Tottenham Hotspur

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi has won the Premier League Manager of the Month award for October.

De Zerbi, who took charge of Spurs in March 2026, led his side to three wins and a draw last month to pull them out of the relegation zone and into 11th place on 12 points.

He told the Tottenham Hotspur website, external: "I feel good, I am happy. I want to say thanks to my players, to my club because it is not my credit but you know when you are a coach you work with many, many people and it's right to say thank you for everybody.

"The first five games in this season were not good enough and from Manchester United game [1-1 draw] we changed things - we changed behaviour, we changed quality of the play, we changed the quality of performance of the players and for this reaction I am very proud."

The Italian is the first Spurs boss to win the award since Ange Postecoglou, who claimed it three months in a row between August and October 2023.

AC Milan's French midfielder Youssouf Fofana, 27, who is currently on loan at Sevilla, is attracting interest from both Tottenham and Juventus. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external

Everton could make a move for midfielder Conor Gallagher, 26, if the Englishman is made available for transfer by the north London club in January. (Football Insider), external

Mikey Moore, 19, could be heading back to Rangers, with Spurs considering ending the Englishman's current loan spell at Cologne in January. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham fan Kish Patel says Roberto de Zerbi's side have a "major hole" in their squad in the striker position and has urged the club to address it in upcoming transfer windows.

Speaking as a member of BBC Sport's Fan Collective, he explained: "Solanke is just not the same player. He was never a prolific striker but you got that brilliant hold up play and he made other players better. Now, I don't think he can do that; he's lost all of his agility and is slow. I don't know whether he can return to what he was.

"I think Spurs have made a mistake with signing Omar Marmoush. The way we are using him is not getting the best out of him. We have played him in a range of positions, none of which are getting the best out of him. It feels like we have a very specific player that doesn't quite fit.

"We also didn't register Richarlison who I think would have his uses in this team. He would be really good against those low blocks where we have a lot of territory and possession. He has the big physical presence in the box that can make chances for himself and create chaos.

"I think the number nine is the next obvious big signing. Potentially they could go in for someone in January but I think it's more likely they wait until the summer. It is a major hole in this Spurs squad."

Listen to Kish's tactical analysis in full on BBC Sounds

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Micky van de Ven was "fortunate not to have suffered a debilitating injury" from a challenge by Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, a Football Association regulatory commission has said.

Mateta was sent off for the foul, which came in the 13th minute of the Eagles' 2-0 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur on 31 October.

The France international was initially shown a yellow card by referee Michael Oliver, which was upgraded to red after a video assistant referee (VAR) review.

Palace's appeal was turned down by the regulatory commission last week, with the written reasons now published.

The verdict of the three members of commission was unanimous, with strong feelings about the nature of the foul.

In their evidence, Palace argued that "their player's challenge was controlled, directed solely at winning the ball, and did not involve excessive force, brutality, or any action that endangered the safety of his opponent".

The South London club also believed that Van de Ven's movement was a contributory factor, and the VAR review was unnecessary because Oliver had "the best evidence of the true speed and intensity of the challenge".

In reaching its judgement, the commission said that Mateta "reached for the ball with a lunging action along the ground with a straight leg and his studs showing" which caught the Netherlands international "with gathering momentum".

In the written reasons, it was added: "The commission did not accept that the player's contact with his opponent was because of his opponent's movement and, if anything, felt the opponent was fortunate not to have suffered a debilitating injury."

It also said there was "no circumstances this incident could in any way be deemed truly exceptional" to reduce the suspension from three matches.

Mateta missed Sunday's home loss to Liverpool, and will also sit out the upcoming games against Coventry City and Hull City.

Tottenham are monitoring Dinamo Zagreb and Croatia striker Dion Beljo, 24. (Teamtalk), external

Mikey Moore says he decided not to return on loan to Rangers because of Danny Rohl's exit as head coach, but the 19-year-old - currently at Cologne from Spurs - hopes to one day be back at Ibrox to win trophies with the Scottish Premeirship club. (Daily Record), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Leeds United and Tottenham.

Here are some of your comments:

Leeds fans

Paul: Leeds fully deserved the win and it should have been by more than one goal. We just don't put the chances away, and you don't get many in the Premier League. Solid at the back and in midfield but need more quality in the forward areas to put more of these chances away.

Ken: Fantastic performance. Surrendered possession, but dominant up front, and a well-deserved victory. Cracking goal by Noah Okafor, with James Trafford player of the match.

Mark: Top performance by our boys! What nonsense gets spoken about not having won recently, confidence low, manager at risk, Spurs on great form. Well we took all of that, held our belief and showed the rest of the league and some of our supporters that we are here to stay!

Thomas: I think you have to be brutally honest and say, up to the goal, Leeds were very poor. Lot of hard working players but lacking in any quality to break down the Tottenham backline. Leeds have a good defensive side to them but need to get quality players that can change a game - Okafor obviously that type of player.

Micky: A huge result. We desperately needed a positive result to awaken us from our apparent stupor. Jayden Bogle did rather get away with that challenge - accidental or not, it should really have been a red. Also delighted to see Harry Wilson get an assist off the bench, clean sheet for Trafford and another towering display from Tarik Muharemovic.

Tottenham fans

John: There were no positives to take from Spurs' performance, or lack of. The starting XI is a puzzle, and I was at the game watching an anonymous forward line. Until this is redressed then Spurs are going nowhere.

Peter: Woeful, inept, and completely without cutting edge. We started slowly and got even slower. Where is the hunger for another three points? Where is the bravery with the ball? All so, so tame.

Kevin: Leeds were very aggressive and Spurs didn't match them. You could argue they weren't able to by some awful refereeing. We will continue to struggle against the physical teams until we get a quality striker and learn to stretch opposition defences quicker. Too slow in the build up. On positive side, still far better than past two seasons!

Robert: Only one place to start: the clear red card that wasn't given. Why VAR spent four minutes debating it and then failed to send the ref to the monitor is, frankly, embarrassing and questions need to be asked. As for the performance, it was poor, lacklustre and lacking in energy and ambition. We looked happy with a point, which we didn't get. A decent striker in January is a must.

Scaley: It's simple...WE NEED A STRIKER!

Tottenham, Chelsea, Brentford, Fulham, Manchester City and Newcastle United are among a number of sides monitoring 21-year-old French defender Ismaelo Ganiou, who plays for Lens. (Teamtalk), external

Spurs, Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea have all been in contact with the representatives of former Barcelona forward Vitor Roque, 21, with the Brazil international valued at £42m by Palmeiras. (Bolavip via Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

Jayden Bogle was certainly very lucky to escape even a booking.

The foul happened in strange circumstances. Bogle was positioning his body to challenge Mathys Tel with his right foot, and in trying to plant his left foot he stood on the ankle of the Spurs player.

At full speed it looked innocuous, which is probably why referee John Brooks chose not to show a card after giving the foul.

Once the slow-motion replays were looked at it became apparent that the nature of the contact on Tel was very ugly, with the twist of the ankle.

It could easily have resulted in the VAR, Tony Harrington, sending Brooks to the pitchside monitor for an on-field review for a red card.

Harrington spent far too long looking at the replays, probably feeling he had more time while Tel received treatment. But longer reviews only tend to cause doubts about process.

Harrington eventually told Brooks: "I'm confirming the on-field decision of no red card. There's a lack of speed going into the challenge and he's stepping into the tackle. Confirming a reckless challenge."

A reckless challenge is a yellow card, but the VAR is unable to intervene and advise that Bogle should be booked.

Something else Harrington said is important - "stepping into the challenge".

It does not mean a player cannot be sent off, but this is far less likely to result in a VAR review for a red card because such challenges naturally come with less force.

How about comparisons with Jean-Philippe Mateta's VAR red card against Spurs last week?

There is an argument that Mateta, who was booked on-field, made less forceful contact on the ankle of Micky van de Ven. Yet it is the nature of the challenge that is crucially different.

Mateta made a lunging, stretching tackle with studs leading, the kind generally considered to come with a higher degree of force and potential danger to the opponent.

That said, and even though Bogle was not really making a challenge, the nature of the contact means many may feel there should have been a VAR review for a red card.

Read more here

Tottenham starting XI:

Antonin Kinsky: Very safe handling and excellent save from Sean Longstaff. No chance with the goal. Anxious moment when he took too long over a goal-kick and a corner was awarded. 7

Pedro Porro: Always willing to join the attack. Loves a tackle but probably taken off to avoid a red card. 6

Micky van de Ven: Dependable presence at the heart of the Spurs defence. One vital second-half clearance. Booked for hauling back Jayden Bogle. 6

Jan Paul van Hecke: One of his best games for Spurs. Powerful in the air and composed with the ball at his feet. Almost saved a point at the end. 7

Andrew Robertson: Solid defensively and always energetic in lending weight to attack. 6

Archie Gray: Some nice touches against his old club but generally quiet. 6

Sandro Tonali: Anonymous. Needed to do more. 5

Mateus Fernandes: Very quiet. No influence at all. 5

Mohammed Kudus: Lots of endeavour but little end product. 5

Omar Marmoush: Poor. Lacked physical presence against Leeds' defenders. 5

Mathys Tel: One or two lively moments but unable to continue after Jayden Bogle's poor first-half challenge. 5

Tottenham substitutes:

Dominic Solanke (on 43, Tel): Crucial block from Dominic Calvert-Lewin. No attacking effect. 5

Conor Gallagher (on 65, Porro): Shot inches wide. 5

Rodrigo Bentacur (on 65, Mateus Fernandes): Little impact. Missed chance in the final seconds. 5

Dejan Kulusevski (on 65, Omar Marmoush): Kept at bay by Leeds. 5

Luca Williams-Barnett (on 83, Mohammed Kudus).

Subs not used:

Luca Gunter, Marcos Senesi, James Maddison, Ben Davies.

Read the full article and see how you rated the players

Keifer MacDonald
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

It could have been a very different outcome for Spurs had the officiating gone their way in the first half.

Referee Brooks' decision not to send off Jayden Bogle was one that could have handed Tottenham a significant advantage.

Instead, Roberto de Zerbi's side, who lost Mathys Tel to injury as a result of the challenge, were left on the back foot and seemingly unable to recover.

Of course, there was more to Spurs' first defeat in four games than a single decision during a 90-minute match. However, it was a decision that appeared to rile De Zerbi and his players, with the visitors subsequently losing control of the game.

What will concern the Italian more is the fact that his side failed to create any chances of note during a toothless second-half performance, while Leeds looked capable of scoring almost every time they surged forward.

After three consecutive Premier League wins, De Zerbi will certainly be disappointed with how easily his side fell to defeat.

Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi to BBC Match Of The Day: "The second half we didn't show the same spirit. We didn't show the hunger we need for these types of big games. In the first half we played well, we were working hard in these days and knew before the game the intensity of Leeds but we were not capable of playing better. We have to analyse. Many games like this can be a problem for us."

On Jayden Bogle's tackle on Mathys Tel: "I was surprised on the yellow card for Pedro Porro because it was clear. The potential red card, I couldn't say. We have full confidence in the referee and VAR. I cannot sat nothing more. Tel has a bad injury on his ankle, but I don't know how long [he will be out] yet."

Did you know?

• Tottenham had won their last three away Premier League games against Leeds before today, with this the first time that they've failed to score in any league game against the Whites since February 2000 (17 games since).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Leeds' performance

What did you make of Tottenham's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

There are four games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Leeds v Tottenham (12:30)

• Arsenal v Hull City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Fulham v Newcastle - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Nottingham Forest v Manchester City (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

How to follow the Premier League weekend across the BBC

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Fulham v Newcastle" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Arsenal match", for example.

New this season: Live match updates

Fans of Premier League clubs can now get real-time scores live on their phone lock screen for every game.

Simply follow your favourite football teams on the BBC Sport app for updates throughout the 2026-27 season.

Find out more here

Image source, BBC Sport

New this season: Match of the Day Predictor

Simply predict the outcome of the six fixtures we've selected from across domestic and European competitions every week.

Players can join at any time, get involved with the latest round and start building a streak.

Read more about it here

You can find the predictor in the navigation bar at the top of this page, or on this link