TBR Football

Eberechi Eze might well have played his final game for Crystal Palace.

The England international was named in the starting XI by Oliver Glasner for the 0-0 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, despite strong speculation regarding his future.

TBR Football understand Eze wants to join Tottenham and talks are advancing between all parties.

With all eyes on the Crystal Palace No.10 at Stamford Bridge, he made a potentially telling move after the clash against Chelsea.

Eberechi Eze shares a moment alone with Crystal Palace fans

Eberechi Eze joined his teammates in applauding Crystal Palace fans inside the away end at Stamford Bridge, but also had a moment to himself with supporters, in what some might perceive to be a goodbye.

Eze – who saw a stunning goal disallowed against Chelsea – stood before Crystal Palace fans as they bellowed his chant, before Daniel Munoz and Maxence Lacroix joined him as he was serenaded.

Having scored the goal to win Crystal Palace their first major trophy last season, it was nothing less than we would expect the Londoner to receive from fans – if he is about to leave Selhurst Park, he departs as a club legend.

Eze is expected to cost Tottenham a fee over £60m.

Crystal Palace like Bilal El Khannouss of Leicester – and could sign the Morocco international as a replacement.

Tottenham also continuing talks to sign Savinho

Eze is not the only player Spurs are hoping to deliver for Thomas Frank.

TBR Football have been told that Tottenham are still in talks with Manchester City over a deal for Savinho – but are currently less confident of sealing that agreement compared to the optimism over Eze.

The Brazilian did not feature as Manchester City hammered Wolves 4-0 at Molineux on Saturday, due to an alleged injury.

Manchester City actually face Tottenham on Saturday, so there might be a desire from Pep Guardiola for the deal not to progress before then, or else the Spaniard risks being immediately hurt by Savinho.

Former Tottenham Hotspur player Scott Parker fell to defeat back in north London on Saturday afternoon with his Burnley side.

Fresh from their promotion from the Championship, Burnley would have been well aware that a trip to Tottenham on the opening day would be far from an easy start.

And whilst Spurs looked pretty feeble at times under Ange Postecoglou domestically last season, there’s a new steel to Thomas Frank’s side.

Tottenham weren’t perfect against Burnley – they still conceded good chances, as they ultimately did against Paris Saint-Germain in the Super Cup.

But Spurs have clearly already made progress under Frank, and Pape Matar Sarr was excellent for Tottenham among others – a positive opening day for this new era.

Scott Parker praises Tottenham after Richarlison’s ‘world-class’ finish

That being said, Burnley manager Scott Parker offered a few thoughts on the game and Spurs’ approach in his interview after the match.

Shared on Burnley’s YouTube channel, Parker seemed proud of his Burnley side in elements – he didn’t feel as if they were blown away in N17 by any means.

But after hailing Richarlison’s second goal as a ‘world-class finish’, Parker went on to call Spurs a ‘very good side’, a team who were ultimately too good for Burnley.

Speaking about Spurs’ approach at the start of the game, Parker said: “I thought we started slowly today, I thought they came right at us and put us under a lot of pressure and they obviously score an early goal.”

And then when summarising Burnley’s efforts against Tottenham, Parker went on to compliment Frank’s team.

He continued: “It was a big challenge for us today, we were playing against an extremely very good side, and I think for 60 minutes we went toe-to-toe really.”

Mohammed Kudus says he’s very happy to join hard-working Tottenham

Also speaking after the game to Spurs Play, Mohammed Kudus described playing his first competitive game in N17 as ‘massive’.

And after his move from West Ham this summer, Kudus seemed very content to start a new era with Tottenham.

Asked if he enjoyed his new surroundings, Kudus replied: “Yeah, I think we’ve been all around the place for pre-season, so it’s the first couple of weeks I’m really here.

“But my first game in this stadium – massive, massive feeling and I’m really, really happy. The effort from everyone for the past weeks in pre-season, traveling, putting effort in day in, day out – big credit to the whole team.

“I’m really happy to be in an environment like this with a high level of work and competitiveness to challenge for every trophy.”

Tottenham Hotspur got off to the perfect start under Thomas Frank in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

Burnley threatened Tottenham’s goal at times, but both Mohammed Kudus and Richarlison shone in N17 – they always looked like players who would be on the winning side.

And with the likes of Joao Palhinha and Dominic Solanke on the bench, Spurs proved that they do have sufficient squad depth this season.

Pape Matar Sarr was also excellent for Tottenham, and whilst Frank’s side will face tougher tests than Burnley this season, it was a promising start in north London.

But it is when those more difficult tests begin to arrive that Spurs’ squad will be truly put under scrutiny, a group of players to which Tottenham fans would still like Daniel Levy to add.

Bruno Guimaraes says Son Heung-min was a ‘legend’ for Tottenham

That being said, Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes has now commented on a player who Spurs sold this summer, Son Heung-min.

Although Son is now enjoying the latter stages of his career, Tottenham have said goodbye to a certain amount of guaranteed goals and assists from their former captain.

In terms of their current on-the-pitch leader, Spurs want to give Cristian Romero a new contract, and there is reason for confidence in that regard.

But when speaking to the Premier League about Son’s departure to the MLS, Newcastle’s Guimaraes echoed the thoughts of many in stating that Tottenham had lost a ‘legend’.

Alongside several other players, Guimaraes was initially asked to describe Son in one word, something he didn’t find easy.

Guimaraes replied: “Wow, in one word is tough. I would say legend. He’s a legend in Tottenham, in the Premier League, I always like him so I would describe him as a legend.”

Brennan Johnson can now thrive in a new role under Thomas Frank

In the wake of Son’s departure to LAFC, Frank chose to start Brennan Johnson as his left winger against Burnley.

Predominantly in his Tottenham career thus far, Johnson has played on the right, but after scoring in the Europa League final from the left, the Welsh international continued to prove on Saturday that an inverted role does suit his skillset.

On the bench, Spurs had Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel in reserve, two very talented forwards.

But for now, it seems as if the left wing spot might be Johnson’s to lose, a player who still has a lot of untapped potential.

Of course, Spurs do also have Mikey Moore coming through, who could potentially claim that spot long-term.

TBR Football understands that Thomas Frank has held talks with Cristian Romero over his long-term future at Tottenham Hotspur.

Tottenham Hotspur are willing to make the Argentine their best-paid player, and talks with Romero over a new contract have been ongoing since February.

Atletico Madrid walked away from the Romero deal earlier this summer after making a strong push to bring him to the Spanish capital.

Instead, the 27-year-old has remained in N17, and now, the prospect of a new contract could return to the table following positive talks with Thomas Frank.

Exclusive: Cristian Romero is enjoying life under Thomas Frank

Tottenham are really keen to get Cristian Romero tied down to a new contract after appointing him captain, sources have told TBR Football’s chief correspondent, Graeme Bailey.

Romero called Frank a ‘good coach’ after he chose him to take over from Son Heung-min as the captain of Spurs.

Speaking about the decision to make Romero captain, Bailey told TBR Football: “Obviously, since it was made aware to Romero that he wasn’t leaving, he’s been exemplary in the way he’s gone about things; he was the leader of that team anyway. So, from what I’m told within Spurs, it was pretty much a no-brainer.

The World Cup winner has been impressed by what he’s heard from Frank so far and a positive start to the season could seriously boost his chances of renewing his deal.

Currently, Romero’s deal is due to run until the summer of 2027, and the Lilywhites want him to sign a new contract which would make him their highest earner.

Regarding a new contract, TBR Football’s chief correspondent added: “There have been talks with Thomas Frank, and he’s very, very happy with what he’s come across. Will this help persuade him to sign a new contract? It won’t hurt.

“That’s what the Club really want. They want him to sign this new deal. It will see him become the highest-paid player at the club, if things start well this season, I don’t think that’ll be a million miles away.”

Frank has worked hard to get Romero onside, and the defender appears to be quickly buying into the idea of life under Frank at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

TBR Football has also revealed that Tottenham are in talks with Rodrigo Bentancur over a new contract, with Spurs’ new boss ‘very happy’ with him.

Thomas Frank thinks Cristian Romero is ‘very committed’ to Tottenham

Frank has been full of praise for his new captain and believes that he is ‘very committed’ to Tottenham.

The Dane claims that his coaching staff have been telling him that they’ve never seen him working so hard during training sessions.

Speaking to the media, Frank said: “I would say I’ve worked with him now closely for more than five weeks, I’ve seen a very, very committed player who’s trained very well.

“The staff have said to me they’ve never seen him train that well,” said Frank. “He’s in a very good place. I see a player who will want to lead the team and push the team.”

Mikey Moore made his first appearance for Rangers on Saturday, just under a week after his 18th birthday.

Tottenham Hotspur confirmed that Moore had signed a new long-term contract with the club

Rangers convinced Tottenham to send them Moore on loan following a discussion with Russell Martin, who revealed his plans for the teenager.

Thomas Frank also expressed his excitement about Moore, whilst also discussing the importance of the youngster getting regular first-team minutes.

The Spurs loanee’s first appearance for the club has been a long time coming, but against Alloa, he was able to show glimpses of what he can do, which has got Rangers’ fans talking.

Rangers fans stunned by Mikey Moore’s debut vs Alloa

Rangers fans were so impressed by Mikey Moore’s debut against Alloa as they won 4-2 to reach the third round of the Scottish League Cup.

The youngster assisted Nedim Bajrami for Gers’ first goal of the game as he made his first appearance in Rangers colours at Ibrox.

Rangers’ fans weren’t best pleased with their team’s performance, but were very complimentary of how Moore fared on his debut.

The 18-year-old will be hoping that he can use Saturday’s display as an opportunity to ignite his journey with the Light Blues.

Moore faces strong competition at Rangers and will need to be at the top of his game to keep his place in Martin’s team.

After the match, Rangers supporters took to X to hail the youngster for his display, and there is a lot of excitement about what is to come from him.

One fan said: “It’s exciting to see what some of the young lads can offer. Moore definitely looks like a player!”

“Mikey Moore looks class, I know it was just Alloa. But he has something,” claimed another supporter.

There was further praise for the teenager: “Wee Mikey Moore is going to be a starboy.”

Finally, another fan stated: “Bright first half from Mikey Moore – looks a real prospect. So confident for someone who’s 18! The less said about the rest, the better.”

Rangers are next in action on Tuesday in the final round of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League at home to Club Brugge.

Russell Martin hails Mikey Moore’s performance after Rangers debut

Martin admitted that he “loved his intent with the ball” when speaking about Moore’s first appearance for the club.

The former Southampton manager also urged fans to allow him to express himself with the ball and to remember his age.

Martin told the media, “Yeah, he showed glimpses, he’s not played at all really. He’s had a couple of weeks here now, and it’s been just training, so he’s been chomping at the bit.

“You saw some moments and you also saw some moments like he’s a young boy, but we have to keep him free and let him express himself.

“It’s not always going to come off, but I loved his intent with the ball and we need more of that for sure. He’ll keep getting better, so I’m really pleased with that.”

TBR Football understands that Richarlison’s style of play is quickly making him a favourite under Thomas Frank at Tottenham Hotspur.

Everton have been linked with Richarlison this summer, but now the Brazilian is almost certainly set to stay in North London, having impressed his new manager.

During his time at Brentford, Frank raved about Richarlison, and he is getting the chance to work with the 28-year-old following the Dane’s move across London.

Richarlison impressed against Burnley with a brace, which included a sensational bicycle kick to double Spurs’ lead on their way to a 3-0 win.

Exclusive: Thomas Frank loves Richarlison’s style as a striker

Richarlison has been seriously impressing Thomas Frank and is now strongly competing with Dominic Solanke for a starting spot, sources have told TBR Football’s chief correspondent, Graeme Bailey.

The Brazilian international’s ability to press from the front means that he fits nicely into the former Brentford boss’ system.

TBR Football revealed back in June that Richarlison could become the main striker under Frank, and his first two competitive appearances under the Dane have shown much promise.

Bailey told TBR Football: “Richarlison will get his chance at Tottenham primarily because of the way he plays. We know that Thomas Frank likes that closing-down style, so Richarlison fits into that approach.”

Talk over the striker’s future is now expected to die down following a strong start to life working with Frank.

“Coming into these next two weeks of the transfer window, let’s see what happens with him – we could still be talking about him going elsewhere in the final week – but I think he’s really rubbing shoulders with Solanke now for that starting role,” added Bailey.

“So, I think it does tell us that Richarlison has a future there, based on the way he plays.”

With it being a World Cup year, Richarlison will be even more motivated to ensure he is at his best in N17 this season.

Speaking about him after the win over Burnley, Frank told Spurs Official: “I think first and foremost, wow! His performance on Wednesday, wow!

“I think his work ethic, the way he leads the team, the way he presses, his hold-up play and the way he competes.

“But hey, on top of that strikers need to score goals and two great goals (against Burnley).”

Antonin Kinsky and Guglielmo Vicario have also been impressing Thomas Frank

TBR Football understands that Antonin Kinsky is another player who is impressing Frank and providing competition for Guglielmo Vicario.

Kinsky was linked with Lille on loan, but the Lilywhites are believed to have turned down these advances to keep him in N17.

Bailey revealed: “It’s interesting that Thomas Frank has also been impressed with Vicario as well. He likes the way he plays out. That’s not to say that the department is completely settled for the future.

“As for Kinsky, because Frank likes him too, they have turned down some loan approaches for him. That doesn’t mean he won’t leave on loan in this window, I’m told. But Frank likes the way the two of them are competing at the moment.”

TBR Football understands that Tottenham are advancing in talks to sign Crystal Palace forward Eberechi Eze.

TBR Football sources confirmed earlier this week that Tottenham had rekindled their long-term interest in Eze.

The North London club are keen to add new attackers to Thomas Frank’s squad before the transfer window deadline, and they have held talks over Eze and Savinho. Both players are open to joining.

TBR Football exclusively revealed that Eze has accepted that he is not moving to Arsenal, who are now focusing on other targets.

Talks are not a problem with Eze, or indeed Savinho, but work still remains on finalising terms with both attackers.

Sources: Tottenham confident over Eberechi Eze deal

Tottenham Hotspur are locked in talks with Crystal Palace over a deal for Eberechi Eze, sources have told TBR Football’s chief correspondent, Graeme Bailey.

TBR Football understands that the Eagles are demanding in excess of £60 million, and it remains to be seen whether Spurs are willing to go to that figure.

But the 27-year-old has made it clear to Tottenham that he is focused on joining the Lilywhites, and that could well work in Spurs’ favour during negotiations.

Bailey told TBR Football: “Talks are ongoing – Palace in an ideal world would like to sell Marc Guehi and keep Eberechi Eze now his release clause has expired, but that does not appear to be happening – indeed the opposite with Guehi going and Eze staying.

“We understand that Eze has made it clear to Palace that he would like to make the move to Spurs and he is now focused on making that switch before the window closes.”

Tottenham started their Premier League campaign with an impressive 3-0 win over Burnley, so adding Eze to the mix is an exciting prospect.

Frank missed a creative spark in the first half, and the former QPR starlet would certainly add that to his team.

Sources: Tottenham working to unlock Savinho deal

Tottenham are now confident of signing the England international, however, they are less confident of landing Savinho, but talks remain ongoing to find a solution.

“Speaking to Spurs sources – they are confident they get Eze done. In terms of Savinho, maybe less so, but talks are ongoing with that too,” added Bailey.

Savinho missed Man City’s game against Wolves with an unspecified injury, with the forward having posted himself training alone amid ongoing links to Spurs.

TBR Football first revealed Tottenham’s interest in Savinho and now talks will continue to try to find a resolution over a fee.

Spurs face Manchester City in the Premier League next weekend, which adds an interesting permutation to negotiations.

Tottenham and Richarlison got their Premier League campaign off to a perfect start with a 3-0 win against Burnley on Saturday afternoon.

Despite the comfortable scoreline, Thomas Frank’s side were made to work for the win, especially in the first half.

However, a Richarlison double put the Lilywhites in command, before Brennan Johnson rounded out the scoring.

Here are TBR Football’s five key takeaways from the game, starting with the enigmatic Brazilian.

Richarlison could play a vital role for Tottenham this season

Coming into the 2025/26 season, there were some doubts about Richarlison’s future in North London.

The Brazilian only scored four Premier League goals last term, and his pre-season form hadn’t done much to change Tottenham fans’ minds that he should be sold.

While rumours of a Richarlison exit still swirl, the 28-year-old could not have got off to a better start this season.

Filling in for Dominic Solanke as the Englishman is eased back into action, Richarlison’s display against Burnley was a superb all round striker’s performance, featuring two brilliant finishes.

It means he could yet play an important part for Tottenham this campaign. Failing that, his two goals will enable Daniel Levy to generate even more money for him, if he is to be sold.

Tottenham need more creativity before the transfer window closes

While a positive result, Tottenham’s performance against Burnley highlighted the well-known issue that the Lilywhites need more creativity.

Starting with a midfield three of Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Pape Sarr, there was plenty of endeavour shown by Frank’s side, but not a great deal of guile.

To this end, Tottenham’s increasing links with Eberechi Eze are positive.

Similarly, Frank’s pursuit of Savinho will also help in this department.

Should both players be brought to the club, it will give the Danish manager more options and greater squad depth as he attempts to compete on four fronts.

Lucas Bergvall proves Tottenham’s long throws are here to stay

In Tottenham’s game against PSG, Frank deployed a weapon he used often while at Brentford: the long throw.

Using a back five in the UEFA Super Cup Final, it was Kevin Danso who shouldered this responsibility.

Reverting to a back four against Burnley, Danso was dropped to the bench.

Yet the long throw remained a feature of Tottenham’s play, as Lucas Bergvall stepped up to launch the ball into the box whenever he could.

It showed that regardless of system, Tottenham will likely continue to use the long throw as another method with which to hurt teams.

Thomas Frank is happy to change it up tactically

The aforementioned change to a back four against Burnley following the back five used against PSG is another thing learned, and another positive.

Last season, Ange Postecoglou received a lot of criticism for his failure to change his tactical set-up and be more pragmatic, especially as Tottenham were decimated by injuries.

That is a marked change to Thomas Frank, who, despite criticism from Paul Merson, has already used two different systems in his first two games in charge in North London.

This should make Tottenham harder to beat, as proven by their performance against PSG across the 90 minutes on Wednesday.

Indeed, Tottenham fans were full of praise for Frank after the Super Cup Final, meaning this adaptability and pragmatism is likely to be something they will support.

Thomas Frank needs time to stamp his authority on Tottenham

Finally, while the result was a convincing one, the performance against Burnley wasn’t as free-flowing as Frank would have liked.

In the first half, for example, Burnley had 10 shots to Tottenham’s five, causing some angst at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Per BBC Sport’s match coverage, between the 12th minute and half-time, Tottenham also failed to have a shot.

It shows that Frank still has work to do to implement what he wants as he settles into his role.

This will come with time, though, provided the Dane is given it.

The Thomas Frank era is well up and running at Tottenham following an emphatic win over Burnley in North London.

Tottenham Hotspur produced a swift bounce back from the UEFA Super Cup defeat with a 3-0 win over Scott Parker’s team in their first Premier League fixture.

A Richarlison brace, including a sensational overhead kick, and another from Brennan Johnson secured a big three points for Spurs.

But the Brazilian wasn’t the only player to steal the headlines, with Mohammed Kudus also impressing on his first game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Guglielmo Vicario – 7

Guglielmo Vicario had a surprisingly busy afternoon in North London as he made four saves against the Premier League’s newly promoted team.

The Italian wasn’t great in the penalty shootout against PSG, but certainly made up for it against Burnley with some solid moments in the net.

Pedro Porro – 7

Pedro Porro continues to show he is improving defensively all the time for the Lilywhites and helped keep Burnley at bay.

The Spanish defender was also a threat going forward with 87 touches and 42 passes completed against Burnley.

Micky van de Ven – 6

Tottenham will be hoping that Micky van de Ven can stay fit this season, with his partnership with Cristian Romero set to be crucial for Thomas Frank.

The 24-year-old wasn’t really tested on Saturday afternoon, but mopped up when called upon with his explosive pace.

Cristian Romero – 7

Romero was very solid in defence, making several key tackles and being overly aggressive as he often is, but that put off the Burnley attack from some close to scoring.

The Argentine made two blocked shots and three interceptions against the Premier League newboys to help keep a clean sheet.

Djed Spence – 7

Djed Spence keeps proving why he should be in the next England squad as he followed up his strong display against PSG with another great showing against Burnley.

Archie Gray – 6

Archie Gray wasn’t at his best against Burnley, and the importance of signing Joao Palhinha was highlighted against Burnley.

The Portuguese midfielder will need to start most matches, with Gray still learning his trade.

Lucas Bergvall – 7

Lucas Bergvall is showing signs of getting back to his best after a solid display on Saturday against the Clarets.

The Swede was subbed off late on to a standing ovation in N17 following his superb work ethic in the middle of the park.

Pape Matar Sarr – 8

Pape Matar Sarr is turning into a key player under Frank already, as he set up Johnson’s goal with some great work.

The Senegalese international is showing that he can do a bit of everything for Spurs and the new Danish head coach will be looking at him as one of the first names on the team sheet.

Sarr was excellent against PSG and against Burnley, he produced another fine display.

Brennan Johnson – 5

Johnson started the season with yet another goal in his Spurs career, but overall, the winger struggled and highlighted the need for a top winger to be signed.

The 24-year-old failed to complete a single dribble up against Oliver Sonne and Kyle Walker, which will be a concern for Frank.

Richarlison – 9

The 28-year-old will be making Dominic Solanke start to sweat as he netted two superb goals in Spurs’ first win of the season.

His second goal could already be a contender for strike of the season, as he scissor-kicked Kudus’ ball into the box past Martin Dubravka.

Mohammed Kudus – 9

Kudus was another player subbed to a standing ovation, but his was without doubt deserved, with two brilliant assists.

Tottenham are hoping they’ve signed the Kudus from the 2023/24 season, and against PSG, and now Burnley, he’s shown real flashes of getting back to his best.

Tottenham got off to a winning start in Thomas Frank’s first Premier League game as manager, responding well to Paul Merson’s pre-match criticism.

The Lilywhites beat Burnley 3-0 thanks to two goals from Richarlison and one from Brennan Johnson.

They were made to work for the win, with Burnley having twice the number of shots as Tottenham in the first half alone.

However, the victory follows on from Tottenham’s strong performance against PSG in the UEFA Super Cup Final, which, despite the result, showed the North London club have improved defensively since the departure of Ange Postecoglou.

Yet, contrary to popular opinion, Merson wasn’t impressed with Frank’s side against the Champions League holders, posing questions that Tottenham responded to decisively in their top-flight opener.

Paul Merson claims ‘Tottenham fans want to see action’ as Thomas Frank era begins with win

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Gilette Soccer Saturday immediately before kick off, Merson did have some praise for Tottenham following Wednesday’s result.

The 57-year-old said, “Defensively, I thought they were great. They set up, and they stopped PSG playing, and they defended well.”

This was where the positivity stopped, however, with the former Arsenal winger continuing: “For me, it was tough to watch. I don’t see Tottenham fans liking that too much this season. I thought they were very defensive. I just didn’t see enough players getting up the pitch.”

Merson continued: “You know, working for set plays, working for throw-ons, corners – a bit like Brentford did [last season].

“Everyone was going mad on Wednesday night, and I was sitting there, and I was thinking, ‘I’m not sure how long Tottenham fans are going to have this. It was [Jose] Mourinho, [Antonio] Conte style. It wasn’t free-flowing.

Merson concluded: “Obviously, it was going to be better defensively than [under] Postecoglou, but going forward, Tottenham fans want to see action, and I don’t see them having [that defensive style] too long.”

With their strong result against Burnley following immediately afterwards, it didn’t take Frank’s side long to respond and prove Merson’s words somewhat premature.

Thomas Frank shows good adaptability against Burnley as attention turns to Man City

In his first two games, Thomas Frank has already shown he isn’t afraid to change the way his side plays.

Against PSG, Tottenham went with a back five, stifling their opponents and being tough to break down.

The former Brentford manager reverted to a back four against Burnley, however, taking the game to Scott Parker’s side.

This should only be seen as a positive by Tottenham fans. In a direct contrast to Postecoglou, Frank is unafraid to be pragmatic and adaptable depending on the opponent.