 55.

None of the last 20 league games between the pair have ended in draw with the last stalemate all the way back in May 2013.

Villa have won four of the last six league games against Spurs, as many as they had in the previous 29.

Tottenham vs. Aston Villa: Form Guide

Tottenham – Last 5 Matches (All Competitions)

Leeds 1-2 Tottenham (Premier League)

Bodo/Glimt 2-2 Tottenham (Champions League)

Tottenham 1-1 Wolves (Premier League)

Tottenham 3-0 Doncaster (League Cup)

Brighton 2-2 Tottenham (Premier League)

Aston Villa – Last 5 Matches (All Competitions)

Aston Villa 2-1 Burnley (Premier League)

Feyenoord 0-2 Aston Villa (Europa League)

Aston Villa 3-1 Fulham (Premier League)

Aston Villa 1-0 Bologna (Europa League)

Sunderland 1-1 Aston Villa (Premier League)

Tottenham vs. Aston Villa Score Prediction

With a winner from each of the last 20 games between the two clubs, the law of averages suggest a draw is long overdue in North London this afternoon.

A point would be a better result for Villa than Spurs. We think that's what will happen with Emery continuing his unbeaten run against Frank.

Prediction: Tottenham 1-1 Aston Villa (6/1 with Bet365)

MORE: Top October events | How odds work | How to bet in-play | Free betting games

Tottenham vs. Aston Villa Team News

Tottenham Team News

On-loan striker Randal Kolo Muani should be available for selection after recovering from a thigh injury.

Yves Bissouma and Ben Davies both suffered injuries during the international break and will miss out here.

Mohammed Kudus will be looking to continue his fine start while Xavi Simons is still looking for his first goal for Spurs.

Frank also confirmed that Destiny Udogie will miss out with a minor knee knock.

Aston Villa Team News

Emery will be hoping Ollie Watkins will be passed fit after pulling out of the England squad with a knee issue.

Tyrone Mings and Emiliano Buendia may be available for selection but are unlikely to start.

Tottenham vs. Aston Villa Predicted Lineups

This is how we think these two sides will line up with Richarlison, Pape Matar Sarr and Djed Spence coming in for Spurs and Villa unchanged from their win over Burnley two weeks ago. That means Ollie Watkins should recover from a knock to lead the line for the visitors, while Jadon Sancho is over an illness but still unlikely to start.

Tottenham predicted lineup to play Aston Villa

(4-2-3-1) Vicario (GK) — Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence — Palhinha, Bentancur — Kudus, Sarr, Simons — Richarlison

Aston Villa predicted lineup to play Tottenham

(4-2-3-1) Martinez (GK) — Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne — Kamara, Bogarde — Malen, McGinn, Rogers — Watkins

Tottenham vs. Aston Villa Betting Odds

Tottenham to Win: 11/10 AK Bets

Aston Villa to Win: 13/5 Bet365

Draw: 13/5 Paddy Power

Bet Builder Tips: Tottenham vs. Aston Villa

Our bet builder for this one is a draw with both teams to score and under 2.5 goals as well as over 10 corners. That is currently at odds of 11.16/1 with AK Bets. You can build your own bet builder and compare the best bookmaker prices using the tool below.

How to watch Tottenham vs. Aston Villa: Live stream, TV channel

Here's all the key information on how to watch Tottenham vs. Aston Villa on Sunday.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank is prioritising a new striker in the January transfer window.

The Danish coach has made a strong start to life in North London following his summer call to leave Brentford after seven years with the Bees.

As part of a bold spending spree, Spurs activated their purchase clause on loan star Mathys Tel, and Frank completed deals for Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus and Randal Kolo Muani.

However, with Simons and Kudus tasked to play behind a main attacker, an old issue has resurfaced as Spurs struggle for goals.

Injuries have disrupted the season start for Tel, Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke - with just two Premier League goals between them - as Richarlison has shouldered the main burden.

Highly-rated Irish teenager Mason Melia will arrive in January, but Frank is acutely aware of the need for more goals, to keep Spurs pushing across four fronts.

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As per the latest from Football Insider, Juventus centre-forward Dusan Vlahovic is Frank's No.1 target, and the Serbia international is keen on the move.

Tottenham ahead of Man United n Vlahovic race

Despite interest from Manchester United - Spurs' ability to offer UEFA Champions League football is key - with Vlahovic not planning to extend his Juventus contract beyond its expiry at the end of the campaign.

A spot in the UCL, plus the likelihood of a starting place, means Vlahovic is rumoured to be 'leaning towards' Spurs over other interested clubs.

Due to his expiring contract, Juventus could be open to offers in the region of £25m [$33.5m], which falls within Spurs' budget as all parties seek an exit in Turin.

The 25-year-old has managed 10+ Serie A goals in the last three campaigns, but his high wages remain an issue for Juventus, with summer arrivals Jonathan David and Lois Openda ahead of him in Igor Tudor's pecking order.

Tottenham news and related links

Top billing might go to Liverpool vs. Man United but Tottenham Hotspur are also set to host Aston Villa in today's early kickoff in the Premier League.

The home side come into the fixture having won their last league encounter against Leeds United. Spurs find themselves sitting comfortably in third place in the Premier League table.

The fixture could allow Thomas Frank's team to climb up to first position in the standings if Arsenal lose to Fulham and Liverpool fail to beat Manchester United this weekend.

Unai Emery's Aston Villa are in better shape than they were about a month ago, though. The Midlands side is finally beginning to click as a whole following a slow start to the season.

The Villans have developed some momentum following the victories against Fulham and Burnley, looking much more like their previous selves.

With their talisman, Morgan Rogers, slowly beginning to find his best form, Villa will fancy their chances of getting a positive result at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Tottenham vs. Aston Villa lineups: Predicted starting XI, team news, injury latest

Tottenham's injury list does not look like it's getting shorter anytime soon. Fortunately, there have been some improvements for Thomas Frank.

The manager is hopeful that Randal Kolo Muani, Yves Bissouma and Dominic Solanke will all join the fold soon after recovering from injuries. All three have an outside chance of being available this weekend.

Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison are out for the foreseeable future, with the latter ruled out for the rest of the season due to an ACL injury. Radu Dragusin's long-awaited return from a similar problem could come in the next couple of weeks.

Despite the injuries, Frank seems to have figured out his best starting XI at the moment and is expected to name a strong team for the game, even with a UEFA Champions League visit to Monaco to come next week.

Tottenham predicted starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Vicario (GK) — Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence — Palhinha, Bentancur — Kudus, Sarr, Simons — Richarlison

Injured: Maddison (ACL), Solanke (ankle), Dragusin (knee), Kulusevski (knee), Takai (ankle), Kolo Muani (thigh, doubt), Bissouma (fitness, doubt)

Suspended: None

While Emery's side will be looking to make it three league wins on the bounce, there are concerns around lead striker Ollie Watkins, who sustained a freak injury while on international duty with England.

England manager Thomas Tuchel insisted that Watkins was taken off as a precaution after colliding with the post in the 3-0 friendly win over Wales, and Emery will be hoping that is indeed the case.

Meanwhile, Youri Tielemans is sidelined until the end of November. Jadon Sancho, Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings could make it to the bench again.

Aston Villa predicted starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Martinez (GK) — Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne — Kamara, Bogarde — Malen, McGinn, Rogers — Watkins

Injured: Tielemans (calf), Mings (foot, doubt), Buendia (head, doubt), Robledo (undisc., doubt), Watkins (knee, doubt)

Suspended: None

Tottenham vs. Aston Villa match details

Date: Sunday, October 16, 2025

Kickoff time: 2 p.m. BST

Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London (UK)

Competition: Premier League matchweek eight

Referee: Simon Hooper

VAR: Lee Betts

Tottenham news and related links

Tottenham Hotspur are resuming their Premier League 2025/26 campaign against Aston Villa on October 19 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in North London.

Spurs have had a decent start to the Thomas Frank era, winning four wins in the first seven league games and are third in the Premier League points table.

Despite the great start, Spurs had their fair share of injury issues, and they missed the services of many players including Randal Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke as both the strikers were injured.

Richarlison slotted in for their absence but now as per Frank's update, Kolo Muani is returning to full fitness and may make his club debut for the North London outfit against Villa.

The Frenchman has joined Tottenham this summer on a loan deal and has been injured since mid-September due to a dead leg.

Frank highlights that he may take time to reach his peak performance, but he is almost back to full fitness highlighting that Spurs fans may soon see him on the field.

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"Kolo Muani has trained for two weeks with the team, that's good. He looks better and better and is in contention for the squad on Sunday, so that's a positive," Frank told the reporters ahead of the Villa clash.

"It's very important to have him fit and available. I think he looks better and better. I think it's also fair to say that he has trained two weeks with the team and when he came on the 1st of September - time flies! - he still needed a bit to go up to the higher level. But it's not to say that he can't be involved tomorrow and maybe can play minutes. But I think it's fair to say that he needs a little bit of time to get up to a full level."

Kolo Muani is close to making his Premier League debut

Kolo Muani joined Tottenham this summer on loan from PSG just because Frank needed more depth upfront.

However, with Solanke's injury, the Danish manager was in a tight spot, but Richarlison stepped up and delivered some exceptional performances for Spurs, scoring three goals and an assist in the Premier League.

But the Frenchman's return to fitness is a welcome news for Frank as he now has alternatives in the striker position.

Kolo Muani featuring in the Premier League is an interesting prospect as he failed to live up to the expectations at PSG and was loaned out to Juventus for the second half of last season.

This summer, Juventus wanted the 26-year-old's services but couldn't reach an agreement with PSG and he eventually moved to Spurs.

Kolo Muani scored 10 goals in 22 appearances for the Bianconeri last season, out of those eight goals came in 16 Serie A matches.

He has only featured in a 13-minute substitute spell against Villarreal in a Champions League fixture for Spurs before getting sidelined for almost a month.

Tottenham Hotspur news and related links

Harry Kane has shared his thoughts on whether he will return to Tottenham Hotspur amid reports suggesting that the Premier League club are keen on bringing him back next summer.

Kane started his senior career with his boyhood club,Tottenham, in 2009 and was loaned to four different clubs from 2011 to 2013. The England national team captain parted ways with Spurs in 2023 and joined Bayern Munich on a four-year contract.

During his 14-year tenure at Tottenham, Kane became the club's all-time top goalscorer as well as the Premier League's second-highest all-time goalscorer.

The Spurs' legend left the north London side after making 435 appearances for the club, during which he netted 280 goals and provided 63 assists.

Despite these achievements, the only blemish on Kane's time at Tottenham was that he was unable to claim any silverware with the English club.

Kane continues to be as impressive with his efforts and contributions on the pitch at Bayern, and lifted his first major trophy with a club after winning the 2024–25 Bundesliga.

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Several reports have suggested that Tottenham have a buy-back clause in Kane's contract with Bayern that would become active from January 2026, prompting rumors of the 32-year-old star's possible return to Spurs.

Now, Kane, whose current contract at the German giants is set to expire in June 2027, has revealed whether he plans on returning to Tottenham.

What did Tottenham legend Harry Kane say?

Kane candidly admitted that he is unsure of rejoining Tottenham, while mentioning that he is currently 'very happy here in Munich,' and told the Daily Mail,

"I'm not sure (if I'll go back), I'm very happy here in Munich. It's not something I'm thinking about. It'll always be "we" (with Spurs) because I spent my whole life there. I'm a fan of them and will always watch them and see how they're getting on. They will always be a part of my life for sure but as for now, I'm loving it here," as per GOAL.

Kane also spoke about Tottenham ending their 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League title last season and added,

"It was great to see (them win a trophy this year). I've got a lot of friends there with the players and staff. We know how long we waited and how close we'd come in the past so it was big for everyone - the fans, the club and all involved to have that feeling and get that one over the line. That's always important and hopefully they can push on and win more."

Tottenham are currently third in the Premier League table with 14 points in seven matches and will be looking to climb up the ranks in their upcoming match against Aston Villa on October 19.

Tottenham news and related links

Tottenham Hotspur are enjoying a nice start to the Premier League season, but the club continues to struggle with injuries.

Dominic Solanke has played just over 30 minutes in the league this season, after suffering an ankle injury that has required surgery.

Solanke has struggled with injuries throughout his time with Spurs, and the surgery will keep the striker out for several months.

Summer signing Randal Kolo Muani has also been kept out with an injury, but he's returning to fill fitness.

Richarlison has been the main striker for Thomas Frank's side, but he has also had an injury riddled career for the London club.

Frank is now exploring a move for a proven striker, with 32 goals to his name for FC Porto.

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Which striker is Tottenham interested in?

According to Football Insider, Tottenham are monitoring Porto's Samu Aghehowa, who has been on the radar of several clubs.

The striker has been phenomenal for Porto, scoring five goals in seven matches already this season. The Spaniard had 19 goals and three assists in 30 league games last season.

With Spurs injury woes, Aghehowa could become a key target for the club. He has an £86m release clause, but with the recent cash injection that Tottenham received, the club might opt to go for the high flying striker.

Aghehowa has a strong presence on the field, and his age of 21 makes him a long-term solution for Tottenham's attack.

Chelsea and Newcastle have previously been linked with the striker, but Spurs problems could push the club into making a January bid.

Tottenham news and related links