Tottenham transfer news

WITH Mo Salah and Spurs, you knew there would be fire.Not the kind of flames the Egyptian warned he would unleash if he spoke to reporters after last week’s touchline bust-up with Jurgen Klopp.Mo Salah headed Liverpool into an early lead against TottenhamCredit: PAAndy Robertson pounced from close-range to double the advantage before the breakCredit: GettyLiverpool’s Cody Gakpo headed home his team’s third moments after the restartCredit: AFPHarvey Elliott scored a rocket to make it four in front of the KopCredit: AFPBut the sort of blazing scoring form that has made him one of the Premier League’s hottest goal-getters in the last seven years – with Tottenham so often getting burnt.Salah’s opener here, after he was put straight back into the team following that fracas at West Ham, was his 12th strike against the North Londoners.The only club to feel his wrath more is Manchester United, against whom he has notched 14.His other favoured opposition are Manchester City, West Ham (both 11) and Arsenal (ten) – summing up just what a big-game player the 31-year-old is.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLSalah may have faded in recent weeks, this game aside.But that lethal record against the best the Premier League has to offer shows how much the Reds will miss him if he does follow Klopp out the exit door this summer.Having said that, Spurs looked more like the worst in the top flight today as Ange Postecoglou’s struggling side made it easy for their hosts.From Guglielmo Vicario’s weak effort to repel Salah’s early header, to Emerson Royal having his pocket picked in the build-up to Cody Gakpo making it 3-0, the visitors had a shocker.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSLeft-back Andy Robertson made it two goals in as many games in between those strikes, firing in after a shot was saved by Salah, who also teed up a worldie for Harvey Elliott.The emphatic victory kept Liverpool technically in the title race, even though it would take a miracle for them to overhaul City and Arsenal at this point.Jurgen Klopp vows NEVER to watch TNT Sports again as Liverpool boss launches hilarious rant over ‘favourite TV channel’It resembled more of a fun day out for fans to remind them of what their icon Klopp is capable of creating on what was his penultimate home game in charge before he walks into the sunset at the end of the season.The Anfield experience must have been anything but fun for boyhood Liverpool supporter Postecoglou, whose first campaign is in danger of unravelling.This was their fourth defeat on the trot, their second where they have shipped four and their dismal away record in the league now stands at one win in nine.More worryingly, the free-flowing fare dubbed Angeball which delivered a hat-trick of Manager of the Month awards at the start of the season was in short supply.That was save for two late strikes, which proved to be consolations but at the time added a bit of drama, through ex-Evertonian Richarlison and Son Heung-min.They did not get close to capitalising on the favour Aston Villa did them by losing at Brighton earlier in the day.And now with three games left, including a home clash with imperious-looking City, they are seven points off Unai Emery’s fourth-placed side.Worse still, Spurs have in-form pair Newcastle and Chelsea in their rearview mirror.The Toon are only four points behind and, whisper it, old boss Mauricio Pochettino and his Blues are just two further away.Postecoglou wanted a reaction after Thursday’s dismal 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge and Spurs actually looked OK for the opening five minutes or so.It was downhill from there, though.Salah struck the crossbar with an effort which surely must have been intended to be a cross on eight minutes, before Cristian Romero cleared an Elliott strike off the line.The hosts did not have to wait too much longer to find the back of the net as the impressive Gakpo clipped a gorgeous ball over to Salah, who had lost his marker Royal completely.His header was accurate enough towards the near post but Vicario will be disappointed he was so easily beaten.Former Everton forward Richarlison grabbed a goal back for Spurs after coming off the benchCredit: APSon Heung-Min then scored another as Spurs threatened a late rallyCredit: GettyLiverpool grew in confidence – no mean feat given their patchy recent form – and it was just a matter of time before the second went in.Gakpo, Robertson, Luis Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold all went close before Liverpool’s favourite Scottish left-back converted just before the break.Robertson had laid an Alexander-Arnold cross back to Salah and was Johnny on the Spot to turn in the rebound when the Egyptian’s shot had been saved.As the whistle went for the break, Romero and Emerson Royal had to be separated by goalie Vicario as frustration threatened to boil over.Whatever Postecoglou’s half-time team-talk was, it did not work as Gakpo headed in Elliott’s superb delivery for number three within five minutes of the interval.Elliott then netted the goal of the game just before the hour by driving a shot into the top corner from 22 yards. Gareth Southgate, if he was watching, will no doubt have been hugely impressed by the 21-year-old.It was getting embarrassing for Postecoglou, just like it had been at Brighton, Fulham and Newcastle since Christmas.But similarly to the 4-2 loss at the Amex at the end of December, his side did salvage some pride with a late rally.The first came when Richarlison hit his 11th of the season by coolly slotting home Brennan Johnson’s cross.Brazilian No9 Richarlison then teed up Son who became the first ever Premier League player to score in four consecutive matches at Anfield.No wonder Klopp thinks missing out on signing the South Korean is his biggest transfer mistake of his Reds tenure.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe late goals merely papered over the cracks for sinking Spurs though.While their nemesis Salah could even afford a wry smile when being flagged offside after burying in what he thought was his 13th strike against one of his favourite opponents.Jurgen Klopp only has one more game left to go at AnfieldCredit: PAAnge Postecoglou’s awful run of results continued despite the late rallyCredit: Getty More

ANGE POSTECOGLOU warned players and even staff members could go in his bid to turn Spurs into title challengers.The Aussie already implemented an overhaul in his first two transfer windows but, after three straight defeats, revealed more change is on its way.Ange Postecoglou says he is ready to make big callsCredit: AlamyTimo Werner’s loan deal can be made permanent for £15mCredit: GettyPlaymaker James Maddison’s form for Spurs has dipped recentlyCredit: RexPostecoglou, whose Tottenham side’s Champions League hopes are hanging by the thinnest of threads, said: “We’ve already made tough decisions.“We let some experienced players leave the club at the beginning of the year, some by choice.“But I feel like if we’re really going to change, that means change. You have to make decisions.“Some of those decisions aren’t that tough because, whether it’s a player or a staff member, they realise it themselves.READ MORE TOP STORIES“But some of them you have to make just because of change, not necessarily because they don’t fit in the picture.“I’ve got to change this squad.  I’ve got to build a squad I think can play our football. For that to happen, there have to be exits.”Postecoglou witnessed the early stages of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool revolution up close with a Boxing Day trip to Anfield in 2016.And just like the Reds board backed the German’s vision then — to great reward — Postecoglou feels he has the support of  Spurs’ hierarchy now to continue his own overhaul.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe Aussie will head to Anfield on Sunday with some fans doubting him after three straight losses — including two painful London derby defeats to Arsenal and Chelsea.Yet he is further ahead than Klopp was in his first Reds campaign, where he finished eighth, given the Spurs chief is on course to come fifth.Jamie Redknapp forced to apologise after ‘stealing Sky Sports host’s thunder’ in awkward moment on live TVPostecoglou recalled a visit to take in Liverpool’s 4-1 thrashing of Stoke seven-and-a-half years ago in Klopp’s second season — which ended with the Reds finishing fourth — when discussing his own backing from Spurs bosses.The 58-year-old, a boyhood Liverpool fan, said: “In 2016 I came over with the family and  took my oldest son to Anfield to watch Liverpool.“It was just at the beginning of that building phase and, to be fair, they hadn’t done anything significant up until that point.“But there was just a real energy in the stadium around Jurgen.“The whole club, the supporters, everyone had bought into him, even though they hadn’t quite got to where they wanted to yet.“But I felt that in the stadium and that’s why I’ve always got drawn to managers like that.“You could see he could see things that others couldn’t in that time.“For the most part with the most successful clubs, that’s the  formula.“Part of that responsibility lies on me to make sure  I’m leading in a way that allows people to believe in me and support me because . . . it’s the only way I’m going to have success.“I’m not going to do it on my own, that’s for sure. I never have. Wherever I’ve been, I’ve had great support and right now I’ve all the support I need.“I really feel like the club has bought into the vision I have and it’s up to me to maintain that.”Some Spurs supporters questioned Postecoglou’s appointment in June from Celtic, arguing his success in Japan and Scotland was not enough to warrant a top Premier League job.Those worries soon vanished when he started the season like a house on fire, going unbeaten in his first ten games to send Tottenham top of the league.Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are under the microscopeCredit: GettyYet that old narrative has reared its head again after losses to Newcastle, Arsenal and Chelsea have now left Spurs’ Champions League chances almost in tatters.Thursday’s display in a 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge was particularly concerning.Some fans are worried that though his open, attacking, uncompromising style won league titles with Yokohama and Celtic, it may not necessarily translate to the Premier League.And straight-talking Postecoglou understands he will have doubters until he delivers success.He explained: “What do you reckon they said when I got to Japan? [The same].“What do you reckon they said when I got to Scotland?“I get that. I understand that. It’s legitimate until success comes and then it doesn’t become legitimate.“My role is to navigate us to where I think we’ll be successful.“It’s not new to me. It’s not something I haven’t been asked before.“I’ve always just navigated it exactly the same way.“But that doesn’t mean those questions shouldn’t be there because until you achieve something, obviously people are just going to try and figure out if my ideas are going to work here.“That’s understandable. Until you have success, of course those questions are going to remain.Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s future at Tottenham is at doubtCredit: Rex“But do I have any doubts?  Absolutely none. I have clarity in terms of building us a club which will become successful.“I believe what I believe, down to my core. I’ll stand on the highest ground, die a noble death, believing in what I believe.”With Spurs’ hopes of a top-four finish seemingly wrecked, Ange Postecoglou knows he needs to overhaul his squad next season.Here, SunSport’s TOM BARCLAY runs the rule over who is likely to survive the cull — and who is in danger of going.FIVE TO STAYGUGLIELMO VICARIO: A little shaky from set-pieces but, overall, a big hit for just £16million.CRISTIAN ROMERO: Postecoglou hailed the World Cup winner as “outstanding”.MICKY VAN DE VEN: Dutch heir-apparent to Virgil van Dijk and lightning quick.DESTINY UDOGIE: Sensational in the first half of his maiden campaign and still so young.JAMES MADDISON: Tailed off recently but when he’s good, he’s perfect for Postecoglou.FIVE TO GOPIERRE-EMILE HOJBJERG: Dependable but not a natural Ange fit. One year left on his deal.BRYAN GIL: Talented but looks too lightweight for the Premier League.RYAN SESSEGNON: Injury issues mean Spurs may let him go for nothing.OLIVER SKIPP: A rare home-grown player but Postecoglou has hardly given him a look-in.TANGUY NDOMBELE: Spurs’ biggest-ever flop will be back this summer — but surely not for long.FIVE IN DOUBTYVES BISSOUMA: Form has nosedived since electric start to the season.GIO LO CELSO: Has shown glimpses but rarely features and has only a year left.EMERSON ROYAL: Spurs rejected £25m Saudi offer in January but may rethink.READ MORE SUN STORIESTIMO WERNER: Club can make his loan permanent for just £15m — but jury is out as to whether it is worth it.MANOR SOLOMON: Injury has ruined Israeli’s first season, prompting durability concerns. More