Here are the latest Tottenham Hotspur evening headlines for Friday, September 25.
Steve Bruce delivers verdict on Jose Mourinho and his Tottenham attack ahead of Newcastle game
Steve Bruce has questioned the criticism of Jose Mourinho from Tottenham Hotspur fans ahead of Newcastle’s meeting with the club on Sunday.
Mourinho replaced Mauricio Pochettino last November and endured a tricky first season in North London. They have started this season with three wins from four games, and Mourinho will be hopeful of carrying that form into their meeting with the Magpies at the weekend.
The Portuguese has added five new faces to his squad this summer and is keen to do more business before the window closes next month.
Before that, they will face a Newcastle side keen to bounce back from a 3-0 defeat against Brighton.
Speaking ahead of the meeting on Sunday, Bruce talked up the wealth of options Spurs have in attack and defended his counterpart.
“Spurs have a world-class centre-forward in Kane, Son isn’t bad next to him either & then you add Gareth Bale to that. That’s what the Premier League is about,” he said.
“Mourinho will go down in folklore - how he gets criticised is ridiculous because he is one of the great coaches.”
You can read Bruce’s full quotes here.
Tottenham handed Carabao Cup bye to face Chelsea after Leyton Orient decision made
Tottenham have been handed a bye in the Carabao Cup after Tuesday’s fixture with Leyton Orient was cancelled.
Spurs were set to face London rivals Orient, but the game was called off after the League Two side confirmed that several of their players had tested positive for Covid-19.
The official decision did not come through until two hours before the planned 6 pm kick-off. The EFL subsequently released a statement that confirmed a further update would arrive.
They have since confirmed that Spurs have been handed a bye, despite the fact Orient were keen to try and play the game.
The news means Spurs will now face Chelsea on Tuesday.
The EFL’s statement read: “In accordance with Carabao Cup Rules, Tottenham Hotspur have been awarded with a bye to progress to Round Four of the Carabao Cup and will now play Chelsea on Tuesday 29 September.
“The Round Three tie scheduled for Tuesday 22 September between Leyton Orient and Tottenham Hotspur could not take place following the issue by Waltham Forest Borough Council of an order preventing the match being played as planned.
“This followed a number of Leyton Orient players testing positive for COVID-19.
“The EFL Board has determined that in line with Carabao Cup Rule 5.1, the Club was unable to fulfil its obligations to complete the fixture by virtue of the Council’s order and shall therefore forfeit the tie.”
Dele Alli tipped for extraordinary £50m transfer to bitter rivals
Ray Parlour has encouraged former club Arsenal to make an audacious bid to sign Dele Alli from bitter rivals Tottenham.
Recent reports have suggested that Alli could leave Spurs after he was left out of the squad to face Southampton last weekend, with the likes of PSG said to be tracking the player.
North London rivals Arsenal are eager to add a creative midfielder, and speaking to talkSPORT Parlour suggested Alli could be the perfect player.
“I’ve always said they ( Arsenal ) are lacking goals from midfield,” Parlour said. “I don’t think Spurs would sell Dele Alli to Arsenal; I think there would be uproar from the Spurs fans if that happened.
“He would certainly be a good fit. I’m trying to think what he would be worth. I would say £50m has got to be the marker.
“One thing about Arsenal, I think they are lacking goals from central midfield areas, so he could tick that box. He does score goals, he will probably get you 10 from midfield if he plays on a regular basis.”
Parlour also believes that Arteta could unlock Alli’s potential and restart his career.
“Whether he could get more goals under Arteta, I don’t know,” he added. “What he has done with the other players, certainly they are responding to Arteta.”
