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Their own Saka: Ange could save his job by unleashing "fearless" Spurs ace

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After the excitement of emphatically beating Champions League-chasing Aston Villa in the Premier League last weekend, Tottenham Hotspur went on to lose their following two games.

Ange Postecoglou has been able to turn his Spurs side into one of the most exciting and entertaining teams to watch in the entire country, but he has yet to be able to drill their inconsistent streak out of them.

The North Londoners can look near enough unstoppable one day and easily beatable the next, and if the Australian doesn't do something about this soon, he could be in trouble.

Fortunately, there is something he could try, something Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta did a few years ago when his position was under increasing scrutiny.

Spurs' up and down season

So, it's quite challenging to decide whether this season has been a good one for Spurs just yet, as following a poor start in which they drew to Leicester City and lost to Arsenal and Newcastle United, their form has been a little all over the place.

For example, in the Premier League, the North Londoners have hammered the high-flying Brentford, tore Manchester United to pieces at Old Trafford, thumped West Ham United and Villa 4-1 and yet, they have also handed Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace their only wins of the season and managed to throw away a 2-0 lead in their game against Brighton & Hove Albion last month.

This inconsistency has even followed the Lilywhites into the Europa League, as last week they came away 3–2 losers from their clash with Galatasaray.

Moreover, with the chances the Turkish side had in that game, the final score was really quite flattering to Postecoglou's side.

What makes the whole situation even more confusing is that while some players have been notably poor this season, like Radu Dragusin, who was sent off on his Europa League debut for the club, and Timo Werner, whose only positive contributions so far this season has been his performance against Manchester City in the League Cup, it's hard to determine just why the team cannot maintain a good run of form.

The most straightforward answer may just be that the side are still adapting to Postecoglou's style and philosophy, and therefore, fans should expect more teething problems as the season progresses.

However, if that's the case, the manager may want to copy something Arteta did a few years ago, something that could both get more fans back on side and pay dividends in the coming campaigns: start Mikey Moore.

Why Postecoglou must start playing Moore

Yes, one of the ways Postecoglou could get a reaction out of his team and potentially please some unsure fans at the same time is to involve Moore in much more football this season once he gets over his current illness.

Now, we don't mean bringing him off the bench every few games or starting him in the cup competitions.

Instead, the manager should be giving the highly-rated, hungry and "fearless" youngster, as dubbed by James Maddison, the opportunity to start a considerable number of games this season.

There may be some who'll argue that he's too young, but as the old adage goes, if you're good enough, you're old enough, and based on his sensational performance against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League, for which he won the Man of the Match award and was compared to Neymar by Maddison, he's certainly good enough.

Moreover, while it is only junior football, his form for the Lilywhite's youth teams is simply staggering.

In 33 games for the various junior sides, the up-and-coming "superstar", as dubbed by journalist Fabrizio Romano, has scored 20 goals and provided 15 assists, so keeping him at that level feels entirely pointless.

Lastly, for the fans who are unsure, you only have to look down the road at your bitter rivals, as when Arteta was under immense pressure a few years ago, he and the rest of the team were dragged out of the depths by a 19-year-old Bukayo Saka and 20-year-old Emile Smith Rowe.

They were both massively inexperienced in the 2020/21 season, yet Saka ended the campaign with a haul of seven goals and nine assists from 46 appearances, and Smith Rowe racked up seven goals and seven assists in 37 games, but perhaps more importantly, they helped to get fans back on side and were shaped by the manager.

Ultimately, it is a lot to ask of Moore, but given the esteem in which he is held by so many in the know, it feels more like a matter of when and not if Postecoglou starts handing him more and more game time and, given the pressure he currently finds himself under, why not now?

Time's up: Spurs can finally axe Dragusin by signing "immense" £68m star

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The unpredictable nature of Tottenham Hotspur's form this season continues to be a problem for Ange Postecoglou.

The Australian's side dismantled an incredibly talented Aston Villa outfit last Sunday, but fell to a 3-2 defeat to Galatasaray during the week and lost to Ipswich Town on the weekend.

The Tractor Boys were still without a Premier League victory heading into the game, and while they have some talented players in their side, they were massive underdogs.

Yet, the North Londoners managed to fall apart totally, and while there were plenty of poor performances across the board, one player once again stood out for the wrong reasons, a player who has become a real liability this season: Radu Dragusin.

Dragusin's dreadful form

Yes, arguably the worst player on the pitch yesterday afternoon was Romanian centre-back Dragusin, and while a poor performance here or there is forgivable, it's not been just one bad performance from the 22-year-old this year.

He's made nine appearances for the team so far, and while he did look quite good against Villa and Manchester City, he's generally looked out of his depth in defence.

For example, Spurs writer Alasdair Gold awarded the defender just a 3/10 match rating for his performance on Sunday, a 3/10 for his display against Galatasaray during the week, and a paltry 6/10 against Championship side Coventry City in September.

Moreover, he started in the defeat to Newcastle United earlier in the season and got himself sent off early in the game against Qarabağ, only for his teammates to save his skin by taking their chances in front of goal.

Lastly, his underlying numbers aren't all that impressive, with FBref ranking him in just the top 41% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues for blocks, the top 43% for clearances, the top 45% for interceptions, the bottom 42% for passes completed and the bottom 13% for tackles, all per 90.

In all, the former Genoa ace isn't doing enough to justify his position as Postecoglou's third-choice centre-back, but the good news is that recent reports have linked the North Londoners with someone who could be the dream upgrade.

Spurs' dream Dragusin upgrade

Now, there are plenty of promising defenders out there at the moment, but according to a report from the Boot Room late last week, Spurs are incredibly keen on Sporting CP's Ousmane Diomande.

The report claims that the North Londoners see the 20-year-old as a potential long-term replacement for Cristian Romero should the Argentine leave the club in the near future.

However, given the interest from other top teams such as Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, confirmed in the story, they'd do well to act on their interest as soon as possible, regardless of what happens to Romero, as the Ivorian could replace Dragusin instead.

That said, it's a move that would cost Daniel Levy and Co a pretty penny, as according to the report, the "immense" centre-back, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has a release clause of £68m. While that's a seriously significant amount, it could prove value for money down the line.

For example, despite being so young, the Abidjan-born titan has made 69 appearances for the Portuguese giants and played a crucial role in their league triumph last season.

Moreover, the 6 foot 3 "leader", as dubbed by Portuguese football writer Kevin Fernandes, has become a crucial member of the Côte d'Ivoire national team, earning eight senior caps so far and starting two games in their Africa Cup of Nations winning campaign this year.

Lastly, when we directly compare the former Midtjylland prospect's underlying numbers to Dragusin's, there is only one winner.

For example, while the Sporting ace comes out second best in a couple of metrics such as progressive passes and blocks, he comes out way ahead in most others, including non-penalty expected goals plus assists, passing accuracy, shot and goal-creating actions, tackles and tackles won, interceptions, errors leading to a shot, ball recoveries and aerial duels won, all per 90.

Ultimately, Dragusin has shown his talent in glimpses, but it is clear that he's not up to the standard Spurs or Postecoglou require. Therefore, Levy and Co should do what they can to sign Diomande in 2025 before someone else does.

Tottenham now preparing bid for £40m+ youngster who's "going to be a star"

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Tottenham Hotspur are now preparing to lodge a bid for a Premier League youngster who's "going to be a star", according to a report.

Tottenham transfer rumours

Speaking to Spurs News, transfer insider Graeme Bailey recently detailed that signing a left-sided defender is likely to be Ange Postecoglou's main target in the January transfer window, saying:

“From what I’m hearing, I think especially now a left-sided centre-back looks to be the priority because that’s the area they are most short in. They cannot afford another major injury there.”

However, it is clear that Postecoglou is keen to bolster his squad in a number of other areas too, with Manchester City winger Jack Grealish now on the radar, while Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Hugo Larsson has also been linked with a switch to N17.

A number of players are clearly being considered by Postecoglou, and one of the Premier League's breakout stars could potentially be in line for a move to the capital as well if reports from Spain are to be believed.

Brighton's Facundo Buonanotte, who is currently on loan at Leicester City, has now emerged as a subject of interest for Tottenham, with the club willing to fight to ensure they win the race for his signature.

The report states that a Spurs bid is currently being prepared, with the Seagulls apparently willing to let the 19-year-old leave for a fee of €50m (£41m), amidst interest from several other clubs, including current employers Leicester.

At the moment, Buananotte is enjoying his time on loan at Leicester, and it is clear to see why, given that he has made a flying start to the Premier League campaign, recording five goal contributions in his opening nine games.

Buananotte destined for the top

Some members of the media have tipped the midfielder to go on to great things, with talkSPORT's Jack Johnson suggesting that he is "going to be a star" after an impressive performance earlier this season.

The starlet's ability going forward could make him a perfect fit in a Postecoglou system, with Spurs recently being praised for their "entertaining" and attacking style of play by former striker Dimitar Berbatov.

Not only that, but the Leicester loanee is also more than capable of pitching in defensively, placing in the 99th percentile for tackles per 90 and the 98th percentile for blocks per 90 compared to his positional peers over the past year.

Should Buonanotte become available at some point in the future, then Spurs should undoubtedly pursue his signature, however it would not be a surprise if Brighton hardened their stance on letting him leave if he continues to impress in a Leicester shirt.

Dier 2.0: Ange must immediately drop 3/10 Spurs ace after Ipswich

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Tottenham are a puzzling club. That's what the opening few months of the season have told us.

While they have enjoyed incredible victories over the likes of Manchester City and Aston Villa in the last fortnight, Spurs have also endured anguish.

They have lost to Crystal Palace - a win that was Oliver Glasner's first of the campaign. They have now also lost to Ipswich Town. Was that their first three points of the term too? Of course, it was.

This, though, was perhaps the worst of the lot, even worse than Palace and even worse than Galatasaray in midweek.

Why? Well, it was at home. Ange Postecoglou's side have been excellent in front of their home support so far. Had they beaten Kieran McKenna's side over the weekend, they would have sat second in the Premier League home table this term.

Alas, they will be made to lick their wounds over an international break and reset. If they want to secure a top-four berth then improvement, specifically at the back, is of utmost importance.

Tottenham's worst performers against Ipswich

This was not a good day at all for Postecoglou's men. This was a certain three points on paper. Spurs were excellent at home and the newly-promoted side had not tasted a league victory since being promoted back to the big time.

To see the Londoners roll over during a dire first half, therefore, was incredibly surprising. Or was it? This is Spurs, after all.

With goals from Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap, a few players were at fault, notably Radu Dragusin but Pedro Porro did not cover himself in glory either.

The full-back did register an assist for Rodrigo Bentancur's second-half consolation goal but he was way too lapse for both of the strikes that Ipswich scored.

For the first, he and Brennan Johnson left Szmodics all alone and then for the second, the Spaniard didn't get close enough to Szmodics again whose ball to the byline was then squared to the in-form Delap.

Dominic Solanke did half the ball in the back of the net at one stage but it was ruled out on an afternoon where nothing seemed to go right for Tottenham.

A large reason for that was because of the aforementioned Dragusin who should find himself dropped after the international break.

Dragusin's performance in numbers vs Ipswich

The Romanian defender has had to bide his time for regular match action since signing from Genoa.

Although Spurs have their problems at the back, the partnership of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven has been excellent since they were first paired together over a year ago.

The Dutchman has electric pace, immense bravery and isn't bad at defending either. Unfortunately, his colleague in Dragusin isn't quite up to the same level.

In consecutive games, the central defender has made individual errors that have led to the opposition scoring.

Against Galatasaray in the Europa League, he turned into trouble and as a result the Turkish side were allowed to score an easy goal.

His error on Sunday wasn't great either. He failed to clear the ball for Delap's winner, instead somehow putting it directly into the path of the former Manchester City youth product who wasn't going to miss the chance presented.

Handed a dismal 3/10 match rating by Football.London's Alasdair Gold, the reporter wrote of how it was a 'shaky display overall' that was littered with errors. As Spurs reporter Harry Scarfe more aggressively noted, it was an "awful" afternoon for the defender.

What did the numbers say? Well, they weren't too bad truth be told. He completed 87% of his passes and won six of his ten duels.

That said, when you make errors like he did this weekend, it doesn't matter what your numbers are saying. Let former Spurs man Eric Dier tell you that, a "slapdash and error-prone" defender himself during his days in London, something the Athletic's Tim Spiers once wrote.

Van de Ven will hopefully be back after the international break but even if he is not, perhaps it's worth giving Ben Davies a go at left centre-back instead. It can't get any worse, surely?

Not just Dragusin: 5/10 Spurs ace was a "horror" against Ipswich

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The score ended 4-1. Tottenham were rampant. Ange Postecoglou was in a jubilant mood. The Lilywhites had just dispatched Unai Emery's Aston Villa 4-1.

That was last week, though. That result is now history. In the week since, Spurs have endured a horror few days.

Victor Osimhen dismantled them in the Europa League in midweek as the Londoners lost 3-2 to Galatasaray. On Sunday, it was Ipswich, lowly Ipswich who had yet to win a game in the Premier League this season who defeated Postecoglou's side.

How does this keepening you may ask? Only a few weeks ago they allowed Crystal Palace to pick up their first three points of the season, defeating Spurs 1-0 at Selhurst Park.

Okay, so Tottenham haven't been great on the road this season but they have been electric at home. The 2-1 defeat courtesy of goals from Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap, therefore, was bizarre. In truth, it was classic of a football club who haven't just endured an up-and-down season but an up-and-down few decades.

At the heart of their poor display yet against was centre-back Radu Dragusin. How they must long for Micky van de Ven's comeback.

Radu Dragusin's performance vs Ipswich

When Van de Ven left the field in tears during Spurs' win over Manchester City in the Carabao Cup, it's likely a few supporters will have shed a few tears too.

After all, the Dutchman has been one of their most consistent players since arriving during Postecoglou's first transfer window in charge during the summer of 2023.

Full of pace, full of heart, full of bravery, it is everything Romanian Dragusin is not. You can excuse your third-choice centre-back not quite being of the quality of Van de Ven and Cristian Romero but you cannot excuse the week he has just had.

Sadly, it was the former Genoa defender who was at fault during the midweek defeat to Galatasaray. He was caught in possession for the second goal of the night, turning right into trouble and subsequently gifting their Turkish opposition a goal.

It did not get much better on Sunday afternoon for the centre-back who dismally defended Ipswich's second of the match. A ball was played across the box and instead of clearing it first time, he knocked it straight into the path of Delap who had a simple tap in from a matter of yards out.

That said, he wasn't the only player at fault, far from it.

Pedro Porro's performance in numbers vs Ipswich

Pedro Porro may have left Sunday's clash with an assist to his name, supplying Rodrigo Bentancur's consolation strike, but his overall performance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium simply wasn't good enough.

In truth, the Spaniard has struggled to replicate his performances of last term across the 2024/25 season, with that assist being his very first of the Premier League campaign.

While decent going forward, it was a "horror show" at the back for both Dragusin and Porro in the words of journalist Mitch Fretton.

Why? Well, he wasn't great for either of the goals scored by the visitors. Porro and Brennan Johnson were left blaming each other after both players failed to close down Szmodics who acrobatically opened the scoring.

Then, with the second, it was the full-back who again failed to get out to Szmodics who then played the ball towards the byline where it was cut back for Delap. On that evidence, it was hardly a surprise that Football.London's Alasdair Gold judged the right-back's display as a 5/10.

The numbers didn't exactly paint him in a great light either with the 25-year-old giving possession away a worrying 24 times. Yes, he takes set pieces, but it wasn't great regardless.

To make matters worse, he won just three of his ten duels and succeeded with only one of his four dribble attempts.

Porro will likely keep his place post-international break but he simply has to improve defensively. In fact, Spurs as a whole must clean up their act at the back sharpish. If they can do so they will undoubtedly be in the conversation for a top-four berth. On this evidence, though, they will not.

Tottenham keen to sign £68m Romero replacement who Arsenal have approached

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Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing a young centre-back as a potential long-term replacement for Cristian Romero, according to a report.

Tottenham's defensive criticism

Since Ange Postecoglou's arrival at Tottenham in June 2023, an entertaining brand of football has been on offer, and the Australian has received praise from members of the media for introducing a style of play that is so easy on the eye:

However, a heavy focus on the attacking side of the game can come at a cost, and Paul Robinson has been critical of his former club's defensive structure under the helm of Postecoglou, saying:

“He changed the style of play and changed the way the fans view this team. However, people are getting frustrated because everybody watching the game can see it, they’re so wide open and the defensive frailties are there.There are silly mistakes as well which aren’t necessarily down to the manager, but the tactics and style of play are absolutely down to the manager.

"It’s the regularity with which Tottenham are conceding goals, that’s the issue. They leave the defence so exposed and they’re being found out, week-in-week-out. At some point, he’s going to have to change things."

Although Postecoglou has a range of quality options at his disposal, including the likes of Romero and Micky van de Ven, transfer insider Graeme Bailey believes that signing a new centre-back will be the priority in the January transfer window.

Now, The Boot Room are reporting that Sporting CP's Ousmane Diomande is emerging as a potential option for Spurs, with Tottenham viewing him as a long-term replacement for Romero, who has been linked with the likes of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

However, north London rivals Arsenal are also interested in the 20-year-old and have recently made an approach, so Spurs could have a fight on their hands to get a deal over the line this January. Furthermore, he may not come cheap, with a £68m release clause said to be included in his contract.

Diomande impressing for Sporting

It is clear to see why some of the Premier League clubs are queuing up to sign the youngster, as he is showing signs he could be a top-quality modern-day centre-back, ranking in the 99th percentile for his pass-completion rate per 90 over the past year.

The Ivorian has also received high praise from members of the media:

Ange must unleash "world-class" Spurs talent to make Solanke unplayable

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Tottenham Hotspur host Ipswich Town this afternoon looking to return to winning ways after their defeat in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Ange Postecoglou’s side lost 3-2 to Turkish side Galatasaray, despite goals from academy graduate Will Lankshear and record-signing Dominic Solanke.

However, Spurs will come into the Premier League clash with some form of confidence, after thrashing fellow Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa 4-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium last Sunday afternoon.

As a result, they will be looking to make it two league wins in a row, hopefully closing the gap to the top four places if they are to secure a return to Champions League football next season.

The supporters will be hoping one player can continue his good form in front of goal, potentially leading them to another impressive league victory.

Dominic Solanke’s stats for Spurs

Many expectations were placed onto the shoulders of Solanke upon his move to Spurs this summer given his record last season that saw him bag 19 Premier League goals, costing Ange’s side a huge fee in the process.

However, the 27-year-old has hit the ground running in North London, scoring six times in all competitions - which includes a tally of four goals in eight Premier League matches.

His last outing for the club in the league was arguably his best to date, scoring twice in the win over Unai Emery’s side - demonstrating his clinical nature within the final third.

Solanke may have started on the bench in the recent outing against Galatasaray, but he still managed to get himself on the scoresheet with a neat flicked finish inside the six-yard box.

He will be looking to make it three games in a row which he has scored in against the Tractor Boys this afternoon, but if he is to do so, Postecoglou will need to also recall one player who was a substitute in midweek.

The Spurs player who must start against Ipswich

The Europa League meeting in Turkey a couple of days ago saw numerous players rested, allowing for a needed squad rotation.

It saw midfielder Dejan Kulusevski miss out, dropping to the substitutes bench with youngster Lucas Bergvall starting in Europe as he has done in every meeting this campaign.

However, his form in the Premier League this season has been nothing short of sensational, often featuring in a more unnatural central role alongside James Maddison and Rodrigo Bentancur.

The “world-class” Swede, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has created 27 chances in his ten league appearances whilst registering four combined goals and assists - aiding Solanke in the final third this afternoon.

Kulusevski has been a crucial part of the Spurs side so far this campaign, with the midfielder having another opportunity to showcase his talents against Kieran McKenna's side.

His link-up play with Solanke could provide the difference to what is likely to be a game dominated by Postecoglou’s side.

The Tractor Boys are likely to sit and defend in a low block, looking to counter when possible, with Kulusevski’s intricate passing ability potentially holding the key to unlocking their backline.

Their next Bale: Spurs may have unearthed a £200m sensation in the making

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Tottenham Hotspur is the home to numerous top-level attacking talents, with boss Ange Postecoglou having all the tools to secure a return to a Champions League spot next season.

Welsh winger Brennan Johnson has been in the form of his life so far this campaign, scoring seven times for the club in all competitions - which included a run of six successive games in which he had found the back of the net.

Striker Dominic Solanke arrived in a club-record £65m transfer from Bournemouth over the summer window, looking to fill the void left by Harry Kane 12 months prior.

The 27-year-old has settled seamlessly into life in North London, scoring six times and registering two assists in his opening 14 matches for the Lilywhites - earning him his first England call-up in seven years.

Heung-min Son has only been able to notch three goals in what has been an injury-affected start to the season, but he’s still contributed to their success - helping the Aussie edge closer to fulfilling their ambitions.

However, the 59-year-old must surely wish that he had the option of utilising one former first-team ace during his prime within the current playing squad.

Gareth Bale’s time at Tottenham Hotspur

After arriving from Southampton as a 17-year-old, Gareth Bale originally moved to Spurs as a left-back, but that quickly changed during his time in North London.

He first properly broke onto the scene for his attacking qualities after scoring a hat-trick in the Champions League meeting with Inter Milan at the San Siro back in 2010.

It allowed the Welsh international to settle into a more consistent attacking role, with his 2011/12 season seeing him bag a combined 26 goals and assists - catching the eye of various sides across Europe but he stayed put at White Hart Lane.

However, the following campaign would be his final season at Spurs in that first spell, also his best year for tangible contributions in the final third - scoring 26 times - becoming known for his trademark cut-in off the right-hand side before finding the top corner.

Bale’s sensational form would prompt huge interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid, moving to the LaLiga side for £85m in the summer of 2013 - a then world-record fee.

It was a huge loss for Spurs at the time, losing one of their best players, whilst investing their money incorrectly and signing the likes of Erik Lamela and Roberto Soldado with the funds generated.

Fast-forward 11 years from the Welshman’s permanent departure from North London, Postecoglou has been presented with another opportunity to unearth a young superstar at the club.

Spurs could have a £200m sensation in the making

Academy star Mikey Moore has emerged out of the club's youth system and staked his claim for a regular starting role under the Aussie in recent weeks.

The 17-year-old made his first competitive start in the Europa League against Ferencvaros, featuring for the entire 90 minutes - as Spurs claimed a 2-1 victory in Hungary.

His subsequent performance earned him another start in the following European outing against Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar - with his display catching the eye of the supporters along with his teammates.

Moore managed three shots during the win, attempting four dribbles and completing 81% of the passes that he attempted during the Europa League triumph.

The attacker’s subsequent display led to teammate James Maddison comparing him to one of the biggest talents in Europe over the last few years, saying:

“From minute 45 to 65, I thought we had Neymar on the left wing! (Moore) was brilliant."

That man Neymar joined PSG from Barcelona back in the summer of 2017 for a world-record fee of £200m - a fee that still holds the record seven years after his move to the Ligue 1 outfit.

It’s still very early on in Moore’s professional career, but if he can continue on his current trajectory, he could certainly be up there with some of the best talents in European football.

No Spurs fan would want to lose another winger as they did with Bale, but if he continues his excellent performances at such a young age, he could certainly get to a level which could see him worth a similar price tag.

£120k-per-week Tottenham player could now completely terminate his contract

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A member of Ange Postecoglou's squad could now look to completely terminate his contract at Tottenham, with the player searching for a route out of N17 early doors.

Players who look set to leave Spurs in 2025

As Postecoglou and co look to build on their momentum from the last seven days with a win against Galatasaray this evening - fresh off the back of impressive victories against Man City and Aston Villa - uncertainty surrounds the futures of a good few players heading into the turn of the year.

Quartet Sergio Reguilon, Ben Davies, Fraser Forster and Alfie Whiteman are all out of contract next summer, meaning they're set to depart N17 on free transfers unless Spurs opt to sit at the negotiating table and discuss extensions.

Reguilon is attracting interest from La Liga, as Spanish top-flight sides like Getafe sense a potential opportunity to snap him up at zero cost. The 27-year-old, formerly of Real Madrid, is not in Postecoglou's plans - failing to make a single Premier League or Europa League matchday squad this season, despite still training with the first team.

Davies will be in his eleventh year at Tottenham by the time his contract runs out, with the Wales international likely to end his long stint at the club in 2025 following many seasons of faithful service.

Son Heung-min's deal expires next year as well, but Spurs have the option to trigger a one-year extension clause in his contract, which they're apparently set to do as Postecoglou definitely cannot afford to lose the South Korea star.

A decision is yet to be made on whether Timo Werner will stay beyond his season-long loan spell, but as things stand, the 28-year-old is more likely than not to make a return to RB Leipzig at the end of this season.

Tottenham are leaning towards letting Werner go, rather than activating the £8.5 million buy-out clause in his deal, amid criticism surrounding his wasteful finishing in front of goal.

Spurs will also make a decision over loaning out Archie Gray in January. The English sensation, who arrived from Leeds for around £40 million in the summer, has struggled to establish himself as a Premier League starter and is mainly utilised as a bit-part cup player by Postecoglou.

Sergio Reguilon could look to terminate Tottenham contract

Now, according to Spanish news outlet Ficherio, Reguilon could look to terminate his Tottenham contract and leave before next summer.

His former side Sevilla are considering Reguilon as a replacement for Valentin Barco at left-back, who could be sent back to Brighton, with Spurs' want-away defender potentially coming in to take his spot under Garcia Pimienta.

On a reported £120,000-per-week in north London, according to the MEN, Reguilon could be seen as a serious drain on the wage bill right now considering his outcast status in the squad.

Terminating his deal early and allowing the Spaniard to leave for Sevilla could benefit all parties, so it will be interesting to see if this drastic action is taken up in the next few weeks leading to January.

Brennan Johnson 2.0: Spurs want to sign dream £30m Werner upgrade

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It hasn't been entirely plain sailing, but it would be fair to say that Tottenham Hotspur are enjoying a relatively successful season so far.

Ange Postecoglou's side have seemingly rediscovered their form in the Premier League following their 4-1 thumping of Aston Villa, and are currently undefeated in the League Cup and Europa League.

Moreover, the North Londoners are still playing the same attractive attacking football that won them so many plaudits last year.

With that said, there is always room for improvement, and based on recent reports, they could be set to land an incredibly talented winger who could be an ideal Timo Werner upgrade in a move reminiscent of their one for Brennan Johnson last summer.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from former scout Mick Brown via Football Insider, Tottenham have maintained their interest in Nottingham Forest winger Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Brown claims that, alongside the Lilywhites, several top sides are keeping an eye on the former Chelsea ace, and while a move in January seems unlikely, one in the summer is not.

The good news for the North Londoners is that it might not cost them an arm and a leg to land the Englishman's services, as reports from the summer revealed that the Tricky Trees value the 23-year-old at around £30m.

It might not be the big name signing fans will be after, but given the potential fee, his raw ability and the similarities to the Johnson deal last year, signing Hudson-Odoi in 2025 feels like a brilliant idea, especially as he'd be an ideal upgrade over Werner.

How Hudson-Odoi compares to Werner

So, if Spurs do opt to go in for Hudson-Odoi next year, he'll either be in direct competition with Werner for a place in the starting lineup or be tasked with replacing him should the club not activate their option to buy the German, so how do their pair stack up against one another?

From a pure output perspective, it's the former Chelsea ace who comes out on top, as since the start of last season, he has scored ten goals and provided two assists in 45 appearances for the Tricky Trees, equating to a goal involvement every 3.75 games.

In contrast, the Stuttgart-born winger has scored five goals and provided five assists in 40 appearances across the same period - including his 14 games with RB Leipzig - equating to a worse average of a goal involvement every four games.

Moreover, the 57-capped international also comes out on the losing side when we compare their underlying numbers.

For example, according to FBref, Forest's "sensational" left-winger, as dubbed by scout Antonio Mango, comes out on top in several relevant metrics, including goals per shot and shot on target, passing accuracy, key passes, passes into the final third, shot and goal-creating actions and successful take-ons, all per 90.

Moreover, while he comes out second best in a few attacking statistics, such as non-penalty expected goals and assists, progressive passes and shots, he comes out ahead for a couple of defensive ones, like tackles and ball recoveries per 90, which would make him a particularly useful winger for the ultra-attack-minded Postecoglou.

A ball recovery is defined by the number of loose balls recovered by a player.

Ultimately, Werner hasn't really asserted himself in the Spurs squad, and whether he's moved on or signed in the summer, Hudson-Odoi would be the perfect upgrade. Therefore, Daniel Levy and Co should look to repeat the deal that saw them land Johnson last year and sign the talented Englishman in 2025.