One pundit has made a £60 million claim this week as Tottenham Hotspur reportedly consider cashing in on one of their stars players.
Spurs players up for sale before next season
Ange Postecoglou's successful debut season has also marked the rise of some now-key squad members, like Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma, who were previously outcasts under Antonio Conte.
Ange hands Tottenham employees transfer mission now star could leave
Postecoglou has gave clear instructions ahead of the summer window.
ByEmilio Galantini Apr 11, 2024
However, the Australian's tenure has seen previous Conte favourites relegated to lesser roles. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was a mainstay under Tottenham's former coach, though Postecoglou's arrival resulted in the Dane becoming an impact bench player instead.
Hojbjerg's featured very regularly as a substitute this season, but he's confirmed a level of dissatisfaction after starting just six Premier League games all season.
“Of course I’m not happy with what’s going on at the club. It’s not a secret, but it’s not something I make a fuss about either," said Hojbjerg on his limited game time to Danish media recently.
Bryan Gil
191
Manor Solomon
198
Radu Dragusin (January arrival)
229
Giovani Lo Celso
459
Oliver Skipp
572
“I can put my head on the pillow knowing that I’m giving it my all to show the coach that he should believe in me. This is not the case at the moment, and it’s the coach who has to explain why.”
As a result, reports suggest Hojbjerg could be up for sale this summer, and especially since his contract expires next year. Meanwhile, the likes of Giovani Lo Celso and Bryan Gil are being linked with Spurs exits as well.
Right-back Djed Spence isn't part of Postecoglou's plans either and could be allowed to leave permanently, with the Englishman currently on loan at Genoa in Serie A. There is also the conundrum of what to do with Tottenham's plethora of senior players out on loan right now, but it is likely Joe Rodon will be up for grabs when the window reopens after his excellent temporary stint at Leeds.
Leeds United's loan defender Joe Rodon.
Perhaps the most surprising exit link is Richarlison, who has bagged 11 goals in all competitions and looks rejuvenated under Postecoglou. There is apparently doubt over the Brazilian's suitability to lead the line moving forward, despite his fine form this term, with reports claiming Tottenham could consider cashing in on Richarlison this summer.
Pundit makes £60 million claim as Tottenham consider Richarlison sale
Speaking to Tottenham News, pundit John Wenham has expressed his disbelief at news that they could offload the former Everton star. Wenham also says that Spurs would want more than £60 million for Richarlison if they're going to sell.
"For Tottenham just to break even on Richarlison, they would need to fetch a fee of £60million, it is a ludicrous amount of money,” said Wenham.
“Richarlison should be right down there on the list of priorities when it comes to transfers.
Richarlison scores for Tottenham.
“Spurs have so many players out on loan and a few still at the club who don’t contribute anything, and they need to be sold before a decision can be made on whether or not players who are still contributing should be sold.
“Richarlison is a player who contributes, he has been a key player this season and even to be offered £60million, that is just what Spurs paid for him, so they would probably want to see a higher offer from any of the Saudi clubs.”
Archie Gray, who only turned 18 last month, has been the breakout star of Leeds United's season under German head coach Daniel Farke.
The former Norwich boss has placed his faith in the academy graduate, who had not made a first-team appearance prior to this season, and has handed him 38 games in the Championship so far.
Largely playing out of his natural position – central midfield – at right-back, Gray has been a regular starter, with 35 starts in the division, and appears to have a bright future ahead of him at Elland Road.
However, not every talented young player gets the opportunity to make the breakthrough, and one former Leeds starlet who did not make a first-team appearance was Luke Garbutt, who the club played a blinder with in hindsight, as he flopped after moving on from the Whites.
How much Everton paid for Luke Garbutt
The Yorkshire-born left-back came up through the youth ranks at Thorp Arch and made it up to U18 level before his move to Everton in the summer of 2009.
It was reported by The Telegraph at the time that the Premier League side had to pay an initial fee of £600k in a deal that could have risen to £1.5m with add-ons, which was determined by a tribunal as compensation for Leeds' development of Garbutt up to that point.
Then 16, the young defender had already been capped five times by England at U16 level and racked up 24 appearances for the U17s by 2010.
Luke Garbutt
He was, therefore, a promising talent who had shown enough potential to both represent his country at youth level on a number of occasions and be snapped up by a Premier League team, which was too much of a temptation for Garbutt for Leeds to convince him to stay.
Where Luke Garbutt now plays
Now 30, the experienced full-back currently plays in League Two, the fourth division of English football, for Salford, who he joined from League One Blackpool on a free transfer last summer.
It turned out that Leeds played a blinder by earning a minimum of £600k, rising to £1.5m, in compensation for the left-back in 2009 as his career did not kick on in the right direction after the move to the Premier League at Goodison Park.
In 11 years on Merseyside, Garbutt played 12 first-team matches in all competitions for Everton – including five in the Premier League – before being released on a free transfer in 2020.
The former England U21 international had spells out on loan with Colchester United, Fulham, Ipswich Town, and Wigan, among others, but never played at a higher level than the Championship during those moves.
Appearances
29
Goals
2
Assists
5
Duel success rate
48%
Yellow cards
12
As you can see in the table above, Garbutt has featured regularly for Salford in League Two and has provided attacking quality from left-back, whilst being suspect defensively with more than half of his duels being lost and a staggering 12 yellow cards to his name.
Overall, Leeds inadvertently played a blinder with the defender's exit as they raked in the cash before it was too late and Everton rarely used him before allowing the flop to leave for nothing in 2020.
That means a Test series will not be possible; BCB to relay the decision to PCB
Mohammad Isam12-Jan-2020The chairman of the PCB is set to meet the BCB President this week as Pakistan attempt to keep the scheduled tour of Bangladesh on track. A press release from the PCB stated that Ehsan Mani would meet with Nazmul Hassan on the sidelines of the ICC’s Governance Review Committee Meeting to try and get a clearer picture of the BCB’s position on the tour. It represents the first official reaction of the PCB to Bangladesh’s announcement yesterday, which effectively appeared to put paid to the prospect of a two-Test match series later this month, as was originally scheduled.Little had changed following a Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) meeting on Sunday that was expected to produce a final decision on Bangladesh’s proposed tour of Pakistan. At a media briefing in Dhaka after the meeting, BCB chief Nazmul Hassan said the government had told the board it could go ahead with a tour of Pakistan, but to keep it “short” due to the Iran-US tensions.This essentially means Bangladesh can play a T20I series but not Tests, which was the line that the BCB had taken in December. The BCB will now speak to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) about its decision.”We are clear cut, but let’s see how they react,” Hassan said. “As far as security is concerned, T20 is a better option. They should be happy that we still want to go to play T20s. We just wanted rescheduling [of the Tests], not saying we won’t tour. This is the best thing we can offer to Pakistan.”The BCB’s citation of rising tensions “in the Middle East” as a leading cause of it not embarking on a longer tour would appear to rule out hosting the Test series in the UAE – Pakistan’s home for the bulk of their home commitments over the past decade – as well. But the PCB is adamant the series be held within Pakistan, so that may be a moot point anyway. ESPNcricinfo understands any offer that does not include playing the Tests in Pakistan is unlikely to be acceptable to the PCB.The proposed tour features three T20Is in Lahore, on January 23, 25 and 27, followed by two Tests, originally slated for Rawalpindi and Karachi. But then the BCB said it wanted to split the series, playing the T20Is in Pakistan and the Tests at a neutral venue.It is learnt that last week, PCB offered to fly Bangladesh in and out after each Test – land in Karachi, go back to Dhaka, and then return to Rawalpindi directly for the second Test. Following the BCB’s announcement, it would seem this offer has been rejected.Bangladeshi sides have toured Pakistan in the recent past, but the senior men’s team hasn’t done so since playing a five-match ODI series there in 2007-08. Seven years ago, they were close to deciding on a tour to Pakistan, only for the AHM Mustafa Kamal-led BCB to pull out shortly after the decision to tour was taken.
Manchester United fans are likely to be concerned heading into the new season after goalkeeper Andre Onana promised he will take more risks.
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Onana criticised for mistakes at Man UtdGoalkeeper had tumultuous debut seasonPromises to be even more bold next termWHAT HAPPENED?
United's No.1 goalkeeper was heavily criticised in his debut season at Old Trafford after making many costly errors as the Red Devils crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage and finished eighth in the Premier League. His distribution was also called into question at times, with many of his passes out from the back going astray.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Onana won over sections of the United fanbase as he grew into his role over the course of the season. He says he has no intention of taking a more careful approach in the 2024-25 campaign, however, as he urged fans to "be prepared" for an even more unconventional approach when the Red Devils get underway.
WHAT ONANA SAID
Asked about his risky approach, Onana said: "That’s me. And I think it’s what you’re gonna see this season because I will take a lot of risks. I can tell you in advance already! Be prepared because it’s gonna be this season, trust me! I will enjoy it even more when this season starts."
He added: “Of course, because the best team in the world takes risks. Building from the back, recognise things, situations, when the opponent jumps one against one, or when they press with three or with four, recognise we dominate the pressing if it’s a No.9 or the 11.
“So for me it’s important to recognise those kind of things and make the best decision for the team. I will take a lot of responsibility and I think my back is huge to carry it all, no? I think it’s gonna be nice this season."
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?
Onana will hope to get the new season off to a strong start when the FA Cup winners come up against Premier League champions Manchester City in the Community Shield at the weekend. They then start their league campaign with a game against Fulham a week later.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has explained one of the key reasons why he joined the club and how his style of play compares to predecessor Jurgen Klopp's.
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Klopp steps down as Liverpool bossSlot replaces him and has strong pre-seasonExplains why he joinedWHAT HAPPENED?
Slot succeeded Klopp in the Liverpool hotseat and after an impressive pre-season campaign, they are preparing for life under the Dutchman. Ahead of facing Ipswich Town in his first game in charge, Slot spoke about what brought him to the Reds and that he slightly differs in his approach from Klopp.
AdvertisementIMAGOWHAT ARNE SLOT SAID
When asked how it's been working with the squad, he told : "Very positive. Jurgen [Klopp] and Pep [Lijnders] left the team in a really good place, full of energy, the boys always want to work hard. I do think our results were a bit better than the way we played. But very positive about where we have worked until now and all the boys came back two weeks ago, it's good to see they came back really strong."
On the differences between his style and Klopp's he added: "I don't think that much because one of the reasons why I wanted to join this club was that it was also clear for the ones who hired me about the style I wanted to play. They wanted to have a similar style to what Jurgen did because they were so successful. I think all the teams around the world, and in the Premier League, are successful in a certain playing style and this is what we are trying to do. Of course, there are always going to be one or two differences because we are not the same people. But I am hoping and expecting that many things will be the same."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Klopp's momentous Liverpool tenure ended in May, bringing the curtain down on a spell that included Champions League, Premier League and domestic cup success. Slot has huge shoes to fill and while they are yet to make any first-team signings, the ex-Feyenoord boss will want to hit the ground running.
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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?
After taking on Premier League new boys Ipswich at Portman Road on Saturday afternoon, Slot's Liverpool host Brentford on August 25 in his first competitive game at Anfield.
If Liverpool have proved one thing this season, it's that their bouncebackability is second to none, having recovered countless results from losing positions and weathered harsh storms to win the Carabao Cup and sit behind Premier League table-toppers Arsenal only behind goal difference after 31 matches.
Sure, losing 3-0 at home to Atalanta – who are sixth-placed in Serie A and with the seventh-best away record in the division – in the Europa League quarter-finals first leg is hardly great, as it presents a mountainous task in Italy next week, but stranger things have happened under Jurgen Klopp's wing.
What is irrefutable however is that Liverpool have been out of sorts recently, saved by individual moments of brilliance and last-gasp winners throughout recent matches and failing to muster up the sustained fluency and fizz that is needed to compete across multiple fronts at this crucial late stage.
Two recent trips to Old Trafford have resulted in an FA Cup exit and a concession of top spot in the English top-flight; in both games, the Redmen should have won, but in both games, they didn't.
Alexis Mac Allister has been the obvious constant throughout this period but he's not the only one to have lifted his team, with Luis Diaz hitting a rich vein of form and maintaining it throughout 2024.
Luis Diaz's season in numbers
Liverpool suffered a startling nosedive last season but blame can hardly be attributed to Diaz, who spent the lion's share on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury in October 2022, aggravating this issue when closing on a comeback in December.
The Colombian struggled to revive his erstwhile level of performance in the final stretch of the 2022/23 campaign and was criticised for his "awful" displays by journalist Tom Little as Liverpool closed out a forgettable season.
Luis Diaz.
And despite scoring in Liverpool's opening two Premier League fixtures of the current campaign, Diaz was unable to lift himself back to the brilliance that followed his initial £37m transfer from Porto in January 2022, posting a solitary strike across his subsequent 18 league games.
That's all changed now, with the fleet-footed winger restoring his finest form to play an essential role in Liverpool's conquest for success over the past few months, hitting nine goal contributions from his past 13 Premier League appearances.
The Athletic's James Pearce has even noted that the 27-year-old has been "Liverpool's biggest attacking threat" during the club's injury-ravaged period a number of weeks ago.
As per FBref, he ranks among the top 11% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 12% for shot-creating actions, the top 5% for pass completion and the top 6% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90.
He's a real force, a bundle of electricity, and averages 1.5 key passes, 1.7 dribbles, 3.5 ball recoveries and 4.5 successful duels per game in the Premier League this season, as per Sofascore, to underline this point.
He's certainly one of Liverpool's most influential players, but does his salary reflect that?
Luis Diaz's salary at Liverpool
Diaz arrived on Merseyside as a talented but relatively unknown commodity, though he had risen to the fore quite spectacularly in Portugal and was of concrete interest to Tottenham Hotspur before the Reds swooped in.
The transfer fee paid for his services was not extortionate but marked a sizeable outlay with a further £12m in add-ons. It is unclear how many clauses have been met in the time since his arrival.
Liverpool winger Luis Diaz
However, one of the finest financial measures of the club's success was tying the wily winger down to a weekly salary of just £55k per week, taking him below the likes of Adrian (£60k per week) and Kostas Tsimikas (£75k per week) on the overall salary bracket.
In a different measure of Liverpool's salary success, however, Diaz is earning well over 3x less than Thiago Alcantara, who has played just five minutes of competitive football this season.
Thiago Alcantara's season in numbers
Liverpool signed Thiago, an eminent and decorated centre-midfielder, from Bayern Munich in a package rising to £25m back in 2020, with his elite range of passing and immense technical qualities enticing Klopp into launching the bid.
And while, when fit, the Spain international has been a wonderful presence in Klopp's squad, his availability has been few and far between, actually failing to start over 20 Premier League games in any single season.
And after sustaining an injury back in April 2023 Thiago has been scarcely seen, with his one appearance this term – a five-minute cameo during defeat against Arsenal in February – aggravating this unending bout of ill fortune and leaving him racing for another showing before his contract expires in June.
As a result of this, the newly-turned 33-year-old boasts a market value of just £4m – according to Football Transfers – to emphasise his bitter decline.
Furthermore, he is indeed one of Liverpool's highest earners, and for all his talent, the culmination of his contract at Anfield cannot come soon enough in this regard.
Thiago Alcantara's salary at Liverpool
Thiago has been heralded for his "staggering" ability with a football by pundit Michael Owen but this is no use if he is unable to produce any level of quality on the pitch.
Liverpool could certainly have used his talents over recent weeks and months, providing a cool head and eagle-eyed vision on the field to dictate and guide play and help Liverpool retain control – recent fixtures against Manchester United are a good example of when this could have come into play.
1.
Mohamed Salah
£350k-per-week
2.
Virgil van Dijk
£220k-per-week
3.
Thiago Alcantara
£200k-per-week
4.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
£180k-per-week
5.
Alexis Mac Allister
£150k-per-week
5.
Alisson Becker
£150k-per-week
5.
Ryan Gravenberch
£150k-per-week
Sourced via Capology
The fact that he earns £200k per week as a Liverpool player is, frankly, astounding when considering what he is offering within Klopp's system, indeed eclipsing the wage of influential, ever-present stars such as Diaz.
While an influx of central midfield talent last summer has restored Liverpool's position as a major player in both the Premier League and on the continent, there is little question that Thiago could have been the standout – or one of them – this term.
When combining his £25m transfer fee with his earnings since joining Liverpool, it can be inferred that the veteran ace has drained Liverpool over £63m since arriving on English shores, and given that only the FA Cup and Carabao Cup have been gleaned during this period – competitions that he has not made the greatest level of contribution toward – it's, unfortunately, one to put to bed.
Klopp must drop Liverpool’s 3/10 struggler who was worse than Nunez
The Reds suffered a chastening Anfield defeat in the Europa League vs Atalanta.
ByAngus Sinclair Apr 12, 2024
Klopp's departure will be keenly felt this summer, but sadly Thiago leaving in tow is only something that will benefit Liverpool going forward, freeing up room and resources for the new era.
Australia now need to beat England on Sunday to qualify for the final of the triangular series
The Report by Daniel Brettig08-Feb-2020A stunning innings by the 16-year-old wunderkind Shafali Verma launched India Women on the way to a dramatic victory over the T20 World Cup favourites Australia. In doing so they announced their genuine candidacy for the global tournament and also ensured the hosts need to beat England at the Junction Oval on Sunday to qualify for the final of the triangular series that is proving to be a bruising warm-up for the event.Verma’s 49 off 28 balls, combined with a calming 55 off 48 from her opening partner Smriti Mandhana, were the difference as India ran down Australia’s 5 for 173 with two balls to spare. The hosts had appeared well-placed at the innings break after Ashleigh Gardner’s powerful 93 off 57 balls with support from Meg Lanning and Beth Mooney, but a halting last few overs proved costly as India went on the charge from the very first over of their chase.With Verma batting fearlessly and Mandhana providing key support, there was further support from Jemimah Rodrigues, before captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma helped India to their highest successful chase in the format. With two losses in three T20Is, this is the first time the Australians have struggled to this extent since 2017 when they lost four out of five.Gardner builds after first over dramasLate-comers to the Junction Oval missed a dramatic start to the afternoon as Alyssa Healy’s survival of a missed stumping cost India precisely one ball. Deepti’s offbreak lured Healy down the pitch out of what seemed idle curiosity as much as intent to score, and a lack of turn saw the ball pass the bat. But Taniya Bhatia was unable to collect the ball cleanly, allowing Healy to scramble back into her crease and reset – for a moment.The very next delivery was dragged down short, only to be tugged straight to midwicket by Healy as India celebrated their good fortune. Gardner walked out to join Beth Mooney, and there were a few more nervy moments as a few lofted shots landed just out of reach of the fielders. These near-misses soon gave way to cleaner blows as Gardner unfurled her power game in the fashion that has prompted Australia to use her at No. 3. Mooney was content to rotate the strike, and when she perished to a Harleen Deol full-toss, Meg Lanning offered similar support, albeit speckled with a few more boundaries.Haynes, Perry splutter at the finishIndia’s fielding display was far from the standard required, exemplified by the missed stumping to start with and several other clear missed chances besides. Gardner made merry as a result, piling up 11 boundaries and three sixes while adding 62 in 47 balls with Mooney and then a whip-cracking 79 in 42 balls with Lanning. That stand meant that the Australians looked ready to launch at 2 for 141 with 29 balls remaining, but the exits of Lanning for 37 and then Gardner, much to her chagrin, for 93, signalled a loss of acceleration.Ashleigh Gardner plays a cut•Getty ImagesEllyse Perry and Rachael Haynes added 22 together but took 19 balls to do it, even with one mighty six from Perry in the final over bowled by Rajeshwari Gayakwad. They also survived another Indian fielding muck-up, this time a comedy of errors when it appeared easier to run out one of Perry or Haynes than neither. In the end, Perry was lbw when she moved too far across the stumps on the penultimate ball of the innings.Verma’s shots heard round the worldOn what had dried out into a beautiful batting pitch, the tourists had a chance provided they got a swift start. “Swift” proved to be too mild an adjective for the hurricane that was Verma, who took a hyper-aggressive approach from the very first over of the chase and was rewarded with a series of boundaries. The opening overs read like a list of cricket teams and squads: 11, 12, 11, 14 and 14 meaning the powerplay was to be worth 70 and the target drastically reduced.Verma’s fearlessness and sharp eye were complemented perfectly by Mandhana, who found her own occasional boundary in between plenty of singles and alert running between the wickets. Some formidable Australia bowlers – Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt and Perry – were momentarily humbled by Verma, and captain Lanning was left looking far and wide for bowling options. No fewer than seven bowlers were to be tried, but it was Perry who snared Verma for a breathless 49 from 28 balls to pull Australia back into the contest.Tourists hold nerve for victoryIn Verma’s slipstream, Rodrigues kept scoring at the required tempo with her own sparkling contribution, adding 37 with Mandhana with only a slight dip in the run rate after the opening stand of 85 in 50 balls. When Rodrigues did err, offering a thin edge behind to Healy off Schutt, Harmanpreet provided plenty of experience and poise to the pursuit as Mandhana reached a meritorious half-century.With 16 still required off 12 balls, a tight over from Nicola Carey could have turned the game towards Australia. But although she managed to win an lbw verdict against Mandhana, two fours including one swatted between mid-on and midwicket by Deepti off Carey’s final ball meant only four remained to be collected from the final over. Harmanpreet and Deepti kept their heads for a rousing win. The World Cup race is widening by the day.
IPL return appears to be off the table as ECB outline fast bowler’s rehabilitation programme
ESPNcricinfo staff07-Mar-2020Jofra Archer is on course for a comeback in England’s Test series against West Indies in June, but would appear to have been ruled out of any involvement in this season’s IPL, following a further MRI scan on the elbow stress fracture that curtailed his involvement in the recent tour of South Africa.Archer was said to be “progressing as expected” after his latest scan in London had been reviewed by the ECB medical team, and he will undergo a further scan in mid-April before a return to competitive cricket.However, in a statement outlining Archer’s rehabilitation programme, there was no mention of the bowler’s own desire to make himself available for Rajasthan Royals in this year’s IPL, a tournament which begins on March 29 and concludes on May 24, a fortnight before England’s Test summer commences.”Archer’s focus will be playing for England, starting with the West Indies Test series, which commences in early June,” an ECB statement said. “He will play County Championship cricket in May for Sussex to ensure his preparation is optimal for Test cricket.”His current rehabilitation will progress to a full gym programme and continued running work over the next two weeks.”His back-to-bowling programme will commence towards the end of March working closely with ECB Young Lions coach and seam bowling specialist Jon Lewis and Sussex bowling coach James Kirtley.”The unequivocal nature of that update is at odds with Archer’s own assessment of his progress, with him telling Sussex’s website that he had his “fingers crossed” for an IPL return before the end of the tournament.”The elbow is fine,” he said. “I haven’t felt it for the last few weeks now so I think it’s making good progress.”Speaking on England’s tour of Sri Lanka, Chris Silverwood, England’s head coach, played down any concerns about Archer’s disappointment at missing the IPL.”My priority is getting him right for England and our international summer,” he said. “Sussex will play a big part in that and we will work very closely with them to make sure he gets the best preparation possible.”The only things we have been talking about are what’s best for England and what’s best to get him right for that. We just want him to be fit full stop. We want him to be 100 percent ready, 100 percent fresh and 100 percent fit for the international season.”The update follows Friday’s confirmation that Chris Woakes, another key member of England’s Test line-up, has been withdrawn from this season’s IPL, despite being signed by Delhi Capitals for INR 150 lakh (£160,000) at December’s auction.Archer was signed by Rajasthan for INR 7.2 crore (£800,000) in 2018, and retained in 2019 and again this year. He has taken 26 wickets at 23.69 apiece in 21 appearances.
Few would argue that Tottenham Hotspur haven't made progress under Ange Postecoglou's management, but there's no doubt that this talented team has so much room for growth.
While Tottenham are a work in progress and have seen an exciting first campaign under new management marred by inconsistencies, a return to European competition (in some format) looks like a formality at this late stage of the year.
So, what serves as an accurate measure of success down at N17? Maybe it's a return to Europe's elite, currently six points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa in the Premier League with two games in hand.
But stifling title-chasing arch-rivals Arsenal in the North London Derby this afternoon would likely go down a treat for the supporters, who would revel more in the demise of their nemesis than the knowledge that the distance to Villa had been halved – this is, honestly, fair enough.
Arsenal have been sensational under Mikel Arteta this season but any slip-up in the closing weeks of the campaign could be fatal with Manchester City looming inches behind, and Tottenham will indeed relish the chance to swipe from points away from their neighbours.
Spurs team news
Destiny Udogie will not feature again this season after having surgery on an unspecified injury earlier this week. The 21-year-old left-back is also expected to miss Italy's Euro 2024 campaign.
With Pedro Porro and Richarlison both set to play a part, however, the hosts boast a near-full-strength squad to face the Gunners, with just Ryan Sessegnon, Manor Solomon and Fraser Forster remaining long-term absentees.
Struggling to hit a vein of consistency in recent months, Tottenham have shuffled the pack multiple times and while he hasn't started the past three Premier League fixtures, Dejan Kulusevski will be crucial against the Gunners
Why Spurs must unleash Dejan Kulusevski
Kulusevski has been described as Tottenham's "unsung hero" by The Athletic's Charlie Eccleshare in the past and has served a crucial role in Postecoglou's first-season project, scoring six goals and supplying three assists across 30 Premier League appearances, starting 26 times.
As per Sofascore, the Sweden international has complemented that direct return with some crisp metrics, completing 82% of his passes, creating 12 big chances and averaging1.9 key passes, 1.6 dribbles, 4.2 duels, 3.9 ball recoveries and 1.8 tackles per game.
Dejan Kulusevski for Tottenham
Moreover, the 23-year-old ranks among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for touches in the attacking penalty area, the top 19% for progressive carries and the top 13% for tackles per 90, as per FBref.
This only serves to further emphasise the dynamism and depth that Kulusevski brings down the right channel, and given that Arsenal turn over possession and barrel forward with frightening fluency, it would be a good thing to bring him back into the starting mix.
Richarlison will likely start from the bench, so Timo Werner and Brennan Johnson will tussle it out for a starting berth on the left flank – which is probably necessary given the loss of pace that Udogie's injury has beset the Lilywhites with.
Kulusevski needs to start on the alternate flank, though his success marauding the touchline could come down to Porro – who could be the linchpin for Tottenham's success.
Pedro Porro could be key vs Arsenal
Porro's first foray into English football was marked by inconsistency following his initial loan move from Sporting Lisbon in January 2023 – made permanent for £39m last summer – but he has now established himself as one of Postecoglou's most important players.
This season, in all competitions, the 24-year-old has chalked up 31 fixtures for the Lilywhites and has scored twice and added seven assists, with his strike against Burnley in the FA Cup back in January speaking of the invaluable extra dimension he brings to the field.
So robust in his performances, tough in the tackle and boasting immense attacking qualities, the Spaniard ranks among the top 17% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 3% for assists, the top 7% for shot-creating actions, the top 14% for passes attempted, the top 11% for tackles and the top 2% for blocks per 90.
With elite playmaking abilities and an inborn aggression, Arsenal's chances of succeeding down N17 will be more than just diminished, providing the Spurs backline with both the steel and style to score a momentous result this afternoon.
1.
Tyrick Mitchell
Crystal Palace
96
1.
Emerson Palmieri
West Ham United
96
3.
Antonee Robinson
Fulham
83
4.
Pedro Porro
Tottenham Hotspur
82
5.
Diogo Dalot
Manchester United
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The £85k-per-week Porro has posted one goal and seven assists across 29 top-flight outings this season, as per Sofascore, creating ten big chances, averaging 1.6 key passes, 2.8 tackles and 5.7 ball recoveries per game.
Moreover, he's been hailed for his "titanic" performances by Eccleshare and has the fire in his belly to rise to the occasion against a slick side in Arsenal.
Speaking of Kulusevski's qualities and how this could be used to spark technical success down the right flank is all well and good but without the sturdy, multi-faceted base that Porro would provide, there is no hope that the home team will find the fizz and cohesion needed.
While Porro has been recovering from a hamstring strain since losing to Newcastle two weeks back, his return might just hold the key to sending the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium into ecstasy against Arsenal.
Ange must boldly drop 3/10 Spurs star who Rice would dominate
Ange’s side will have a heightened desire to see their rivals toppled in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
Samu Omorodion has sensationally been unveiled as a FC Porto player – shortly after his move from Atletico Madrid to Chelsea dramatically collapsed.
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Omorodion looked set to join Chelsea for £35mTransfer move came to nothingStriker joins Porto for cut-price feeWHAT HAPPENED?
Less than two weeks ago, the Spaniard's transfer to Chelsea this summer was all-but confirmed. However, the £35 million ($44m) deal fell through, reportedly over an injury that kept him out of Spain's Olympic gold medal win over France. Now, he has moved to Porto for a much lower fee.
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According to , the 20-year-old has joined Andre Villas-Boas' team for just £13 million ($17m) on a contract until 2029. Moreover, he claims Porto paid that fee to buy just 50% of the player, with the Spanish side owning the rest. The Portuguese side can reportedly buy another 15% of Omorodion in 2026 for £4m and his release clause is £85m ($112m). This highlights how Chelsea's big-spending reputation is, perhaps, making them pay over the odds for players as other teams look to cash in on their wealthy rivals.
(C)Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?
The 6'4 forward began his career at Granada before joining Atletico on a five-year deal last summer. He never played a game for Diego Simeone's team, as the Spain Under-23 international spent last season on loan at Alaves.
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WHAT NEXT?
Omorodion's new side, Porto, are back in Liga Portugal action on Saturday evening against Rio Ave, followed by a crunch clash with defending champions Sporting CP on August 31.