Here are your Tottenham Hotspur morning headlines for Sunday, July 12.
Tottenham to reject Sessegnon offers
Spurs have no intention of allowing Ryan Sessegnon to leave the club this summer, according to the Daily Star.
The 20-year-old has had to stay patient for first-team opportunities since moving from Fulham last summer and has rarely featured in Jose Mourinho’s starting XI. However, the club insist he’s in their future plans and is not for sale.
The report suggests Barcelona are interested in signing the youngster, as well as another of last summer’s big signings, Tanguy Ndombele, who has also fallen out of favour under Mourinho.
“Barcelona have been told to forget about signing Sessegnon. His future is definitely with this club,” an insider is quoted as saying.
Berbatov delivers north London derby warning
Tottenham favourite Dimitar Berbatov fears his former club could lose their North London crown.
Mourinho’s men are only a point behind the Gunners in the Premier League table and would leapfrog them with a home win, but it’s the visitors who enter the derby in better form.
Spurs have come under criticism for their performances in the 3-1 defeat to Sheffield United and Thursday evening’s goalless draw with relegation battlers Bournemouth, while Arsenal have taken 10 points from the last 12 on offer.
“Spurs have been the dominant side in north London for some time, but that could change now,” he told The Mirror.
“At the end of the day this is about pride, but you can’t forget they want to be even higher in the table.
“As a former player of the team and a fan, I know Spurs can do a lot better than they are at the minute, looking at the position they are in.”
Handling of Guendouzi gives Arteta edge over Mourinho
Mikel Arteta’s ruthless handling of Matteo Guendouzi proves he has the edge over Jose Mourinho ahead of the North London derby.
The French midfielder has been ostracised at the Emirates with Arteta unconvinced by Guendouzi's attitude on and off the pitch.
That decision has been widely accepted by the Gunners supporters, with Arteta's authority unquestioned as he attempts to guide Arsenal back into the Premier League top four.
It is a different story for Mourinho at Spurs, however.
The Portuguese is already under pressure at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and, as explained in greater detail here, has failed to implement an attractive, free-flowing brand of football.
Mourinho has also fallen out with club-record signing Ndombele and has faced questions on whether he can bring out the best of Harry Kane.
