Tottenham star ‘unhappy’ in London as Thomas Frank confirms nightmare scenario
Tottenham have a few headaches heading into Sunday’s North London Derby against Arsenal
Tottenham lost a lot of their early-season momentum – and at the worst possible time too. A huge North London derby against Arsenal is next on the agenda, swiftly followed by a high-stakes Champions League meeting with PSG.
Thomas Frank’s side opened the campaign at full throttle, winning five of their first seven matches in all competitions after coming within a whisker of a famous Super Cup victory over PSG. But a tough run over the past month – defeats to Aston Villa, Newcastle and Chelsea, plus a stoppage-time equaliser conceded against Manchester United – has drained much of their early confidence and spark.
Spurs remain in a solid position, sitting fifth in the Premier League and 10th in the Champions League standings after an undefeated start to the latter but it’s clear Frank has work to do to reignite his team after a sputtering spell. With that in mind, here’s a roundup of the latest Tottenham news.
Tel ‘unhappy’ in London
Mathys Tel is reportedly growing unsettled in London mere months after signing for Tottenham. The French forward, who joined Spurs on loan from Bayern Munich at the start of the year before signing outright in the summer, is said to be open to a January departure after struggling to secure a regular place in Frank’s starting XI.
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Tel has featured for only 24 minutes over the past month, with competition in Tottenham’s attack exceptionally fierce. Richarlison, Randal Kolo Muani, Dominic Solanke, Mohammed Kudus, Wilson Odobert and Brennan Johnson are all vying for the same positions, leaving opportunities limited.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, AS Roma are considering a loan bid – and Spurs are open to letting him leave. However, Tel’s goal against Manchester United earlier this month may prompt Frank to give the youngster a more prominent role in the coming weeks – which could potentially shift the club’s – and the player’s stance in the weeks ahead.
Nightmare injury scenario
Tottenham may be without Pape Matar Sarr for Sunday’s trip to Arsenal. The midfielder, a mainstay in Frank’s side this season, limped off during Senegal’s 2-0 defeat to Brazil on Saturday.
At first the issue appeared minor, with Senegal manager Pape Thiaw downplaying its severity. But Sarr was then omitted from Senegal’s 8–0 win over Kenya on Tuesday, casting serious doubt over his availability for the weekend.
“We left him in London,” Thiaw confirmed. “He took a knock, and we felt it would be difficult for him to recover in just two days. Since we were in his home city, we preferred to leave him with his club so he could receive treatment there.”
Tottenham are already stretched, with Dominic Solanke, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Radu Dragusin all sidelined. Yves Bissouma, Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray are also doubts for the North London Derby, leaving Spurs worryingly thin in central midfield.
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
