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Amanda Staveley has been making rather big moves with her businesses of late, but finance expert Stefan Borson suggests these actions should not impact any potential takeover she fronts at Tottenham Hotspur.

Amanda Staveley shutting down businesses

After leaving Newcastle United in the summer, persistent rumours have claimed Amanda Staveley is looking for her next project, and sees Tottenham as the perfect football club to invest in next.

There is a belief that would fit with Daniel Levy‘s plans to find outside investment to take Spurs to the next level both on and off the pitch.

However, the latest developments in Staveley’s situation have been rather confusing and complex. While Staveley was spotted at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last weekend, her business dealings have raised questions over her readiness to buy into the club.

Over the last two weeks, Staveley has filed winding up orders for two of her firms with Companies House, including the business many had suspected she would use to lead any potential move for Spurs.

Spurs takeover could happen quickly

However, this should not be seen as anything that could impede Staveley’s potential interest in Tottenham. That’s according to Stefan Borson, who told Football Insider that the businesswoman would only want a small share in the club, and could make that happen very quickly.

He said: “I don’t think there is any significance in the dissolution of that business. I’m sceptical about the whole Spurs story anyway. She wouldn’t need to do it anyway through that vehicle.

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“At the end of the day, if Amanda Stavely invests £500million in a football club, she will probably be fronting it on behalf of other people, will have a relatively small equity stake in that vehicle, and will probably want to set up a completely fresh vehicle anyway.

“I wouldn’t read too much into it. If something is going to happen, the structuring of the corporate entity that does it is something that can be addressed quickly. You can buy a company immediately and you can fund it as required very quickly. I wouldn’t read anything into it.”

No smoke without fire

I think there must be some kind of ongoing discussion between Staveley and Levy regarding this deal, especially given she was at the stadium last week. It’s hard to say whether anything will come of this, but if Staveley does indeed only want a small stake in the club, there’s very little risk there on Tottenham’s side.

Tottenham Hotspur are back on Europa League duty this week, and it’ll be a considerably more difficult proposition this time around with AZ Alkmaar the opponents. Here’s how to watch the game, who’ll be in the team, and what we think the score will be.

Spurs are currently flying in the Europa League with two wins from two games, though neither the Qarabag nor the Ferencvaros fixtures were as simple as Tottenham fans had expected.

AZ Alkmaar will likely present an even sterner test, with the Dutch side playing at a higher level and possessing some players that can do damage to even the best teams in the competition.

Here are all the details for the upcoming game, including when it takes place, any injury issues, and where the game will be broadcast.

How to watch Spurs vs AZ Alkmaar

You’ll be able to watch the Spurs vs AZ Alkmaar game on TNT Sports via a Discovery+ subscription.

Coverage starts at 19:45 and runs right through to 22:30, with pre-match build-up and post-match analysis as always.

When and where is the Spurs vs AZ Alkmaar game?

Tottenham are at home for this fixture, which is set to take place on Thursday, October 24.

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Kick-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is scheduled for 20:00 on Thursday.

Spurs team news

As things stand, the only player potentially missing for the Europa League game is Wilson Odobert.

The Tottenham injury list improved massively last week with the return of both Heung-min Son and Richarlison, who had both been on the sidelines for weeks.

Odobert is close to a full recovery from the hamstring issue that has kept him out of action for over a month, but the AZ Alkmaar game may come just too soon for the young Frenchman.

One player to look out for on the opposing team will be Troy Parrott. The former Spurs striker joined Alkmaar this summer, and has made a great start to life with the Dutch club, with six goals to his name this season already.

Another win for Tottenham

Following Tottenham’s commanding 4-1 victory over West Ham in the London Derby, one name has steadily started to turn heads: Dejan Kulusevski.

While much of the spotlight has focused on Spurs’ overall team resurgence, Kulusevski’s superb yet quietly consistent form has been impossible to ignore. As the 2024/25 campaign kicks into gear, both Tottenham fans and Premier League followers are finally beginning to take notice of the Swedish maestro’s growing influence.

From the shadows to the spotlight

As Tottenham endured a turbulent start to the season, Dejan Kulusevski’s contributions have flown largely under the radar. While much of the attention has been on the team’s struggles, the Swedish international has quietly excelled in a new, more central role.

Previously deployed as a right winger, Kulusevski’s shift towards the middle of the pitch has unlocked his potential as a creative force, showcasing his adaptability and vision.

This positional switch has allowed him to influence games more significantly, driving play from deeper areas and linking up with midfielders in ways that weren’t possible out wide.

A statistical surge in centrality

Kulusevski’s transition to a central role is more than just tactical; the numbers back up his impact. In his previous seasons as a right winger, Kulusevski averaged 2.15 key passes per game.

This season, playing centrally, that number has surged to 3.57 (98% percentile in the Premier League), showing his ability to unlock defences more consistently (FootyStats).

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His ball retention has also improved, placing him in the Premier League’s top 2% in ground duels won. These statistics underline how his newfound role has allowed him to dictate the tempo and orchestrate Tottenham’s attacking movements.

A journey of versatility

Kulusevski’s ability to thrive in multiple positions is a testament to his football intelligence and versatility. After initially breaking through at Atalanta and flourishing at Parma, he showcased his potential as a winger, but Tottenham’s system under Ange Postecoglou has unlocked another dimension of his game.

His central role emphasizes his quick decision-making and exceptional close control, helping him evade pressure and find teammates in dangerous areas.

At just 24, Kulusevski is proving he can adapt and evolve his game—a crucial trait for a player looking to make a lasting impact in the Premier League. Despite Tottenham’s struggles, his performances have laid the foundation for brighter days ahead.

Craig Bellamy backs Brennan Johnson to emulate Arsenal legend Robert Pires in one important way. He also explains why the Tottenham star belongs among the ‘elite’ in world football.

Brennan Johnson has forced critics to eat their words

It was just a little over a month ago that Johnson was coming under scathing criticism from parts of the media and even from some Spurs fans.

In fact, he even decided to deactivate his Instagram account due to the deluge of criticism he was receiving online.

Since then, the 23-year-old has well and truly silenced his critics, having found the back of the net in six consecutive games for Tottenham. He even netted in a seventh match in a row if you count his Wales tap-in.

What makes Johnson elite

Former Wales striker Rob Earnshaw does not think that it is a coincidence that Johnson’s decision to delete social media has led to an upturn in form.

He told BBC Radio Wales (via Squawka) about the Tottenham man’s turnaround: “It’s no coincidence for him because I think the reason he deactivated it was because of all the negativity and everything was going into his game and overthinking. And then all of a sudden he was thinking about that as he was playing.”

Meanwhile, Bellamy has insisted that the intensity that Johnson plays with puts him in the highest bracket among players in the world, insisting that he is worth every penny that Tottenham paid for him.

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The Wales boss said: “He’s a good footballer, he has ridiculous talent, his high intensity is through the roof, it is elite. Spurs have paid that money for him.

“Now he could have a bad two years but trust me, if I’m in a [club manager] job I’ll go and buy him for that. He’s got every part of football that’s going to make him elite and that’s the player I see.”

Johnson backed to emulate Robert Pires

Bellamy pointed out that even footballers who go on to become world-class players often do not find it easy to start when they move to a big club.

He pointed to Pires’ rise at Arsenal after a difficult start as something that Johnson could emulate on the other side of North London.

The 45-year-old added: “Once you move from a different scenario, a different club, sometimes you hit the ground running, but sometimes it takes longer. I remember Robert Pires for a whole season was a waste of money.

“Next one he goes and wins player of the year… it works that way at times. He’s [Johnson] young and I believe all we’re seeing now is just what his talent is allowing. It was going to happen.”

Micky van de Ven has posted unreal sprinting stats in the Premier League this season, but another Spurs player is also near the very top of the standings when it comes to top speed.

Top speed of players revealed

Using stats from Opta, BBC Sport have now revealed the players who have recorded the highest speeds across the Premier League this season.

Spurs fans will not be surprised to hear that Micky van de Ven has come out on top, with the centre-back outpacing all of his peers across the division.

Micky van de Ven’s top speed revealed

Van de Ven has been clocked at 37.1 km/h, just beating out Wolves’ Carlos Forbs (36.6 km/h) and Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga (35.9 km/h).

It is revealed that the Netherlands international was also the fastest player in the Premier League last season and at Euro 2024.

While he is the quickest in the English top flight, he has only attempted 82 sprints in total this season, which puts him in 74th place in the division for the number of sprints.

Another Tottenham man in man in the top four?

Interestingly, BBC Sport revealed that their top 20 list only ranks the quickest player for each team.

They explain that if they did a list that compares all players across the division on their top speeds, Timo Wener would come in at joint fourth.

The on-loan RB Leipzig man has reportedly registered the same top speed as Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, being clocked in at 35.7 km/h.

Kyle Walker makes a big admission about the away changing room at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, revealing why Spurs even charge some teams for using the facility.

State-of-the-art venue

Almost all the players, media personnel and away fans that come to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium rave about the facility, with the ground being the envy of the Premier League.

The changing rooms in the venue are a world away from what one sees at some grounds in the EFL, with teams getting every amenity that they could hope for.

Kyle Walker raves about changing room

Walker has now raved about the away dressing room at N17, revealing that the visiting players do not even have to carry shower gels with them.

However, the Manchester City star suggested that Tottenham end up charging sides when players take stuff with them from the changing room.

The former Tottenham man said on the You’ll Never Beat Kyle Walker podcast: “The new Spurs one is incredible. You’d have that as your home team dressing room. You don’t even have to bring your shower gel to the showers, you can just use theirs.

“It’s fantastic. But I’ve heard if you do take the shower gel they do charge the away team.”

Walker might be serious

While many would presume Walker is just joking about Spurs charging for shower gel, given the way the North London club are run, he may be serious.

James Maddison reveals the best advice Ange Postecoglou has given him and it turns out that it had to do with something away from the pitch.

Ange Postecoglou has a way with words

Over the course of his tenure at Spurs, Postecoglou has rattled off a long list of pithy quotes, with the Australian certainly having a way with words.

Some of his famous one-liners and explanations do not just apply to football but can also be taken as general life advice.

James Maddison reveals the best advice

Maddison was asked to pick the best piece of advice he has heard from his manager in their time together at Tottenham, and the attacking midfielder did not take long to answer.

The 27-year-old told TNT Sports: “Treat everyone at the club as if it’s your family. As if they were your family members.”

This revelation from the England international perhaps sheds light on why we see such camaraderie among the Spurs squad – and at the club in general.

Fostering a family environment at Spurs

Postecoglou has admitted that he does not tend to get too close to the players and is not one for too many one-on-one chats. However, many Spurs players have now talked about the togetherness and family atmosphere that the current regime has created at the club (official website).

That is clearly a priority for Ange, which is why he hardly throws players under the bus publicly and is careful to add the right kind of personalities to the squad.

Tottenham fans will love hearing what Dominic Solanke has just said about his aspirations for the Champions League next season in N17.

More than just a finisher

Even though Solanke has only found the back of the net three times since his big-money move from Bournemouth in the summer, his signing has already been hailed as a masterstroke by some pundits (talkSPORT).

That is because the 26-year-old fits like a glove into Ange Postecoglou’s system, with his ability to press incessantly, hold up the ball and combine with the other attackers, making him a huge threat to opposition sides.

Dominic Solanke dreaming big

Solanke has made a promising start to his time in North London, but far from resting on his laurels, he is setting his eyes on the biggest prize.

He has even suggested that Spurs could look to win the Champions League next season if they manage to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition this time out.

When asked if he harbours dreams of winning silverware, he told The Daily Mail: “Being at a club like Tottenham, that’s what we all want to be a part of. We’re in the Europa League, but the Champions League is where everyone wants to be.

“Hopefully we can reach that next season, and even better to win that. I love the way we play. It’s one of the reasons I came here.”

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Tottenham’s ambition is not in doubt

Some Spurs fans might not be comfortable with the bold aspirations that Postecoglou and many of the Tottenham players have repeatedly spelt out publicly.

They might feel that they would rather see them doing their talking on the pitch. However, these sorts of statements underline the belief that is currently running through the camp.

Emmanuel Petit was bewildered by Ange Postecoglou’s decision to take James Maddison off at half-time but Glenn Murray had a different take on the substitution.

Ange Postecoglou makes a big call at half-time

Many people were left scratching their heads when Postecoglou decided to take off Maddison at half-time and replace him with a more defensively-minded player in Pape Sarr.

The decision was particularly bewildering as the score was poised at 1-1 at the interval and Tottenham had finished the first-half strongly.

However, the change worked a treat, with Sarr’s introduction helping Spurs win the ball in the middle of the park. This allowed them to attack the Hammers when their backline was exposed, with the home side putting three past their opponents at the start of the second period.

Emmanuel Petit confused about Maddison decision

Petit confessed that he could not make sense of Postecoglou’s decision to withdraw Maddison, describing it as ‘strange’

The former Arsenal midfielder told Optus Sport: “Strange because he’s (Maddison) a really good player. So I was quite surprised. It’s quite strange from the manager.”

However, Glenn Murray pointed out that the tweak did prove to be the right call and that Maddison would not have any reason to complain.

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The former Brighton striker said about the substitution: “Obviously it’s an eye-raiser when you do bring James Maddison off, your most creative player.

“But hindsight proves it was the right decision and he won’t be knocking on Ange Postecoglou’s door Monday morning, he hasn’t got any ammunition to do this. That midfield with Bissouma was sured up and they win the game really comfortably.”

Postecoglou clarifies decision

Postecoglou explained in his post-match press conference that he thought West Ham were having too much joy in the middle of the park in the first period and wanted more legs in midfield to nullify their threat.

When asked about the decision, the 59-year-old said (via Football.London): “I just felt West Ham ask you certain questions in midfield areas and I just felt Pape’s running power would help us in the second half.

“They obviously worked hard in the first half and I thought he could give us some real energy. I thought he did really well and he gave us a platform to really threatening every time we want forward and clinical in our football.”

Dejan Kulusevski insists Tottenham can blow anyone away when they are at their best but admits that the Lilywhites have to improve in one key area.

Tottenham send out clear message

Following the disappointment of the loss to Brighton two weeks ago, Spurs returned to winning ways in style, brushing West Ham aside 4-1 on Saturday.

Spurs once again showed that they are difficult to stop when things click, blowing away the Hammers with three quickfire goals at the start of the second half.

It was just the sort of performance that Spurs needed to bring the feelgood factor back to the club as they enter a busy period of the campaign.

Dejan Kulusevski’s confident claim

Kulusevski admitted that the first-half performance was not up to scratch and that Tottenham have to improve defensively.

However, he revealed that he was confident his side would go on to win the game as soon as they got the equaliser. In fact, Kulusevski feels the North London club are capable of blowing teams away in a matter of minutes when they are at their best.

The Swede told TNT Sports after the 4-1 win: “The first half was tough because you cannot always be 100% physically. They did good and they scored but, when I scored (the equaliser), I knew we were going to win.

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“When we play good, we are unbelievable but we have to defend much better. The balance was not good enough in the first half. We have to look into that and improve that for the next game.”

When asked about Spurs scoring three goals within eight minutes at the start of the second period, he responded: “That’s Tottenham football. When everything is clicking we can score four goals in four minutes. More of that please.”

Tottenham focussed on getting better

Kulusevski was then asked if this result gets the side back on track after the disappointment at the Amex Stadium, and the attacker made it clear that he and his teammates will not rest on their laurels.

The 24-year-old responded: “Yes but like I keep saying, we forget about this (result) tomorrow and work even harder because we have to go up in the Championship table.”