talkSPORT

There's something a little off about a picture Luke Humphries shared of him posing with Roy Keane.

And it wasn't the fact the Irishman flashed a smile.

Humphries, the defending world champion in darts, had the honour of being the latest guest on The Overlap podcast.

"Had a great time filming for @WeAreTheOverlap today, with some of the best footballers to have played the game," Humphries posted on X.

Humphries, a passionate Leeds United fan who was named Luke by his father in a tribute to the club, added it 'was a great laugh and enjoyed the experience'.

The darts sensation also shared a number of snaps from his day filming the show.

Humphries was pictured with Ian Wright, Jill Scott, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Keane.

Although Humphries wore his blue darts shirt, Wright, Scott, Neville, Scholes and Keane all dressed in Christmas sweaters for the occasion.

Scholes and Neville were decked in out in Manchester United-themed sweaters while Scott and Wright wore designs based on previous clubs Manchester City and Arsenal kits respectively.

As for Keane, he had perhaps the most eyebrow-raising outfit of the lot as the Irishman opted for a Tottenham Hotspur sweater.

Given Keane's 12-year association with Manchester United, where he won seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups and a Champions League trophy, seeing him in a Tottenham-themed sweater was perhaps a surprising sight.

However, Keane has previously revealed the north London club is who he supports.

"I am a Spurs fan, I played for Man United but Spurs are my team," Keane said on the Stick To Football podcast in December 2023.

The 67-time Ireland international also spoke about his support for Tottenham at an event for children's cancer charity Barretstown in 2015.

"Just because I played for Manchester United didn't mean I was a fan of the team," Keane said.

"When I played for Rockmount, one of my teammate's fathers used to bring me to training and he supported Tottenham.

"That's where it started, I liked their players, the likes of Glenn Hoddle and Clive Allen.

"But after I'd come back from trial at Nottingham Forest, Spurs offered me a trial.

"I turned it down because Forest had been good me, I liked the club and felt some loyalty to them. I had a soft spot for Spurs, and still do."

Humphries' appearance on The Overlap comes with less than four weeks to go until the 2024/25 World Championship.

The world No. 1 will look to defend his crown but faces stiff resistance from the rest of the field, with Luke Littler entering the tournament on the back of his first ranked televised win at the Grand Slam of Darts.

Glenn Hoddle believes Dejan Kulusevski has been Tottenham's best player 'by a mile' this season.

The statistics also back up the Spurs legend's pick for the club's standout performer.

Hoddle appeared on talkSPORT Breakfast on Wednesday to discuss his former club's fortunes this term, suggesting the form of Kulusevski has played a key role in the drop in minutes for teammate James Maddison.

Maddison has played just 14 minutes off the bench across Spurs' last two league matches.

Meanwhile, Kulusevski has featured in every match so far across all competitions having been given a new midfield role by Ange Postecoglou.

Hoddle explained: "Kulusevski had a chance when Maddison was injured to play in that number 10 role. And he's done such a positive amount of work in there with the ball and without the ball. He really has.

"He's come alive. If you said to me, who's the best player at Tottenham this year so far? Kulusevski by a mile. He really has been good in that position.

"He loves playing in that position. I think he had a couple of games or a little bit of a spell at Juventus there. But, you know, he does great on the wing.

"But since he's been in there, and I think there's certain games he's played the pair of them in there, but since he's put (Pape Matar) Sarr in there, a bit of energy, particularly in the second half.

"That's the midfield that he wants the balance for. I think James is a wonderful player. And before his injury, I think he was doing excellent for Spurs.

"The other thing, the other scenario that comes to mind for me is a creative number 10. You don't want both full-backs going in there. Where's your space?

"You know, if Maddison’s playing or whoever's playing number 10, it's very difficult. The space, actually, funny enough, is out in the right and the left-back position, where the full-backs would be.

"Having both in there, sometimes I would say, if I was playing, wow, this is tough in here. There's so many bodies in here.

"And, you know, I think that's something. Maybe one full-back going in is what City do and other clubs maybe do.

"Maybe that might suit us a little bit more and give the likes of Maddison and certainly Kulusevski. But I think it's Kulusevski that's the real reason why he hasn't been able to put him in."

The Sweden international has swapped the right wing for midfield this term, featuring both in the no.10 role as well as even deeper.

More recently, he has partnered Pape Matar Sarr as a holding midfielder for Postecoglou's side.

Despite moving away from his responsibilities as a winger, Kulusevski has still scored two goals and provided five assists in 17 appearances.

He is currently Spurs' most creative player as well, leading the way with five assists, ahead of Maddison on four.

The 24-year-old also showed his class during Sweden's Nations League campaign across the last two months.

Kulusevski created the most big chances, the most chances from open play and won possession the most times in the entire competition.

His performances also helped Sweden win promotion to League B with two goals and two assists in their six matches.

Paul Pogba may soon be a free agent - but Spurs should not be looking at snapping him up.

That's the view of talkSPORT co-hosts Alan Brazil and Ally McCoist, who believe there is no chance Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou would bring him in.

Pogba is set to resume his career having recently had his initial four-year doping ban reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The 31-year-old, who was contracted to Juventus at the time of his sentencing, will not be continuing with the Old Lady after an agreement was made to terminate his deal on November 30.

It remains to be seen what the 2018 World Cup winner's next move is amid speculation he has interest across Europe, America and the Mddle East.

talkSPORT understands he is not welcome to train at former employers Manchester United in his bid to get himself match fit.

From January, Pogba is free to resume training at a club, and from March he can return to the pitch - 18 months after his last competitive game in September 2023.

With the rumour mill in overdrive, talkSPORT host Shebahn Aherne posed the question to Brazil and McCoist on the Breakfast show whether Spurs should gamble on him given they need some help.

A winner at United, Juventus and with France, Pogba would give Spurs much needed winning experience in their quest to scoop silverware for the first time since 2008.

However, it's safe to say Aherne's suggestion didn't go down well, with the retired Scottish strikers left almost disgusted by the thought of the fantasy transfer.

Former Spurs centre-forward Brazil let out a loud groan, before simply stating: "Oh dear."

McCoist was also left outraged, as he remarked: "Oh, no chance.

"There has never been a player [that has] existed that is more 'non-Ange' than Pogba."

Shocked by his claim, Aherne responded: "I think he's [such an Ange player].

"Handbrake off, attacking football, that's when you saw the best side of him at Manchester United when he was able to do that."

Shaking his head, McCoist replied: "No chance."

Brazil then interjected, stating Pogba is a, 'busted flush'.

Rangers legend McCoist again insisted the four-time Serie A winner wouldn't be a good fit at Spurs, as he said: "Big Ange, there's no chance he's taking Pogba."

To which Brazil insisted, "He can't. That'll be the end...,' with McCoist finishing off his sentence by quipping, '...of civilisation as we know it!'

Brazil continued: "Daniel [Levy, the Spurs chairman] will be like, 'No, no, no', I don't think so.'

"He's a massive question mark, you look what he's done, you look at what he can do, and yet, can you trust him? No."

Pogba recently told potential suitors he remains as hungry as ever in his quest to return to his previous heights before his ban.

He told Sky Sports: "I'm still the same player but with a different hunger. I am more motivated. I am more hungry.

"I will appreciate the game more than before after it was taken away from me. I realised how important it was for me. I tasted what life is after the career."

Tottenham Hotspur have 'remastered their brand identity' by making changes to their club logo and signature font.

Over 300 players people, including players, helped redevelop the club's most recognisable features to be more 'playful and daring'.

In a statement, the club said: "Welcome to our remastered brand identity, embracing our rich history and unmistakable heritage.

"Created with the input of over 300 players, staff and faalsons to fully understand what Tottenham Hotspur means to them, our new identity enables a more playful, daring approach for the Club’s brand across the multitude of platforms on which it now features, with a particular focus on clarity in digital environments.

"The world-famous cockerel stands prouder than ever and is supported by a silhouette version, along with the reintroduction of the THFC monogram and new colours, patterns and hallmarks linked to the Club’s heritage."

And the club also detailed the adjustments made to the iconic cockerel badge.

The Premier League outfit's current logo has a cockerel on top of a football, with the details of both symbols included, as well as 'Tottenham Hotspur Football Club' underneath.

Now, they've taken away the writing and also added a version where the objects are blacked out.

The statement continued: "A Club of firsts, Tottenham Hotspur took an unprecedented step in 2006 to modernise its identity by simplifying the badge around its world-famous cockerel, that has since stood alone in minimalistic, iconic fashion and which other clubs are now doing.

"We have removed the curved ‘Tottenham Hotspur’ text from beneath the cockerel.

"This enables us to increase its scale across different environments and stand proud as a true icon for the Club."

Spurs have also reintroduced the 'Monogram' from the 1950s to their merchandise.

The club said: "A truly iconic part of the Spurs brand for nearly 60 years – a fan favourite from the 1950s that went on to feature heavily on the Club’s badge for many years.

"The monogram has a special place in our history, now remastered for our future. THFC."

Spurs fans on social media have been left divided over the changes.

"Was fearing a move away from the current logo, so thankful that's not the case," one said on X.

"These are neat, if nerdy, changes in particular…"

"Love these designs," a second said.

But a third slightly less impressed fan, referencing Spurs' current form, said: "I tell you what would be great for the brand @SpursOfficial - prioritise the green bit in the middle of the stadium again and see what that does for the brand."

"Can our remastered font mark the far post?" a third joked.

A fourth said: "I know you guys want squad investment but can I interest you in a pointless re-brand instead?"

Spurs lost their most recent game before the international break.

They suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Premier League new boys Ipswich Town, who hadn't won a league game before their visit to north London.

Rodrigo Bentancur has been hit with a seven-match ban for making a racial slur, the FA have confirmed.

The Tottenham star has also been handed a £100,000 fine.

Bentancur was filmed on Uruguayan TV making derogatory remarks about South Koreans in a reply to a question about Spurs captain Son Heung-min.

The FA confirmed the lengthy suspension ahead of Spurs' clash with Manchester City in their first game back after the international break.

An FA statement read: "An independent Regulatory Commission has imposed a seven-match suspension and £100,000 fine on Rodrigo Bentancur for a breach of FA Rule E3 in relation to a media interview.

"It was alleged that the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder breached FA Rule E3.1 as he acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute. It was further alleged that this constitutes an “aggravated breach”, which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference – whether express or implied – to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.

"Rodrigo Bentancur denied this charge, but the independent Regulatory Commission found it to be proven and imposed his sanctions following a hearing. Its written reasons for these decisions can be seen below."

It will rule Bentancus out of several key fixtures including a home EFL Cup quarter final versus Manchester United.

But he will still be eligible to play in the Europa League during the ban.

After the remark attracted immediate backlash on social media, Bentancur quickly issued an apology to his teammate.

"Sonny brother," Bentancur wrote on Instagram.

"I apologise to you for what happened, it was just a very bad joke.

"You know I love you and I would never disrespect you or hurt you or anyone else! I love you, brother!"

Five days later, Son revealed he had spoken with Bentancur and accepted his teammate's apology.

"I've spoken with Lolo (Bentancur)," Son said in a post on Instagram.

"He made a mistake, he knows this and has apologised. Lolo would not mean to ever intentionally say something offensive. We are brothers and nothing has changed at all.

"We're past this, we're united, and we will be back together in pre-season to fight for our club as one."

The 27-year-old has featured in all but two of Tottenham's 17 fixtures across all competitions this season, meaning he will be a massive loss for Ange Postecoglou over the seven-game stretch.

In Bentacur's absence, Yves Bissouma looms as the likeliest replacement in the defensive midfield role.

With Bissouma's pending elevation to the starting line-up, it could spark a domino-like effect in Postecoglou's thinking.

Teenage talent Archie Gray stands a chance of becoming the back-up defensive midfield option having already played in the position this season.

Although the versatile 18-year-old has largely played at right-back when he has featured this term, he is no stranger to that role as he featured in the role for Leeds United in the Championship last term.

However, if Postecoglou views Gray as the back-up defensive midfielder, it places Djed Spence as the next option at right-back should Pedro Porro be injured.

Spence returned to the matchday squad after recovering from a groin injury and was on the bench for Tottenham's 2-1 loss to Ipswich last Sunday.

Plenty of Barcelona academy graduates have been given the ‘next Lionel Messi’ tag, but Giovani dos Santos had a fair shout in 2006.

The Mexican, who arrived in Catalunya aged 12, made his debut at just 17, and marked it with a goal against Aarhus in the Champions League, raising expectations through the roof after an impressive youth career.

Sadly for Dos Santos, that was about as good as it got. He spent just one season as a first team player before departing for Tottenham in a £5million deal in 2008.

Even in north London he struggled to make an impact, being sent out on loan at Ipswich, Galatasaray and Racing Santander before heading back to Spain permanently.

He enjoyed his best season at Villarreal in 2013/14, and later headed back to America with LA Galaxy before retiring in 2021.

Despite becoming a legend with his national team and winning the Gold Cup on three occasions, Dos Santos’ football career didn’t live up to expectations, but he’s instead been exceeding them in business.

Claro Sports have reported that the 35-year-old is now earning an estimated £300,000 to £400,000 per-year in the petrochemical industry, the equivalent of 10 million Mexican pesos.

The former winger is now a partner in the company Procura Mexico, which is linked to the petrochemical company Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX).

If that wasn’t lucrative enough as a post-playing career, it’s also claimed that he’s involved in the luxury car business, a booming market in Mexico that pockets him even more cash.

Dos Santos’ last gig in football was with his only Mexican side, Club America in 2021, and it’s claimed he never officially retired.

Including loans, Dos Santos actually spent the biggest chunk of his career contracted to Tottenham, where he left a mark on club great Ledley King.

In June the former England defender was asked by talkSPORT if he ever told the Spurs board to buy a certain player and he said: “I’ve seen players who I thought were unbelievable.

“I remember watching Giovanni Dos Santos when he was playing for Mexico in an Under-16s tournament. He looked just like Ronaldinho, but a younger version.

“I didn’t say go and buy him but I just thought to myself that he was going to be a star.

“He ended up joining, but it didn’t quite work out for him. He was a big talent.”

He added: “We had [Gareth] Bale, Dos Santos, Kevin Prince Boateng, Adel Taarabt. These were all talented young players.”

Referee David Coote reportedly sent messages trying to organise a 'drugs party' - before and during half-time of a recent game between Tottenham and Manchester City.

A shock report in The Sun says Coote was making the arrangements during the Carabao Cup tie last month, a match where he was the fourth official.

Coote was suspended earlier this week by the Premier League’s refereeing body - the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) - after a video was widely circulated on social media of a foul-mouthed rant about Jurgen Klopp.

The Sun then subsequently published another damning video that showed Coote snorting a white powder in a hotel room during Euro 2024 in Germany, where he was officiating.

Now, a fresh report in The Sun has further called into question the conduct of one of English football's leading referees.

The 42-year-old is alleged to have tried to arrange a 'drugs party' in a Travelodge hotel for after the Tottenham vs Man City game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which took place on October 30.

The report adds that Coote booked the room at 7:38pm, which was just 37 minutes before the game was due to start, before sending a booking notification to someone else at 8:04pm, just over ten minutes before kick-off.

Coote is then said to have sent another message to a friend about the planned evening at half-time.

The pal told The Sun: “On the day of the game he was messaging me repeatedly and wanting a drugs party after he’d finished at Spurs.

“He didn’t book the Travelodge until just before kick-off, then sent a notification 11 minutes from the game starting. It was crazy.

“City striker Erling Haaland was on the bench, so I was watching them on TV pretty much side by side. And moments before and afterwards he sent me messages.

“When he messaged me at half-time I thought it was so surreal.

"Surely he should have been concentrating on the game, not arranging drugs parties.”

The pal told the paper that the party did not go ahead in the end, much to the disappointment of Coote.

The Premier League referee is currently suspended by the PGMOL, and under investigation by the Football Assocation and UEFA.

Coote's suspension came on Monday after an initial video circulated on social media appearing to show him labelling former Liverpool boss Klopp a "German c***".

Pressed for his views on the former Liverpool manager, he remarked: "(Klopp is a) c***, absolute c***.

"Aside from having a right pop at me when I was refereeing them against Burnley in lockdown, he accused me of lying and then had a right f***ing pop of me.

"I have no interest in speaking to someone who is f***ing arrogant. So I do my best not to speak to him.

"(James) Milner is all right, I get on with him. You can see me there with a ‘mask’ on. But, my god, German c***, f**k me."

A second video then emerged on Wednesday of the official appearing to take cocaine while at Euro 2024.

The video was taken on July 6, a day after Coote had been VAR official for quarter-final tie between Spain and Germany.

UEFA have already taken action against Coote by removing him from their list of officials for this week's international fixtures, and have appointed an ethics and disciplinary inspector to conduct a full investigation into his conduct.

Yang Min-hyeok will arrive at Tottenham a month earlier than his scheduled January transfer.

Spurs sealed a Korean K-League record £3.3million deal for the 18-year-old Gangwon winger in the summer.

Yang was expected to remain at Gangwon for the first half of the campaign ahead of the scheduled move on January 1 but those plans have changed.

According to football.london the South Korean will arrive earlier than initially planned to be given time to adapt at the north London club rather than thrown straight into the action.

Since confirming his switch to the Premier League, Yang has gone on to score an impressive 11 goals while registering six assists in 37 league games.

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou - who previously managed Japanese club Yokohama F. Marinos - would have kept tabs on Yang's performances for Gangwon where the versatile star has been deployed on both flanks.

After signing for Tottenham, Yang told reporters: "First of all, joining such a big club is an honour. I will try my best to show my best. I don’t think that I am that young. And I am chasing my dream. It is a big challenge, I believe I can show and prove my talent.

“Joining a big club like Spurs means that the club acknowledges my abilities. I believe that if I do my best and work hard, I will automatically improve a lot.”

His eye-catching displays have earned him a solitary call-up to the South Korea squad alongside future Spurs teammate Heung-min Son but has not made the most recent squad.

And it appears the Spurs captain has already given the youngster a nickname ahead of the January move.

A viral clip from September showed Son putting an arm around Yang while referring to him as ‘Tottenham’.

After the announcement of Yang’s arrival in July, Son said: "He is amazing. He is doing a fantastic job in his first season in K-League.

“I saw him yesterday for the first time, he was being very shy. Obviously, he’s very young, he hasn’t finished his high school yet. How crazy is that? It feels like I’m getting old.

"I told him to practice a little bit his English as well so he has time to practice. Yeah, looking forward, amazing talent, so looking forward to seeing him in a Spurs kit."

Postecoglou said after Spurs had closed the deal: "We're delighted to have him as part of the club, somebody who was identified by our scouting department.

"A young talented player and we're always looking not just for the present but for the future. He's shown great promise and we're looking forward to having him as part of the club, once he's finished his commitments with his club."

Yang is one of the K-League’s best performers this season and has picked up the Player of the Month award and the Young Player of the Month on five separate occasions, with four of them coming in succession between April and July.

He has already had a chance to show his worth to his new Tottenham teammates during a friendly match in Seoul in July.

Postecoglou is likely to resist the urge to throw Yang into the mix despite Tottenham current injuries woes.

Wilson Odobert and Richarlison remain on the sidelines with hamstring injuries and starlet Mikey Moore is recovering from a virus.

Meanwhile, Son and Timo Werner have both returned after suffering muscle injuries in recent weeks.

Nowadays, Tottenham's Ashleigh Neville spends her time tackling some of the WSL's most talented stars.

But once upon a time, it was primary school children and PE lessons that the ex-teacher was having to tackle.

Last season, Tottenham pulled off one of the shocks of the year as they defeated Arsenal in the north London derby for the first time in their history.

It was a game which saw Arsenaltake 31 shots - but Martha Thomas' in the 58th minute was the only one that counted.

And Spurs will be looking to get one over on their local rivals once more when they welcome Arsenal to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday 16 November, with tickets available here.

For Neville, the side's longest serving player, the achievement was no doubt all the more rewarding - especially given her remarkable journey to the WSL.

"I think it's crazy to look back and think that obviously I've been at the club (for so long) - this is my eighth season now," she said.

"But the first two seasons I was here, I was teaching and travelling up and down, back from Birmingham to London, back and forth.

"And it was hard work. But then I think you kind of look back and you think, well, it was kind of worth it.

"Now I'm here being a professional footballer, kind of from day to day and I'm not really sure I ever want to finish that. I don't ever want to think about the last time I step on a pitch.

"But yes, it's incredible and I've stuck with the club and the club has stuck with me and believed in me and we're going all in the right direction."

Given what Neville has meant to Spurs over the years, it is no surprise that she is still one of the first names onto the team sheet.

After all, she made her presence felt from the moment she first donned the Tottenham shirt back in 2017.

In her first season at the then-Championship club, she was named the side's Player of the Season having started all but one of their games that year.

The next season, she made history by becoming the first defender to ever win the Women's Championship Player of the Month award after she bagged two match-winning headed goals.

And not long after that came one of the most important moments in the side's history.

In May 2019, Spurs found themselves on the brink of history as they attempted to hold on to a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa in the Women's Championship.

Tottenham Women knew the draw would be enough to send them up to the WSL for the very first time.

Then, it seemed as though disaster had struck.

With just seconds on the clock, Villa earned a free-kick in a lethal area and consequently drew a fantastic save from Spurs' keeper.

But as Villa striker Jade Richards pounced to try and finish off the move, it was Neville who emerged the hero.

A vital goal-line clearance saved the day and ultimately sent her side to the top-flight, where they have remained ever since.

Neville has scored 16 goals in her 164 appearances at the club and is much-loved by fans of the club for her many years of service.

In an era when long-term spells at a single WSL club are not common things, the defender has remained the beating heart of this side throughout a key phase of its evolution.

"I just love it here," she explained. "The players that the club brings in always fit in with the kind of players that I want to be playing with, along with the philosophy and what we want to build moving forward and what we aim to do in the future.

"I love coming to work here every day, so I can't really ask for much more."

But things could have been very different indeed though, given that her footballing idol happens to be something of an Arsenal legend.

"I think (my idol) was always Kelly Smith for me when I was younger," Neville admitted with a smile. "I used to be a striker, at one point!

"I kind of slowly moved back further down the pitch. But yes, she was the person I always kind of looked up to and I've been quite lucky to meet up with her and have a chat and do bits with her. But she was the one I always looked up to."

Now, Neville is the one being looked up to by so many of the Tottenham fans who flock to watch the side - more so after their achievements last season.

Not only did they make it into the WSL top six, having battled relegation at one point the season before, but they also stunned Manchester City on the way to their first ever Women's FA Cup final.

While the eventual defeat to Man United was not what they would have dreamed of, it was a magnificent achievement - and a sign of bigger things to come according to Neville.

"I think we've ticked off quite a lot of things on my list when I've joined the club and we got promoted to WSL," she said. "Then we've established ourselves in the league now, obviously making the FA Cup final last year.

"So, I think the Champions League is next on our list and we know that it's not going to happen overnight and we've got to build and trust in the process that Robert and the club have here and I think all the players are buying into that.

"So, I think that's the aim for me personally. I know the club has got that on their radar as well, so it'll be really exciting if we can make that happen."

Tottenham vs Arsenal is live on talkSPORT on Saturday 16 November from 1:45pm.

Tottenham are braced for midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur to be hit with a seven-match ban for making a racial slur, talkSPORT understands.

Bentancur was filmed on Uruguayan TV making derogatory remarks about South Koreans in a reply to a question about Spurs captain Son Heung-min.

The FA are expected to confirm a lengthy suspension before Spurs play Manchester City in their first game back after the international break.

Bentancur would still be eligible to play in the Europa League during the ban, set to rule him out of several key fixtures including a home EFL Cup quarter final versus Manchester United.

After the remark attracted immediate backlash on social media, Bentancur quickly issued an apology to his teammate.

"Sonny brother," Bentancur wrote on Instagram.

"I apologise to you for what happened, it was just a very bad joke.

"You know I love you and I would never disrespect you or hurt you or anyone else! I love you, brother!"

Five days later, Son revealed he had spoken with Bentancur and accepted his teammate's apology.

"I've spoken with Lolo (Bentancur)," Son said in a post on Instagram.

"He made a mistake, he knows this and has apologised. Lolo would not mean to ever intentionally say something offensive. We are brothers and nothing has changed at all.

"We're past this, we're united, and we will be back together in pre-season to fight for our club as one."

The 27-year-old has featured in all but two of Tottenham's 17 fixtures across all competitions this season, meaning he will be a massive loss for Ange Postecoglou over the seven-game stretch.

In Bentacur's absence, Yves Bissouma looms as the likeliest replacement in the defensive midfield role.

With Bissouma's pending elevation to the starting line-up, it could spark a domino-like effect in Postecoglou's thinking.

Teenage talent Archie Gray stands a chance of becoming the back-up defensive midfield option having already played in the position this season.

Although the versatile 18-year-old has largely played at right-back when he has featured this term, he is no stranger to that role as he featured in the role for Leeds United in the Championship last term.

However, if Postecoglou views Gray as the back-up defensive midfielder, it places Djed Spence as the next option at right-back should Pedro Porro be injured.

Spence returned to the matchday squad after recovering from a groin injury and was on the bench for Tottenham's 2-1 loss to Ipswich last Sunday.