GIVEMESPORT

Tottenham Hotspur have received a major boost ahead of their upcoming fixture against West Ham United, with the club said to be hopeful that duo Son Heung-min and Richarlison will take part in training with the squad next week, according to club insider Paul O'Keefe.

Ange Postecologu's side suffered a disappointing loss to Brighton prior to the international break, squandering a two-goal lead to the Seagulls, a result that leaves them ninth in the Premier League. The Australian slammed his players after the dire second half display at the Amex, labelling the encounter the 'worst defeat' since his arrival in North London.

The ex-Celtic boss was without forwards Son, Richarlison and Wilson Odobert, so was operating with something of a depleted attacking cohort. However, he may be given a significant uplift in their next fixture, with the trio all close to featuring in full training, with the former two in contention to face West Ham.

Spurs Receive Positive Injury News

Son and Richarlison have been major absences

Tottenham's fortunes looked like they were heading in the right direction after an emphatic 3-0 win at Old Trafford against Manchester United, before Postecoglou's men were brought back down to earth after a humbling second-half experience on the south coast against Fabian Hurzeler's high-flying Brighton. Goals from Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck reversed the scoreline Spurs had established, leaving them locked in mid-table going into the international break.

Son missed both the trips to Manchester and Brighton respectively with a thigh injury, while Richarlison hasn't featured since August due to a calf problem. Operating without both has certainly hindered the Lilywhites, and a potential return would reduce the need to use an out-of-form Timo Werner.

It appears both could be nearing this return, while Odobert is also close to recovering from a thigh issue. Writing on X, agent O'Keefe provided the fitness update:

Son was appointed club captain last summer, and netted 17 goals last campaign in the league, so his return will be particularly pleasing to Postecgolou, as the North Londoners prepare for a grueling set of fixtures.

Pundit Calls for Werner to be Dropped

The German has been poor this season

With Son and Richarlison potentially in the picture for the West Ham clash, Postecoglou may finally get the opportunity to drop Timo Werner. The German has struggled this season and is yet to find the back of the net in any competition.

Pundit Craig Burley has called for Werner, who he described as 'atrocious', to lose his place in the starting eleven for upcoming games and be replaced by 17-year-old Mikey Moore. However, with Son possibly available, Postecoglou is more likely to now enact this change, with the South Korean a more risk-averse option to calling on a teenager in a high-leverage Premier League match.

Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Giovani Lo Celso was criticised by the Argentina media following a poor performance in the country’s World Cup qualifier against Venezuela on Thursday.

The current Copa America and World Cup champions were in action at the Monumental Stadium of Maturin in Venezuela this week on a rain-soaked pitch. Defender Nicolas Otamendi opened the scoring for Argentina in the first half, but the hosts levelled things up through Salomon Rondon midway through the second.

Despite dominating possession, it was Venezuela who enjoyed the better chances as they registered six shots on target compared to Argentina’s four. However, La Albiceleste remain comfortably top of the South American qualifiers as they aim to reach the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Lo Celso struggles for Argentina

He was substituted in the second half

Lo Celso, 28, represented Spurs for six years between 2019 and 2024, but did have a loan spell in that time. The out of favour midfielder departed the North London club on a permanent basis this summer, and rejoined former club Real Betis for a nominal fee.

He has already scored five goals in six La Liga appearances this season, including a brace against Getafe last month. However, that form has not translated into performances for Argentina as he was the joint lowest rated in their draw against Venezuela.

That’s according to Argentinian outlet Clarin, who awarded the midfielder a five out of 10 for the 68 minutes he played. They noted he struggled with the pitch conditions, and was ‘left in the water’.

While Lo Celso is on a scoring streak in Spain, the outlet highlighted that those qualities were not on display in the draw on Thursday night. He will hope for a much stronger performance against Bolivia in Buenos Aires next week.

Real Madrid make Spurs star a ‘long-term target’

Micky van de Ven has impressed in North London

In other news, Spurs may face a fight to keep defender Micky van de Ven in their ranks in light of reported interest from Real Madrid. According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Florentino Perez has set his sights on the Dutchman to reinforce the team's defence.

At just 23 years of age, Van de Ven has impressed under Ange Postecoglou since his move from Wolfsburg in the summer of 2023. He has become a regular figure at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and he’s started six of Spurs’ seven Premier League games so far this season, missing just one through injury.

The defender’s incredible form for Tottenham can be underlined by the rumoured interest from Real Madrid. The article claims the La Liga giants are willing to make a significant offer for Van de Ven, and he is seen as a key investment for the future.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side are always on the lookout for promising young talent, and they believe the Spurs star could be a leader in the squad further down the line. The Spanish outlet confirms Tottenham will not let their star man leave easily, but a strong offer from Spain could alter the landscape.

Aston Villa may be rivalled by Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City in the race for Czech midfielder Pavel Sulc's signature after watching him shine in Europe, according to TBR Football.

Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby's departures in the summer signalled huge losses at Villa Park, especially Luiz, who had been at the club for five years and a star throughout their Premier League journey from relegation battlers to Champions League qualifiers. However, the additions of Amadou Onana, Ian Maatsen and more stated Villa's intent to push on.

That has seen them look towards the future and their aspirations could reportedly be achieved with the signing of Sulc, who is one of Eastern Europe's leading talents.

Aston Villa 'Interested' in Pavel Sulc

The Czech star has burst onto the scene and that hasn't gone unnoticed

The report from TBR Football states that Villa are in the race to sign Viktoria Plzen midfielder Sulc to bolster their engine room ranks, with Jacob Ramsey being linked with a move away - though Tottenham and City are also lurking and could rival Villa for his signature.

The 23-year-old midfielder is one of the most 'sought-after talents' in Europe at present, and has been described as "one of the best players in the Czech Republic". Having scored 18 goals in 29 games for Plzen last season and having made his debut for his nation back in March, he scored his first two goals in a Nations League win over Ukraine in the previous international break, his stock has risen.

Europe's top clubs are now paying attention to his talents, and that has seen City, Tottenham and Villa all enter the race for his signature - but top continental presence in Napoli, Marseille, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen are all also in the hat for his signature.

And manager Miroslav Koubek has admitted that they would sell for the right price to a club in Europe's top five leagues, stating in May:

“I’ve already said it once, in Plzen, departures are set up in such a way that they will only be dealt with in the case of an offer from the top five elite European leagues. And if someone like that comes, I’ll shake Pavel’s hand and congratulate him."

Sulc Will Have to Displace Stars to Earn Game Time

He will have to oust stars such as Emi Buendia

Villa already have a plethora of attacking midfielders in their ranks, and it may be that they have to sell some to afford Sulc coming to the club. Ross Barkley, John McGinn, Emiliano Buendia and Ramsey can all play in the hole and, so Villa aren't short of top quality Premier League options.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Sulc has 138 appearances in the Czech top-flight, registering 29 goals and 19 assists.

But with Ramsey being on Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle United's radars, as GIVEMESPORT revealed on Wednesday, and McGinn sometimes being used in central midfield and on the left-hand side, that could open the door for Sulc to benefit from cameos and European football if and when the time allows.

Sulc is only 23, and with 37 goals in 189 games by the end of last season in his club career, he has the potential to go on and be a star for Unai Emery, who has a great track record of getting the best out of unsung players.

Leicester City defender Caleb Okoli could be on the move to another Premier League club after some strong early-season form at the King Power Stadium, according to reports - as Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Newcastle United have all been touted to make a move for the Italy international after 'keeping tabs' on his performances.

Leicester's immediate return to the Premier League in the summer allowed them to spend big money in the summer, with Abdul Fatawu making his east Midlands move permanent alongside the signings of Michael Golding, Oliver Skipp, Jordan Ayew and Bilal El Khannouss. But Okoli has been Steve Cooper's most surprising signing, and after making a spate of appearances in Italy for four different clubs in a scatter of loan spells, it's seen interest crop up from the Premier League trio after a spell-binding start to life in the English top-flight.

Tottenham, West Ham, Newcastle 'Keeping Tabs' on Okoli

The Leicester star is in high demand throughout the Premier League

The report from TBR suggests that Tottenham are keeping tabs on the progress of Okoli this season with a potential future move in mind, though others are rivalling them.

The Lilywhites actually considered a move for Okoli in the summer, according to TBR, before opting to leave Atalanta for Leicester in a deal worth just over £10million. During his time on loan at fellow Serie A side Frosinone, Tottenham scouts were impressed with how Okoli fared, but they had 'reservations' over his adaptability in the Premier League.

However, he has started extremely well at Leicester, being described as "excellent", and the club will continue to keep tabs on how he gets on in the top-flight. It isn't just Tottenham who are interested, with Newcastle and West Ham also being in a similar scenario to the north London outfit earlier in the summer.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Caleb Okoli was called up to Italy's national team in September but didn't make an appearance.

Likewise, they are watching Okoli ahead of a potential move in the coming transfer windows - which has likely been heightened by his place in the Italy squad after impressing in the English top-flight.

Tottenham May Not Be The Best Avenue For Okoli

First-team opportunities could be limited for the Italian

Tottenham have Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven as their starting centre-backs, so it could be quite the statement to displace the first-choice duo from Ange Postecoglou's lineup - and with Radu Dragusin as their backup option, first-team opportunities could be limited unless one of the aforementioned trio departs.

West Ham, meanwhile, have just signed Jean-Clair Todibo and Max Kilman for big fees in the summer transfer window and so a similar scenario would unfold at the London Stadium. But if one of the duo drops in form, or they simply don't work as a partnership having been largely untried toegether so far, Okoli could find a way into the fold in east London.It may be Newcastle where the Italian finds his feet.

Sven Botman and Fabian Schar are the first-choice pairing at present, but Schar will be 33 by Christmas - and with their only other backup under the age of 30 being Lloyd Kelly, Okoli could be brought in as the long-term option to replace Schar - and they are undoubtedly in need of a centre-back given that they failed to sign Marc Guehi in the summer window.

Pundit Craig Burley believes Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou should drop Timo Werner in favour of 17-year-old Mikey Moore for upcoming games after the international break.

Werner has started the new season in poor form, is yet to find the back of the net from eight appearances, and has ultimately found himself slipping down the pecking order at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Making his first Premier League starts of the campaign in the last two matches due to Son Heung-Min's absence, the German has struggled to impact games and missed an array of golden opportunities in front of goal.

As a result of this ineffectiveness in the final third, Burley believes exciting youngster Moore should be granted a starting birth over the misfiring forward for the foreseeable future, beginning with Spurs' encounter against West Ham next weekend.

Burley: Werner Should be Dropped for Moore

He's been in poor form

After netting twice in 14 appearances in the second half of last season in North London, Tottenham opted to re-sign Werner on another temporary deal this summer, this time for an entire campaign. Perhaps expecting to push on and become a mainstay in Postecoglou's side, the arrival of Dominic Solanke has seen Son moved out to the left, meaning Werner's minutes have been limited thus far.

However, an injury to the club's captain sidelined the South Korean for trips to United and Brighton, opening a position for Werner to fill in these matches. Slammed for a 'poor' performance in the latter game, the Germany international has received pelters for his inability to convert presentable chances.

Speaking on ESPN FC, Burley claimed that these misses should cost the former Chelsea forward his place in the team, with Moore ready to replace him:

"And again, I don’t want to sort of pick on him, but I am going to. I mean, Timo Werner. Timo Werner, whatever he did in Germany, he has been unable to do in two spells in England.

"His end product was once again atrocious, and that adds to the pressure that goes on a team defensively when you are just not finishing teams off. It wasn’t just Timo Werner, but if he starts the next game after the international break, I will be very surprised.

"A young 17-year-old in Moore is probably going to come in his place. Brennan Johnson has come through a tough time when people were talking about his end product. He gets six goals in six.”

Spurs Targeting Villa Star

They'll face competition from Newcastle and Arsenal

After a mixed start to the season, it appears Postecoglou isn't content with his squad and doesn't want to rest on his laurels. The Australian has identified Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey, who is valued at £50 million, as a potential target, although the Lillywhites will face competition from Newcastle and Arsenal for his signature.

Ramsey's contract at Villa Park expires in 2026, and it's understood the West Midlands club aren't keen on losing him for free, so may be willing to cash in in January or next summer. The 23-year-old has started just 11 league games since the start of last season.

Angel Gomes is hot property right now after working his way into the England squad recently, and now, it has emerged that the Lille midfielder is likely to be available for a free transfer next summer, with Tottenham Hotspur keen to sign him.

After leaving Manchester United in 2020 for pastures new in France, Gomes has built a strong reputation for himself as one of the most dynamic, technical midfielders in the game, and it now seems the time has come for him to take the next step in his career. Lee Carsley recognised Gomes' talents by calling him up for his first England squad as caretaker manager back in September, and the 24-year-old now has a long list of admirers.

Spurs are thought to be at the head of that queue, and the latest report on Gomes, who has been described as "phenomenal", suggests the Lilywhites may be able to secure an absolute bargain at the end of the season as the player's contract is set to expire.

Angel Gomes has Clubs on Red Alert

Midfielder has told his club he doesn't want to sign new deal

Gomes' current contract with Lille is due to end in June 2025, and as per a report from TBRFootball, the midfielder has informed his club that he has no intention to sign an extension to that deal.

This development has caught the attention of Tottenham in particular, who have had Gomes on their list of transfer targets for quite some time. Gomes will be able to sign a pre-contract agreement with clubs outside of France from January 1, 2025, before moving on in the summer.

It remains to be seen whether Spurs, or any other club, for that matter, will take up that option, but given the way Gomes' stock is rising over the last few months, it is likely he will not be short of offers in the next transfer window, and could well make a return to his native homeland ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The Number 6 Postecoglou Needs

Angel Gomes could be the missing piece of the puzzle for Spurs

Over the summer, Ange Postecoglou was believed to be looking for a new defensive midfielder to add to his ranks, particularly after the departures of both Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp.

However, the addition of Archie Gray to his squad alleviated that need to some degree, with the former Leeds starlet impressing many upon his arrival in North London.

Still, Spurs have been strongly linked with Gomes, and his high work rate and composure on the ball would certainly make him a suitable pivot player in Postecoglou's system. But, Tottenham will have to fight off competition from Newcastle and Liverpool, it seems.

Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are all interested in Aston Villa starlet Jacob Ramsey according to GIVEMESPORT sources, with the Villans not willing to lose him for nothing in 2026.

Ramsey made his Villa debut in the Championship against West Bromwich Albion as a 17-year-old, before working his way into the first-team as a squad player under former boss Dean Smith. He's gone from strength to strength since, with awards and European appearances to boot, but sources have stated that he could be on the move next summer with the trio of Premier League clubs - who are also in European competitions - interested.

Sources: Villa Could Cash in on Jacob Ramsey

The homegrown midfielder is a huge asset to Villa financially

GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed that Villa face a decision over Ramsey at the end of the current season - with that period being seen as the most ideal time slot to maximise the fee brought in for the youngster.

Clubs are continuing to track the England youngster as a transfer target, with Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle all interested in his services after progressing well through the Villa youth academy and a decent loan spell - albeit short - at Doncaster Rovers.

Ramsey has made 114 Premier League appearances for Villa, and was at his best under Steven Gerrard and Unai Emery in the period when Gerrard was sacked and Emery came into the club to lift Villa up to the Champions League side that they are now. But injury woes have stunted his development and with just 22 league appearances since the start of last season, Ramsey could struggle to keep his place in the squad.

The academy graduate is contracted in the West Midlands until 2027. However, next summer will be seen as a huge one in terms of his future, especially if Villa are considering cashing in on him as his valuation will begin to drop once he enters the penultimate campaign of his contract. Clubs rarely wish to sell homegrown players, but the idea of letting Ramsey enter the final year of his deal is nonsensical.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Jacob Ramsey has 16 caps for England's under-21 team, scoring four goals.

As a result, Villa will rate him around the £50million mark, and because of homegrown rules, he is seen as an ideal target for Premier League clubs such as Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle who could look to strengthen their midfield depth in the coming weeks. Teams competing in the top-flight must aim to have eight homegrown players in their squads in accordance with the top-flight's rules - and so there is a growing demand for players of his profile which could tempt a sale.

Ramsey Would Be a Sore Loss For Villa

The midfielder has evident talent but cash flow could be necessary

Ramsey has been a superb player for Villa in his short career so far, scoring his first European goal in the 3-0 win over Swiss side Young Boys earlier in the campaign. His versatility is also something to be marvelled at, being able to play across the attacking midfield three and in the centre of the park - which would be a big boost to Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and Tottenham Ange Postecoglou who are making a concerted effort to sign younger talents.

But with Villa continuously improving, the academy product could slowly be ousted from the first-team if his injury problems come back, and they might see best to sell him for a sizeable fee whilst they can.

Tottenham Hotspur forward Timo Werner has been tipped to improve his form in front of goal by journalist Alasdair Gold, who rated the German a 5/10 for his start to the season under Ange Postecoglou.

The 28-year-old, who joined on a short loan from RB Leipzig in January, did enough to secure a further 12-month stay in north London, but his recent performances have left fans and pundits questioning his goalscoring abilities.

While Werner is not Postecoglou’s preferred starting option on the wing, the German international has had a good run of games in recent weeks, with both Heung-min Son and Richarlison sidelined by injuries.

However, the former Chelsea striker has struggled to impress, missing several key chances in recent matches against both Manchester United and Ferencvaros. Werner is yet to score in 352 minutes of playing time across all competitions this season, but Gold has backed the striker to turn around his poor run of form, suggesting he ‘has the tools to do much more'.

Werner Tipped to Improve Poor Form

Gold, writing for football.london, acknowledged that while Werner has been effective in performing the basics of Postecoglou’s system on the wing, his chance conversion is a major concern:

“The German has been effective in carrying out the basics of Postecoglou wing play in being able to beat his man and pull the ball across.

“However, he's missed a string of big chances to either score or pick out his target in the box and that will continue to hamper his rating until he starts to contribute in the final third. Did get an assist at Brighton but he has the tools to do much more. 5/10.”

Werner, who returned to the Premier League in January, endured a lacklustre two-year spell at Chelsea, despite winning the Champions League and Club World Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge.

The 28-year-old scored just 10 goals in 56 league appearances for the Blues before returning to RB Leipzig in the summer of 2022.

With no set return date for either Son or Richarlison, Spurs will be hoping Werner can transform his poor form into goals in their upcoming fixtures after the international break. Tottenham will resume their season on 19 October, welcoming West Ham at home.

Tottenham ‘Scouting’ Antoine Semenyo

Among three Premier League clubs interested

Tottenham are among three Premier League clubs scouting Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, with Liverpool and Newcastle also tracking the exciting winger, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.

The 24-year-old’s recent Premier League form has reportedly attracted interest from several top-flight clubs, with the trio eyeing a potential move for Semenyo in 2025.

Having already lost Dominic Solanke to Spurs in the summer transfer window, Bournemouth will be keen to keep hold of their emerging forward for the foreseeable future. Semenyo has scored three goals and provided one assist in his first seven Premier League appearances this season.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Dominic Solanke has been named as one of the Premier League's signings of the summer after bursting into life in recent weeks - not only for his killer instincts in the box, but for his work off the ball as well.

Tottenham saw fit to sign Solanke from Bournemouth in the summer for a fee of £55million that could rise to £65million, and after a slow start to life in north London, he's hit form to become a real asset to Ange Postecoglou. The Australian boss is meticulous in his philosophy and playing style, which Solanke has taken to with ease - and having finally shown his ability to score within the box in a true poacher style, a verdict from The Athletic has touted him as one of the transfer window's best signings as Tottenham look to burst into the Champions League spots.

Solanke is 'Exactly What Tottenham Needed'

The Lilywhites have been in need of a player who can lead the line

Tottenham have needed an out-and-out physical striker since Harry Kane departed for Bayern Munich last summer, and whilst the north London club managed just fine last year with a fifth-placed finish and Son Heung-min scoring the bulk of their goals, there was still a desire to bring someone in of his ilk.

The former Chelsea star has found his feet in London once again and, as a result, he's been named as one of the signings of the summer for Postecoglou's side - with The Athletic journalist Seb Stafford-Bloor stating that Solanke is the new signing that has impressed him the most since making the move from the south coast to the capital. He said:

'He is exactly what Tottenham needed and the goals he has scored so far, all three of them from short range, describe the kind of instinct that they were missing in the penalty box.

'But watch the way he presses ball carriers, and notice how difficult he makes it for opposing teams when they work their way out of their own ends.

'Rather than just running about manically and compromising the structure behind him, his work is precise and measured. Spurs have got this decision absolutely right.'

Solanke's Career Could Now Take Off

The striker has been in fine form and an England call-up may further that

Solanke took a while to get going in a Tottenham shirt, having sustained an ankle injury throughout August alongside failing to score against Leicester City and Arsenal early in the campaign - but goals against Brentford, Manchester United and Qarabag alongside assists against the latter and Brighton means that he is well and truly firing in a Tottenham shirt now.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Solanke has only garnered one England cap - coming seven years ago whilst at Liverpool.

Having excelled at Bournemouth, Solanke's Premier League credentials were tested after scoring just six goals for the Cherries in their first Premier League campaign, but a 19-goal haul last season showed his quality in abundance, and it appears that has spread to his spell in north London after a slightly slow start.

An England call-up has now been awarded to the Basingstoke-born starlet having taken Ivan Toney's place in the national team, and if he can get firing for the Three Lions in his expected cameo appearances, it will only serve to expand his development in both white shirts.

Ange Postecoglou has been dealt his fair share of criticism this season with his Tottenham Hotspur side currently sitting ninth in the Premier League table, recording just as many losses as wins through their first seven outings.

Playing Postecoglou's brand of free-flowing attacking football, spearheaded by the midfield packed with the creative talent of James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Rodrigo Bentancur, being that far down in the table wouldn't necessarily have been expected, especially considering how exciting they've been to watch at times.

But Brighton and Hove Albion's 3-2 comeback win over Spurs showed that the North London outfit needs more balance, and it may require sacrificing a creative spark such as Kulusevski in favour of a more defensive-minded midfielder like Yves Bissouma.

Kulusevski Has Impressed This Season

The Swede has been one of Spurs’ standout attackers

From an attacking standpoint, Kulusevski has enjoyed his start to the 2024-25 campaign, recording a goal and an assist off of 12 shots, and 21 key passes through the first seven games of the season.

Nine of those key passes came in Spurs' dominant 3-0 victory over Manchester United, which saw him hailed as 'outstanding' by former Aston Villa striker, Gabriel Agbonlahor, who praised him for his consistent play of late.

“I thought he was outstanding and just love the way he’s turned into a player who is showing consistency...Last season he was poor, but this season, he’s becoming a lot better. He was positive, looked quicker than normal and was making the right passes.”

The former Premier League striker further went on to state that he felt the Swede's game is more tailor-made for him to operate in the No. 10 role, a stance backed up by the statistics, with the 24-year-old registering a 7.94 rating from Whoscored in that position.

For comparison, Kulusevski - who earns £110k per week at Tottenham - has registered just a 6.7 rating when leading the line.

Defensively, though, is where some issues arise, with Kulusevski having recorded just five total tackles this season, failing to record even one in four outings.

Kulusevski isn't in the team to win the ball back - that much is clear. But Tottenham lack a ball-winning element in midfield who can help them regain possession quickly. The midfield three also failed to provide any defensive support to the full-backs, whose inability to handle Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh was probably the biggest factor in the eventual loss at the Amex Stadium.

Bissouma Brings More Balance To Midfield

Spurs need some additional support defensively

After being internally suspended by Spurs for their season opener against Leicester City for posting a video on social media of him inhaling nitrous oxide, Bissouma marked his return to the lineup in style, scoring a goal in their 4-0 win over Everton the following weekend, showing his prowess on both sides of the ball.

Since then, he has gone on to record 192 minutes across four games in the Premier League, though he has come off the bench in his two most recent appearances, totaling just 38 minutes, as he begins to ramp up his fitness, having suffered an injury when away on international duty with Mali last month.

Nonetheless, Bissouma has recorded at least one tackle in every game in which he has featured, while in his two starts, he has recorded two interceptions and two clearances. The 27-year-old has also been dribbled past just three times, a significantly better number than Kulusevski, who has been dribbled past seven times in his previous four outings.

Bissouma is a safer passer than Kulusevski too, with him averaging 92.1 percent pass accuracy to the Swede's 82.6 percent in the Premier League. A similar trend followed in Spurs' two opening Europa League contests, with the Malian completing 87.3 percent of his passes to Kulusevski's 73.9 percent, despite playing an additional 91 minutes over his teammate.

Football is a results-based game, and it is the manager's job to make the hard decisions that will - hopefully - lead to the best results. In Postecoglou's case, this could mean sacrificing a player such as Kulusevski, despite his impressive start to the 2024-25 campaign, to find a greater sense of balance within the team.

Tottenham clearly know how to hurt teams going forward, but that only means so much when you can't stop goals going in at the other end.