FourFourTwo

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.

Tottenham Hotspur still have the transfer pull to have beaten over 20 clubs for the signature of a highly-rated young prospect – including arch-rivals Arsenal.

Last season, Lilywhites manager Ange Postecoglou spoke exclusively to FourFourTwo to reveal a few of his secrets, including how he believes it's “hard to get recruitment wrong” at the top level when it comes to signing players. The Australian has overseen a major rebuild since the club lost top scorer and talisman Harry Kane, ranked at no.6 in FourFourTwo's list of the best players in the world right now, with 17 permanent incomings made under his watch.

But despite the poor form that has seen odds mount on Postecoglou's successor, Tottenham are still seen as an attractive enough prospect that stars turn down the elite of Europe to join Postecoglou's project.

Tottenham pipped the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, Barcelona, Juventus, Atalanta, RB Leipzig, Ajax and Dortmund to major signing

“I mean first, I don’t see them as players – they’re people,” Postecoglou told FourFourTwo last year. “Particularly when you get to this level, there are so many wonderfully talented players around the world. People talk about recruiting, but it’s pretty hard to get it wrong as they’re all so good.

“It’s more about the fit. Do they fit into the football we want to play? Are they the right kind of personality? That’s a big one for me – with the way we play, you need to have a certain mindset as an individual, to be brave and to want to challenge yourself on a daily basis.”

It would seem this approach worked nicely with Swedish schemer Lucas Bergvall, according to a report from Fotboll Direkt.

The midfielder was tracked by a whopping 24 clubs with Champions League regulars Arsenal, Juventus and Barcelona all in the mix for the star alongside clubs more renowned for youth development, like Ajax, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig.

Bergvall eventually signed for Tottenham in February of last year, with a pitch from Postecoglou, ranked at no.36 in FourFourTwo's list of the best managers in the world right now, though to be pivotal to his decision to sign for the club for a fee believed to be around £8.5 million, as per the BBC.

FourFourTwo understands that this is a path that Spurs intend to follow regardless of the Australian's future as manager.

The likes of Archie Gray, Ashley Phillips and Alejo Veliz have joined in the past few windows to strengthen the North Londoners' young core, as the club look to compete with rich rivals by spending a fraction in comparison. Gray, for example, has been a huge hit and is ranked at no.22 in FourFourTwo's list of the most exciting teenagers to watch this season.

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to Erik ten Hag as a potential replacement for the under-fire Ange Postecoglou.

The Lilywhites sit comfortably in the bottom half of the table with a weekend defeat to strugglers Leicester City piling the woe on Postecoglou. Tottenham have won just seven games and lost 13 this season, with the Australian having lost 25 times since taking over the club at the start of last season.

Spurs now look to be closer to a battle for survival than a fight for Europe, as they return to Premier League action next weekend with another tough test away to Brentford.

Postecoglou – ranked at no.36 in FourFourTwo's list of the best managers in the world right now – brought a fresh energy to Tottenham when he first arrived from Celtic. He became the first manager to win the Premier League Manager of the Month award for the first three months of a single season, going unbeaten for the first 10 games of his tenure.

Eventually, the North Londoners slumped from first in the table to fifth though, with the 59-year-old cutting a frustrated figure this term, as injuries have mounted for his side.

football.london have reported that Spurs are going to keep faith with Postecoglou for now, despite the club's relegation form – and Postecoglou's own deflection when asked about Tottenham fans chanting for chairman Daniel Levy to leave the club.

“Certainly, something I wanted to try and do when I took on this role was to try to unify the club and create an environment here where we are all focused on the one thing. Obviously it hasn't worked out that way,” he said. “It's understandable, like you said, the fans are not happy with our current situation.”

Now, Spanish outlet Fichajes have claimed that recently sacked Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is in the frame for the job.

The Dutchman could well be seen as a trophy specialist, having picked up two domestic cups in two full seasons at Old Trafford, despite the tumult behind the scenes. Though United staggered to their worst-ever Premier League finish in Ten Hag's second campaign, they were impressive in his first – and with the former Ajax manager's name in the mix for the Borussia Dortmund gig, Levy could well line up a new boss, despite having one foot in the League Cup final, just as he sacked Jose Mourinho despite reaching the showpiece in 2021.

In FourFourTwo's view, much of the ire from the supporters is aimed at Levy given that world-renowned coaches – such as Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, ranked at no.12 and no.93 respectively in FourFourTwo's list of the greatest managers of all time – have met the same fate as Postecoglou.

The Australian's recent comments of a club divided certainly suggest that a parting could be close, however. Ten Hag is unlikely to unite fans massively – but Levy may look to appoint an interim, should form continue to slide.