FourFourTwo

Tottenham will be hoping that their testing 2024/25 campaign is showing signs of improvement after they claimed a third consecutive Premier League win at the weekend, comfortably seeing off Ipswich Town 4-1 at Portman Road.

This was good enough for Tottenham to move up to 12th in the Premier League table, but they remain 11 points off the European spots and were knocked out of both of the domestic cup competitions this month.

Improvements will be needed next season and Tottenham supporters will be hoping that the club are active in the transfer market when the summer window opens.

Tottenham linked with Danish international

One player previously linked with a move to Tottenham is Sporting midfielder Morten Hjulmand, whose brilliant goal for Denmark against England at Euro 2024 will have caught the eye of many a Spurs fan.

Tottenham were said to have watched the 25-year-old closely during last summer’s tournament and the Portuguese media are again raising the prospect of Ange Postecoglou’s side making a move for him.

Last month, A Bola reported that a Spurs scout watched Sporting beat FC Porto in the cup, while a fresh dispatch from Jornal de Noticias also mentions interest from the north London side.

This report claims that Sporting are aware of interest in Hjulmand from other clubs and that it would be ‘difficult to retain him’ this summer and that the club could be willing to negotiate around his €80million release clause.

Manchester United are also being linked, but there’s a further wrinkle which may set alarm bells ringing among the Spurs fanbase, concerning where the player’s previous allegiances may lie.

That’s because Hjulmand has an Arsenal badge tattooed on his left shoulder, as pointed out on a Reddit post, which adds that the Dane is a big fan of former Gunners skipper Patrick Vieira.

In FourFourTwo’s view, Hjulmand - valued by Transfermarkt at €45million - could be a very effective Premier League player. At 25 years of age, he would be about to enter his peak years and would fit well into this young Spurs side.

His release clause of €80million is too steep, so that would need to be negotiated down, and as for the Gunners tattoo, you’d like to imagine that a weekly wage of tens of thousands of pounds would be enough to make the Dane reassess where his loyalties lie.

Tottenham are still searching for the silverware that has eluded them since 2008, with coach Ange Postecoglou insisting he always wins trophies in his second season as manager.

Now into that second season, Spurs have been knocked out of the FA Cup and League Cup, and sit 12th in the Premier League. This leaves the Europa League as their only hope of a trophy this season.

Injuries have been a huge reason for their extremely poor season, with Son Heung-Min potentially adding to their injury woes.

Will Son Heung-min be available this weekend for Tottenham?

Whilst it is not the Manchester United of old, the 1-0 league victory against Ruben Amorim's United was a step in the right direction for Tottenham, with James Maddison returning to the starting XI with a goal.

Guglielmo Vicario took the place of Antonin Kinsky in goal after a significant period out due to injury. However, Son, who ranked at No.3 in FourFourTwo's list of the best Premier League wingers of all time, picked up a knock against Manchester United, as did Rodrigo Bentancur and new signing Kevin Danso.

After the win over United, an upbeat Postecoglou provided an injury update on Spurs captain Son.

On the trio, he said: “They all got sort of knocks. I don't think it is anything significant. But the beauty of it now is we can actually get them to recover instead of trying to patch them up and throw them out [on the pitch] again midweek.

“I think from what I’ve heard, knocks all three of them but they should be fine.”

Son is therefore likely to return to action in time for their away trip to a relegation-threatened Ipswich side who have failed to win in six league matches.

After months of injury issues, Tottenham are slowly getting key players back. Provided there are no fresh issues, Spurs should have all players, bar Radu Dragusin, fit and ready for when the end-of-season run-in begins in early March.

Manchester United and Tottenham have been connected with a strange sponsorship agreement since 2022.

The two Premier League giants - who recently faced off in north London just days ago - are both enduring difficult seasons in very different yet bizarre ways.

Ruben Amorim's task has suddenly got a lot harder after news of Amad's recent injury blow shocked supporters, with the likes of Kobbie Mainoo, Toby Collyer and Manuel Ugarte also sidelined for the Red Devils in recent weeks.

After the sacking of Erik ten Hag back in October 2024, Manchester United have continued to dwindle under new boss Amorim for the majority of the season.

It seems their only hope now is success in either the FA Cup or the UEFA Europa League but injuries are once again making the 40-year-old's job at Old Trafford even more difficult.

But according to Mail Sport, Manchester United's minority owners INEOS have been affiliated with Tottenham Hotspur since 2022 and now want to end their three-year association with the Lilywhites.

INEOS, owned and operated by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has been the club's official 4x4 vehicle partner with their Ineos Grenadier advertised extensively by Spurs. Ratcliffe was linked with buying a London club before his investment in United, with Chelsea rumoured before BlueCo's acquisition.

Amicable discussions are said to be ongoing between INEOS and Spurs to bring to an end to their five-year sponsorship agreement as Ratcliffe again looks to tighten his pursestrings.

Spurs and Ineos are yet to respond to the claims, but the news comes after New Zealand Rugby said last week that it was going to take Ineos to court for failing to pay the first instalment of 2025 sponsorship money that was due under a six-year deal signed in 2021. Yikes.

INEOS' time at Old Trafford has been turbulent to say the very least, with even more job redundancies expected to come in 2025. Over 250 people were laid off last year with a further bout of job cuts set to follow.

In FourFourTwo's view, the press around Ratcliffe and INEOS is at a continuing worrying level, especially given Manchester United's on-field problems in the Premier League this season.

Tottenham missed out on the signing of future Wales legend John Toshack when he was just 15-years-old in 1965, believing he wasn't good enough to compete at the required level they needed.

A young player plying his trade in the Cardiff City academy, Toshack received an invitation from Tottenham to head to London for trials with the club, with Spurs having heard about the young striker's goalscoring exploits in Wales.

“I went with two other team-mates to a residence next to the old White Hart Lane,” Toshack recalls exclusively to FourFourTwo. “We trained, and I thought they were going to give me a chance. But when I returned home, I got a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t believe I was good enough. I was gutted.”

Tottenham missed out on Toshack, but he soon started setting records

Toshack, however, soon began breaking barriers locally. His first-team debut for Cardiff came aged 16, against Leyton Orient. Back then, only one substitution was allowed per team.

“I came on with 10 minutes to go and scored a goal,” he says. “I can still visualise it today, if I close my eyes. A week later, we travelled up north to Middlesbrough. I started and scored two goals in 20 minutes. We won 4-3. It was a dream start.”

Making a name for himself in the Second Division, Toshack caught the eye of Fulham in 1968, though a move never materialised.

“Bobby Robson came in with an offer of £60,000, which was good money at the time,” he says. “But I thought London was too big for a boy from South Wales, and turned it down. The Cardiff management were outraged at my decision. The transfer would have been a big money-spinner for them.”

Instead, Toshack remained in the Welsh capital for another two seasons before eventually taking the plunge, this time with Liverpool. The Reds forked out £110,000 overall to bring him to Anfield, where he formed a formidable partnership with Kevin Keegan.

The pair helped Liverpool win two league titles the European Cup, the UEFA Cup on two occasions and the FA Cup.

In FourFourTwo's view, there are hundreds of stories about clubs missing out on players who later go on to bigger and better things, so, while it's certainly a mistake, it's impossible to tell the future ability someone might have.

Mauricio Pochettino has been linked with a surprise return to the dugout at Tottenham.

Spurs, who have bowed out of both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup in the last week, have been hamstrung by injuries this season with current boss Ange Postecoglou often asked to field a patched-up side.

That hasn't helped his popularity around North London, with plenty of supporters now pleading with owner Daniel Levy to relieve the Australian from his position, with the Lilywhites 14th in the Premier League table at present.

So who could replace Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham and who is leading the way?

Spurs recent form speaks for itself. Despite having progressed to the next round of the UEFA Europa League, Postecoglou's men have won two of their last ten Premier League games.

Defeats to lowly sides such as Everton and Leicester City have compounded their woes with Postecoglou once again vowing to save his job.

According to the latest odds provided by Betting Lounge, Postecoglou is now priced at just 4/6 to be the next Premier League boss to be relieved of his duties. Ruud van Nistelrooy at Leicester City comes next at 7/2.

Surprisingly, it is Brentford boss Thomas Frank who is the favourite to take over the reins with the Dane handed a probability of 20% (4/1) to be appointed as Ange's successor at Tottenham.

Next in the list is Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola who is enjoying a terrific season with the Cherries. He is also valued at 4/1.

Pochettino follows shortly behind the duo at 5/1. Ipswich Town gaffer Kieran McKenna is 8/1 despite his side currently languishing in the Premier League's bottom three.

We here at FourFourTwo believe could just be one game away from being sacked. The 59-year-old cannot catch a break with injuries and has had a torrid season, but the way his side is playing at present doesn't at all look easy on the eye.

Andoni Iraola is leading Tottenham Hotspur's list of names to replace Ange Postecoglou in the dugout.

The Lilywhites were knocked out of the FA Cup at the weekend by Aston Villa, with Postecoglou once again looking visibly agitated post-match, as he told reporters, “you can't be critical of our players' performances at this time”. The Australian has seen his side crash out of two cup competitions in the space of a week but has an almost unprecedented injury crisis to deal with at the club, while January signings Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso both arrived late in the window.

With Tottenham 14th in the table, Premier League action returns this weekend with the visit of Manchester United, as Spurs look to win just their third league game since smashing Manchester City 4-0 in November.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou appears to have until the end of the season

Postecoglou arrived at Spurs in 2023 and started his tenure in North London extremely well, picking up consecutive Manager of the Month awards in the Premier League and leading the Lilywhites to the top of the table.

Form has since taken a nosedive but despite the club languishing in the bottom half of the table, unrest among fans is aimed more towards the ownership than Postecoglou himself, who still has the backing of his support.

A report from Italy's InterLive states that there is the possibility that Tottenham turn to Inter Milan boss, Simone Inzaghi – though two Premier League candidates lead the shortlist to succeed the club's current gaffer.

Former sporting director Fabio Paratici remains what the source calls “an external consultant” for his former club, “trying to convince the club's top brass to focus on Inzaghi” – but with the Italian manager ranked at no.5 in FourFourTwo's list of the best managers in the world right now and targeting Champions League glory this season, Premier League duo Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva remain the more likely options.

Iraola has revolutionised Bournemouth in his year-and-a-half in charge, inspiring the Cherries to a record points haul last term before a surprise tilt towards the European places this season. Appointing the Basque would put him opposite childhood friend Mikel Arteta in the North London Derby and see a continuation of the high-pressing style currently employed by Postecoglou – not to mention a reunion with striker Dominic Solanke, who moved to North London from the south coast last summer to become Tottenham's second-most expensive signing ever.

Fulham boss Silva, meanwhile, has led the Whites to the promised land and established them as Premier League regulars, following mixed stints at Hull City, Watford and Everton.

In FourFourTwo's view, however, there isn't a great deal to suggest that Iraola, Silva, or indeed Inzaghi will end up as Tottenham's next manager – at least not yet.

The extenuating circumstances around the club's form mean that even with the club closer to relegation than the top, there is no great desire to see Postecoglou leave before the end of the season. This gives the club adequate time to sound out and draft in another manager – unlike when they famously appointed Nuno Espirito Santo, approaching several other top names before landing on the then-Wolves boss, who lasted mere months in the position.

Even then, there's no indication that Postecoglou won't be given time. The former Celtic arrived on the eve of the club selling talismanic forward Harry Kane, ranked at no.11 in FourFourTwo's list of the best Premier League players of all time – and his job has always had a long-term focus with younger signings prioritised over his time as manager.

Postecoglou remains in the Europa League, too, with Tottenham one of the favourites for the competition.

Mathys Tel was a wanted man on Deadline Day before eventually joining Tottenham Hotspur.

The 19-year-old – ranked at no.32 in FourFourTwo's list of the most exciting teenagers to watch this season – will join Ange Postecoglou's side at a vital time in the calendar, with a host of Tottenham players still sidelined with injuries at present.

Tel, who is yet to score a goal for Bayern Munich so far this season, has mainly played understudy to Harry Kane in Germany so far during his career, but a mysterious clause has been inserted into his contract in North London which not many are aware of.

Mathys Tel has an unusual Tottenham clause in his loan deal

According to Sky in Germany, an option to buy for £55m has been included in Tel's deal should manager Postecoglou like what he sees from the young French forward. Dominic Solanke is currently out injured and he may be thrust into first-team action straight away this week in the FA Cup.

But his performances may not matter come the summer months, with it widely reported that there is an agreement in the contract that Tel has to give consent on whether or not he would like to move to Tottenham permanently.

That means the teenager could enjoy a superb loan spell with the Lilywhites, but may choose to return back to Germany in the summer if he does not enjoy his time with the club.

It is a rare stipulation that has left fans questioning why so much power has been left in the teenager's hands.

"Ange Postecoglou spoke with Mathys Tel at length earlier today and convinced him to come to Tottenham," said football expert Julian Laurens when explaining Tel's move to the Premier League.

"Huge role played by the Spurs manager to get one of the most coveted youngsters in Europe."

In FourFourTwo's view, Tel's signing is a risky one given his age and the fact he has yet to score a goal for Bayern Munich so far this term.

Richarlison seems to have regained a little bit of form as of late so could we see an upturn from the Brazilian that keeps the teenager out of the team? Who knows.

Tottenham Hotspur could ruin Arsenal's Deadline Day plans and throw a spanner in the works for their season.

The Lilywhites sit in the bottom half of the table and have lost twice against the Gunners in the Premier League this season, in what is becoming a forgettable campaign for Ange Postecoglou. Tottenham picked up three valuable points on the road against Brentford at the weekend, as they look to turn their season around.

This week could be pivotal for Postecoglou, who takes a slender 1-0 lead to Anfield in the second-leg of the League Cup semi-final – and he could start the week by foiling Arsenal in what would give fans another boost.

Tottenham might just prevent Arsenal from their dream transfer in Deadline Day snatch

Despite having Bukayo Saka sidelined with a hamstring issue and losing Gabriel Jesus to an anterior cruciate ligament injury earlier this month, Arsenal have not yet dipped into the market to strengthen in attack.

Relayed by transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano in a post on X (formerly Twitter), manager Mikel Arteta admitted that the club are “trying everything we can” to sign a forward when asked about Ollie Watkins – ranked at no.10 in FourFourTwo's list of the best strikers in the world right now – who the Gunners were heavily linked with last week.

Aston Villa have been busy this month to sign former Gunners youth star Donyell Malen and Manchester United outcast Marcus Rashford, with Romano confirming on social media that deals for Marco Asensio and Joao Felix are in the works, too.

But while Arsenal fans may be hoping that such an influx of forwards triggers an exit for Watkins, the Italian journalist has dropped the bombshell on his YouTube channel that Tottenham Hotspur have opened discussions over taking Leon Bailey to the capital.

The Jamaica international's transfer would surely kill any chance of another forward leaving Villa Park, especially after Jhon Duran's surprise move to Saudi Arabia. Tottenham would surely welcome much-needed depth in attack, with the chance of scuppering their bitterest rivals in their pursuit of a dream Deadline Day buy an added bonus.

In FourFourTwo's view, Watkins' move to Arsenal seems like too little too late from the Gunners at this stage in the window – though anything could change quickly on Deadline Day. Bailey leaving would obviously be preferable, however, for the Midlands outfit.

With Villa looking to navigate Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), it certainly wouldn't be a surprise to see the Villans sanction another big exit before the end of the window – especially if they have to take on a significant portion of Rashford's wages as part of his loan agreement.

Tottenham Hotspur are facing a crisis.

Sitting 15th in the Premier League and only eight points above the relegation zone, the club’s struggles are the result of years of inconsistency, mismanagement, and a psychological fragility that has become all too familiar.

The question for Spurs fans is whether this decline can be reversed — and if so, where the solutions should begin...

What can Tottenham do to turn around their recent misfortunes?

A key issue lies in leadership. Chairman Daniel Levy has been at the helm since 2001, transforming Spurs into a financial powerhouse valued at approximately £2.5-3 billion. While the club boasts a world-class stadium and strong commercial success, its footballing strategy has been far less consistent.

Levy’s managerial appointments have fluctuated wildly, from attacking coaches like Harry Redknapp and Mauricio Pochettino to more pragmatic figures such as José Mourinho and Antonio Conte. This lack of continuity has hindered long-term progress, particularly when compared to the sustained strategies at clubs like Manchester City and Liverpool.

For Tottenham to regain stability, Levy must focus on the financial side while delegating footballing decisions to a sporting director with a clear long-term vision. Despite the team’s struggles, there are reasons to believe Ange Postecoglou could be the right manager to turn things around.

Tottenham have outscored Arsenal, won convincingly at Manchester City, and remain competitive in the Carabao Cup and Europa League. However, their Premier League form is cause for concern, largely due to a combination of an injury crisis and tactical rigidity.

The club has been without several key players, including Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, and Pape Matar Sarr. These absences have forced makeshift lineups and put immense strain on those who remain available. A more robust squad with better depth would help mitigate these disruptions in the future.

Tactically, Postecoglou’s commitment to an aggressive high-line and attacking football is commendable but has also left Spurs vulnerable. The defeat to Chelsea, where Spurs continued to push forward despite being reduced to nine men, demonstrated the risks of an inflexible approach.

Even managers like Pep Guardiola, known for their philosophies, adapt when necessary. Postecoglou must be willing to do the same, making pragmatic adjustments rather than adhering to a rigid system at all costs. Beyond tactics and injuries, the biggest challenge facing Tottenham is its mentality.

The team has long struggled with inconsistency under pressure, and while winning a trophy would help shift perceptions, true change must come from a broader cultural transformation within the squad. Under Pochettino, the team showed resilience and belief – something they must rediscover.

Recruitment should prioritize players with strong leadership qualities and a winning mindset. For Tottenham to move forward, several key changes are necessary. Levy must relinquish control over footballing matters and allow a sporting director to implement a defined strategy.

Postecoglou should remain in charge but with greater tactical flexibility. Squad depth must improve to better withstand injury crises, and a cultural shift is needed to instil a sense of resilience and confidence.

With these adjustments, there is no reason Spurs cannot recover. However, the club must commit to a long-term vision rather than continually seeking short-term fixes. The path to success is clear – it’s now a question of whether Tottenham is ready to take it.

Manchester United academy graduate Angel Gomes is wanted by Tottenham – but the England international has already given his seal of approval to an Old Trafford return.

Gomes signed for the Red Devils' youth team at the age of just six years old, rising through the ranks at Carrington before leaving in 2020. After just five Premier League appearances, the diminutive midfielder made the leftfield choice to move to Lille in Ligue 1 for his development.

The move has stood Gomes in good stead. The 24-year-old is now a full England international and has developed into an excellent deep-lying playmaker for new Three Lions boss, Thomas Tuchel.

Angel Gomes is torn between Manchester United and Tottenham

With his contract up at the end of the season, however, Gomes is free to sign a pre-agreement with any overseas club to join on a free transfer at the end of the current campaign.

GiveMeSport are now reporting that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is personally involved in discussions to sign the star this month – though the player himself has already publicly endorsed a return to the Theatre of Dreams over a move to North London.

Speaking to L’Equipe in 2022, Gomes admitted that it was tough for him to leave Manchester United – and though he was released in 2020 after a contract extension could not be agreed, he said that he would “obviously” want to return, calling Old Trafford “home”.

“It was a very difficult decision,” Gomes said. “In my heart, I wanted to leave, in my head, I was thinking of staying. But I had to follow my heart. I felt that I needed to take another step in my career.

“I felt that had I stayed, there wouldn’t be a lot of opportunities for me. Luis Campos [Lille's then sporting director] and Lille spoke about their project and I believed in it even more, that’s what convinced me to move - the faith Lille had in me.

“Do I imagine myself coming back one day? Obviously, it’s home. I would love to come back. But you never know in football. I just have to keep my feet on the ground, and keep playing, making the most of it. I can’t predict what will happen in the future.”

In FourFourTwo's view, Gomes will likely hold out until the summer, rather than rushing a move before the end of the January transfer window. The midfielder stands to receive a signing-on fee – and have his pick of clubs – should he wait, so it doesn't make sense to sign for Tottenham now, when he could be better positioned in just a few months time.