Here are your Tottenham Hotspur evening headlines for Tuesday August 18.
Spurs confirm Joe Hart signing
Following his deal with Burnley expiring, Joe Hart signed a two-year deal with Spurs this week. The shot-stopper will back up Hugo Lloris after Michel Vorm departed at the end of the season following the expiration of his contract. He becomes Spurs’ second signing of the summer after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg arrived from Southampton last week.
Speaking to Spurs TV upon his north London move, Hart conceded that it has been a difficult period for him but that he is excited about joining up with Jose Mourinho’s squad.
“I'm here to help the team in any way I can, be it on the field, off the field, I'm here to try and push the club forward,” he said. “There's no getting away from it, it has been a difficult couple of years for me personally on the football field but I feel I have so much to give.”
Hart also expressed his eagerness to be a positive impact, whether he is playing or not.
“I feel like I have a lot of quality and I obviously have a lot in the bank,” he continued. “I'm here to work as a team player, I always have been and always will be, whether my name is on the teamsheet or not.
“It's a squad effort and I know what it takes to win titles, I know what it takes to change a club's dynamic for the better.
“I have huge admiration for Hugo, one of the world's greatest goalkeepers, and I'm genuinely really excited to work with him, excited to push him and excited to learn from him.”
Robinson tips Gazzaniga to depart
Hart's arrival has spurred former Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson to suggest that Paulo Gazzaniga, the former back-up, will leave the club this summer.
“He [Hart] has accepted that new role as a number two, like he did at Burnley, so he’s not going to expect to play, although I do think he’ll come in and get some games,” Robinson told Football Insider.
“Spurs are going to be competing on all fronts next year, coming into the Europa League very early because Arsenal won the FA Cup, so there’s going to be an opportunity for him to play games at the top level.
"If he’s got his head around being a number two, or even a number three, you can see it really working for him.
“His experience around the dressing room and on the training ground will be vital. I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw Gazzaniga moving on.”
Arsenal to sign Spurs reject
After Spurs chose not to hand him a senior contract, Arsenal are reportedly set to sign young defender Jonathan Dinzeyi.
The Athletic reports that Dinzeyi, who was released from Spurs last month and made only six appearances for the under-23 team, will join up with Arsenal’s under-23 squad as the Gunners look to add to their young talent.
Dinzeyi did not make a competitive appearance for Spurs, but he has been capped by the England under-18 team and did make 24 appearances for the Spurs under-18 team.
Few are brave enough to cross the north London divide, but as he seeks to continue his professional career, Dinzeyi seems set to follow an unfamiliar path.
