The Hard Tackle

Manchester City will look to get back to winning ways when they host Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad on Saturday evening.

Manchester City have lost four matches in a row across all competitions, and Pep Guardiola will demand a strong performance from his players vs Tottenham Hotspur to the Etihad on Saturday evening.

The Premier League champions will look to defend their crown, and they cannot afford to keep dropping points. They will feel that this is a must-win game for them. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur are coming into this game on the back of two consecutive defeats in all competitions as well, and they will be desperate to bounce back.

Spurs will feel that this is a good opportunity for them to grind out a moral-boosting result against the defending champions. Manchester City have looked vulnerable in the recent outings, and Tottenham will look to pull off an upset here.

Both teams are capable of grinding out a good result here, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Manchester City

Manchester City will be without Rodri due to an ACL injury, with the Spanish international done for the 2024/25 season. Ruben Dias has a muscle injury, and Oscar Bobb is out with a leg injury.

Manchester City will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Tottenham, with Ederson Moraes in goal. Rico Lewis and Josko Gvardiol will be deployed as the full-backs, and they will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Manuel Akanji will start in the central defensive pairing alongside John Stones.

As for the midfield unit, Ilkay Gundogan will start alongside Mateo Kovacic in the double pivot. They will look to add creativity and control to the side from the deep.

Kevin De Bruyne will be deployed in the attacking midfield role, and he will look to create goalscoring opportunities in the final third. Savinho and Jeremy Doku will start on either side of him in the wide areas. Finally, Erling Haaland will lead the line for Manchester City vs Tottenham on Saturday.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Stones, Gvardiol; Gundogan, Kovacic; Savinho, De Bruyne, Doku; Haaland

Tottenham Hotspur

Micky van de Ven, Wilson Odobert, and Richarlison are ruled out with hamstring issues. Meanwhile, Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended. Tottenham Hotspur are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Manchester City, with Guglielmo Vicario in goal.

Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie will start as the full-backs, and they will look to keep things tight at the back and help out during transitions. Cristian Romero will start alongside Radu Dragusin at the heart of the defence.

As for the midfield unit, Yves Bissouma will start alongside Pape Matar Sarr in the double pivot. They will look to protect the back four 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 side. Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min will start in the wide areas. Finally, Dominic Solanke will lead the line for Tottenham vs Manchester City on Saturday.

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

Key Stats

Manchester City have seen over 2.5 goals in 14 of their last 16 home matches vs Tottenham in all competitions.

There have been over 2.5 goals scored in six of Tottenham’s last seven league games.

Manchester City have picked up two wins from the last six matches in all competitions.

Tottenham have picked up three wins from the last six matches in all competitions.

Player to Watch

Kevin De Bruyne

The Manchester City playmaker is our key player to watch out for. He will look to exploit the vulnerabilities and gaps in the Tottenham defence with his passing, vision and execution. Tottenham prefer an attacking system and they are likely to leave gaps in behind. The Belgian playmaker could cause all sorts of problems for the side, and he will look to set up goalscoring opportunities for his teammates.

Prediction

Manchester City 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Both teams will be desperate for a good result here, and this is likely to be a cracking contest. Neither side are defensive in their approach, and an attacking game is expected here. Manchester City have tremendous quality going forward, and they should be able to exploit Tottenham’s defensive vulnerabilities. The home team are likely to emerge victorious here.

Tottenham Hotspur will reportedly look to re-sign Harry Winks from fellow Premier League club Leicester City in a deal worth €38 million next year.

According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Harry Winks is the subject of interest from Tottenham Hotspur. The North London giants are keen on bolstering their midfield department next year and have set their sights on their academy graduate. They are ready to cough up €38 million to sign him from fellow Premier League club Leicester City.

Harry Winks and a rollercoaster of a career

Harry Winks has resurrected his stuttering career since joining Leicester City from Tottenham Hotspur in July 2023. A native of Hemel Hempstead, the Englishman spent his formative years with Tottenham, joining the North London club as a six-year-old before rising through the ranks and breaking into the first-team squad.

The 28-year-old was reasonably impressive for Tottenham after making his first-team bow and turned out over 200 times for the North London club. However, Winks struggled for relevance in the 2021/22 season before Tottenham loaned him to Sampdoria. The academy graduate finally landed on his feet after joining Leicester City last year.

Winks played his part as Leicester City returned to the Premier League by winning the 2023/24 EFL Championship title. While the English midfielder has been in and out of the starting lineup this season, his stock has soared, with Tottenham Hotspur among his prospective suitors ahead of the two transfer windows next year.

Fairytale return on the cards?

Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Harry Winks is surprising but understandable. The North London giants are scouring the market for a midfielder ahead of the two transfer windows next year. Yves Bissouma faces an uncertain future at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg will likely seal a permanent exit from the club in the 2025 summer transfer window.

So, several candidates, including Gabri Veiga, have emerged on Tottenham’s radar, with Winks emerging as a viable target. The Englishman has extensive experience in the Premier League and might not take long to settle down again at the North London club. The report has revealed that they are ready to cough up €38 million to sign him from Leicester City.

It is unclear if the former Premier League champions are ready to accept a bid worth €38 million to part ways with Winks next year. The sum is attractive, considering his contract situation and age profile, and Tottenham will hope to re-sign the 28-year-old English midfielder next year.

Tottenham Hotspur are keen on signing the former Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga.

The 22-year-old could reportedly return to European football and the North London club have now joined the race for his signature. They will face competition from Napoli and Fiorentina, as per Fichajes.

Veiga is highly rated across Europe, and he was heavily linked with the move to the Premier League before his move to Saudi Arabia. However, he ended up joining Al-Ahli. The player is now being linked with a move back to Europe, and it will be interesting to see where he ends up.

Tottenham could certainly use more quality and depth in the middle of the park, and the 22-year-old would be a quality addition. He will add control and creativity to the Tottenham midfield. He could compete with James Maddison for the starting spot. The England international has been quite inconsistent and competition for places will help both players improve.

Tottenham need more quality in the side if they want to major trophies and the 22-year-old would be a long-term investment for them. Meanwhile, the opportunity to join Tottenham will be quite exciting for the player as well. He would get to showcase his qualities in the Premier League and push for trophies with them.

It will be interesting to see if Tottenham follow up on their interest with an official proposal to sign the player. The 22-year-old is highly rated across Europe and he is likely to improve further with coaching and experience. He has all the attributes to develop into a star for Spurs.

Can the two Italian clubs beat Tottenham to his signature?

Meanwhile, the likes of Napoli and Fiorentina will be attractive destinations for the player as well. It remains to be seen whether the Italian clubs can outmuscle Spurs financially. The Premier League club might be better placed to get the deal done because of their financial capabilities.

It will be interesting to see if all Al-Ahli are willing to sanction his departure in the coming months. The Saudi Arabian club are under no pressure to sell him and any team hoping to sign him will have to come forward with a substantial offer.

Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur are interested in acquiring the services of Brighton defensive sensation Tariq Lamptey.

Ange Postecoglou wants to reinforce his backline in January. The Australian manager wants to bring in a new right-back to deputy Pedro Porro and according to a report from Football Transfers, Tottenham are interested in signing Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey.

The 24-year-old right-back was a part of the Chelsea youth ranks back in the day. Even before he could break into their first team, he ended up joining Brighton in the winter of 2020. Lamptey has only gone from strength to strength since joining the Seagulls.

Not only has he established himself as a key figure in their team, but the Ghanaian international has made quite a name for himself thanks to his consistent performances and his versatility. While he prefers playing as a right-back, the former Chelsea academy star can feature a wing-back as well as on the other flank.

Brighton considers him a key figure in their team but with his contract running out at the end of the season, his future is uncertain. The Seagulls are ready to sell the 24-year-old in the winter as they do not want to lose out on him for free next summer.

Tottenham are eyeing a move for Lamptey

Tottenham have emerged as a potential destination for the young defender. The North London club have had a disappointing start to the new season and they will look to reinforce their squad at the turn of the calendar. Postecoglou wants to add more depth as well as quality to his backline.

There is a lot of uncertainty around the future of Pedro Porro and the 25-year-old hasn’t really been consistent enough for Spurs of late. As a result, the Australian manager is looking to bring in Lamptey who can deputise him as well as play in other roles when needed.

Real Madrid will have to break the bank if they want to sign Tottenham Hotspur defensive mainstay Cristian Romero.

Tottenham have no intentions of sanctioning the departure of Cristian Romero in January but they might not be able to keep hold of their defensive star next summer as Real Madrid are expected to launch an assault for his signature.

According to a report from Football Insider, Tottenham will only sell the Argentine World Cup winner on their terms. They will demand a huge fee to part ways with their defensive mainstay.

Romero has only gone from strength to strength since joining Spurs from Atalanta back in 2021. While he initially joined them on a season-long loan, the move was made permanent in the summer of 2022.

While he might not have won anything at the club level, the 26-year-old has conquered the world with Argentina having won the World Cup, two Copa America titles and the CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions.

He has also established himself as one of the mainstays at the North London club. His consistent performances have put him on the wishlist of Real Madrid who are all set to revive their interest in the South America defender following a serious knee injury to Eder Militao.

Madrid will have to pay a fortune for Romero

They would ideally like to sign Romero in the winter but that looks very unlikely given his importance in the Tottenham setup. While Spurs will try their best to keep hold of their star centre-back, they will find it hard to keep him in their squad amidst interest from Los Blancos.

His current deal with Spurs runs out in 2027 as he has yet to pen a contract extension since joining them back in 2022. If they fail to tie him down to a new deal, Ange Postecoglou’s team will look to book a massive profit from his sale.

They have a history of selling to Real Madrid having sold Luka Modric and Gareth Bale for massive fees back in the day. Now, they could once again allow Romero to move to Spain but will demand a massive fee to be brought to the negotiation table.

Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United will reportedly compete with West Ham United for 18-year-old Greek attacking sensation Stefanos Tzimas.

According to a report by Sport BILD, as relayed by Sport Witness, Stefanos Tzimas is gaining popularity in the Premier League, with the development enticing FC Nurnberg to make a profit from his sale. Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, and West Ham United are vying for the Greek attacking sensation, currently on loan at the German club from PAOK.

Who is Stefanos Tzimas?

Stefanos Tzimas is the latest wonderkid from his country to rise in prominence. Greece is producing many highly-rated prospects, with Christos Tzolis among those to make their mark in Europe. As for Tzimas, he is a native of Thessaloniki and spent most of his formative years with PAOK before graduating from the club’s youth division.

However, the 18-year-old has risen in prominence since joining FC Nurnberg in the summer transfer window. Tzimas has amassed five goals and one assist in only 580 minutes of game time across ten appearances in all competitions. Meanwhile, the youngster’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of Premier League clubs like Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, and West Ham United.

A man in demand

The Greek attacking sensation has recently emerged on West Ham United’s radar, with the East London club scouring the market for a young striker amid the advancing years of Michail Antonio and Danny Ings. With Niclas Fullkrug struggling since arriving from Borussia Dortmund in the summer transfer window, West Ham can do with a new striker.

Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Stefanos Tzimas is intriguing. The North London club signed Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth in the summer transfer window. In addition, Alejo Veliz has admirers at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and might have a long-term future with the Premier League outfit. So, it is unclear how Tzimas might fit into the scheme of things.

As for Newcastle United, the Magpies are sweating over the long-term future of Alexander Isak. In addition, Callum Wilson is on the wrong side of 30 and might leave Newcastle United next year. So, several candidates, including Victor Osimhen, have emerged on the Tyneside outfit’s radar, with Tzimas also a viable target.

Meanwhile, the situation has attracted FC Nurnberg, with the German club looking to make a quick profit from his sale once they complete a permanent move. It will be interesting to see if the 18-year-old Greek attacking sensation lands in the Premier League anytime soon.

Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham are interested in acquiring the services of Villarreal attacking sensation Alex Baena.

According to a report from Fichajes, Tottenham are looking to add more creativity in the final third of the pitch and they are interested in the services of Alex Baena who has been doing wonders for Villarreal in La Liga.

Baena prefers playing out wide on the left flank as a winger but he can play as a number ten as well as in a midfield role on either flank. His versatility along with his impressive rise at Villarreal have put him on the wishlist of quite a few top clubs across Europe.

The 23-year-old has had an impressive start to the new season as he contributed towards six goals (1 goal, 5 assists) in his 11 league outings. The Spanish attacker has grown in stature over the last 18 months and he looks set for a bigger challenge away from his childhood club.

Tottenham to push for the €60 million sensation

Baena’s contract at Villarreal runs until the summer of 2028 and he is protected by a massive €60 million release clause. However, there are still high chances of him leaving the club in the upcoming transfer window as Tottenham are preparing to launch an assault on the La Liga outfit.

The North London club have had a mixed start to the 2024/25 season and they are looking at the winter window as an opportunity to further bolster their squad. Ange Postecoglou seeks more creativity and he feels Baena could be a great signing for them as he can cover for both James Maddison as well as Son Heung-min.

The 23-year-old’s performances have caught the attention of the English clubs’ scouts and they will try to sign him in the winter. While there is a massive release clause in his deal, Spurs are looking to table a massive offer. Villarreal could agree to a transfer as it will mean a substantial financial boost for them as a club.

Tottenham Hotspur signed Archie Gray from Leeds United in the summer transfer window in a deal worth £30 million.

Archie Gray has not had ample game time at Tottenham Hotspur so far, and he has been linked with a loan exit ahead of the January transfer window.

According to a report by Give Me Sport, the young midfielder has decided that he does not want to leave the North London club midway through the season and that he will fight for his place in the starting lineup.

It will be interesting to see if Gray can convince Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou to give him an extended run in the side. There is no doubt that he is a talented player with huge potential. He was a star for Leeds United in the EFL Championship.

Gray is capable of operating as a central midfielder as well as a full-back. His versatility will be an added bonus for any club that manages to secure his signature. It remains to be seen whether Tottenham is ready to keep him at the club until the end of the season.

Sending him out on loan could be beneficial to the player. He needs to play regularly in order to continue his development. Sitting on the bench at North London club will be detrimental to his growth. Recent reports have claimed that Spurs have been anticipating bids for Archie Gray.

Tottenham must nurture Gray properly

Archie Gray is highly rated across the country, and he is expected to develop into a top-class player in the near future. Tottenham will have to handle his development carefully. They cannot afford to keep him on the bench and affect his growth as a player negatively.

It will be interesting to see if any club is looking to sign the player on loan when the transfer window reopens in January. If an attractive project is presented ahead of him, the midfielder might have a change of heart.

Spurs paid £30 million for the midfielder, and they will hope that he can establish himself as a star for them in the future. Tottenham must groom him properly and provide him with ample first-team opportunities if he does not secure an exit in January on loan.

Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham are reportedly plotting a €30 million move for Inter Milan defender Yann Bisseck, a target for Chelsea and Manchester United.

The exceptional start of Yann Bisseck in the 2024/25 season has not gone unnoticed, and Inter Milan are preparing for a full-blown assault from interested clubs who will look to sign the German defender. According to a report from Inter Live, Tottenham Hotspur are keen on signing the Inter Milan sensation, and they are willing to put forward an offer worth €30 million.

Inter signed Bisseck from Aarhus for a fee of just €7 million in the summer of 2023. While the 23-year-old centre-back has had to wait for his chance, he has impressed one and all with his performances when he has been given the nod.

There is room for improvement in the German prospect’s performances, but he surely has it in him to be a special player. The youngster has established himself as a key figure in the Inter team this season, and his work has not gone unnoticed.

Tottenham keen on signing Yann Bisseck

While the Serie A outfit are looking to secure his long-term future with a new deal with improved terms, Tottenham are looking to raid Inter Milan for the German centre-back’s services. The North London club wants to reinforce their backline amidst uncertainty around the future of Cristian Romero.

The Argentine international could leave Spurs to join a bigger club. He has been linked with a move to Real Madrid and if he does end up leaving, they are looking to bring in Yann Bisseck to replace him. Spurs are looking to table an offer worth €30 million to sign the defensive sensation, who is valued at around €25 million.

Tottenham could face competition from rivals

Tottenham are not going to find it easy to sign the 23-year-old as rivals Premier League Chelsea and Manchester United are also keen on his signature as per another report from Inter Live.

The Serie A outfit have intensified talks with Bisseck regarding a new deal that will run until the summer of 2029 with an improved salary. Even if he does end up penning that deal, Premier League outfits could still look to sign the youngster in the near future.

While the German youth international is considered untouchable, a high offer of around €40 million could then do the job for an interested club. Chelsea seek more quality at the back while Manchester United are preparing for a summer of major changes as the contracts of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, and Jonny Evans run out.

Tottenham Hotspur will host Ipswich Town at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, with both teams eager to return to winning ways.

Tottenham Hotspur have been quite inconsistent this season, and they have lost two of their last four matches in all competitions, although they will fancy their prospects against Ipswich Town at home this weekend.

Spurs will be hoping to secure UEFA Champions League qualification for next season, and they cannot afford to slip up often. Ange Postecoglou’s men need to start putting together a winning run, and it will be interesting to see if they can grind out a positive result here.

Tottenham will be the favourites against Ipswich, and the home fans will demand a strong performance. Meanwhile, Kieran McKenna’s charges are winless in the Premier League this season, and they have failed to win their last 12 Premier League games.

Ipswich Town will be massive underdogs heading into this game, and they are likely to struggle against the North London outfit. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Tottenham Hotspur

Micky van de Ven, Wilson Odobert, and Richarlison are unavailable, with the trio missing out due to their hamstring issues. Djed Spence is a doubt with a groin injury, while Cristian Romero is also a doubt with a toe complaint.

Tottenham Hotspur are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Ipswich Town, with Guglielmo Vicario in goal. Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie will start as the full-backs, and they will look to help out at the back and create goalscoring opportunities for their teammates going forward as well.

Romero might not be risked here, and Radu Dragusin will start alongside Ben Davies at the heart of the defence. As for the midfield unit, Yves Bissouma will start alongside Pape Matar Sarr in the double pivot. They will look to protect the back four 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 side. Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min will start in the wide areas, and they will look to add goals and creativity to the side. Dominic Solanke will lead the line for Tottenham against Ipswich Town.

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

Ipswich Town

Ipswich Town will be without Janoi Donacien due to a groin injury. Jacob Greaves misses out with a thigh injury, Jack Taylor is recovering from a knock, Chiedozie Ogbene misses out with a calf injury, and Axel Tuanzebe is unavailable due to a hand injury. Meanwhile, Kalvin Phillips is suspended.

The away side will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Arijanet Muric in goal. Ben Johnson and Leif Davis will start as the full-backs here, and they will look to keep things compact at the back and help out during counter-attacking situations. Luke Woolfenden and Dara O’Shea will start in central defence.

As for the midfield unit, Samy Morsy and Jens Cajuste will start in the double pivot, and they will look to protect the back four and break up opposition attacks. Wes Burns and Omari Hutchinson will look to add goals and creativity to the side from the flanks.

Conor Chaplin will start in the attacking midfield role, and he will look to open up the Spurs defence with his passing and link-up play. Liam Delap will lead the line for Ipswich Town against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Muric; Johnson, Woolfenden, O’Shea, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste; Burns, Chaplin, Hutchison; Delap

Key Stats

Ipswich Town have failed to win their last 12 matches in the Premier League.

Ipswich Town have won three of their last five matches against Tottenham Hotspur.

Tottenham have won four of their last six matches in all competitions.

Ipswich Town are winless in their last six matches in all competitions.

Player to Watch

Dejan Kulusevski

Embed from Getty Images

The Swedish international is in impressive form, and he is our key player to watch out for this weekend. He will have plenty of opportunities to influence the game in the final third against a struggling Ipswich Town defence. The away side are quite vulnerable at the back, and Kulusevski will look to create openings for his teammates and get on the score sheet himself as well.

Prediction

Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Ipswich Town

The home team will be the firm favourites heading into this game, and they should be able to pick up all three points. Ipswich Town are on a winless run, and they are completely devoid of form and confidence. Meanwhile, Tottenham are the better team, and they are capable of putting the visitors to the sword here. A comprehensive victory for the home team is on the cards.