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Tottenham Hotspur have handed new shirt numbers to two fan-favourites

Manager Ange Postecoglou has fielded a youthful squad so far in pre-season

Tottenham Hotspur have handed new squad numbers to two of the club's most promising talents, ahead of their pre-season tour to Asia.

Spurs have already played two friendlies since their pre-season began earlier in July, with two victories courtesy of 7-2 thumping of SPL team Hearts, and a 2-0 win over Championship side, QPR.

Manager Ange Postecogolou has since picked his squad for Spurs' summer tour of Japan and South Korea, and will be taking 31 players – including a clutch of their exciting young talent.

Players to make the squad include forwards Mikey Moore and Will Lankshear, and midfielders Luca Bergvall and Archie Gray, will feature, as well as established first-team talent, such as Son Hueng-min, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.

And it's two first-team regulars and fan-favourites that have been given new squad numbers ahead of the trip, in recognition of their growing seniority within the team.

Posted on X, Spurs' official account revealed goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has been given the No. 1 jersey, trading it for the No. 13 he wore last season.

It's a change that signifies the Italian international's firm grip on the role, having all but sealed his place as first-choice shot-stopper with a string of incredible performances across the season.

The 27-year-old joined Tottenham at the beginning of the 2023-24 season, having been signed on a five-year contract from Serie A side, Empoli, in a deal reportedly worth an initial £17.2million.

There were questions whether the relatively unknown keeper would handle the pressures of the Premier League – not least of which because he was filling the gloves of former team captain, Hugo Lloris.

Vicario's No. 13 will not be travelling far, either. In fact, it will remain in the first team, as it's been handed to left-back, Destiny Udogie. Udogie received his favoured No. 13, in exchange for No. 38.

The second Italian international in the team, Udogie has become a firm fan-favourite for his ownership of a position the club has sorely been lacking in. Like his compatriot Vicario, Udogie had been playing in Serie A, where he joined the club from Udinese.

Tottenham signed the talented 21-year-old on a five-year-deal for a reported £16.8million, back in 2022. Only 20 at the time, Udogie was loaned back to Udinese for the 2022-23 season.

Since making his debut for Spurs, the youngster has impressed with his pace, range of passing and ball-carrying ability. Udogie has suffered with injuries through the season, with his absence been keenly felt in a number of important games.

A pair of stars were conspicuous in their absence as Tottenham jetted off on a pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea

In a video shared on the club's social media, captain Son Heung-min joked the wind was messing up his hair as he prepared to board the plane.

Spurs will play three friendlies during their two-week tour of the Far East, beginning with a visit to J1 League champions Vissel Kobe at Japan's National Stadium on Saturday.

The club will then travel to Seoul, South Korea where they will participate in the annual K League All-Star Game before facing former captain Harry Kane when they take on Bayern Munich three days later.

Ange Postecoglou has named a number of youth stars in his squad for the tour including the club's youngest-ever player Alfie Devine.

However, both Bryan Gil and Sergio Reguilon have been left out of the tour as they look to complete moves away from north London this summer.

In his first full campaign at the club without being sent on loan Gil struggled for minutes last season and managed just two Premier League starts.

The Spaniard was repeatedly linked with a move to join Brighton during the January window. LaLiga side Girona are one of the clubs keen on Gil..

Meanwhile his compatriot Reguilon spent the first half of the campaign at Manchester United before returning to Spurs after United activated the break clause in his loan deal.

The former Real Madrid full-back then spent the rest of the season at Brentford and made 16 appearances for the Bees as they finished 16th.

Veteran goalkeeper Fraser Forster has been left out of the tour as he continues his recovery from a foot injury.

Rodrigo Bentancur, Giovani Lo Celso, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are all set to rejoin the squad at a later date after spending much of the summer on international duty.

A pair of stars were conspicuous in their absence as Tottenham jetted off on a pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea

In a video shared on the club's social media, captain Son Heung-min joked the wind was messing up his hair as he prepared to board the plane.

Spurs will play three friendlies during their two-week tour of the Far East, beginning with a visit to J1 League champions Vissel Kobe at Japan's National Stadium on Saturday.

The club will then travel to Seoul, South Korea where they will participate in the annual K League All-Star Game before facing former captain Harry Kane when they take on Bayern Munich three days later.

Ange Postecoglou has named a number of youth stars in his squad for the tour including the club's youngest-ever player Alfie Devine.

However, both Bryan Gil and Sergio Reguilon have been left out of the tour as they look to complete moves away from north London this summer.

In his first full campaign at the club without being sent on loan Gil struggled for minutes last season and managed just two Premier League starts.

The Spaniard was repeatedly linked with a move to join Brighton during the January window. LaLiga side Girona are one of the clubs keen on Gil..

Meanwhile his compatriot Reguilon spent the first half of the campaign at Manchester United before returning to Spurs after United activated the break clause in his loan deal.

The former Real Madrid full-back then spent the rest of the season at Brentford and made 16 appearances for the Bees as they finished 16th.

Veteran goalkeeper Fraser Forster has been left out of the tour as he continues his recovery from a foot injury.

Rodrigo Bentancur, Giovani Lo Celso, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are all set to rejoin the squad at a later date after spending much of the summer on international duty.

Tottenham have been urged to make a move for Manchester United star Marcus Rashford this summer.

Ange Postecoglou's side are looking to build upon their fifth place finish in the Premier League last season.

One former Tottenham player believes that Rashford would be the perfect addition to Postecoglou's squad.

Rashford endured some challenging moments last season and scored just eight goals for United in all competitions.

There was further frustration for the 26-year-old as he was subsequently left out of England's squad for Euro 2024.

However, during the 2022-23 campaign Rashford provided an indication of what he is capable of at his best as he scored 30 goals for United.

Jamie O'Hara, who played 56 games for Tottenham, believes that Postecoglou could get the best out of Rashford.

Speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast, O'Hara said: 'I've got a soft spot for Rashford.

'I don't know why because watching him last season frustrated the hell out of me. When he's walking around at Luton and you're thinking come on mate give me more, but he's got star quality.

'He's got the X-factor and if you get a manager who gets the best out of him you're going to get a top player.'

O'Hara added that Rashford has a difficult relationship with Erik ten Hag.

O'Hara said: 'He doesn't get on with Erik ten Hag, that's a problem that they've got to solve.

'You can't have someone on £375,000-a-week just sitting on the bench not doing anything and not featuring and not being involved. He's got to play, you've got to find a way of getting him in the team.

'He makes brilliant runs, but never gets the ball. Would you pay £80m for him? Yes I would, I would love to see him at Tottenham.'

It was previously claimed that Rashford and ten Hag were 'barely on speaking terms' at the end of last season.

Ten Hag was said to be frustrated after Rashford missed training following a night out in Belfast.

In a previous incident Rashford received a warning from ten Hag after he was seen out partying after a defeat to Manchester City.

Following strong Premier League and Euro 2024 campaigns - a number of clubs are expressing their interest in acquiring Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze this summer.

Eze was particularly impressive for Palace in 2023-24, registering 11 goals and four assists to help the south London club finish tenth in the English top-flight.

At the time of writing - Tottenham Hotspur are 5/6 favourites with Sky Bet to sign the 26-year-old prior to September 3, 2024.

Tottenham - who sat atop the league table after ten games last season - fell off the pace in the second half of their campaign to finish fifth and 26 points adrift of eventual champions Manchester City.

Could Eze provide Spurs with the attacking spark and poise on the ball to help the north London club achieve top four this season? He is certainly more than capable of doing so.

Despite his short odds - it is being reported that there is no sign yet of an imminent bid for the winger.

With three years remaining on his contract - it is likely that Eze will command a high fee.

Meanwhile, Arsenal and Manchester City round out the three favourites in the market - with the pair of clubs priced at 7/2 and 7/1 respectively.

Sky Bet favourites to sign Eberechi Eze this summer:

Tottenham Hotspur 5/6

Arsenal 7/2

Manchester City 7/1

Tottenham won 2-0 at Queens Park Rangers in an all-London pre-season friendly on Saturday.

Yves Bissouma - who has never scored a competitive goal for Spurs - broke the deadlock with a fine run and finish late in the first half.

Sixteen-year-old Mikey Moore then set up Dane Scarlett to wrap up a solid victory after wholesale substitutions at half-time.

Spurs were good value for their win after bossing possession, with 66 per cent, against the side that finished 18th in the Championship last season.

Mail Sport's ROBERT SUMMERSCALES was watching the game and noted down five things we learned from Saturday's action at Loftus Road.

Yves Bissouma CAN finish

Defensive midfielder Bissouma has never scored in 56 proper games for Spurs but he took his goal on Saturday like a seasoned No 10.

The former Brighton ace - who netted six times in 124 appearances for the Seagulls - dribbled past one opponent before playing a slick one-two with Dejan Kulusevski.

Bissouma ghosted into the penalty area like he had done it 1,000 times previously, before three more tidy touches saw him hold off a defender, dribble around the keeper and finish from a tight angle.

Surely he will get off the mark for real in Tottenham's 2024-25 campaign?

Spurs could have a new No 2

Goalkeeper Brandon Austin impressed for the second time in four days.

He kept a first-half clean sheet - just as he had in Wednesday's 5-1 win at Hearts - and pulled off a superb fingertip save to thwart Rayan Kolli.

Austin also looked very comfortable with the ball at his feet, which will not have gone unnoticed by manager Ange Postecoglou.

Twenty-five-year-old Austin has still not yet made a senior appearance for Spurs, despite being at the club since 2015.

But do not be surprised if he makes his debut in the 2024-25 season - possibly in the Europa League - while he could even move ahead of Fraser Forster, 36, as Tottenham's No 2 keeper.

James Maddison faces competition for creator-in-chief role

James Maddison got another 45 minutes under his belt on Saturday but the former Leicester playmaker was not Tottenham's most creative player.

That title belonged to Kulusevski, who set up Bissouma's goal and could have had another two assists were it not for Timo Werner and Mikey Moore spurning one-on-one chances.

Brennan Johnson - fresh from registering 10 Premier League assists last season - was also let down by his team-mate's finishing.

Johnson, who stretched the game in the first half by sticking to the right touchline, fed Son Heung-min with two wicked crosses but the South Korean was unable to accept his gifts.

Djed Spence can shine as an inverted right back

Pedro Porro was a strong contender for Tottenham's Player of the Year award last season after dazzling as an attacking force from an inverted wing back position.

When the Spaniard did not play, Brazilian Emerson Royal was a sub-par replacement.

However, it looks like Djed Spence has the attributes and the confidence to be a very able back-up for Porro, providing the former Middlesbrough man stays at Spurs.

Spence - after scoring and assisting against Hearts on Wednesday - frequently looked to turn defence into attack at Loftus Road.

The 23-year-old - who has been loaned out to Rennes, Leeds United and Genoa since signing for Spurs in 2022 - did well defensively too.

Ange Postecoglou has NOT changed

Ange Postecoglou's uncompromising brand of attacking football was a breath of fresh air at the start of last season.

But after Tottenham's form dipped, it was widely suggested that the affable Aussie might be best served to work on a plan B.

The prospect of that happening looks as unlikely as ever though based on Saturday's evidence.

Postecoglou stayed loyal to his 4-3-3 system with inverted wing backs, despite missing his three first-choice central defenders.

Young forward Jamie Donley started at left back in a bold initial line-up and Spurs pressed high upfield throughout, as well as taking plenty of positive risks in possession.

Tottenham Hotspur star James Maddison is flogging his Nottinghamshire house that comes with its own football pitch for £2.5million.

The attacking midfielder's home comes with an outdoor swimming pool and bar which is lined with framed football shirts from fellow Premier League stars he's played against.

They include current footballing superstars Mo Salah and Kevin De Bruyne, as well as former top flight players Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero.

The 27-year-old's staggering collection of trainers are also visible stacked up on shelves.

Maddison, who missed out on England's Euro 2024 squad, lived in the house while at Leicester City and moved closer to Spurs after his £40million switch last summer.

The home is equipped with electric gates, CCTV system, video intercom entry system and security fencing, but the highlight of the property is a 5G mini football pitch in the back garden.

FHP Living, who are marketing the home, described the property as: 'A magnificent 'Grand Design' style home occupying a generous mature plot in the region of 0.8 acres that backs onto woodland.

'The Eco/Passive design offers high levels of thermal comfort & air quality and was completed in 2012 being built on a 'no expense spared' program.

'The property offers luxurious leisure facilities to include an outdoor heated pool with motorised safety cover, pool room, entertainment studio, gymnasium and artificial grass football pitch.

'The property is protected by a state of the art security system to include CCTV, automated gates, video intercom entry system & security fencing. Showroom style car garage with separate visitor car park.'

Maddison made 30 appearances for Tottenham last season, scoring four goals and assisting nine.

He was named in Gareth Southgate's original Euro 2024 squad, but was one of seven players cut out from the final 26-man group for the tournament.

Posting on X after news on his axeing broke, Tottenham star Maddison said: 'Devastated doesn’t quite cut it. Trained well and worked hard all week but if I’m honest with myself, my form for Spurs when coming back from injury in the second half of the season probably wasn’t at the levels I had set which gave Gareth a decision to make.

'I still thought there would be a space for me in a 26 man squad as I feel I bring something different & had been a mainstay in this whole qualifying campaign for Euro 2024 in Germany but the manager has made the decision and I have to respect that.

'I’ll be back, I have no doubt. Wishing the boys all the luck in the world out in Germany, unbelievable group and lads that I literally call some of my best friends.

'I genuinely hope football comes home.'

This summer's festivals of international football both ended on Sunday night with the finals of Euro 2024 and the Copa America.

However, football never really ends. With the start of the 2024-25 Premier League campaign just a month away, all 20 clubs have begun their pre-season programmes.

Some teams have already played a friendly or two, but there are plenty of major pre-season matches still to come.

Mail Sport have rounded up 10 of the biggest and best to look forward to.

The kick-off times of the fixtures listed below are all based on British Summer Time (BST).

Manchester City vs Celtic (July 24, 00.30 at Kenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, North Carolina)

Many fans would like to see the champions of England take on the champions of Scotland each season in a proper game.

However, those fans will have to settle for a friendly match over 3,000 miles away from the UK.

City and Celtic have not played each other in a competitive game since 2016 when they met in the group stage of the Champions League, drawing 3-3 in Glasgow and then 1-1 in Manchester.

Chelsea vs Wrexham (July 25, 03.30 at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California)

Chelsea are under new management, again.

Enzo Maresca's first game in charge of the Blues will be a battle of two American-owned clubs on US soil.

Wrexham, fresh from winning promotion to League One last season, will be hoping to raise their game and put on a show in front of what is sure to be a celebrity-filled crowd.

Liverpool vs Arsenal (August 1, 00.30 at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

These two Premier League rivals have served up some stunning matches over the years.

Who can forget the 4-4 at Anfield in 2009? There's even been a 5-5 since then.

This might only be a friendly, but it should be good to watch.

Real Madrid vs AC Milan (August 1, 01.30 at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois)

Real Madrid fans will be desperate to catch a glimpse of Kylian Mbappe following his transfer from Paris Saint-Germain this summer.

While it is not yet clear when he will make his debut, Madrid's first opportunity to field the France captain will come in their opening friendly of the summer against Italian giants Milan.

Mbappe scored against Milan last season during a 3-0 win for PSG in the Champions League.

Chelsea vs Manchester City (August 3, 22.30 at Ohio Stadium, Columbus)

This friendly is scheduled to take place just 15 days before the two sides face each other at Stamford Bridge in their first game of the new Premier League campaign.

The personnel will likely differ greatly between the two matches, with City boss Pep Guardiola expected to not take any of his players who went deep at Euro 2024 to the USA this summer.

However, this should still be a fascinating test for these two teams.

Barcelona vs Real Madrid (August 4, 00.00 at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey)

A Clasico is always a huge game, even when only a 'friendly'.

Do not be shocked to see tackles flying in and the referee dishing out plenty of cards in this one.

These two great rivals met three times last season, with those games delivering 13 goals and 13 cards, including a red.

Manchester United vs Liverpool (August 4, 00.30 at Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, South Carolina)

The biggest fixture in English football is going Stateside this summer.

Just like with the Clasico, United and Liverpool do not really do 'friendlies'.

United fared pretty well against Liverpool last season, drawing both Premier League games and winning 4-3 in the FA Cup. Those results followed a humiliating 7-0 thrashing at Anfield in the previous campaign.

Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen (August 7, 18.00 at the Emirates Stadium)

This should be a very tough test for Arsenal.

Leverkusen stunned the football world last season by going unbeaten throughout their domestic campaign to win the Bundesliga and German Cup double.

This game should also see Granit Xhaka return to the Emirates Stadium for the first time since he left Arsenal in July 2023.

Borussia Dortmund vs Aston Villa (August 10, 16.00 at Westfalenstadion)

Aston Villa will enter the UEFA Champions League next season and will therefore take on some of Europe's best teams.

A match against a side that reached last year's final should be the perfect warm-up for Unai Emery's men.

It will also give Villa an incredible experience of playing in one of Europe's most iconic stadiums in front of the famous 'Yellow Wall'.

Tottenham vs Bayern Munich (August 10, 17.30 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium)

Bizarrely, Spurs and Bayern are playing each other twice this summer.

Their first game is in South Korea on August 3 but it is their second meeting that should be the bigger spectacle.

That is because it should see Harry Kane make his return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Furthermore, Kane could actually win the first trophy of his Bayern career against Spurs.

The 'Visit Malta Cup' will be on the line in north London.

Tottenham players have had their say on which team will emerge victorious in the Euro 2024 final.

The only team at the tournament to enjoy a perfect run through the group stages in Germany, Spain enter the clash having already dumped out pre-tournament favourites France.

Meanwhile England join Luis de la Fuente's side in the showpiece after overcoming the Netherlands courtesy of a dramatic winner from substitute Ollie Watkins on Wednesday.

With the showdown fast approaching, pre-season is already well underway at clubs up and down the country in preparation for the return of the club football season.

As Spurs readied themselves for training players were asked to give their prediction on who will lift the trophy on Sunday night.

Captain Son Heung-min said that he hopes England can secure the win, and added a touching message to his friend and former team-mate Harry Kane.

'It's difficult,' Son said. 'Spain I think have had an amazing tournament. But I wish England to win, Harry [Kane] to win it. The best England player in history.'

James Maddison was the next player to be put on the spot for his opinion on the final.

The midfielder would have hoped to have been part of Gareth Southgate's team for the tournament but was ultimately axed as Southgate whittled his squad down to 26 last month.

Still Maddison insisted he was sure the Three Lions will claim the trophy for the first time: 'England of course. It's coming home!'

Timo Werner also backed England to win, and the German forward was joined in his prediction by the club's new arrivals Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall.

Not everyone was so confident, however.

Brennan Johnson represented the Three Lions at youth level before switching his international allegiance to Wales and sat firmly on the fence when asked who will win on Sunday, insisting only that the game will finish 2-1.

Meanwhile Spanish midfielder Bryan Gil unsurprisingly picked his country to prevail, and he was joined in his assessment by Emerson Royal.

Former Tottenham Hotspur player, Tanguy Ndombele, has signed for a new club after ending his contract with Spurs last month.

The talented midfielder has agreed to end his time with his parent club, despite having a year left on his contract.

It marks the end to a disappointing career with Spurs, and potentially an opportunity to revive his stuttering career.

Ndombele has signed for French side Nice after spending last season on loan with Turkish champions Galatasaray.

At Nice, he will be looking to recapture the form he exhibited for former club Lyon, which originally put him on the radar of Europe's elite in 2017.

Last season he featured 19 times for Galatasary, but still failed to make a serious impact at the Super Lig club, often facing criticism around his fitness and weight.

He has since posted an emotional message to the club's fans on his Instagram, saying: 'Thank you to the managers, staff, teammates for this adventure which led us to the title of champion.

The 27-year-old will reunite with former sporting director Florian Maurice, who he knows from their time together at Lyon.

He last played for Tottenham in third-round FA Cup tie with Morecambe on 9 January 2022 and was booed off the pitch.

Ndombele was a league winner in Italy for Napoli in the 2022-23 campaign before making a move to Galatasaray.