The 4th Official

Tottenham Hotspur’s dismal season could still be salvaged as they progressed to the quarter-final of the Europa League. Although they endured significant injury concerns, a bottom-half finish in the Premier League is highly unacceptable for a club of Spurs’ stature. They must turn things around in the campaign’s final stretch, starting with a result at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea on Thursday night.

While the Blues are battling for a ‘top four’ finish, their lack of consistency is a worrying sign with several outfits, including Manchester City, Newcastle United and Aston Villa chasing a Champions League berth. However, they are likely to have Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke back in action, overcoming injury woes, and the Lilywhites boss Ange Postecoglou must fix his frailties in the defensive third to avoid another setback against their London rivals. They lost 3-4 at home in the reverse fixture, and it is to be seen whether the Aussie gaffer scripts a revenge on the road.

Predicted 4-2-3-1 Tottenham Hotspur Lineup To Face Chelsea

Defence

None of Fraser Forster, Brandon Austin, and the winter signing Antonin Kinsky could restore stability between the sticks in the wake of Guglielmo Vicario’s absence. But the Italian custodian reclaimed the ‘number 1’ status since recovering from his ankle injury.

Despite Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin’s injuries, Tottenham have Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven available again in the heart of the backline. Right fullback Pedro Porro has impressed with his marauding runs, pinpoint crosses, and link-up play. Also, Djed Spence, a revelation on both flanks, should get the nod over Destiny Udogie down the left. Veteran Ben Davies and the versatile teenage sensation Archie Gray could be involved from the bench as second-half substitutes.

Midfield

Postecoglou has ample options who could slot in as a deep-lying playmaker. He should opt for Rodrigo Bentancur ahead of struggling Yves Bissouma, and the Uruguayan could partner with Pape Matar Sarr even though Lucas Bergvall is expected to be available for selection.

The ‘double pivot’ of Sarr and Bentancur should allow James Maddison a free role while featuring as a ‘number 10’. Spurs have depth and quality down the wide, but they might not risk Dejan Kulusevski from the start even if the Swedish attacker is declared fit. Wilson Odobert deserves a nod following a brace against AZ in their Europa League win, and the flair and finesse of skipper Heung-min Son must be utilized from the left irrespective of his underwhelming campaign. Mathys Tel and Brennan Johnson might get introduced as ‘super subs’ to inject pace and directness.

Attack

Dominic Solanke had a stop-start season due to fitness reasons. But the Englishman is likely to spearhead the attack amid doubts over Richarlison’s availability for this midweek encounter.

According to Caught Offside, Tottenham Hotspur are ready to make a summer move to bring Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi. The former side want to sign the player to strengthen their defensive pack and compete for titles.

The Rise of Marc Guéhi

A product of Chelsea academy, Marc Guéhi joined Crystal Palace in the summer of 2021. In a short time, he did manage to impress everyone with his qualities. As time passed, he solidified his position in the squad and established himself as one of the best centre-backs in the league.

Guehi has featured across 34 games in the ongoing campaign and has three goals and two assists under his hat. He is averaging 1.5 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, and 3.7 clearances per game (stats via whoscored).

The English international is an intelligent defender who maintains his composure throughout the game. His high speed and calculated tackles allow his side to play a high-back line. He is physicality strong and also has good ball distribution skills.

Marc Guéhi is already a strong performer

Tottenham Hotspur have struggled with injuries despite the increasing depth of their squad. As they continue to crumble, they are planning some big moves for the summer. One of the players they want to sign is Marc Guehi.

Spurs tried signing the centre-back in the winter but Crystal Palace turned down the offer understandably so. However, Ange Postecoglou is keen on bringing the player at his disposal ahead of next season to field a stronger XI.

Guéhi is also proving himself in the Premier League and his arrival can boost Tottenham Hotspur in a massive way. His addition will surely help them play in a more aggressive manner while taking fewer hits on the back. However, the 24-year-old will cost a hefty amount apart from his demands of a contract that runs until 2030.

Despite showing signs of improvements in recent games, Tottenham Hotspur remain stuck in the second half of the Premier League standings. A win this afternoon against Bournemouth would have closed the gap with 12th-placed Brentford, but it finished all square in North London as the home side survived a third straight defeat by staging a comeback from 2-0 down.

Below are the Tottenham Hotspur players rated in their 2-2 draw against Bournemouth.

Guglielmo Vicario: 7

Could have done little to stop Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson from finding the net. But the Italian made several key saves to keep Spurs in the contest.

Pedro Porro: 6

His pass high up the pitch was intercepted by Milos Kerkez who carried it forward from the deep before setting it up for Tavernier to break the deadlock. Should have shown more commitment to close down the space and prevent the Hungarian from having a free run down the wide. Was replaced by Destiny Udogie late in the match.

Cristian Romero: 6.5

Returned to action after a long injury layoff. Dealt well against Evanilson, and also managed to keep things calm in deep defence before making way for Micky van de Ven around the hour mark.

Kevin Danso: 6

Was completely outdone by Justin Kluivert during Evanilson’s goal. The Austrian centre-back, who has featured regularly since his winter move, had a difficult time in the heart of the backline.

Djed Spence: 6.5

Did not offer much from the left as he was kept on his toes by Tavernier and Kluivert throughout the contest. Showed some spark in the closing minutes while chasing for the equalizer.

Yves Bissouma: 6

Struggled in the centre of the pitch against the press and pace of the Cherries midfield. Had an attempt blocked by Dean Huijsen early into the game but was eventually taken off at half-time for Lucas Bergvall, particularly after being booked moments before the break.

Rodrigo Bentancur: 6.5

Lacked the creative spark in the centre of the pitch, and therefore, was taken off for James Maddison around the hour mark. Looked worn-out against Bournemouth’s flair and finesse.

Pape Matar Sarr: 8.5

Brought Tottenham back in the game as his sensational looping effort helped them reduce the deficit midway through the second half. Bergvall’s arrival unleashed the Senegalese in the middle of the park.

Brennan Johnson: 5.5

Hardly had an impact from the flank as he failed with his dribbling attempts and kept on getting dispossessed. Was taken off at half-time for Son Heung-min.

Wilson Odobert: 6

Tried his best to make an impact with his crosses, dribbles and through balls. But the young Frenchman was below par in and around the attacking third.

Dominic Solanke: 6

The former Bournemouth hitman played his part in a few build-ups. But he offered little threat while spearheading the attack.

Tottenham Hotspur Subs vs Bournemouth

Son Heung-min: 8

The skipper injected liveliness in Spurs’ attack. Won a spot-kick late in the match and converted from the spot to make it all square in North London.

Lucas Bergvall: 8

Had a stellar impact as he saw his strike from the distance cannoning off the woodwork. Set it up for Sarr moments later.

Micky van de Ven: 6.5

The game was open when the Dutchman was introduced in place of Romero. Evanilson doubled the lead even before he could settle in.

James Maddison: 7

Played his part in the build-up which led to the spot-kick around the 82nd-minute mark.

Destiny Udogie: NA

Played too little to warrant a rating.

Another poor display from Tottenham Hotspur as they faced a 1-0 defeat at the hands of AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of the Europa League round of 16. They will now return to the Premier League to face Bournemouth at home this weekend.

It will be an important game for the Spurs to regain their lost confidence and rhythm. Another disastrous show can hurt the entire group’s self-esteem. However, a positive result will push the North London side to turn the situation around in the second leg of the Europa League.

Defence

Guglielmo Vicario wasn’t at fault when the opposition scored in the first leg. He did fine and should be ready to don the gloves once again. Pedro Porro is in line to return to the XI to take up the right-back position.

Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are likely to get some minutes in this game but Archie Gray and Kevin Danso should form the heart of the defence yet again. Djed Spence, who played as the right-back this midweek, could be seen playing as the left full-back.

Midfield

Ange Postecoglou is likely to deploy Rodrigo Bentancur and James Maddison in the middle of the park yet again. However, Lucas Bergvall might lose his spot to Pape Matar Sarr in the midfield trio, all credit to his poor show against AZ Alkmaar.

Attack

Brennan Johnson continues to play as the right winger in the starting lineup. However, Dominic Solanke is doubtful after picking up a knock in the previous game.

If he fails to make it into the XI, Son Heung-min could be seen operating in the middle with Wilson Odobert featuring on the left flank.

Dejan Kulusevski (foot), Richarlison (calf) and Radu Dragusin (knee) aren’t available while Ben Davies is doubtful.

After a thumping 4-1 victory over Ipswich Town, Tottenham Hotspur had to deal with a 1-0 defeat by the hands of Manchester City. They will next lock horns with AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of the round of 16 round in the Europa League this week.

Spurs aren’t having their best game on the field which is somewhat understandable with the amount of injuries they have racked up currently. However, they have all the resources to overpower AZ Alkmaar in the first leg and take a good lead into the reverse fixture.

Defence

Guglielmo Vicario managed to only concede a single goal against the Citizens and will be hoping to better than in the Europa League tie. Right-back Pedro Porro had a below-average game and should be looking to redeem himself in this appearance.

Cristian Romero could be starting in the centre of the defence alongside Kevin Danso. The former recently returned from an injury and might come at the expense of Archie Gray. Destiny Udogie is also expected to make way for Djed Spence at the left-back spot.

Midfield

Lucas Bergvall is again the deep lying midfielder with James Maddison and Rodrigo Bentancur covering the wide areas in the midfield.

Attack

Brennan Johnson is continuing at the right flank while Mathys Tel might be lucky to start as the striker once again. However, Son Heung-min should be walking back into the XI to take up the left winger position, sending Wilson Odobert back on the bench.

Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski are sidelined for this fixture. On the flip side, Micky Van De Ven and Dominic Solanke are inching towards full recovery and could feature if possible.

If a recent report from the Spanish outlet Fichajes is believed to be true, Tottenham Hotspur are keeping close eyes on Como sensation Nico Paz ahead of a potential summer transfer. But they are not alone in the hunt with Premier League rivals Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City also monitoring his progress in Serie A.

The 20-year-old midfield attacker spent his youth years at CD San Juan and Tenerife before joining the esteemed academy ranks of Real Madrid. He impressed for their reserves and was eventually handed a senior status last season. He made 8 first-team appearances under Carlo Ancelotti in all competitions, yet they sanctioned a €6m move to Como given no immediate future at Bernabeu. Brahim Díaz and Arda Güler are ahead of Paz in the pecking order, and the newly-promoted Italian outfit snapped him up late in the summer window.

The Spain-born Argentina international has impressed with 6 goals and 5 assists in 24 league outings [stats via Transfermarket]. I Lariani, under Cesc Fabregas, are ambitious enough to retain the top-flight status but, at the same time, could lose their prized asset amid interest from English football. While the youngster would love to return to his boyhood club, it remains to be seen whether the Madrid hotshots trigger the buy-back clause before next season.

Why Tottenham Must Step Up The Chase For The Youngster

Spurs are having a dreadful campaign, vastly due to injuries across the pitch. Ange Postecoglou has not been relieved from his duties, but the pressure would be immense on the Aussie boss if the Lilywhites remain stuck at 13th in the Premier League standings.

While they have James Maddison who is more experienced and holds a similar profile as Paz, form and fitness woes have prevented the Three Lions star from living up to the expectations in North London. He completed a £40m transfer from Leicester City a couple of summers back but has since struggled to fit in Postecoglou’s intense style of play. The manager has switched to a 4-3-3, and the Englishman, predominantly a ‘number 10’, has yet to settle in as a left-sided central midfielder.

Fichajes has reported that Unai Emery wants to upgrade Aston Villa even more and are focusing on quality midfielders in the upcoming summer transfer window. They are now targeting James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur as the one to sign in the upcoming summer.

Aston Villa want James Maddison from Tottenham

Maddison is one of the most quality players in the Tottenham squad. However, injuries have really played their part in halting his progress at the club. However, the midfielder still has enough contributions in the attack for the team.

Maddison has scored 9 goals in 25 matches so far in the Premier League 2024/2025 season. Overall, his goals scored per 90 minutes is 0.55. Moreover, Maddison’s total G/A (goals + assists) is 14 for this season. His goal involvement equates to 0.85 per 90 minutes. His non-penalty xG per 90 minutes is 0.51. This puts Maddison’s npxG output at 7.98

Looking into his passing aspect of the game, Maddison passes the ball roughly 57.06 times during a game with a pass completion rate of 86.89%. He also plays 1.81 key passes each game which leads to significant scoring chances. Overall, Maddison’s xA (expected assists) output is 0.36 per 90 minutes. This stat puts him above 97 percent of the players in the Premier League.

Good signing for Villa?

He orchestrates play with vision and precision. He excels at threading incisive passes, and unlocking defenses with his exceptional ball control and quick decision-making. The midfielder effortlessly shifts tempo, often delivering pinpoint crosses or long-range screamers. Maddison strikes the ball cleanly, boasting a knack for set-pieces—his free kicks consistently threaten goal.

He roams intelligently between the lines, exploiting pockets of space with sharp movement. Moreover, his tenacity presses opponents relentlessly, blending artistry with grit. This combination fuels Tottenham’s attack. He is one of the best in the Premier League.

Villa have been performing really well under Emery. So, that could be an attraction for Maddison to leave Tottenham, who are struggling with their vision and future planning. However, the Spurs won’t let one of their most important players leave for cheap, and hence Villa will need to pay a hefty amount to sign him. However, Maddison will definitely be a good signing for Villa.

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Tottenham Hotspur will host Manchester City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in their upcoming Premier League 2024/25 game. The Spurs are 12th in the points table with 33 points in 26 matches. They have won 10 matches, drawn three, and lost 13 matches so far in the league this season. They are coming to this game on the back of a 4-1 away win against Ipswich Town. Dragusin, Solanke, Richarlison, Romero, and van de Ben are sure to be sidelined for Tottenham in this game due to injury. In this piece, let us take a look at the predicted lineup of Tottenham Hotspur for the match against Manchester City.

Defence:

Vicario will start as the goalkeeper of the team. Porro and Spence will be the two full-backs of the team. Danso and Davies will be the centre-back pairing. Guglielmo Vicario has conceded 14 goals and kept 4 clean sheets in 14 matches in the Premier League 2024/2025 season.

Pedro Porro has conceded 35 goals and kept 6 clean sheets in 26 matches in the Premier League 2024/2025 season. Djed Spence has conceded 15 goals and kept 6 clean sheets in 13 matches in the Premier League 2024/2025 season.

Kevin Danso has conceded 1 goal and kept 1 clean sheet in 2 matches in the Premier League 2024/2025 season. Ben Davies has conceded 7 goals and kept 3 clean sheets in 8 matches in the Premier League 2024/2025 season.

Midfield:

Bentancur will be the central defensive midfielder. Maddison and Sarr will be the two midfielders on either side of Bentancur. Rodrigo Bentancur has scored 2 goals in 16 matches so far in the Premier League 2024/2025 season. His total G/A (goals + assists) is 2 for this season.

James Maddison has scored 9 goals in 24 matches so far in the Premier League 2024/2025 season. His total G/A (goals + assists) is 14 for this season. Pape Matar Sarr has scored 2 goals in 25 matches so far in the Premier League 2024/2025 season. His total G/A (goals + assists) is 4 for this season.

Attack:

Kulusevski will be the right-winger and Heung-min-Son will be the left-winger. Johnson will be the centre-forward. Dejan Kulusevski has scored 7 goals in 26 matches so far in the Premier League 2024/2025 season. His total G/A (goals + assists) is 11 for this season. Heung Min Son has scored 6 goals in 23 matches so far in the Premier League 2024/2025 season. His total G/A (goals + assists) is 15 for this season.

Brennan Johnson has scored 9 goals in 23 matches so far in the Premier League 2024/2025 season. His total G/A (goals + assists) is 11 for this season.

After crashing out of the Champions League, Manchester City went on to lose against Liverpool in the Premier League. Their next clash is with Tottenham Hotspur in an away package this week, which they would like to win to keep themselves in the top four.

The Citizens need to work hard to regain their lost confidence and gameplay. It will be a good test for them to evaluate where they actually stand. A win will surely give them a bit of a boost ahead of their fifth-round game in the FA Cup.

Defence

Ederson continues to be the primary goalkeeper for the Citizens but his recent performances have raised questions about his decline. Rico Lewis also might find himself a bit lucky to operate as the right-back once again.

Abdukodir Khusanov is likely to continue at the heart of the defence but Ruben Dias will surely return at the cost of Nathan Ake. Left-back Josko Gvardiol had an off day against the Reds and will look to redeem himself this week.

Midfield

Pep Guardiola is expected to bring Mateo Kovacic into the midfield to pair him up with Nico Gonzalez. Both the midfielders will have the massive task of controlling the tempo of the game and winning the ball back.

Attack

Savinho is likely to get the nod for the right flank role once again but Kevin de Bruyne should be on the bench. Fresh Bernardo Silva could be brought in place of the Belgian while Jeremy Doku retains his place in the starting XI.

There’s no guarantee that Erling Haaland will be available for this match and Omar Marmoush might be used as the striker yet again.

Rodri (ACL), Oscar Bobb (ankle), Manuel Akanji (abductor) and John Stones (thigh) are all unavailable for this fixture.