The Hard Tackle

Turkish giants Besiktas step up their interest in the services of Tottenham Hotspur outcast Sergio Reguilon.

Besiktas are looking to bring in a new left-back in the ongoing transfer window. They are interested in the services of Tottenham full-back Sergio Reguilon and according to Spor Sayfa via SportWitness, the Turkish giants have intensified their contacts with the player as they look to strike a deal for his services.

Reguilon joined the North London club from Real Madrid back in the summer of 2020 following an impressive loan spell at Sevilla. While he was an important part of their first team in the initial years, he went down the pecking order with time.

He has been out on loan for the last 24 months. Last season, he was at Manchester United during the first half of the campaign and featured for Brentford in the second half. Despite doing a decent job during his loan spells, the Spanish international has no future at Spurs.

He is not a part of their plans moving ahead and with his contract running out in 12 months, Spurs have informed the player that he is free to leave. The left-back is surplus to requirement and his departure will be a win-win for both parties.

Manchester United are one of the English clubs who have recently been linked with the 27-year-old as they seek depth at left-back. Apart from the Red Devils, there is interest in him from Sevilla and Barcelona. But, Turkish giants Besiktas are the ones in focus.

Besiktas make moves to sign Sergio Reguilon

They want to reinforce their backline in the ongoing window and bringing in a left-back is a top priority for them. They have been linked with Reguilon in the past and according to the report, the Spanish defender is still on their radar.

While the transfer market in most countries will close in the coming days, the Turkish window remains open until September 13th which means they have time on their hands. But, the Black Eagles seem to have already stepped up their interest.

They have intensified contact with the player’s side as they look to get his green light for the move. While Besiktas have initiated contact, Galatasaray have also been linked with the 27-year-old and they could cause problems.

Eberechi Eze is increasingly unlikely to join Tottenham Hotspur in the summer transfer window, with the North London club prioritising bolstering other positions.

According to a report by Football Insider, Eberechi Eze has been the subject of interest from Tottenham Hotspur. However, the North London club will not pursue the Crystal Palace attacker as they want to bolster their central defensive and central midfield options in the summer transfer window. The 26-year-old is also a target for Arsenal and Liverpool.

Eberechi Eze and his rise at Crystal Palace

Eberechi Eze has been one of the best playmakers in the Premier League since joining Crystal Palace from Queens Park Rangers in August 2020. While the Englishman has battled fitness issues in the last four years, he has constantly been a pivotal figure for the South London club.

The 26-year-old has turned out 125 times thus far for Crystal Palace while chipping in with 26 goals and 17 assists. Meanwhile, Eze’s progress at Selhurst Park has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur.

A man in demand

Mikel Arteta has pushed Arsenal to create a squad with two top-class options for every position. So, the Gunners have been eager to bolster their attack in the summer transfer window by signing a versatile forward. Eze fits the bill for Arsenal, with his versatility making him the subject of attraction for the North London club.

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s interest in Eberechi Eze is understandable. The Reds have been keen on reinforcing their creative options in the summer transfer window, and a versatile attacker like Eze is a viable target for the Merseyside outfit. However, Liverpool and Arsenal have not submitted bids to secure Eze’s services, and an offer might not arrive this summer.

As for Tottenham, they have aggressively pursued Eberechi Eze’s signature in the summer transfer window. The 26-year-old Englishman can be an option on the flanks or through the centre as an alternative to James Maddison. However, Tottenham will not launch the offensive to sign the Crystal Palace forward.

Tottenham will prioritise signing a centre-back and a central midfielder before the summer transfer window closes. So, they are increasingly unlikely to pursue Eze, with Arsenal and Liverpool also out of the picture.

Manor Solomon has rejected an approach from a La Liga club, as he prefers to stay in England amid reports Tottenham are willing to part ways.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Manor Solomon could leave Tottenham in the last days of the transfer window. The Israel attacker has reportedly rejected a formal offer from a La Liga side, as he reportedly wants to stay in England despite Spurs being open to letting him leave.

Manor Solomon rejects La Liga approach

Manor Solomon was considered an exciting signing when Spurs managed to bring him on a free transfer. The winger took advantage of FIFA rules that allowed players of Russian and Ukrainian clubs to terminate their existing deals and move on. He was initially on loan at Fulham for an entire season before Tottenham took him to north London.

He appeared like an exciting option for Ange Postecoglou early in the campaign, but a knee injury hampered his season. He barely played after that, with reports suggesting Spurs were ready to part ways as early as May of this year.

With the limited time remaining in the window, Spurs are open to sending him on loan, as some clubs are sniffing around. Solomon has reportedly rejected a formal approach from a La Liga side, which Fabrizio Romano confirmed to be Getafe. The Spanish side is eager to bring the winger as a potential replacement for Mason Greenwood.

Solomon reportedly wants to stay in England, but that does not mean he will stick with Tottenham. Romano suggested the 2023 summer singing could leave in the final days of the window, although there are not many Premier League sides coming forward with an interest in the attacker.

Will Tottenham sign a replacement?

As things stand, Tottenham are unlikely to bring any more attacking reinforcements after a considerable outlay in this window. After the record-breaking signing of Dominic Solanke, Spurs were quick to re-enter the Championship market for Burnley winger Wilson Odobert.

Odobert might be Solomon’s direct replacement, as Spurs do have plenty of options in their attacking setup. They could enter the market again for a final third player if they are able to sell Richarlison this late in the window. However, any exit for the Brazilian may appear unlikely.

Tottenham Hotspur will host Everton in the Premier League this weekend, looking to pick up their first win of the 2024/25 season.

Tottenham Hotspur were held to a 1-1 draw by Leicester City in their season opener, and they will be eager to get their first win of the season when they welcome Everton to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Spurs will be pushing for UEFA Champions League qualification this season, and they need to pick up these points if they want to finish in the top four. Meanwhile, Everton have been quite poor in recent seasons, and they will look to improve this year. They will hope to push for a place in the top half, and it will be interesting to see if they can start the season on a high.

The Toffees were beaten by Brighton & Hove Albion 3-0 at home in their season opener, and the fans will be thoroughly disappointed with the performance of the players. It will be interesting to see if they can make amends and put on a strong performance here.

Team News & Tactics

Tottenham Hotspur

Dominic Solanke misses out with an ankle injury, and Tottenham fans will be disappointed to see their new signing ruled out. Meanwhile, Rodrigo Bentancur is unavailable due to a head injurywell. Yves Bissouma is suspended for the hosts due to a disciplinary issue.

Tottenham are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Everton, with Guglielmo Vicario in goal. Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie will start as the full-backs, and they will look to keep things compact defensively and help out in the attack. Cristian Romero will start alongside Micky van de Ven at the heart of the defence.

As for the midfield unit, Archie Gray is likely to start alongside Pape Matar Sarr in the double pivot. The two players will look to add defensive cover and work rate to the side from the middle of the park.

James Maddison will start in the central attacking midfield role, and he will look to open up opportunities for his teammates in the final third with his creativity and vision. Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min will start in the wide areas, and they will look to add pace and flair to the side. Richarlison will lead the line for the home team in the absence of Solanke.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie; Gray, Sarr; Kulusevski, Maddison, Son; Richarlison

Everton

Nathan Patterson misses out with a thigh injury, Jarrad Branthwaite misses out with a groin injury, James Garner has a calf injury, Ashley Young remains suspended, James Tarkowski has a thigh injury, Dele Alli is suffering from a groin problem, and Seamus Coleman misses out with a calf injury.

Everton have an extensive injury list, and they are likely to shape up in a 4-4-1-1 formation against Tottenham. Jordan Pickford will start in goal for the Toffees. Mason Holgate and Vitaliy Mykolenko will start as the full-backs. They will look to add defensive cover to the side and assist during counter attacking situations as well.

James Tarkowski will start in the central defensive unit alongside Michael Keane. Jack Harrison and Dwight McNeil will start in the wide areas. They will look to add pace and creativity from the flanks.

Tim Iroegbunam and Idrissa Gueye will start in central midfield. They will look to add defensive cover to the side. Abdoulaye Doucoure will start as a central attacking midfielder, and he will add creativity and drive to the midfield. Finally, Dominic Calvert-Lewin will lead the line for Everton this weekend.

Probable Lineup (4-4-1-1): Pickford; Holgate, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Harrison, Iroegbunam, Gueye, McNeil; Doucoure; Calvert-Lewin

Key Stats

Player to Watch

James Maddison

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The Tottenham midfielder has the quality to exploit Everton’s defensive vulnerabilities. He will look to create opportunities for his teammates and make the most of the spaces in their defence.

Everton looked quite poor at the back in their season opener, and they are without key players like Branthwaite here. Maddison is our key player to watch out for, and he could make a big difference in the attacking half.

Prediction

Tottenham 2-0 Everton

Tottenham are undoubtedly the better team here and they should be able to pick up all three points. Everton will look to bounce back strongly and pull off an upset away from home. However, they are the underdogs here, and they are lacking in confidence and momentum. A comfortable home win is on the cards this weekend.

Tottenham and West Ham United are among those watching Hayden Hackney ahead of deadline day, with Middlesbrough keen to keep the midfielder.

According to TBR, Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney attracts plenty of eyeballs from Premier League sides. Tottenham and West Ham are among those who have watched the 22-year-old highly-rated English midfielder in recent weeks, with Michael Carrick keen to keep hold of him.

Hayden Hackney on Premier League radar

Hayden Hackney has developed into an exciting player under Michael Carrick, as the 22-year-old highly-rated English midfielder has been given the keys to run the Middlesbrough midfield. Their manager is eager to have continuity in the squad amid links to many of his players and wants to keep Hackney at all costs.

That might prove challenging, considering clubs like Tottenham and West Ham are closely watching his progress. The two teams, among others, have scouted the 22-year-old since the start of the Championship season and have returned with glowing reports.

Tottenham have dipped into the Championship market this summer with the signings of Archie Gray and Wilson Odobert. They might enter the sphere for the third time for Hackney, a player they considered back in January for a move but decided against approaching.

West Ham are also in the market for a new midfielder, with links to Carlos Soler from PSG. However, they could consider making a move for Hackney if the conditions are right, assuming they do not have an immediate need for a player in that role, as he could be a backup to their first choices.

Tottenham West Ham are looking for a midfield addition

The two teams are well-stocked in the area but could make do with another addition for further security. Tottenham were linked with Manuel Locatelli briefly, as Ange Postecoglou might make a late attempt to bring in a holding midfielder that would improve his squad’s depth and as a replacement for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Similarly, West Ham have a well-stacked midfield setup, which was further bolstered by the arrival of Guido Rodriguez. However, the lure of bringing a homegrown player like Hackney might be seen as a progressive move, although any move will depend on Middlesbrough’s asking price for the 22-year-old.

Tottenham Hotspur might launch a late move to sign 23-year-old Brazilian international Joao Gomes from fellow Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers.

According to a report by Give Me Sport, Joao Gomes is the subject of interest from Tottenham Hotspur. The North London giants are keen on bolstering their midfield unit before the summer transfer window closes. The Brazilian international has thus emerged as a target, although Wolverhampton Wanderers might only consider a bid if suitors cough up £50 million.

Joao Gomes and his progress at the Molineux

Joao Gomes has established himself as one of the best young midfielders in the Premier League since joining Wolverhampton Wanderers from Flamengo in January 2023. A native of Rio de Janeiro, he spent his formative years in his homeland before graduating from the youth division at Flamengo.

The 23-year-old has gone from strength to strength at the Black Country outfit, turning out 50 times thus far while chipping in with three goals and one assist. In addition, Gomes’s exploits for Wolverhampton Wanderers have helped him establish a foothold in his national team in the last 18 months.

Meanwhile, Joao Gomes’s progress at Wolverhampton Wanderers has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe, particularly from the Premier League club. The Brazilian midfielder’s next destination might be Tottenham, although his club will look to keep him at the Molineux.

London calling?

Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Joao Gomes is understandable. The North London giants have sold Oliver Skipp to Leicester City, while Rodrigo Bentancur picked up a head injury earlier this week against the Foxes. In addition, Yves Bissouma has threatened his long-term future at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after his recent off-field controversy.

Gomes has thus emerged as a viable target for Tottenham, with the North London club mulling over a late move for the 23-year-old Brazilian international. However, Wolverhampton Wanderers want to keep Gomes at the Molineux, although they might sanction his sale if a suitor coughs up £50 million.

It is unclear if Tottenham will be open to forking out £50 million to secure Joao Gomes’s services in the final days of the summer transfer window. However, a late move for the Brazilian midfielder will unlikely see the light of day.

Tottenham will kick-start yet their 2024/25 Premier League campaign under Ange Postecoglou when they visit newly promoted Leicester City.

The King Power Stadium will once again witness Premier League football, and the Leicester City faithful will hope to see better days than they have over the last few years, starting with the game against Tottenham. Since their title-winning campaign in 2015/16, the Foxes have steadily regressed, although they returned to the top flight after lifting the EFL Championship title last term.

There have been plenty of changes in terms of staff and players, with Championship-winning boss Enzo Maresca opting to take over at Chelsea when the opportunity arrived. Leicester City are now led by former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper, who will want to begin the season here on a positive note.

Cooper’s task on the eve of their opening Premier League game is a tough one as they host Tottenham at the King Power. Leicester hope for a winning start to their campaign, although they enter the new season with tags of slight favourites to go down at the end of the season, which Cooper wants to change.

Ange Postecoglou will want a strong response from his Tottenham side as they embark on another season under the Australian tactician. Spurs were early leaders in the title race last term, but soon, their campaign fell off a cliff. At the end of it, they limped towards finishing fifth and could not touch Aston Villa in fourth.

Tottenham will enter the new campaign with the priority target of finishing in the top four, although Postecoglou will not be opposed to challenging for the title. Spurs have done some decent business and have eliminated unwanted players.

With a few more touches in the transfer market, they could have a competitive squad for the current campaign. Postecoglou will want early momentum in the Premier League like last season, although this time around, Spurs also have to manoeuvre their league commitments alongside Europa League football.

Team News & Tactics

Leicester City

There have been some notable departures from the club this summer, although Steve Cooper might be mildly satisfied with his current options. As of Sunday, they have also made a bid for Spurs midfielder Oliver Skipp. But they are unlikely to bring him on before this game on Monday.

They have another former Spurs man, Harry Winks, who was nailed on for a starting berth in Cooper’s midfield setup, with Wilfred Ndidi likely to partner him there. The Foxes have some injury issues in the forward line, with Jamie Vardy unavailable, while Patson Daka has undergone surgery on an ankle issue that will keep him out for months.

Cooper could deploy Thomas Cannon to lead the line for Leicester City, while Stephy Mavididi could play on the left wing for the Foxes. Recent arrival Facundo Buonanotte could play an advanced role behind the striker, with Abdul Fatawu likely to support from the right.

Leicester will trust Caleb Okoli to deputise for the injured Conor Coady and partner with Wout Faes at the heart of the defence. Cooper will also have Luke Thomas to start at left-back, but that spot might be taken by Victor Kristiansen, while Ricardo Pereira will play at the other full-back position.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Hermansen; Pereira, Faes, Okoli, Kristiansen; Winks, Ndidi; Fatawu, Buonanotte, Mavididi; Cannon

Tottenham Hotspur

The big news coming from the Tottenham camp ahead of their opening game against Leicester City is that Yves Bissouma will not play any part on Monday night. The midfielder was recently pictured inhaling laughing gas, with Ange Postecoglou punishing him for the offence.

Bissouma’s absence could leave Spurs without an outright holding midfielder, although Postecoglou is expected to start with Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr in the double pivot. James Maddison will feature in the more advanced role for Spurs, while new arrival Archie Gray is scheduled to take his place on the bench.

Spurs will also have their strongest backline in place, with the fit-again Destiny Udogie set to play left-back, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Pedro Porro completing the back four.

Richarlison is still doubtful about playing for the Spurs due to fitness concerns. With the arrival of Dominic Solanke, the Brazilian might have fallen in the pecking order, as Tottenham’s record-signing is set for his full debut in North London.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie, Sarr, Bentancur; Kulusevski, Maddison, Son; Solanke

Key Stats

Leicester City beat Tottenham 4-1 during their most recent encounter at the King Power.

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

Tottenham have lost only one of their last eight opening-day games in the Premier League.

There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 25 of Tottenham’s last 29 games in the Premier League.

Son Heung-min has nine goals and four assists in 14 matches against Leicester. The South Korean only has more goal involvements against Southampton.

Player to Watch

Dominic Solanke

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Tottenham paid a record-breaking sum to land Dominic Solanke, as Postecoglou wanted a striker as a priority in this window. Spurs lacked the cutting edge in front of goal at times last season despite Richarlison having a better second season than his first one. With the former Bournemouth star now set to lead the line, the Australian manager will hope for more clinical finishes and an increase in their goals tally.

From a personal standpoint, Solanke will be directly competing against the Brazilian in front of goal, and given Richarlison’s fitness issues, the former Cherries man will have a headstart. Hence, a goal and a good performance against Leicester will take him a long way towards becoming Postecoglou’s primary choice in that coveted No.9 position for Spurs for the current season.

Prediction

Leicester City 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham may look to start the season on a promising note, and they have the attacking setup to get them the three points. However, their defence still has plenty to answer, as Ange Postecoglou might yet see some complacency in the backline that will prevent them from keeping a clean sheet.

Leicester City will come into this game under tremendous pressure, although the home support might count for something. However, they are not well-equipped as Tottenham are ahead of this opener, and the Fozes could suffer a loss upon their return to the Premier League.

Tottenham are reportedly about to submit a bid for right-back target Vanderson, despite recent claims they are not keen on a new defender.

According to Bruno Andrade, Tottenham are pushing ahead with their pursuit of Vanderson, as they are now about to submit a decent offer to Monaco. Spurs are expected to propose €32 million in fixed fee and more in add-ons that could potentially take them closer to the asking price for the Brazilian defender.

Tottenham to make Vanderson bid?

Tottenham are still active in the market despite making some interesting signings so far. They splashed a massive fee to sign striker Dominic Solanke and brought in young stars Archie Gray and Wilson Odobert during the summer.

They also sold Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Emerson Royal, as reports strongly suggested they intend to sign replacements for either star. Monaco full-back Vanderson is a player of interest for Spurs, as they have opened talks to sign him.

Spurs were expected to make a bid, but so far, none have been forthcoming. Journalist Bruno Andrade now insists that Tottenham are set to offer €32 million plus more in add-ons for the Brazilian defender as talks with Monaco continue to progress. The French giants are reportedly demanding around €40 million.

Their expected offer might come close to that valuation, although there’s also a chance that Monaco might reject it in favour of asking for a better deal. In any case, Tottenham is showing the intention to bring a quality competitor for current first-choice right-back Pedro Porro despite claims to the contrary.

Spurs bid refutes Fabrizio Romano’s claims

Only days ago did Fabrizio Romano claimed that Spurs did not intend to sign a new defender, explicitly talking about the right-back position. He insisted Tottenham have no clear targets while not being desperate to bring a new player into the position, as he mentioned that they trusted their internal options, such as Djed Spence and even new arrival Gray, who can play there.

Should Spurs follow up on Bruno Andrade’s claim and make that offer for Vanderson, it could be an indirect refute towards Romano’s claims. Either way, the Brazilian defender will improve Tottenham and bring about competition in an area that Ange Postecoglou will rely on in the long season ahead.

A recent injury to Bradley Locko may have scuppered a move to Tottenham and other sides, as he was primed to join the Premier League.

According to L’Equipe, Tottenham were reportedly close to signing Bradley Locko, but the move has since fallen through because of the defender’s severe injury. Other clubs were interested in the left-back, but now any transfer away from Brest looks improbable.

Injury costs Bradley Locko a transfer

Bradley Locko was a key player for Brest last season, making 33 appearances from left-back. The French side were anticipating big interest in the star, with Arsenal showing an interest early on. However, they have since signed Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna.

Either way, many clubs were keeping close tabs on Locko’s development, as a move to the Premier League seemed destined. According to the report, Nottingham Forest was close to bringing him, while Tottenham was also monitoring him ahead of making an offer.

Brest reportedly wanted £25 million for him in this window, something Premier League sides might have considered. However, with the report of Tottenham’s interest and an apparent need for a player of his profile, any move now seems improbable owing to a serious injury suffered by the Ligue 1 star.

Locko has ruptured his Achilles tendon, which will rule him out for the foreseeable future and scupper any move to the Premier League. Tottenham and the other clubs keen on the left-back will now look at other available options.

Tottenham’s transfer plans

Tottenham have had a decent window so far with the arrivals of Archie Gray and Dominic Solanke. The club have announced an agreement with Wilson Odobert, with the winger likely to become their third senior signing of this window. They have looked strong in pre-season and open their season on Monday night against newly-promoted Leicester City.

They might also try to sign a midfielder and a defender, as they lack cover for Micky van de Ven and Yves Bissouma. Spurs might stay active for the time being, as fans anticipate a few more arrivals before the window shuts at the end of August.

Bayern Munich will reportedly compete with Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur for 22-year-old Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie this summer.

According to a report by Ecuadorian outlet Studio Futbol, Piero Hincapie is the subject of interest from Bayern Munich. The Bavarian giants are keen on signing a centre-back, with their move for Jonathan Tah hitting a snag. Meanwhile, the 22-year-old Bayer Leverkusen defender is also a target for Liverpool and Tottenham, with Xabi Alonso keen to keep him at the Bundesliga club.

Piero Hincapie and his journey so far

Piero Hincapie has established himself as one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga since joining Bayer Leverkusen from CA Talleres in August 2021. While the South American defender has not been the undisputed first-choice centre-back for Die Werkself, he has made his mark for them.

The 22-year-old played his part as Bayer Leverkusen shocked the football world by winning the 2023/24 Bundesliga title. Hincapie has turned out 119 times thus far for Die Werkself while chipping in with four goals and three assists. Meanwhile, the Ecuadorian defender’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe, including Bayern Munich, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur.

A man in demand

Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur hold a long-standing interest in the young centre-back. The Reds have been keen on signing a central defender in the summer transfer window after losing Joel Matip as a free agent. Hincapie has thus emerged as a viable target for Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Piero Hincapie is understandable. The North London giants are keen on completing their central defensive unit, although the Bayer Leverkusen centre-back will unlikely become the first-choice central defender for them. As for Bayern Munich, they are scouring the market for a replacement for Matthijs de Ligt, who has joined Manchester United.

Jonathan Tah has been Bayern Munich’s top target for the summer transfer window. However, the rumour mill has gone cold, forcing Die Roten to identify alternatives. Hincapie is thus a viable option for Bayern Munich. However, Xabi Alonso has requested the Ecuadorian international to remain at BayArena beyond the summer transfer window.

With Alonso remaining at Bayer Leverkusen, it is understandable why he would want to keep most of the squad intact ahead of the Bundesliga title defence. However, it will be interesting to see if Bayern Munich, Liverpool, or Tottenham can turn Piero Hincapie’s head.