The Hard Tackle

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

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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.

Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly made an offer regarding a pre-contract agreement with 24-year-old LOSC Lille striker Jonathan David.

According to a report by SPORT, as relayed by Sport Witness, Jonathan David is the subject of interest from Tottenham Hotspur. The North London giants have submitted an offer to the LOSC Lille striker regarding a pre-contract agreement for the 2025 summer transfer window.

Recent reports have also linked the Canadian international with Barcelona. However, Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco have doubts about his sporting abilities because he “suffers a lot when he doesn’t have space”. So, the Catalan giants are cooling their interest in the LOSC Lille striker.

Nevertheless, the 24-year-old has made his mark thus far this season for LOSC Lille, contributing to 20 goals in 23 appearances across all competitions by finding the back of the net 17 times and providing three assists. However, David’s long-term future at the Ligue 1 club is uncertain, as he has entered the final seven months of his contract.

With the Canadian international no closer to signing a new contract with Les Dogues, he will likely leave the Ligue 1 outfit as a free agent in the 2025 summer transfer window. The situation has piqued the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe, including Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur.

Where will David land next year?

Tottenham’s interest in Jonathan David is understandable. While the North London outfit signed Dominic Solanke in the summer transfer window, Ange Postecoglou wants another top-class centre-forward to rotate with the English international. So, David has emerged as a viable target for Tottenham, with the club submitting an offer to him regarding a pre-contract agreement.

As for Barcelona, Robert Lewandowski’s advancing years have forced the Blaugrana to scour the market for a striker. So, David has emerged as an option worth considering for Barcelona. However, Hansi Flick and Deco have doubts about his ability in tight spaces.

So, the Catalan giants are “slowing down” their chase of the 24-year-old Canadian international. That hands Tottenham the opportunity to secure a pre-contract agreement with David regarding a move for the 2025 summer transfer window as his stint with Ligue 1 giants LOSC Lille closes in on ending next year.

Manchester United are reportedly weighing up a surprise move to sign 32-year-old Tottenham star Son Heung-min in a Bosman move in the 2025 summer transfer window.

According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Son Heung-min is the subject of interest from Manchester United. The Red Devils are scouring the market for a versatile attacker heading into the 2025 summer transfer window. So, the nine-season Tottenham veteran has emerged as a target for the Premier League heavyweights.

Son Heung-min and his journey so far

Son Heung-min has gone from strength to strength since joining Tottenham Hotspur from Bayer Leverkusen in August 2015. While the veteran attacker has endured a few bouts of inconsistency, he has established himself as a pivotal figure for the North London club.

The 32-year-old has embraced the additional responsibility since becoming the Tottenham captain ahead of the 2023/24 season. Son has been solid thus far this term, chipping in with four goals and four assists in 15 appearances across all competitions. However, the skipper faces an uncertain future at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The South Korean international has entered the final seven months of his contract with Tottenham. While Son wants to stay at the North London club beyond the 2025 summer transfer window, the decision is not in his hands. Meanwhile, the situation has piqued the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe, including Manchester United.

Move across the Premier League on the cards?

Manchester United’s interest in Son Heung-min is understandable. The Red Devils are scouring the market for a versatile attacker heading into the 2025 summer transfer window as Ruben Amorim continues to shape his squad. So, several candidates, including Tyler Dibling, have emerged on Manchester United’s radar.

However, Son is also a viable target for Manchester United, considering he can play across the offensive unit. In addition, the South Korean international will add to Amorim’s creative options, while his leadership ability will ease the burden on Bruno Fernandes.

Son Heung-min’s impending free-agent status makes him an attractive target for Manchester United. However, it will be interesting to see if the 32-year-old can continue at Tottenham or if he embarks on a new adventure in the 2025 summer transfer window.

Tottenham Hotspur will be eager to return to winning ways when they host Chelsea at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

Gameweek 15 of the 2024/25 Premier League season continues on Sunday, which will witness four matches. The action on the day will start with three simultaneous games before ending with Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham Hotspur would have hoped to compete for the UEFA Champions League spots. However, the North London giants have lost as many games as they have won thus far this term. That has left them 15 points behind the table-topping Liverpool, with second-placed Chelsea eight points ahead. So, the pressure is ramping up on Ange Postecoglou, with Tottenham interested in Kieran McKenna.

As for Chelsea, Enzo Maresca has not taken long to make his mark at the West London club. While the Blues lost their season-opening game against Manchester City, they have only faced a defeat once in the 13 subsequent Premier League outings. The excellent run has lifted Maresca’s charges to second in the Premier League standings, leapfrogging Arsenal on goal difference after the 5-1 win over Southampton earlier this week.

The corresponding fixture last season saw Chelsea come from a goal down to beat Tottenham 4-1, with Nicolas Jackson scoring a match-winning hat-trick, while Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie saw red. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Tottenham Hotspur

Ange Postecoglou has greeted a mixed bag of updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Tottenham Hotspur manager will be bereft of the services of seven first-team players vs Chelsea on Sunday.

Ben Davies is the latest absentee, adding to Tottenham’s injury crisis in the defensive unit. The Welshman has joined Guglielmo Vicario (ankle), Micky van de Ven (hamstring), Mikey Moore (illness), Rodrigo Bentancur (suspension), Wilson Odobert (thigh), and Richarlison (hamstring) on the sidelines.

Cristian Romero is closing in on returning from a toe injury, and Postecoglou might pick him straightaway. However, if the Argentine international is not fit enough to start, Archie Gray will pair up with Radu Dragusin at the heart of the defence. Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie will be the two full-backs, with Fraser Forster continuing to deputise for Vicario.

As for the midfield unit, Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr, and Dejan Kulusevski are automatic picks, with the latter pulling the strings from the middle of the park. Dominic Solanke will lead the line for Tottenham vs Chelsea, with Brennan Johnson and Son Heung-min completing the numbers in the final third.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Forster; Porro, Romero, Dragusin, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bissouma, Sarr; Johnson, Solanke, Son

Chelsea

Like his counterpart in the Tottenham dugout, Enzo Maresca has a new roster issue hampering his preparations ahead of the trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Chelsea manager will be without four first-team players on Sunday.

Mykhailo Mudryk is the latest absentee due to an illness. The Ukrainian international has joined Reece James (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (thigh), and Omari Kellyman (hamstring) on the sidelines.

Robert Sanchez is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. The backline should feature Malo Gusto, Axel Disasi, Levi Colwill, and Marc Cucurella.

As for the midfield unit, the resurgent Enzo Fernandez will likely pair up with Moises Caicedo in the double pivot. Cole Palmer will reprise the no. 10 role, with Jadon Sancho and Pedro Neto being the two wide attackers. Finally, there is no looking past Nicolas Jackson as the central striker for Chelsea.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Sancho, Palmer, Neto; Jackson

Key Stats

Tottenham Hotspur have lost eight of their last 11 Premier League clashes vs Chelsea (D2 W1). The Blues have won on five of their seven visits to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in all competitions (D1 L1).

Tottenham have won just one of their six most recent games in all competitions (D2 L3). The Lilywhites have kept only one clean sheet in their last 22 top-flight home fixtures.

Chelsea are unbeaten in seven games in all competitions, winning the four most recent matches. The Blues have scored 57 times in 22 games this season, the most of any top-flight club.

Five of Tottenham’s six Premier League wins in London derbies under Postecoglou have come at home. On the other hand, Chelsea lost only one of their last 11 top-flight London derbies, winning seven and drawing three.

Son Heung-min has scored only two goals in 19 appearances against Chelsea in all competitions, including none in his last 11 outings.

Player to Watch

Nicolas Jackson

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Nicolas Jackson has turned things around spectacularly this year, proving his naysayers wrong while allaying Chelsea’s need for a top-class striker. While the West London club might still sign another centre-forward, the former Villarreal attacker will start from a position of strength when he has another competitor for his spot.

Meanwhile, Jackson has a fantastic record against Tottenham, scoring four goals in two Premier League meetings, including a hat-trick in the corresponding fixture last season. The Senegalese international will be raring to go after getting some rest earlier this week. Expect another game-changing performance from Jackson.

Prediction

Tottenham Hotspur 1-3 Chelsea

The pressure is mounting on Ange Postecoglou, but winning a London derby might be the antidote to Tottenham’s struggles. However, the North London giants have struggled to keep their opponents at bay in home games this year, conceding the opening goal in 13 of their 16 Premier League matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2024.

Chelsea will add to Tottenham’s woes, with Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer running riot. While the home side will take the game to the Blues, Dejan Kulusevski might be the lone warrior for them. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Enzo Maresca and his charges, with the victory closing the gap to Liverpool to five points.

Tottenham Hotspur attacker Son Heung-min has been linked with a move away from the North London club of late.

According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Son Heung-min is a target for Real Madrid. The reigning La Liga champions are hoping to sign the Tottenham captain, who joined the North London club in a £22 million deal nearly a decade ago, in a Bosman move.

Son’s current contract expires in the summer and Tottenham have not been able to secure an extension with him, even though the veteran attacker wants to remain at the North London club.

The 32-year-old is a proven performer in the Premier League, and he could be an exceptional addition to the Spanish outfit. He will add goals and creativity to the side. Real Madrid need more depth in the side, and the South Korean would be the ideal acquisition. Even though he is on the wrong side of 30, is capable of performing at a high level.

The opportunity to move to Real Madrid could be quite exciting for the player. Los Blancos are widely regarded as the biggest club in the world, and they could provide him with the platform to push for major trophies. The veteran forward has not won trophies since his move to Tottenham, and he could be excited about the idea of joining the Spanish champions.

Son could be tempted by Real Madrid

The South Korean has already proven his worth at Tottenham, and he might feel that this is the right time for him to take up a new challenge. It remains to be seen how the situation unfolds. It will be interesting to see if Tottenham offer him a new contract in the coming months.

The opportunity to join Real Madrid can be quite exciting for any player, and the 32-year-old could be tempted to join them. This will be his final opportunity to join a big club and compete at the highest level. Real Madrid have a proven track record of winning major trophies. Any player will find it hard to turn down the opportunity to join them.

Meanwhile, the Premier League attacker is a proven performer at the highest level, and signing him on a free transfer would represent an excellent bargain for Real Madrid. He will add goals, creativity and experience to the side for a nominal outlay.

AFC Bournemouth are set to host Tottenham at the Vitality Stadium, as these are two sides in inconsistent form eager to get a foothold in their season.

Andoni Iraola will have been relieved, surprised and, more importantly, content with his team’s performance at the weekend as Bournemouth celebrated their first away win since August. The Cherries beat Wolves at the Molineux with a 4-2 scoreline, with the game creating two stellar records for Bournemouth, who host Tottenham up next.

Justin Kluivert became the first-ever player in Premier League history to score a hat-trick of penalties in one game. Evanilson also etched his name in the record books for becoming the first-ever player in the top flight to win three penalties in one game, as left-back Milos Kerkez was also on the scoresheet as the Cherries secured a 4-2 reverse win.

This victory came at the back of back-to-back defeats against Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion, as Iraola will now target yet another big scalp at the Vitality. Bournemouth have built a reputation for being one of the tough teams on home soil, having already beaten the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City at this venue, the Spanish manager will hope it is Tottenham’s turn next.

Speaking of inconsistent form, Tottenham’s current run does make their fanbase wonder how their team can perform in the way they have. Having gone to probably the toughest away ground in the league at Manchester City and come out of there with a 4-0 reverse scoreline, Spurs have since managed to only draw games.

The first of those draws came in the Europa League as they conceded a late equaliser at home to Roma, and then at the weekend where it was a fairly similar story. Tottenham hosted London rivals Fulham at home, and Brennan Johnson’s second-half striker was cancelled out by Tom Cairney’s equaliser midway through the period. The latter was also sent off with a decent chunk of time left, but Spurs could not capitalise.

Tottenham are posing some serious questions to their top four contenders with performances like the one at the Etihad, but also giving away mixed signals about their form with some dreadful performances in general. For Ange Postecoglou, the primary objective would be to get his team performing on a consistent basis, as he will target a win at the Vitality.

Team News & Tactics

Bournemouth

Andoni Iraola will have a few key selection decisions to make, as he does have some key members of his first team missing through various injury issues. Alex Scott has a knee issue, while Julian Araujo and Luis Sinisterra are both out with hamstring problems, and midfielder Lewis Cook is also likely to miss out with a muscle complaint.

The latter’s expected absence could see the manager stick with Tyler Adams and Ryan Christie in his central midfield setup. The good news comes with the return of Antoine Semenyo, who served a suspension at the weekend and is now back in contention.

The Ghanaian international is likely to replace David Brooks on the right side of the attack. However, he could come on the left side to allow Iraola to accommodate Dango Ouattara on the right wing.

Kluivert, after his stellar hattrick is not likely to lose his spot in the side, and the same goes for Evanilson, with the Brazilian set to lead the line for Bournemouth against Tottenham. Illia Zabarnyi and Marcos Senesi are expected to feature in the heart of the defence. Adam Smith and the in-demand Milos Kerkez will take up the full-back roles on either flank.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Adams, Christie; Ouattara, Kluivert, Semenyo; Evanilson

Tottenham

Ange Postecoglou will certainly hope for Dominic Solanke to make a return after missing out at the weekend with an illness. It will be a blow for the ex-Bournemouth striker personally to miss out on a reunion with his former side, as Tottenham fare better with the England international leading the line.

On the other hand, there are a number of issues for Postecoglou to deal with ahead of this trip to the Vitality Stadium. Rodrigo Bentancur’s seven-match ban means the Uruguayan international is unavailable for a third game running, while keeper Guglielmo Vicario will miss months after ankle surgery.

Tottenham could once again be without first choice centre-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, with the latter the more likely to make a return soon, but this trip might come too soon for his liking. Wilson Odobert is also unavailable alongside Richarlison, with the pair out with hamstring problems. Young stars Mikey Moore and Archie Gray are doubts for this one.

Ben Davies and Radu Dragusin will keep their places in central defence, as Destiny Udogie will retain his place at left-back. Postecoglou will persist with Dejan Kulusevski, Yves Bissouma and James Maddison in his midfield. At the same time, Solanke’s return could see Timo Werner relegated to the bench and allow Son Heung-min to return to the left flank.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Forster; Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bissouma, Maddison; Johnson, Solanke, Son

Key Stats

Bournemouth have won three of their last four home games in the Premier League.

Bournemouth have conceded at least two goals in their last three Premier League matches.

Tottenham have scored at least two goals in their last four matches against Bournemouth in all competitions.

Tottenham have won 10 of their last 14 Premier League meetings with Bournemouth.

Justin Kluivert has been involved in six goals in his last six Premier League appearances (5 goals, 1 assist), becoming the first player in the competition’s history to score a hat-trick of penalties last time out against Wolves.

Player to Watch

Evanilson

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The Brazilian striker has consistently grown in his role since making the big summer move from FC Porto. Last weekend, he made history by becoming the first-ever player in Premier League history to win three penalties in one game, all of which Justin Kluivert scored to etch his name in the record books for scoring as many spot kicks in a single game.

However, ahead of Tottenham’s visit here, Evanilson is the story to look forward to. While all the limelight will be on the returning Dominic Solanke, it is Evanilson who is the in-form frontman and, incidentally, the player who replaced the English striker at the Vitality.

The Brazilian’s current stats read four goals in the Premier League, and games like these are chances for him to improve on those numbers, as he will be the man in focus as Bournemouth host Tottenham Hotspur this midweek.

Prediction

AFC Bournemouth 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham fans might still have fresh memories of their most recent away trip to Manchester City, but they are facing a different animal in Bournemouth. Spurs’ unpredictable and inconsistent form will play a role in this game, as they could suffer another disappointing result.

Bournemouth have shown the knack of making the best out of their home ground this season, and Andoni Iraola could target another big scalp at the Vitality. The Cherries are coming into this game in a superior vein of form compared to Spurs, as they might have a sharper attack to exploit the otherwise weak-looking Tottenham defence, as Bournemouth are expected to take all three points here.

PSG are ready to rival Chelsea and Tottenham for young Uzbeki centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov, who plays for RC Lens.

According to Le 10 Sport, PSG are in the race for the signing of RC Lens centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov. Chelsea and Tottenham are also keen on the 20-year-old Ligue 1 prodigy, as he’s seen as a viable addition that would suit these clubs financially compared to some of the alternatives.

Top clubs across England and Europe are constantly looking at younger additions in the market to keep their sides competitive. Bringing in young, inexperienced players who are capable of first-team football will help maintain the quality and add to the depth.

PSG are one of the clubs in the mix to bring the best young talents from around. Like Chelsea or Tottenham, PSG are building a project suited for the future. The Parisians are now targeting a young centre-back from Ligue 1 as Abdukodir Khusanov emerges on the radar.

The 20-year-old Ligue 1 prodigy has emerged at RC Lens and has been making a name for himself over the last year or so. The French club values him at €20 million, and if they get that fee for him, it will represent a significant profit on their €100,000 investment made just 18 months ago.

The report states PSG view Khusanov as a viable replacement for troubled defender Milan Skriniar, who is tipped to leave in the January window. The Parisians are looking at impressive centre-backs who are able to make up their project in the future, although the French giants face big competition from English sides. Moreover, they also view the 20-year-old as a much cheaper alternative to the expensive Tomas Araujo.

PSG face Chelsea and Tottenham in competition for Khusanov

Chelsea and Tottenham have been interested in Khusanov, as they view the young Uzbeki defender as a good opportunity to bolster their defence. The RC Lens star will have to decide on his next big move, as a transfer within Ligue 1 cannot be ruled out as he’s settled in France, although the lure of England could also play its part.