GIVEMESPORT

Tottenham Hotspur star Lucas Bergvall has set his sights on using the remainder of September as a launchpad for his burgeoning Hotspur Way career as he is determined to work his way into the forefront of boss Ange Postecoglou's plans, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.

Although Spurs were busy during the summer transfer window, with Dominic Solanke being the most expensive recruit thanks to tempting Bournemouth into accepting an offer worth up to £65million last month, the teenager officially agreed to complete a switch to the north Londoners in February.

Bergvall went on to finish the 2023/24 campaign at Djurgardens, racking up 11 goal contributions over the course of 19 appearances, and he is desperate to make an impact in his new surroundings after making the decision to head to the Premier League for the first time.

Bergvall Earmarked to Make First Spurs Start

Sweden international on course to be in Carabao Cup line-up

Bergvall is looking to burst onto the scene after the international break, according to GMS sources, and the Carabao Cup third round tie against Championship outfit Coventry City has been earmarked as an opportunity to make his first Tottenham start after being given opportunities to come on as a substitute during the early stages of the season.

The 18-year-old has been handed 31 minutes of action in a Spurs shirt - having come off the bench during the closing stages of the Premier League clashes with Leicester City, Everton and Newcastle United - but he is poised to be handed further chances to impress by Postecoglou in the coming weeks.

GMS sources have been informed that there will also be scope for Bergvall to play a key role when Tottenham get their Europa League campaign underway with a home encounter against Qarabag on September 26, thanks to plans being in place to rest the likes of fellow attacking midfielder James Maddison.

The Sweden international, who was involved in his country's Nations League win over Azerbaijan earlier this week, is eager to be involved more frequently following his decision to snub the chance to join La Liga heavyweights Barcelona and make the switch to Spurs in an £8.5million deal a matter of days after the winter window closed earlier this year.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently told GMS that Tottenham are confident that Bergvall is ready to make an impact in the Premier League after impressing with his performances and application since arriving from Djurgardens, while key figures behind the scenes are adamant that he will prove to be a shrewd investment.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Lucas Bergvall became the 20th youngest player to make his Premier League debut for Tottenham Hotspur when he came off the bench at the age of 18 years, six months and 17 days against Leicester City on the opening day of the season

Bergvall Expected to Cause Selection Issues

Postecoglou in line for headache as attacking midfielder impresses

GMS sources have been told that there was always an intention to integrate Bergvall into the side slowly, but there is an expectation for him to give Postecoglou a selection headache when he secures more regular game time because he has huge potential to make a name for himself at Tottenham.

Plans were put in place to ensure that the former Brommapojkarna playmaker would adjust to the rigours of the Premier League little by little, instead of being thrown in at the deep end, and the remainder of the month is being viewed as a period in which he could stake a claim for more time on the pitch thanks to cup ties being on the horizon.

Postecoglou has very high hopes for Bergvall after being impressed with his ability and the way in which he has carried himself, GMS sources have learned, but the Greek-Australian was still eager to remain cautious over how and when to use him during the early stages of the campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur are desperate for their shock signing of Min-hyuk Yang to pay off and there is hope that he will prove to be one of the north Londoners' best pieces of summer business as he prepares to head to Hotspur Way from Gangwon at the turn of the year, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou was backed by chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange during the transfer window, with Dominic Solanke being the most expensive acquisition thanks to Premier League rivals Bournemouth opting to cash in when a bid worth up to £65million was put on the table last month.

Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Wilson Odobert also joined Tottenham, with the latter completing a £25million switch from Burnley in the aftermath of their relegation to the Championship, but Yang will provide the Greek-Australian tactician with a fresh option when he arrives in January.

Yang Compared to Son Ahead of Spurs Arrival

Teenage winger expected to prove to be bargain summer recruit

Tottenham are confident that Yang has the ability to go on and become a special talent when he makes the switch from Gangwon, according to GMS sources, while key figures behind the scenes are adamant that he could prove to be a bargain recruit after only paying in the region of £3.4million for his signature.

The South Korean has been gaining comparisons to Spurs captain Heung-min Son during the early stages of his career and, having penned a six-year contract with the capital club, will link up with his new teammates in January after it was decided that he will remain in the K-League to continue building experience.

Although Tottenham pounced because of sensing an opportunity, GMS sources have been informed that there is a desire for Yang to turn into one of their best summer signings as he has the potential to go on and be worth significantly more than the amount they paid, while following in his fellow countryman's footsteps would go down well.

The 18-year-old winger has found the back of the net eight times and registered a further five assists over the course of his first 29 appearances in senior action, and Postecoglou is keeping a close eye on his performances as he prepares to make a final decision on how to integrate him into his plans.

Yang will be thoroughly assessed by the former Celtic chief when his time at Gangwon comes to an end in January, GMS sources have learned, but his displays between now and then will establish when he is likely to be ready to influence Tottenham's attack and what his career path should be to get the best out of him.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Min-hyuk Yang has been averaging a goal every 288 minutes in the K-League this season, but he has also been guilty of missing four big chances

Postecoglou Set to Monitor Next Yang Display

Gangwon are preparing to face Ulsan in clash between title-chasers

GMS sources have been told that Yang's next outing will be crucial in helping Tottenham to identify how far along he is with his game-changing ability in pivotal clashes as Gangwon will go head-to-head with fellow title-chasers Ulsan in a top-of-the-table encounter later this month.

Although the teenager has played a significant role in his side currently leading the way in the K-League, with him racking up 13 goal contributions and starting every fixture this season, the sides are separated by the smallest of margins ahead of the meeting at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium.

Scouts have been very impressed with how Yang has performed as he goes in search of his first piece of silverware, GMS sources understand, but Postecoglou will be particularly encouraged by his development if he produces the goods in what could go a long way towards deciding who is crowned champions.

The highly-rated South Korea under-17 international is likely to be seen as an option in the Europa League when he heads to Tottenham, GMS previously reported, and he will be given an opportunity to adapt to his new surroundings before being thrown into a domestic fixture for the first time.

Key Takeaways

Timo Werner was on the brink of joining Liverpool but the Covid pandemic put pay to his signature.

Werner was also concerned by game time behind Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.

Despite mixed success at Chelsea, Werner finds himself on loan at Tottenham, where he is yet to hit the ground running.

Back in 2020, it was one of football's worst kept secrets that Liverpool admired Timo Werner. The RB Leipzig forward was pacey, agile, and often deadly in front of goal. However, following a mini-transfer saga that was halted as the world shut down, as well as the Germany international's fluctuating form since, it's a reasonable suggestion that the Reds really did dodge a bullet.

Ultimately, Liverpool went on to win a delayed Premier League title in the summer of 2020 and did not go back in for Werner, instead they signed Diogo Jota in September 2020, who has gone on to score more than 55 goals for the Merseyside club. Here's just how close the then-Champions League holders were to landing Werner's signature.

Bursting Onto the Scene With Stuttgart

Werner turned heads from the start of his career

Timo Werner's rise at Stuttgart, a club whose home ground he was born within walking distance of, was meteoric. During the 2012-13 season, he was promoted to the U19 team despite only being 16-years old. His involvement was merited though, and he scored 24 goals that season, with form rewarded by the Gold U17 Fritz Walter Medal.

His senior debut for Stuttgart followed, in the 2013-14 Europa League Qualifying stages. He was aged just 17, four months and 25 days, becoming the youngest player to ever play in an official match for Stuttgart. On his 18th birthday, Werner signed a professional contract until June 2018 with the club and went on to score 13 goals in 95 league appearances. During that time he became the youngest player to make 50 Bundesliga appearances in the competition's history.

With his rise thus far, it was no wonder that Werner moved on from Stuttgart as they were relegated - switching to newly-promoted RB Leipzig in a €10m deal in the summer of 2016. In his first season, he scored 21 times as his side finished second in the Bundesliga and qualified for the Champions League for the first time. The following two terms combined saw him score 40 goals and put his profile firmly on the wishlists of European giants.

In 2019, such was the trajectory of Werner, that renowned Bundesliga talent-snatching giants Bayern Munich registered their interest. However, just as a €30m deal was close to completion that summer, the behemoth club backed out. Seemingly, the club's big wigs weren't entirely sold on the star, and he eventually stayed at Leipzig - signing a four-year-deal with a €55m (£49.4m) release clause.

Covid Deters Liverpool Transfer

Phone calls with Klopp see line go dead amid pandemic

While Bayern pulled out of signing Werner, the 2019-20 season surely had them second-guessing themselves, as it ultimately saw Werner tally a personal best. Second only to Robert Lewandowski, Werner scored 28 and assisted eight in 34 Bundesliga games as his side finished third.

Undeterred by Bayern's caution, Liverpool saw the goals and performances and made contact with the pacey hitman in early 2020. In fact, according to reports in Germany, Werner spoke to Jurgen Klopp personally on the phone, and discussed what potential role he could play at Anfield. Initially, he wanted to move to Merseyside, yet was unsure about if he would play regularly considering the Reds' front three of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino were in fine fettle of their own.

Klopp could not offer him any assurances, yet it was a real 'what if' scenario, as it seemed both parties understood that Werner could've done well under his compatriot at Liverpool. While the prospective murmurs continued for a slight time after, they were eventually muted when the Covid pandemic changed the dynamics within elite football entirely.

A curtailed season meant no lucrative pre-seasons, no matchday and broadcast income, plus, the value of commercial deals plummeted. It simply wasn't feasible for Liverpool to spend near enough £50m on a player Klopp wasn't entirely sure how to fit into his trophy-winning jigsaw. Therefore, while watching on from a distance, Liverpool withdrew more and more from Werner and the swirl of rumours as the likes of Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan all honed in.

Chelsea, RB homecoming and Loan to Tottenham

Werner hasn't reached the projected heights of yesteryear

After his highly covered rise and courtship from Europe's best, Timo Werner eventually moved to Chelsea. The then-Roman Abramovich-backed club could afford it and subsequently activated his £47.5 million release clause, giving him a five-year contract in the summer of 2020.

However, despite winning the 2020-21 Champions League, and the following Super Cup and Club World Cup, Werner's time in West London perhaps tailed back to Bayern's initial doubts. Granted, he was often played out of position - as his pace saw him stretched to the wing areas - yet when in front of goal, he was regularly lacking composure and fluffed a lot of easy chances. His strike rate sat at a meagre six in 35 games in his first PL season, and this was a number he'd not surpass as he ultimately tallied 23 goals in 89 all-competition outings.

Tottenham Hotspur and Ange Postecoglou were incredibly close to securing Champions League football in his first season at the helm in north London, finishing just two points outside the top four with Aston Villa pipping them to the post - but with a huge summer kitty being spent on top young recruits, writer John Cross believes that the Lilywhites will have a huge task on their hands when it comes to the pressure being on them to finish in the top four this season.

Postecoglou massively impressed in his first Premier League season, winning eight of his first ten games in charge of Spurs, with only away draws at eventual title challengers Arsenal and fellow London outfit Brentford halting them in that regard. However, some poor runs throughout the season - including two separate spells with no wins in four and five respectively - halted their charge. A tough start to the season has seen them look to replicate that - but the pressure is on the Aussie to deliver, according to Cross.

Pressure on Postecoglou to Deliver This Season

Spurs have spent more than they usually would

Postecoglou spent big this summer, bringing Dominic Solanke, Archie Gray, Wilson Odobert and Lucas Bergvall to the club for big fees - whilst youngster Yang Min-hyeok was signed before heading back to Gangwon FC to finish the K-League season.

But with big fees comes a huge responsibility to finish in the Champions League and Cross says there will be pressure to record a top-four finish, or a fifth-placed finish at worst. He told the Sky Sports Back Pages podcast:

"What I would say is, having spent again - and you know, big time this summer - I would think it's a fair assumption to say that he's probably under pressure to get back into the Champions League places next season.

"But what I do find really interesting was that you can't knock Tottenham's ambition, and Daniel Levy who is really going for it, trying to get Spurs back up there and with a team to match the stadium.

"But you quickly forget the kind of Solanke's, Maddison, Romero, you know - Brennan Johnson was a lot of money. They have spent a lot of money in that squad and within that team, and it's now, I think, time for them to kind of push on and ensure they finish in the top four, possibly fifth."

Levy Must Trust Postecoglou to Deliver

The Aussie has been showered with new signings

Levy has typically been quite the penny-pinching style of an owner, who is always eager to squeeze every last pound out of a deal, but he has loosened his purse strings in recent years and that has seen Tottenham spend big since their new stadium opened.

Solanke recently became their record signing at a fee of around £55million, which could rise to £65million if bonuses are met - overtaking the £53.8million deal to sign Tanguy Ndombele back in 2019.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Tottenham haven't finished in the top four since the end of the 2021-22 season.

And having added Richarlison, Brennan Johnson, Cristian Romero and James Maddison to their ranks in the past two years, we could well be seeing Spurs embark on a crusade after years of financially prudent spending.

Frustrating results via the draw at newly-promoted Leicester City on the opening weekend and a loss against Newcastle United on Sunday - when on the run of play, they should have beaten both teams - won't please Postecoglou too much, but the Australian has a chance to appease the fans when Arsenal travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after the international break in a huge derby day clash.

Arsenal star Raheem Sterling is not fazed by the possibility of being asked by boss Mikel Arteta to fill in as a false nine if he is given the opportunity to make his debut for the Emirates Stadium giants when they make the short trip to north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur after the international break, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.

Although Riccardo Calafiori remained the Gunners' most expensive acquisition of the summer transfer window, thanks to sealing a switch worth up to £42million from Serie A side Bologna, the Premier League title-chasers were actively seeking reinforcements all the way up until last Friday's 11pm deadline.

Sterling's arrival came too late for him to feature in the draw with Brighton & Hove Albion, while Mikel Merino has been unable to come into the side since his £31.6million move from Real Sociedad, but the Chelsea loanee could be poised to come into the starting line-up at Tottenham.

Sterling Determined to Aid Gunners' Title Bid

England international willing to be deployed in any position needed

Sterling is open-minded about how he can aid Arsenal in their push to be crowned the Premier League champions during his temporary spell on board, according to GMS sources, and insiders have indicated that he would be happy to feature in the false nine position during the north London derby if he profits from Declan Rice's suspension.

The central midfielder picked up the first red card of his career when the Gunners were forced to settle for a point against Brighton last weekend, meaning that Arteta is heading into the grudge match against Spurs knowing that he needs to make at least one alteration to his starting line-up.

In the absence of Merino and Gabriel Jesus, GMS sources have been informed that the Spanish tactician is toying with the idea of dropping Kai Havertz into midfield and allowing Sterling to lead the attack after it has become clear that Arsenal's latest arrival is willing to do whatever it takes to succeed in his new surroundings.

The England international, who has embarked on a fresh challenge at the Emirates Stadium after being frozen out by Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca despite being on a contract worth £350,000-per-week, is keen to make his mark and is not against being utilised away from his favoured left-wing position.

GMS recently revealed that the last-minute nature of negotiations resulted in Arsenal being able to secure Sterling's services on favourable terms, with them not having to fork out a loan fee and paying no more than half of his salary, and there is a growing possibility that he will start the north London derby against arch-rivals Tottenham on September 15.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Prior to his move to Arsenal, Raheem Sterling scored eight goals over the course of 24 appearances against the Gunners, while he has registered 11 wins along the way

Sterling Motivated to Succeed Under Arteta

Winger wants to prove doubters wrong during temporary spell

GMS sources have been told that Sterling is highly motivated after completing his move to Arsenal, while he is also determined to ensure he contributes in the final third of the pitch across the entirety of the season as he looks to prove doubters at Chelsea wrong during his spell in north London.

The 29-year-old is confident of delivering the goods in any position he is asked to compete in, having found the back of the net 123 times over the course of his Premier League career, resulting in him being assured that he can shine even if he is deployed in an unexpected role at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium later this month.

Arteta is not necessarily seeing Sterling as a bit-part player despite already having the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard among his options on the left-flank, GMS sources understand, and the new No.30 is adamant that he is capable of breaking into the forefront of the former Manchester City assistant manager's plans.

Tottenham Hotspur were busy in the summer transfer window, bringing in a host of players in different positions, and journalist Dan Kilpatrick has said he was surprised by their business.

Spurs' 2024 summer transfer window was a period of significant transition, marked by key arrivals, notable departures, and a few missed opportunities. The club, now under the stewardship of manager Postecoglou, aimed to reshape the squad to better fit his attacking philosophy, following a season of mixed fortunes.

The former Celtic boss has implemented a possession-based style of play, focusing on building from the back. His complex system requires certain players to fit in to the style, and they've strengthened significantly this summer.

Tottenham's Business a 'Surprise'

They've shifted plenty of deadwood

Speaking on the Transfer Talk podcast, Kilpatrick has admitted he is surprised with the business that Spurs have done. Postecoglou stressed that there was a need for change within his squad, and they've completed a mini overhaul ahead of the 2024/2024 campaign...

"Well, when you were asking which clubs you were surprised by earlier, I was going to bring up Spurs, because I was a little bit surprised by the window overall. I think if you go back to what Postecoglou was saying in April about the need for change, he kind of laid out his manifesto for a second season in the club, and talked about how drastically Spurs still needed to change their 11, change the way they worked, changed the culture of the club. So I wondered if it was going to be a real summer overhaul, and I think we did see that in one respect, in terms of the players they got out. You talked about Newcastle struggling to get players out, but Spurs did really well at finally offloading all this deadwood."

In terms of additions who are likely to immediately impact the senior squad, Tottenham brought in Dominic Solanke and Wilson Odobert. Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, who have been in and around the first team, have also arrived, but there's no doubt they are signings with a view to the long-term future.

Looking at outgoings, Spurs were impressive with how they shifted some of their fringe stars. Oliver Skipp, Emerson Royal, Joe Rodon, and Giovani Lo Celso are among the players to have departed, with Tottenham recouping around £46m in sales.

Tottenham Eyeing Angel Gomes

He could leave for free

According to a report from HITC, Tottenham are plotting a move to sign young midfielder Angel Gomes from Lille. The former Manchester United star, who was recently called up to the senior England squad for the first time, is out of contract next summer, so Spurs could secure his signature on a free transfer.

Gomes moved to France to attempt to further his career after failing to make the grade at Old Trafford. It's turned out to be a smart decision from the midfielder who has flourished and now earned himself a chance to impress for his country.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou will only entertain signing a fresh defensive option on loan in January as he already has plans to hand Luka Vuskovic and Ashley Phillips opportunities to break into the first-team picture at Hotspur Way next year, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.

Spurs were not afraid to splash the cash during the summer transfer window, with Dominic Solanke being the most expensive acquisition thanks to completing a move worth up to £65million from Premier League rivals Bournemouth, but they stopped short of drafting in reinforcements for the backline.

Archie Gray is capable of filling in at right-back, and will provide Pedro Porro with fresh competition following Tottenham's decision to take advantage of Leeds United failing to seal promotion and agree a £30million deal, but Postecoglou will have another chance to secure fresh faces at the turn of the year.

Vuskovic and Phillips in Plans for Next Term

Postecoglou eager to provide pathway into first-team picture

Postecoglou is eager to hand Vuskovic and Phillips the chance to secure game time at Tottenham next term, according to GMS sources, resulting in him being eager to ensure he does not block their path into the first-team by spending big on another central defender when the transfer window reopens.

Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin are currently Spurs' senior options at the heart of the backline, with the latter joining for £26.7million from Genoa in January, while left-back Ben Davies is also able to fill in if the north Londoners find themselves dealing with an injury crisis.

Although Tottenham have allowed Vuskovic and Phillips to head out on loan for the season to build experience, leading to them linking up with Jupiler Pro League side Westerlo and Championship outfit Stoke City respectively, Postecoglou is keen to integrate them into his plans for the 2025/26 campaign.

The Greek-Australian tactician was happy with not recruiting in that area ahead of last week's deadline, despite mulling over landing a left-sided defender that can play at centre-half or full-back, as Dragusin will provide cover for first-choice pairing Romero and van de Ven, while Davies and Gray will continue being looked upon as versatile alternatives.

Postecoglou initially considered landing a full-back during the summer transfer window, with GMS sources recently revealing that Southampton's Kyle Walker-Peters was among those being monitored, but he chose to spend cash on fresh attacking impetus as the likes of Wilson Odobert were secured instead.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Ashley Phillips has made five appearances for Tottenham Hotspur's under-21 squad, while he has also been an unused substitute on eight occasions for the senior side

Postecoglou Will Not Entertain Spending Big

Greek-Australian tactician may only consider temporary solution

GMS sources have been told that Postecoglou wants to be very careful about making further changes to his squad when the winter transfer window opens for business at the turn of the year, and he will consider bringing in a new central defender on loan for the remainder of the season.

The former Celtic chief is not currently able to call upon 17-year-old Vuskovic, who joined Spurs in a £12million switch from Croatian side Hajduk Split 12 months ago, but he will be battling for game time if he impresses during his temporary spell in the Belgian top flight with Westerlo.

Postecoglou is also adamant that Phillips, 19, has a bright future ahead of him after initially making the move to north London following the £2million release clause written into his Blackburn Rovers contract being triggered in August 2023, and GMS sources understand that he will be on course for first-team opportunities next season.

GMS sources have learned that Tottenham do not want to make a high-profile signing at the back due to fears that it will make it difficult to throw the teenage duo into the side, meaning that short-term loans will only be considered if fresh options are needed midway through the current campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur have shifted their transfer focus to youth whilst Ange Postecoglou has been in charge of the north London side - and that has been a positive reinforcement for Sky Sports' Sam Tighe, who has said that he is more than excited with the prospect of Lucas Bergvall starting games for the club in the future after some strong performances.

Bergvall joined Spurs in the summer and made his unofficial debut for the club in a 5-0 friendly win over Scottish Premiership side Hearts in July. Recording an assist, Bergvall has shown Tottenham fans exactly what he is about already, and with two appearances in the Premier League to boot, we are beginning to see glimpses of his quality already. Tottenham have signed plenty of young stars in recent years including the likes of Destiny Udogie and Micky van de Ven, but Bergvall is the first teenager to have burst onto the scene under the Australian boss and Tighe could not hide his admiration.

Lucas Bergvall Earns Frenkie de Jong Comparison

The midfielder has shown promise in his substitution appearances

Speaking to the Transfer Talk podcast, journalist Tighe stated that he was 'excited' about Bergvall's performances.

And, whilst he aimed to keep a lid on his immediate expectations for the season, Tighe said youngster reminds him of Barcelona star Frenkie De Jong, who is one of the world's best in his position. He claimed:

"I know he's only played about 20 minutes of football, but I'm trying not to get excited here.

"But when he runs around the pitches and scampers across and picks the ball up and drops it off, he looks like Frenkie de Jong to me!

"I don't know if it's just that crop of blonde hair or what, but I'm pretty excited about Lucas Bergvall - I'm thinking about starting the fan club."

Tottenham Midfielder Sales Show Bergvall Trust

The youngster has been pushed high up the pecking order

With other experienced stars ahead of him in the pecking order, it would be thought that Bergvall wouldn't garner too much game time this season - but age is just a number when it comes to the Premier League, and the youthful star clearly has the credentials to feature regularly in the top-flight already at such a young stage in his career.

Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr and Rodrigo Bentancur all boast more experience than him having all featured in the Premier League for at least a season, whilst James Maddison has nailed his stake at their preferred choice in the No.10 role - and fellow young summer signing Archie Gray will be vying for game time alongside him this year after joining from Leeds United in the summer.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Bergvall made 47 appearances for Djurgarden, scoring nine goals

However, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg departed the club for Marseille on an obligation-to-buy deal, and with Oliver Skipp and Giovani Lo Celso also being sold on permanent deals, it shows the trust that Postecoglou has in Bergvall at such a young age.

If the 18-year-old, who only made his debut for Sweden as a 17-year-old in a win over Estonia back in January, can hit the ground running and secure a starting berth for the north London club, then he will be an extremely astute project for Postecoglou to work with and nurture into a world-class star.

Tottenham are interested in adding new England star Angel Gomes to their squad in 2025, and he could even be available on a free transfer according to HITC.

The Lilywhite made big moves in the transfer window to strengthen their midfield as they replaced the outgoing duo of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp with young talents Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall for Ange Postecoglou's squad.

But they also held an interest in former Chelsea star Conor Gallagher all summer, but couldn't agree a deal with the Blues before his eventual move to Atletico Madrid, which shows they weren't entirely satisfied with their options in the middle of the park ahead of the 2024/25 season.

Tottenham Eye Angel Gomes Move

Carrington graduate out of contract in 2025

That has seen them begin to look at the market for potential opportunities when the window re-opens in January 2025, and one name on their shortlist that has emerged is Lille star Angel Gomes.

The central midfielder, who came through the academy at Manchester United and is their youngest player since Duncan Edwards, has shone in France in recent seasons and recently earned his maiden call-up to the senior England national team under Lee Carsley.

And Spurs are interested in taking him back to the Premier League, with his contract situation meaning that there is an opportunity to explore. According to HITC the 24-year-old currently doesn't plan on renewing his contract with Lille, meaning he will be available to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from January 1st for a summer move.

Alternatively, the Ligue 1 side could look to cash in on him in the winter window to ensure they get some cash and Tottenham could look to swoop, although they are anticipating plenty of competition for his signature after his recent England call-up.

Described as a 'deadly playmaker', Gomes can play as a number ten, an eight or deeper as a six, with his creativity and passing among his best attributes - with former manager Paulo Fonseca describing him as "the most intelligent player in the team".

GIVEMESPORT key statistic: Angel Gomes was captain of the England Under-17 team that won the World Cup, including the likes of Phil Foden and Marc Guehi.

Micky Van De Ven Withdraws From Netherlands Squad

Defender missed defeat to Newcastle

In a blow to Postecoglou's side, defender Micky Van de Ven has been forced to withdraw from the Netherlands squad for the upcoming international games due to injury.

The centre-back missed the 2-1 defeat to Newcastle after suffering an injury against Everton, and will now miss the international clashes with Bosnia and Germany as he looks to recover.

Spurs will take on fierce rivals Arsenal in the north London derby when the Premier League returns on Sunday 15th September, and the 23-year-old niw faces a race against time to be available.

Key Takeaways

Despite losing 2-1, Brennan Johnson outperformed well as a sub against Newcastle.

Johnson could be a better fit for the upcoming high-stakes match against Arsenal.

Wilson Odobert, while promising, may need more time to develop at 19 years old – as proven with his display vs Newcastle.

It has been a mixed start to the new Premier League season for Tottenham Hotspur. They began with a draw at Leicester before thumping Everton at home but dropped points in defeat on the weekend, losing 2-1 away at Newcastle United.

Things for Ange Postecoglou's men aren't likely to get much easier as they will host bitter rivals Arsenal directly after the international break, while also travelling to Manchester United before September ends. With that in mind, the Australian will want to use this break to try and work out his strongest XI for the upcoming fixtures.

After the defeat to Newcastle, he may well be weighing up a change on the wings. Indeed, new signing Wilson Odobert was bright enough the week before against Everton, but struggled against sterner opposition. With that in mind, Brennan Johnson – who looked sharp when coming off the bench at St James' Park – might be the right man to come in.

Brennan Johnson Outshines Wilson Odobert

Will be desperate to start derby vs Arsenal

It was a difficult day for Spurs up against the Magpies as they fell behind in the first half to a fine effort from Harvey Barnes. Postecoglou's side managed to wrestle back control, however, and levelled the scores, albeit somewhat fortunately, as Dan Burn turned the ball into his own net.

They could not hold out for even a point, though, as Alexander Isak struck a 78th-minute dagger, allowing Eddie Howe and co to claim all three points with a 1-1 victory. While certainly not entirely at fault for the loss, a quick look at the stats shows that Odobert was perhaps lucky to stay on for as long as he did.

He was the lowest-rated Spurs player on SofaScore (6.7). In comparison, Johnson was a much brighter spark, with a 7.6 rating (only better by Newcastle's Nick Pope) during his 45-minute cameo in the second half.

Despite not being on the pitch for as long, the former Nottingham Forest man seemed to make a far more positive impact. For instance, they generated a similar level of xG and both missed one big chance (although Johnson set up Odobert's). The substitute also managed to work the goalkeeper with a shot on target and didn't lose the ball as much as Odobert.

Against Arsenal, much like at Newcastle, there will be periods where Spurs will be on the back foot and Johnson also showed he can contribute in that area of the game as well. Indeed, he won more duels than Odobert, managed as many tackles, made more clearances, and wasn't dribbled past (unlike his teammate who was beaten twice on that front).

Teenage Odobert Needs Time to Grow

Still looks a bit raw

All this is not to say Odobert's form is a major cause for concern. Arriving from Burnley for a fee in the region of £25m in the summer, he looks to have a bright future and looked bright against Everton on debut.

But at 19 years of age, he is still raw and that has been apparent at times. Now in his second season at Spurs, 23-year-old Johnson – who makes £70k-p/w – may be the safer bet against Arsenal. His bright display on the weekend suggests he's really pushing to get into the starting XI and Postecoglou may want to take the less proven player out of the firing line ahead of such a high-stakes match.

Beyond the stats, Johnson's efforts vs Newcastle have also been praised in the media. He was handed a team-high 7/10 in the football.london player ratings, with journalist Alasdair Gold noting:

"Really made an impact after coming on at the break. First his shot forced the own goal and then he looked dangerous every time he got down the right. Put so many good balls into the six-yard box but Spurs had no striker in there to convert them. Did create a good chance himself with some fast feet in the Newcastle box but lifted his shot over the bar."

In comparison, Odobert was handed a 5/10, with Gold writing: "Fired a first half effort over the crossbar and switched to the left in the second period where he looked more comfortable. Plenty of threat but needs to turn that into a final pass. Blazed a big chance over the crossbar from close range from Johnson's deflected cross."

With all that in mind, Postecoglou may have a bit of a headache over the international break as he tries to work out his best XI to take on Arsenal in the north London derby. If it is a toss-up between the two men to start against the Gunners, he may look at Johnson's bright cameo against Newcastle as a good enough reason to rotate Odobert out of the team.