There is a lot of excitement in N17 at present with Tottenham splashing the cash for Roberto De Zerbi.

Following back-to-back 17th place finishes, Spurs are spending big as they look to get back to their previous heights towards the top of the Premier League table.

Signing Martin Dubravka, Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi on free transfers to bolster their squad, last month the club also completed the £52m signing of centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton & Hove Albion.

Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali are now set to follow for £85m and £100m respectively after Tottenham struck agreements with West Ham and Newcastle United for the midfielders.

Much more still needs to be done in improving De Zerbi’s squad, with attacking players required after the club’s struggles in the final third last season.

Leao option

One position Tottenham need to address is on the left of their attack after failing to replace Son Heung-min following his switch to LAFC last August.

According to The Independent, Bournemouth ace Eli Junior Kroupi tops a three-player shortlist for that position.

Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are also keen, with the Cherries looking to receive over £80m if they decide to cash in on their highly-rated attacker.

The report states that Rafael Leao has been broached as an option in informal discussions with his club AC Milan, while there is a possibility that they once again move for Manchester City winger Savinho.

In terms of Leao, he would be another statement signing if Tottenham can agree on a deal with Milan for ‘one of the best wingers in Europe’.

Mainly operating from the left but also capable of playing centrally, the Portugal international has contributed regularly for the Rossoneri with 80 goals and 65 assists in 291 games for the Italian giants.

After already agreeing on transfers for Fernandes and Tonali, a move for Leao would be a real signal of intent from Tottenham that they really do mean business in the transfer market after their recent Premier League woes.

Tottenham’s attacking needs

via Reuters

Tottenham desperately need to improve in the final third if they are to climb the Premier League table.

Last season, Richarlison finished top goalscorer in all competitions with 12 goals, and it was defensive players Joao Palhinha, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero who were next in line in the charts.

Dominic Solanke could only manage six goals in an injury-hit campaign, with Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani both contributing five and Mathys Tel chipping in with four.

Given the need for goals, Leao could more than play his part after hitting double figures for Milan in each of his last five seasons at the San Siro.

Following the club’s desire to improve their midfield with the additions of Fernandes and Tonali, Tottenham now need to do likewise in attack if they are to make big strides under De Zerbi.

Djed Spence has been a frequent starter in England’s World Cup campaign, especially since being the only available right back following a Reece James injury.

The Spurs fullback has stood out on the pitch, not just for his performances, but also for the protective face mask that he’s been wearing throughout the tournament. It’s a look that naturally sparks curiosity.

Here is the reason why Spence has been wearing the protective mask.

Why Is Djed Spence Wearing the Mask?

Action images via Reuters

Spence’s face mask is the result of a minor facial fracture sustained in the weeks leading up to the tournament. The 25-year-old was involved in an aerial duel with Chelsea striker Liam Delap, whose elbow clashed with Spence, although he was able to continue through until the end of that particular game.

Spence took to social media following the game to complain about the challenge with Delap, perhaps unhappy with the Chelsea striker’s aggressive antics resulting in Spence breaking his jaw.

Just five days later, Spence took to the field for Tottenham wearing the face mask, as Spurs secured their Premier League safety on the final day of the season with a win against Everton.

A broken jaw can normally take three months to heal, and with Spence wanting to feature in the World Cup, he opted to wear the custom-fitted jaw guard throughout the competition, as well as in training sessions.

Spence told the BBC: “It is a little bit uncomfortable, but it is what it is. I have a broken jaw, so I have to wear it throughout the tournament. It is something I will have to get used to. It will be three months until it is fully healed, so it is a long time. It was painful, but luckily I play football with my feet and not my jaw.”

“It was a crazy challenge, but it is in the past now. I’ve just got to focus on this tournament now.”

How Does the Mask Help?

Brett Davis via Action Images via Reuters

The mask’s primary function is simple: to offer protection. It shields the affected area from direct blows, accidental elbows, and the kind of incidental contact that can occur during high-tempo matches.

It also offers Spence psychological support, as he might have been hesitant to go into duels without a protective mask, but the guard now reassures him to commit fully. The moulded fit also keeps the affected area stable, reducing the risk of sudden pressure or movement that could worsen the fracture.

It also, of course, means Spence can still play, as without the mask he might have been forced to miss the tournament entirely.

Whilst the mask can feel unfamiliar at first, it shouldn’t affect Spence’s game, and he will be able to adapt quickly. Spence’s performances so far haven’t shown that this new mask is affecting him, putting in consistent performances in the place of injured Reece James, and it leaves Thomas Tuchel with a selection headache for when he has a fully fit right-hand side operating again.

USA legend Brad Friedel has caused a huge stir with comments he’s made about Mexico ahead of their World Cup clash with England on Sunday night. The retired goalkeeper appeared on the latest episode of ‘The Rest is Football’ podcast, where he discussed the crunch Round of 16 tie with Joe Cole and Gary Lineker.

The fixture was set up after El Tri became the first nation since Italy in 1990 to win their first four matches of the tournament without conceding a single goal. Their latest victory came via a comfortable 2-0 win over Ecuador, with Julian Quinones and Premier League striker Raul Jimenez on the scoresheet.

Mexican media are now confident they can beat England, pointing to the Three Lions’ sluggish 2-1 comeback win against tournament minnows DR Congo as evidence of vulnerability. The Azteca Stadium atmosphere, heat, and altitude are all expected to play a major role, and there is every reason for belief that they can extend their impressive Mexico City record to 89 matches, having lost only twice.

Brad Friedel Blasts ‘Average’ Mexico Ahead of England Round of 16 Tie

Gary A. Vasquez (USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)

There’s even fear among the English population that conditions in Mexico make a win against the Latin American country pretty much mission impossible. However, Friedel has taken a completely different view of things, branding Thomas Tuchel’s next opponents ‘average’ despite their impressive record up until now. He said (watch the full segment):

He continued: “Just look at their games, they’ve created five chances in each of them. But the players are dead after 20 minutes because they are always playing this uphill battle. The altitude is no joke, the heat is no joke, it’s hard. But England are so much better than Mexico. It would be a complete shame if they were knocked out by altitude.”

Friedel’s comments went down well with a lot of Americans, who loved to see his fighting talk. Besides them, however, he has come under scrutiny, with one X user remarking: “What is this man saying. If they are so average, why would you say don’t concede first? Clearly, he hasn’t watched any of their games.”

A second continued: “Have you watched England’s last two performances? You walloper,” as a third labelled him a “Classic American.” Elsewhere, a fourth concluded: “How can you do that? Mexico might win.”

2026 World Cup Hosts Have Overperformed So Far

Matthew Childs via Reuters

Heading into this summer’s tournament, Mexico were the only co-hosts who could consider football to be their nation’s favourite sport, with Canada preferring ice hockey and USA’s favourites being the NFL, NBA, and MLB. But the Maple Leafs beat South Africa 1-0 in their Round of 32 fixture, while the Stars and Stripes beat Bosnia 2-0 in theirs.

It’s been a hugely impressive showing from the duo, with the latter now looking like they have an easy route to the semi-finals, which would mark their finest footballing achievement since finishing third in the inaugural 1930 edition, nearly a century ago. Of course, Mauricio Pochettino must be given a lot of the flowers, but it’s clear that the sport’s perception is massively changing stateside too.