The Boy Hotspur

Jamie Carragher recently opened up about a private conversation he had with former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino, shedding light on the contrasting views of Pochettino and José Mourinho regarding Tanguy Ndombele.

Ndombele, who was brought to Spurs from Lyon in 2019 for a club-record €62 million, was seen as a transformative player, but his time in North London was marked by inconsistency.

Pochettino, the man responsible for the big money signing, believed strongly in the French midfielder’s talent.

Despite the struggles the player faced at Spurs, Pochettino maintained optimism, convinced that the player could make a major impact on the team.

Carragher shared that Pochettino defended Ndombele during a Champions League meeting, expressing his confidence that the midfielder was a “good player” despite his underwhelming performances.

Ndombele’s inconsistency saw him fall out of favor under Mourinho, who employed a much tougher approach to the player.

The Sky Sports pundit recalled a famous incident during a game against Burnley, where Mourinho substituted Ndombele before half-time.

The decision drew attention and criticism, but Carragher noted that Mourinho’s frustration reflected Ndombele’s poor performances.

Speaking on The Overlap, the former Liverpool defender said:

“He was lazy, wasn’t he? I remember analysing him on a game, yeah. I remember a game away at Burnley because I looked at it on the Monday Night Football. Did Jose bring him off before half-time? It was something that stood out.

“I did analysis on him, because at the time everyone was having a go at Jose and I was almost sort of defending him and saying ‘well that’s why he’s done it’, and then a few weeks later, I bumped into Pochettino at a Champions League game at Anfield.

“He’d brought him and he was adamant saying ‘no, you’ve got it wrong, this fella’s a good player’, obviously he brought him in, but he never, ever showed anything did he?”

Despite Pochettino’s early hopes, Ndombele never reached the heights expected of him at Tottenham. His inconsistent form and perceived lack of work ethic ultimately led to his departure from the club.

Earlier this summer, Spurs mutually agreed to terminate his contract, allowing him to return to France, where he signed a two-year deal with Nice.

This marked the end of a disappointing chapter for both the player and the club.

AC Milan are being hammered for forking out £13 million to sign Emerson Royal from Tottenham Hotspur.

The Brazilian international’s future was a big talking point throughout the summer transfer window and AC Milan were involved in long-drawn negotiations with Tottenham Hotspur. While the talks did stall at one point in time, the Italian outfit eventually managed to strike a deal worth £13 million to bring him to the Serie A.

James Horncastle feels Milan have made a donation to Tottenham by signing the Brazilian international.

While speaking on The Athletic FC podcast, the Italian football expert said: “His €15 million transfer from Spurs seems like the biggest donation in the history of the Milan Foundation, which is charitably trying to fulfil his dream of becoming a footballer.”

The 25-year-old full-back has featured in both of their league fixtures so far. He was handed his first start against Lazio last Sunday as Milan played out a 2-2 draw. The Brazilian defender was heavily criticised for his performance on the night. On the back of Milan’s poor start to the season and Emerson’s disappointing display, the Italian outfit have been heavily criticised for spending a significant fee to sign him from Spurs.

While Tottenham were relieved to see the back of the former Barcelona star as he was surplus to requirements at the club, Milan have been torn apart for investing in the 25-year-old. He was considered to be one of the worst players on the pitch in the game against Lazio and there are doubts on whether he will be able to retain his spot in the starting XI.

Manchester United legend Roy Keane has his doubts about James Maddison at Tottenham.

Tottenham haven’t had the best of starts to the new season but James Maddison has surely had a positive impact so far. The former Leicester City attacking midfielder has two assists in his three league outings. But former Manchester United skipper Roy Keane still has question marks about the English international and feels he needs to show a bit more personality on the pitch.

Maddison had an exceptional start to life at the North London club after joining them in a deal worth £40 million last summer. But, an injury derailed his progress and he never really returned to his best. He was dropped by Postecoglou at one point in time last season and it did affect his chances of making the England squad for Euro 2024.

Keane told Sky Sports Football (01/09/24 at 1:00 pm): “I have still got my question marks over Maddison, particularly, away from home,”

“There are always question marks over him. He has had a couple of disappointments in the last few months with England. But if you give him time and space. If Son is making runs in behind – that’s up to Spurs to get some decent possession and use his intelligence.

“All he needs is one or two opportunities to get on it – I still think there is more to come from Maddison. That’s where he needs to show his personality. He has had his disappointments, every player in their careers will have setbacks. It’s how he deals with it. The next few months are going to be big for him.”

The 27-year-old has had a few major setbacks in recent months. He was left out of England’s squad for the European Championship and hasn’t been included in their squad for the ongoing international break. While these are major blows, Keane wants to see how he deals with them and feels the next few months are going to be key for Maddison.

The Manchester United legend has doubts about his away form in particular but believes the English attacking midfielder could regain top form if those around him can effectively capitalize on his strengths. While he has had his disappointments, Keane wants him to showcase his personality going forward and try to return to his best.

Tottenham Hotspur have clarified their position on UEFA’s new away ticket price cap rule, refuting claims that they opposed the decision.

The North London club have had a mixed start to the new season. While they will be focused on getting things back on track after the end of the international break, Tottenham have found themselves surrounded by criticism as they were reportedly one of the three major clubs who have opposed the new UEFA rule that has placed a cap on the prices of away tickets in all three European club competitions.

Spurs have responded to the criticism with a statement of their own.

A Tottenham statement, via Football Insider, read: “It is factually incorrect to state that there was a vote on this matter at the UEFA Club Competitions Committee. It is therefore entirely inaccurate to say that the Club voted against ticket price caps.”

Earlier in the week, UEFA announced a major rule change as they decided to place a cap on the prices of away tickets after being approached by a supporter group regarding the increasing prices. Tottenham who will be featuring in the Europa League are all set to be affected by the change in rule as away ticket prices for the competition have been capped at £33.70.

Multiple reports suggested that Spurs have opposed the new rule and it has led to a lot of criticism. As a result, Spurs have clarified their stance on the issue. It was a decision taken solely by UEFA and the clubs were not asked to vote at the UEFA Club Competitions Committee. As a result, they feel it is entirely inaccurate to say that they voted against implementing a cap on away ticket prices.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Richarlison has recently changed his professional representation, signing with CAA Base, a prominent agency known for its connections with the club. The move was confirmed via an Instagram post from CAA Base.

Richarlison’s new representation under Jonathan Barnett, who has a close relationship with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, could potentially influence the Brazilian’s future at Tottenham. This agency shift comes amidst ongoing discussions about his role and future at the club.

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Throughout the summer, Richarlison was linked with a big money move away from Tottenham to the Saudi Pro League champions Al Hilal. However, no transfer materialised, and Richarlison remained part of the Spurs squad.

Since his arrival from Everton for around £60 million in July 2022, Richarlison has faced challenges in meeting high expectations. He only scored one league goal in his debut season and while last season was comparatively better, he has yet to impress the fans.

With the recent signing of Dominic Solanke on a potential club-record fee, competition for the striker position has intensified. Richarlison will need to prove his worth to manager Ange Postecoglou as the season progresses.

The impact of his agency change on his future at Tottenham will also be closely monitored as Richarlison looks to secure his place and make a significant impact this season.

Tottenham Hotspur have been offered the opportunity to sign Turkish international Yusuf Yazici, as reported by HITC.

The 27-year-old attacking midfielder, now a free agent, has been presented to several Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, Newcastle, and Aston Villa, as he seeks a new challenge following the end of his contract with Lille in July.

Yazici, known for his experience and skill, is eager for a fresh start after several successful seasons in Ligue 1.

Last season, he made 42 appearances across all competitions for Lille, contributing 12 goals and 4 assists, showcasing his ability to influence games at a high level.

During his time at Lille, he made 135 appearances, scoring 29 goals and providing 15 assists across all competitions. Before his stint in France, Yazici was also impressive at Trabzonspor, where he scored 27 goals and assisted 22 in 120 games. (Transfermarkt)

While Galatasaray are reportedly leading the race to bring the former Trabzonspor star back to Turkey, Tottenham’s interest could offer Yazici a compelling chance to resume his career in the Premier League.

His creativity and attacking flair could add valuable depth to Spurs’ squad, making him a potentially strategic addition.

As Spurs evaluate their squad options, signing a player of Yazici’s calibre on a free transfer could be a highly attractive move, particularly as the club aims to strengthen its attacking options for the current season.

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for the Belgian attacker Lois Openda.

The 24-year-old has been outstanding for RB Leipzig and a number of clubs were keen on securing his signature during the summer window. The German club managed to hold onto him, but it seems that his suitors could return in the future.

According to a report from SportBILD via Sportwitness, Spurs were one of the clubs who tried to sign him during the summer transfer window. The Belgian scored 28 goals in all competitions last season and he picked up seven assists along the way. He could have been a quality acquisition for the north London club.

Spurs ended up signing Dominic Solanke and it remains to be seen whether they return for him next summer. Having two quality strikers would only help them improve further and compete for major trophies.

Openda has started this season in fine form as well, scoring three goals in three games. Meanwhile, the striker will cost over €75 million as per the report.

Chelsea and Manchester United made moves to sign him during the summer transfer window as well.

Tottenham need more quality in the side in order to compete with clubs like Arsenal and Manchester City. Someone like Openda will add more cutting edge to the side. However, the asking price could be a major issue. Spurs need to improve the other areas of their squad as well. They cannot afford to overspend on Openda.

It will be interesting to see how the situation develops.

Tottenham Hotspur have had a mixed start to the new season.

They kicked things off with a disappointing draw against Leicester City and followed it up with a sensational win against Everton before suffering their first defeat of the season against Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United on Sunday.

Things haven’t been that great for them and according to a report from London World, a new UEFA rule is all set to impact Tottenham in a massive way. The governing body for football in Europe have introduced a new rule to make football more affordable for away fans.

Apart from Spurs, other top English clubs will also be affected by the new UEFA ruling which has been confirmed this week. While fans who follow their clubs across Europe will be delighted by the news, it will be a financial setback for clubs competing in European competitions.

UEFA have confirmed that a new cap will be placed on away ticket prices for all three European competitions. This has come after a supporter group united to share concerns about the increasing prices of tickets. The fans will hugely benefit from the new rule as away tickets for the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League will be sold at a set price.

Tottenham and Manchester United will be competing in the Europa League this season and away tickets for the competition are set at £33 per match. While it will have a huge impact on Spurs, it is considered to be a great decision which will help fans who travel across Europe to follow their clubs. With a new format in place and the number of away games all set to increase, it does seem to be a sensible decision from UEFA.

Tottenham’s big money summer signing, Dominic Solanke, has been challenged to demonstrate a “ruthless” edge to reach his full potential and help push Spurs into serious contention this season.

Teddy Sheringham, a former Spurs striker, has highlighted the importance of Solanke, who joined the club on a six-year deal last month for a reported £55 million, with an additional £10 million in bonuses.

Sheringham believes that Solanke needs to make a significant impact, particularly in the Premier League and UEFA Europa League, to prove his worth.

The pundit stressed that Solanke is expected to be a key player for Tottenham, with the club relying on him to be the decisive factor in closely fought matches.

The substantial transfer fee adds an element of pressure, and Sheringham noted that Solanke must rise to the challenge of competing at a higher level with Spurs.

Tottenham are known for creating numerous scoring opportunities, and Sheringham pointed out that Solanke’s ability to finish these chances will be vital, especially during busy periods when the team faces a congested fixture schedule.

Speaking to Prime Casino, the 58-year-old stated:

“I think Dominic Solanke will be Tottenham’s most important player this season.

“He’s the man that Ange and the club have placed a lot of faith in, to add the finishing touch.

“There’s an expectation that he will score the goals we need and will be the difference-maker in games that are tight.

“[But] he’s joined for a large fee and that adds a certain amount of pressure. He’s also making a step-up in his playing level.

“Tottenham create so many chances. When the games come thick and fast, when the energy levels are low, you need to take those.

“Solanke will need to be ruthless in front of goal. Tottenham will create the chances for him, [but] he has to take them.”

Solanke made his debut in Tottenham’s Premier League opener against Leicester, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Despite getting into promising positions, he was unable to score. Unfortunately, the 26-year-old has since been sidelined with an ankle injury, causing him to miss the next two games.

Manager Ange Postecoglou will be keen to have Solanke return to action as soon as possible, as Tottenham aim to build momentum in the early stages of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur fans are eagerly waiting the arrival of Croatian prodigy Luka Vuškovic.

Vuskovic is set to join Spurs in 2025 after the club secured a deal with Hajduk Split last September, valued at around £12 million.

Currently on loan at Belgian club Westerlo for the 2024-25 season, the 17-year-old centre-back is already turning heads.

A recent training video went viral on social media showing Vusković’s impressive abilities. In the clip, he performed an acrobatic move, quickly regained his balance with a near-handstand, and then scored a spectacular top-corner goal.

Watch below:

Luka Vušković. Wow. pic.twitter.com/LOzuSwPCDt

— thfcreport Academy (@thfcreportAcad) September 2, 2024

This display of skill has only increased the excitement among Spurs fans, who are eagerly looking forward to the impact Vuskovic will have once he officially joins the team.