ToTheLaneAndBack - Tottenham Fan Site

Arsenal received an injury boost ahead of the North London Derby as Tottenham Hotspur plan to exploit their rival’s struggles. The Lilywhites have faced a tough start to their season as well after losing 2-1 to Newcastle United on Sunday.

The game at St James Park is always a tough one but Spurs dominated it enough to extract a better result. However, Ange Postecoglou’s men failed to capitalize despite having 20 shots with six on target, dominating 60% of the possession.

The North London Derby is a perfect game for them to bounce back and make a much-needed statement this season. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium game should pile on the poor start from the media’s favourite Arsenal side hyped for the title chase.

The Gunners suffered a 1-1 draw at home against Brighton & Hove Albion, involving a red card for Declan Rice. They will visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium without Rice and new midfield signing Mikel Merino who suffered a shoulder fracture.

Standard UK states that Odegaard will play against the Lilywhites after he played for Norway against Kazakhstan on Friday. The report also claimed that Gabriel Jesus could return for the arch-rivals while Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney remain sidelined.

Richarlison and Dominic Solanke will miss the game against Arsenal for Spurs due to their respective injuries. The Lilywhites need their other attackers to make the most of their chances in the absence of their two forwards.

Spurs defender Micky van de Ven could return from his knee injury to bolster the defence ahead of the game. The Lilywhites need to pinpoint Arsenal’s midfield as the weakest area in the absence of Rice while their midfielders thrive.

-> Tottenham’s 5 best PL opening day wins

James Maddison and Yves Bissouma have the quality and form on their side to dominate the home game on Sunday. Rest assured, Postecoglou will demand more clinical use of the chances they make compared to what happened against the Magpies.

When you are a side known for playing an exciting rand of football, having exciting attackers at your disposal becomes a matter of course.

Naturally, that’s also the case with Tottenham, who in the Premier League alone have fielded some true stars. Here, were present to you our top 5 picks for the greatest attackers to have represented Tottenham in the PL era.

Harry Kane

What can we say? He’s the easiest pick so might as well get him out the way right away. Kane is England’s top scorer, Tottenham’s top scorer, the reigning top scorer from last season in the Bundesliga, and a member of the very exclusive “Premier League 200” club after Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer. The lack of silverware has, and shall, not in any way diminish Kane’s legacy as one of the greatest forwards of his, and probably all, time.

Robbie Keane

Robbie Keane was quite the journeyman. In the Premier League alone he represented six different clubs, Spurs being one of them.

It was at Spurs, however, where Keane performed at his best. The Premier League centurion was also bought back by the club for €16.7 million after his move to Liverpool didn’t quite go to plan.

Keane’s overall Spurs record reads: 122 goals and provided 35 assists for Spurs in 306 games.

Gareth Bale

We could have put Bale even the defender and midfielder categories, but given the position in which he finished his career, this seems most appropriate. Credit needs to go to both Bale and Harry Redknapp, who in the former’s formative years allowed him the platform to transition from a tricky fullback to one of Britain’s greatest-ever attackers.

Bale arrived at White Hart Lane in 2007 from Southampton for €14.7 million and left for Real Madrid six seasons later as the most expensive player at the time. For the Lilywhites, he delivered 71 goals and 53 assists in 237 appearances, including his tally from the loan spell back at the club during the 2020/21 season.

Son Heung-min

Arguably the most versatile forward on this list, Son is also possibly one of the best signings Spurs have made in the Premier League era, period. The South Korea international arrived from Bayer Leverkusen for €30 million in 2015. Now in his tenth season in North London, Son is the Spurs captain and one of their all-time top goal-scorers. His numbers so far read: 164 goals and 84 assists from 411 appearances.

Jermain Defoe

Defoe ranks ninth in the Premier League’s all-time top-scorers list, so no rewards shall be handed out for guessing he would make this list.

Over three different spells at Spurs, Defoe delivered 143 goals and 31 assists in 363 games. His career saw him play through four different decades. You don’t earn such longevity without a knack for goals as a forward.

What do you think of our picks? Would you have picked someone else over these? Let us know in the comments.

More Tottenham News:

Coman was on Tottenham’s wish-list in the transfer window

Bayern Munich superstar Kingsley Coman had reportedly asked to leave the club towards the end of the transfer window and as per Fichajes (h/t Caught Offside), the Frenchman’s entourage was approached by the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Although all the clubs including Spurs declared an interest in bringing him in before Deadline Day, they failed to materialise their enquiries with formal offers. As it turned out, Coman turned down an offer from Saudi Arabia and will be staying at Bayern Munich in his bid to play regularly.

His desire to leave Bavaria was driven by the motivation to nail down a starting berth elsewhere. It is indeed surprising to see that Tottenham did not look to get his signing across the line as the Frenchman would have been a solid addition in a relatively understaffed right flank.

Coman also would have been a significant upgrade over Dejan Kulusevski. While the Swede is not bad by any means, a player who has won 11 league titles across spells with Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Bayern Munich would have left Ange Postecoglou with a big selection headache.

The winger’s situation seems to have cooled down for the moment but the pot could yet boil in the winter if his role under Vincent Kompany does not show any signs of improvement despite a busier than usual fixture calendar this season as a result of the new Champions League format as well as the FIFA Club World Cup next July.

It remains to be seen if Spurs would reignite interest in his signing in January and it goes without saying that the 28-year-old’s capture could make them serious contenders to earn a top four finish this season.

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

For the moment, however, Postecoglou has not made any specific demand for a right winger as he will use the likes of Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Wilson Odobert interchangeably in the role.

Tottenham offered the opportunity to sign Yusuf Yazici

Tottenham Hotspur’s squad is majorly closed out at least until the winter transfer window although it has emerged that an enticing opportunity has been presented to them in recent days.

TEAMTalk has claimed that they have been offered the chance to sign Turkish international Yusuf Yazici as a free agent, with Manchester United the other Premier League side credited with an interest in his services.

Yazici is a free agent having left Ligue 1 side Lille following the end of the 2023/24 season and remains without a club. His representatives are trying to find a route for him into the Premier League, where free agents can be signed and registered until September 13th, as per the report.

Turkish side Galatasaray is also said to be in the equation and it remains to be seen what comes of the versatile forward’s future, who could be tempted by a move to England than his home nation.

Tottenham have been hit with Dominic Solanke’s injury at the start of the campaign and although the former Bournemouth marksman is not going to be out for long, Spurs could do with an all-rounder in their final third with Brennan Johnson failing to impress so far in the Premier League.

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

Moreover, with the Lilywhites due to take part in the UEFA Europa League in its new format, Ange Postecoglou would welcome the chance to sign a zero-cost option whose wage also will not require Tottenham to disrupt their wage structure.

Tottenham’s Kulusevski to make international captaincy debut

Tottenham Hotspur star Dejan Kulusevski has become a regular fixture in the Sweden national team and is one of their most crucial players as they to look to find a way back into the international tournaments having missed Euro 2024.

The club’s official website has revealed that his role with the national selection is set to be massively upgraded. Kulusevski will captain Sweden for the very first time in his career when they open their UEFA Nations League campaign against Azerbaijan in Baku on Thursday evening.

Kulusevski said the following on his responsibility as the team’s captain:

“The Nations League is important. If we win it, we will move up a division and we will have a better chance of qualifying for the World Cup. I am proud and I am sure that I will do my best to take this country to what we deserve and to be with the boys and help to get us back to the top. It’s an incredible challenge ahead of us, but it’s incredibly fun and I do it with great joy and great faith that it will be really, really good.”

Kulusevski is not just one of the most important players for Sweden, but his prominence for Tottenham also cannot be understated, especially given the giant strides he has taken under Ange Postecoglou’s tutelage in north London.

The former Juventus forward always had a promising leadership and was even hailed by arguably the world’s greatest player, Cristiano Ronaldo, for his attitude and hunger when he captained Portugal against Kulusevski’s Sweden some years ago.

The fact that he has been bestowed with captaincy for his national team will also keep Tottenham’s coaching staff on alert with regards to how he honours the role with Sweden. It goes without saying that the 24-year-old could even be promoted to his club’s leadership group some time down the lane.

The Swedes take on Estonia in another Nations League fixture a few days after their clash with Azerbaijan and while those at Hotspur HQ will be proud of Kulusevski’s progression, they will also hope that it does not come at the cost of his fitness, which is always a sensitive topic for clubs during international breaks.

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

Spurs’ next game is against bitter rivals Arsenal and Kulusevski will certainly play a role in that clash upon his return from national commitments.

Alfie Devine to leave Tottenham and join Westerlo on loan

Tottenham Hotspur’s academy has produced some fine talent in recent years but due to a quality first team as well, a number of players have been forced to head away from north London to continue their progression in a senior setup.

Alfie Devine is among those expected to depart imminently with Belgian side Westerlo closing in on a loan for him, according to The Athletic. Late on Tuesday, Paul O’Keefe reported ongoing talks between the two clubs and while there was also interest from other teams in Belgium for his loan, an agreement seems imminent between Westerlo and Tottenham Hotspur.

The 20-year-old has made two appearances so far for Spurs in his career, scoring once in the process but there has been no continuity for him under Ange Postecoglou, which has seen to it that his fate could lie in a year abroad on loan at a club where he can play regularly.

Westerlo and Tottenham are building a good relationship as another player due to join the Lilywhites in Luka Vuksovic is spending time with them.

It remains to be seen how the midfielder’s progression works out over the course of this season but with Tottenham already well-staffed in midfield, it would not be a surprise if Devine decides to leave the club permanently if he does not sense an opportunity in north London next year.

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

Tottenham also have the option to sign Johnny Cardoso from Real Betis next season and if indeed they bring in the United States-born Brazilian, Devine’s chances of playing in the first team could become even bleaker.

Tottenham plan first-team promotion for Luka Vuksovic and Ashley Phillips

Tottenham Hotspur have not signed a single central defender this summer with Ange Postecoglou happily counting on the likes of Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin as his only options in the heart of the backline.

It has emerged that the Australian manager is already hatching plans to promote a couple of brilliant youth prospects to the senior side in the 2025/26 season.

Give Me Sport claims that Luka Vuksovic and Ashley Phillips are set to be beneficiaries of berths in the first team next season should they continue their promising development on loan spells in this campaign.

The Croatian teenager is currently on loan at Belgian side Westerlo from Hajduk Split with an agreement already in place for him to join Spurs next year after he turns 18. Phillips on the other hand is on Stoke City’s books in the Championship.

Cristian Romero has been the subject of Real Madrid’s interest in the recent past and although his future lies at Tottenham this season, there are no guarantees over his continuity in the longer term.

The same can be said for Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin if they continue their good form at Tottenham and receive offers from regular silverware contenders within England or even overseas.

As a result, it is imperative to already start building from scratch and there is no better manager to do so than Big Ange, who has produced admirable results with younger teams throughout his career.

The former Celtic manager’s forte is the development of young talent and being able to work with limited resources at hand, which is one of the major reasons why he was hired by Tottenham in 2023.

Phillips could be particularly important for Spurs as he will be considered a homegrown talent and in the event that they need to raise funds at some point in the future, the 19-year-old could be utilised as a cash cow like several other Premier League clubs have done with academy graduates.

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 how many more players come up through the ranks in the next year or so but expect Spurs to make more internal promotions than acquisitions in the transfer window going forward.

Tottenham opposed to reduction in ticket prices in UEFA competitions

Tottenham Hotspur are set to take part in the UEFA Europa League this season with their campaign set to get underway in a couple of weeks with the visit of Azerbaijani side Qarabag to north London.

In the build-up to UEFA’s club competitions, Europe’s principal organisation for football has decided to reduce the maximum ticket caps for away supporters at stadiums. The amount has been slashed to €60 for Champions League fixtures, €40 for Europa League fixtures and €20 for the Conference League with further drops anticipated next season.

Tottenham are understood to be opposed to the move, as per The Telegraph, although the rejected claims that a formal voting process was held to ratify the decision.

The club released the following statement in the aftermath of rumours regarding their stance on ticket pricing:

“It is factually incorrect to state that there was a vote on this matter at the UEFA Club Competitions Committee. It is therefore entirely inaccurate to say that the Club voted against ticket price caps.”

When it comes to ticket prices, it is arguable as to whether Tottenham are in the right or wrong here when considering the club’s viewpoint but also that of the fans. While there would be no black-or-white outcome, there are still a number of possibilities which present themselves.

From Tottenham’s perspective, there has been a lucrative investment in building a new stadium and it is understandable why the Lilywhites would want to charge a premium, particularly to the away supporters who are travelling to support their respective teams.

But on the flipside, Spurs’ fans will also have to be forced to pay through their noses despite spending a significant amount on travelling away from London to watch their matches.

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 remains to be seen what the eventual outcome is but Tottenham are likely to be outnumbered by a number of other clubs voting in favour of reducing prices for away visitors, as according to Telegraph’s report, they were one of only three supporters to adopt the controversial stance.

In their nearly-a-century-and-a-half-old history, Tottenham Hotspur have been graced by many a manager. Naturally, some of them have left an imprint so large it has gone on to define the very identity of the club as a footballing institution.

In this article, we take a look at a handful of them, presenting our picks for the 5 greatest managers of Tottenham in their history.

Martin Jol

The veteran Dutchman played a key role is establishing Spurs’ image as an exciting football-playing side in the modern Premier League era. By the time he left in 2007, Spurs had become Champions League hopefuls, a platform upon which they would thoroughly build upon in the coming decade and a half.

Jol’s Spurs record reads thus: 147 matches, 67 wins, 43 losses, 37 defeats.

Mauricio Pochettino

Speaking of building upon platforms, it is safe to say Mauricio Pochettino played his part in making Spurs one of the biggest clubs in England.

The lack of silverware cannot swat away the fact that the Argentine is indisputably one of the club’s greatest managers given the way he got them challenging for titles in an age of multiple contenders. When he arrived, Spurs were an exciting top-half side looking to make the Champions League push. By the time he left, Spurs were Champions League regulars, having made the final of the whole thing only months before his departure. One could say that the manner in which he left was anti-climactic and even disrespectful given all that he contributed to the club, but that’s just how high he had raised the bar for Spurs, and no one has managed to better him since.

Arthur Rowe

A one-club man in his playing days, having only represented Tottenham, Arthur Rowe also played a key role in establishing the side as one of the leaders of English football in the immediate post-World War 2 scene as a manager.

Under Rowe, Spurs earned the particular accolade of being one of the few teams to win the topflight in their first season after promotion. Picking them up in the second tier in 1949, Rowe helped Spurs win promotion to the top flight in 1950 as champions before making them champions again the year after, also winning the FA Charity Shield.

Keith Burkinshaw

Keith Burkinshaw led the Tottenham side of the early ’80s that were among the silverware, of which he delivered four, most notably the 1984 UEFA Cup. Spurs won 148 of the 358 games he oversaw.

Burkinshaw’s coaching career spanned over four decades, beginning in 1964 and running until 2007 as he wrapped things up with an assistant gig at Watford.

Bill Nicholson

No such list can be completed without recognising the legacy of Bill Nicholson. The Englishman only ever managed one club in his 16-year managerial career. He returned to Spurs as their manager in 1958, three years after ending his playing career with them. He went on to oversee what is still considered Tottenham’s golden age, in which he racked up 12 titles.

Nicholson won 361 of his 755 games at Spurs, and remains to this day arguably their greatest-ever manager.

What do you think of our picks? Would you put someone else above any of these Spurs managers? Let us know in the comments.

More Tottenham News:

Tottenham plot Angel Gomes swoop for free in the summer of 2025

Tottenham Hotspur had a busy summer transfer window with all the incomings and outgoings, as Ange Postecoglou reshaped his squad for the 2024/25 season.

The Lilywhites focused on bringing in young talents with high potential over the summer, thereby, adding the likes of Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Wilson Odobert. Dominic Solanke arrived from Bournemouth as a marquee signing, becoming the club’s most expensive acquisition of all time.

However, Spurs were also interested in signing former Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher. They couldn’t agree on a deal with Chelsea for the English midfielder, who after a long drama eventually secured a move to Atletico Madrid. Having also sold Oliver Skipp to newly promoted Leicester City, Tottenham may look to fill up that vacant spot in the midfield department with a fresh face in the next transfer window.

According to a report from HITC (h/t GIVEMESPORT), Tottenham have been tracking Lille star Angel Gomes ahead of a potential move in 2025. The ex-Manchester United academy boy is one of the names on the north London club’s shortlist.

> Tottenham’s 5 best PL opening day wins

Angel Gomes, who came through the Manchester United academy, has thrived in Lille colours in France in recent seasons. The creative midfielder registered eight assists in 31 Ligue 1 appearances for Lille last season.

Following his eye-catching performances, including this season, the 24-year-old has been recently called up to the senior England squad under new interim manager Lee Carsley.

The aforementioned report (h/t GIVEMESPORT) adds Gomes doesn’t plan to renew terms with Lille, with his current contract expiring at the end of this season (Transfermarkt). This means he will be eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from January onward for a summer move, and Spurs are interested in exploring that option.

The north London side’s start to the new season hasn’t gone according to the plan. Regardless of them mauling Sean Dyche’s Everton 4-0 at home, an opening day 1-1 draw against newbies Leicester City and a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Sunday means Spurs entered the first international break of the season with just four points out of a possible nine.

While Big Ange is under no threat of losing his job, the 59-year-old will need to turn things around quickly. The Greek-Australian tactician has already hinted that the club could make moves in the January transfer window if the right player becomes available, and going by his statements on the deadline day, Spurs indeed will attack the winter market like they did earlier this year by signing Radu Dragusin from Genoa.

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

Keeping that in mind, it won’t be surprising if our club strikes a pre-contract agreement with the talented Gomes over a 2025 summer move.