GIVEMESPORT

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."

The game of football has seen a wide variety of players over the years, but who have been the most skilful people to ever grace the beautiful game?

Micah Richards and Gary Lineker have praised Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers after his ‘excellent’ first-half display in the 4-1 loss against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

The Villans fell to a disappointing defeat in the Premier League at the weekend, conceding four goals in the second half despite being 1-0 up at the interval thanks to Rogers' opener.

The attacking midfielder was a bright spot in an otherwise difficult afternoon in North London for Unai Emery's men, creating two chances and launching two shots on goal.

The 22-year-old was substituted by Emery with just over 20 minutes to go, after which Villa conceded three late goals, resulting in their second loss of the season.

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Richards admired Rogers' first-half performance, highlighting his technical abilities in midfield as well as his finishing:

“How good is Morgan Rogers? Seriously? He's ridiculous. From a player who’s come from Middlesbrough, the way he drives the ball in midfield, and he changes direction so quickly, and then he's got the end product as well.

“I just thought, obviously, we don't normally talk about the losing teams and a player sort of standing out, but I thought in that first half he was really excellent again.”

Lineker also praised Rogers' physicality, noting how difficult it is to dispossess the 22-year-old:

“He takes some getting off the ball when he's got it, he’s strong and holds people off.”

Rogers has been one of Villa's key players since joining from Middlesbrough in January, and recent reports suggest he could soon be rewarded with a new contract.

The Villans are now eager to reflect his growing importance to Emery's side, nearly a year after he signed a five-and-a-half-year deal upon his arrival from the Championship for £15million.

The 22-year-old has recorded six goals and four assists in 29 appearances since joining Villa last winter and already has four goal contributions this term, with only Ollie Watkins managing more (7).

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou is being made to contend with a significant selection headache ahead of clashes against Galatasaray and Ipswich Town as Richarlison's injury setback could force the tactician into rethinking plans to utilise Heung-min Son at Hotspur Way, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.

Although Spurs returned to winning ways as they sealed a 4-1 victory over Aston Villa last weekend, with Dominic Solanke grabbing a brace in the Premier League contest to take his tally to five goals since joining from Bournemouth in the summer, the three points came at a cost.

Postecoglou conceded that Richarlison sustained a hamstring problem after coming on as a substitute in the encounter, resulting in him having to be withdrawn, and Tottenham have been left sweating over whether he will be able to make a full recovery ahead of the fast-approaching international break.

Richarlison Blow May be Major Spurs Setback

Capital club poised to make further checks after being forced off

Tottenham are fearful that Richarlison's injury could be a major setback at a time when Son and Timo Werner's minutes are being carefully managed as they aim to shake off issues of their own, according to GMS sources, resulting in Postecoglou being left with a dilemma as he plans for this week's encounters with Galatasaray and Ipswich.

The Brazil international, who has been on Spurs' books since completing a £60million switch from Premier League rivals Everton in July 2022, is in danger of being unable to compete in the contests after suffering the injury while claiming an assist during the win over Aston Villa last time out.

GMS sources have been informed that further checks need to be made on Richarlison, Son and Werner to work out whether any of them are in a position to start the Europa League meeting with Turkish giants Galatasaray, while Mikey Moore could be handed a route back into the line-up if Postecoglou wants to take a cautious approach.

Spurs will make the trip to Rams Park on Thursday looking to maintain their 100 per cent winning record in continental action this season, having scored six goals and conceded just two when they have overcome Qarabag, Ferencvaros and AZ Alkmaar, but injuries are proving to be a problem as preparations are made.

Although Werner got his name on the scoresheet during the Carabao Cup victory over Manchester City last week, GMS sources have learned that he is not fully fit and he remained an unused substitute against Aston Villa as the decision was made for Postecoglou to take precautionary measures.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Richarlison, Heung-min Son and Timo Werner earn a combined total of £445,000-per-week at Tottenham Hotspur

Postecoglou Eager to Manage Son Carefully

Tactician does not want to risk another spell on sidelines

GMS sources have been told that Postecoglou has been planning to carefully manage Son's minutes on the pitch as he is desperate for his captain not to suffer any setbacks when he is viewed as having the capacity to dictate what Tottenham are capable of achieving this season.

The South Korea international has been limited to just eight starts in all competitions since the campaign got underway in August, thanks to sustaining hamstring and thigh issues, and concerns that he could aggravate recent problems resulted in the decision being made to substitute him before the hour mark against Aston Villa.

Postecoglou has been keen to ease Son back into the fray as he does not want to consider the possibility of being without his talisman for key fixtures, GMS sources understand, and Tottenham want him to build rhythm as well as consistency to allow him to have a significant impact in the coming weeks.

Spurs' preference was for the 32-year-old to have a full week to prepare for the Premier League meeting with Ipswich - which he is poised to start - and miss the trip to Galatasaray as he aims to return to full fitness, but Richarlison's injury could force the north Londoners to go in an alternative direction.

Son was recently ranked as the eighth-best winger in the world by GMS, and Greek-Australian tactician Postecoglou is aware that another injury setback involving the former Bayer Leverkusen talisman has the potential to derail Tottenham's hopes of ending their lengthy wait for silverware.

Tottenham Hotspur produced one of their best performances of the season to come from behind and beat fellow top-four rivals Aston Villa 4-1 on Sunday (November 3). Dominic Solanke grabbed a brace, and he'll get all the plaudits, but Pape Matar Sarr was also superb in the middle of the park.

Sarr, 22, formed a midfield trio alongside Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski and was sometimes the deepest of the three. He excelled against one of the Premier League's most formidable midfield units, with one key pass and impressive defensive nous to keep the visitors at bay.

The Senegalese midfielder's brilliance didn't go unnoticed by Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold. He waxed lyrical on football.london and gave him a rating of nine along with Solanke. He also highlighted the important role Sarr played in the Lilywhites' win defensively and in attack:

Got better and better as the game wore on and was crucial for Spurs' third goal as he won the ball back and slipped in Richarlison to set up Solanke. An all action performance.

Morgan Rogers gave Villa the lead in the 32nd minute with a neat finish after a pinball-like scenario in the Tottenham box. Ange Postecoglou's men bounced back in the second half and found an equaliser in the 49th minute through the in-form Brennan Johnson.

Solanke came to the fore with a delightful five-minute double with 15 minutes left. It took the English striker's tally to four goals in eight league games, and he was excellent at leading the line against Villa.

James Maddison put the icing on the cake for the hosts in the 90+6th minute with a slick free kick. It was a vital win for Postecoglou's men and boosted their top-four hopes after a disappointing loss to Crystal Palace last weekend.

Sarr has been a mainstay in Postecoglou's side since the Australian coach's appointment in July 2023. The young midfielder has broken into the senior team and continuously impressed with performances that sometimes go under the radar. Today was no different as he and Solanke's resilience helped the Lilywhites get back to winning ways.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has spoken out on his decision to substitute Heung-min Son early in the second half against Aston Villa, suggesting that the South Korean international was always going to be taken off due to his recent injury issues.

Son was taken off shortly after half-time against Aston Villa, despite Spurs chasing the game and needing a goal. The experienced forward was pictured on the bench in 'shock' after Postecoglou's decision, and he didn't look too happy despite his recent injury troubles.

Speaking after the game, Postecoglou has explained the decision to substitute Son in the second half...

"He was never going to play more than 55 minutes. Last time he came back from injury he got to the 60-minute mark and got injured again. He got through unscathed."

Son is a player who lives to score and create goals, so being taken off when the scoreline was 1-1 would have been disappointing for him. It turned out to be a smart decision from Postecoglou with Spurs going on to win 4-1 and Son getting some much-needed rest.

The north London outfit travel to Turkey to face Galatasaray in the Europa League next week and Postecoglou will be desperate to take a fully-fit squad. After Son suffered a setback with his injury recently, it made perfect sense for the Australian manager to be careful with his minutes.

If Tottenham had have lost the game against Villa, then questions marked will have been asked of Postecoglou, but thankfully for him, they coped without their captain with the likes of Dominic Solanke and substitute James Maddison chipping in with the goals.

Spurs have plenty of options in attack that risking Son for the whole game wasn't necessary. Richarlison came on for the winger before getting injured late on, but the Brazilian provided an assist for Solanke. Maddison replaced him before scoring a free-kick in the dying minutes. Postecoglou also had Mikey Moore and Timo Werner to call upon if needed, but the attacking duo weren't needed as Spurs sailed to a comfortable victory in the end.