The Sun

KYLE WALKER revealed the whole Tottenham dressing room burst into tears when former boss Andre Villas-Boas was sacked.

Villas-Boas was given his marching orders after a chastening 5-0 home defeat against Liverpool in December 2013 - but one former England star was particularly distraught.

The Manchester City defender, who spent eight years at Spurs between 2009-17, described his former manager as "so, so nice".

On the latest episode of the You'll Never Beat Kyle Walker podcast, he said: "I can remember when he left, Levy sacked him and he came downstairs and was sort of crying in front of us.

"He started crying. I’ve got tears running down my eyes... Michael Dawson is welling up and couldn't stop crying, like emotionally crying.

"Because that's how much he meant to the lads. Now we probably did not do him justice on the pitch because that's why he got the sack.

"But for 10 or 12 men to be crying because the manager's gone. He's done something well in the dressing room and I think a footballer's side is connected with us as well."

England defender Dawson was Tottenham's captain at the time and was particularly close with Villas-Boas.

Walker - who is now managed by the fair but ruthless Pep Guardiola - also explained that perhaps Villas-Boas was "too nice" and would text players on their birthdays.

The England star added: "I think that [niceness] probably killed him."

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Villas-Boas enjoyed a good first season at White Hart Lane during 2012-13, taking Spurs to the brink of the Champions League with a squad that included an emergent Gareth Bale.

But Bale was sold to Real Madrid for £85.3 million after the North London side missed out on qualification for Europe’s elite competition by one point to rivals Arsenal.

The Welshman's fee - a world record at the time - was invested badly and Villas-Boas soon found himself under pressure, with Luka Modric sold to Madrid for £33m during the previous summer.

Spurs replaced Bale with Christian Eriksen, Paulinho, Roberto Soldado, Nacer Chadli, Etienne Capoue, Erik Lamela and Vlad Chiriches.

Walker admitted he regrets the fact the team did not perform well enough to keep Villas-Boas in his job.

The 34-year-old added: "Bale was a massive, massive loss.

"They signed seven players off the back of the Bale money. There's a lot of changes there and we just never really gelled in time for the manager to then do well."

Walker left Spurs for Man City in 2017 for £45m, where he established himself as one of the world’s best right-backs, and became the Etihad's captain at the start of last season.

Meanwhile, Villas-Boas took over at Zenit Saint Petersburg shortly after leaving the Premier League, going on to manage Shanghai SIPG and most recently Marseille in Ligue 1.

JAMES MADDISON summed up just how much excitement there is at Tottenham over the club’s clutch of teenage talents right now.

The England midfielder told assistant boss Matt Wells he “could not believe” how good they were earlier this summer.

Striker Will Lankshear leads that group - which also includes 17-year-old wonderkid Mikey Moore.

The centre-forward, 19, won the Premier League 2 player of the year last season and has impressed Ange Postecoglou so much in pre-season, there is a chance he could be in the first-team picture this term.

HOW DO THEY PLAY AND WHO DO THEY REMIND YOU OF?

AN exciting, young English striker released by Arsenal and picked up by Tottenham - where have we heard that one before?

Comparisons between Harry Kane and current Spurs starlet Lankshear are not hard to draw, and not just because of their similar path across North London at academy level.

Lankshear, 19, has echoes of Kane in his physique, his willingness to improve and his predatory instincts inside the penalty box.

He has even celebrated scoring goals in a similar manner to the England captain, with that little jump and fist pump, although their all-round playing style differs.

It goes without saying that no one in N17 is expecting Lankshear to emulate Kane’s historic feats - that would be ridiculous and unfair pressure to put on any young player.

TELL US ABOUT HIS RISE

Lankshear began his footballing journey in the Arsenal academy along with older brother Alex Lankshear, 21 and now of Blackpool.

Yet the Gunners made the questionable decision to let Will go in the summer of 2021 - perhaps because of a change in academy manager at the time, with Per Mertesacker arriving - just as they did all those years ago with a nine-year-old Kane.

Lankshear quickly shook off the disappointment and moved north to join Sheffield United.

The Blades scouts had been tipped off that Arsenal were not going to offer a deal and invited Lankshear in on a trial, where he impressed with his attitude and work-rate.

They agreed a scholarship contract in February 2021, with Lankshear valuing how the Yorkshire side had a track record of successfully moulding other physical centre-forwards such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Lankshear struck up a strong relationship with academy boss and former EFL striker Jack Lester, who regularly coached the forwards, including Daniel Jebbison and William Osula, now of Premier League pair Bournemouth and Newcastle respectively.

Lankshear, 19, has echoes of Kane in his physique, his willingness to improve and his predatory instincts inside the penalty box.

It was not long until he was training up with Paul Heckingbottom’s first team and it was in the Steel City where he honed his physical prowess, speed and agility.

Lankshear hit a hat-trick on his Blades’ Under-18s debut in a 4-1 win over Coventry and ended up with more than 30 goals at that level.

But when United encountered financial problems in the summer of 2022, they saw selling Lankshear as a chance to earn a quick return on a player that had cost them nothing.

Tottenham got him in a deal that could rise to £2.5million if all clauses are met was the first time Spurs had spent big on a teenager from the EFL since prising Dele Alli from MK Dons in 2015.

Lankshear was attracted to the world-class facilities at Spurs’ training ground and loved the idea of learning from record-scorer Kane, with whom he spent a season before the England captain’s move to Bayern Munich last August.

Yet his first six months in N17 were spent on the sidelines after an operation on his knee.

It meant that going into last season, all Lankshear was hoping for was an injury-free campaign - but he got so much more: ending up the Premier League 2 player of the season after his 21 goals and two assists in 22 games helped Spurs to the title.

Tellingly about his character, Lankshear showed his team-mates with praise when interviewed in May about his gong.

The youngster told Spurs’ website: “I’m proud of the goals I’ve scored but it’s all come from the team.

“The quality we’ve got in this team has definitely helped me and definitely I wouldn’t have got my top goalscorer without my team-mates.”

Lankshear could get more first-team opportunities this season given that there will be more fixtures - and scored in the EFL Trophy against Bristol Rovers last month.

He damaged his hamstring in that match but is expected to be fit by the end of the international break.

WHAT ARE THE EXPERTS SAYING?

Paul Heckingbottom coached Lankshear at Sheffield United.

The 47-year-old told SunSport: “He was hungry. He was just what we were all about.

“Jack Lester quickly picked up on his movement in and around the box and thinking like a goalscorer which I think is his biggest attribute.

The way that Ange plays, having a No9 occupying centre-backs and trying to play on the shoulder and being good in the box is a big, big thing... Will can do that

Paul Heckingbottom

“When we were coaching him and putting on a session for the centre-backs, him and his movement could destroy a session. His instincts constantly caused problems as a coach and as a defender.

“The way that Ange plays, having a No9 occupying centre-backs and trying to play on the shoulder and being good in the box is a big, big thing. Will can do that.

“He makes good runs off the shoulder and he’s all about being alert and alive in the box and finishing chances.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes out on loan and see him scoring goals in the EFL.”

WHAT DOES THE NEXT 12 MONTHS HOLD?

Dane Scarlett and Alejo Veliz were ahead in the pecking when the players returned in July but Lankshear’s energy and cameo displays off the bench saw him supersede those two, who have since been loaned respectively to Oxford and Espanyol.

Lankshear, who has six goals in pre-season, could and probably will be farmed out too, with Birmingham boss Chris Davies - Postecoglou’s No2 last season - keen to borrow him.

But it is not for certain yet and if Richarlison does leave this window - despite the Brazilian stating snubbing a money-spinning move to Saudi Arabia and publicly stating his desire to stay - then Lankshear could well be the back-up to £65million new-boy Dominic Solanke.

The 19-year-old’s ability to find space in the box and finish, which he showed in pre-season goals against Hearts and Team K League, seems a good fit for Postecoglou’s attacking approach which carves out plenty of close-range opportunities for the central striker.

He would likely have the support of his team-mates too, with Lankshear understood to have felt like he’s been accepted by the senior pros in the dressing room.

FORMER Tottenham flop Steven Bergwijn has left Europe for Saudi Arabia.

The Ajax forward will join up with ex-Premier League stars Fabinho and N'Golo Kante at Al-Ittihad.

The Saudi Pro League outfit has signed Bergwijn, 26, for a fee worth £17.7million.

Al-Ittihad was able to continue transfer business over the weekend despite the English transfer window closing on Friday.

The Saudi Pro League transfer window slammed shut last night but the club were able to seal the deal before it shut.

Ajax confirmed Bergwijn's departure and transfer fee three years before his contract was due to expire.

A club statement confirmed: "Ajax and Al-Ittihad have reached an agreement on the transfer of Steven Bergwijn.

"The winger’s contract with Ajax was due to run until 30 June 2027.

"Ajax will receive a transfer fee of over €21million (£17.7m) from the Saudi Arabian club."

Technical director Alex Kroes said: "Steven and Ajax have made no secret of the fact that, if a good offer came from abroad, he would make the move.

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"That has now happened at the last minute, giving the club the necessary financial flexibility to hopefully bring in a suitable replacement in the short term.

"We have wished our captain from last season much success in the next stage of his career."

The forward appears to be Al-Ittihad's backup choice after the club had a loan bid rejected for Arsenal's Leandro Trossard.

Bergwijn joined Ajax in 2022 from Tottenham and went on to make 80 appearances for the club, scoring 29 goals.

During his two-and-a-half years at Spurs, he managed just eight goals in 83 appearances in all competitions.

Bergwijn had been continuously linked back with a move to the Premier League after rediscovering his form in Holland.

West Ham and Southampton were named as potential destinations, but he has opted to switch to Saudi Arabia.

He will now be playing under French legend Laurent Blanc and line-up alongside the likes of Karim Benzema, Moussa Diaby and Houssem Aouar.

ALEXANDER ISAK spared Nick Pope’s blushes as Newcastle continued their unbeaten start to the season.

It was a rope-a-dope performance, but Eddie Howe will not care one bit as Ange Postecoglou’s decision to go for it was punished.

This fixture always promises goals, with the last goalless draw between these two coming in the 1970s, and it did not take long for this clash to burst into life.

Two huge banners dominated the Gallowgate End prior to kick off to welcome the return of Sandro Tonali.

However, the 'Midfield maestro from Milano' had to settle for a place on the bench for this one but that failed to put a dampener on things.

Son Heung-min failed to clear a corner and was robbed by Isak, with the Swede chipping it towards the back post, only to see it clip the woodwork.

Anthony Gordon then cut inside Cristian Romero to find Harvey Barnes, but this time the winger’s bending effort whistled past the far post from 25 yards.

But Toon’s momentum was halted after a break in play when injured referee assistant Ian Hussin was replaced by fourth official Darren Bond due to a thigh problem.

That allowed Spurs to regroup, and Pape Matar Sarr forced Pope into a diving save from distance before another long-ranger went over.

But Newcastle survived their spell on the backfoot to take the lead when Llyod Kelly ran down the left into the box and pulled it back into the middle for Barnes.

The 26-year-old then showed superb technique as he opened up his body to place it on the volley into the far corner to send the home crowd wild.

Tottenham tried to respond and put more pressure on the home defence but, much to Postecoglou’s frustration, his side could not create any clear-cut chances.

So it was Newcastle who held the advantage come the break, but Howe still had several concerns.

Kelly’s name had gone into the book after retaliating to being nutmegged by Son by tugging at the South Korean’s shirt.

And he was joined in there by Sean Longstaff and Joelinton, leaving all three walking a tightrope going into the second period.

In an attempt to try and spice up his attack, Postecoglou replaced Sarr with Brennan Johnson, giving his team licence to go forward but leaving them open at the back.

And they almost got caught twice before the equaliser, but the Spurs boss had Radu Dragusin to thank for keeping his side in it.

Isak beat the offside trap to get in behind the defence and race through on goal as St James’ held its collective breath seconds after the restart.

The Swedish striker had support but opted to go it alone, only to be denied as he pulled the trigger by a brilliant Dragusin sliding tackle.

And it proved to be a vital moment as Spurs took complete control as Postecoglou’s bold decision to go for it paid dividends with Johnson at the heart of it.

Not even the ardent Geordie could deny that it had been coming, especially after Pedro Porro had rattled the bar.

James Maddison got the ball out left and cut inside just in the area to curl it towards the opposite bottom corner.

Pope dived but could only palm it straight into the path of Johnson, and the Welsh forward rifled it back across the goalline past the despairing keeper as Dan Burn ended up blasting it into his own net as he tried to clear on the line.

The England international will know he could do better, but he made amends by stopping Maddison and Porro later.

Isak with the late winner

Newcastle were struggling to get out of their half as Bruno Guimaraes went into the book as frustrations threatened to boil over.

Howe responded by replacing his goalscorer with Jacob Murphy, while Tonali made his Premier League return for Longstaff and Lewis Hall took over from Kelly.

Murphy almost caught Spurs out after a rare attack only for Guglielmo Vicario to deny him at the near post.

But it was Johnson’s introduction down the right for Tottenham that looked to have changed everything and he almost forced another own goal, only this time Bruno’s clearance trickled wide.

Postecoglou smelt blood, and he went for it as Timo Werner came on for Wilson Odobert, but it would be his men that suffered a late knockout blow as their high-line was caught out.

Joelinton spotted the defence high and threaded a perfect through ball for Murphy to dart through towards Vicario.

The sub powered forward towards the goalie before correctly deciding to slip it to his left ten yards out for the onrushing Isak to poke into the empty net.

Spurs huffed and puffed for a way back, but after five nervous minutes of additional time, the whistle finally went to the relief of Howe.

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MANCHESTER UNITED and Tottenham have discovered their fate in the new-look Europa League with the Red Devils pitted against former boss Jose Mourinho.

The draw also produced two blockbuster Battle of Britains with both Man Utd and Spurs to face Rangers in the league phase.

Erik ten Hag's men will host the Scottish giants while Ange Postecoglou's side travel to Glasgow.

Follow SunSport's live blog of the Europa League draw

Man Utd will head to Mourinho's Fenerbahce where ex-Red Devils midfielder Fred also plies his trade.

Manchester United's remaining fixtures will see them travel to Porto, Viktoria Plzen and Twente, as well as hosting PAOK, Bodo/Glimtand FCSB.

Spurs face some tricky European away days as they prepare to head to Turkish giants Galatasaray and German side Hoffenheim.

They also go to Hungary to play Ferencvaros.

Tottenham will host Roma, AZ Alkmaar, Qarabag and Elfsborg.

And Postecoglou, who managed Celtic before joining Spurs, joked he is expecting a "warm reception" from the Rangers fans when his side head north of the border.

He said: "Exciting. It's good to be a part of. Some good games.

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"I am sure I will get a warm reception at Ibrox and they'll look forward to seeing me."

The competition will follow the same format as the new Champions League, with all 36 teams playing eight matches in the "league phase".

The top eight progress straight through to the last-16, with ninth to 24th going into a play-off round.

The bottom eight teams are immediately eliminated.

Another change means no Champions League sides will drop down into the Europa League this season.

On Thursday, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa learned their Champions League fixtures.

SunSport has a full breakdown of the fixture list for each of the English clubs here.

Man Utd failed to earn European football through their Premier League position last season after they finished eighth.

But their FA Cup triumph over Man City salvaged Europa League football for Ten Hag's men.

Tottenham qualified for the Europa League by finishing fifth in the Premier League, two points adrift of the Champions League places.

This year's final will take place in Bilbao on May 21.

Europa League draw LIVE: Man Utd and Tottenham to play Rangers, Chelsea in Conference draw - latest updates  The Sun

TOTTENHAM registered their first win of the season in fine style on Saturday.

Having been frustrated by Leicester last weekend, Ange Postecoglou's side converted their dominance against Everton into an emphatic 4-0 victory on home soil.

Son Heung-min (£5m) bagged 18 Dream Team points via a brace but the South Korean superstar didn't finish as the game's top performer.

That accolade went to Cristian Romero (£3.4m).

Spurs' combative centre-back excelled in every aspect of the game to pocket 19 points in one fell swoop!

He was integral to the hosts' clean sheet, making a whopping six tackles to keep the Toffees at bay.

But his coup de grace came in the 71st minute when he outmuscled everyone else in the vicinity to head home an in-swinging corner from close range.

Romero's goal was his sixth in the Premier League since the start of last season - a record high among defenders.

The Argentina international is a persistent aerial threat at set-pieces but he'll also attempt to take the game by the scruff of the neck from open play late on if Spurs need a goal.

This attacking edge sets him apart from most centre-backs in the top flight and certainly makes him more viable in Dream Team.

Romero's 19-point haul has propelled him up the rankings to the very top among assets in his position - he's now two points clear of Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.7m) though of course it's still early days.

Truth be told, Pedro Porro (£4.2m) is probably the Spurs defender of choice for gaffers as he's encouraged to get forward from the get-go - he too has already scored a goal this campaign.

But the Spanish full-back is more expensive than Romero, who is available ahead of Gameweek 3 for just £3.4m.

Dream Team bosses can expect his price to rise after Saturday's deadline following his 19-point haul and so it's no wonder he's currently among the most-popular recruits this week.

Spurs are set to face Newcastle at St James' Park before the international break, a fixture that has not been kind to them in recent seasons.

However, Eddie Howe's side don't appear quite up to speed just yet so it may not be a bad time to face the Magpies on Tyneside.

Gameweek 4 brings a North London derby and so it has to be said that Romero's clean sheet hopes aren't all that high for his next two outings.

Looking further ahead, Gameweek 5 appears to be an excellent time to back Spurs to the hilt.

That's when they begin their Europa League campaign with the first fixture coming a few days after a home game against Brentford - an appealing double Gameweek.

It will be interesting to see where Romero ranks among defenders by the time Gameweek 5 rolls around.

NEAL MAUPAY has bit back at Everton fans who blasted the team as they walked past supporters following their 4-0 battering against Tottenham.

Everton were humiliated in north London as goals from Yves Bissouma, Cristian Romero and a brace from Son Heung-Min compounded a tough day at the office for the Toffees.

But following the defeat, Sean Dyche's side were seen walking past fans at London's Euston train station as they made their way home.

A video captured by one fan and posted to social media showed furious Evertonians hurling X-rated abuse at the squad.

One fan can be heard shouting: "F*** off, you f***ing rat. F***ing 80 grand a week? You F***ing w****r.”

Many squad members went past with their heads down, though Jordan Pickford and Mason Holgate did attempt to appease the fans by briefly speaking to some of them.

Taking to social media later on, Maupay - who is back at Everton after spending last season on loan at Brentford - responded in a critical tone on X.

Quoting the original video, he said: "Imagine another job where it’s normalised to get abuse like this.

"Hanging around at a train station to scream at men who are trying their best…"

The 28-year-old Frenchman is yet to feature off the bench this season.

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Everton's defeat at Spurs came after a home defeat to Brighton on the opening day, which has left them at the bottom of the table on a goal difference of minus seven.

Indeed, the situation is so bad that bookmakers Paddy Power are already paying out on bets for Everton to be relegated.

Dyche, 53, risked fan wrath ahead of the Spurs game when he said: "We have spoken about this before many times… hero, zero, zero, hero.

"This is quite an extreme place. It is either, ‘Yes we’re amazing, we won’ or ‘rubbish, you’re all rubbish again.’ That kind of psychology en masse."

Everton have the chance to finally get a win on the board in midweek when they face Doncaster in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday before hosting Bournemouth next Saturday.

They are in the midst of an injury crisis, however, with only 14 first-team players available during their recent match against Spurs.

Among the absentees were Jarrad Branthwaite, James Garner, Seamus Coleman and Youssef Chermiti among those in the treatment room.

Dyche has suggested that both Coleman and Garner could make their comebacks as early as Tuesday, but warned they will have to "wait and see" how they do in training.

AMANDA STAVELEY is stepping up a bid to buy into Tottenham.

Sources say the former Newcastle co-owner is backed by “serious money” from the Middle East and wealthy individuals.

Staveley, 51, bought her shares in Newcastle in 2021 but left the Tyneside club in July.

Now she has put together a fresh funding team and hopes to take an initial stake in Spurs.

The group would then look to buy even more of the London club.

ENIC, majority owned by 87-year-old Joe Lewis’ family trust and involving chairman Daniel Levy, may be open to selling.

Tottenham are valued at £2.42billion by global media company Forbes.

And a deal for 25 per cent of the club could cost Staveley about £650m.

Spurs are open to investment and there would not even be a need for Staveley to dispose of her Newcastle shares first.

Her holding at St James’ Park is under the 9.9 per cent limit for having a stake in TWO clubs.

FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS

Staveley and husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi left Toon in July, just under three years after helping the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund buy the club from Mike Ashley.

Staveley said last month: “I didn’t want to get in Newcastle’s way.

“It’s got to be about what’s best for Newcastle. It’s very painful.”

Staveley also helped broker the £210m sale of Manchester City in 2008 to Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mansour.