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Tottenham Transfers: Spurs’ Strategic Moves Ahead of the January Window

Spurs Eye January Boost with LaLiga Talent

Tottenham Hotspur’s early-season struggles have prompted manager Ange Postecoglou to consider new additions to rejuvenate his squad. Currently positioned ninth in the Premier League, the team’s unsatisfactory performance, highlighted by a recent 3-2 loss to Brighton after leading 2-0, underscores the need for strategic reinforcements.

Javi Puado on Tottenham’s Radar

Football Transfers reports that Espanyol winger Javi Puado has caught the attention of Spurs’ scouts. The 26-year-old Spanish international, notable for his performance with three goals in eight LaLiga appearances this term, is seen as a potential winter signing. A decision must be made soon, as Puado’s contract is set to expire at the season’s end, offering Spurs a chance to engage in pre-contract talks or secure a cut-price deal in January.

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“Puado, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has scored three goals in eight LaLiga appearances so far this term,” noted Football Transfers, underlining the winger’s immediate impact potential.

Assessing Fit and Necessity

Although Spurs are already equipped with strong wingers like Brennan Johnson and Son Heung-min, the allure of adding Puado at a reasonable cost or even free could be tempting. Johnson’s current form, with goals in six consecutive matches, and the reliable performances from Son and others pose a question: does Tottenham truly need another winger, or is this move more about seizing a valuable opportunity?

Other Transfer Targets and Competition

Spurs’ interest isn’t limited to Puado. The North London club is also eyeing Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze and Torino’s Samuele Ricci. However, securing Eze, who has a £68m release clause in his contract, could be challenging with clubs like Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal also in pursuit. Ricci, with a price tag of around £18.4m, adds another layer to Tottenham’s strategic planning in bolstering their squad competently.

Tottenham’s Strategic Transfer Considerations

As the January window approaches, Tottenham must carefully weigh their options. Enhancing squad depth while managing financial implications under the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules is crucial. The potential acquisition of Puado, alongside other targets, may provide the necessary impetus Spurs need to climb higher in the league standings and compete on all fronts.

Statistical Analysis by EPL Index: Javi Puado’s Impact at Espanyol

Puado’s Offensive Contributions

Javi Puado, the Espanyol forward, has shown a commendable performance in LaLiga, as captured in the visual representation by Fbref. The radar chart succinctly breaks down his capabilities in three fundamental areas: attacking, possession, and defending. In terms of attack, Puado’s numbers are particularly promising. His non-penalty expected goals (npXG) plus expected assisted goals (xAG) situate him comfortably in the upper echelons amongst forwards, signifying a potent threat in the final third.

Possession and Playmaking Skills

Puado’s proficiency isn’t just limited to direct goal contributions. The chart highlights his commendable pass completion rate and his ability to maintain possession, crucial for Espanyol’s build-up play. His 84th percentile rank in passes attempted and 77th percentile in progressive carries showcase his integral role in transitioning the ball and setting up play. This ability to drive the ball forward and link up play underpins his value beyond just finishing chances.

Defensive Work Rate and Adaptability

While primarily an attacker, Puado’s willingness to engage in defensive duties is evident. His high percentile in blocks and clearances reflects an admirable defensive work rate. Such adaptability adds an extra layer to his on-field utility, making him a versatile option for teams seeking a forward who can also contribute defensively.

In conclusion, Javi Puado’s performance data from Fbref paints a picture of a forward who is not only effective in front of goal but also possesses the technical skills and work rate to play a well-rounded role. His stats highlight why he is considered a valuable asset for Espanyol and potentially, for a top-tier club like Tottenham Hotspur, should they secure his services in the upcoming transfer window. His ongoing development and performance will be crucial as he approaches a critical junction in his career.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

As a devoted Tottenham Hotspur supporter, the prospect of Javi Puado joining Spurs is incredibly exciting! Given our start to the season, it’s clear we need that extra spark, and Puado could be just the right player to inject some pace and precision on the wings. His ability to create chances and score, evidenced by his three goals in LaLiga so far, could complement our existing attacking options perfectly.

Securing Puado on a free transfer would be a masterstroke from the management. It’s not just about adding depth; it’s about making smart, cost-effective moves that bolster our squad for the second half of the season and beyond. The potential signings of Eze and Ricci also show a clear intent to strengthen crucial areas, ensuring we remain competitive against the top teams.

With rivals like Manchester City and Arsenal also strengthening, it’s vital we don’t fall behind in the transfer market. I’m hopeful and optimistic about the direction our club is taking with these transfer targets. Let’s get behind the team and management and look forward to a revitalised squad come January!

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Araya Dennis reflected on a ‘proud’ moment as she made her competitive debut for the Club and the impact from learning off her team-mates over pre-season.

Coming on as a second-half substitute in the 2-1 win over Charlton Athletic in the Women’s League Cup last week, the young forward certainly caught the eye with her speed and power.

The 18-year-old, just minutes into her first minutes of the season, collected the ball on the right-hand side before advancing forward, evading two Charlton defenders, and she repeated it on a few occasions during her 23-minute cameo at The Valley.

Following her first outing in Lilywhite, we sat down with Araya and the England youth international admitted that she didn’t have the time to take in what was happening but was delighted to achieve the special occasion.

“It was a a proud moment for me to make my debut for the Club and also a great experience, plus it was important to get some minutes on the pitch and help the team to a win,” she told us.

“I didn’t really have time to register what was happening at the time, I also had to run over and let Drew [Spence] know that she was also coming on before going for another quick warm-up and going through set-pieces, so there wasn’t any moment to actually stop and think about what was happening.

“I have been used to that role of coming on and trying to make an impact in games, especially as a young player gaining experience, so I didn’t really feel any pressure when I came on and I knew what I needed to do to try and help the team.”

Araya joined us in February, 2024, after signing a professional contract with the Club before spending the second half of the 2024/25 campaign at Crystal Palace, where she made 20 appearances in the FA Women’s Championship.

Having now spent an entire pre-season with the squad while being involved in the opening three matchdays in the Barclays Women’s Super League, she has relished the opportunity to learn from her team-mates and be around the environment.

“It has been really good and helpful, but also been interesting to see the different characters within the squad. It has helped me come out of my shell quite a lot,” she added.

“The players I’m also around every day are very experienced at this level, so it has been a great opportunity to learn from them and also play alongside them, it’s only making me better.”

Appearing first and exclusively in this season’s official matchday programme, we get to know our Women Under-21s players.

Taking on the Q&A first was captain Emily McMaster, who joined us from Reading’s Academy last season.

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We sat down with the defender ahead of our Barclays Women’s Super League opener against Crystal Palace to find out a little more about her…

First started training with Spurs?

“I joined the Club at 16-years-old. I started last summer and came from Reading’s academy.”

Favourite food?

“I would probably choose my mum’s lasagne with some garlic bread.”

Any pets?

“I don’t have any pets, but I would love a little labrador.”

Favourite TV show?

“I like watching I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! with my whole family as we can all sit down and watch it together. We don’t really have much time during the day to watch other TV series.”

Any hidden talents?

“I played Netball at quite a high standard, I competed at county level in that but I had to stop because of football.”

Who do you like to watch in the first team and why?

“Molly Bartrip as she plays in my position and she is a leader as well, so I look up to her as a player on and off the pitch.”

If you could meet someone famous, who would it be?

“I would choose Jordan Henderson because he was a captain for a long time at Liverpool, but I feel he also plays very well and can lead off the pitch. He is an inspiration to me.”

If you couldn’t be a footballer, what would you like to be instead?

“I’d probably stay in sports, maybe as a PE teacher or a sports coach, focusing more on football.”

How would you sum up your character?

“I’d say I have quite a bubbly personality and I like to be around people, socialising with my team-mates.”

Find out more about the Under-21s

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Former Premier League midfielder Craig Burley has taken aim at one of Tottenham Hotspur’s players after seeing him in action at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Following a Europa League clash in Hungary against Ferencvaros, Ange Postecoglou took his Spurs side to Brighton in the Premier League.

They started strongly on the south coast and led 2-0 by the half-time break, with goals from the in-form Brennan Johnson, along with James Maddison.

Postecoglou named Timo Werner in the Spurs starting eleven though and the German attracted criticism from ex-top flight star Burley during the course of the game.

Reflecting on what he was seeing from Werner, Burley took to X to write: “Timo Werner’s end product really is poor.”

However, while the attacker came in for criticism from Burley, his team-mate Dejan Kulusevski fared better.

Burley is a fan of Kulusevski and dubbed his runs ‘excellent’.

“Kulusevski taking up some great positions again. His runs are excellent”, he added.

During his spell at Chelsea in the Premier League, Werner struggled to make an impression and eyebrows were raised in some quarters when Postecoglou brought him back to England on loan from RB Leipzig.

Tottenham’s Ambitious Pursuit of Lucas Bergvall: A Statement of Intent

In December 2023, as the football world braced itself for the winter transfer window, Tottenham Hotspur’s technical director, Johan Lange, embarked on a crucial mission to Stockholm. His task? To convince Lucas Bergvall, one of the most highly-regarded young talents in Europe, to visit Spurs despite significant competition from footballing giants like Barcelona. It’s a classic example of how Tottenham, under the guidance of Ange Postecoglou and Lange, are aiming to change their image—not just as a club competing for top-four finishes, but as a destination for Europe’s brightest young talents.

A Tactical Masterstroke

Lange’s approach was simple yet effective. Instead of just selling Tottenham’s Premier League stature, he focused on the club’s footballing philosophy under Ange Postecoglou. Known for his aggressive, front-foot style, Postecoglou has been a breath of fresh air for the North London side, offering something distinct compared to the more pragmatic regimes of his predecessors, like José Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

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“[It was] not with the aim of him saying yes but the aim of him coming with his family to visit us,” Lange told Standard Sport in his first interview since joining the club.

Bergvall’s family visit was no small achievement. The 18-year-old Swedish midfielder, already courted by Barcelona, had plenty of options. Lange’s pitch, however, went beyond footballing details—it was about the broader Spurs vision. A vision rooted in development, both for the individual player and the collective team. For Bergvall, this was about fitting into a system that prioritised his skillset and development, and the video sessions showing exactly how he’d fit into the team undoubtedly played a huge role.

Picture:IMAGO

Spurs Pulling Out All the Stops

Once Bergvall and his family arrived in London on January 29, the charm offensive began in earnest. It wasn’t just Lange or even manager Ange Postecoglou who made the case for Tottenham. Chairman Daniel Levy, star player Dejan Kulusevski, and Spurs Women’s coach Robert Vilahamn all made their pitches. This collective effort to persuade Bergvall to join was a clear sign of how important the young talent was to Spurs’ plans. “[The Bergvalls] felt at home,” Lange said.

It’s not often that a club of Tottenham’s stature goes all-in for a teenager like Bergvall, but it highlights their growing ambition under Postecoglou. The midfielder was suitably impressed—not just by the individuals but also by the state-of-the-art facilities at Hotspur Way, as well as the infectious enthusiasm from his fellow Swede, Kulusevski.

Photo IMAGO

“They’re very intelligent people who really wanted to make an informed decision and feel that we were right for him,”

Lange remarked, clearly confident that Spurs had done everything in their power to bring the young talent to North London.

On February 2, his 18th birthday, Bergvall signed a five-year contract, snubbing Barcelona in the process.

Strategic Recruitment: A Winter Window Triumph

The signing of Bergvall wasn’t an isolated incident. Tottenham had a stellar winter transfer window, which also saw them beat Bayern Munich to the signing of highly-rated Genoa centre-half Radu Dragusin. This aggressive recruitment push is part of a broader strategy at Spurs, one that seeks to marry long-term player development with immediate competitiveness in the Premier League.

“Everyone at the club should feel proud that those two players, one had the opportunity to go to Bayern, one had the opportunity to go to Barca, and they chose to come here,” Lange told Standard Sport.

This momentum in the transfer market signals a new era at Spurs. No longer content with being a stepping-stone club or settling for second-tier talents, Tottenham are making bold statements with their recruitment. It’s no accident that Bergvall’s signing coincided with other young, exciting talents such as Archie Gray, Wilson Odobert, Luka Vuskovic, and Yang Min-hyeok joining the ranks. This collection of rising stars signals the club’s intent to build a foundation that will last for years, with a mix of immediate impact and long-term potential.

Bergvall’s Role in Tottenham’s Future

So, where does Lucas Bergvall fit in? As one of the most promising young midfielders in Europe, he represents the new Tottenham under Postecoglou: a dynamic, aggressive team that prioritises pressing and swift transitions. Bergvall’s technical skill and football intelligence make him an ideal fit for the brand of football that Postecoglou demands.

“It is important to say we’re building a squad to be competitive here and now,” Lange clarified. “This is not a project [for] five years’ time. We want to be a natural destination for the best talent out there and those things go hand in hand.”

In other words, Bergvall isn’t just a project player. He’s been brought in to make an impact right away, while also being moulded into a future leader of the team. It’s an exciting time for Spurs fans, who can finally see a coherent plan being executed at the club.

A Ruthless Approach to Squad Management

While Tottenham’s recruitment has been impressive, their ruthless squad management this past summer is another indication of the club’s changing identity. Eight first-team players were shown the exit door, including high-profile names like Tanguy Ndombele and Ryan Sessegnon. Lange admitted that some of these decisions were difficult but necessary to create space for the new generation of talent.

“[Being ruthless] is definitely deliberate,” Lange explained. “A lot of players who left in the summer came to a natural conclusion of their time at the club.”

This no-nonsense approach was long overdue at Spurs. For too many years, the club had been guilty of holding on to underperforming players for too long. Under Lange’s guidance, the focus is now on a more streamlined, hungry squad—one that aligns with Postecoglou’s high-octane football philosophy.

The Role of Data in Recruitment

Despite claims from some quarters, including former scout David Pleat, that Spurs have become too reliant on data in their recruitment, Lange firmly believes in a balanced approach. He stressed that while data plays a role, human judgment and scouting remain critical components of the process.

“No player has been signed in my time at the club without us watching the player multiple times live and speaking with the player in person,” Lange noted. “We do a lot of background checks, speak with other coaches, former team-mates… We are data-informed, but which job today doesn’t have an element of data?”

This emphasis on a holistic approach—combining traditional scouting methods with modern analytics—is part of Tottenham’s broader strategy to ensure every signing fits both the club’s style of play and its long-term goals.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

Excited Spurs Supporters’ Take: Tottenham fans have every reason to be buzzing with excitement. The signing of Lucas Bergvall, alongside other young prospects, shows that the club is serious about building a sustainable future. It’s refreshing to see a clear plan in place—one that balances immediate competitiveness with long-term growth. Fans are already imagining Bergvall becoming a key figure for Spurs, and the fact that he turned down Barcelona only adds to the sense of pride.

Sceptical Observers’ View: While the excitement around Bergvall and other young talents is understandable, some sceptical fans may still be concerned. Despite the positive trajectory, Tottenham’s failure to address some key positions in the squad—particularly in defence—remains a question mark. Can the youth revolution deliver instant success, or is this more of a long-term project? These are questions that will only be answered as the season progresses.

Overall, the transfer strategy under Johan Lange and Ange Postecoglou has revitalised Tottenham Hotspur, giving the fans genuine hope for a brighter future. However, with great expectations comes the pressure to deliver, and only time will tell whether this bold new direction will result in trophies.

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We are unbeaten in our three previous home games against Liverpool as we prepare to meet for a sixth time in the Barclays Women’s Super League at Brisbane Road on Sunday afternoon (2.15pm UK).

Our first two meetings at home to the Reds saw us record back-to-back 1-0 victories – coming in 2019/20 and 2022/23 campaigns – before last season’s stalemate at Brisbane Road.

Rachel Furness was on target from the penalty spot in September, 2019, as her first half strike secured a 1-0 win over The Reds and our first-ever victory in England top flight’s.

Three seasons later, after the Reds secured promotion back to the WSL, we recorded another 1-0 victory over the Merseyside club as Celin Bizet’s cross was turned home into her own net by Niamh Fahey.

In last season’s encounter at Brisbane Road, Bizet’s stunning solo goal was cancelled out by Sophie Roman Haug as we were held to a 1-1 draw – extending our unbeaten run at home to the Reds to three games.

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Tottenham Hotspur have revealed their new third kit for the 2024/25 season, crafted by Nike. This striking green design not only nods to the past but also looks towards the future, blending history with modernity in a way that Spurs fans will cherish.

The green kit calls to mind the unforgettable night in Amsterdam when Tottenham’s spirited comeback against Ajax sent them to the 2019 UEFA Champions League final. Five years later, that shade of green returns, symbolising the club’s resilience and ambition.

Incorporating local pride, the new third strip pays tribute to the ‘Seven Sisters’ trees, a significant landmark in the Tottenham district. This connection to the club’s roots is further emphasised with a subtle shield behind the modern crest, reminiscent of the crests worn in the 20th century. The seven trees and the iconic motto, “To Dare Is To Do,” inscribed in Latin as ‘Audere Est Facere,’ reinforce the club’s deep ties to its community.

Part of Nike’s ‘Together We Rise’ collection, which celebrates women’s football, this kit is one of eight from elite clubs worldwide. The upturned Swoosh on the shirt, shorts, and socks symbolizes unity and progress in the sport. Additionally, white accents and yellow detailing on the sleeves add a vibrant contrast to the green, making the kit stand out.

The kit’s design extends to its sponsor, AIA, who have altered their usual red logo to complement the green palette, mirroring changes seen in Tottenham’s blue away kit. While green holds fond memories for Spurs fans, particularly of the 2019 Champions League run, the colour also featured in the 2020/21 season’s away kit, including the Carabao Cup final appearance against Manchester City.