The Boy Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur failed to beat Manchester City despite a strong second half performance as Erling Haaland’s first half goal was enough to secure all three points for the visitors.

The Norwegian striker returned to the team and made an instant impact as he gave his side the lead in the 12th minute of the game.

Spurs made a poor start to the game and failed to control the momentum as Pep Guardiola’s side dominated the first half. Vicario kept Tottenham in the game as they went into the break with just a goal down.

Whatever Ange said at half-time worked as Spurs came out a different side in the second half and dominated majority of the remaining 45 minutes of the game.

And while they made several chances, they failed to put them away. Wilson Odobert missed one just ten minutes into the second half, as he poked his effort wide after a great ball from Pedro Porro.

The biggest miss came right in the dying moments of the game, with Porro putting in a cross which hit Son’s back before falling for Pape Matar Sarr. The midfielder had the golden opportunity to score but he headed his effort over the bar from point blank range to Ange Postecoglou’s disbelief.

There were some positives for Ange as Djed Spence put in yet another superb performance after coming on for Destiny Udogie in the second half.

Pep Guardiola slaps Djed Spence and offers him a word of advice

His performance was appreciated by Pep Guardiola as well, who as per journalist Jay Harris, slapped him playfully in the face to seemingly praise him.

Pep Guardiola just playfully slapped Djed Spence in the face and kept pointing to his chest?

I think that was his way of complementing Spence

— Jay Harris (@jaydmharris) February 26, 2025

And Pep Guardiola, in his post match interview, revealed what he said to the fullback (quotes via Spurs insider John Wenham):

‘Why do you run too much? You should be more calm’. [Destiny] Udogie is quite similar, the pace of this team is difficult to… Maybe Liverpool, but they are unbelievable, unbearable, and everytime they have the ball and run, they’re unstoppable; Spence, Pedro Porro, Udogie, [Dejan] Kulusevski, [Heung-min] Son. It’s an incredibly physical team with a clear idea, they play really good. They played without [Cristian] Romeo and [Micky] van de Ven; two of the best central defenders in the league…”

Pep Guardiola on what he said to Djed Spence at full-time: "'Why do you run too much? You should be more calm'. [Destiny] Udogie is quite similar, the pace of this team is difficult to… Maybe Liverpool, but they are unbelievable, unbearable, and everytime they have the ball and…

— Lilywhite Rose (@Lilywhite_Rose) February 26, 2025

Spence has been in fine form for Spurs in recent games. He was excellent against Man United, earning praise from Gary Neville and put in another strong performance against Ipswich Town, which he capped off with a superb goal.

While Ange Postecoglou has not always been a fan of the player, Spence has forced the manager to change his stance on him.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly keeping tabs on Xavi Hernandez as a potential replacement for Ange Postecoglou.

According to a report from Fichajes, they are looking at multiple options to replace the Australian manager given the performance of the team this season. Tottenham are languishing in the midtable positions and they were expected to fight for trophies and secure Champions League qualification for the next season

If Postecoglou is shown on the door at the end of the season, they will need to bring in a quality manager to replace him. Xavi has shown his quality as the Barcelona manager in the past and he helped them with the title during the 2022/23 season.

The 45-year-old impressed with his attacking philosophy at the Spanish club, and he could prove to be an exciting acquisition for Tottenham. It will be interesting to see if the north London club decide to make a move for him in the coming months.

For now, they seem to be retaining their faith in Postecoglou to turn things around, and it remains to be seen whether the Australian can get the best out of his players. Tottenham could still secure European qualification for the next season, and they will need to put together a winning run and finish the season strongly.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen are keeping tabs on the Spanish manager as well. It will be interesting to see where he ends up. He will want to join a competitive club capable of fighting for trophies regularly.

Tottenham certainly have an exciting project and a talented squad at their disposal. The 45-year-old could be attracted to the idea of managing in the Premier League if the opportunity presents itself.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been linked with a contract extension.

According to a report from Daily Mail, Tottenham have opened talks with the 27-year-old regarding his future, and they are hoping to tie him into a new deal. His contract with the North London club expires at the end of next season. It will be interesting to see if he is ready to commit his long-term future to the club.

Bentancur has struggled with injury problems since joining the English club, but he has shown his quality with them as well. It is no surprise that they are looking to keep him at the club for the long term. Bentancur could be a quality player for Tottenham if he can get over his injury problems.

The 27-year-old is entering his peak years and he will look to play his best football in the coming seasons. He could help Tottenham fight for major trophies in future.

Meanwhile, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has now opened up on the player’s future and a potential contract extension.

The Australian manager has revealed that the South American is an important member of the squad and any potential contract extension will be handled by the club.

He added that the 27-year-old is an important member of the group, and he is getting back up to speed after a lengthy injury layoff.

He said to Football London: “In terms of his contract situation that is handled by other people and obviously a lot of our strategizing is not just about the short term but the longer term. Rodri, this latter period, is getting back to the levels he wants to be. He was coming off a long term injury last year, came back looked really good and then got another injury. It’s really disruptive. Even this year he got off to a false start with his long suspension. You can see he just needs regular game time and he is getting up to speed. Really good guy around the group as well. He is experienced now. From our perspective, in this run-in he is going to be really important.”

It will be interesting to see if the midfielder can get back to his best and help Tottenham finish the season strongly.

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with the move for the Fiorentina striker Moise Kean.

The 24-year-old is back to his best and he has been outstanding this season. The Italian International has 19 goals to his name in all competitions and Arsenal and Tottenham are securing his signature.

According to a report from TuttoMercatoWeb, two North London clubs are keen on the ‘goal machine’ and they would have to pay his release clause of €52 million.

It will be interesting to see if Tottenham is willing to pay up for the Italian striker. The reported asking price seems reasonable for a player of his quality. If he manages to adapt to English football quickly, he could easily justify the investment.

Tottenham need a quality striker to support Dominic Solanke in the attack and Kean seems like the ideal acquisition. He has the physicality and technical attributes to do well at the London club. He has played in England before with Everton and the player could be open to the idea of returning to the Premier League. He might feel that he has unfinished business in English football, and he could look to prove his words in the Premier League.

Similarly, Arsenal need a quality striker as well. Gabriel Jesus has not been able to score consistently and they need to bring in an upgrade on the Brazilian. The 24-year-old Italian striker could be the ideal acquisition for them. Arsenal have the financial resources to get the deal across the line, and it will be interesting to see if they can beat Tottenham to his signature.

The 24-year-old is at the peak of his powers, and whoever ends up signing him will have a quality attacker on their hands. He could improve further with coaching and experience.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly prepared to part ways with midfielder Yves Bissouma in the upcoming transfer window as the club begins preparations for the summer.

According to a report from GiveMeSport, manager Ange Postecoglou has grown frustrated with Bissouma’s inconsistency and ongoing fitness concerns. The report further claims that Spurs have no intention of renewing the Mali international’s contract, which is set to expire in 18 months, making a summer sale the most likely outcome.

It further adds that Postecoglou is already eyeing potential replacements, with five midfielders on his radar: Johnny Cardoso, Hugo Larsson, Adam Wharton, Andy Diouf, and Angel Gomes.

Additionally, the club has been linked with Inter Milan’s Davide Frattesi, with some reports suggesting Spurs could explore a player-plus-cash deal involving Bissouma to secure the Italian midfielder’s services.

Yves Bissouma’s time at Tottenham

Since joining Spurs from Brighton for £30 million in June 2022, Bissouma has had a mixed tenure at the North London club. While he struggled in his first season, it was the 2023–24 campaign that saw him establish himself as a key player. He began the season in fine form, earning back-to-back Man of the Match awards against Brentford and Manchester United.

Despite a strong start this season, Bissouma’s performances have fluctuated, and off-the-pitch issues have further complicated his standing at the club. He managed to score his first goal for Spurs in a commanding 4-0 victory over Everton but has struggled for consistency since then.

Recently, he has fallen down the pecking order, with Postecoglou preferring Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall in midfield.

With multiple midfield reinforcements on Tottenham’s shortlist, the summer transfer window could bring significant changes to the team, with Bissouma potentially making way for fresh talent.

Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen is attracting a lot of interest from top clubs after his impressive performances for the Cherries this season.

Tottenham are reportedly among those showing an interest in securing his services but face stiff competition from other clubs including Liverpool, Chelsea, and Newcastle.

According to the latest report from TBR, there is interest beyond the Premier League in the Spaniard, with La Liga giants Real Madrid also interested in him.

The report adds that the player’s agent have reached out to several clubs regarding a potential move, including Tottenham.

The player is available at a comparatively affordable price, with i News reporting a £50m release clause in his current contract with Bournemouth.

The report from TBR further adds that while the Cherries are not happy with the player’s representative’s antics, they are willing to offer a new contract to the player in a bid to keep him at the club.

Tottenham’s interest in Dean Huijsen and what it means for the future of Radu Dragusin

Tottenham have had problems at the back this season, with star duo Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero both missing a significant part of the season through recurring injuries.

Ange was forced to play Archie Gray as a makeshift centre-back alongside Radu Dragusin but the Romanian has also suffered a season ending injury. The injury to the Romanian prompted Spurs to enter the market in January and sign Kevin Danso on loan.

Danso has proven to be an excellent signing for the club so far, impressing with his solid performances at the back as well as his leadership skills.

There is reportedly an obligation to buy clause in his loan deal, which will make him an excellent coup for Spurs if he continues to perform like he has been.

And while Radu Dragusin’s short-term future at Spurs has come into doubt due to Danso’s form, with reports suggesting the club could loan him out to another Premier League club next season, a big-money move for the Bournemouth defender could put his long-term future at the club in doubt as well.

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a summer move for the Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi.

The 25-year-old central midfielder was linked with a move to Tottenham at the start of the season and a report from Inter Live claims that the London club could reignite their interest in the player. The report further states that a fee of around £25 million would be enough to get the deal.

Spurs need more depth and quality in the middle of the park, and Frattesi would be a quality addition. He needs to play regularly at this stage of his career and if Spurs can provide him with gametime assurances, the opportunity to move to the Premier League club will be quite exciting for him.

He will add depth and quality to the Tottenham midfield and help them improve. They need to bring in quality players in order to bounce back strongly next season. It has been a disappointing season for Tottenham so far and they are expected to miss out on Champions League football.

Frattesi is highly rated across Italy, and he has the quality to establish himself as a player for Tottenham in the long term. He has the physicality and technical attributes to do well in English football, and it will be interesting to see if he can adapt to the Premier League quickly and make an instant impact.

The player could prove to be a bargain for the reported asking price, and Tottenham will certainly hope to get the deal across the line over the next few months. He is still only 25 and he could improve further with coaching and experience. He could easily justify the investment in the coming seasons.

Even though they have struggled this season, Tottenham have an exciting project and a talented squad. They will be an attractive destination for the Italian midfielder.

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for the Sporting CP defensive midfielder Morten Hjulmand.

The 25-year-old has been linked with a move to the Premier League in recent months and a report via SportWitness claims that Manchester United are keen on him as well. The player has a release clause of €80 million in his contract, but the report states that he could be signed for less.

Hjulmand has established himself as a key player for the Portuguese club and his performances have been quite impressive in the league as well as in the European competitions. It is no surprise that clubs like Tottenham and Manchester United are keen on him.

Tottenham need more quality and depth in the middle of the park, and the 25-year-old will add physicality and defensive steel to the side. His arrival will protect the defensive unit and allow the creative players to operate with more freedom as well. Hjulmand could transform Spurs in the middle of the park.

They need quality players in order to do well and fight for trophies regularly. Signing the £66 million-rated midfielder would be a wise decision.

Meanwhile, Manchester United are keen on the player as well, and they need midfield reinforcement. They are looking to rebuild their midfield and Hjulmand would be a quality option. The 25-year-old will be attracted to the idea of joining both clubs, and it remains to be seen where he ends up eventually.

He has the physicality and technical attributes to do well in English football, and he could improve both teams in the midfield. The reported asking price seems quite steep and the two clubs will be hoping to negotiate a more reasonable fee. It remains to be seen how the situation unfolds over the next few months.

Tottenham Hotspur are prepared to sanction Manor Solomon’s departure at the season’s end.

The winger is currently on loan at Leeds United and a report from Give Me Sport claims a fee of around £10-15 million would be enough for Tottenham to sanction his departure.

He is unlikely to be a regular starter for Tottenham in the near future, and it would make sense for him to move on and join a club where he will play regularly. The winger joined Tottenham in July 2023, but he failed to establish himself as a key player for the club after suffering a serious knee injury.

The player then moved to Leeds in order to gain regular first-team experience and get back to his best. He has done reasonably well for the Championship outfit, but it seems that Tottenham do not consider him a key part of their plans going forward.

The former Fulham winger has shown his quality in the Premier League in the past, and he could prove to be a useful acquisition for most clubs.

It will be interesting to see if you he help Leeds secure promotion to the Premier League at the end of the season. They could look to sign in permanently if that happens.

The report states that Leeds and Everton are keen on signing the player in the summer, and it will be interesting to see where he ends up.

Meanwhile, Tottenham need to bring in more quality and depth in the wide areas. They should look to sign a dynamic attacker capable of slotting into multiple attacking roles. Timo Werner will leave the club upon the expiry of his loan deal, and Richarlison has been quite mediocre this season. Spurs must improve their attacking unit in the summer.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou’s long-term future at the club remains uncertain after an underwhelming season despite high hopes at the start of the campaign.

The club has found their rhythm in the last few games, with three wins in a row including one over a struggling Man United side.

They currently sit 12th in the table with 33 points, and have been knocked out of both domestic competitions. Europa League remains the only competition that can salvage their season, in which they have done reasonably well so far.

There is a good chance he will see the season out, with reports suggesting that the club understands the effect injuries have had on the campaign.

However, the long-term future remains uncertain, with the club being big admirers of Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola,

Iraola has impressed clubs with the work he has done with the Cherries, who are having a fantastic season. They currently sit 6th in the table with 43 points, just one point behind 4th placed Manchester City and 4 points behind 3rd place.

Ben Jacobs: Tottenham appreciate Andoni Iraola

According to reputable journalist Ben Jacobs, Spurs are yet to make an approach for Iraola, however, they do appreciate the Spanish manager. However, he adds that the club has no plans to sack Ange just yet which is why they have not started actively hunting for alternatives. However, if the club is to sack the Australian, Iraola will be further discussed as a likely option.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs said:

“It’s true that Tottenham appreciate Andoni Iraola, but it’s nothing more than that at this stage, they’ve not made any kind of approach.

“They’ve not crystalised any kind of post-Ange plan, because they want to back Postecoglou.