The Boy Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur’s ongoing injury struggles have worsened with Yves Bissouma joining the list of sidelined players, a significant setback for the team during a critical phase of the season.

The Mali international has been an important player for Spurs, making 26 appearances across all competitions and contributing two goals.

However, his absence now adds to Tottenham’s growing list of sidelined players, compounding the challenges faced by the team, who currently languish in 15th place in the Premier League.

Paul O’Keefe on Yves Bissouma’s injury

Journalist Paul O’Keefe has provided an update on Bissouma’s condition, confirming that the injury is a minor hamstring issue. Initial assessments suggest the 28-year-old could be out for two to three weeks, although further scans are needed to determine the full extent of the problem.

On his X handle, O’Keefe stated:

“Yves Bissouma has a slight hamstring strain. Awaiting more scan results.

“They don’t think it’s major – or at least hope. Maybe two to three weeks.”

Yves Bissouma has a slight hamstring strain. Awaiting more scan results.

— Paul O Keefe (@pokeefe1) January 21, 2025

Bissouma’s absence is a blow to Tottenham, given that they are already struggling with several injuries.

Since his £30 million move from Brighton in June 2022, the defensive midfielder has steadily grown into a vital component of the Spurs midfield.

While his debut season showed glimpses of promise, the 2023–24 campaign marked Bissouma’s true emergence as a key player. He began the season with back-to-back Man of the Match displays against Brentford and Manchester United, solidifying his role in the team’s engine room.

This season, Bissouma started strong despite his off-the-pitch troubles. He scored his first goal for Spurs in a dominant 4-0 victory over Everton. However, he has not been very consistent with his performances, often dropping below average performances.

Tottenham open to selling Bissouma

Despite his contributions, his future at Tottenham has been the subject of speculation. Reports suggest that Spurs are open to offloading the midfielder, potentially including him in a player-plus-cash deal for Inter Milan’s Davide Frattesi.

In the short term, however, Tottenham will be eager for Bissouma’s swift recovery as they navigate a challenging period with an injury-ravaged squad. With key players missing in almost every department, his absence leaves Postecoglou’s side further stretched as they fight to stabilise their season.

The club now faces the daunting task of managing this injury crisis while trying to recover from their dismal league form. Spurs fans will hope that Bissouma’s setback is as minor as suggested, and that his return will bring some much-needed stability to the midfield.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly preparing to make two late additions to their squad as the January transfer window edges closer to its conclusion.

This follows an indirect plea from manager Ange Postecoglou, who is currently grappling with a crippling injury crisis that has left the team in a precarious position in the Premier League, where they sit 15th.

Tottenham eyeing late double signing

With 10 first-team players sidelined, Spurs are navigating a challenging period. According to Football Insider, the club is actively pursuing two more signings to strengthen the squad and provide much-needed depth during this demanding campaign.

The report claims that the North London club wants to complete two more signings in the last two weeks of the transfer window.

The club has already taken steps to address one critical area, signing Czech goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky for £12.5 million at the start of January. This move comes as a response to the unavailability of both first-choice keeper Guglielmo Vicario and his backup Fraser Forster, who are sidelined with injuries. Kinsky’s arrival offers some respite in goal, but Tottenham’s problems extend far beyond this position.

However, the injury woes extend far beyond the goalkeeping position. Defensively, Spurs are severely impacted, with key players like Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Destiny Udogie unavailable, leaving the backline thin and vulnerable. The midfield is similarly weakened, as Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma are both out, limiting the team’s ability to control games.

In attack, the situation is equally dire, with injuries to Timo Werner, Brennan Johnson, Dominic Solanke, and Wilson Odobert. Odobert, in particular, has been sidelined since October due to a long-term hamstring issue, further depleting Tottenham’s options upfront.

Despite their Premier League struggles, Spurs have shown glimpses of promise in other competitions. They currently sit ninth in the Europa League standings, well-positioned to progress to the next stage. Domestically, they hold a 1-0 lead over Liverpool after the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final and have advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Ange Postecoglou desperately needs reinforcements to navigate the remainder of the campaign. The club continue to be linked with several players but there is yet to be any concrete move since their failed attempt to sign Randal Kolo Muani.

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the return of 20-year-old forward Dane Scarlett from his loan spell at Oxford United.

The decision is likely driven by the club’s urgent need for reinforcements amid a mounting injury crisis.

Scarlett, who made 22 appearances for Oxford this season, contributed four goals and an assist during his time with the League One side.

A product of Tottenham’s Academy, Scarlett first made waves with the U18s, where he netted 23 goals and provided four assists in just 23 matches.

Spurs are struggling with injuries to several key forwards, including Wilson Odobert, Timo Werner, Brennan Johnson, and Dominic Solanke, leaving the squad short of attacking options.

And while the club have been linked with several attackers this month, they have failed to sign anyone.

They have however today recalled their young striker Dane Scarlett from his loan at Oxford, officially confirming the move on their official website.

Under contract with Tottenham until 2027, Scarlett is widely regarded as one of the club’s most promising young talents.

Since his debut in November 2020, when he became the youngest player to feature for Spurs, Scarlett has gained valuable experience through loan spells at Portsmouth and Ipswich Town.

Whether the club decide to use him as part of the squad given the current injury situation or send him out on loan elsewhere where he is ensured regular playing time remains to be seen.

If he stays , Scarlett might have a chance to seize this moment and solidify his place in the senior squad.

Tottenham Hotspur have had a disappointing season so far and manager Ange Postecoglou is under tremendous pressure.

They were expected to finish in the Champions League qualification places this season, but that seems like a distant dream now. They have picked up just 24 points from 22 league matches and they are 15th in the league table.

Tottenham could easily be dragged into the relegation battle if they continue to falter in the coming weeks. There have been calls for a change of manager, but former player Mido believes that the Australian manager is not the real problem at the club.

He has blamed Daniel Levy and the club hierarchy for not running the club properly. He believes that Levy and the other board members are looking to make money out of the club instead of running Tottenham from a football point of view. Levy has often been criticised for his lack of ambition in the past, and it will be interesting to see if he decides to act in the coming weeks and come up with a managerial change.

Mido told TalkSPORT: “To be honest, it’s embarrassing and I don’t think the real problem is Ange [Postecoglou] or any other coach. I’m being honest here, the people at the top have been running the club from a financial point of view, not from a football point of view.

“I feel sorry for every Spurs fan and I’m one of them. You always have to find the balance between the football operations and the right investment and for Daniel Levy and the people at the top I really think their first concern is to make money out of this football club.”

Even though Postecoglou will have to take some of the blame for Tottenham’s performances this season, the real problem is the lack of depth in the side. Tottenham have had multiple injury problems and they lack quality alternatives to their key players. They will need to invest in new signings if they want to do well. It remains to be seen whether they can bring in a couple of quality additions before the January window closes.

Tottenham Hotspur signed Antonin Kinsky earlier this month.

The 21-year-old goalkeeper joined them from Slavia Prague and his former manager has now tipped him to become the best goalkeeper in the history of Czech football.

Jindřich Trpišovský said (h/t SportWitness): “I myself was very happy, what kind of story Tonda [Kinský] is writing. I saw him for the first time on the pitch of Admira in Prague.

“I was behind the goal when he was winning the cup for Dukla. He was 17. Now I turn on the TV and the same Tonda is playing against Liverpool. I’ll admit I’ve rarely had such a feeling in front of the TV.

“Now I will be very brave, but I am convinced that Tonda has the quality to one day become the best goalkeeper in Czech history.”

The 21-year-old showed his quality against Liverpool in a cup game recently, and there is no doubt that he can establish himself as an important player for Tottenham in the long term. The player is still quite young and he will improve further with coaching and experience. It will be interesting to see if he can develop into a world-class player.

Tottenham fans will certainly be excited by the comments from his former manager, and they will hope that their January signing can develop into a world-class player. Tottenham signed him for a fee of around £12.5 million and the move could look like an exceptional bargain in the long-term if he manages to develop into a top-class player.

It has been a disappointing season for Tottenham so far and they have been very inconsistent. They were expected to secure Champions League qualification for the next season, but that looks difficult now. It will be interesting to see if they can bring in more quality signings before the window closes and bounce back strongly in the coming weeks. They will be desperate to secure European qualification for the next season. Missing out on European football would be devastating for them in terms of morale and finances as well.

Meanwhile, Kinsky will look to build on his impressive start to life at his new club and establish himself as the first-choice goalkeeper ahead of Guglielmo Vicario.

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for the Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo.

The 27-year-old central defender has struggled to hold down a regular starting spot at Chelsea since joining the club at the start of the season. The former Fulham star has started just eight league games for the Blues and he needs to play more often at this stage of his career.

According to CaughtOffside, Tottenham are now considering a move for him this month as they look to add more quality and depth to the side. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have been sidelined with injuries, and Tottenham are lacking in quality and depth at the back. They need to tighten up defensively, and it will be interesting to see if they can get a deal done for Adarabioyo.

The player was linked with Tottenham before he moved to Chelsea. He joined Chelsea on a free transfer in the summer and he could be available for a reasonable price. If the Blues are unwilling to sell him permanently, Tottenham could explore a potential loan deal as well. It remains to be seen how the situation develops.

Tottenham are keeping tabs on the likes of Milan Skriniar and Fikayo Tomori as well. It will be interesting to see who they end up signing eventually.

The London club have been quite disappointing so far and they will be desperate for European qualification. They need quality additions in January in order to bounce back strongly. Signing a proven Premier League defender could help them improve defensively and in turn, improve their performances during the second half of the campaign.

It remains to be seen whether Chelsea are prepared to sanction the departure of the 27-year-old to a direct rival. The Blues are pushing for Champions League qualification, and they might not want to weaken their squad in January.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly keeping a close eye on Lille striker Jonathan David, with the Canadian international emerging as a top target for the summer transfer window.

According to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, a move for David during the ongoing January transfer window is unlikely, as Lille intends to retain their star forward until the end of the season. David’s contract is set to expire this summer, making him an attractive option for clubs seeking to bolster their attacking options without a transfer fee.

Sheth also mentioned that while David might not sign a pre-contract agreement this month, he is expected to explore his options when the season concludes.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, he said:

“There’s not been much noise from Tottenham with regard to Jonathan David. What my information is, about David himself, is that Lille won’t be doing any business on him in this transfer window.

“I think there’s an acceptance that he won’t be signing a new contract and he’ll leave for free in the summer. He might not even sign a pre-contract agreement with anyone. I think he just wants to assess all of his options in the summer.”

Jonathan David’s stellar goalscoring record at Lille

Jonathan David joined Lille in 2020 for a then-record fee of €30 million, becoming the most expensive Canadian footballer in history. Since then, the 25-year-old has delivered consistently in Ligue 1, cementing his reputation as one of Europe’s top strikers.

Last season, David was in scintillating form, scoring 26 goals and providing nine assists in 47 appearances. He has continued his prolific streak this season, netting 17 goals and adding six assists in 29 matches across all competitions, bringing his overall tally at Lille to 101 goals and 24 assists.

Tottenham’s interest in David is not new, as they have been linked with the forward in previous transfer windows. Reports suggest that the club has been exploring the possibility of signing him, with previous reports suggesting that former sporting director Fabio Paratici is going to lead efforts to secure the player on a free transfer.

A move for David would not only strengthen Spurs’ attacking options but also align with the club’s strategy of targeting high-quality players with Champions League experience.

While a January deal appears off the table, Tottenham are poised to make their move in the summer when David becomes a free agent. The opportunity to sign a proven goal-scorer without a transfer fee would represent a significant coup for the North London club, particularly with David’s reputation for delivering on the big stage.

Spurs will undoubtedly face competition for David’s signature, with several top European clubs expected to monitor his situation closely. However, if Tottenham act decisively, they could secure one of the most sought-after forwards in world football for their long-term plans.

Ange Postecoglou is the only manager in Tottenham Hotspur history who could endure their current run of form and not be sacked.

That’s according to the club’s former midfielder Jamie O’Hara, who believes the Australian is very lucky to still be in his job.

Spurs suffered their 12th Premier League defeat of the season against Everton on Sunday, with a second-half comeback not enough to overturn a 3-0 half-time deficit in their last-ever trip to Goodison Park.

As a result, the Lilywhites are now 15th in the Premier League table, just eight points clear of the relegation zone and a massive 14 points adrift of the Champions League spots.

Ange Postecoglou: Jamie O’Hara questions Spurs manager

Postecoglou pointed out in his post-match press conference that Spurs are still going strong in three cup competitions, sitting ninth in the Europa League table and into the third round of the FA Cup, while they lead 1-0 after the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final against Liverpool.

But O’Hara believes it’s the ‘bread and butter’ of the Premier League that counts the most and that Postecoglou should lose his job before Spurs are dragged into a relegation scrap.

“Spurs are 15th in the table and if it carries on, they are in a relegation fight and you can’t keep a manager in charge of a football club just because you beat Liverpool 1-0 in the first leg of the Carabao Cup,” O’Hara told Sky Sports (via TBR).

“You’ve still got to go to Anfield. Do you wait until then and see if we go through to the final because he says he wins trophies in his second season?

“Premier League’s bread and butter, you have to perform week in, week out in the Premier League and Spurs are not doing that. It’s the 12th defeat out of 22 games, that is unacceptable. Any other Spurs manager in their history would have got the sack.”

O’Hara then claimed the only reason Daniel Levy hasn’t already sacked Postecoglou is a 10-game Premier League unbeaten run Spurs enjoyed at the start of last season — which must feel like a different lifetime for the club’s supporters.

“I don’t understand why Ange [Postecoglou] has got so much credit in the bank,” said O’Hara. “I think fans and I think Daniel Levy and I think some of the players are clinging on to the fact that last year, at the start of the season, they went 10 games unbeaten and everyone was talking about, Spurs can win the league, how we’re playing this great football.”

He added: “Since then, 2024, if you look at the results until now, awful, there’s hardly any wins.

“They’re clinging on to 10 games of last season. It’s not acceptable to carry on doing this. I think he’s on the edge, I think he’s on the brink. I think they’re going to have to have a serious look at what they do going forward.”

Ange Postecoglou has given an update on the fitness of Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson and Yves Bissouma following Sunday’s defeat to Everton.

Spurs trailed 3-0 at half-time in their last-ever trip to Goodison Park and despite a second-half fightback, left with their tails once again between their legs with a 3-2 loss.

Watch: What Spurs fans did when Son and Ange approached them shows they’ve had enough!

Of course, Tottenham’s cause was not helped by losing Solanke, Johnson and Bissouma to injury on the eve of the match.

Solanke and Johnson have scored seven Premier League goals each so far this season, while Bissouma has averaged 4.17 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes this season.

The trio left a gaping hole in what was an already-stretched Spurs squad, with eight other players already missing, including Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie and Rodrigo Bentancur.

And it’s not going to get any easier, with Spurs now playing two games per week for the next three weeks, during which time Postecoglou doesn’t expect Solanke or Johnson to be available.

“It was just one of these things and he just sort of went to shoot on his own and twisted it, so we don’t think it’s serious, but probably a few weeks at this stage from what I’ve heard,” Postecoglou said of Solanke after Sunday’s defeat on Merseyside (via Football.London).

On Johnson, he added: “It’s probably three or four weeks, he did it in the second half against Arsenal the other night. So yeah, we’re looking at three to four weeks.”

The news is a little better with Bissouma, who will miss the trip to Hoffenheim in the Europa League on Thursday but should be good to face Leicester in the Premier League.

“Biss was a knock, we’re hoping that he should be right by next weekend,” said Postecoglou.

Ange Postecoglou comments on Spurs transfer plans

With Spurs facing the entire season so far with a depleted squad, many are wondering whether they’ll dip into the January transfer market for some reinforcements.

Indeed, Postecoglou himself is likely craving a few signings to give him some extra quality and to relieve the considerable pressure on his job.

“Look, as I said during the week, I’m sure like everybody, the club’s well aware of our situation and they’re doing their utmost,” Postecoglou said of potential transfer activity.

“As far as I know at the moment, there’s nothing imminent, but you know, I assume between now and we’re getting to the end of the window that hopefully something comes up.”

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for the OGC Nice striker Evann Guessand.

According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham scouts have been tracking the 23-year-old forward this season and they are impressed with his performances. They could look to make a move for the player following the injury blow to Dominic Solanke.

The England international picked up a knee injury in training and Tottenham are looking to add depth to their attacking unit.

Guessand has been quite impressive for Nice and he has nine goals and five assists to his name in all competitions. The Ivorian is highly rated across Europe and multiple clubs are keeping track of his progress. The striker is reported valued at £20 million and Tottenham certainly have the financial resources to get the deal across the line.

The player has a long-term contract with OGC Nice, but they are prepared to consider a sale if their asking price is met. Tottenham should look to make a move for him before the window closes.

Guessand is capable of operating as a central striker as well as a right-sided winger. His versatility will be a bonus. He will add goals and creativity to the side.

The Ivorian could be excited about the possibility of playing in the Premier League, and it will be an exciting step up in his career. Tottenham are a big club with an exciting project and they will be an attractive destination for the player. It remains to be seen how the situation develops.

Tottenham must strengthen their squad this month if they want to secure Champions League qualification. They have been quite disappointing so far and they need to put together a winning run to keep their hopes of a top-four finish alive. Signing better players will certainly help them bounce back strongly.