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Bayern Munich's Mathys Tel rejects chance to join Tottenham

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Tottenham Hotspur's hopes of bolstering their injury-depleted squad were dented on Friday after Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel rejected the opportunity to join Ange Postecoglou's side, sources have told ESPN.

Tel has informed Bayern of his intention to explore new opportunities in the January transfer window and sources told ESPN that Spurs had a €60 million ($62.5m) offer for the player accepted by the Bundesliga giants on Thursday.

The 19-year-old has attracted interest from Premier League clubs keen to add the highly-rated France under-21 international to their squad.

Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal all retain an interest in the player, while Aston Villa see him as a possible replacement for Jhon Durán after the Colombia international left them for Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr.

Sources have told ESPN that Tottenham were hopeful that their offer of a clearer path to the first team would convince Tel to join them after he has been restricted to just 458 minutes in 14 games across all competitions for Bayern this season. However, the plethora of opportunities available to Tel prompted him to turn down a move to Spurs.

The north London club are keen to strengthen their squad for under-fire head coach Postecoglou and have refocused their search to other targets.

Sources have told ESPN that Spurs are exploring a deal to sign AC Milan and England defender Fikayo Tomori but negotations are not advanced.

While the club had been scouring the market for additions in defence, a worrying-looking knee injury suffered by centre-back Radu Dragusin in their Europa League victory over Elfsborg on Thursday has brought forward their search for a new centre-back.

Spurs' ongoing injury crisis has left Postecoglou in despair with several key players still sidelined for another week or two.

Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, Wilson Odobert, Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner and Dominic Solanke are all absent with injuries.

"They are all kind of [going to return] around the same time, around 10 days. We are talking about Vicario, Johnson, Destiny, Wilson, Timo," Postecoglou told a news conference on Friday.

"Romero is a bit of a tricky one. We are not really sure yet. There is still some work he needs to do.

"Certainly all those guys, I think of the long-term ones apart from Dom [Solanke] who is probably a week behind them, the rest of them are slated to be back in the next week to 10 days to be available."

Spurs have won one of their last 11 Premier League matches and are languishing in 15th place in the table.

Amidst a form crisis and mounting injuries, Postecoglou highlighted the need to strengthen the squad in the January transfer window, particularly given Dragusin's injury.

"I think depending on the extent of Radu's [injury], it might be an area we need to look at and certainly this weekend [we are] exploring some options," he added.

Postecoglou's side travel to face Brentford in the Premier League in their next fixture on Sunday.

Information from Reuters contributed to this report

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Tottenham vs. Elfsborg: Ange Postecoglou hails youngsters in win

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LONDON -- Ange Postecoglou has branded his team's 3-0 win over Elfsborg as a night "made in Tottenham" after Tottenham Hotspur's young stars inspired the team to a vital 3-0 win in the Europa League on Thursday.

Goals from Dane Scarlett (20), Damola Ajeyi (19) and Mikey Moore (17) ensured Spurs finished fourth in the Europa League league phase and qualified for the round of 16, avoiding a dreaded two-legged playoff tie in February that would have placed greater strain on the club's ongoing injury crisis.

Two more teenagers -- Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall -- played 90 minutes in the win in north London as the absences of key first-team players including Christian Romero, Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke forced Postecoglou to turn to the club's academy in search of fresh legs for his team.

Asked about the impact of Spurs' youngsters, Postecoglou said: "Yeah, I've just said it's 'made in Tottenham' tonight. Brilliant for the club. I'm sure there's academy coaches and players who won't sleep tonight, [and are] pretty excited.

"We've obviously got a big week coming up and we've got to try and manage a load of our players and try and protect them and we kind of knew we'd have to rely on some young players tonight. We have all the way through to be honest, this campaign, and I thought they stood up really well.

"The whole group played well but obviously like I said, we were going to need some young boys to make an impact and not just the three goal scorers. We still had a couple of 18-year-olds in there as well who continue to drive us on. So it is a great night for the club and something that the whole academy should be proud of."

Postecoglou confirmed Spurs' intention to keep Scarlett at the club for the remainder of the season after he was recalled from his loan at Championship side Oxford United earlier this month and hailed Moore as an "outstanding talent."

Moore's strike in second-half stoppage time meant he became the youngest Englishman to score in a major European competition (17 years, 172 days), breaking a record held by Spurs legend Jimmy Greaves since 1957 (17 years, 245 days).

The under-pressure Australian coach was boosted for Thursday's match by the highly anticipated return of centre-back Micky van de Ven who was outstanding in the first 45 minutes before being substituted at halftime to manage his game time.

However, his replacement at the back, Radu Dragusin, suffered a worrying-looking knee injury that forced him off in the 66th minute, raising the prospect that Postecoglou could use even more academy players to cover for the injured senior players.

"I don't even know if we've got any more, mate," Postecoglou joked.

"I don't know of many teams that are finishing European games like us with five or six teenagers on the field. It's a challenge for us, but credit to the lads, they're just cracking on with it.

"The young boys are taking their opportunity and as I said, that'll all bear fruit in time for sure. This exposure we've given them, the growth they've had, the impact they've made.

"I'm sure they'll all kind of be encouraged and I think the rest of the academy will too, the young players in there, because they're seeing the guys who they've been sharing a dressing room with out there scoring for Tottenham on a European night. I'm sure it's going to give a boost to the whole place."

Postecoglou's options could be enhanced by the potential arrival of Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich with sources telling ESPN the two clubs have agreed a deal for the 19-year-old. However, Postecoglou refused to be drawn on the prospect of Tel's arrival.

"I can't tell you anything about Tel," Postecoglou said. "Like I said, I've kind of been focusing on getting the team prepared tonight. Other people are working in the background. As I said all along, I'm allowing them to get on with it and if there's any news, I'm sure I'll find out."

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Tottenham vs. Elfsborg: Ange Postecoglou hails youngsters in win

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LONDON -- Ange Postecoglou has branded his team's 3-0 win over Elfsborg as a night "made in Tottenham" after Tottenham Hotspur's young stars inspired the team to a vital 3-0 win in the Europa League on Thursday.

Goals from Dane Scarlett (20), Damola Ajeyi (19) and Mikey Moore (17) ensured Spurs finished fourth in the Europa League league phase and qualified for the round of 16, avoiding a dreaded two-legged playoff tie in February that would have placed greater strain on the club's ongoing injury crisis.

Two more teenagers -- Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall -- played 90 minutes in the win in north London as the absences of key first-team players including Christian Romero, Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke forced Postecoglou to turn to the club's academy in search of fresh legs for his team.

Asked about the impact of Spurs' youngsters, Postecoglou said: "Yeah, I've just said it's 'made in Tottenham' tonight. Brilliant for the club. I'm sure there's academy coaches and players who won't sleep tonight, [and are] pretty excited.

"We've obviously got a big week coming up and we've got to try and manage a load of our players and try and protect them and we kind of knew we'd have to rely on some young players tonight. We have all the way through to be honest, this campaign, and I thought they stood up really well.

"The whole group played well but obviously like I said, we were going to need some young boys to make an impact and not just the three goal scorers. We still had a couple of 18-year-olds in there as well who continue to drive us on. So it is a great night for the club and something that the whole academy should be proud of."

Postecoglou confirmed Spurs' intention to keep Scarlett at the club for the remainder of the season after he was recalled from his loan at Championship side Oxford United earlier this month and hailed Moore as an "outstanding talent."

Moore's strike in second-half stoppage time meant he became the youngest Englishman to score in a major European competition (17 years, 172 days), breaking a record held by Spurs legend Jimmy Greaves since 1957 (17 years, 245 days).

The under-pressure Australian coach was boosted for Thursday's match by the highly anticipated return of centre-back Micky van de Ven who was outstanding in the first 45 minutes before being substituted at halftime to manage his game time.

However, his replacement at the back, Radu Dragusin, suffered a worrying-looking knee injury that forced him off in the 66th minute, raising the prospect that Postecoglou could use even more academy players to cover for the injured senior players.

"I don't even know if we've got any more, mate," Postecoglou joked.

"I don't know of many teams that are finishing European games like us with five or six teenagers on the field. It's a challenge for us, but credit to the lads, they're just cracking on with it.

"The young boys are taking their opportunity and as I said, that'll all bear fruit in time for sure. This exposure we've given them, the growth they've had, the impact they've made.

"I'm sure they'll all kind of be encouraged and I think the rest of the academy will too, the young players in there, because they're seeing the guys who they've been sharing a dressing room with out there scoring for Tottenham on a European night. I'm sure it's going to give a boost to the whole place."

Postecoglou's options could be enhanced by the potential arrival of Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich with sources telling ESPN the two clubs have agreed a deal for the 19-year-old. However, Postecoglou refused to be drawn on the prospect of Tel's arrival.

"I can't tell you anything about Tel," Postecoglou said. "Like I said, I've kind of been focusing on getting the team prepared tonight. Other people are working in the background. As I said all along, I'm allowing them to get on with it and if there's any news, I'm sure I'll find out."

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Tottenham agree €60m fee with Bayern for Mathys Tel

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Tottenham Hotspur have had a €60 million ($62.5m) offer accepted by Bayern Munich on Thursday for their French forward Mathys Tel, sources have told ESPN.

Tel, 19, has decided to leave the German side and is attracting a lot of interest from English clubs.

Bayern wanted €60m for the France under-21 international and Spurs have become the first team to agree a deal with the Bavarian giants.

ESPN sources added, however, that the player has not yet chosen to join the north London club and personal terms have not been reached, although if Tel decides to join Ange Postecoglou's side, it is understood that a contract would be agreed quite quickly.

Tel and his entourage are also waiting to see which other clubs send an offer for him, according to ESPN sources.

ESPN reported earlier on Thursday that Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal all retain interest in the player.

Aston Villa see him as a great replacement for the departing Jhon Durán, even if they have different profiles.

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Ange Postecoglou on Tottenham job safety: 'Who knows?'

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Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou has admitted that his job is not safe after the team succumbed to a 13th Premier League defeat of the season against Leicester City on Sunday.

Spurs took the lead through Richarlison in the first half, only for Jamie Vardy and Bilal El Khannouss to both net within five minutes after the restart.

Ruud van Nistelrooy's team, who had lost their previous seven league games, held out for the rest of the contest to earn a notable three points that moved them out of the relegation zone and piled more pressure on the Spurs' Australian coach, who saw his own team's winless streak in the division extend to seven.

Asked whether he should remain in the hot seat, Postecoglou said: "Who knows? A fair chunk will say no.

"When you are a manager of a football club, you can feel vulnerable and isolated, I don't feel that. The players are giving everything. I focus on that and try and support the players."

The former Celtic boss added that the defeat was a painful one, though he is not setting out to show critics that his methods work.

"Yeah, it hurts. It hurts a lot. The players gave everything again. We are going to look at a lot of things, but in terms of effort I can't ask any more of this group, things just didn't go our way today," Postecoglou said.

"It doesn't come into my conscious[ness] trying to convince people, I've been around long enough that people will judge where we are at the moment, which hasn't been good enough.

"In the next 10 days we should get some significant players back which will help. We still have fantastic opportunities to make an impact -- I'm sure that will happen."

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium's atmosphere was souring even before the full-time whistle, with fans in some sections unfurling banners calling for change regarding the manager and at board level.

Protests against chairman Daniel Levy have grown louder in recent weeks as the team's form has slumped, though Postecoglou said he considered unifying the club as part of his remit.

"When I took the role I wanted to unify the club, focusing on the one thing. It hasn't worked out that way. It's understandable the fans aren't happy with the situation," he said.

"I don't speak regularly to [Levy] -- we have regular contact in particular during the January period. Players and staff are united in what we're trying to do. I'm not trying to convince people about we're heading. That's where I get the solace to say we can believe."

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Tottenham's Pape Matar Sarr adds to Ange Postecoglou's injury woes

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Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt another injury blow, with Ange Postecoglou confirming Pape Matar Sarr will miss the side's Europa League trip to Hoffenheim on Thursday.

The under-pressure head coach is dealing with an injury crisis at Spurs, with key first team players including Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke all unavailable for selection.

Postecoglou said Sarr sustained an injury in Tottenham's 3-2 defeat to Everton last Sunday. Sarr's absence means Postecoglou will be without 14 first-team players for the midweek match in Germany. However, the Spurs boss is hopeful Sarr and Yves Bissouma will be available for his side's Premier League clash against Leicester on Sunday.

"Pape has a slight knock from the weekend, so he's out," Postecoglou told a news conference. "He tried to train [today] but he's still a bit sore from the weekend. We're hoping it's not something that will keep him out for too long, he has a chance for the weekend, but the turnaround was too quick."

The Spurs boss also said it remains a possibility that the club do not sign an outfield player to bolster the squad during the ongoing January transfer window.

The north London club signed 21-year-old goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky from Slavia Prague at the start of the window but have not added to their squad since then.

Asked if there was a chance that Spurs would not sign any other players this month, Postecoglou said: "Yeah, potentially. The club is working hard to get some help for the players. As far as I know at the moment there's nothing imminent but things happen quickly in the last week of the window, so still hopeful."

Spurs sit ninth in the Europa League table, one place outside the automatic qualification spots for the round of 16.

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Tottenham will show 'urgency' over transfers

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has said the club will show "urgency" in the transfer market in the final days of the January window following his side's disappointing defeat at Everton.

Spurs have been depleted by a number of long-term injuries in recent weeks, with first-choice defenders Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven, and Cristian Romero all out with hamstring injuries, as well as goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario out with a fractured ankle.

"There will be urgency but it doesn't need me to say it, everybody can see that," Postecoglou told Sky Sports.

"I have no issues with how the club are going about it, they are working hard and trying to find solutions. These players need help that is for sure and hopefully over the next 10 days or so we'll find a solution. It is really tricky, we're not the only ones in the market. The club are trying hard."

Spurs' issues were rarely most stark than in the first-half against Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday, during which they conceded three goals and never fully recovered.

Postecoglou, who has been under-fire at times this season for his aggressive tactical approach, said he has not lost faith in his squad.

"No it [faith] doesn't [waiver]. If you look at the situation we're in, it will eventually dissipate," he added. "I certainly hope and believe it will.

"We'll give ourselves the opportunity to get consistency in performance and results. I certainly haven't lost belief or determination to turn it around and the players showed in the second half that they haven't either."

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Arsenal vs Tottenham: Five classic north London derbies

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Two of the country's fiercest rivals will come head-to-head on Wednesday when Arsenal host Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

While Mikel Arteta's team may be 16 points and 10 places above their north London arch-rivals in the league table, you would be forgiven for assuming the opposite was the case if you had been watching them over the last week.

Arsenal's hopes of winning a trophy this season are hanging by a thread after they followed up their meek 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup last Tuesday with a damaging loss to a Manchester United team who played with 10-men from the 61st minute. To make matters even worse for Arteta, forward Gabriel Jesus suffered a serious ACL injury that has ended the Brazilian's season just as it was getting going.

Conversely, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou watched his side, which has been boosted by the arrival of new goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, overcome Arne Slot's Premier League table-topping Liverpool team 1-0 in their Carabao Cup semifinal first leg a week ago. Spurs may have been less-than-convincing in beating National League side Tamworth in the FA Cup on Saturday but the back-to-back victories have changed the mood music around the club following their difficult festive period.

With the latest instalment in the fierce contest just around the corner, here are five classic Premier League encounters that should whet the appetite.

Tottenham 2-2 Arsenal (April 25, 2004)

Arsenal had become top-flight champions at White Hart Lane once before in 1971, but the fact they repeated the trick during their "invincibles" season in 2004 gave the moment an extra layer of gloss.

Needing only a draw to secure the title with four games to spare, Arsene Wenger's side raced into a two-goal lead thanks to goals from Robert Pires and captain Patrick Vieira. However, Spurs fought back in the second half, equalising through Jamie Redknapp shortly after the hour mark before Robbie Keane dispatched a stoppage time penalty past Jens Lehmann to earn a draw.

But Spurs' celebrations were short lived as the referees' final whistle came with the dawning realisation, and a subsequent rush to the exits, that the result mattered little in the grand scheme of things.

Tottenham 4-5 Arsenal (Nov. 13, 2004)

Later that same year, the two sides were back at White Hart Lane, offering up a remarkable nine-goal thriller in Martin Jol's first match in charge that featured goals from a record nine different scorers.

The two rivals were neck-and-neck at halftime after Thierry Henry had cancelled out Noureddine Naybet's 37th-minute opener. What followed has gone down in Premier League folklore and has an argument to be the most exciting 45-minute spell in the division's history.

Lauren and the ever-reliable Vieira had the visitors 3-1 ahead on the hour mark but Spurs struck straight back when Jermain Defoe's stunner halved the deficit less than a minute later. In the end, goals from Freddie Ljungberg and Pires just about kept Spurs at arm's length during a rollercoaster final 20 minutes in which Ledley King and Freddie Kanoute's strikes went some way to dispelling the imperious aura Arsenal had carried in the seasons prior.

Arsenal 4-4 Tottenham (Oct. 29, 2008)

Featuring one of the north London derby's most famous goals from David Bentley, the topsy-turvy 4-4 draw at the Emirates lives long in the memory.

With Arsenal 4-2 up and seemingly cruising to yet another home win over their downtrodden rivals, Jermaine Jenas gave Spurs a lifeline with a fine left-footed curling finish past Manuel Almunia in the 89th minute.

Just as it seemed Arsenal would hold out, Luka Modric's hopeful effort deflected off Mikaël Silvestre and rebounded back off the post, falling perfectly to the onrushing Aaron Lennon who slotted home to send the visiting fans into raptures.

Arsenal 2-3 Tottenham (Nov. 20, 2010)

Having gone 17 years without an away win at Arsenal, it was always going to need something special for Spurs to finally get one over their north London counterparts.

The 3-2 comeback win in 2010 proved exactly that as centre-back Younes Kaboul became Tottenham's unlikely hero. Arsenal's almost two-decade winning streak over their neighbours had appeared safe after Samir Nasri's remarkable finish had helped Arsenal to a 2-0 lead at half-time. But Spurs reemerged from the interval a team reborn as first Gareth Bale, and then Rafael van der Vaart brought them back level. Then, with four minutes remaining and Arsenal all-at-sea, Kaboul rose highest in the box to flick Van der Vaart's cross into the net and earn all three points for the visitors.

Spurs' winner tipped the usually calm Wenger over the edge, with the TV cameras catching the French coach famously throwing his water bottle, and then the plastic water bottle cap, against the ground in disgust.

Arsenal 5 -2 Tottenham (Feb. 26, 2012)

Arsenal only had to wait two years to make a remarkable comeback of their own.

In a fixture where scoring the first goal often comes to be seen as a poisoned chalice, Louis Saha and former Gunner Emmanuel Adebayor put Spurs 2-0 up before a dramatic turnaround saw Wenger's team emerge victorious. Even as north London derbies go, the speed of Arsenal's fightback was eye-catching. Goals from Bacary Sagna and Robin van Persie had Arsenal level before the break before Tomas Rosicky put them in front in the 51st minute.

Theo Walcott's quickfire double then put the result beyond doubt, despite the fact there were more than 20 minutes remaining in the contest.

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Transfer rumors, news: Tottenham looking at Rashford deal

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Tottenham Hotspur are the latest club to be linked with Marcus Rashford, while there could be a swap involving Mathys Tel and Christopher Nkunku. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip from around the globe.

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TRENDING RUMORS

- Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford on loan and have investigated whether a deal could be possible, reports the Independent, which adds that West Ham United is the only other interested Premier League club. There are still eyes on the 27-year-old from abroad, with Florian Plettenberg reporting that Borussia Dortmund had a meeting with Rashford's representatives but would struggle to complete a deal due to the costs involved, while AC Milan still hold a concrete interest.

- Chelsea have held talks with Bayern Munich to be informed about the situation of Mathys Tel, reports Fabrizio Romano, who adds that the striker has held talks with manager Vincent Kompany as he wants to succeed with Bayern. Sport Bild have added that Chelsea are considering letting forward Christopher Nkunku move to Bayern in exchange, with the 27-year-old already having had chats with the Bavarians.

- Real Madrid have started talks with LaLiga 2 side Elche about signing midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza, reports Relevo. Elche don't want to let the 19-year-old go easily but his contract expires in 2026. Los Blancos will try to play on that fact in negotiations but are aware that they will face plenty of competition to sign Mendoza.

- Liverpool have already contacted FC Nürnberg about a move for Stefanos Tzimas, reports Sky Sports Deutschland, which adds that unnamed Bundesliga clubs, Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion and Aston Villa are also interested. The 19-year-old forward is currently on loan from PAOK, but Nürnberg want to activate a clause to sign him for €18 million before completing a €25m departure.

- Manchester United have added RB Salzburg winger Nene Dorgeles to their list of options for the January or summer transfer window, reports Fabrizio Romano. Initial talks to get information about the price and package that would be required to bring in the 22-year-old have taken place and will continue before the Red Devils make their decision on whether to make a move.

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