The Hard Tackle

Tottenham are in danger of missing out on defensive target Milan Skriniar due to interest from elsewhere and PSG’s issues with loan deals.

According to TBR, Tottenham could miss out on the signing of Milan Skriniar this month as PSG’s complications with loan deals are the biggest threat to their pursuit. Galatasaray are also keen on the wantaway defender, as the Spurs are looking for solutions to improve their defensive setup.

Milan Skriniar has been out of the PSG plan since the beginning of the season, with some big reports stating he could have moved out last summer. There were links to Saudi Arabia and Turkey before, but somehow, the defender has not found a solution to his problem.

The Slovakian was also linked with a return to Italy, where he played with Inter Milan before leaving the Nerrazuri on a free transfer to sign up with PSG. The summer arrival of Willian Pacho and Lucas Beraldo’s presence have rendered Skrinar surplus to requirements.

Tottenham are interested in signing Skriniar this month, with the view from north London stating they are only angling a loan deal. The proiblem here is with PSG who already have six players loaned out this season from their first team squad and have already matched the permissable limit set by Ligue 1.

This is also the reason why Randal Kolo Muani’s move to Juventus is being held up, with widespread reports stating that PSG are working towards resolving it. While the Parisians might be able to find a way to let Kolo Muani join the Italian giants, they might not be able to work out two loan deals which does put Tottenham’s persuit of Skriniar.

Tottenham still hopeful about Milan Skriniar

Apart from the loan deal issue, Spurs also face competition from Galatasaray for Skriniar. The 29-year-old Ligue 1 target could be the subject of interest from the Turkish champions, who could even present a permanent solution to sign the Slovakian.

Spurs are short on defenders and have suffered without their first-choice stars at the back. They can only sign Skriniar if PSG makes some of the loan moves permanent. They have already tried to offer Carlos Soler a cut-price deal with West Ham, but the change of manager at the London Stadium has not solved the issue. There are more players the Parisians are trying to find a solution with, as Spurs remain hopeful.

Manchester United are unlikely to entertain Tottenham’s interest in the services of their attacking sensation Alejandro Garnacho.

Alejandro Garnacho’s future has been a massive talking point since the start of the winter transfer window. He has been linked with quite a few top clubs and Tottenham have emerged as a potential destination for the young winger.

But, according to a report from Football Insider, Spurs are unlikely to strike a deal with Manchester United for the Argentine international. The Red Devils will demand a massive fee if they are to sanction his departure to a direct rival.

Garnacho has started on the bench in four out of his last five league games and his future has been up in the air ever since he dropped from the squad for the derby against Manchester City.

While he is back in the mix and has been a great option on the flanks for Ruben Amorim’s team, they are still ready to sanction his departure for the right price because of their financial concern.

United consider him a key part of their first team but could be forced to sell to ease their financial situation. The Red Devils are on the verge of breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules. They could be forced to sell their stars to balance their books.

Tottenham keen on Garnacho, unlikely to win the race

While Kobbie Mainoo has also been linked with a move away, there are high chances of Garnacho being the one who is sacrificed. Tottenham are the ones who are interested in the United. The North London club have been looking for a new wide player since last summer but they haven’t been able to bring in the kind of profile Ange Postecoglou seeks.

Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United are looking to raid Barcelona for the services of their outcast Ansu Fati.

Ansu Fati’s future certainly seems to be away from Barcelona as he hasn’t been involved in their last three fixtures. With the La Masia graduate not an important part of Hansi Flick’s plans, a move away could be in the best interest of both parties.

According to a report from Sport, Tottenham and West Ham are two Premier League clubs that are interested in signing the Barcelona outcast. Fati has until February 3 to make a decision on his future, is he fails to secure a move away, he might not play any football in the second half of the season.

Fati broke into the Catalan giants’ first team in the summer of 2020. He was considered to be the next big thing but injuries derailed his progress and he hasn’t been able to get things back on track.

The 22-year-old spent the last season out on loan at Brighton in hopes of regaining his top form. But, things didn’t work out for him at the Premier League club. He returned to his parent club ahead of the 2024/25 season and the arrival of Hansi Flick was seen as a fresh opportunity for Fati.

But, it hasn’t worked out. He was injured in the initial phase and has only been on the pitch for 186 minutes so far. Not being involved in the last few fixtures makes it quite clear that he is not in the plans of the German manager.

Fati to leave Barcelona in the ongoing window

A loan spell away from the Catalan giants seems to be the most likely outcome at this stage. While things didn’t work out for him at Brighton, English clubs who are in desperate need of reinforcement in the final third could look at his a short-term fix.

Tottenham and West Ham are two clubs that seem to be interested in the 22-year-old. Graham Potter who recently took charge of the Hammers is desperate to bring in a new forward following an injury to Niclas Fulkrug. With Michail Antonio also out injured, betting on Fati will make sense.

While Spurs are well covered in the final third, they do not change things up given the kind of first half they have had. Ange Postecoglou won’t mind having another option up top and since they only have to pay his wages, it could make sense.

Apart from the two London clubs, there are other European clubs that have taken note of his situation and could knock on Barcelona’s doors.

Tottenham Hotspur will have to add a £50 million buy option to sign Randal Kolo Muani on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.

Tottenham are one of the clubs that are interested in acquiring the services of Randal Kolo Muani and according to a report from TBR, any potential deal for the French international will be an initial loan move with an option to buy worth around £50 million.

PSG forked out a massive £76.4 million to sign Kolo Muani from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer of 2023 on the back of his impressive performances. While he has done a decent job since joining the French giants, the 26-year-old hasn’t really reached the expected levels.

More importantly, their manager Luis Enrique doesn’t consider him an important part of their plans moving ahead. With less than 500 minutes of first-team action during the first half of the season, the player has decided to part ways with the club.

Kolo Muani and PSG to part ways

Kolo Muani wants regular football as he wants to ensure his place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Meanwhile, PSG are ready to part ways with him as they look to bring in a new world-class forward to further bolster their attack.

While they can’t recoup the entire amount they had invested to sign him, the French giants have made their stance quite clear. They are open to a loan move as long as the interested club is willing to add a buy option of around £50 million.

Tottenham remain keen on Kolo Muani

Tottenham are looking to reinforce their attack after a poor first half and Kolo Muani is quite high on their wishlist. His ability to feature anywhere across the front line makes him just the perfect fit for Ange Postecoglou’s team.

The North London club held extensive talks for the Frenchman earlier this month and remain hopeful of signing him despite interest from other top clubs in Europe. They were hopeful of reaching an agreement with him last week but things haven’t gone according to plan for them.

While they remain interested in his signature, Spurs are not the ones leading the race. Juventus are ahead of the competition and are hoping to get the deal done early this week. Tottenham might be trailing at this stage but they do know what they will have to do to convince PSG.

Nottingham Forest will host Tottenham Hotspur at the City Ground on Thursday, with the away side desperate to bounce back.

Tottenham Hotspur have been quite inconsistent this season, and they will be desperate to get their season back on track vs Nottingham Forest at City Ground on Boxing Day. Spurs will look to secure European qualification for next season, and they cannot afford to keep dropping points.

Tottenham are currently 11th in the Premier League table, and they have lost three of the last four league games. The fans will demand a strong performance from the players here, and it remains to be seen whether they can step up and deliver.

On the other hand, Nottingham Forest are fourth in the league table with four wins from the last five league games. The fans will be thoroughly impressed with the performance of the players so far, and they will look to build on their impressive start to the season.

Nottingham Forest will certainly fancy their chances of getting a good result at home vs an inconsistent Tottenham side. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Nottingham Forest

Danilo is ruled out with a long-term ankle injury, while Ibrahim Sangare is out with a thigh injury. Meanwhile, Nicolas Dominguez is suspended. Nottingham Forest will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Tottenham Hotspur, with Matz Sels in goal.

Neco Williams and Ola Aina will start as the full-backs. They will look to keep things tight at the back and help out during counter-attacking situations. Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo will pair up in at the heart of the defence.

As for the midfield unit, Ryan Yates will start alongside Elliot Anderson in the double pivot, and they will look to add defensive cover and control to the side from the deep. Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi will start in the wide areas, and they will look to add pace and flair to the side. Morgan Gibbs-White will reprise the no. 10 role, and he will look to add creativity and goals in the final third, with Chris Wood leading the line.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sels; Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Aina; Yates, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood

Tottenham Hotspur

Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Ben Davies, Wilson Odobert, and Richarlison are all ruled out with hamstring injuries. Meanwhile, Guglielmo Vicario remains sidelined after his ankle surgery.

Tottenham Hotspur are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Southampton, with Fraser Forster in goal. Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie will start as the full-backs, and they will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Archie Gray will start alongside Radu Dragusin in the central defensive pairing.

As for the midfield unit, Yves Bissouma will start alongside Pape Matar Sarr in the double pivot. They will look to protect the side defensively and win the ball back for their side. James Maddison will start in the central attacking midfield role, and he will look to create goalscoring chances for his teammates.

The Englishman managed to score a goal against Liverpool, and he will look to find the back of the net here as well. Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min will start in the wide areas, and they will add pace, flair and goals to the side. Dominic Solanke will lead the line for Tottenham vs Southampton.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Forster; Porro, Gray, Dragusin, Udogie; Bissouma, Sarr; Kulusevski, Maddison, Son; Solanke

Key Stats

Tottenham Hotspur have won six of their last seven matches vs Nottingham Forest in all competitions.

Tottenham have scored at least three goals in their last three matches in the Premier League.

Tottenham have picked up two wins from their last six Premier League matches.

Nottingham Forest have won four of their last five Premier League matches.

Player to Watch

Dejan Kulusevski

Embed from Getty Images

Tottenham will be desperate to win the game vs Nottingham Forest, and Dejan Kulusevski is our key player to watch out for. The Swedish international has been their best player this season, and he needs to step up and deliver if they want to grind out all three points here.

Despite the defeat to Liverpool, Kulusevski produced an impressive performance, and he will look to continue in his rich vein of form. He will look to help create opportunities for his teammates in the final third with his passing, vision and technical abilities. The Swede will also look to add to his goal tally for the season.

Prediction

Nottingham Forest 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Both teams will be desperate for all three points here, and this is likely to be a tracking contest. Nottingham Forest will be full of confidence here, and they will look to pile further misery on Tottenham Hotspur.

Meanwhile, the visitors have a quality squad at their disposal, and they will look to bounce back here. The two sides are likely to cancel each other out, and it will be difficult to separate them. They are likely to share the spoils here, and a draw seems quite likely.

Arsenal, Tottenham and Barcelona are plotting a raid on Crystal Palace for the signature of their full-back Tyrick Mitchell.

Tyrick Mitchell’s future could be away from Crystal Palace with his contract running down and multiple top clubs from across Europe interested in his signature.

According to SPORT via SportWitness, Barcelona, Arsenal and Tottenham are three clubs that are interested in the English full-back. They could soon knock on the doors of the London club to try and lure Mitchell to their respective clubs.

The 25-year-old has come up the ranks at Palace. He got promoted to their first team back in the summer of 2020. He has been an important first-team player for them over the years but has never really had the limelight on him.

Mitchell seems to have taken his game to the next level in the ongoing campaign and teams are taking note of his performances. While he prefers playing as a full-back, he is doing a great job for the Eagles as a wing-back. The English international has started all games for them so far and has been one of the standout performers.

Rival clubs keen on signing Mitchell

Arsenal and Tottenham are two English clubs who are quite impressed with his consistency. His performances have caught their attention and they could now look to sign him. Mikel Arteta seeks more quality on the left flank and he would love to have someone like Mitchell on his side.

With Oleksandr Zinchenko no longer in his plans, the Eagles full-back could be an ideal replacement. With Sergio Reguilón’s departure almost certain, Spurs are also looking at him as an ideal candidate to strengthen the left side of their defence.

Barcelona plotting a raid on Crystal Palace

With the 25-year-old’s contract at Palace running out at the end of the season and a new deal nowhere in the picture, both clubs are looking to sign him on a free transfer. Meanwhile, Barcelona are also interested in the services of Mitchell. They can open pre-contract talks with him in the upcoming transfer window.

While Alejandro Balde is the preferred choice at left-back under Hansi Flick, the German manager wants to bring in someone who can provide cover for him and compete with him for a place in the XI. They feel Mitchell can help their cause and with him potentially available on a free transfer, it certainly helps a club like Barcelona that are struggling with their finances at this stage.

Tottenham Hotspur are keen on signing the Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford during the January transfer window.

They are in need of a quality backup goalkeeper who can deputise in the absence of Guglielmo Vicario and compete with the Italian international for the starting spot. According to a report from the Mirror, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has already approved a move for a goalkeeper from the Championship. It seems that Trafford is an important target for the Londoners.

The Burnley goalkeeper is valued at £20 million and it will be interesting to see if Tottenham can get the deal across the line. Newcastle United tried to sign the player at the start of the season, but they failed to get a deal done. It remains to be seen whether Tottenham can secure an agreement with the Championship club.

Burnley will be hoping to secure promotion to the Premier League and they might not be keen on losing a key player midway through the season. Spurs will have to pay up in order to get the deal done. It remains to be seen whether Burnley are tempted to sell the player for a fee of around £20 million.

James Trafford to fill in for Forster?

Tottenham currently have Fraser Forster as their goalkeeping options. Forster will be a free agent at the end of the season and he needs to be replaced adequately. Trafford is likely to be his replacement if Tottenham can secure an agreement with Burnley. The goalkeeper will then compete with Vicario for the starting spot.

The Italian international goalkeeper has done quite well since his move to Tottenham and he has been a key player for the club. Replacing him in the starting lineup will not be easy, but Trafford is a talented goalkeeper with a bright future. He will certainly fancy his chances of dislodging Vicario in the starting lineup.

Meanwhile, if Tottenham manage to sign the player for £20 million, the deal could look like a bargain in the long term. Trafford has the ability to justify the investment and establish himself as a key player for the club in future.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly looking to sign a talented young goalkeeper in the January transfer window.

A report by Football Insider has claimed that Tottenham Hotspur are looking to add more depth to the goalkeeping unit, and they want to sign a young goalkeeper from the lower leagues.

Fraser Forster will be out of contract at the end of the season and Tottenham need a quality backup goalkeeper. Signing a talented young keeper would be a wise decision. He could be available for a reasonable amount of money and he is unlikely to push for regular starts either. They need a reliable understudy to Guglielmo Vicario who is the first-choice goalkeeper at the club.

It will be interesting to see if they can bring in the right additions.

The opportunity to join Spurs will certainly be quite exciting for young players from the lower leagues and it would be a major step up in their career. They would get to test themselves in the Premier League and Spurs could provide them with playing opportunities in the cup games.

Spurs could use more depth

Tottenham need a deeper squad to do well across multiple competitions and having adequate cover for their key players should be imperative.

It will be interesting to see if they can improve their squad during the January transfer window. Apart from a backup goalkeeper, they should look to invest in a quality central defender as well.

It has been a mixed season for Tottenham so far and they need to improve in order to secure Champions League qualification for the next season.

Tottenham have an exciting project and a talented squad at their disposal. They have shown a willingness to invest in talented young players in recent months and they could help the young goalkeeper fulfil his potential with them as well. Most young players will be attracted to the idea of joining them and it remains to be seen how the situation unfolds.

Ange Postecoglou could nurture a talented young goalkeeper into an important first-team player for Tottenham in the coming seasons. Not signing an established name and investing in potential could prove to be cheaper as well.

John Victor has emerged as a target for Manchester United and Tottenham ahead of January, with the Botafogo keeper impressing in Brazil.

According to Football Insider, Manchester United and Tottenham are vying for Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor ahead of January. Either of those Premier League sides is keen on bringing in a new stopper for various reasons, primarily to improve competition, as a Brazilian might be a decent option for their needs.

John Victor has had an impressive time in Brazil with Botafogo, as he’s one of the names on the radars of European clubs. His agent has seemingly suggested there is a big chance ahead of the January window that The 6ft 5in keeper might move to new shores, as Manchester United and Tottenham are those who are interested.

The Botafogo keeper has posted impressive numbers for the Brazilian side, keeping 22 clean sheets in 51 games while conceding only 41 goals. His profile is something that attracts the Premier League duo, as either of those clubs has a need for a new keeper for different reasons.

Beginning with Manchester United, there have been criticisms thrown at Andre Onana for some of his recent performances. There are ambitious links to Mike Maignan and other established stars from different clubs, but there are doubts about whether Ruben Amorim is thinking about replacing the Cameroonian.

Instead, Manchester United are likely to find a solution to Altay Biyandir’s future and bring in a replacement for the Turkish international. Hence, the likes of John Victor might be seen as a secondary choice who could be given the licence to compete with Onana for the No. 1 spot if the conditions suit the idea.

Tottenham interested in John Victor

Tottenham are already looking for a new goalkeeper following the long-term injury to Guglielmo Vicario a while ago. The Italian has undergone ankle surgery that will keep him out for months, as Ange Postecoglou is unlikely to want to rely on Fraser Forster, who, despite his experience, does not suit how Spurs like to play.

Ange Postecoglou returns to enemy territory as Rangers host Tottenham, as the two teams sit level on points in the Europa League standings.

Philippe Clement seems to have turned a corner after a raft of criticism directed towards him following a 1-1 draw against Dundee United in late November. That defeat put a massive dent on their title hopes, although Rangers have since turned things around with four wins in a row in all competitions.

That included a thrashing of OGC Nice 4-1 reverse in the previous matchday, and they have since recorded three wins over St, Johnstone, Kilmarnock, and Ross County, scoring 10 goals in the process and conceding none. Hence, they could head into the home clash with Tottenham full of confidence, as they still have a fight on their hands in the Europa League.

Rangers are currently part of the top eight in the UEFA Europa League standings, and a win over Tottenham will consolidate their place until the next matchday. The two teams are level on points, with Clement’s side slightly ahead on goal difference.

Tottenham are in a difficult place amid their faltering performances of late, the latest being a big home loss to Chelsea at the weekend. Spurs took a stunning two-goal lead in that game through Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski. Chelsea responded quickly with a Jadon Sancho strike, which effectively turned the game towards the Blues.

Chelsea then responded with three second-half goals, as Enzo Fernandez’s strike sandwiched between two Cole Palmer penalties sealing the points for Enzo Maresca’s side. A late Son Heung-min strike proved too late to stage a comeback. The pressure is back on Ange Postecoglou, as Spurs are winless in the four games in all competitions since that stunning victory away to Manchester City.

Postecoglou now returns to enemy territory as Rangers fans will certainly give him a hostile reception when the former Celtic boss takes his Tottenham side to Ibrox. As for the game, this is a big test for Tottenham to cement their credentials in the Europa League, as a win would take them above Rangers in the standings, where they are only out of the top eight on goal difference.

Team News & Tactics

Rangers

Philippe Clement does have a few problems, as Neraysho Kasanwirjo, Oscar Cortes, and Tom Lawrence are all out of this contest against Spurs. The latter duo have failed to shake off knocks, and could sit on the sidelines. Rabbi Matondo has returned to full training, although there are big doubts about whether he’s ready to take the pitch so soon, as it may take a while for him to get up to speed.

Going back to Motondo, Rangers have missed him, but the form of Hamza Igamane with four goals has smoothened things for the Ibrox outfit, as he is in line to start against Spurs. Clement will be able to name a strong starting lineup for this clash, as a back four of James Tavernier, John Souttar, Robin Propper, and Jefte will play ahead of keeper Jack Butland.

Connor Barron and Nicolas Raskin will take their midfield positions, with Mohamed Diomande in the attacking midfield role. With four goals in recent games, Igamane will take the role on the left wing, while Vaclav Cerny features on the right, as Danilo leads the line for Rangers.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Propper, Jefte; Barron, Raskin; Cerny, Diomande, Igamane; Danilo

Tottenham Hotspur

The game against Chelsea saw Ange Postecoglou seemingly taking a risk with some of his key players, and he might have rushed back main defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven. The former suffered a fresh injury to his quad, while the latter went down in the second half with another hamstring problem.

Hence, the duo is not expected to take any part in this visit to Ibrox, as Postecoglou could once again use Archie Gray and Radu Dragusin as his central defenders. Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie are the preferred personnel in the full-back roles.

There are further absentees for Postecoglou to contend with, as Ben Davies, Wilson Odobert, Mikey Moore, and Richarlison are all unavailable. There is a doubt regarding Brennan Johnson after he was taken off in the last game with an illness, although the winger would be expected to feature.

One player who could return to the lineup is Rodrigo Bentancur, as his seven-game FA ban does not apply to European games. The Uruguayan international will start alongside Yves Bissouma, who will be suspended for the next domestic game.

Dejan Kulusevski could move further up the pitch to replace Johnson on the right wing, while Timo Werner could get a start on the right, while Will Lankshear is likely to lead the line for Tottenham against Rangers.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Forster; Porro, Gray, Dragusin, Udogie; Bentancur, Bissouma, Maddison; Kulusevski, Lankshear, Werner

Key Stats

Rangers are unbeaten in eight games across all competitions.

Rangers have won their last four games across all competitions.

Rangers are sitting one place above Tottenham in the Europa League standings due to their superior goal difference.

Tottenham are winless in their last four games across all competitions.

Tottenham have one win in their last seven games across all competitions.

Player to Watch

Rodrigo Bentancur

Embed from Getty Images

This will be the time to use the Uruguayan extensively as Bentancur is not available for domestic games for the time being. The midfielder might be seen as someone to bring about a change in their otherwise abject midfield that featured against Chelsea.

Bentancur can provide the dynamism lacking in Tottenham’s midfield and could be a welcome addition as far as Ange Postecoglou is concerned. The Tottenham manager might rely on the Uruguayan’s experience, as he would target climbing up the table further with a win over Rangers.

Prediction

Rangers 3-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham are not lacking in goalscoring numbers, and even though Ange Postecoglou might make a lot of changes, with some of those enforced ones, there are doubts about whether they can take three points. Their current form and loss of a key defensive duo at the back point at going a third Europa League game without a win.

Rangers, on the other hand, are coming into this one in contrasting form compared to Tottenham and also have a home advantage on Thursday. Clement has the player in a good vein of form, which could see them nick the three points at Ibrox against Spurs.