Tottenham Hotspur appear to have hit their stride in the Premier League, and Ange Postecoglou has eased some of the pressure on his shoulders as his mission for success in North London continues.
Tottenham breathe life into difficult campaign under Postecoglou
Only a few weeks ago, many would've struggled to predict any forthcoming change in fortunes for Postecoglou amid mounting pressure at Spurs following a poor run of results.
The Australian has had to deal with crippling injury issues at Tottenham that stretched his squad to the limit, accompanied by a ruthless fixture schedule that saw the Londoners crash out of the EFL Cup and FA Cup to Liverpool and Aston Villa, respectively.
Stoically, Daniel Levy has stood by the former Celtic manager despite high-profile media figures such as Jamie Carragher delivering scathing criticism of Postecoglou's high-octane style.
Predictably, the Liverpool icon hasn't been the only one. Still, signs of light at the end of the tunnel are beginning to appear for Spurs after stringing together a trio of Premier League victories against Brentford, Manchester United and Ipswich Town.
Although a late push for continental qualification via the league table appears unlikely, as they sit 12th, the Lilywhites are still in the Europa League. Eredivisie outfit AZ Alkmaar stands in the way of a quarter-final tie against either Ajax or Eintracht Frankfurt.
While there is still plenty of work to be done, Postecoglou's side could still theoretically seal a backdoor route to Champions League qualification if they manage to go the whole way, which would likely be a major selling point for potential new arrivals in the summer.
Tottenham Hotspur eye surprise £6m+ Ayoze Perez deal
According to reports in Spain, Tottenham Hotspur and Levy are ready to offer over £6 million for Villarreal striker Ayoze Perez this summer, with the Spain international also believed to be a target for Eintracht Frankfurt.
Postecoglou is seeking further flexibility within his forward line, and the La Liga outfit haven't ruled out a departure should a financially advantageous proposal be put forward.
Supplying a prolific focal point for Villarreal this term, the 31-year-old has registered 14 goals and two assists in 20 appearances across all competitions circa 2024/25. He also now has 111 career strikes to his name for club and country after his recent burst of form.
Premier League fans will be well-versed with Perez, given that he spent time at Newcastle United and Leicester City before making the move back to his homeland.
Capable of operating in several roles across the front four, the Spaniard has fashioned 19 chances and completed the same number of dribbles while on duty in La Liga this campaign.
Experience is something missing within what is a vibrant young group at Tottenham. Perez may be approaching his latter years, but he still has plenty to offer at the highest level and may relish the challenge of a return to familiar surroundings.