Tottenham Hotspur

Keifer MacDonald
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham loanee Mikey Moore says the success of Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham in the Bundesliga influenced his decision to join FC Koln.

The 19-year-old became the latest English talent to move to the German top flight after completing a season-long loan move to the RheinEnergieStadion last month.

Speaking on Thursday's Euro Leagues podcast - which will be broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live at 21:00 BST - before Friday's Bundesliga match with Eintracht Frankfurt, Moore revealed that the success of his fellow Englishmen had inspired him to turn down offers from England in favour of a move to Germany.

"I think over the years you've seen so many young players come out here, and there are some really good examples of world-class players like Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho doing really well," Moore said.

"It's a really attractive place to play football, especially for a young attacker. It's a great platform to play, and that was sold to me by the people at the club and the manager.

"They've put real trust in me, and the amount of game time I've played so quickly in my Koln career has been nice. It's been good to have that trust from all the staff and people at the club.

"I'm already happy with my decision. Now I can really kick on, make my own story and build my own path in German football."

Although Moore only turned 19 in August, he is no stranger to stepping outside his comfort zone.

Last season, he made 47 appearances in all competitions, including the Champions League qualifying rounds, during a loan spell at Scottish Premiership side Rangers.

It was the first time Moore had left his boyhood club Tottenham, and he rose to the challenge, scoring six goals and providing two assists in 28 Scottish Premiership appearances.

The experience offered a different test to the one he now faces in Germany, but it provided valuable exposure to the demands of first-team football.

"I had options to stay in England and maybe stay somewhere a little more comfortable," Moore said.

"But the conversations came down to me picking a team, and I wanted to take myself a little bit out of my comfort zone to test myself in a big league and one of the top five leagues.

"When we were speaking, everyone said they thought it would be a really good experience for me to experience this type of football.

"It's really intense, and there are some great teams in the league.

"For me, it was a no-brainer. I made the decision early that I wanted to come out here, and now I just need to push on."

Read the full article here

Keifer MacDonald
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Less than four years after representing Brazil at the 2022 World Cup, Richarlison's downward spiral was laid bare as he scored in front of a couple of hundred supporters for Tottenham's under-21s against Cheltenham Town in the EFL Trophy.

The Brazilian, who cost Spurs £60m from Everton and was rubbing shoulders with Neymar Jr and Vinicius Jr on international duty not so long ago, looked almost embarrassed to celebrate his thumping half-volley against the League Two outfit.

He also notched a penalty in a shootout that Spurs' reserves lost 7-6 after a 2-2 draw.

The 29-year-old was making only his second appearance of the season, and his first since the end of August against Brentford, having been left out of Tottenham's Premier League squad.

Roberto de Zerbi insisted the decision to omit him from the club's 25-man squad in September was not his, following the forward's failed move back to Merseyside at the end of the summer transfer window.

But Spurs are the top-flight's lowest scorers this season with just three goals, so the decision to leave last season's 12-goal leading scorer out of their league plans looks increasingly difficult to justify.

For a couple of hours on transfer deadline day, it seemed only a matter of time before Richarlison left Tottenham.

He was closing in on an idyllic return to Everton, more than four years after swapping Merseyside for North London.

But, after expressing his desire to depart, a proposed move to Hill Dickinson Stadium fell through, leaving both the player and the club with few alternatives at such a late stage in the window.

A proposed move to Brazilian side Vasco da Gama also fell through after Richarlison failed to agree personal terms.

He was also ruled out of Spurs' Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool last month, with only players registered in their club's respective league squads eligible to feature in the competition.

The ex-Watford forward may now have to get used to the surroundings of English football's lower leagues, with the EFL Trophy's group stage offering him a rare opportunity to gain competitive minutes before January.

Read the full article here

Pedro Porro's time at Tottenham is drawing to an end, with Barcelona keen on the 27-year-old defender. (Sport - in Spanish), external

Tottenham, Manchester United and Evertonare keeping tabs on 6ft 5in Dinamo Zagreband Croatia striker Dion Beljo. (Teamtalk), external

Tottenham, Brighton, Juventus, Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund are among the teams interested in Benfica's 18-year-old Portuguese right-back Daniel Banjaqui. (4-4-2.ch - in German), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

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Imagine a world where Manchester City had not used "sham contracts" to build a team capable of winning three Premier League titles, one FA Cup and three EFL Cups.

If City were the winners, then there had to be losers - and not just those teams who finished runners-up or lost cup finals.

The potential impact runs much deeper and includes missed Champions League qualification, relegation and Premier League prize money.

"We have lived through a period of deception," former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino said last month. "No type of punishment will make it possible to repair what was done."

You can see his point. Spurs finished one place outside the Champions League positions in four (although one only was under Pochettino) of the eight seasons in which City qualified for Europe's elite competition.

BBC Sport took City's earnings from the Champions League in the following season, and deducted Tottenham's Europa League prize money.

Over the four seasons Spurs missed out, Manchester City earned £148.2m from the Champions League, with Tottenham taking £29.9m from the Europa League.

The 2014-15 campaign led to the biggest deficit, as City finished second in the Premier League and Tottenham came fifth. City received £71.2m for reaching the Champions League semi-finals in the following season, but Spurs were only paid £17.7m from the Europa League - a difference of £53.5m.

Spurs also finished behind City in the Premier League table six times, with the cumulative prize money difference worth £6.6m.

The north Londoners did benefit in the 2013-14 season, as they only qualified for Europe because City beat Sunderland in the final of the EFL Cup.

Spurs gained £5.1m from their 2014-15 Europa League campaign which would not have been possible without City's success.

Taking into account all competitions, that produced a net financial loss for Spurs of £119.9m.

Learn more about how the numbers were calculated here

Emma Smith
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Leaping high, six yards out, to nod in Tommy Conway's cross from the left wing, Will Lankshear notched his ninth goal in 12 games for Middlesbrough.

It is that positioning, finishing and poacher's instinct, earning Boro a 1-0 win against Wolves on Saturday, that has made Lankshear an instant hit at Riverside Stadium – and a cause of lament at Tottenham Hotspur.

Lankshear joined Boro from Spurs in the summer on a five-year contract in a deal that could rise to a club record buy of £20m.

Since then, he has scored as many goals in all competitions as Spurs' combined team. His old side, despite snatching a draw at Manchester United a few hours after Lankshear's latest winner, remain in the Premier League relegation zone while Boro sit in the Championship's automatic promotion places.

Dominic Solanke's last-minute goal at Old Trafford was the first league goal scored by a Tottenham forward in five months.

It is enough to make Spurs fans despair.

"A lot of fans are wondering why he was sold," Ali Speechly, co-chair of the Women of the Lane supporters' group, told BBC Sport.

"It was likely to do with money - his sell-on price is relatively high, so let's cash in on him.

"I was definitely disappointed. Given how badly we have started this season, as a fan it feels like the wrong decision."

Amid a multi-million pound summer splurge, Spurs allowed Lankshear to leave for an initial fee worth about £10m, with an additional £10m due in add-ons based on various clauses.

Lankshear scored 23 goals for Tottenham's U23 team in the 2023–24 Premier League 2 season and played for the senior side in the 2024-25 Europa League campaign – most notably scoring then getting sent off against Galatasaray.

A 6ft 2in English striker with a deadly finishing touch, who came through at Spurs before learning his trade in the Football League. Remind you of anyone?

"I can understand the comparisons with Harry Kane," former Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson told BBC Sport. "He has headed down a similar career path to Harry and, physically, he has a similar stature as well.

"Like Kane, he looks like a player who is developing a little later, compared to others who are Premier League regulars before the end of their teens."

Tottenham do not have the right to immediately bring Lankshear back next summer. Clauses in the deal give them the right to be notified of and match any future accepted bid that Middlesbrough receive, and Spurs will get 20% of any profit on any future sale.

They have first refusal rather than a guaranteed, pre-set buy-back, but there remains a feeling Boro are enjoying Lankshear while they can.

Read more on Lankshear here

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Shakhtar Donetsk chief executive Sergei Palkin is seeking an amicable agreement with Tottenham over compensation for winger Manor Solomon.

The Ukrainian champions previously threatened legal action after losing the Israel international in 2023.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a Fifa ruling allowed foreign players at clubs in both countries to suspend their contracts immediately.

It meant Spurs were able to sign Solomon on a free transfer, despite Shakhtar believing the forward had a market value of 20m euros (£16.9). The club had paid 6.5m euros (£5.5m) to sign him from Maccabi Petah Tikva in January 2019.

Asked whether Shakhtar were due compensation after Spurs sold Solomon to West Ham for an initial £5m this summer, Palkin said: "We had arguments and discussions with Tottenham.

"Verbally we agreed that when they sell the player they will pay us part of the sale. Now we will come to them officially with our suggestions and our view of the situation.

"If we have problems in these discussions and negotiations we will go to some intermediaries."

Asked who those intermediaries would be, Palkin added: "I don't know yet. Maybe the European Club Association or Cas (Court of Arbitration for Sport). It depends.

"If they are friendly and we agree, then this issue is closed. It's better to do it in a friendly way."

Spurs have been contacted for comment.

Meanwhile, Mykhailo Mudryk, now on loan at Spurs from Chelsea, began his career at Shakhtar and remains the club's record sale after moving to west London for an initial £61m in 2023.

Palkin remains in close contact with the Ukraine international, who is looking to get his career back on track in north London under his former Shakhtar coach Roberto de Zerbi.

Palkin added: "I told him that Tottenham was the best solution for him.

"De Zerbi knows him very, very well. When we signed De Zerbi, the first player he called was Mudryk. He knows everything Mudryk can do.

"Mudryk gave everything to become fit and train at a high level. He's a hard worker. I believe he will be rewarded for that."

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Manchester United and Tottenham.

Here are some of your comments:

Man Utd fans

Steve: It's plainly obvious that Tielemans is not the right midfield partner for Mainoo. Man Utd need someone with a bit of pace and energy to accompany Mainoo to have an effective midfield platform. Baleba or Santos would both provide this and I am not sure why Carrick doesn't see this.

Dave: Only one team in this game and it wasn't United. Absolutely rubbish, embarrassing, everything too slow. I think it's time for Carrick to walk.

Chris: Some big changes are needed from Carrick in the next games. Martinez is a liability in defence with both goals in the last two games a result of his poor defending. Tielemans shouldn't be in midfield as he got caught out too many times. Yoro needs to start in the centre to add more composure and presence - he had a good game versus Spurs. Baleba was bright and positive when he came on so he should start with Mainoo in midfield. Big games ahead for Michael Carrick!

Hugo: Very poor performance. We had no control in first half. It was lucky they were not four goals down by half time. Total lack of quality in the play. It was slow, with no drive or energy and poor passing all over the pitch. Is it lack of confidence? Or bad tactics and understanding of what they are doing.

Tottenham fans

Errol: I thought we dominated the first hour of the game and could have scored five goals if we had taken our chances. We showed plenty of character and determination too after going a goal down and then down to 10 men. Hope we can take this performance into our next game and finally get three points.

Chris: An encouraging performance by Spurs. We now need to start scoring more goals.

Geoff: Gritty to get the equaliser, but poor finishing after a promising and dominant start... again.

Martin: We should have been two or three up at half time. The game should have been over. We were so dominant but it's goals that count. We should have won that game.

Rogers: Good performance first half but incapable of scoring. Except for the Brentford game we have dominated large parts of every game but we have no goalscorer and it's difficult to see how that is going to change.

Emily Salley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Despite the late elation sparked by Dominic Solanke's 92nd-minute equaliser, Tottenham remain in the relegation zone with just three points from their opening six matches.

It is just the fourth time the club have failed to win any of their opening six games of a league season, after 2008-09, 1955-56 and 1912-13.

Spurs have often looked lively in attack this season, but they have lacked conviction in front of goal and only 19th-placed Coventry have scored fewer goals than Tottenham's three.

However, Tottenham fans can take belief from their overall performance at Old Trafford as they ran Manchester United ragged in the opening half with fluid, high-tempo football.

"For the first time this season we showed we are a team," boss Roberto de Zerbi said.

"We played for the team-mates, we played together, we stayed inside of the game in every situation and we attacked as a team and defended as a team."

The Italian manager added on Sky Sports: "I'm very happy because I've seen the right spirit, the right character and I want to start from this character, this reaction, this behaviour."

Tottenham spent more than £250m on new talent over the summer - adding 10 players to their squad.

But their poor start has prompted the club to organise a warm-weather training camp in Spain in the hope it will provide a chance for their new-look squad to bond.

"Now the target is to build the team," De Zerbi said.

"We are a great group of players but we are not a team yet; to be a team is to play for the team-mates, suffer together, attack together."

Spurs face newly promoted Coventry on 19 October before making the short trip to Chelsea the following Saturday.

Dominic Solanke has no plans to look at a move away from Tottenham, even with the club planning to add to their attack in January. (Football Insider, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp, on Sky Sports: "There was a lot of good things in this Tottenham performance. They were much better than United in every department but that is just a theme this whole season.

"I look at the United team and look at the squad, I find it hard to get a team that is going to compete week in, week out. They are just not strong enough."

Former Liverpool midfielder and Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy: "I was surprised at United. I thought they'd be better than that. And they lost a bit of confidence as the first half went on because Tottenham were good. Spurs had more energy, more quality and more urgency.

"The biggest difference I saw in the teams was the physicality, United looked lesser in that department. They didn't have the same power and the same pace as Tottenham. In midfield, especially. [Youri] Tielemans and [Kobbie] Mainoo - the gaps between them and the wide midfielders was too big.

"Tottenham were getting in all sorts of good positions and on another day, United could have been a couple down by half-time.

"United have got to find a system and the personnel to be more difficult to play against. Otherwise it's going to be really difficult to win matches."

Former Tottenham winger Chris Waddle, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I think Tottenham looked promising there, first half they were very good. Second half United upped the tempo.

"Tottenham have played very well. United have got work to do. They've lost confidence and need to build that back up.

"But at the minute I think both teams will do OK this season. They just need confidence."

Tottenham starting XI:

Antonin Kinsky: Not much to do for half an hour. Eventually made comfortable save to deny Amad Diallo. Couldn't get to Bryan Mbeumo's shot. 6

Archie Gray: Decent effort but getting sucked into making a tackle he didn't need to on Matheus Cunha underlined his inexperience. 7

Jan Paul van Hecke: Probably expected to be under more pressure than he was. Header from Tottenham corner nearly caught United out. Didn't get tight enough to Mbeumo for United's goal. 6

Marcos Senesi (off 89, Mateus Fernandes): In control for most of the opening half and would have been unlucky to end up on losing side. 7

Destiny Udogie (off 74, Van de Ven): Had the better of his personal duel with Amad but eventually replaced as faded in second half. 6

Lucas Bergvall (off 65, Bentancur): Lot of energy in midfield and worked incredibly hard but end product was lacking. 6

Sandro Tonali: Given far too much room in the centre of the pitch, which allowed him to dominate. No surprise his cross led to Tottenham's equaliser. 7

Savio: Speed a huge threat to the home defence, one touch took him past Bruno Fernandes. Goalbound shot turned away by Kobbie Mainoo. 8

Conor Gallagher (off 74, Maddison): Early booking for a foul on Harry Maguire but didn't dilute his combative nature and should have done better with a decent opening at the end of the first half. 6

Mohammed Kudus (off 65, Marmoush): Had his manager spinning round in anguish at failure to take first-half chance he drove wide. Struggling to be effective. Not a surprise when replaced. 6

Dominic Solanke: Named captain in a much-changed starting line-up. Wasted glorious chance to give visitors an early lead and fired over from a central position in second half. Eventually got his goal. 6

Tottenham substitutes:

Omar Marmoush (on 65, Kudus): Manchester City past didn't escape home fans attentions. 6

Rodrigo Bentancur (on 65, Bergvall): Idiotic reaction to Luke Shaw's shove and deserved to be sent off. 1 (for going on the pitch)

James Maddison (on 74, Gallagher): Always wants the ball. 6

Micky van de Ven (on 74, Udogie): Kept Tottenham solid despite having 10 men. 6

Matheus Fernandes (on 89, Senesi): 5

Subs not used: Martin Dubravka, Tosin Adarabioyo, Mathys Tel, Ben Davies.

Read the full article and see how you rated the players

Emily Salley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Like so many of their matches so far this season, Tottenham were the better team to start with and they penned Manchester United in with their high press and quick tempo.

But once again they lacked conviction in front of goal and were left to rue missed early chances, with Dominic Solanke, Mohammed Kudus and Conor Gallagher all failing to find the back of the net in the opening 45 minutes.

For the 18th time in 2026, Spurs were unable to score in the first half of a Premier League game and they could not assert the same level of control after the break as United responded.

They were ultimately punished when Mbeumo effortlessly strode past Jan Paul van Hecke and angled a strike past Antonin Kinsky and into the bottom right corner.

Rodrigo Bentancur's two-footed challenge on Shaw - coming straight after a wild sliding tackle from van Hecke - perhaps warranted a red card on its own, but referee Stuart Atwell was left with no choice but to send him off when he planted his head towards the England left-back's face.

Solanke's glancing header won't stop the growing scrutiny on Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi, who has won just four of his 15 games in charge, but it does at least show the team have a fighting spirit as they try to haul themselves up the table.

Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi, spoketo Sky Sports after his side's draw against Manchester United: "I think we played very well against a great team. We had many chances to score in the first half. Three or four. The second half is normal to suffer against this quality. I am very happy because I have seen the right spirit and character.

"We suffered in the game but every situation of the game. I like the situation we were in with the red card. We need this situation. We have not accepted the defeat. We have to react in all ways we can. It is a bad way, it is not the right way. I kiss Rodrigo Bentancur in the dressing room. Football is character.

"We win the game if we play as a team. We didn't win this game playing as a team. Every game like today, we will win many games.

On Dominic Solanke: "He is a good player for Tottenham. There for not too many strikers better than Solanke. Today he was captain because he deserved it, especially in this moment because he suffer because Tottenham didn't score or win any games. He is a great guy, great player and we are behind him.

"We have to believe in ourselves and this football way. If we believe, improve and play as a team, we will score many goals and win many games. If we don't play as a team, it is impossible."

Spurs goalscorer Dominic Solanke, also spoke to BBC Match of the Day: "I wouldn't say it feels like a win. In the first half, we played so well. Dominated the majority and should have been a couple of goals ahead. In the second half, we go and man down and still managed to get something from the game. It shows the mentality and the character of the team.

"We've been a goal down and not reacted in the right way, we wanted to put that right. Goal down, man down, it would have been easy for us to not go for the win.

"I probably should've had three goals today. I wanted to make sure I kept getting as many as I can. I put one away so I'm thankful for that.

On the red card for Rodrigo Bentancur: "It all happened so quickly so I haven't seen it back yet. It shows the fight in the team. Everyone is so hungry to do the right thing and show the right passion.

"We've got so much to work on. The mentality and character was great. We're going to put things right eventually and we'll be flying sooner rather than later."

Did you know?

• Tottenham have failed to win each of their opening six games of a league season for just the fourth time in their history, after 2008-09, 1955-56 and 1912-13.

• Tottenham made six changes to their starting XI, the most of any side in a Premier League game so far this season. Overall, their total of 19 starting XI changes is also the most by any team in 2026-27.