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    Newcastle 2 Tottenham 1: Ange Postecoglou’s side made to rue missed chances as Alexander Isak bags late winner

    ALEXANDER ISAK spared Nick Pope’s blushes as Newcastle continued their unbeaten start to the season.It was a rope-a-dope performance, but Eddie Howe will not care one bit as Ange Postecoglou’s decision to go for it was punished.Newcastle ace Harvey Barnes opened the scoring against TottenhamCredit: GettyTottenham equalised thanks to an own goal by Newcastle ace Dan BurnCredit: GettyBut Newcastle picked up the win thanks to a late winner by Alexander IsakCredit: AlamyTottenham were made to rue their countless missed chances against NewcastleCredit: RexThis fixture always promises goals, with the last goalless draw between these two coming in the 1970s, and it did not take long for this clash to burst into life.Two huge banners dominated the Gallowgate End prior to kick off to welcome the return of Sandro Tonali.However, the ‘Midfield maestro from Milano’ had to settle for a place on the bench for this one but that failed to put a dampener on things.Son Heung-min failed to clear a corner and was robbed by Isak, with the Swede chipping it towards the back post, only to see it clip the woodwork.Read More on FootballAnthony Gordon then cut inside Cristian Romero to find Harvey Barnes, but this time the winger’s bending effort whistled past the far post from 25 yards.But Toon’s momentum was halted after a break in play when injured referee assistant Ian Hussin was replaced by fourth official Darren Bond due to a thigh problem.That allowed Spurs to regroup, and Pape Matar Sarr forced Pope into a diving save from distance before another long-ranger went over.But Newcastle survived their spell on the backfoot to take the lead when Llyod Kelly ran down the left into the box and pulled it back into the middle for Barnes.Most read in FootballThe 26-year-old then showed superb technique as he opened up his body to place it on the volley into the far corner to send the home crowd wild.Tottenham tried to respond and put more pressure on the home defence but, much to Postecoglou’s frustration, his side could not create any clear-cut chances.Best ten new Premier League kits for next seasonSo it was Newcastle who held the advantage come the break, but Howe still had several concerns.Kelly’s name had gone into the book after retaliating to being nutmegged by Son by tugging at the South Korean’s shirt.And he was joined in there by Sean Longstaff and Joelinton, leaving all three walking a tightrope going into the second period.In an attempt to try and spice up his attack, Postecoglou replaced Sarr with Brennan Johnson, giving his team licence to go forward but leaving them open at the back.And they almost got caught twice before the equaliser, but the Spurs boss had Radu Dragusin to thank for keeping his side in it.Isak beat the offside trap to get in behind the defence and race through on goal as St James’ held its collective breath seconds after the restart.The Swedish striker had support but opted to go it alone, only to be denied as he pulled the trigger by a brilliant Dragusin sliding tackle.And it proved to be a vital moment as Spurs took complete control as Postecoglou’s bold decision to go for it paid dividends with Johnson at the heart of it.Not even the ardent Geordie could deny that it had been coming, especially after Pedro Porro had rattled the bar.James Maddison got the ball out left and cut inside just in the area to curl it towards the opposite bottom corner.Pope dived but could only palm it straight into the path of Johnson, and the Welsh forward rifled it back across the goalline past the despairing keeper as Dan Burn ended up blasting it into his own net as he tried to clear on the line.The England international will know he could do better, but he made amends by stopping Maddison and Porro later.Isak with the late winnerNewcastle were struggling to get out of their half as Bruno Guimaraes went into the book as frustrations threatened to boil over.Howe responded by replacing his goalscorer with Jacob Murphy, while Tonali made his Premier League return for Longstaff and Lewis Hall took over from Kelly.Murphy almost caught Spurs out after a rare attack only for Guglielmo Vicario to deny him at the near post.But it was Johnson’s introduction down the right for Tottenham that looked to have changed everything and he almost forced another own goal, only this time Bruno’s clearance trickled wide.Postecoglou smelt blood, and he went for it as Timo Werner came on for Wilson Odobert, but it would be his men that suffered a late knockout blow as their high-line was caught out.Joelinton spotted the defence high and threaded a perfect through ball for Murphy to dart through towards Vicario.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe sub powered forward towards the goalie before correctly deciding to slip it to his left ten yards out for the onrushing Isak to poke into the empty net.Spurs huffed and puffed for a way back, but after five nervous minutes of additional time, the whistle finally went to the relief of Howe.Tottenham huffed and puffed for a way back but Newcastle held on to their lead More

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    Europa League draw in full as Man Utd face Mourinho reunion and Tottenham handed tricky away ties in new format

    MANCHESTER UNITED and Tottenham have discovered their fate in the new-look Europa League with the Red Devils pitted against former boss Jose Mourinho.The draw also produced two blockbuster Battle of Britains with both Man Utd and Spurs to face Rangers in the league phase.The new-look Europa League draw took place on FridayCredit: GettyManchester United qualified for the Europa League through winning the FA CupCredit: GettyTottenham are preparing for their first European campaign under Ange PostecoglouCredit: AlamyMan Utd will face former manager Jose Mourinho and ex-midfielder Fred when they head to FenerbahceCredit: Getty – ContributorErik ten Hag’s men will host the Scottish giants while Ange Postecoglou’s side travel to Glasgow.Follow SunSport’s live blog of the Europa League drawMan Utd will head to Mourinho’s Fenerbahce where ex-Red Devils midfielder Fred also plies his trade.Manchester United’s remaining fixtures will see them travel to Porto, Viktoria Plzen and Twente, as well as hosting PAOK, Bodo/Glimtand FCSB.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLSpurs face some tricky European away days as they prepare to head to Turkish giants Galatasaray and German side Hoffenheim.They also go to Hungary to play Ferencvaros.Tottenham will host Roma, AZ Alkmaar, Qarabag and Elfsborg.And Postecoglou, who managed Celtic before joining Spurs, joked he is expecting a “warm reception” from the Rangers fans when his side head north of the border.Most read in Europa LeagueHe said: “Exciting. It’s good to be a part of. Some good games.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSNew Europa League format explainedTHE Europa League has been given a revamp this season, with a whole new group-stage format.All 36 teams are in one big league.Each team will play eight matches in the opening phase – against seeded opposition, in a system designed to ensure that teams play opponents of similar difficulty.At the end of the league phase, the top eight teams in the “final” table will automatically go through to the last 16, where they will be joined by the eight play-off winners of ties between the sides placed ninth to 24th in the table.The bottom 12 teams are eliminated from Europe entirely.Despite there being just eight matches in the opening phase, European matches will be spread over 10 midweek slots.The knockout phase of the tournament remains the same as previous years.”I am sure I will get a warm reception at Ibrox and they’ll look forward to seeing me.”The competition will follow the same format as the new Champions League, with all 36 teams playing eight matches in the “league phase”.Fans in hysterics as they spot PSG president’s reaction to brutal Champions League draw on live TVThe top eight progress straight through to the last-16, with ninth to 24th going into a play-off round.The bottom eight teams are immediately eliminated.Another change means no Champions League sides will drop down into the Europa League this season.On Thursday, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa learned their Champions League fixtures.SunSport has a full breakdown of the fixture list for each of the English clubs here.Man Utd failed to earn European football through their Premier League position last season after they finished eighth.But their FA Cup triumph over Man City salvaged Europa League football for Ten Hag’s men.READ MORE SUN STORIESTottenham qualified for the Europa League by finishing fifth in the Premier League, two points adrift of the Champions League places.This year’s final will take place in Bilbao on May 21. More

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    What is Dominic Solanke’s TV-inspired goal celebration?

    TOTTENHAM Hotspur’s latest signing Dominic Solanke is looking to bring a little culture to his goal celebrations this season.The 26-year-old professional footballer showcased his trademark stunt last season with his former team A.F.C Bournemouth. But what is the reason behind his quirky post-goal performance and why does he don a bright orange mask?Dominic Solanke is an English Premier League footballerCredit: GettyWho is Dominic Solanke?Dominic is an English Premier League footballer.Born on September 14, 1997, Dominic plays for Tottenham Hotspur.Dominic was born in Reading, Berkshire, to a Nigerian Yoruba father and an English mother.More on Dominic SolankeThe star began his football career in Chelsea’s youth academy, where he quickly stood out as a prolific goal scorer. He played a key role in helping Chelsea’s youth team win the UEFA Youth League and FA Youth Cup. After struggling to break into Chelsea’s first team, he joined Liverpool in 2017. In 2019, Dominic signed with Bournemouth, where he became a key player, helping them achieve promotion back to the Premier League.Most read in FootballIn August 2024, Tottenham Hotspur announced the signing of Dominic for £65 million on a six-year deal.What is Dominic Solanke’s goal celebration and what is the meaning behind it?Dominic’s mask celebration is a nod to the character Kakashi Hatake from the popular anime Naruto. He first performed this celebration on August 26, 2023, during Bournemouth’s 2-0 victory over Brentford. Awkward Dominic Solanke interview emerges as Tottenham close in on transfer for Bournemouth star After scoring, Dominic pulled out an orange mask, similar to the one worn in the Japanese manga series, and put it on briefly to celebrate. Unfortunately for him, the goal was later ruled out by VAR.Dominic has previously spoken about how much he loves anime.He told BBC’s Football Focus: “A lot of my friends watch it, so they were pressurising me to watch it, and at first, I wasn’t really into it.Dominic has said he’s inspired by the characters from the anime NarutoCredit: Getty”But then I watched Naruto first, and I just couldn’t stop watching it.”Dominic even acknowledged that anime has aided him in managing the mental aspects of the game.He said: “It’s so relentless. The characters just don’t give up, so it’s always nice to think back to those characters and what they’ve gone through and how hard they’ve worked.”READ MORE SUN STORIESHow many goals has Dominic Solanke scored for Tottenham?Dominic made his debut for Tottenham Hotspur on August 19, 2024Credit: GettyDominic made his debut for Tottenham Hotspur on August 19, 2024, in a Premier League match against Leicester City.He has not yet scored any goals for the North London team.The star joined Tottenham Hotspur Football Club in August 2024Credit: GettyChanges to the Premier League for 2024/25NOTHING stays the same forever.And that includes the Premier League, which is making a number of tweaks this season.Team news will now be released 75 MINUTES before kick-off, 15 minutes earlier than had been the case before.Things could get crowded on the touchline, with the number of substitutes permitted to warm-up boosted from three players per team to FIVE.There’s also a change to how added time is calculated when a team scores a goal, an update to the ‘multiball’ system and the introduction of semi-automated offsides – but not straight away.Go here to read about all the changes to the Premier League for 2024/25. More

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    Jamie O’Hara slams ‘bang out of order’ Guglielmo Vicario after Tottenham star’s behaviour towards debutant team-mate

    JAMIE O’HARA has slammed Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario for his stoppage-time outburst during their 1-1 draw at Leicester.The Italian shot-stopper berated debutant Lucas Bergvall after the 18-year-old’s error forced Vicario into making a late save.Guglielmo Vicario gave debutant Lucas Bergvall a piece of his mindCredit: RexAfter the 18-year-old lgave the ball away and conceded a chanceCredit: RexLate substitute Bergvall lost the ball from deep in the 90th minute, allowing Leicester’s Wilfred N’didi to get a shot off at Vicario.After forcing a corner, Vicario, 27, sprinted towards the worried-looking youngster, pointing and waving his arms to give him an earful.And former Spurs midfielder O’Hara was left fuming with the “bang out of order” verbal tirade.O’Hara told Grosvenor Sport: “I really liked Lucas Bergvall when he came on, he was really bright and really comfortable on the ballREAD MORE FOOTBALL NEWS”He looked like James Maddison, the way he was drifting into pockets. He wanted the ball over the pitch and performed well.”I’m really annoyed with Guglielmo Vicario, because of the way he dug Bergvall out when he gave the ball away and conceded that chance. “Not one Spurs player was showing for it. The way he came out, all guns blazing, shouting at the young lad – that’s bang out of order!”Vicario is meant to be a leader, but he wasn’t shouting at Christian Romero when he left Jamie Vardy free in the six yard box for a free header.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS”I hated that as a player, and if it was me, I would’ve turned around to him and put him in his place. “Bergvall is going to be a top player for Tottenham. Vicario needs to sort himself out and not do that again because that is poor leadership.”Catfish and the Bottlemen announce concert at Tottenham Stadium Many Spurs fans were split by Vicario’s criticism, particularity towards such a young new arrival.Some thought his hairdryer treatment towards the teenager was unnecessary, while others felt he was showing the leadership skills needed for the Premier League.Jamie Vardy returned to the Premier League with a bangCredit: GettyBergvall joined Tottenham over the summer from Swedish side Djurgarden.The midfielder signed a five-year deal at the club after his £8.5million transfer was confirmed.Rubbish Romero O’Hara later added: “Romero for Leicester’s equaliser was awful!”Vardy is one of the most clinical strikers the Premier League has ever seen – he has eight opening game goals.”And Romero walks past him and gives Vardy space in the six-yard box with a free header! Come on, Romero is a World Cup winner, he needs to do better.”READ MORE SUN STORIESMeanwhile Vicario told The Athletic this summer: “I’m one of the oldest players in this group.”It’s just my second year, but I feel like I have more responsibilities than last season. It’s a big honour for me to have this opportunity to be with the young players more and to speak with them.”Changes to the Premier League for 2024/25NOTHING stays the same forever.And that includes the Premier League, which is making a number of tweaks this season.Team news will now be released 75 MINUTES before kick-off, 15 minutes earlier than had been the case before.Things could get crowded on the touchline, with the number of substitutes permitted to warm-up boosted from three players per team to FIVE.There’s also a change to how added time is calculated when a team scores a goal, an update to the ‘multiball’ system and the introduction of semi-automated offsides – but not straight away.Go here to read about all the changes to the Premier League for 2024/25. More

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    Leicester 1 Tottenham 1: Jamie Vardy earns Foxes point on Prem return aged 37 as Spurs fail to finish off new boys

    SPURS supporters have waited all summer for the answer.Would Ange Postecoglou’s side return to the form which saw them storm to 10 games without defeat at the start of last season?It was a familiar sight as Vardy netted yet another goal against SpursCredit: RexAnd he celebrated in typical Vardy styleCredit: RexIt came after Porro opened the scoring in a dominant first-half for SpursCredit: GettyBentancur had to be stretchered off after a head injuryCredit: RexOr would they resemble the team who only scraped four wins in their last 11 fixtures to stumble across the finish line?In the end they were both!Brilliant during a devastating first 45 in which Pedro Porro headed them in front.Unsure of themselves and rattled after the break as Jamie Vardy became Leicester’s oldest ever Premier goalscorer aged 37!READ MORE ON FOOTBALLSteve Cooper may be a new Fox but he’s definitely an old Fox when it comes to management.He kept an ace up his sleeve for Postecoglou as he handed a shock start to the Leicester City legend – and how Vardy repaid his faith in him.The old boy had only managed half an hour of Leicester’s opening pre-season game against Villarreal before limping off injured.But significantly he managed to score in that brief appearance and Cooper was clearly banking on the veteran to prove he can still hack it at this level.Most read in FootballPorro opened the scoring in a dominant first-half for SpursCredit: AFPVardy clashed with Spurs fans and Cristian Romero when he was subbed offCredit: GettyBentancur was given oxygen on the pitchCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSTurns out he can – even though he has been sidelined for weeks now as he recuperated!It was a huge ask but it showed why Cooper has yet to sign a back-up striker.What’s new this season? That’s exactly what Postecoglou did in the summer as he splashed £65million on Dominic Solanke to provide a cutting edge for Spurs. If ever there was a match made for strikers to impress in it was this one.This fixture has produced 128 goals in 34 Premier League meetings – historically the highest scoring average goals per game (3.76) of all Prem fixtures to have been played more than 20 times.  In Leicester’s last season in the Prem the two fixtures between the clubs produced 13 goals as Spurs won 6-2 on home soil while Leicester won 4-1 at the King Power.Spurs were clearly in the mood to maintain the trend as they carved out a string of excellent early chances as they blew the Foxes apart in a whirlwind start.Rodrigo Bentancur, who was later stretchered off after being knocked out briefly, thought he had made an early breakthrough when he powered in a header from a James Maddison corner after six minutes.However, despite beating Mads Hermansen the Foxes were rescued by a spectacular goaline clearance from Wilfried Ndidi, who acrobatically hooked the ball clear.Brennan Johnson then powered in a volley which Hermansen beat away.Spurs continued to surge forward and Solanke saw a diving header held by Hermansen before Cristian Romero flashed a header just wide.Tottenham’s aerial superiority was clear and Solanke had another header saved by Hermansen as the home side suffered a stormy return to the top flight.So it came as no surprise when Spurs took the high road again to snatch the lead just before the half hour mark.James Maddison yet again found an empty patch of turf to work his magic and curled in a teasing cross.Pedro Porro accepted the invitation and beat Bobby De Cordova-Reid to the ball, then left Hermansen helpless with a glancing header into the far corner of the net.It meant the Spaniard carried on where he had left off last season when he scored in Spurs 3-0 win at Sheffield United on the final day of the campaign.He must love Postecoglou’s freedom to roam as he constantly caused Leicester headaches popping up in the inside right channel.For his goal he was dead centre of goal – exactly where you would have expected Solanke to be.However as Spurs new striker had fluffed his two headers, no doubt he was grateful for the lesson in finishing. Maddison was at the heart of everything and he almost carved out a second when he shaped up to strike a free kick.Instead he flighted a perfect delivery to the back post where Brennan Johnson crashed a volley narrowly wide.The gulf in class by half-time was almost embarrassing as Spurs clocked up 22 touches inside the Leicester box, while the Foxes only had ONE inside the visitors’ penalty area.Even when Vardy scampered on to a long Wout Faes through ball Guglielmo Vicario raced yards out of his box to deny him with a diving header.But it is impossible to keep Vardy out of the headlines – the bigger the occasion, the bigger the response.Somehow he managed to haul Leicester off the ropes and back into this game with an equaliser just before the hour.Victor Kristiansen’s low cross just failed to pick out De Cordova-Reid but was recycled by Abdul Fatawu on the right.As Destiny Udogie stood off him, Fatawu sat up an inviting cross and Vardy appeared at the back post to head home.Cue bedlam!It may have been Vardy’s eighth goal on the opening day of a season – only Mo Salah has more – but he celebrated like a spring chicken! Who needs a pre-season when you can pop a couple of cans of Red Bull?Incredibly he could even have won it for Leicester.Decordova-Reid and Facundo Buonanotte combined and the Argentine sent Vardy sprinting clear of Porro.But Vicario dived to his left to brilliantly keep out his low shot to deny the veteran hitman.However the atmosphere changed completely when Bentancur took a sickening blow to the head following a mid-air clash with Leciester winger Abdul Fatawu.Medics rushed on to the pitch with the star knocked out, with players from both sides barely able to look.The game was delayed for six minutes before the Uruguayan midfielder, 27, was stretchered off, having been given oxygen on the same pitch where he had ruptured his ACL in February 2023.He was replaced by Archie Gray, who came on as the concussion sub.When play recommenced Postecoglou – who later confirmed that Bentancur appeared to have recovered and was talking again – made four changes while Cooper replaced Vardy with Stephy Mavididi.But Vardy made sure he gave the goading Spurs fans as good as he got – sending them a reminder of how many trophies he and they have won.Both sides came close to snatching all three points in stoppage time.Mavididi robbed Lucas Bergvall on the touchline, and it took a stunning reflex save from Vicario to keep out Ndidi’s netbound header.READ MORE SUN STORIESThen Spurs sub Richarlison headed over from four yards following a Bergvall free kick.Clearly, the Brazilian is no Jamie Vardy! 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    Tottenham fans say ‘we move in silence’ as they pull off shock transfer for Burnley wonderkid Wilson Odobert

    TOTTENHAM have confirmed the signing of Burnley’s Wilson Odobert.The 19-year-old winger has agreed a deal that will last until 2029 and he will wear the number 28 shirt for the Lilywhites.Odobert made 29 Premier League appearances for Burnley last seasonCredit: GettyOdobert made 29 appearances for Burnley in the Premier League last season.During his time in the Prem, Odobert scored three goals and laid on two assists for the Clarets.The Frenchman is comfortable playing off either wing and started Burnley’s Championship opener against Luton as a number 10.He is Tottenham’s fifth summer signing during a window that has focused on bringing in youth.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLOdobert, 19, joins three 18-year old signings in the form of Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Yang-Min Hyeok.The club also broke their transfer record last week in a deal for Dominic Solanke which could rise to £65million.Odobert’s deal appeared to come out of the blue, with no rumours initially being reported of Spurs’ interest.That’s said to be sporting director Johan Lange’s preferred style, who prefers to complete transfers without anything leaking out of the club.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSSpurs fans reacted to the shock signing on X, with one fan saying: “LANGE MOVES IN SILENCE 😮”Another said: “Not a single rumour. One twitter account mentioned it about 15 mins ago. Wild.”Tottenham confirm £65m Dominic Solanke transfer with comic-style video as fans say ‘wow you absolutely cooked for once’A third reacted by saying: “Just when the doubters were knocking at the door of Tottenham HQ, Johan Lange drops an absolute masterclass in working in silence 😮‍💨”A fourth wrote: “Out of nowhere, this is how it should be!” More

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    Yves Bissouma SUSPENDED by Tottenham after he filmed himself inhaling lethal ‘hippy crack’ days before new Prem season

    TOTTENHAM have SUSPENDED midfielder Yves Bissouma for their game against Leicester, Ange Postecoglou has confirmed.The Spurs boss confirmed in his press conference that the star, 27, would not be available for their season opener against the Foxes on Monday evening.Yves Bissouma has been suspended by TottenhamCredit: PAIt comes after the midfielder filmed himself inhaling ‘hippy crack’Credit: SuppliedBissouma was seen laughing in-between taking hits from a balloonCredit: SuppliedPostecoglu He told reporters: “He won’t be available on Monday. We’ve suspended him from Monday’s game.”He needs to build that trust back with both me and the group. “The door is open for him and we can help him realise the decisions he makes impact the group.”The Sun exclusively revealed footage of the 27-year-old inhaling deadly laughing gas just days before the new Premier League season began.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBissouma was seen laughing between taking hits from a balloon in footage posted on his Snapchat for pals following Spurs’ 3-2 friendly home defeat to Bayern Munich last Saturday.During a raucous booze-fuelled night, the star was seen taking nitrous oxide in a chauffeur-driven limo carrying him and pals.The day after the incident came to light, he apologised for his “severe lack of judgement” in taking the illegal substance.On his return Postecoglou said: “He may be suspended for one game but he has to earn that.Most read in Football“The door is open for him and hopefully we can help him to realise that the decisions he makes impacts more than just him and allows him to make better decisions moving forward.”The former Celtic boss added: “He was very apologetic to me, the club and everyone involved but that’s just part of it.”Football clubs are testing players for laughing gas after epidemic of players doing Class C “hippy crack” – one star left clubless after rejection for nerve damagePostecoglou said Bissouma had “made a poor decision” and that some of the sanctions against him would be “educational” in light of him being “a footballer with responsibilities”.Possession of laughing gas with intent to get high was made illegal last year, with repeat offenders facing up to two years in jail and an unlimited fine.A witness said: “It beggars belief any Premier League star would openly take hippy crack. It’s a criminal offence and Yves now likely faces a police probe, let alone severe club sanctions.“The new season kicks off next weekend and he has let down every single Spurs fan.”Boss Ange Postecoglou will see red. Sharing the footage himself is utterly brainless.”Use of nitrous oxide can lead to brain disorders, depression, memory loss, incontinence, hallucinations and nerve damage.Bissouma said: “I want to apologise for these videos. This was a severe lack of judgement.“I understand how serious this is and the health risks involved, and I also take my responsibility as a footballer and role model very seriously.”Tottenham Hotspur told The Sun earlier this week: “We are looking into the events.”This will be dealt with as an internal matter.”READ MORE SUN STORIESBissouma started last season brilliantly but then faded after being sent off against Luton in October.Archie Gray, 18, who was signed for £40million from Leeds this summer, could be in line for his debut in Bissouma’s absence. More

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    Spurs switch makes Dominic Solanke enticing option for Dream Team bosses this season

    DOMINIC SOLANKE (£4m) is experiencing a massive popularity surge in the world of Dream Team following his transfer to Tottenham.The 26-year-old was already a decent option but his switch from Bournemouth to Spurs has improved his viability significantly.PLAY DREAM TEAM AHEAD OF THE NEW SEASON – £50,000 TOP PRIZE PLUS £5,000 FOR GAMEWEEK 1 WINNER!New kid on the blockCredit: Dream TeamSolanke scored 21 goals in all competitions for the Cherries last season at a rate of one every 169 minutes.Only Erling Haaland (£7m), Cole Palmer (£6m) and Alexander Isak (£5m) scored more Premier League goals in 2023/24.Having previously existed in the limbo reserved for strikers who are prolific in the Championship but not cut out for the top flight, Solanke firmly established himself as one of the most effective front men on these shores under Andoni Iraola’s guidance.Bournemouth performed above expectations last time out but few would doubt that Spurs are a level above – Ange Postecoglou’s side finished seven places higher in the league, 18 points better off.More importantly, Spurs scored 20 more league goals, an indication of the increased service Solanke can hope to receive at his new club.Many Dream Team bosses are backing Solanke for another prosperous seasonCredit: RexA higher volume of chances is just one aspect of what now makes the England one-cap wonder such an appealing asset.Come Gameweek 5, Spurs will have Europa League fixtures to bolster their schedule, giving them at least six double Gameweeks between late September and early December.Most read in Dream TeamSolanke racked up plenty of points in the Premier League last season but a lack of additional midweek fixtures meant he ranked 11th among strikers when all was said done, despite the fact he averaged an impressive 5.8 points-per-game.European outings could do wonders for his overall returns.Dream Team’s Fantasy Football GamePLAY DREAM TEAM AHEAD OF THE NEW SEASON!£5,000 prize for the manager who earns the most points in Gameweek 1 – master the opening weekend for a HUGE payout!Play in Mini Leagues against your mates£50,000 jackpot for overall winner plus other weekly prizesPlay for FREE via Dream Team’s app or website today!It’s no wonder Solanke’s ownership has rocketed to 13.7%, making him the fifth-most popular player in his position with four days until the new campaign gets underway.Needless to say, these gaffers are working under the assumption he will be instantly installed as Spurs’ starting striker, which remains to be seen but given Dejan Kulusevski (£3m) has been leading the line in pre-season, it’s a reasonable prediction.Solanke scored 21 goals for Bournemouth in 2023/24Credit: APLastly, Solanke’s starting price of £4m has to be considered generous now he’s officially switched allegiance.The other forwards in his price range – Rasmus Hojlund, Marcus Rashford, Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson and Ivan Toney – mostly fall into the category of: talented but with caveats (injury prone, poor last season, etc).It wouldn’t be a surprise if Solanke gained even more popularity leading up to Gameweek 1, especially with Spurs due to take on newly-promoted Leicester in their opening fixture.Dream Team New Season Explainer 2024-25 More