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A former Tottenham Hotspur employee has shared how Daniel Levy could sign an "exceptional" player in 2025, and it would be bad news for striker Richarlison.

Spurs targeting new striker despite Dominic Solanke signing

Over the summer window, Spurs completed a £65 million deal (including add-ons) for Dominic Solanke - a move which ended their year-long wait for Harry Kane's replacement at N17.

The Englishman has bagged three goals and two assists in nine appearances across all competitions so far, briefly picking up an ankle injury earlier this season before returning to the side, yet some reports have suggested that Spurs could move to bring in another number nine.

Tottenham are reportedly in pole position to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, and it is believed by some media sources that Spurs have showed the most interest in Viktor Gyokeres, amid his sensational career at Sporting Lisbon in Portugal.

This is despite the presence of Richarlison, who's endured a difficult start to the season. The Brazilian is yet to get off the mark under Ange Postecoglou this campaign, with an injury keeping him out of action from late August to mid-October.

The 27-year-old made his first appearance since August 24 with a brief nine-minute cameo during Spurs' 4-1 derby win over West Ham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last weekend, and supporters will be hoping to see the very best of him again as soon as possible.

Richarlison enjoyed a real purple patch midway through 2023/2024, scoring nine goals in eight Premier League games from October through to February, but his output has significantly diminished since then.

Richarlison attracted interest from Saudi Arabia in the summer window, but the former Everton star elected to remain in north London to fight for his place under Postecoglou. In an interview with ESPN, he even confirmed that there had been an offer from the Middle East.

“The money is high, but my dream is bigger,” said Richarlison.

“An offer has arrived, but my dream of playing for the Brazilian national team and the Premier League is louder. It’s decided.”

Ex-Tottenham employee suggests Levy could replace Richarlison with Delap

Speaking to Tottenham News, former Spurs scout Bryan King has suggested that Levy could replace Richarlison with Ipswich star Delap in January, otherwise, the Lilywhites may wait until next summer to strike a deal for the "exceptional" former Man City gem.

“Spurs might be interested, but I can’t see that happening till the summer,” King said.

“Unless Richarlison is to leave in January. I’m not a great believer in him. If Spurs have got something lined up in the January window, then they would certainly be looking for another forward.

“Therefore a young one who has scored goals in the Premier League would be a perfect option.”

It was practically the perfect return to Premier League football for Tottenham Hotspur on the weekend, as while they conceded an early goal to West Ham United and looked a little lacklustre in the first half, they eventually ran out 4-1 winners.

In fact, Ange Postecoglou's men were so dominant in the second half that they could have won by more, and while there are still a few minor issues that need to be ironed out, the Lilywhites are starting to look like a genuinely excellent team.

However, tonight brings another challenge, as the North Londoners host Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League, a competition the club have a real chance of winning this season.

That said, with the fixtures starting to pile up once more, Postecoglou should look to make some changes to the side that won on the weekend, including dropping one rather underwhelming starter: James Maddison.

Why James Maddison should be dropped

Okay, so there is one primary reason why Postecoglou should drop Maddison back to the bench for tonight's clash with AZ and another minor one.

The first is that while the team put in a pretty impressive display against the Hammers on Saturday, the Englishman did not and was subsequently hooked at half-time, being replaced by Pape Matar Sarr, who looked good in the second 45.

Now, it might sound harsh, but it's an opinion shared by The Standard's Dom Smith, who awarded the former Leicester City star a 5/10 on the day, writing that while he was 'decent in possession' his 'decision-making was safe', which feels like the antithesis of what Postecoglou wants from his creative midfielders, so he should miss out tonight.

The second more minor reason the midfield maestro should sit out tonight is that while he was poor against West Ham, he is undoubtedly one of the club's most important players and, therefore, must be rested here and there, and given the level of opposition, tonight might be the best opportunity for that to happen for some time.

Moreover, while AZ are no pushovers, Postecoglou has more than enough talent in his team to come away with all three points, and there is one hungry youngster who deserves to start in place of Maddison, a youngster who has been compared to Jude Bellingham in the past, and has a very bright future ahead of him.

Why Lucas Bergvall should start tonight

The youngster in question is the sensationally talented Lucas Bergvall, who signed for Spurs for around £8.5m in February this year from Swedish side Djurgarden before joining up with the squad in the summer.

Now, the first thing to address is this comparison to the incredible Bellingham.

It stems primarily from respected analyst Ben Mattinson, who claimed that it was the Swede's "raw & technical ability to adapt to any role" that made him "similar to Bellingham", and by looking at his career to date, it's easy to see where Mattinson is coming from.

For example, in his 67 appearances to date, the 18-year-old phenom has made 16 appearances in central midfield, 15 in attacking midfield, eight in defensive midfield, and he has even played a game as a centre-forward and one game in left-midfield, really lending credence to Mattinson's claim that the youngster "does it all".

However, it's not just his versatility that makes the "super creative" midfielder, as dubbed by Mattinson, so exciting and deserving of another start this evening, but also his output.

In just 19 games last season, he scored six goals and provided five assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement once every 1.72 games despite being so young.

Ultimately, a lacklustre performance on the weekend and the need to rest him should see Maddison removed from the starting lineup for this evening, which in turn should allow Bergvall to make another start for the first team, as the more he plays, the better he will become, and he looks like he could be exceptional in a few years.

Being one of the biggest clubs in England, Tottenham Hotspur have been blessed with a plethora of sensational players over the years.

The likes of Jimmy Greaves, Gary Lineker, Ledley King and Harry Kane are just some of the supreme talents who have etched their names into the club's illustrious history, but as the fans will attest, for all the greats they have seen pull on the shirt, there have been plenty of flops as well.

One such example was Spanish striker Roberto Soldado, who joined the club as part of the not-so 'magnificent seven' in the summer of 2013.

The former Valencia ace thoroughly underwhelmed in North London and is rightly remembered as one of the most disappointing transfers in the club's modern history, but just a few years later, Daniel Levy and Co signed another promising attacker who was arguably even worse and went on to cost the club a pretty penny.

Soldado's underwhelming Spurs stint

In the aftermath of Gareth Bale's £85m move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2013, Spurs went on a spending spree to try and replace the Welshman's world-class output, and while the players they signed were nicknamed the 'magnificent seven', it would be hard to claim any of them were successes, bar Christian Eriksen, of course.

Soldado's £26m move to the Lilywhites, a club-record deal, was arguably the standout signing in this batch of new arrivals, and in Levy's defence, it looked like a superb deal at the time.

In the two campaigns prior, the Valencia-born poacher racked up an astounding tally of 57 goals and 11 assists in 97 matches, meaning he was averaging a goal involvement once every 1.42 games for his hometown club.

Unfortunately for Spurs, his simply sensational goalscoring form came to a shuddering halt in England, and while he still managed to produce a middling return of 16 goals and 11 assists in 76 games for the club, there can be no denying that he was ultimately a flop and a costly one at that.

However, as disappointing as the club's record-signing was, Levy and Co would make a similar mistake just a few years later, when they signed another prolific forward who ended up being even worse than Soldado in North London.

Vincent Janssen's costly Spurs career

Yes, the goalscorer in question is Dutch centre-forward Vincent Janssen, who joined Spurs in the summer of 2016 alongside Moussa Sissoko, Victor Wanyama and Georges-Kevin N'Koudou.

The then 22-year-old cost the club around £18.6m, and while that sounds like a lot of money, he was arguably worth it at the time.

For example, like Soldado, the promising striker was in a rich vein of form when Levy and Co came knocking, having scored 32 goals and provided seven assists in 49 games for AZ Alkmaar the campaign prior, but like the former Valencia star, this incredible ability to find the back of the net all but disappeared once his transfer had been completed.

In his first season in England, the Heesch-born ace looked totally out of place and could only muster up a rather paltry return of six goals and four assists in 38 games.

Unsurprisingly, this was not enough to justify a place in the first-team squad, and the following season saw him move on loan to Fenerbahçe before he spent his third and final season as a Spurs player sidelined with a foot injury before being sold to Mexican outfit Monterrey for just £6m in July 2019.

Overall, the underwhelming striker, whom Lineker once brutally described as a "poor man's Soldado," left Spurs with a tally of six goals and four assists in 42 games, which means that due to his £18.6m transfer fee and the £2.75m he earned in the two campaigns he was actually in North London, he cost the club a whopping £21.3m.

"Janssen is looking a bit like a poor man's Soldado, you have to feel sorry for him really" - Gary Lineker.

That means that the former AZ ace cost Levy and Co around £507k-per-appearance, £3.5m-per-goal, £5.3m-per-assist and £2.1m-per-goal-involvement.

Ultimately, while Janssen is far from the worst Spurs player in recent memory, he is one of the most underwhelming ones, and considering the amount of money he cost the club, he can't be considered anything other than a major flop.

As it was last year, this season has already been something of a roller coaster for Tottenham Hotspur.

The Lilywhites looked somewhat off the pace in their opening games, but in the last month or so, Ange Postecoglou's men have looked like a seriously threatening side, even if there are still some issues to be resolved, as the loss to Brighton & Hove Albion made clear.

In fact, the North Londoners' haul of 18 league goals is currently the second-best return in the competition and only one behind Manchester City, who have the frankly inhuman Erling Haaland leading the line.

Yet, it would appear that Daniel Levy and Co are looking to strengthen their already magnificent attack in the upcoming January transfer window, as according to recent reports, the club are keen on a Premier League striker who has won comparisons to Haaland and is currently outscoring Dominic Solanke.

Spurs transfer news

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Tottenham are leading the race for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap ahead of the January transfer window.

The report claims that while the Lilywhites are ahead at the moment, the Englishman's fine form has seen the likes of Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Arsenal and his former club, Manchester City, all take notice ahead of what could be an intense battle for his services.

While this level of interest is far from ideal for the North Londoners, the good news is that 21-year-old shouldn't cost a fortune. The report has revealed that an offer in the region of €40m, £33m, should tempt the Tractor Boys into selling.

Now, this is still a sizeable fee, but given his fine form this season, the comparison to Haaland, and the fact that he's outscoring Solanke, it could prove to be a long-term bargain.

Delap's comparisons to Haaland and Solanke

Okay, so let's start with the comparison to Haaland, and while some may deem it ever so slightly outrageous, it was first made by AP correspondent James Robson in September 2020, who said of the then 17-year-old forward that he had "a look of Haaland about him."

Now, Robson based this opinion on the physical stature and goalscoring ability of the teenager at the time and considering he racked up an imposing tally of 46 goals and 16 assists in 55 appearances for City's various youth sides, it's not hard to see where he was coming from.

Moreover, while the Winchester-born poacher only made six first-team appearances for the club, this season has shown that he can be an effective Premier League goalscorer when given the opportunity to consistently start games.

For example, in his nine appearances so far this year, eight of which have come in the league, the England U21 star has scored four goals, which is one more than Soalnke has managed in as many games and in a far more dangerous team.

With that said, even if Levy and Co were able to get their hands on Ipswich's "exceptional" talent in January, as dubbed by former professional Glenn Murray, he would likely come in as a backup for the £65m man at least for now, and given his age, that could be the best option for all involved.

It would allow Postecoglou to keep playing the former Bournemouth star while having a young, hungry, talented and reliable striker to come off the bench when needed and start in cup games, thus keeping the spotlight off of him and improving the overall quality of the squad.

Ultimately, while fans shouldn't expect Delap to immediately come into the starting lineup and displace the talented Solanke, bringing him to N17 seems like a no-brainer if Levy and Co want to ensure Postecoglou has the best tools at his disposal - and the comparisons to Haaland are certainly a nice bonus.

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Ipswich Town star Liam Delap, as a report shares some news on the striker this week.

Spurs targeting new forward for Postecoglou

Reports in the last few weeks have indicated that Ange Postecoglou is looking to strengthen his forward options in 2025, despite bringing in striker Dominic Solanke and players like Dejan Kulusevski enjoying a fine start to the new Premier League season.

Spurs have been monitoring Espanyol forward Javi Puado, who played a major role in their climb back up to La Liga last season, as an option in the new year - with the Spaniard's contract expiring next summer, meaning he could be available for a cheap January fee.

Meanwhile, closer to home, it is believed Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo is a transfer target for Tottenham, as well as other elite English sides, following his exceptional start to 2024/2025. The Ghanaian has scored three goals and bagged an assist over his opening eight top-flight matches so far, attracting attention from north London.

In an attacking sense, Postecoglou's side have actually been one of England's best sides so far - with only league champions Man City scoring more goals than them in the league so far this season.

However, one or two injuries to key forwards could threaten to severely derail Tottenham. Strength in depth is imperative if Postecoglou wants to challenge for the league at some point during his tenure, potentially leading to their pursuit of fresh attacking options.

It is believed they're after another out-and-out striker to rotate with £65 million summer signing Solanke, and Ipswich's Delap is a prime target amid his impressive form for the newly promoted side.

The former Man City gem has scored four goals in nine appearances so far, with CaughtOffside now sharing a boost for Spurs in their chase for him. They write that Tottenham are leading the race to sign Delap, putting them ahead of other interested clubs, and it is believed the Lilywhites are "particularly keen" on striking a deal for the Englishman.

Delap is believed to command a fairly reasonable price tag of around £33 million too, with Postecoglou and co weighing up a move for him as soon as January.

“He’s had a brilliant start,” said pundit Glenn Murray on Sunday’s Match of the Day 2.

“I think one of the things that’s thrown at newly-promoted clubs is a lack of goals and that worry. He’s been exceptional. He’s always lively, always on the move. What I like about him is that he’s never really marked, he’s always moving and finding that yard of space. If he keeps putting in performances like that, he might just be the difference between Ipswich being a Premier League team at the end of the season and not.

“I think if you can hit double figures in a newly-promoted side, that’s a success. If you’re hitting 12, 14, I think that’s exceptional. For me, I think he’s stepped up. He obviously came for a lot of money from Manchester City’s reserves, effectively. He’s out there to prove himself.

“He’s served his dues, he’s been out on loan a few times, he’s learned his trade and he’s learned about the game. Now we’re seeing him start to compete at this level and looking like he could be the difference.”

Tottenham Hotspur have been able to pride themselves on having a largely successful academy that has allowed them to produce some incredible talent over the years.

Harry Kane will undoubtedly be the name that stands out to the majority of people after his contributions in North London, before making the club a huge profit in the process.

The 31-year-old scored 280 times in 435 appearances for his boyhood club, before finally making the move to Bayern Munich for an initial £82m to allow him to compete at the very top of European football.

As for the current day, 17-year-old Mikey Moore is the latest talent on the Spurs conveyor belt, breaking through and even featuring for the first team despite his tender age.

The attacker made his first senior start in the Europa League clash with Ferencvaros a couple of weeks ago, featuring for the entirety of the contest, giving Ange Postecoglou a potential selection headache in the near future.

However, the club have also demonstrated their ability to succeed in the transfer market, especially with the addition of one current first-team star.

Brennan Johnson’s stats for Tottenham Hotspur

After joining from Nottingham Forest for £47.5m last summer, huge pressure was placed on the shoulders of winger Brennan Johnson to be a success under Postecoglou.

The Welshman had to adapt from being a big fish in a little pond, to featuring alongside the likes of Heung-min Son and James Maddison - some of the very best talents in European football.

He’s since struggled in periods, often needing time to settle into life at Spurs in the Premier League, before making the impact we have seen over recent months.

The 23-year-old has notched six goals for Postecoglou’s side already this campaign - bettering his tally from the entirety of his debut campaign at the club.

Johnson’s subsequent run has undoubtedly cemented his place in Postecoglou’s starting eleven, with credit needing to go to the Aussie for sticking by the attacker during his tough spell at the start of the current season.

However, the 59-year-old is now reaping the rewards with his form in the first-team, allowing the Welshman to play a key role in their attempts to return to Champions League football.

Despite his recent form in London, he’s been outperformed by one player who used to be a part of the club’s academy.

The man Spurs may regret allowing to leave

Winger Noni Madueke was another player who was hoping to burst through the Spurs academy, but his dream of becoming a first-team star in North London would all come crashing down.

The Englishman was released by the club at the age of 16, subsequently taking up the opportunity and moving abroad to further develop his career as a professional.

Madueke decided to join Dutch side PSV Eindhoven, rapidly progressing through the youth system and making a huge impression on the first team.

The winger would make 80 appearances, scoring 20 times in the process - a record that would secure him a move to join Spurs’ Premier League rivals Chelsea back in January 2023.

However, his form this season has seen him outperform current Tottenham star Johnson, adding further insult to injury in allowing him to depart the club for nothing just six years ago.

The current Chelsea star has scored more Premier League goals than Johnson this season, whilst also managing a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate so far this season.

Madueke has also completed more take-ons per 90 whilst averaging more progressive carries - showcasing his desire to get the ball into attacking areas.

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.

As a result of his superb form, the 22-year-old has seen his market value soar to £30m as per Transfermarkt - an indication as to how well he’s developed in recent years.

Given his recent form, the club may have some regrets in allowing the star to leave, potentially having the talent to further ignite their top four ambitions.

However, their decision to offload him as a teenager may come back to bite them, arguably having to sit back and watch the attacker star for one of their rivals.

Tottenham Hotspur has been the home to countless attacking talents over the years, many of whom have captured the hearts of the supporters during their time in North London.

Striker Jermain Defoe registered a total of 122 goals over two separate spells for Spurs, notching 91 of his efforts in the Premier League, making him the club’s fifth-highest goalscorer in the competition’s history.

During his two stints, the former England international spent a combined nine years at White Hart Lane, often being a reliable source of goals, as demonstrated by his tallies for the Lilywhites.

However, fast-forward to 2024, current winger Heung-min Son is undoubtedly Ange Postecoglou’s greatest goal threat in the final third, with the Aussie hoping the South Korean can help fire his side into the top four once more this season.

The 32-year-old has been a key part of the first team since his transfer back in the summer of 2015, registering over 400 appearances for the club - trailing only Harry Kane in Spurs’ all-time Premier League goalscorer list.

He marked his return to first-team action against West Ham United with a goal, as Postecoglou’s men inflicted a brutal 4-1 hammering over their London rivals.

Undoubtedly, the boss has numerous star talents at the top end of the pitch, including one who has made an excellent start to the 2024/25 season under his guidance.

Brennan Johnson’s stats for Spurs

Welsh winger Brennan Johnson has certainly endured an up-and-down year at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after his £47.5m move from fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest last summer.

The 23-year-old made 34 appearances during his first season in the capital, becoming a key player under Postecoglou, and posting some impressive numbers as a result of his consistent minutes.

He posted a total of five goals and ten assists during his debut campaign at the club, with one of his strikes coming in the 2-1 defeat against Wolves at Molineux.

However, the new season has allowed him to take his game to the next level in North London, but he’s endured his fair share of criticism to enable him to get to his current performance level.

Johnson was the subject of a heap of abuse on social media during the opening couple of matches of the 2024/25 season, leading the attacker to deactivate his Instagram account - but it’s seen him gain a bit between his teeth to prove the doubters wrong.

He’s since enjoyed the best goalscoring run of his career, scoring in seven successive matches for club and country, repaying Postecoglou and demonstrating why the Aussie was right to stick with him despite his poor early season form.

Johnson has certainly taken his game to the next level in recent weeks, displaying evidence as to why the club forked out such a huge fee for the attacker.

However, he’s been unable to match the tally of one player, who plies his trade for the club’s bitter rivals.

Bukayo Saka’s stats for Arsenal in 2024/25

It’s no secret that the North London Derby is one fueled by hatred from both sides, with the meeting between the two teams the first date every supporter looks for on the calendar each year.

Derby day is one no side wants to lose, offering up bragging rights to the noisy neighbours for the foreseeable until the teams meet again - something which Spurs have unfortunately already done this season.

We may only be eight matches into the Premier League campaign, but Arsenal have already triumphed over Spurs, with Gabriel scoring the winner from a Bukayo Saka corner.

The latter may play for the Lilywhites’ bitter rivals, but his talent simply has to be appreciated, with the England international registering seven assists in as many league matches so far this season - the most of any player in the division.

Saka has also notched two league goals, but it’s his chance creation that has caught the eye, completing 87% of his passes, and also creating 27 chances in his seven appearances - an average of 3.9 per 90.

The 23-year-old attacker has often tormented Spurs, registering six goal contributions in his ten meetings, ending up on the winning side on six occasions.

However, despite his impact in attacking areas, Postecoglou already has his own version of the Arsenal star, producing numerous figures that are either on par or even better than the Englishman has mustered so far this campaign.

Tottenham's answer to Bukayo Saka

Winger Dejan Kulusevski has been a key player for Spurs over the last couple of years, following his permanent move to North London back in the summer of 2022.

The Sweden international has often featured as a right-winger during Postecoglou's reign, but in recent weeks Johnson’s form has seen him lose out on his regular role.

As a result, he’s switched to a more central midfield role, starring alongside Rodrigo Bentancur and James Maddison at the heart of Postecoglou’s side.

However, the switch has actually been a blessing in disguise, allowing Kulusevski to thrive with increased opportunities on the ball, turning him into a chance-creating monster, just like Saka.

The “world-class” talent, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has starred in recent weeks, producing some phenomenal numbers in the Premier League.

The Swede may have registered fewer combined goals and assists than current Gunner Saka, but he’s registered the same number of passes leading to shots per 90 as the Englishman.

Kulusevski has also averaged the same amount of take-ons attempted per 90, whilst bettering the Arsenal star for carries into the final third - showcasing how his switch in position has benefited him in recent weeks.

His performances this season have certainly taken his game to the next level, potentially making him undroppable and one of Postecoglou’s most important players.

The 24-year-old could be crucial in the club’s hunt for a top-four finish, arguably proving to be the difference in Spurs’ hunt for a return to Champions League football next season.

A report has shared some surprise news from Tottenham Hotspur today, explaining why summer signing Archie Gray could already leave in January.

Archie Gray's Spurs career after £40 million move from Leeds

The English sensation is widely regarded as one of the country's most exciting up-and-coming talents, especially after he starred for Leeds last season, over a campaign where he was a mainstay for Daniel Farke.

The 18-year-old made 52 appearances in all competitions for Leeds, impressing at both right-back and in centre midfield. Gray played a crucial role in Leeds' run to the Championship play-off final, where they narrowly lost 1-0 to Southampton at Wembley, and his performances attracted attention from north London.

Tottenham were heavily linked with a summer move for Gray thereafter, and chairman Daniel Levy opted to back manager Ange Postecoglou with a £40 million deal for the versatile starlet.

It seemed like a fantastic deal at the time, with Spurs offloading Joe Rodon for £10 million, meaning Levy only paid a net-£30 million for Gray. Leeds were gutted to lose their Thorp Arch academy graduate, releasing a heartfelt statement after accepting the Lilywhites' bid for him.

"Understanding the attraction of Premier League and European football, the club, with a heavy heart, agreed the transfer, but the move has strengthened the board’s resolve to ultimately return Leeds to a position where it can meet the footballing ambitions of even its brightest stars," said Leeds in a statement (via Ben Jacobs).

"Whilst we understand that supporters will be hugely disappointed to lose such a home-grown talent, and a family name so synonymous with Leeds United, the move improves the club’s chance to compete for automatic promotion next season by increasing our ability to build a competitive squad within the league’s financial control regulations. Everyone at Leeds United is heartbroken to see one of our own depart and would like to thank Archie for all his efforts and professionalism."

However, Gray has struggled for consistent opportunities so far under Postecoglou and has been reduced to more of a squad player. His only starts have come in cup competitions, and the midfielder is yet to get a nod right from the off in the Premier League, with all appearances coming from the bench.

Why Archie Gray could now leave Tottenham in January

According to a report from Spanish news outlet Mucho Deporte, Sevilla and ex-Leeds transfer chief Victor Orta are showing a serious interest in signing the player this winter, and have already begun work on a possible loan deal.

Indeed, it is believed Gray could leave Tottenham on a temporary deal in January, as it is entirely possible Levy and technical director Johan Lange could green-light this move, even if it will be difficult.

Postecoglou is apparently unwilling to invest in his playing time too much, making this move to Sevilla a transfer which could happen, akin to how striker Alejo Veliz spent a portion of the season on loan there last term.

Few would've envisaged this for Gray so soon after signing for Tottenham, given his potential, but perhaps it could even be considered when factoring in his overall development.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou could be set to axe a big-name player from his starting XI, according to an ex-recruitment expert who still has real connections within the beautiful game.

Tottenham 4-1 West Ham as Postecoglou returns to winning ways

Following their dismal 3-2 defeat away to Brighton, which Postecoglou admitted was the "worst" loss of his tenure, Spurs put London rivals West Ham to the sword with a memorable 4-1 domination of their neighbours at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Mohammed Kudus briefly opened the scoring for West Ham, giving Postecoglou and supporters inside the stadium a real scare, but it didn't take long for star forward Dejan Kulusevski to equalise and maintain his exceptional start to the new Premier League season.

Level at half-time, Spurs surged after the restart, taking a 4-1 lead inside the space of ten minutes. Yves Bissouma, an own goal from Alphonse Areola and Son Heung-min's strike handed the home side a three-goal cushion just before the hour mark - with Julen Lopetegui distraught over the Hammers' capitulation.

Kudus was sent off a few minutes from full-time, cementing West Ham's misery over a second period to forget. Postecoglou's delight at his team's response after the Brighton game was evident in his press conference, where he praised supporters for helping to lift the team.

"It’s important for our fans for sure because these are the games they want to feel good about and win obviously," said Postecoglou's on Tottenham's 4-1 win over West Ham.

"Personally for me any game we win I get equal joy out of it as I've always said. Part of the kind of momentum we built in the second half came through the edge the supporters gave us, especially after the second goal you could really feel the atmosphere inside the stadium lift and that pushed us along and we had a 15-20min spell where we were outstanding.

"It goes hand in hand. We need the supporters especially at home to provide but to be able to provide we need to give them something in return. Today is hopefully a little bit of a reward for our fans."

Kulusevski earned the plaudits against West Ham after another superb all-round display, but the same cannot be said for James Maddison, who was hooked at half-time in favour of Pape Matar Sarr.

James Maddison facing Tottenham axe

The £170,000-per-week Maddison actually got the assist for Kulusevski's equaliser, though Postecoglou's side arguably looked more threatening after the England international was subbed off, which showed in the scoreline.

Speaking to Football Insider, former recruitment expert Mick Brown, who remains well-connected in the Premier League, says that he's "heard" Maddison could be axed from Tottenham's starting elevens on a regular basis.

“I appreciate what James Maddison can do,” said Brown.

“But it’s almost as if the game has to be run for his benefit, whereas the elite players in his position put their stamp on the game and dictate the way it’s played. If it’s a 50/50 battle of a game, he can go missing. From what I’ve heard, the manager could look to drop him from the starting XI from time to time. He won’t be afraid of making big calls and that is one that he may have to make.

“Postecoglou will be looking at who they’re playing against, and will change his system to suit the game. Maddison might be able to take advantage of teams that are weaker in midfield, for example, but in games like the one at the weekend they can leave him out.

“We saw against West Ham the difference that dropping him out of the side can make, and I’d expect to see that on a more regular basis now.”

Tottenham Hotspur are making headway under Ange Postecoglou but his expansive, intense and attractive brand of football does present a chink in the armour.

Defensively, Spurs have left plenty to be desired this season and last, and though they looked to suffocate and swamp with slick triangular passages and overloads, it did bear that caveat.

High risk, high reward. That's the motto. Tottenham are still pushing and have demonstrated through big victories over Manchester United and West Ham United in the past month that they can make it work to title-clinching success.

On paper, the north Londoners have two of the finest defenders in the Premier League, and a little more fine-tuning might bring Postecoglou's vision right to the fore.

The Premier League's finest defenders

The Premier League is host to many fine centre-backs, with Tottenham's dynamic duo of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven among the best.

Tottenham have only conceded nine goals across eight top-flight fixtures this season, joint-fifth in the divisional table, but have also kept just two clean sheets - something to work on.

As you can see, this is a pair of first-class defenders. At least, bordering on first class. Ahead of them in the Premier League pecking order are Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and William Saliba of Arsenal.

The respective centre-halves have had significant impacts on their sides' development, with Saliba on the cusp of hitting his prime and Van Dijk at the end of his.

Paolo Maldini has praised the Liverpool sensation as "the best defender in history", while Saliba has been utterly breathtaking in recent years, with his performances under Mikel Arteta this season largely imperious - as per Sofascore, the France international has won a whopping 70% of his ground duels.

Tottenham's titans are creeping toward such a standing, but Postecoglou may well rue his side's failed bid for a defender already operating at the level of English football's finest.

Let's take a look at Tottenham's effort to sign Alessandro Bastoni.

When Spurs nearly signed Alessandro Bastoni

Predating Postecoglou's appointment by one year, Tottenham fought to sign Bastoni from Inter Milan in 2022. According to reports from Italy, Inter opened contract talks with their prized defensive asset following intrigue from Tottenham and Manchester City.

It worked. In 2023, the Italy international extended his stay with I Nerazzurri until 2028, boasting a £164k-per-week contract. Given that he's now valued at €70m (£60m) this certainly looks like a missed opportunity.

According to content creator Nieve Petruzziello, purveyor of Italian football, the Inter defender is now "as good as Van Dijk and Saliba", with the Milan-based side owing to Bastoni's incredible mix of defensive strength and ball-playing brilliance.

Indeed, as Inter ran rampant in Serie A last season, Bastoni won 59% of his duels, completed 90% of his passes and created ten big chances.

His creativity and drive set him apart from the lion's share of European defenders. As per FBref, the left-footed ace ranks among the top 1% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions and progressive carries, the top 2% for assists and the top 8% for passes attempted and progressive passes per 90.

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.

A superlative technician, it's no wonder the 25-year-old has been hailed for his qualities by another Italian football expert, Conor Clancy.

Clancy said: "He's the best Italian centre-back around. He's a phenomenon. He is going to be the next generation of Italian defence himself."