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Tottenham Hotspur are now keen to snap up a rising star in La Liga for Ange Postecoglou, and a move may only be one step away according to a new report.

Tottenham looking for attacking options

Spurs are still on the hunt for attackers to bolster their frontline despite a summer window which saw two arrive. Dominic Solanke became the club's record signing when he arrived from fellow Premier League side Bournemouth in a deal worth £65m and has hit the ground running at his new club as he looks to fill the shoes vacated by England teammate Harry Kane 12 months ago, form which has seen him recalled to the England set up for the first time in seven years.

Meanwhile, the club also signed winger Wilson Odobert from Burnley, with the French teenager seen very much as one for the future after impressing in the Premier League last season, though injury means that he will have to wait to really begin showing what he can do in north London.

But there are concerns over depth, with Dejan Kulusevski having been moved to a more central area in midfield alongside James Maddison, and Timo Werner only on loan for the 24/25 campaign, though there is an option to buy the German.

There are also question marks over Richarlison, who has failed to impress consistently since his £50m move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium from Everton, and Heung Min Son cannot continue to play every game for the Lilywhites. Now, Spurs are looking to freshen up their frontline and have turned to LaLiga in the hope to do so.

Tottenham eyeing Spanish forward

That comes as reports in Spain claim that Postecoglou's side have joined the race to sign promising Valencia striker Hugo Duro. The 24-year-old has also been in the sights of West Ham United and has scored twice already this season including against league leaders Barcelona.

He still has four years left to run on his £67,000 a week deal in Spain, but there are reports that he could be available for between €25m and €30m (£20.8m and £25m) in the upcoming transfer windows.

As per reports in Spain, Spurs have joined the race for Duro and they go as far as to suggest that Tottenham "could be one step away" from signing the striker.

That comes with Tottenham being the "most interested in securing his services" and Daniel Levy, Postecoglou and co have identified him as someone who can "add dynamism and youth" to their squad. Valencia for their part do not "rule out a possible exit", though the step that is still required is an offer being made for the striker, which Spurs are still yet to do.

Any move for another striker could likely need to come after a departure, with both Richarlison and Will Lankshear among the options Postecoglou can call on at present. However, with Richarlison failing to convince and Lankshear unexposed, it's not beyond the realms of possibility.

Ange Postecoglou has changed the narrative. Admittedly, it was all a bit negative for Tottenham Hotspur throughout the first few weeks of the 2024/25 campaign, with successive Premier League defeats against Newcastle United and arch-rivals Arsenal spoiling the mood after an impressive pre-season and summer transfer window.

Now, though, this latest Spurs iteration have come into their own, winning each of their past five matches and perhaps claiming the victory of Postecoglou's tenure so far after dispatching Manchester United away from home last weekend.

Now, before the October international break, Tottenham must throw everything at defeating Brighton & Hove Albion on the South Coast, trailing first-placed Liverpool by eight points and Arsenal and Manchester City by seven after Saturday's results.

New Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler, aged only 31, enjoyed a blistering start to life at the AMEX and won August's Premier League Manager of the Month award, though the Seagulls have failed to win each of their past three outings, drawing three.

Tottenham are brimming with confidence, though they will have to wage battle without their talisman, their captain.

Spurs team news vs Brighton

He's missed their past two matches, and skipper Heung-min Son will be sidelined once again for Tottenham's trip to the South Coast, meaning Timo Werner may reprise his role on the left flank once more, with Wilson Odobert still out.

Mikey Moore has got fans gushing after his emphatic start to life in Postecoglou's first team. The 17-year-old is tipped for big things and garnered praise for his display against Ferencvaros in midweek, but he must not be overloaded with action and expectation at this fledgling phase.

Tottenham's craggy-faced manager is anticipated to ring the changes though, having unleashed four teenagers - including Moore - from the outset in the Europa League.

Radu Dragusin is available after his European suspension, though Destiny Udogie is a fitness doubt and a late call must be made on whether he can play, let alone start.

One of Djed Spence or Ben Davies would be considered to step in, but Postecoglou might be tempted to go down a different track and unleash Micky van de Ven in a make-shift role.

Why Micky van de Ven should start at left-back

Hürzeler deserves some praise, so let's give him some. The Premier League's youngest-ever manager had some big boots to fill in those of Roberto De Zerbi, but he's successfully inculcated the tactical plan that worked so well with St. Pauli in Germany.

Back in June, after Hürzeler's appointment, Bundesliga 2 expert Matthew Karagich remarked that "they don't want to just beat you, they want to destroy you."

It's an aggressive and possession-centric approach, to be sure, and one that has slotted into the Seagulls' way of life, tinkering at the existing prototype and shaping it to his own design.

Brighton like to dominate their fixtures, but so too do Tottenham, which hints at a curious battle of control. Van de Ven could be a brilliant outlet to assert authority in this regard, replacing Udogie with an athletic approach to wide defending, all the while retaining his sharp defensive qualities.

Let's break it down. Van de Ven has already claimed two assists from six Premier League matches this season, notably carving Manchester United open last weekend with a devastating run across the pitch to serve up the red-hot Brennan Johnson.

It's no wonder the Dutchman is the fastest player ever recorded in the Premier League, quite patent upon watching the wheels turn. It will also come as little surprise that he ranks among the top 13% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

Successful take-ons occur when a player dribbles past an opponent, retaining possession until the sequence has concluded.

Van de Ven has also demonstrated a level of ball retention that is crucial for the fluency of Postecoglou's system, completing 93% of his passes in the top flight this year but also averaging 0.4 key passes per game, speaking of natural-born creativity that coexists with his command and composure.

He's one of the most unique talents out there and showcased on several occasions toward the backend of the 2023/24 season that he can successfully moonlight in a wide role, dominating against Sheffield United on the final day of the Premier League term.

Penning his post-match thoughts after that match, fooball.london's Alasdair Gold wrote: 'Named at left-back once again and played a key role in Kulusevski's opener after winning the ball down the touchline before playing it inside. Almost found himself on the scoresheet just prior to Porro's strike as the ball was cleared against him and it forced Foderingham to tip the ball wide of the post. Fared well at left-back.'

Still only 23, Van de Ven has so much more to offer down N17, and while he's not perfect, the Netherlands international offers a skillset that, quite simply, scant few others across the continent can mimic, let alone match.

Brighton will look to overpower and subdue Tottenham's threat in the Premier League this afternoon, but with Van de Ven stepping in for Udogie, a sixth successive victory in all competitions might just be on the cards for the visitors.

Tottenham Hotspur's 2024/25 campaign has been somewhat stop-start, but there are signs that Spurs have hit a rich vein of form and are beginning to bring it all together.

Last weekend's 3-0 thrashing of Manchester United at Old Trafford was arguably the statement victory of Ange Postecoglou's reign, effectively lifting the club back into the limelight after a poor opening phase that allowed those at the top of the Premier League to create instant space ahead.

Tottenham are bridging that gap with a talented group starting to shine, with some players proving to be the focal points.

One man in particular is truly going from strength to strength: Brennan Johnson. The Wales international has faced his share of detractors since moving to north London, but he's starting to silence the doubters.

Brennan Johnson's season in numbers

Johnson has a faculty for ball-carrying. Quick feet, dribbling that crackles with electricity and a reliably churning gas tank, he's proving to be an excellent option for Postecoglou, especially now that captain Son Heung-min has been sidelined with a hamstring injury.

The 23-year-old has ebbed and flowed from desirable potency for much of his Tottenham career, but has stepped up big-time recently, remarkably scoring five goals in his past five matches - quite the streak.

Now, the goals are coming in apace. Johnson seldom proved that he can be the kind of winger to score with high-level consistency throughout his maiden year, but five goals in as many recent matches showcases a knack that is going to serve Postecoglou well throughout the campaign as he battles for success across multiple fronts.

As per FBref, he also ranks among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists (0.36) and the top 7% for touches in the attacking penalty area (7.22) per 90, illustrating his fleet-footedness and consequent playmaking prowess.

It's pleasing stuff, not least because he's not firing at goal profligately, instead learning to be more economical in his attacking efforts and more clinical with his shot-taking.

Postecoglou signed Johnson from Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest in a deal worth £47.5m last August, which was a fee that raised a few eyebrows, for Johnson had only plied his trade at top-flight level for one year.

He was part of a collection that was tasked with compensating for the loss of club legend Harry Kane, who has now been directly replaced by Dominic Solanke, but is of such a lofty standard that he was only ever going to be supplanted in the aggregate.

Speaking of Kane, he has - of course - been brilliant for Bayern Munich this season. Tottenham might have a prolific new star in Johnson, but he's nowhere near the level of the England captain, who has started the 2024/25 season in exceptional form, with ten goals and five assists from only eight games across all competitions.

Harry Kane's performances for Bayern Munich

Kane has played most of his career football with Tottenham, but completed a £100m transfer to Bayern in August 2023 after scoring 280 goals and adding 61 assists across 235 appearances for the north Londoners.

The England skipper was due his flowers and received them, allowed with affection to pursue a career overseas to earn his fortune in silverware. He left a "superstar" with his head held high as Spurs' all-time top scorer - and his nation's, too.

Ironically, though, his career-long drought continued during his first year in Bavaria, with Bayern toppled in the Bundesliga by the invincible Bayer Leverkusen before losing the Euro 2024 final with England. The wait for a major honour drags on.

Kane might not have got his mitts on the Premier League trophy during his distinguished career in his homeland, but he did prove himself to be one of the greatest forwards to grace the competition, sitting second in the all-time scoring charts and with a superior strike rate to the record holder, Alan Shearer.

Tottenham were never going to be able to replace him last season, so perhaps Postecoglou was thinking in 4D when deciding to simply not do so. Son stepped up to a focal role at centre-forward and performed with aplomb, scoring 16 goals and supplying five assists from 24 games as a striker under the Australian's wing.

Johnson also deputised up top on a handful of occasions, most notably during the 2-0 defeat against Manchester City at the end of the 2023/24 campaign - the £70k-per-week talent was always going to have a tough time against Pep Guardiola's defensive titans, but he proved that he can operate effectively in a hybrid centre-forward role, winning all four of his ground duels and making three key passes, as per Sofascore.

In accord with the rest of his career, Kane blitzed his way through German football last season, albeit without winning anything. The 31-year-old superstar notched 44 goals and 12 assists across 45 fixtures, with Die Roten CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen remarking that he is a "365-degree striker" who had swiftly "conquered the hearts of our fans in the truest sense of the word".

Tottenham are now working to sign a new midfielder in 2025, and have reportedly leaned on a former employee's expertise to help them get a move over the line for Ange Postecoglou's side.

Tottenham enjoy strong season start

Spurs followed up their 3-0 Premier League win over Manchester United with a 2-1 victory over Ferencvaros in the Europa League, helping them record five straight wins since a home defeat in the north London derby.

They are one of five sides to have taken maximum points in the Europa League to date, while a poor start to the season is now firmly behind them, having surged up the table in domestic action too.

It has all come while Postecoglou trials a new system in north London, which sees Dejan Kulusevski playing as a central midfielder alongside James Maddison, rather than on the right flank where he had spent the majority of his Spurs career to date.

"Deki [Kulusevski] is doing great. He's been out of this world in many respects as to what he's able to do in a central role," Postecoglou said ahead of his side's clash with Brighton.

"We used him wide last year because we didn't have too many options out there and that's where he was comfortable. We started using him inside and I felt he felt that it unshackled him a little bit.

"He has an unbelievable capacity to run on and off the ball, his physical numbers are ridiculous and he has the quality to hurt teams with that."

The base of midfield remains of some concern to Spurs, with Yves Bissouma yet to truly be trusted this season by Postecoglou and Rodrigo Bentancur often struggling to complete 90 minutes. Now, reports suggest that Spurs may have identified the future of that position, and could look to sign him in 2025 with a little bit of help.

Spurs eye Serie A maestro

That comes as former Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson revealed that Italy international Samuele Ricci is a player that Tottenham could look to move for in the summer, with Spurs "certainly interested in signing" the Torino starlet.

The midfielder has become a stalwart in their midfield and has racked up four caps for the Italian national side. Still just 23 years old, he has reportedly caught the eye of Manchester City too, as they look to find an alternative to the injured Rodri.

As it stands, Ricci is down to the final two years of his £30,000 a week deal in Turin, and is yet to pen fresh terms. He was described as a "very strong" and "complete" defensive midfielder by Rising Ballers on X, which is precisely what the Lilywhites are missing, and he could be on the move this summer.

Tottenham have recently had success in the Serie A market, and remain alert to it thanks to the work of former chief Fabio Paratici, with Football Insider claiming that the club and Paratici have "maintained contact" despite a football ban for the latter.

They add that "the majority of Spurs’ scouting and recruitment system was established under his guidance", which has resulted in strong links to Serie A that has allowed them to beat clubs to the signings of Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario and more in recent seasons.

Now, he could have lent a helping hand to land one of Europe's most promising midfielders, with the same report claiming that Paratici's team are "now working" on a deal. Though well stocked in that position, Spurs are lacking a truly world-class option at the base of midfield. Should they beat Manchester City to Rodri's replacement, they may well have found one.

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Netherlands midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has admitted he thinks Ange Postecoglou has made a mistake letting one member of his squad leave permanently this summer.

Tottenham's impressive youth ranks

Tottenham have made a strong start to the Premier League in their second season under Postecoglou, and much of their good work has been from younger talents in the squad.

Brennan Johnson has managed five goals and assists in his last five outings and Destiny Udogie has impressed, while there has also been plenty of fascination around 17-year-old Mikey Moore, who was handed his first Spurs start in their win over Ferencvaros after three previous substitute appearances.

A winger by trade, the teenager is considered one of the next big things in north London alongside fellow young attacker Will Lankshear, who also started against the Hungarian side, and the two are highly regarded within the north London club.

But now, a former Tottenham star has revealed that he believes despite all the good work Tottenham have done in integrating youth, one young talent may well have got away from them, and it will come to cost them should he continue to impress.

Van der Vaart claims one got away

That comes in the shape of former Tottenham youngster Troy Parrott, who joined AZ Alkmaar in a permanent deal over the summer after several mixed loan spells. The 21-year-old has enjoyed a fantastic start for his new side, scoring five times in seven Eredivisie outings as well as finding the net in the Europa League.

It follows mixed loan spells in the Championship and at Excelsior, which convinced Spurs to cash in on the 21-year-old, something that their former midfielder believes will come back to haunt them.

"I think he’s going to be a really big player,” Van der Vaart, who represented Tottenham on 77 occasions across three seasons, said in quotes picked up by the Dutch media.

“I don’t know what it is. I saw him at Excelsior, but then he was more on the counter. Now he is a good, footballing striker, who actually has everything. He just needs to develop his killer instinct a bit.

“He can perhaps play football a bit too well to be a killer. Then you start wandering a bit and that costs strength. In the final phase you lack some strength to score. I really think he is a gem.”

With Richarlison, Dominic Solanke and Lankshear at the club already, it is easy to see why Parrott decided to head away from north London. Spurs will just be hoping that they made the right decision on allowing a permanent exit.

After breaking their transfer record with the addition of Dominic Solanke during the offseason, real optimism surrounded Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.

However, after just one win from their opening four league fixtures, doubt was cast over the club’s ambitions to secure Champions League football during Ange Postecoglou’s second season at the helm.

Their recent run of five successive wins has reignited the belief within the fanbase that the Aussie can bring success to North London during the ongoing campaign, as the club look to end their 16-year wait for a trophy.

Brennan Johnson has been a real beneficiary of the club’s recent form, scoring in five successive matches for the first time in his career, silencing some of the doubters who hurled abuse at him on social media.

Along with the Welshman, one other talent has also thrived with increased minutes in the first team, producing performances that look well beyond his tender age.

Mikey Moore’s recent form for Tottenham

It is very rare you see a 17-year-old seamlessly transition into senior football, but Spurs superstar Mikey Moore has done just that over recent weeks, making two appearances for Postecoglou’s side in the last seven days.

The forward, who is a product of the club’s academy, came off the bench during the 3-0 victory against Manchester United, before being rewarded with his first competitive start against Ferencvaros in the Europa League a couple of days ago.

Whilst it may seem a daunting prospect for a young player making their first senior start on the European stage, Moore excelled and featured for the entirety of the contest.

He wasn’t afraid to make his mark on the meeting, attempting seven dribbles as he aimed to mark his start with a first senior goal.

He may have failed to get on the scoresheet, but the youngster was a constant threat, managing to complete 80% of his attempted passes, whilst also winning four fouls with the opposition unable to get near the academy graduate.

Moore’s subsequent form could spell the end for one current first-team member who has failed to produce the goods for Postecoglou’s side in recent weeks.

The man who could lose his place to Moore

Spurs forward Timo Werner rejoined the club on another season-long loan from RB Leipzig during the summer after spending the second half of last season on loan in North London.

The 28-year-old, who previously played for London rivals Chelsea, has failed to get on the scoresheet in his seven outings since his return, with his wasteful nature in front of goal clear to see.

Werner missed two clear one-on-one opportunities at Old Trafford last weekend, potentially handing Spurs a more emphatic victory than what they walked away with.

The German, who earns a reported £165k-per-week, also missed yet another glorious chance after an excellent ball through by youngster Moore against Ferencvaros, having ultimately fired his effort into the side netting from the angle.

Whilst his latest blunder had no impact on the final result, the forward simply can’t afford to be missing this many clear-cut chances, especially in closer outings with Postecoglou’s side potentially dropping vital points should he replicate his recent failures in front of goal.

As a result, he could lose his place in the squad to youngster Moore, with the 17-year-old showing more quality and finesse in attacking areas than the Champions League winner.

The academy graduate has showcased he has the ability to be a success, with Werner potentially halting his development in North London - giving boss Postecoglou a decision to make in giving the youth prospect an increase in minutes to further demonstrate what he can produce on a regular basis.

Tottenham Hotspur are currently on a fantastic run of form under boss Ange Postecoglou, winning five games in a row in all competitions.

The run started in the Carabao Cup against Coventry City, before two Premier League victories and two wins in the Europa League against Qarabağ and Ferencvaros.

Last night’s victory came thanks to goals from Pape Sarr and Brennan Johnson, with Spurs boasting a wrath of first-team changes allowing numerous fringe and youth players to shine.

Despite Bergvall’s impressive display, one other first-team member caught the eye, staking his claim for a regular starting role at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Mikey Moore’s stats against Ferencvaros

He may only be 17 years of age, but forward Mikey Moore has already caught the eye of supporters during pre-season, which has allowed him to feature under Postecoglou in the Spurs first-team setup so far this season.

Last night was the first time he featured for an entire 90 minutes, with Moore showcasing his talent despite his tender age.

The academy graduate managed a total of 68 touches, completing 33 passes and attempting seven dribbles - the most of any player on the pitch during the Europa League victory.

Moore also won six duels and won four fouls as he impressed with and without the ball for Postecoglou’s side during the European outing.

He may not have registered a goal or assist, but his performance will certainly have given the Spurs boss something to think about ahead of the club’s trip to face Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

However, he may struggle to dislodge one talent who is currently in somewhat of a purple patch after a disappointing start to the 2024/25 campaign.

The man who is Spurs’ own Saka

Spurs winger Johnson was subject to shocking abuse by some of the Spurs fanbase on social media during the opening weeks of the season, which led to the Welshman deactivating his Instagram account.

However, he’s since enjoyed an excellent run in front of goal, scoring in five consecutive matches - the best run of his professional career to date.

His subsequent form has seen him noted as a similar player to Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, as per FBref, with Johnson finally starting to show glimpses as to why the club forked out £47.5m for his signature last summer.

The “frightening” Welshman, as described by content creator Dan Cook, also known as HLTCO, has scored more goals in the Premier League so far this season than his Gunners counterpart, whilst averaging a higher goal per shot on target rate - demonstrating how clinical he can be in the final third.

Johnson has also averaged more progressive carries and shots per 90, further showcasing his talents in attacking areas, with the former Nottingham Forest really starting to settle into life in North London.

A carry is considered progressive if the ball is moved towards the opponent's goal at least 10 yards from its starting point or is carried into the penalty area.

Having seen Saka - who boasts 118 goals and assists in 235 games for the Emirates side - dazzle for their rivals on the right flank, Spurs will be encouraged that they may have unearthed their own version of the Englishman in Johnson.

Whilst Moore’s display in the Europa League will undoubtedly stake his claim for a regular starting role under Postecoglou, Johnson’s current run of form could see him become undroppable - potentially seeing the youngster having to settle for an impact role.

However, many will be hoping that in the near future the pair can star together in attacking areas for many years to come.

Tottenham legend Glenn Hoddle has shared what he spotted from manager Ange Postecoglou's coaching staff in the dugout last night, as the Lilywhites scraped past Ferencvaros in the Europa League.

Ferencvaros 1-2 Tottenham - match report

On paper, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the Premier League side would win this one with ease, but it ended up being a hard-fought victory in Hungary.

Postecoglou fielded a very young side on the night, with four players aged 19 or under named in Tottenham's starting eleven. Damola Ajayi was promoted to first-team Tottenham training and the Europa League squad, among other new youngsters, but they ultimately didn't get on the field.

The north Londoners went into the game minus Radu Dragusin (suspension), Destiny Udogie, Son Heung-min, Richarlison and Wilson Odobert, with Postecoglou selecting a host of teenagers in the impressive Mikey Moore, Will Lankshear, Lucas Bergvall and summer signing Archie Gray.

Spurs were given an early wake-up call when the home side had a goal narrowly ruled out for offside 15 minutes into the contest, but Postecoglou's men swiftly responded by taking the lead just minutes later.

Taking advantage of a ricochet, midfielder Pape Matar Sarr was on hand to stroke the ball past Denes Dibusz from close range to make it 1-0, with Pedro Porro then nearly doubling their lead just past the half-hour mark - driving in a low effort which unluckily struck the post.

Timo Werner really should've made it 2-0 after the restart, missing a glorious chance after feeding off a brilliant low ball in from Moore.

Ferencvaros made Spurs sweat amid a hostile atmosphere the Groupama Arena, but there was no stopping the in-form Brennan Johnson, who made it five goals in his last five matches with an exceptional finish into the bottom corner on 85 minutes.

It was a nervy last few minutes when the home side grabbed a late goal back, but it was too little too late for them as Spurs sealed their second Europa League win of the campaign and extended their winning run.

Glenn Hoddle shares what he spotted from Tottenham staff against Ferencvaros

Commentating on the game for TNT Sports, pundit Hoddle shared something he spotted from the Tottenham dugout during the clash.

Indeed, Hoddle says the Spurs coaching staff were "desperate" for Lankshear to score last night, and the 19-year-old had a chance too. However, he couldn't quite muscle his way past the Ferencvaros defence - with academy teammate Moore instead taking all the headlines for his excellent display.

"Lankshear's having a fight with the defender, he's very unlucky," said Hoddle at 1-0 (via BBC Sport).

"All of the coaching staff desperate for the young man to score. Desperate defending."

Tottenham signed the teenage forward for £2 million from Sheffield United in 2022, and he has since gone on to impress in the youth set-up - with chairman Daniel Levy and co handing Lankshear a new deal running until 2029.

The Englishman will have further opportunities to impress in the Europa League based off Thursday evening, and he must grab them with both hands.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has promoted an unseen teenager to his Europa League squad, with the youngster also spotted in training ahead of their clash with Ferencvaros on Thursday evening.

Ferencvaros vs Tottenham - match preview and team news

The Lilywhites have travelled to Hungary to face Ferencvaros in Budapest this evening, with Spurs' second European game of the season kicking off at 5:45pm.

The match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports for supporters, who will be expecting Postecoglou's side to seal their fifth-straight win in all competitions after much-needed victories against Coventry City, Brentford, Qarabag and Man United last weekend.

Brennan Johnson has been on fire since being forced to delete his social media channels due to online abuse - scoring in each of Spurs' last four wins - while summer signing Dominic Solanke will see tonight as a real opportunity to continue his own goalscoring streak.

Their face-off against the Hungarian minnows also comes as an opportunity for Tottenham to hand some promising youngsters opportunities on the big stage. Lucas Bergvall has been tipped for more Spurs game time in the build-up to their Europa League campaign, while injuries to both Son Heung-min and Destiny Udogie give fringe members of the squad a chance to impress in their stead.

Postecoglou has already confirmed his plans to utilise teenage summer signing Archie Gray, following Radu Dragusin's suspension for and Udogie's suspension, with the former Leeds starlet capable of playing a variety of roles.

"Archie can play centre-back, he's played full-back, played midfield, played left-back," said Postecoglou on Gray's involvement.

"He's a very versatile player. He takes in information well. With Radu [Dragusin] being suspended and Destiny [Udogie] out we're definitely going to need him at the back. We've got a couple of different options about where we use him but I'd be comfortable using him in any of those areas."

Gray is by no means the only teenage talent at Postecoglou's disposal either, with football.london journalist Alasdair Gold sharing three new names that have been included in their Europa League squad and could make the bench this evening.

Ange promotes Damola Ajayi to first-team Tottenham training and Europa League squad

Alfie Dorrington and Dante Cassanova were spotted training before Ferencvaros, as well as unseen 18-year-old winger Damola Ajayi. The winger, described as "exciting" and "direct" by Gold, is yet to make his professional debut for Spurs.

The Englishman boasts a goal and an assist for Tottenham's Under-21s across six appearances in all competitions this season, following on from his impressive tally of 16 goals and eight assists in total for their Under-18s team last season.

Postecoglou has now promoted Ajayi to Tottenham's Europa League squad, with the youngster also photographed training in Hungary ahead of this afternoon's clash.

If Spurs' head coach does include Ajayi on the bench today, he could even make his first senior appearance, but it remains to be seen whether Postecoglou shows that much faith in the starlet during a game they need to win.

European champions Real Madrid have another Tottenham star in their thinking alongside Cristian Romero, who has been heavily linked with a move to the Bernabeu.

Carlo Ancelotti eyeing elite Premier League centre-backs

The La Liga heavyweights, according to various reports, have been monitoring some of the Premier League's biggest-name central defensive stars of late - as manager Carlo Ancelotti looks to shore up his backline.

Real currently have four senior options at their disposal in that area - Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, Eder Militao, Jesus Vallejo - but Alaba's ACL tear and the fact Rudiger is approaching his twilight years highlights Ancelotti's need for another world-class centre-back.

A number of elite names are on club president Florentino Perez's radar heading into 2025, with Arsenal defender William Saliba attracting serious interest from Real. The Frenchman is a pivotal asset for Mikel Arteta, though, and Arsenal have adopted a firm 'not-for-sale' stance around Saliba.

Leny Yoro was also on Ancelotti's target list before he made the move to Old Trafford with Man United, while Tottenham defender Romero is believed to have admirers at Real.

The Argentine, who's started every single Premier League game this season, has really come on leaps and bounds under manager Ange Postecoglou - even managing to double down on his disciplinary record.

Romero is wanted by Real, as per various media sources, but it is also believed that the Lilywhites wish to tie their star centre-back down with a new £200,000-per-week contract - which would make him the club's highest earner above Son Heung-min (GiveMeSport).

Real Madrid now considering talks to sign Micky van de Ven from Spurs

Now, according to Spanish news outlet Defensa Central, chairman Daniel Levy may also have to worry about the La Liga heavyweights tempting Micky van de Ven.

The Dutchman's exceptional mazy run at Man United last weekend - which ended in his assist for Brennan Johnson to open the scoring - brought more attention to his sheer pace, power and comfort driving forward in possession, qualities which sum up his all-round game as an elite-level defender and bargain buy from Wolfsburg last summer.

This hasn't gone unnoticed in Spain, as it is believed Real are considering talks to sign van de Ven from Spurs amid their links to his centre-back partner Romero. Defensa writes that the 23-year-old has a market value of £43 million, but Levy is likely to demand much more than this for such a quality asset.

“Romero and Micky van de Ven are arguably the best pairing at the moment in central defence in the Premier League on form. They’ve been immense," said pundit Rio Ferdinand on his YouTube channel last season.

“This Micky van de Ven, bro, he is the real deal. He’s the real deal. I saw his debut the other day for Holland. I’ve seen him right up close twice this season. And he looks supremely comfortable for a young centre-back that’s come into a new league. So watch this space for this kid.”