ToTheLaneAndBack - Tottenham Fan Site

The international break is almost in its final lap and it is only a matter of time before club football returns. Coming back from the break, Tottenham have one of their biggest clashes in the Premier League against Arsenal.

The traditional North London derby is one of the hard-fought rivals in all of football. Clearly, there are no pleasantries to be exchanged between the two clubs at any point and it will be a battle for bragging rights early in the season.

Tottenham have had a mixed start to the season with one draw, one win and one loss in three Premier League games. Arsenal on the other hand have had two wins and one draw so far in their three games this season.

With the all-important Arsenal game on the horizon, we take a look at how Ange Postecoglou could set Tottenham up against the Gunners this Sunday.

Guglielmo Vicario is nailed in to start as the goalkeeper on the night barring any late mishaps. The Italian shot-stopper has not had the best of starts to the season but will be hoping to put in a solid performance against the Gunners.

In front of him will be a back four comprising of Pedro Porro (inexplicably left out by Spain, yet again), Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven (he should be fit and ready) and Destiny Udogie who provided an assist on international duty.

Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur are likely to start as the midfield pairing on the day, with Pape Matar Sarr dropping to the bench. James Maddison is nailed in to start as the primary #10 on the team sheet.

Dejan Kulusevski is almost certain to start on the right side of the attack with Brennan Johnson likely to start on the left. The Welsh youngster should be in line to replace Wilson Odobert in the starting XI against Arsenal.

Son Heung-min is mostly set to start as the number nine on the night with Dominic Solanke on the bench. Alternatively, if the English striker is fit to start the game against Arsenal, the captain could move to the left in place of Johnson.

The

//tothelaneandback.com/2024/09/15/tottenham-star-struggling-for-opportunities-concerns-on-stalled-development/">

Tottenham star struggling for opportunities; concerns on stalled development

Tottenham concerned about Arsenal and Man City in the rave to land English international

likes of Archie Gray, Pape Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Odobert are almost certain to receive minutes off the bench. The line-up does look strong on paper and let’s hope Ange Postecoglou can inspire his team to a victory against an injury-raven Arsenal.

Tottenham star Ben Davies is on the radar of Turkish giants Galatasaray

Tottenham Hotspur enjoyed a busy transfer window in the summer, acquiring the signatures of some exciting talents with high potential.

The Lilywhites have also done a brilliant job of moving on the deadwood and the players on the fringes of Ange Postecoglou, except Sergio Reguilon, who now faces the risk of being frozen out for several months if he does not leave N17.

As the transfer window for most of the European clubs are now closed, moving to Turkey seemingly appears to be Reguilon’s last hope of ending his time at Tottenham. Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce have emerged as a genuine option to offer the Spaniard an escape route out of the Hotspur Way.

And now, Fenerbahce’s Super Lig rivals are eyeing another Tottenham defender before Turkey’s September 13 transfer deadline. According to a report from Turkish outlet Takvim, Galatasaray are eyeing a shock late swoop for Tottenham star Ben Davies. They are keen to bolster their backline with a versatile, experienced defender and have set their sights on the 31-year-old.

-> Tottenham’s 5 best PL opening day wins

Ben Davies has been a solid and reliable performer for Spurs since arriving from Swansea City in 2014. The Lilywhites’ veteran has thrived primarily at left-back and left wing-back but has also impressed with his ability to operate in central defence. He has made a total of 330 appearances for the North Londoners, chipping in with nine goals and 23 assists to date.

However, the Wales international faces an uncertain future at the club as he has entered the final year of his contract (Transfermarkt). Galatasaray are seemingly looking to take advantage of Davies’ situation at Spurs and sign him on a significantly reduced fee now.

The aforementioned report adds that the Turkish heavyweights are planning to switch to a back five after the high-profile arrival of Victor Osimhen from Napoli, and Davies is viewed as an ideal candidate to operate in a three-man backline. The 10-season Spurs veteran will undoubtedly be a strong addition to Omar Buruk’s side, but the main question is—will head coach Ange Postecoglou sanction and chairman Daniel Levy sanction a move now?

The £80,000-per-week star, who recently put in a strong display for Wales in the 0-0 draw with Turkiye in a UEFA Nations League group-stage fixture, is one of the most senior members in the Spurs dressing room. The Welshman is a leader and highly experienced player who can essay multiple defensive roles, and with Spurs set to embrace a hectic schedule after the international break, which involves the Carabao Cup and the Europa League matches, Big Ange cannot afford to let Davies depart now.

-> Tottenham Hotspur confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25

That being said, our club must reject any advances from Galatasaray for Davies as the 31-year-old is expected to play a big part during the 2024/25 season.

Rabiot approaches Tottenham over a free transfer

Tottenham Hotspur’s squad has failed to deliver in the early weeks of the Premier League as they have secured just four points out of a possible nine in three outings so far in the season.

A rebuilding opportunity has presented itself on their door with Adrien Rabiot offering himself to the Lilywhites, as well as their crosstown rivals Arsenal, over a free transfer according to an exclusive report by Graeme Bailey on TBR Football.

The Frenchman remains without a club having left Juventus at the end of last season and is hoping to find a new home in the Premier League, with North London expected to be of particular interest to him.

Although the summer’s transfer window has shut, clubs are permitted to sign free agents and register them until September 13th and as a result, Rabiot is hoping to find a solution to his future sooner rather than later and failing to do so, his search for a new club must wait until January.

Tottenham Hotspur already seem to be opposed to the idea of landing him with Ange Postecoglou reportedly keen on signing players with a long-term view, To The Lane And Back reported earlier.

The Australian believes Rabiot would be a short or medium-term option in Spurs’ midfield and rightly so, as his arrival could hamper the development of the likes of Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall.

On a side note, life has come full circle for Rabiot and Tottenham as the player turned down a move to the club back in 2019 as he deemed Spurs below his standard.

More Tottenham Hotspur News:

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It remains to be seen if Arsenal are willing to bet on him as a free agent but such a move also looks unlikely with Mikel Arteta focusing on building a younger squad, much like a number of other Premier League clubs.

Son Heung-min has entered the final year of his contract at Tottenham Hotspur

Son Heung-min has begun his 10th season at Tottenham Hotspur in some style, bagging two goals already in three Premier League games.

After arriving from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2015, the South Korean struck an instant relationship with the Tottenham Hotspur faithful and became a fan favourite. He has already earned legendary status at N17 for his consistency, passion, commitment, leadership skills and attitude off the pitch. The 32-year-old has made over 400 appearances across all competitions thus far, netting 164 goals and registering 84 assists.

However, Son Heung-min has entered the final year of his contract at Tottenham (Transfermarkt). This has led to speculation over his long-term future at the club, with cash-rich Saudi Pro League clubs already monitoring the situation. They are planning to sign the South Korean superstar on a potential free transfer in 2025.

-> Tottenham Hotspur confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25

Football London’s Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold has given us an update on Son’s contract situation. In a Q&A session with the Spurs fans, he hinted that an extension can certainly be agreed upon if both parties are on the same page.

It is no doubt that Son is a revered figure at Tottenham. The forward’s responsibility at the club increased since last season when Ange Postecoglou decided to hand him the captaincy reins. The 32-year-old led the team extremely well as Spurs narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification, finishing fifth on the table.

Despite turning 32, Son has shown no signs of slowing down. He was quite prolific for the North London outfit last season and carried the attack following Harry Kane’s high-profile move to Bayern Munich, registering 17 goals and 10 assists in 35 Premier League appearances.

-> Tottenham’s 5 best PL opening day wins

The Chuncheon-Si-born ace has maintained incredible fitness and consistency levels over the years. That coupled with his versatility, experience, status and value, as well as being a club’s glowing ambassador in Asia, chairman Daniel Levy would never risk losing Son on a free transfer. That being said, Spurs must not think twice about handing Son a contract extension as he is our best player.

Adrien Rabiot is not expected to be Tottenham’s priority

Tottenham Hotspur enjoyed a busy transfer window in the summer but that has not stopped them from being linked with transfers for free agents, including the likes of Anthony Martial, Memphis Depay and Yusuf Yazici, while recently rumoured to be in the equation for Adrien Rabiot as well.

However, reliable Spurs journalist Alasdair Gold has ruled out a transfer for the Frenchman, barring any unforeseen injury issues before the Premier League’s registration deadline of September 13th.

In an interview with Football London, he stated that Ange Postecoglou is unlikely to be appealed by a short-term option in his squad although Rabiot could arrive on a free transfer. Gold was quoted saying the following when quizzed about Spurs’ interest in the former Juventus midfielder:

“Unless there are any injuries… I’d be surprised if there was a free agent signing. Mainly because Postecoglou is always talking about not signing short-term, stop-gap players… He only wants players that fit his very specific system.”

Adrien Rabiot has played under various different managers in his career. He has won the Ligue 1 five times and the Serie A once, so he definitely has the experience to fit into Postecoglou’s system. However, the argument of being a short-term option is very valid.

The Australian has refused to sign players who are inching towards the dusk of their careers since joining from Celtic in order to bring in younger options who the club can benefit in the longer term, more so by signing for cheaper transfer fees.

More Tottenham Hotspur News:

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Tottenham Hotspur already have a number of young midfielders they can count on, such as Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall and as a result, there is no reason for them to invest in Rabiot, who is not only a short-term signing but will command a significant wage despite joining as a free agent.

Why Sergio Reguilon wants to depart Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur signed Sergio Reguilon from Real Madrid in 2020 in a transfer worth £32 million and having initially nailed down a berth in the starting eleven under Jose Mourinho, the left-back has struggled for minutes throughout his career in north London.

Loans spells followed for the 27-year-old with the likes of Atletico Madrid, Brentford and Manchester United and despite impressing elsewhere, he was unable to win Ange Postecoglou’s trust with Destiny Udogie recently affixing himself as the Australian’s primary option at left-back.

Reguilon wants to depart Tottenham sooner rather than later, while Spurs also have no good reason to keep a player who is not part of their manager’s plans, especially with the left-back position backed up by Ben Davies.

The Athletic has reported that Reguilon wants to leave because he has liked the taste of Champions League football during his spells with other clubs and playing in the continent’s elite competition is his ambition.

Moreover, he always wants to be ‘loved’ wherever he goes next and with that not happening at Tottenham, a departure seems like the best possible option for all concerned parties. That said, only two countries can sign Reguilon in the next few days.

With the transfer window ending in most European countries, just sides in Greece and Turkey are able to bring in newer players until September 11th and September 13th, respectively. It remains to be seen if those clubs appeal to Reguilon and whether his transfer is financially viable for them too.

It has emerged that Turkey is a realistic option for him and that Spurs are prepared to freeze him out of the senior team if he does not opt for a move by next week. If Reguilon does not choose a club by September 13th, a decision on his future will need to be placed on hold until January.

More Tottenham Hotspur News:

Tottenham in three-way transfer battle as Conte plans to sign Spurs target this summer

Not Toney – Tottenham put off by €50m asking price for striker whose contract expires in less than 12 months

Tottenham now in position to hijack Chelsea deal for Serie A ace

It will be exciting to see what the near future holds for Reguilon as there is no doubt that he would want to play regularly given the stage of his career he is at, while Tottenham Hotspur also would not want to keep a player they have deemed as deadweight on their roster for much longer.

Reguilon could be frozen out by Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur are keen on getting rid of Sergio Reguilon sooner rather than later as he is not expected to be a part of Ange Postecoglou’s first team plans for the ongoing season.

Destiny Udogie has emerged as the preferred option under the Australian boss while Ben Davies has been selected as the back-up option for the north Londoners, which has resulted in Reguilon not having any way back into Spurs’ plans either.

In spite of going out on loan to the likes of Atletico Madrid, Brentford and Manchester United over the course of his career with Tottenham, the 27-year-old has failed to convince the club in order to trust him with opportunities in their team.

Things have reached a melting point now as according to Mirror (newspaper edition of 8th September on page 69), the Spanish full-back faces the risk of being frozen out for several months if he does not depart Tottenham Hotspur.

The club’s idea is to send him out to Turkey, where the transfer window is still open and runs until September 13th and teams continue to revamp their squads in the final days of the market.

There is no clarity as to whether there is an interest in Reguilon’s services from either side in Turkey, while it also remains to be seen if Tottenham Hotspur are willing to let him leave on loan.

A reunion with Jose Mourinho at Fenerbahce is an option that cannot be ruled out for Sergio Reguilon at this point after the duo enjoyed a successful time together at Spurs, while other leading clubs in Turkey like Galatasaray and Besiktas could also be attractive options.

More Tottenham Hotspur News:

Tottenham in three-way transfer battle as Conte plans to sign Spurs target this summer

Not Toney – Tottenham put off by €50m asking price for striker whose contract expires in less than 12 months

Tottenham now in position to hijack Chelsea deal for Serie A ace

If Reguilon does not leave in the next five days, he will be forced to train with Spurs’ reserve or developmental sides and could be entirely barred from participating in first team proceedings, at least until January, when another window of opportunity would open itself up.

Cristian Romero will miss Tottenham’s Europa League opener against Qarabag FK due to UEFA rule

Tottenham Hotspur announced their Europa League squad for group stages earlier this week.

Due to Wednesday’s deadline and to comply with the strict guidelines on squad numbers, unlike the Premier League, the North London club faced a challenge in picking their squad for the Europa League group stages. They were forced to omit Djed Spence and Sergio Reguilon and announce only a 23-man squad for the European competition.

Spurs’ European adventure begins against Qarabag FK at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 26. However, according to a report from Football London, Tottenham will be without the services of experienced defender Cristian Romero for the visit of Qarabag FK.

-> Tottenham’s 5 best PL opening day wins

This is due to the 2022 World Cup winner picking up a red card two seasons ago when Tottenham were last in Europe. Cristian Romero was sent off for two bookable offences during Tottenham’s round of 16 tie against AC Milan two seasons ago. The centre-back was first cautioned in the 17th minute, followed by a second yellow card in the 77th minute, resulting in his dismissal.

The aforementioned report adds UEFA regulations state that carry over to future tournaments, so while Spurs didn’t participate in a European competition last season, Romero must serve his ban in the forthcoming Europa League fixture against the Azerbaijan side as the sanction is ‘still alive’.

Romero has been one of the first names on Big Ange’s teamsheet, making his absence against Qarabag a massive blow. A leader and fantastic organiser, the Argentinean is Spurs’ best defender and his presence on the pitch makes a huge difference.

With Micky van de Ven missing the trip to Newcastle United due to not being 100 per cent fit, Big Ange will be hoping for no further defensive injuries ahead of the gruelling schedule after the ongoing international break concludes.

The Greek-Aussie tactician has Radu Dragusin as his third natural centre-back option in the squad, and going by his first outing of the season in the 2-1 defeat to Newcastle, the Romania international can be relied upon in the upcoming domestic cup competition and European adventure. In Romero’s absence, Dragusin is expected to step into the starting XI against Qarabag later this month.

-> Tottenham Hotspur confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25

With a taxing schedule set to follow post-international break, our gaffer must manage his squad sensibly in the weeks and months ahead.

Sergio Reguilon is now attracting interest from Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce

Tottenham Hotspur made some radical changes to their squad over the summer transfer window.

Apart from making some astute additions, the Lilywhites did a brilliant job of offloading the majority of the deadwood and the players who were on the fringes of Ange Postecoglou last season.

Players such as Giovani Lo Celso, Tanguy Ndombele, Ryan Sessegnon, Ivan Perisic, Eric Dier, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Emerson Royal, and some more, either left the club on loan or permanently. However, one of Spurs’ players who was not able to find a new home during the past summer transfer window was Sergio Reguilon.

According to a report from GIVEMESPORT correspondent Ben Jacobs, Sergio Reguilon had options to leave Tottenham during the summer transfer window but the club ‘made it difficult’ for him to exit, as they wanted either a permanent departure or a loan with an obligation to buy in 2025.

-> Tottenham’s 5 best PL opening day wins

Spurs signed Reguilon from Real Madrid in 2020, but he has struggled to establish himself as a first-team regular. The constant chopping and changing of managers hasn’t helped his cause, with the six-cap Spain international managing a total of only 67 appearances throughout his stint at the club thus far, scoring two goals and supplying eight assists for his side.

The left-back spent time out on loan at Manchester United and Brentford respectively last season. Having not been included in Tottenham’s pre-season tour of Asia and the Europa League group-stages squad, it became clear that the 27-year-old doesn’t find himself in Big Ange’s plans. He is supposedly one of the last outcasts at Spurs, with less than 12 months remaining on his current contract (Transfermarkt).

Ben Jacobs has revealed that Spurs’ exit terms for Reguilon were ‘quite tough’, resulting in the defender failing to find a new home away from the North London club.

With the Turkish transfer window open until September 13, Reguilon could soon be offered an escape route from Spurs, with Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce rumoured to be interested. Jose Mourinho had signed the Spaniard as the manager of Spurs four summers ago, and he now wants to be reunited with the player at Fenerbahce.

-> Tottenham Hotspur confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25

Hopefully, the Turkish club intensify their interest and sign Reguilon—either on loan or permanently.

Tottenham look to exploit weakened rivals Arsenal in the North London Derby

The ongoing international break is turning out to be a nightmare for Tottenham Hotspur’s north London rivals, Arsenal.

Martin Odegaard, the Gunners skipper, picked up a knock during the 1-1 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium before the break. He was considered doubtful for Norway’s game against Kazakhstan in the UEFA Nations League on Friday, but the creative midfielder started and completed the full 90 minutes.

Elsewhere, however, Riccardo Calafiori—one of Arsenal’s summer signings—suffered a bizarre injury in Italy’s 3-1 win over France in Paris in a UEFA Nations League fixture. After being tackled cleanly by Italy defender Alessandro Bastoni, France winger Ousmane Dembele took a tumble and his studs caught the back of Calafiori’s leg. It was a freak accident that required medical attention, and the Arsenal man was withdrawn after 71 minutes.

-> Tottenham Hotspur confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25

Tottenham plan to exploit Arsenal’s struggles owing to injury problems. They have actually played some scintillating football across the opening three Premier League games but failed to get the deserved results. As a result, Ange Postecoglou’s side, who were beaten 2-1 by Newcastle United away before the international break, remain 10th in the table with just four points from a possible nine.

The North London derby is a game for the Lilywhites to show their mettle and bounce back. It will also provide our rivals a chance to get back to winning ways after drawing 1-1 with Brighton last time out, which saw Declan Rice being sent off. Mikel Arteta’s side will visit Tottenham’s home ground without Rice and summer signing Mikel Merino, who has been ruled out for weeks after a shoulder fracture.

According to Italy head coach Luciano Spalletti (h/t Football Italia), Calafiori only suffered a knock at Parc des Princes on Friday and should be fit to play against Israel on Monday evening. In a separate report, Gabriel Jesus could return for Arsenal but full-backs Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney remain sidelined.

Spurs also have injury problems of their own; Dominic Solanke and Richarlison will miss the North London derby owing to their respective injury issues. Micky van de Ven was not 100 per cent fit and subsequently missed the game at Newcastle United, but Big Ange expects him to be fit for the derby clash.

-> Tottenham’s 5 best PL opening day wins

The Spurs faithful will look to create a hostile environment for the visitors and spur our players to win the North London derby bragging rights. All in all, the first NLD of the 2024/25 campaign promises to be a mouthwatering contest.