FootballFanCast.com

Tottenham Hotspur meet Aston Villa in the Premier League this afternoon, and though fans were delighted with a win over Manchester City in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, this is a different test entirely.

Unai Emery's high-flying side perch five points ahead of Spurs, who have only won four of their nine top-flight fixtures thus far. They were defeated by Crystal Palace, who were previously winless, last weekend.

While Ange Postecoglou and his squad are hardly in dire straits, there is a feeling that defeat in north London against the Villans - for the second season running - would place a sour taste in the fanbase's proverbial mouth.

It'll be a tough test indeed, there are no two ways about it. Aston Villa are unbeaten on the road in the Premier League this term and have only been beaten by Arsenal, way back in match-week two.

Moreover, Micky van de Ven has picked up another injury and faces a spell on the sidelines. Fans can only hope that it doesn't prove to be a detrimental blow.

Micky van de Ven's injured - again

Van de Ven is a fantastic footballer, endowed with the highest calibre of athleticism and keeping things crisp from Tottenham's backline, one of the sharpest distributors in the Premier League.

The 23-year-old has been plying his craft in the English capital for over one year now, joining from German side Wolfsburg in a £43m deal in August 2023. He's been brilliant; it's quite easy to forget how porous Spurs were in defence before his advent.

Indeed, the Dutchman ranks among the top 1% of centre-backs in the English top flight this season for assists, the top 14% for pass completion, the top 11% for progressive passes, and the top 14% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref. Such metrics underscore the complete nature of his skill set.

He's a singular player, irreplaceable, even. His lightning-quick pace and muscular physique make him the prototypical defender to nullify Aston Villa's frontline, with the likes of Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran, once he is inevitably unleashed past the hour mark, certain to be emboldened by his absence.

Tottenham worries have been compounded by the potential absence of Cristian Romero too, with Postecoglou revealing that the Argentine titan was left feeling "a bit sore" following the victory over City.

That eventuality is bound to send a frisson of fear lancing through Lilywhites supporters near and far. Although, saying that, it's not all doom and gloom.

Radu Dragusin is set to start in central defence, regardless of Romero's fitness. The 22-year-old Romanian won his only ground duel against City on Wednesday, as per Sofascore, also making five clearances to keep the visitors at bay.

Who else to promote to the rearguard? Archie Gray is one option, but he's young and inexperienced, and would not fare well in a moonlit position against a team like Villa.

Ben Davies, then.

Ben Davies could replace Van de Ven - again

Davies has been at Tottenham for some time. In July 2014, the Wales international arrived from Swansea City in a swap deal worth £10m.

He's been a loyal servant down N17. A decade later, Davies, now aged 31, has made 335 appearances for the north Londoners, scoring nine goals and supplying 23 further assists.

An 89-cap international, he's as experienced as they come and hardly averse to playing from the outset in the Premier League - albeit, Postecoglou is yet to dispatch him in the league this season.

That said, Davies has played every minute of Tottenham's Europa League campaign so far, keeping a clean sheet at centre-back against AZ Alkmaar last time out.

As per Sofascore, he's completed 91% of his passes across those three fixtures while averaging 85 touches per game. This bodes well for Davies' potential replacement of Van de Ven, for he's not afraid to star at the centre of the action in central defence and is a top-class passer besides.

He's also proven himself to be capable of stepping in for the Netherlands star last season, proving to be something of a hero during the threadbare spell of Spurs' 2023/24 season, when Van de Ven was sidelined throughout the winter period.

The £80k-per-week ace is of course not as good as Van de Ven. He's not as mobile, and nor is he blessed with the same athletic prowess. Having said that, though, the Welshman's metrics do align quite nicely when contrasting them against his Spurs positional peer, as you can see below.

Davies might not carry some of the same natural-born properties as Van de Ven, sure, but he's a reliable and robust defender who doesn't earn as much match action as perhaps he deserves.

Only last season, as stated, the defender stepped in for his peer and produced some composed and cultured performances in the face of adversity, starting 12 matches, completing 91% of his passes, and winning 68% of his ground duels.

So then, he's not just competent on the continent, against ostensibly lower-level opponents. Davies is assured and will not find his fluency knocked by an absence from the Premier League field.

In fact, the long-serving Spurs man's industriousness may well blend nicely with the more dynamic defending of Dragusin, sure to start against Villa later on today.

Of course, Romero's unavailability is not something that Tottenham supporters would hope for, but it's perhaps a testament to Postecoglou's project that he's created a team with ample cover for such conundrums.

Davies has what it takes to send Emery's outfit packing, and he should be unleashed. Who knows, if Romero does receive the green light, maybe his particular profile would be best served in the starting line-up, instead of Dragusin.

An "exciting" and "popular" member of Arsenal's squad could be tempted by a transfer to fierce rivals Tottenham, with the Lilywhites now considering what is viewed as a surprise move.

Tottenham team news as Spurs prepare to face Aston Villa

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou is now preparing his side to face high-flying top-four rivals Aston Villa, fresh off the back of a much-needed Carabao Cup win over Premier League champions Man City.

Their inconsistent run of form so far this season has yielded four wins, four defeats and a draw - while Villa are coming into this game boasting just one loss in the league all season, which came at the hands of Arsenal in August.

However, the contrasting fortunes of both sides only tell half the story, with Villa boss Unai Emery admitting that Spurs deserve more points from their performances this season.

Unfortunately for Postecoglou, the Australian will be without star defender Micky van de Ven, in what is a real blow considering the Dutchman's importance. Cristian Romero is also a doubt to face Villa, meaning Postecoglou could be forced to select a centre-back pairing of Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies in a worst-case scenario.

Timo Werner and Son Heung-min are also touch-and-go for the game, depending on late fitness tests. Emery called Spurs favourites to win their clash with Villa, but if Postecoglou is without this quartet, Villa would surely be fancying their chances to win this one.

"The boys worked hard the other night. The main one is Micky, and he has sort of strained a hamstring," said Postecoglou on Tottenham team news.

"It is not too serious but probably [he will return] after the international break for him. The other ones who were a bit sore were Romero and Werner, but at the moment there is still a chance for the weekend. Sonny has trained today so if he gets through training tomorrow, he should be okay."

Meanwhile, away from the field, it is believed technical director Johan Lange is plotting a head-turning transfer move to poach a rival player from across north London.

Karl Hein could be tempted to join Tottenham from Arsenal

As per Football Insider and journalist Pete O'Rourke, Arsenal goalkeeper Karl Hein is a surprise target for Spurs.

Current backup 'keeper Fraser Forster is out of contract next summer and is set to leave on a free as things stand, with Arsenal's 22-year-old Estonia international sticking out in Tottenham's thinking as a possible replacement.

Currently on loan at Real Valladolid, the towering 6 foot 4 shot-stopper has only just penned a new deal at the Emirates, yet it is claimed that Hein could be tempted by a move to Tottenham as Postecoglou's side consider swooping next year.

Other reports have claimed that Spurs are prepared to bid for Hein, so perhaps this is one worth watching. Despite his very young age for a goalkeeper, Hein already boasts 34 outings for his country and has plenty of time to surpass a century of international caps with ease.

Tottenham Hotspur scored a statement victory on Wednesday, knocking Manchester City out of the Carabao Cup and advancing to the quarter-finals.

It was an excellent performance, but one which must be followed with victory over Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday, because the form has been patchy for Ange Postecoglou's side in 2024/25.

It was a step in the right direction. Tottenham's trophy hoodoo is a much-ridiculed fact within English football, but Postecoglou is a driven and successful manager and understands the gravity of succeeding in a cup competition.

Even so, Spurs are eighth in the Premier League with four wins from nine matches. They are five points behind Sunday's visitors.

Defeat is inconceivable. A draw is undesirable. Victory is imperative for Postecoglou's squad, who must start to make headway before the November international break. Sadly, injuries have compounded the issue.

Tottenham team news

The big one. Micky van de Ven is sidelined after injuring his hamstring against Pep Guardiola's side in midweek. The dynamic Dutchman is not expected back until after the international break.

This troubling news is aggravated by a possible injury to his central defensive partner Cristian Romero, with Postecoglou claiming that the Argentine was "a bit sore" after the Carabao Cup clash but that there's a decent chance that he will be handed a starting berth against the Villans. Here's hoping.

Djed Spence and Wilson Odobert are still out of action, but Heung-min Son could be in line to return after sitting out for six of the past seven fixtures in all competitions with muscular issues.

This defensive conundrum is something to be concerned by, with Villa one of the finest attacking outfits in England. The danger is heightened through Jhon Duran, who's bound to be unleashed like a ravenous bloodhound after the interval.

Spurs need to contain Jhon Duran

If Romero is, indeed, unable to make the starting cut, Radu Dragusin will likely be partnered with veteran Ben Davies in central defence.

It's not been the finest start to the season for Dragusin but he's still a high-breed defensive talent. He will, however, have to contend with Ollie Watkins and, later into the affair, Duran.

Duran is a monstrous forward, having racked up eight goals from 14 matches under Unai Emery this term. Remarkably, the Colombian has only started three games, with five of his goals posted off the bench.

What a talent. Postecoglou will no doubt have a plan to silence the young buck, but of course, will need to rally every inch of his Lilywhite resources to effectively execute the plan.

One such route might be relying on his tried-and-tested frontline. Changing tack, sinking, dropping, and shelling into a defensive approach is something that runs counter to Spurs' identity, and is a course of action that Postecoglou simply won't enforce.

Instead, Tottenham must ensure that they produce slick and stylish attacking forward, flowing through phases and harnessing the purple patch of Brennan Johnson, Son's everlasting prolificness, James Maddison's creativity, Dejan Kulusevski's new-found strength in a complete role.

And if the match drags into the second half with the scores level, or the away side even - unthinkably - ahead on the scoreboard, Postecoglou might find that he actually has his own version of Duran - Mikey Moore can be the second-half substitute to silence the Villa crowd.

Mikey Moore could be Ange's own Jhon Duran

Maddison recently praised Moore for his "young, fearless mentality," with the 17-year-old making his name known down N17 after slotting into Postecoglou's senior set-up this season.

Last time out, he was handed his maiden starting berth in the Premier League, albeit proving to be ineffective as Tottenham were dismally defeated at Selhurst Park, with hitherto winless Crystal Palace stabbing another setback into the north Londoners' campaign.

The youngster tried hard across his 62 minutes of action but failed to take a shot or complete a key pass, as well as failing with each of his three attempted dribbles and winning only three of his nine contested duels, as per Sofascore.

Even so, Moore is an elite-level talent, hailed as a "superstar" by renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano. He has dazzled for Tottenham in the Europa League this year, having also scored 16 goals and supplied nine assists across 14 matches for Tottenham's youth team last season.

Moore's fleet-footed style, all balletic grace as he capers up the field, suggests that, for now, he's best served in a substitute role, perhaps emulating that of Tottenham's upcoming opponent Duran.

Moore is a strong and combative forward to be sure, but he hasn't grown into his skin yet and runs the risk of failing to win duels if unleashed from the outset.

Duran's brilliance comes from his electric pace and ability to overwhelm tired legs. No player wants to be a 'super sub', but Duran is one of the finest in Premier League history and operates in a role that maximises his qualities, explosive quality over quantity, as it were.

Tottenham's prodigious talent has been a regular feature throughout their continental campaign, notably attempting seven dribbles and winning six duels during a slender victory over Ferencvaros last month.

For his efforts, football.london's Alasdair Gold bestowed upon him an 8/10 match rating, praising his problematic presence against the Hungarians; he was involved in the opening goal and looked like a real menace each time he collected the ball.

Last week, the versatile winger was awarded his club's Player of the Match after another emphatic display in the Europa League, this time against AZ Alkmaar.

Duran is almost certainly going to be introduced at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after the hour mark, but in Moore, the hosts might find that they have a secret weapon of their own.

With a style that crackles with energy and a tenacious approach to his football, he might just pop up with a big moment to ensure that Tottenham narrow the gap between them and Villa and start to make progress in the pursuit of Champions League football.

Tottenham Hotspur insiders are refusing to rule out the sale of an "important" star in Ange Postecoglou's squad - and there is little doubt his departure would be seen as pretty disappointing by supporters.

Players who could be sold or let go by Tottenham in 2025

As they near the ends of their contracts at Spurs, a quartet of bit-part or surplus players in Sergio Reguilon, Ben Davies, Fraser Forster and Alfie Whiteman appear set to leave N17 next summer.

Reguilon, who spent last season on loan spells at Manchester United and Brentford, is currently training with the senior team, but is yet to make a single appearance in all competitions and has taken just one spot in a matchday squad.

The former Real Madrid starlet is now attracting interest from La Liga as a result, with Getafe interested in snapping up Reguilon on a free transfer next summer. Meanwhile, Davies appears set to bring the curtain down on his 10-year stay at Tottenham, and it is currently unclear what the future holds for him.

Elsewhere, Tottenham are leaning towards letting Timo Werner leave when his loan deal expires rather than trigger his £8.5 million option-to-buy clause, while reports also claim Archie Gray could be loaned out by Spurs in the January window.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich are believed to be keeping tabs on Cristian Romero, as the Argentinian is yet to pen a new contract, with Real Madrid and Serie A champions Inter also watching closely.

It is imperative that Postecoglou manages to retain Romero, who has formed an exceptional partnership with Micky van de Ven at the heart of Tottenham's defence, with pundit Paul Robinson praising rumours of a potential new deal for the ex-Atalanta star.

"If you’re going to give a player a pay rise, you can’t do that without extending their contract, which is good news for Tottenham," said Robinson to Football Insider.

"He and Micky van de Ven have been key. He brings grit and determination, and that little bit of bite they might not have otherwise. I think he’s a leader on the pitch, though not vocally. To tie him down to a longer-term contract is only good news."

While Spurs appear very keen to keep Romero out of the clutches of Europe's elite, they are more willing to do a deal over star right-back Pedro Porro.

Tottenham refuse to rule out selling Pedro Porro

According to GiveMeSport, Tottenham are refusing to rule out the possibility of selling the Spaniard in the event of a sizeable offer amid awareness that his market value may have significantly increased.

Joining from Sporting CP last year, Pedro Porro has since gone on to become imperative in Postecoglou's system as an attack-minded wing-back alongside Destiny Udogie.

Tottenham Hotspur recruitment chiefs are being sent on regular missions to one club as manager Ange Postecoglou personally considers a forward signing.

Tottenham monitor new forward options after mixed start to season

The Lilywhites have endured a pretty stop-start beginning to the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, winning four, losing four and drawing one of their opening nine top-flight matches so far.

This last week has been a prime example of Spurs' inconsistency. The north Londoners slumped to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace last weekend, handing Oliver Glasner his first league win of the season, but swiftly followed that up by knocking English champions Manchester City out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening.

Postecoglou caused a stir by appearing to promise supporters a trophy this year, stating he "always" wins things in his second season, but the Australian needs to start seeing more consistency from his team before Tottenham can ponder ending their 16-year wait for silverware.

A tough test awaits on Sunday, as high-flying Aston Villa travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Unai Emery's side have picked up right where they left off from last term, and look sure-fire contenders for another finish in the top four.

To shore up weak areas of Postecoglou's squad, and with the view of potentially challenging for the Premier League over these coming seasons, it is believed Spurs have their eyes on further attacking options.

Tottenham have made an out-of-window approach to sign Rayan from Vasco da Gama and are prepared to hijack Lyon's ongoing talks for the forward, according to a report from Brazil this week.

Elsewhere, Spurs links to Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze remain, while it is believed Shakhtar Donetsk sensation Georgiy Sudakov is viewed by Tottenham as an ideal James Maddison alternative.

Tottenham recruitment chiefs sent on Dario Osorio missions

According to GiveMeSport, FC Midtjylland forward Dario Osorio is being contemplated as a potential signing by both Postecoglou and technical director Johan Lange - who are going through detailed scouting reports on the Chile international.

The outlet writes that Tottenham have been sending recruitment chiefs to Midtjylland to regularly check on Osorio. The South American winger has bagged three goals and an assist in 13 appearances this season, which has seemingly been enough to make the N17 side ponder a potential move.

While his signing is ruled out for January, Osorio's possible switch to England is seen as entirely possible for next summer. It is also claimed that "key decision-makers" at Tottenham sense an opportunity to sign a highly rated forward on very low wages, while other reports suggest the cost of a deal for Osorio would be around £10 million.

They might not have the trophies to show for it, but Tottenham Hotspur have been blessed with some extraordinarily talented players over the last decade or so.

The names that probably jump out to most would be Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, who created one of the best goalscoring partnerships in Premier League history.

However, both of them get the plaudits they deserve from the wider footballing public, which cannot always be said for another sensational star of the 2010s: Mousa Dembélé.

Interestingly, one of the club's biggest flops in recent history was compared to the brilliant Belgian before things went terribly wrong for him.

Dembélé's Spurs career

After making a name for himself in the Premier League with West London outfit Fulham, Dembélé secured his big £15m move to Spurs in August 2012 at 25 years old.

The Antwerpen-born star scored on his debut for the club in a 1-1 draw with Norwich City and would go on to make 42 appearances in all competitions that year, firmly establishing himself as one of the first names on the team sheet.

The next few seasons would see the former AZ Alkmaar gem further entrench himself as one of the most talented players at the club, and when Mauricio Pochettino was appointed manager in May 2014, he got even better.

The Argentine's appreciation for the midfielder was evident, and in April 2017 he dubbed the then-29-year-old a "genius" before going on to compare him to greats such as Diego Maradona, Jay-Jay Okocha and Ronaldinho.

If that wasn't enough, the former Southampton boss also boldly claimed that had he signed "him at 18 or 19 years old, he would have become one of the best players in the world."

Unfortunately, Dembélé was also rather injury-prone, and after a couple of years of constant setbacks, he was finally sold to Chinese side Guangzhou R&F for around £11m in January 2019.

In all, he made 249 appearances for the club, scoring ten goals and providing ten assists, and some suggested that one of their targets that summer would be his replacement, only for said player to become one of the biggest flops in recent history.

Tanguy Ndombele's Spurs career

Yes, the former Spurs flop who was compared to the incredible Dembélé was Tanguy Ndombele, and no, the comparison didn't come from us.

Instead, it was a reasonably common one made in the summer of 2019, with articles from the Metro and the Guardian as just a few examples that told fans the former Lyon star would replicate the tough yet technical style of play the Belgian could regularly produce for them in years prior.

Unfortunately, we know that didn't happen, and instead, the club essentially wasted £63m as the then-22-year-old couldn't get to grips with life in North London.

Over the next five years, he would make just 91 appearances for the Lilywhites, scoring ten goals and providing nine assists while also going out on several loans.

He spent the second half of the 21/22 season back with Lyon, the whole of 22/23 with Napoli - where he didn't even play - and the whole of 23/24 in Turkey with Galatasaray.

However, perhaps worst of all, Daniel Levy and Co weren't even able to recuperate any money from his failed stint with the club as he moved to OGC Nice for free this summer following the expiration of his contract.

Ultimately, while Ndombele was unlucky at points, he has to go down as one of the worst flops in Spurs' recent history, which makes the comparisons to a player as incredible as Dembélé look even more ridiculous in retrospect.

It has been a roller coaster of a season for Tottenham Hotspur so far this year.

Ange Postecoglou's side currently sit in eighth place in the Premier League, and while they have picked up some impressive wins against the likes of Manchester United and West Ham United, they have also lost to Brighton & Hove Albion and, most recently, Crystal Palace.

However, while the North Londoners have been frustratingly inconsistent in the league, they have been exceptional in the cup competitions and are currently undefeated in both the Europa League and Conference League.

Moreover, Postecoglou got one over Pep Guardiola in the former on Wednesday night and now has a real chance to end the club's trophy drought in the coming months, but a problem is brewing under the surface, and it involves Son Heung-min.

Spurs' Son Heung-min problem

Okay, let's get straight to the point here before the pitchforks come out. Spurs' issue with Son is not his form or ability; it is his age and the need to find a long-term replacement.

The South Korean legend is still a productive member of Postecoglou's squad, but at 32 years old, he is far closer to the end of his career than the start.

As fans will attest, he is less effective on the wing than he used to be, and that's not surprising as, according to research conducted by The Athletic, wingers typically enter their peak years at around 26 years old.

So, with the former Bayer Leverkusen star in the latter stages of his career, Daniel Levy and Co need to find another long-term replacement, as the burden cannot fall exclusively on Timo Werner due to his ability or Mikey Moore due to his age - he's too talented to risk burnout.

So, the ideal way forward would be to sign a replacement for Werner in the summer, who could compete with Son for game time now and then compete with Moore in a few years when the 32-year-old retires or moves on.

The good news is that the club were supposedly interested in the perfect candidate earlier this year, a player admired by Zinedine Zidane.

Why Takefusa Kubo would be a brilliant option for Spurs

Yes, the player in question is Real Sociedad star Takefusa Kubo, who was touted for a £51m move to Spurs during the summer, and while that's no small fee, it's a transfer Levy and Co should look at again in 2025.

The Japanese international has been impressing for La Real for a few seasons now, racking up 18 goals and 14 assists for the club in just 98 appearances, which equates to a goal involvement every 3.06 games.

Moreover, while the 23-year-old, whom Zidane once described as a "very interesting player", has spent most of his career playing off the right, he is no stranger to playing off the left either, suggesting that he'd have no trouble slotting into Son's role in N17.

On top of that, as the "insane" winger, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, is 23 years old, he strikes the perfect balance between being experienced and still young enough to further develop, meaning he could be the ideal long-term competition for Moore when he's old enough to start for the first team regularly.

Lastly, the former FC Tokyo prospect already knows Postecoglou, as he played under him during a previous loan stint with Yokohama F. Marinos, so he'll have a rough idea of the Australian's methods and demands.

Ultimately, Son is a Spurs icon and should remain a productive first-team member for at least a couple more seasons. However, time comes for us all, and to make sure the burden of replacing the South Korean does not fall squarely on the shoulders of Moore, Levy and Co should look to bring Kubo to the club in 2025.

Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich are on alert as one marquee Tottenham star expresses a behind-the-scenes worry over staying in north London, with Vincent Kompany's side looking to potentially take advantage of the situation.

Players who could leave Spurs in January and next summer

There are a few players facing uncertain futures in north London, with both January and summer exits mooted in the last few weeks.

Sergio Reguilon, Ben Davies, Fraser Forster and Alfie Whiteman are out of contract next summer, so the quartet are on course to leave as free agents when their contracts expire with no long-term future in store.

Davies has served the north Londoners well during his 10-year stay at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and once he departs next year, it'll be 11 years of service since he joined from Swansea City in 2014 - so perhaps a testimonial is in order for the Wales international.

Meanwhile, it is believed Getafe are eyeing a Bosman move for Reguilon, who doesn't feature in Postecoglou's plans and spent last season on loan at both Man United and Brentford.

Despite training with the first team, the Spaniard, on a reported £120,000-per-week, is yet to make a single Premier League matchday squad. The likelihood right now is that Timo Werner will leave Spurs at the end of his loan spell too, with Postecoglou's side erring towards letting the German return to RB Leipzig, rather than taking up the option to sign him permanently.

Archie Gray could also be loaned out by Tottenham in January, amid the growing clamor for his services across clubs in both England's first and second tier, with the Englishman struggling to accumulate consistent top-flight minutes.

The Lilywhites' defence is attracting admiring glances from abroad too. Napoli are ready to attempt a January move for Radu Dragusin, even if Tottenham are unlikely to let the Romanian leave mid-season, while star defender Cristian Romero has been linked with a move to the likes of Real Madrid.

Bayern on alert as Romero expresses private worry over Tottenham stay

Spurs want to tie Romero down with a bumper new contract to ward elite suitors off the Argentine, according to reports, and initial talks have been ongoing for some time.

According to The Boot Room, Bayern Munich are eyeing a move to sign Romero from Tottenham, alongside Real and Inter Milan. This comes amid the £100 million defender's concerns, with Romero expressing a private worry over remaining in north London.

It is believed the former Atalanta star wishes to compete regularly in the Champions League, and he's told the club that their lack of participation has been a real sticking point for him as Spurs attempt to push new contract talks along.

Tottenham Hotspur have been sent a warning that Napoli and former Spurs boss Antonio Conte are "ready" to move for an "outstanding" starlet in Ange Postecoglou's squad.

Spurs prepare for tough test against Aston Villa

Following on from their uplifting 2-1 win over Man City in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening, which was much-needed after their slump to lowly Crystal Palace last weekend, the Lilywhites take on high-flying Aston Villa in another very tough test.

Unai Emery's side have lost just once all season so far, a defeat to Premier League title-chasing Arsenal back in August, and appear on course to be sure-fire contenders for a place in the top four yet again.

Spurs, meanwhile, have endured a very mixed start to the campaign under Postecoglou - winning four, losing four and drawing one of their opening eight top-flight matches as the Australian aims to galvanize a consistent winning run from his side.

Timo Werner's been singled out for criticism amid his lacklustre form, but the German scored his first goal in all competitions since March by opening the scoring against Man City in midweek.

The 28-year-old will be hoping to build upon that strike by regaining full form, amid reports that Werner is likely to return to RB Leipzig at the end of his loan spell as things stand, with Spurs edging towards not taking up the option to sign him permanently.

While the likes of Dejan Kulusevski have seriously impressed, with the Swede arguably showcasing his best-ever run of form in a Lilywhites jersey right now, other members of the squad like Werner haven't been able to help Tottenham's cause as much.

Summer signing Archie Gray could be loaned out by Spurs in January, as intermediaries apparently tell Postecoglou's side that many clubs in the Premier League and Championship are considering winter approaches for the teenager (GiveMeSport).

Gray has struggled for game time in the top flight, and those within the club apparently believe they have a decision to make in regard to loaning him out (GiveMeSport).

Tottenham warned that Napoli are "ready" to move for Dragusin

Another player who's been forced to play more of a bit-part role in the squad is January signing Radu Dragusin.

Dragusin is attracting interest from Serie A, as per other reports, and it is believed that Napoli are seriously keen on the "outstanding" 22-year-old. That is according to journalist Paolo Paganini, who told Rai 2 (via CalcioNapoli) that Napoli are ready to move for Dragusin in January - sending a warning to Tottenham.

"Be careful because Napoli is ready to make a double move in January," said Paganini.

"One is Dorgu from Lecce, and the other is Dragusin from the Premier League. Be careful because Raspadori can leave, but [Aurelio] De Laurentiis will hardly give him to Juventus. Atalanta also like him."

Tottenham Hotspur have made an approach to sign a £54 million attacker who Ligue 1 giants Lyon are already in talks for, with the Lilywhites prepared to compete for his signing and potentially hijack their discussions.

Spurs targeting new forwards for Postecoglou

Ange Postecoglou's side are fresh off the back of a 2-1 win over Premier League champions Man City, which knocked Pep Guardiola and co out of the Carabao Cup, but there are still many issues to address after a mixed start to the campaign.

Spurs' loss to lowly Crystal Palace handed Oliver Glasner his first win of the season last weekend, and the north Londoners slumped to a disappointing 3-2 defeat at Brighton after throwing away a two-goal advantage just before the international break.

Postecoglou has also been criticised for his tactics lately, and there have even been some suggestions from many supporters that the Australian could be facing a precarious situation in regards to his job if things don't turn around on a consistent basis (Football Insider).

The January transfer window could represent an opportunity for the club's recruitment team to shore up glaring holes in Postecoglou's squad, in an effort to assist the 58-year-old's chase for a first piece of major silverware in 16 years.

It is believed Spurs are monitoring Javi Puado of Espanyol ahead of a potential January swoop, with the Spaniard impressing alongside loanee Alejo Veliz in La Liga. He could be available on a very cheap deal, considering his contract expires in the summer, or Daniel Levy could elect to sign the player on a pre-contract ahead of next summer.

Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo is a transfer target for Spurs as well, according to some reports, with the north Londoners prepared to pay as much as £50 million to seal a deal for the Ghanaian.

"He's a lovely footballer to watch", said Jamie Redknapp on Semenyo to Premier League productions.

"The manager's taken him to another level, he obviously has that capability because you saw it with Solanke. I'm just seeing him elevate his game right now, we'll talk about why does that happen, a lot of it is purely on confidence.

"He looks like he's enjoying his football, his shoulders are back, he's relaxed, every time he gets it, he plays with a bit of a swagger. He's actually a joy to watch right now."

Tottenham make approach for Rayan and prepared to hijack Lyon talks

According to South American news outlet Vascaino, Vasco de Gama forward Rayan is on Tottenham's agenda, and they've made an approach to seek information about the player's availability.

They face stiff competition from Lyon, though, who are apparently already in talks to sign the 18-year-old. However, Vascaino goes on to suggest that Tottenham are willing to compete with Lyom to sign Rayan, potentially hijacking their discussions for the highly-rated teenager.