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LONDON -- We are 11 games into the Premier League season, and it is still impossible to gauge the merit of Tottenham Hotspur.

Are they the side that orchestrated a 3-0 dismantling of Manchester United at Old Trafford, a 4-1 triumph over high-flying Aston Villa and knocked Manchester City out of the Carabao Cup? Or are they the unit that contrived to lose 3-2 to Brighton & Hove Albion after being 2-0 up, and gave Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town their first -- and so far only -- wins of the season?

The simple, if frustrating, answer is that Spurs are both: capable of reaching soaring highs or crushing lows on any given day. And while the underlying numbers suggest that more of the former should be on the horizon, it's this inconsistency that is the biggest threat to manager Ange Postecoglou's unbroken career record of delivering silverware in his second year.

The two sides of Spurs

There is probably no better fixture to speak to Spurs' Jekyll and Hyde-like nature than their trip to face Manchester City on Saturday. A fortnight ago, not many would have anticipated that Postecoglou's side would fall to Ipswich at home but, at the same time, few would have been outright aghast at the concept. It just felt like the type of game that Spurs would drop.

Conversely, few will be anticipating that they will take something off Pep Guardiola's men this weekend; but it also wouldn't be completely shocking if they returned to London with all three points. Spurs have become something of a bogey side for City in recent years, and it is well-known that Postecoglou relishes the opportunity to test himself against the best in games such as this.

Given the tight nature of this season's Premier League, Tottenham enter the weekend sitting 10th, just three points back of third-placed Chelsea, but also just a point clear of 13th-placed Manchester United. Had they got the job done against Ipswich, they'd be sitting third and -- as Postecoglou would likely be the first to wryly observe -- the tone surrounding his side would likely be vastly different. But while the vibes in North London in the Australian's sophomore season are a far cry from what they were like at this point a year ago, when they sat top of the Premier League after 10 weeks and suffered their first defeat on the season only on matchday 11, a look under the bonnet will suggest the foundation Spurs are working off this season is stronger.

It's only a sample size of 11 games, but Spurs are scoring more goals and creating more expected goals (xG) per 90 than they did across 2023-24, as well as conceding fewer goals and allowing fewer xG conceded per 90. They're taking more shots while allowing fewer at the other end, winning the ball higher up the pitch, and turning it over less in their defensive third. Their PPDA (passes per defensive action) -- a metric that measures the intensity of a team's press -- is just 6.82, the lowest in the Premier League. In more tangible measurements, no team in the Premier League has scored more goals than Tottenham this season, and only league leaders Liverpool possess a better goal difference than their +10.

When they're at their best, Spurs are very good, capable of blowing all but the most elite sides out of the water with a relentless attacking approach -- something more in keeping with the club's mythos than the defensive trappings of its three previous full-time coaches: Antonio Conte, Nuno Espírito Santo and José Mourinho. And it's these flashes that will convince Postecoglou that he remains on the right track; the footballing philosophy that has painstakingly paved the way from his native Australia to the Premier League continuing to bear fruit. Probably somewhat importantly, unlike a couple of those previous coaches listed, he seems to actually enjoy being at Spurs' helm, too.

"I've enjoyed every step of the way," Postecoglou tells ESPN. "Every challenge has been different. Every club has had different sorts of environments and different kinds of cultural resets that I've had to do. But I've enjoyed all of it and I'm enjoying this as much as I've enjoyed everything else I've done in football.

"And hopefully that continues, because that's what kind of keeps driving me. If I get to the point where I'm getting up in the morning and not looking forward to what's ahead, then I know that it's probably time for me to try and look to do something else. But I'm loving every minute of it."

Nonetheless, for all the statistical positives that can be taken from Spurs' start to the season, the numbers that suggest results should reliably improve, this is still a team that has lost as many games as it has won, and the gap between their highs and their lows this season has been stark.

Just once have they won back-to-back league games -- against Brentford and Manchester United in September -- and those results were followed by the loss at Brighton that Postecoglou labelled "the worst defeat we've had since I've been here." Adept as they have proven at coming from behind to win games -- Tottenham's 10 comeback triumphs since the Australian's arrival is the best record in the Premier League, alongside Manchester City -- they've also shipped the first goal in five straight home games and 13 times overall at home this calendar year, four more times than next "best" West Ham United and just one back of the Premier League record of 14. It's a level of inconsistency and sustained run of early deficits that aren't sustainable for a side with Spurs' ambitions.

"That's down to me," Postecoglou told media after the Ipswich defeat. "That's my responsibility. The inconsistency we're having this year, ultimately it comes down to me and my approach and it's something I need to try and fix and see if I can help the players in that area."

Sophomore silverware

Postecoglou will need to find immediate solutions to these issues but, in doing so, it can be safely assumed that they won't clash with his long-term vision. In the days leading into the Ipswich loss, the coach spoke of establishing foundations for sustained success, a vision of prosperity stretching beyond the pursuit of a trophy or other short-term glories. And anyone familiar with his work will know he's not one to bend on principles.

"I don't see just a trophy as the panacea for sustained success because there is plenty of evidence that is not the case," Postecoglou said. "Not here, just sport in general. I get the fact when you're at a club this size and it hasn't won, people think: 'Well that is the missing piece.'

"What I have been trying to rail against since I've been here is there is never just a missing piece. It is always more than that. It's about having a clear idea over what you're going to build, how you're going to build it, and staying true to that."

But it's here where one of the great contradictions of modern football comes to the fore. Because while Postecoglou is absolutely correct that he leaves foundations at clubs -- Melbourne Victory, Brisbane Roar, Yokohama F Marinos and Celtic all won titles soon after his departure -- trophies are generally a pretty good omen. And he arrived at Spurs with a reputation for winning them in his second season at clubs, something he defiantly reiterated after his side's North London derby defeat earlier this season. And a fanbase coming up on two decades without a trophy-- since the League Cup triumph over Chelsea in 2008 -- tends to remember those types of things.

"I'll correct myself -- I don't usually win things, I always win things in my second year," he told Sky Sports after that derby defeat. "Nothing's changed. I've said it now. I don't say things unless I believe them."

Fortunately for Spurs, while the 12-point gap to Liverpool is already looking pretty insurmountable, they are well placed in their cup competitions to win something. Especially given cups, generally, don't tend to be as punishing on inconsistency as league play.

Despite Spurs' recent defeat to Galatasaray breaking their 100% record, they sit seventh in the league phase of the UEFA Europa League after four games, well on track to advance to the round of 16 as a seeded side. Meanwhile, having already eliminated Manchester City from the Carabao Cup, they will host Manchester United in a quarterfinal next month, and will also enter the FA Cup in its third round in January along with the rest of the Premier League sides.

Clues from Postecoglou's past

So is there anything Spurs fans can take from Postecoglou's previous trophy-winning seasons as an omen? A sign that this campaign will continue the trend? There are no guarantees, but there are hints.

Interestingly enough, the start of Postecoglou's second season at Spurs isn't too dissimilar to the sophomore seasons he has experience at three of his previous clubs, with Celtic's dominant 2022-23 campaign the outlier.

This season, Spurs sit on 16 points after 11 games, with five wins and a draw. In Postecoglou's J1 League-winning campaign with Yokohama in 2019, he also had five wins at this stage but sat on 18 points thanks to a further three draws. At Brisbane Roar in 2010-11, he'd recorded six wins and four draws on his way to what would become an A-League Men premiership and championship double. In Postecoglou's first coaching role, at South Melbourne, he started his second season in 1997-98 with five wins but -- thanks to five draws and just one loss -- had 20 points after 11 games, and an NSL premiership and championship double on the way.

"You never truly know, but I certainly got the sense that we were building something," Postecoglou told ESPN, reflecting on his second-season successes. "I've never had a predetermined sort of outcome for that but I did feel [something] and you get that mainly from the playing group more than everything else -- that they feel it.

"That's when they start believing in it and driving it. You go: 'Okay, we've got something here.' And that's the kind of thing you look for. There was certainly evidence of that in all the clubs... by the time I got to my second year, there was a real buy-in from everyone, players and staff.

"You never can never guarantee outcomes but all I have is 26 years of historical evidence that I know that when that clicks, then we give ourselves the opportunity of winning things."

Of course, if we're looking to history for clues, how Spurs perform in the immediate future will be telling; it was at about this point in his previous stints that things really began to click into gear for Postecoglou.

After the 11-match point in 2019, Yokohama would go on to win seven of their next 10 matches before ending the season on an 11-game unbeaten run. At the Roar in 2010-11 -- a side so good they would be christened "Roar-celona" -- six wins and four draws would come in their next 10 matches, contributing to what became a 36-game unbeaten run that still stands as an Australian record.

Postecoglou's 1997-98 South Melbourne side, meanwhile, would win seven of their next 10, with their other defeat throughout the remainder of the campaign coming when they rested a host of players on the season's final day -- and they would go on to avenge that defeat in one of the most memorable Grand Finals in Australian football history.

Postecoglou's difference-makers

Of course, beyond results, it's also worth noting that across his stints in Australia, Japan and Scotland, a feature of Postecoglou's trophy-winning teams has been that they've fielded arguably the best, most influential player in the league. He doesn't always have a prolific goal-scorer, but there's always that driving force in his sides.

In 1997-98, Paul Trimboli, one of the greatest players in Australian domestic league history, won his second Johnny Warren medal for South Melbourne. In 2010-11, Thomas Broich and Matt McKay finished second and third in the Johnny Warren Medal, with Broich going on to win the award in 2011-12 and 2013-14. In 2019, Teruhito Nakagawa was named J1 League Player of the Year for Yokohama, and in 22-23, Furuhashi was named PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year & SFWA Footballer of the Year.

Even at international level, Postecoglou's second season at the helm of the Socceroos coincided with Massimo Luongo being named player of the tournament during Australia's triumphant 2015 Asian Cup, securing the then-Swindon Town player a Ballon d'Or nomination.

Of course, it's an easy correlation to make; successful teams by their very nature have the best players that contribute to that success. And Postecoglou has undoubtedly been blessed to work with some top-level talent in the various leagues he has coached in across his journey.

But Postecoglou also has proven track record of finding ways to bring the best out of his players, to find new ways to get them thriving in his system or to help them rediscover their best. Just observe the renaissance that Dejan Kulusevski has undergone this season after switching from the wing to a more central role, or how signed striker Dominic Solanke not only has four goals in nine Premier League starts but is also rapidly taking to the demands of a striker in Postecoglou's system both in and out of possession.

However, injuries have haunted some of Spurs' other key difference-makers, with defensive lynchpin Micky van de Ven -- without whom Spurs' loss rate leaps to 50% -- continuing to be dogged by hamstring injuries, and talismanic skipper Son Heung-Min missing multiple games with hamstring injuries of his own.

"There's always been [difference makers] in every club I've been in," said Postecoglou. "There's always players like that. And we certainly have them here [at Spurs]."

So perhaps the best possible indication that Postecoglou's second-season trophy record will continue won't be in the stats, but the form of Kulusevski, Solanke and Son. If one, two or all three can turn in career-best seasons, then all of a sudden silverware would feel within Spurs' grasp.

Defeating Manchester City at the Etihad on Saturday would certainly be a good sign.

LONDON -- It's a brisk Thursday morning at Hotspur Way, site of Tottenham Hotspur's sprawling training grounds in the North London borough of Enfield. The previous evening, Spurs had travelled to Istanbul to face Galatasaray in the UEFA Europa League, falling 3-2 to a Victor Osimhen-inspired Cimbom. There was no time to dwell on that, however, as immediately after they boarded a jet back home, landing at 3:30 a.m., with the eyes of Ange Postecoglou and his coaching staff already on Sunday's fixture with Ipswich Town.

For assistants like Mile Jedinak and Nick Montgomery, this meant heading straight to Hotspur Way, catching a few hours of sleep in its (very nice) sleeping facilities before commencing preparations for the Premier League clash. It's exhausting but there were morning meetings to be had, after all, as well as the finer details of training to be locked in.

Then there was training itself before more meetings, as well as opposition analysis that subsequently needed to be communicated to players on a teamwide, unit, and individual basis. Amidst that, there were tailored training and support plans for players to be overseen as well as planning for what was to come after what was to be a 2-1 loss to the Tractor Boys. Safe to say, it was a busy morning.

"It's all intertwined, really," Jedinak explains to ESPN, a coffee in hand. "That's what this collaborative coaching team does and continues to do."

Named captain of the Socceroos under Postecoglou, 40-year-old Jedinak is now in his second season as his assistant at Tottenham, coming across from Aston Villa soon after the gaffer's arrival. He describes Spurs' atmosphere as one where both players and staff are challenged not only to constantly improve, but also to challenge each other to do the same; something he enjoys immensely. Seeing players work diligently every day, in combination with taking on the information they're expected to inspire him to work harder and smarter.

"When you're sitting on this [coaching] side of it, you do realise how much time and effort goes into every bit of detail," he says. "Not that you didn't [appreciate it] as a player, because you were ultimately trying to do your best and perform and take on the information. But when you have to plan that [before disseminating the information], you realise that there is an awful amount of time and prep to go into things."

And Jedinak gets plenty of chances to implement this work. Postecoglou has become well-known for fostering an intense sense of loyalty and respect from his players while, at the same time, keeping them at arm's length; ensuring there's enough distance between them to ensure sentiment won't prevent him from making necessary, hard calls. On a day-to-day basis, this means that, compared to others, his assistants -- Jedinak, Montgomery, Matt Wells, Ryan Mason and Sergio Raimundo -- carry added responsibilities.

"From our perspective as coaches, as assistants, we have a lot of contact time with the players," explains Jedinak. "So we need to use that and we need to use that wisely, especially with the schedule and the fixtures the way that they are.

"It's not always done necessarily on the training pitch and from a physical output, it's [also] team meetings and maybe individual meetings and unit meetings to get your message across.

"Each of us as coaches has our way of doing that. And I think, I think that's the sort of beauty of being in the dynamic: everyone brings something different to it. And rest assured the players are getting the contact time that they need."

Other coaches, of course, are more hands-on with their charges; there's never one "right" way of managing dressing rooms. But given his legacy of success across both Asia and Europe, there's clearly something to how Postecoglou implements and gets his side's buying into his philosophy.

"For him to give the sort of trust he does to the assistants -- to trust you -- that's so empowering," Montgomery, the former Hibernian and Central Coast Mariners boss now part of Spurs' backroom staff, told ESPN. "I've been a manager, I know what you get back from staff when you give them that trust.

"But he's always on top of everything. There's nothing that goes by that he's not on top of. And as much as he keeps his distance from the players, in terms of the staff, he's always available too, even if it's just you want to ask him something or share something with him.

"The places where you've seen he's had success, he's been built on good characters, as well as people buying into the way that he wants to play -- the staff and players. That's been evident everywhere he's been, and that's a real skill to get everybody to do that."

A familiar figure in British football thanks to his 349 games at Sheffield United, that Australia claims Montgomery as one of their own draws a few bemused looks in Enfield. But he's an Australian citizen now, and his signature coaching achievement came in the A-League; helping to build a young core at the Mariners as an academy coach before taking over the senior side and leading the league's most penurious outfit to a famous 6-1 Grand Final win over CFG-owned Melbourne City.

Postecoglou was one of the first to reach out with congratulations after that game, with the two in intermittent contact since Montgomery sent the former Socceroos boss a message in the aftermath of Australia's 2015 Asian Cup win. More congratulations followed after Montgomery was appointed to what became a short, unsuccessful stint as the boss of Hibs. Montgomery had plenty of interest in his services after departing Easter Road, but a chance message to Postecoglou opened the door for an opportunity in North London; one he seized with both hands. The difference in resources between the Premier League and the A-League and Scottish Premiership may be stratospheric, but the grass is grass and the ball remains round.

"I love the way that we play," Montgomery tells ESPN. "I love that we try to go out and win every game and outscore the opposition. And I love the energy and the youthfulness that we have in the team. Ange is not afraid to play young players. And I think if you look at what I did at the Mariners and Hibs, that's something that I've never been afraid to do. You reap the rewards by being brave like that.

"It's hard not to come and improve when you're working with top, top coaches, a top manager and world-class players. When you talk about some of the players here, a lot of them have played for the country. They're big names. But in the end, they're genuine people who have come from similar backgrounds to everybody like myself."

Both Montgomery and Jedinak see senior managerial roles in their future but, for now, their focus is entirely on Spurs' season. As Jedinak observes, anything less than full focus in an environment like the Premier League and you quickly get left behind. But as is made clear throughout the conversations with both, it's also about improving every day, in an environment that most coaches could only dream of.

"I've said it before, part of my responsibility, I feel, and part of what I want to give back is to open as many doors as I can for Aussie coaches or coaches from that side of the world," Postecoglou tells ESPN. "And it's great for me to have [Jedinak and Montgomery] alongside me."

Russo on target as Arsenal win north London derby

Alessia Russo scored inside two minutes of the north London derby as Arsenal claimed 3-0 victory over Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

Nov 16, 2024, 03:56 pm - ESPN

Alessia Russo scored inside two minutes of the north London derby as Arsenal claimed 3-0 victory over Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

Goals from Frida Maanum and Stina Blackstenius added to Spurs' woes that have seen them win just one of their last five Women's Super League (WSL) fixtures.

It took Russo just 63 seconds to put Arsenal ahead when she latched onto Mariona Caldentey's through ball and fired past Becky Spencer from 12 yards.

"Today was massive," Russo said. "Not only is it another step in the league and the journey we are on but it's a derby.

"When you come to the club you know the standards and this is one of them. We knew what it [defeat] felt like and wanted to put it right. Enjoying myself and want to get better each day."

The Spurs defence was breached again in the 22nd minute, as Maanum smoothly controlled Kim Little's pass and planted her shot in the bottom-left corner.

Arsenal's interim manager Renee Slegers extended her unbeaten run since taking over from Jonas Eidevall, and substitute Blackstenius proved her talent once again, scoring with her third touch of the ball after coming off the bench.

"We are a little bit more confident," Russo told BBC Sport of Slegers time in charge. "Things don't change overnight. She has allowed us a little bit of freedom up there and each game is getting better and better.

"It's been good to get a bit of consistency. We have to many talented forwards. It's learning each other's strengths and how we can play off each other."

The three points move Arsenal to fourth in the WSL table, while Spurs sit seventh with seven points.

Ipswich stun Spurs to claim first win of season

Ipswich Town secured their first Premier League victory of the season when they deservedly beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 away thanks to first-half goals by Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap on Sunday.

Nov 10, 2024, 04:44 pm - Reuters

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou has challenged James Maddison to rediscover his best form and earn a recall to the England squad.

Maddison has struggled to replicate the performance levels he showed at the beginning of last season and has found himself out of the starting XI in Spurs' consecutive victories over Manchester City and Aston Villa last week.

The 27-year-old midfielder, who scored a free-kick in the win over Villa, returned to the Spurs lineup in Thursday's 3-2 defeat at Galatasaray.

Asked whether he hopes incoming England boss Thomas Tuchel will consider selecting Maddison after interim coach Lee Carsley decided against calling him up for the upcoming internationals, Postecoglou told a news conference: "I don't think you pick national teams on the back of a free-kick, to be fair. I think you need more than that. So that's the first thing.

"Look, secondly, it's with all these things I've always said, team selection, squad selection, it's more in the players' hands than the managers', they're the ones that need to put up the compelling evidence for people to make decisions.

"When I select a team on the weekend or when the England manager selects his squad, he's doing it on the back of the evidence he has before him. So if you miss out, well then you've got to say: 'OK, well I've got to give you more compelling evidence next time to get back in there.'

"I've never come across a manager who doesn't select what he thinks is the best team for what he wants and the purpose of his sort of brief. So, whether it's Madders or anyone else, they've just got to keep putting up the evidence that means they get selected for the next national team."

Postecoglou is looking to deliver Spurs' first major trophy since their Carabao Cup success in 2008, but he stressed that he is aiming for "sustained success" rather than simply lifting one piece of silverware during his tenure.

"I've always said that I just don't see just a trophy as kind of the panacea for sustained success because there's plenty of evidence that that is not the case -- not here, just sport in general. I think winning the league's a bit different, but even then, to sustain that is not easy," Postecoglou said.

"So I think sustained success, which is what I talk about a lot, is a lot deeper than just winning a trophy. But I get the fact that when you're at a club of this size and people think, well that's the missing piece, but what I've been trying to rail against since I've been here is that there's never just the missing piece, it's always more than that.

Postecoglou said earlier this term that his teams "always win things in my second season," but the Spurs boss stressed on Friday that ending the club's trophy-less run would not necessarily prove the catalyst for a period of long-term success.

"I could be going: 'Look, let's just win a trophy this year and everything will be fine' and then we win a trophy, finish 10th and then five games into the next year, I get sacked [if we have bad results]," Postecoglou said.

"Not that it's about me, I'm just saying, but then the club has to change direction again. So have you really done anything? I don't think so. So that's where I'm trying to just stay really clear on, for us as a club, we kind of know what we want to achieve in terms of sustained success. Does that include trophies? Absolutely. But it's not going to be one simple thing that all of a sudden opens a floodgate. So I don't believe that."

Spurs, who sit seventh in the Premier League table, host Ipswich Town at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

Information from ESPN's Joey Lynch contributed to this report.

West Ham United winger Mohammed Kudus's ban has been extended to five matches and he has been fined £60,000 ($77,286) for violent conduct in last month's Premier League defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, the FA said on Wednesday.

Kudus was already serving an automatic three-match ban after receiving a red card against Spurs, which ruled him out of the Hammers' 2-1 home win over Manchester United and their 3-0 loss at Nottingham Forest, as well as Saturday's home match against Everton.

He was found guilty of violent conduct by an independent Regulatory Commission and will now miss their league matches against Newcastle United on Nov. 25 and Arsenal on Nov. 30.

Kudus sparked a heated altercation between players in the 82nd minute of West Ham's 4-1 defeat at Tottenham on Oct. 19 when he fouled Spurs defender Micky van de Ven. Kudus first pushed Van de Ven in the face before doing the same to Pape Matar Sarr.

Referee Andy Madley upgraded Kudus's initial yellow card to a red after VAR check, citing violent conduct, which triggered an automatic three-match suspension.

In its written reasons, the independent regulatory commission said the 24-year-old Ghana international had apologised to the panel and said he was "deeply embarrassed" by his actions.

West Ham were also fined £30,000 for failing to ensure their players did not behave in a provocative and/or violent manner. The London club admitted to the charge. Spurs were fined £20,000 in October, in relation to the same incident.

"Whilst the Club is disappointed with the outcome, it respects the process that has been undertaken," West Ham said in a statement.

Chelsea will compete with Liverpool to sign Borussia Dortmund's Karim Adeyemi, while both Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal have Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba on their radar. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumors and gossip from the world of soccer.

Transfers homepage | Done deals | Men's grades | Women's grades

TOP STORIES

- Mohamed Salah posts cryptic note about Liverpool future

- Inter Miami's Martino: Neymar move 'impossible' due to MLS rules

- Marcelo's Fluminense contract terminated after clash with coach

TRENDING RUMORS

- Chelsea are hoping to beat Liverpool to the signing of the "next Mohamed Salah," Borussia Dortmund forward Karim Adeyemi, according to Football Insider. The Blues are interested in making a move for the 22-year-old as part of their strategy of identifying the best young talent, but they would need to trim their squad first to facilitate a move. Liverpool are also considering Adeyemi as a potential suitor for striker Salah who is yet to renew his contract at Anfield.

- Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are both monitoring the situation of Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba, according to Ekrem Konur. The 20-year-old Cameroonian joined the Seagulls from Lille last year for £23m and he made 37 appearances in his debut season, and has since added two goals in 10 games this time around despite being left out of the side to face Liverpool on Saturday. However, Brighton could find themselves under pressure to keep Baleba, with Arsenal long-term admirers of the youngster, and Spurs also looking at potential reinforcements. Baleba is contracted until 2028.

- Liverpool will consider a move for Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni in the January transfer window, TEAMtalk reports. Tchouaméni is a player that coach Arne Slot likes and the club could be convinced to sanction signing the France international. Tchouameni, 24, has been a first-team regular for Real Madrid but the reigning European champions might be willing to part with him for a fee of around £100 million which would allow them to replenish their squad.

- A move to the Saudi Pro League for Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior is not completely off the table, Marca reports. In an article titled "Vinícius' maze, and his future at Real Madrid" the Spanish sport daily says that a behind-the-scenes discussion before last Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony, which Madrid boycotted once they discovered that Manchester City's Rodri would be announced as the winner, "left everything up in the air, with Arabia on the prowl." The story adds: "A recent talk surprised someone with a lot of authority within the club, in which the Brazilian weighed up sporting and financial aspects."

- Striker Viktor Gyökeres appears certain to leave Sporting Lisbon in 2025, and Corriere Dello Sport repots that AC Milan and Juventus are targeting the 26-year-old. The Swedish striker has so far netted 20 goals in 16 appearances so far this season, but former Sporting coach Ruben Amorim's departure to Manchester United has seen a number of club's linked with a move for the Swede. United and Arsenal are among those said to be plotting a move for the Swede, while both Milan and Juve are said to have sounded out the striker about a move. However, the current release clause of €100m could prove too much for the Italians.

EXPERT TAKE

ESPN FC's Herculez Gomez joins Sebastian Salazar on Futbol Américas to discuss a potential transfer to San Diego FC for Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne.

Could Kevin De Bruyne join San Diego FC?

Herculez Gomez debates whether Kevin De Bruyne would leave Manchester City for MLS.

OTHER RUMORS

- Manchester United have already been linked with a number of players, including Sporting CP's Ousmane Diomande, but new manager Rúben Amorim's first signing could be Sunderland youngster Chris Rigg. (Football Insider)

- Real Madrid attacking midfielder Arda Güler is happy at the club, but is eager for more playing time in order to continue his development having started just three games so far this season. (Marca)

- West Ham United have suffered a difficult start to the season and they're one of a number of Premier League clubs considering a move for Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman. (Teamtalk)

- The Hammers are also considering a move for Botafogo striker Igor Jesus in a deal that could see star midfielder Lucas Paquetá move in the other direction. (The Sun)

Both Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are looking for midfield reinforcements ahead of the January transfer window, and Brighton & Hove Albion's Carlos Baleba is on the radar of the London clubs. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumors and gossip from the world of soccer.

Transfers homepage | Done deals | Men's grades | Women's grades

TOP STORIES

- Rúben Amorim: Man United told me move was 'now or never'

- Inter Miami's Martino: Neymar move 'impossible' due to MLS rules

- Marcelo's Fluminense contract terminated after clash with coach

TRENDING RUMORS

- Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are both monitoring the situation of Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba, according to Ekrem Konur. The 20-year-old Cameroonian joined the Seagulls from Lille last year for £23m and he made 37 appearances in his debut season, and has since added two goals in 10 games this time around despite being left out of the side to face Liverpool on Saturday. However, Brighton could find themselves under pressure to keep Baleba, with Arsenal long-term admirers of the youngster, and Spurs also looking at potential reinforcements. Baleba is contracted until 2028.

- Chelsea are hoping to beat Liverpool to the signing of the "next Mohamed Salah," Borussia Dortmund forward Karim Adeyemi, according to Football Insider. The Blues are interested in making a move for the 22-year-old as part of their strategy of identifying the best young talent, but they would need to trim their squad first to facilitate a move. Liverpool are also considering Adeyemi as a potential suitor for striker Salah who is yet to renew his contract at Anfield.

- Striker Viktor Gyökeres appears certain to leave Sporting Lisbon in 2025, and Corriere Dello Sport are linking AC Milan and Juventus with the 26 year old. The Swedish striker has so far netted 20 goals in 16 appearances so far this season, but former Sporting coach Ruben Amorim's departure to Manchester United has seen a number of club's linked with a move for the Swede. United and Arsenal are among those said to be plotting a move for the Swede, while both Milan and Juve are said to have sounded out the striker about a move. However, the current release clause of €100m could prove too much for the Italians.

- Manchester United have already been linked with a number of players following the announcement that Ruben Amorim will take charge of the club, including Sporting Lisbon's Ousmane Diomande, but the Portuguese coach's first signing could be Sunderland youngster Chris Rigg, according to Football Insider. The Black Cats are reluctant to see the 17-year-old midfielder leave the north east and so are asking for a fee of around £20-£30m. Chelsea and Real Madrid are also keen on the rising star.

Tottenham Hotspur secured a narrow 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar to mark three wins in three games in the Europa League on Thursday.

The Premier League side broke the deadlock after the break when Maxim Dekker fouled Lucas Bergvall in the area and Richarlison chipped his penalty into the net in the 53rd minute.

Alkmaar's David Moller Wolfe received a second yellow card and was sent off in the 85th minute, dashing any remaining hopes for the Dutch side as Spurs maintained their perfect start to the competition.

Spurs forward Son Heung-Min sat out because he was "a bit sore" after Saturday's 4-1 win over West Ham in the Premier League, manager Ange Postecoglou said.

Tottenham have nine points, while Alkmaar have three.

Information from Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.