GIVEMESPORT

Tottenham Hotspur star Cristian Romero is increasingly likely to seek a move to Real Madrid if the reigning La Liga and Champions League winners up the ante in their pursuit and attempt to lure him away from Hotspur Way at the end of the season, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.

Spurs have done business with the Spanish heavyweights in the past, with Gareth Bale breaking the world-record transfer fee by completing an £85.3million switch to the Bernabeu 12 months after Luka Modric headed in the same direction, and boss Ange Postecoglou is in serious danger of his squad being raided.

Although Romero is poised to miss Tottenham's clashes with Galatasaray and Ipswich Town this week, thanks to suffering a toe problem during the win over Aston Villa last time out, he is on Real Madrid's radar as a potential recruit as they put plans in place to splash the cash on reinforcements in 2025.

Romero Threatening to Seek Switch to La Liga

Argentina international keen on potential Real Madrid move

Romero is very likely to push for a big-money transfer to Real Madrid if they come calling for his signature next summer, according to GMS sources, and the prospect of potentially embarking on a fresh challenge in the Spanish capital has resulted in Tottenham having to remain patient in their attempts to tie him down to a new contract.

Spurs are in a strong negotiating position as the Argentina international still has more than two-and-a-half years remaining on a deal which allows him to pocket £165,000-per-week, but they have been determined to reward him with fresh terms due to being a key component of Postecoglou's plans.

GMS sources have been informed that Real Madrid showing intent to land Romero would be enough to persuade him to hold off putting pen-to-paper, which comes as a significant blow for the north Londoners, and the La Liga title-chasers have been long-term admirers as their interest was confirmed during the latter stages of last season.

The central defender completed a permanent move worth close to £43million from Atalanta in August 2022, having spent the previous campaign on loan from the Serie A outfit, and Spurs are desperate to keep him out of his suitors' clutches as they go in search of ending their lengthy wait for silverware.

But Real Madrid have pinpointed Romero as a more attainable option than Arsenal's William Saliba, GMS sources have learned, and Tottenham are at risk of facing a fight to keep him on board despite head coach Carlo Ancelotti and other key figures at the Bernabeu scouring the market for potential alternatives.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Cristian Romero has been averaging 2.7 clearances and 2.5 tackles per Premier League outing this season

Spurs Open to Making Romero Leading Earner

Defender would join Son at top of north Londoners' wage bill

GMS sources have been told that Tottenham would be willing to make Romero the joint-highest earner on the club's books in order to persuade him to remain in his current surroundings instead of jumping at the opportunity to seal a switch to Real Madrid ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Heung-min Son is on the most lucrative contract at Spurs, thanks to getting his hands on £190,000 every seven days, but the north Londoners' vice-captain would be on course to join him at the top of the wage bill and leapfrog James Maddison in the process if he can be convinced to pen a new deal.

Tottenham remain hopeful that Romero will choose to sign on the dotted line, GMS sources understand, but his refusal to rule out the possibility of joining Real Madrid is resulting in them having to remain patient and it has developed into a situation which could drag on for a number of months.

Although GMS sources recently revealed that Real Madrid were put off making a formal offer for Romero when Spurs slapped a £150million price tag on him after enquiries were made during the summer, they are threatening to test the capital club's resolve with an offer at the end of the campaign.

Galatasaray will play host to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League on Thursday night as both sides look to continue their unbeaten starts in the competition so far.

Galatasaray have so far won two out of three games, defeating PAOK and Elfsborg while they were held to a 2-2 draw against RFS. In their most recent game they extended their lead at the top of the Super Lig table, defeating Besiktas 2-1. Spurs have won three out of three games so far this season in Europe with wins over Qarabag, Ferencvaros and AZ Alkmaar and come into this game after a thumping 4-1 win over Aston Villa at the weekend.

Both sides will be confident of success and know victory will go a long way to helping them qualify for the next round in the top eight, and this is how GIVEMESPORT expect the two sides to lineup.

Galatasaray Team News

Osimhen pushing for a start

Manager Okan Buruk is likely to have a near full-strength squad to choose from when he welcomes the north London club to Istanbul, with defender Ismail Jakobs the only definite absentee with a knee injury. Victor Osimhen has found form since his loan move from Napoli and is pushing for a start, while former Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez is also expected to start at the heart of the defence.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Buruk shared an update on the fitness of his squad for the game.

“We used different systems in the last two matches, but our main game was always based on a four-man defense. Our first priority was a four-man defense. We change this from time to time depending on the player and opponent structure. Osimhen went to training yesterday. We will make a decision about him and our other players. We will clarify this in the last training. Our main idea this season was a four-man defense. Galatasaray tried to play its own game against every team in every match. We will try to play our own game again.”

Galatasaray Predicted XI

Icardi to start alongside Osimhen

Galatasaray Predicted XI: Muslera; Ayhan, Sanchez, Bardakci, Yilmaz; Sallai, Torreira, Sara, Ziyech; Osimhen, Icardi.

Galatasaray Predicted Substitutes: Guvenc (GK), Baltaci (DEF), Jelert (DEF), Nelsson (DEF), Yesilhurt (DEF), Akman (MID), Demirbay (MID), Kutlu (MID), Mertens (FWD), Agun (FWD), Batshuayi (FWD), Demir (FWD).

With the team set up to be on the front foot and set to be in front of their home crowd, expect an attacking lineup with several former Premier League stars involved. Hakim Ziyech and Lucas Torreira should start, with former Norwich star Gabriel Sara also getting the nod. First-choice goalkeeper Muslera is back from suspension too, so should return between the sticks.

Tottenham Team News

Richarlison set for another spell on the sidelines

Ange Postecoglou recently saw the injury situation in north London improve, but he has since been dealt several blows and will be delighted the international break is around the corner.

Micky Van de Ven and Wilson Odobert both suffered hamstring injuries and are set for a spell on the sidelines, while Brazilian forward Richarlison returned recently and then was forced off during the win over Aston Villa with a hamstring problem of his own after assisting a goal for Dominic Solanke. He's now set for four weeks on the treatment table, while Argentine defender Cristian Romero picked up a foot injury in the same game and is unlikely to feature before the international break as a result.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Postecoglou shared an update on the fitness of his squad.

"From the weekend, Richy injured his hamstring. He'll be out for a while. Romero nothing too serious, still a chance for the weekend. Timo Werner a little bit of a groin issue he's carrying, so he didn't travel and Mikey Moore has a bit of a virus so he was left at home. Everyone else who was fit should be available."​​​​​​

Tottenham Predicted XI

James Maddison to return to the team

Tottenham Predicted XI: Vicario; Gray, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Bissouma, Bentancur; Johnson, Maddison, Kulusevski; Solanke.

Tottenham Predicted Substitutes: Forster (GK), Austin (GK), Porro (DEF), Dorrington (DEF), Casssanova (MID), Bergvall (MID), Sarr (MID), Johnson (FWD), Lankshear (FWD), Son (FWD).

Tottenham Hotspur are among three Premier League clubs showing interest in Boca Juniors winger Kevin Zenon, alongside Aston Villa and Newcastle United, according to CaughtOffside.

The Lilywhites are firmly among the admirers of the 23-year-old forward, who is being monitored by a host of European and English clubs, with Brighton, Benfica, Lyon, and Napoli also in the mix.

Reports suggest Spurs are beginning to show the most concrete interest in a possible deal for Zenon, who is likely to be available at a cut-price due to a release clause of just £13m in his contract with Boca.

A versatile footballer, Zenon can operate in several roles on the pitch, including midfield, left wing, or left-back, providing Ange Postecoglou with various options to utilise his talents within the Tottenham squad.

Zenon has primarily operated on the left side of Boca Juniors’ midfield this season, making 27 of his 39 appearances in that position in 2024, scoring three goals and registering six assists.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Zenon is third in goal contributions for Boca Juniors this season with 10, behind Edinson Cavani and Miguel Merentiel, who both have 14.

The 23-year-old, labelled a 'rising star', has become one of Boca’s most important players this term, having joined the Argentinian giants from Union Santa Fe in January.

His adaptability to different positions could prove useful for Postecoglou and Spurs, who have recently dealt with multiple injury setbacks.

Christian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Wilson Odobert, and Djed Spence are all not expected to feature until after the international break, while Richarlison’s availability is also uncertain after the Brazilian picked up an injury in their 4-1 win over Aston Villa at the weekend.

Before welcoming Premier League strugglers Ipswich Town on Sunday, Postecoglou’s men will travel to Galatasaray for a feisty Europa League encounter on Thursday.

Spurs will aim to maintain their perfect continental record on the midweek trip to Istanbul, having secured three consecutive wins to start the campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison is set to be ruled out for around four weeks after picking up a hamstring injury against Aston Villa, according to insider Paul O Keefe.

Richarlison has endured a difficult campaign as he continues to tackle multiple injury problems at Hotspur Way. The Brazilian forward recently returned to action and was given a chance to impress at home to Aston Villa off the bench.

Shortly after coming on, Richarlison produced an excellent assist for Dominic Solanke to fire home, but he appeared to injure himself in the process. Insider O Keefe has now confirmed that the former Everton attacker is set to miss four weeks with a hamstring problem...

"Richarlison expected to miss a minimum 4 weeks with a hamstring injury. Cuti Romero will continue to be assessed with his minor toe injury ahead of the upcoming games."

O Keefe also provided an update on Cristian Romero, but there is no timeframe on his injury at the moment. With Micky van de Ven missing in Spurs' previous fixture, Ange Postecoglou will be desperate for Romero to return to action sooner rather than later.

Richarlison posted on Instagram on Wednesday morning, breaking the silence after picking up his injury over the weekend...

"It’s a difficult moment, again. I was very happy working hard and playing, but now I am injured again. It’s difficult to say what I’m feeling in this moment, just pray for me… I hope God will protect me."

It's been a tricky few months for Richarlison, who appears to suffering from injury after injury, something he rarely had to deal with during his time at Everton. Thankfully for Postecoglou, Spurs have plenty of options in attack despite Wilson Odobert also being on the treatment table.

Mikey Moore and Timo Werner were both on the bench against Villa last time out, with Heung-min Son brought off early in the second half to be rested after a spell on the sideline.

Tottenham Hotspur star James Maddison is looking to force his way back into the forefront of boss Ange Postecoglou's Hotspur Way plans after it was initially decided that he cannot feature alongside Dejan Kulusevski in a central position, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.

The England international came off the bench to bag his third goal of the season as he curled a stoppage time free-kick into the corner of the net to round off a 4-1 victory over Aston Villa last weekend, boosting his chances of returning to the starting line-up in upcoming clashes with Galatasaray and Ipswich Town.

Maddison, who joined Tottenham in a £40million switch from Leicester City in June 2023, is desperate to force Postecoglou into a significant U-turn and regain his position as one of the first names on the team sheet as the north Londoners aim to build on returning to winning ways.

Maddison Faces Crucial Week in Bid for Starts

Creative midfielder was dropped for Aston Villa victory

Maddison is facing a big week to convince Postecoglou that he deserves to return to the starting line-up on a regular basis, according to GMS sources, after the Tottenham chief decided it was best to move away from deploying him in the middle of the park with Kulusevski as they went in search of recovering from a defeat to Crystal Palace last month.

The 27-year-old has highlighted that he is capable of causing havoc for defenders over the course of his Premier League career, thanks to finding the back of the net 50 times and contributing a further 44 assists in 201 appearances, but his Swedish teammate was preferred for the meeting with Aston Villa last time out.

Although Kulusevski coming away from the right flank has hindered Maddison, GMS sources have been informed that Pape Matar Sarr is also blocking his pathway into the first-team after becoming a crucial figure in the heart of Tottenham's midfield during the early stages of the campaign.

The 27-year-old creative midfielder is the second-highest earner at Spurs, with captain Heung-min Son being the only teammate pocketing more than his £170,000-per-week, and he is hopeful of being handed another chance to prove his worth ahead of domestic action being put on hold for the international break.

Tottenham's trip to Galatasaray for a Europa League clash and the Premier League contest with Ipswich are being viewed behind the scenes as two fixtures that could open the door for Maddison to make his mark, GMS sources have learned, meaning it may prove to be a pivotal week as he aims to give Postecoglou a selection dilemma.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: James Maddison has made 19 key passes over the course of 10 Premier League appearances this season

Maddison Poised for Prominent Ipswich Role

England international expected to thrive against strugglers

GMS sources have been told that Maddison is expected to be back in the starting line-up for the meeting with Premier League strugglers Ipswich as he is likely to thrive against Kieran McKenna's side, with Tottenham poised to dominate possession, but it is unclear over whether he will be heavily involved against Galatasaray on Thursday.

There are doubts over the strength of the squad that Postecoglou wants to field in Turkey, where Spurs will look to maintain their 100 per cent winning record in the Europa League having scored six goals and conceded just two when they have overcome Qarabag, Ferencvaros and AZ Alkmaar.

Tottenham have been fearful that Richarlison's hamstring problem could be a major setback at a time when Son and Timo Werner's minutes are being carefully managed as they aim to recover from injuries of their own, GMS sources recently revealed, and the Greek-Australian tactician has been left with a selection headache.

Postecoglou has been planning to adjust his team with the opponents in mind more than they were at the start of the season, GMS sources understand, and that has also counted against Maddison at stages as the former Celtic boss looks to ensure the north Londoners win the midfield battle.

Tottenham Hotspur are continuing to keep tabs on Angel Gomes and have been boosted in their hopes of being able to persuade the Lille star to make the move to Hotspur Way as he is eager to complete a switch to the Premier League ahead of next season, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.

Although Dominic Solanke became Spurs' club-record signing when he sealed a £65million switch from domestic rivals Bournemouth in August, boss Ange Postecoglou will be handed further opportunities to bolster his squad during the January and summer transfer windows next year.

Technical director Johan Lange and chairman Daniel Levy will oversee negotiations when Tottenham look to up the ante in the coming months, and Gomes is firmly in their sights as a potential addition despite forking out in the region of £43million when they acquired fellow central midfielders Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall ahead of the campaign getting underway.

Spurs Keeping Tabs on Gomes' Lille Situation

England international set to be available as free agent next year

Gomes is on Tottenham's radar after the north Londoners have started looking into their recruitment options ahead of next year, according to GMS sources, and they have been given hope of being able to come out on top in the race for his signature as his preference is to move to the Premier League if he embarks on a fresh challenge.

Spurs and other interested parties have sensed an opportunity to pounce as the England international is preparing to enter the final six months of his Lille deal, which allows him to pocket less than £11,500-per-week at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, and sides outside of France can attempt to tie him down to a pre-contract agreement at the turn of the year.

GMS sources have been informed that Gomes is considering his options ahead of his expected departure from his current surroundings, but his financial demands could dictate whether Tottenham are in a position to place themselves at the front of the queue for his services despite a determination to head to the Premier League.

Having come through the ranks at Manchester United, the 24-year-old made 10 appearances for the Red Devils before heading to Lille and enjoying an additional loan spell with Portuguese outfit Boavista, but he feels ready to make an impact in the English top flight when he becomes a free agent.

Gomes will be looking to secure a hefty pay rise and may demand in the region of £150,000-per-week when his suitors head to the negotiating table, GMS sources recently revealed, and that could prove to be a sticking point for Tottenham as they want to remain cautious when it comes to spending big on wages.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Angel Gomes has made 12 key passes over the course of nine Ligue 1 appearances this season

Lilywhites Facing Stiff Competition for Gomes

Two Premier League rivals among interested parties circling

GMS sources have been told that Tottenham are in danger of facing stiff competition for Gomes' signature because Premier League rivals Manchester United and Aston Villa are also known to be admirers, while Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig are monitoring his situation.

The Lilywhites initially wanted to bolster their options in the middle of the park during the summer, with Conor Gallagher considered before his £36million switch to Atletico Madrid and wages proved to be an issue, but they had to abandon those plans as there was no-one on the market at good value.

Tottenham want to ensure they do not overpay for targets and are desperate to refrain from leaving themselves with a bloated wage bill, GMS sources understand, which may prove problematic if Gomes is seeking a significantly higher pay package than he currently claims at Lille.

Troy Deeney has heaped praise on Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke after the forward netted two goals and produced an impressive performance for the Lillywhites against Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon.

Solanke had found the back of the net just twice in his first seven Premier League appearances for Spurs prior to the clash with Villa, and pressure had been starting to grow on the number nine. However, he delivered emphatically against Unai Emery's side, delicately lifting the ball over Emi Martinez for his first, before tucking home from a Richarlison cut-back to complete his brace.

Ange Postecoglou's team ultimately ran out 4-1 winners, a result that moves Tottenham up to seventh in the league, just three points behind Nottingham Forest in third. Rewarded with a place in Deeney's team of the week, the former Watford striker admitted that he had been sceptical of Solanke, but these goals have given him encouragement that the former Bournemouth man can lead Spurs to where they want to be.

Deeney Praises Solanke

The forward has been prolific in recent years

After scoring 21 goals in all competitions for Bournemouth last season, Tottenham opted to splash £55 million on Solanke this summer. In a move that was described as a 'gamble', and questioned by many due to the hefty fee, the 27-year-old has endured some growing pains throughout his early weeks in North London.

However, Sunday's exceptional outing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will have silenced some of the critics, finding himself in the right place at the right time to put Spurs in the ascendancy in the encounter. One of these critics, former Watford striker Deeney, complimented Solanke for the display, waxing lyrical about the Cobham graduate in his BBC team of the week:

"I have been giving him a bit of stick because I'm not sure if he is the man who will score enough goals to take Tottenham all the way to where they want to be, but he was really good in the win over Villa.

When I give people stick I also look to give them praise and credit. His goals were two proper poacher's finishes. He was much better and played on the last man, didn't come short and get involved.

He was always available for a cross and got his just rewards. Hopefully he can continue and start firing Tottenham to where they want to be."

Tottenham Hotspur are on course to trigger a 12-month extension written into Heung-min Son's contract instead of offering a lucrative new deal as Hotspur Way decision-makers are determined to remain cautious instead of putting further strain on the wage bill, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou was able to splash the cash during the summer transfer window, with Dominic Solanke becoming the north Londoners' club-record signing thanks to completing a £65million switch from Premier League rivals Bournemouth, but chairman Daniel Levy is desperate to ensure spending does not spiral out of control.

Son has been on Tottenham's books since sealing a £22million move from Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen in August 2015, and his current employers remain determined to keep him on board even though they want to avoid offering a significant pay rise at this stage of his career.

Captain Son Poised to Bag Contract Extension

North Londoners seriously considered negotiating long-term deal

Tottenham are leaning towards taking advantage of the opportunity to activate a one-year extension written into Son's contract instead of attempting to tie him down to a fresh agreement, according to GMS sources, as it has been decided by members of the hierarchy that it makes more financial sense to go in that direction.

Although the South Korea international is preparing to enter the final six months of his £190,000-per-week deal at the turn of the year, Spurs are able to end fears of him walking away as a free agent at the end of the season thanks to inserting an option to keep him on board for a further 12 months when they initially negotiated the terms.

GMS sources have been informed that Tottenham have seriously considered rewarding Son with a longer contract but, in a significant U-turn, there is a feeling behind the scenes that it would be ideal to avoid entering negotiations of that kind as they aim to remain careful about how they spend their cash on wages.

The 34-year-old captain has been limited to just 675 minutes of action in all competitions this season, having been forced to contend with hamstring and thigh problems, and his recent injuries resulted in being substituted before the hour mark during the win over Aston Villa last weekend as Postecoglou did not want to risk another setback.

Son's issues have also helped to convince Tottenham's hierarchy that they should not commit to handing him more substantial terms at this stage, GMS sources have learned, but he is poised to remain in his current surroundings beyond the end of the season due to an eagerness to trigger a 12-month extension.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Heung-min Son has registered 17 key passes and 12 shots over the course of seven Premier League appearances this season

Spurs Open to Son Staying Beyond Next Term

Capital club refusing to rule out eventually offering fresh terms

GMS sources have been told that Tottenham are refusing to rule out the possibility of eventually handing Son a fresh contract which will keep him on the capital club's beyond the 12-month extension if he performs well during the remainder of the campaign and is able to avoid returning to the treatment table.

The dangerous winger has become a fan favourite over the course of his time with the north Londoners and admitted that he is solely focused on his current employers despite holding no talks over his future when questioned about whether he was on course to put pen-to-paper in September.

Tottenham have always hoped that Son will see out his top level career with them, GMS sources understand, and their stance has not changed despite being on course to opt against handing him a long-term contract which would ensure he stays on their books for a number of years.

Postecoglou has been looking to ease the former Hamburg talisman back into the fray after recovering from injuries, and GMS sources recently revealed that has resulted in the Greek-Australian tactician being left with a dilemma due to Richarlison and Timo Werner having problems ahead of a Europa League clash with Galatasaray on Thursday.

Former Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Joe Hart said Ange Postecoglou ‘blew his mind’ with his tactical philosophy and revealed how the Australian coach helped him adapt his playing style while at Celtic.

Hart retired in the summer after spending three seasons with the Scottish giants, two of which were under Postecoglou before he left to become Spurs manager.

Speaking on BBC 5 Live, the former England keeper has now heaped praise on his former boss, revealing how Postecoglou changed his perspective on playing out from the back and left a more lasting impact than some of his recent managers, including Jose Mourinho and David Moyes:

“Ange Postecoglou blew my mind, because he really opened me up.

“I actually thing I’d be sat here, having this conversation and not being able to understand Maresca and what his thought process is, if I hadn’t experienced what I did in terms of that specific detail.

“I always thought playing out from the back, does that mean I have to do [Johan] Cruyff turns, pick passes? No, it doesn’t, it means I need to stand on the ball and make sure my centre halves are on either side of me, my six is showing.

“If the space is being created, I’m not playing out for the sake of it. I’m playing out to score. If that full press comes and all I see is opposition players next to mine, I'm given that clarity in my mind that there's a little dink into the striker's chest.

“All these things come together, and it’s a totally different game and a totally different thought process.”

Hart enjoyed two highly successful seasons under Postecoglou at Celtic, winning back-to-back trebles before the Australian took his talents to North London in the summer of 2023.

In his first campaign with Spurs, Postecoglou guided the Lilywhites to a fifth-place finish in the Premier League, raising fans’ hopes for a top-four finish and potentially their first title since 2008 this season.

Tottenham had a stunning week, securing two statement victories by first beating Man City in the Carabao Cup and then coming from behind to defeat Aston Villa 4-1 in the Premier League.

The victory moved Spurs up to seventh, closing the gap to the top four after last week’s loss at Crystal Palace, with ourth-placed Arsenal now only two points ahead of Postecoglou’s men.

The Lilywhites will next travel to face Galatasaray in the Europa League on Thursday before hosting Ipswich Town in the Premier League on Sunday.

"I would hope and expect him to get 20 goals at least this season, even because of the way Spurs play and how many chances they create. I think for a forward, that's a really good team to play in, because if he can stay fit, with the players you've got there with and how they whip balls into the box.

I mean, even the first goal was a great example, with Son whipping it in and Johnson getting on the end of it. I think with the way they play, he should be at least getting 20 goals this season."

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