“I feel like an important player” – Tottenham star growing on the pitch and off, quizzed on captaincy

Earlier this week, there was a report in Sweden which claimed Tottenham’s Dejan Kuluveski could be the national team captain in the not so distant future.

It was said that the 23-year-old is ‘more analytical and vocal’ than his teammate Victor Lindelof, and could soon be given the armband.

Now as Kulusevski spoke to the Swedish press and is quoted by Fotbollskanalen, he seems prepared to take that role at the national team.

With the arrival of manager Jon Dahl Tomasson, Sweden are set to have a group around the captain, so more than one person guiding the team. The Tottenham player is glad to be in there, and highlighted the qualities he has.

“I feel like a part of it. I feel like an important player and important person for the group. I have great contact with the new coach and Victor. I can contribute a lot,” said Kulusevski.

“I feel involved. I have knowledge. I have played this exact football at Tottenham. I feel like I know most of what he’s talking about.”

With Sweden out of the Euros this year, they are now beginning a new cycle at the national team, with the changes going far beyond the swap of managers.

During this international break, they’ll be facing Portugal and Albania in a couple of friendlies, and that’s where Kulusevski will have the chance to take on a more important role. The Tottenham player has 35 appearances for the national team, having made his debut in 2019.

Spurs will sign Timo Werner permanently on one condition

Spurs are pleased with the impact Timo Werner has had since joining on loan in January but there are no guarantees the Londoners will sign the German on permanently.

Arriving on a short-term loan two months ago, Werner, 28, has done well and, although he has only managed two goals in his first nine games, appears to be proving some critics wrong.

Linking up well with Son Heung-min and James Maddison, the RB Leipzig forward has shown he is capable of playing in Ange Postecoglou’s fast-paced system.

Spurs can sign Timo Werner for just £15 million

However, even though the club view the loanee, who could be signed for just £15 million in the summer, as a potential ‘steal’, according to a recent report from Football Insider, chairman Daniel Levy will only trigger the 28-year-old’s buy-option if the club qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Currently sitting fifth place in the Premier League table, three points off fourth place Aston Villa but with a game-in-hand, Spurs are many people’s pick to sneak into Europe.

And for Werner, that would mean a permanent return to England where he can continue to prove the naysayers wrong following his disappointing two years at Chelsea between 2020 and 2022.

Other summer options

Werner isn’t the only high-profile signing the Lilywhites could make this summer.

Expected to pursue a new striker, Spurs have recently been linked with Brentford’s Ivan Toney (The Sun). The English forward is set to leave the Bees at the end of the season and is being tracked by most of the country’s top clubs including bitter-rivals Arsenal.

Genoa attacker Albert Gudmundsson is another name believed to be on Postecoglou’s shortlist (Gazzetta).

Wolves winger Pedro Neto appears to be top of the club’s transfer list though (Football London). The Portuguese forward, who is enjoying one of his best campaigns, is set to leave the Midlands at the end of the season, and valued at a whopping £60 million, an approach from Spurs, just like Werner, will likely hinge on their European status.

‘What a silly…’ Simon Jordan reacts to what he’s hearing at Tottenham after Daniel Levy’s actions

Daniel Levy will continue to divide opinion at Tottenham Hotspur, no matter what the situation of the club.

Only last season, fans were calling for the Tottenham chairman to head for the exit door, alongside the ownership group, ENIC.

Those who pay their hard-earned money felt that there was no direction on or off the pitch. The fact that Antonio Conte was mouthing off after their 3-3 draw at Southampton tells you everything.

Fast forward to the present, and put aside the recent loss to Fulham, the enjoyment and thrill has been brought back, thanks to one man – Ange Postecoglou.

Everyone is on a high and then Daniel Levy decides to announce a 6% increase in ticket prices for next season.

To nobody’s surprise, Simon Jordan, who is close friends with Tottenham’s marmite-like figure, defended that call, as he told talkSPORT.

There are some suggestions that international fans have caused the increase in prices, but Simon Jordan slammed that claim and labelled it ‘silly’.

For the past five years, there hasn’t been an increase in ticket pricing and then a sudden upturn.

Whilst many Spurs fans vent their anger at the club’s decision and how they are out of touch, a certain former Crystal Palace owner shared other ideas.

Tottenham increase season ticket prices by 6%

“You have 50,000 season ticket holders at Tottenham Hotspur,” said Jordan. “Then you put in the away allocation, so you are talking about four or five thousand tickets.

“You are suggesting that the nature of an international football club, that has got players playing in it from all over the world, is the reason why prices have gone up by 6%, i.e. the first rise in five years, is because of the global success of the football club brings in a few fans that don’t live in this country?! What a silly argument.

“Daniel Levy put the price up because he can generate 6% more money – why is football immune? Why does every other part of society have a cost-based increase? I am basing my argument upon the commercial reality of life.”

Life under Daniel Levy

After finishing outside of Europe last season, Spurs will return to the big tournaments again, it’s just a case of where will they land.

If it’s the Champions League, then Levy does deserve credit for bringing in a manager like Postecoglou from Celtic.

Added to that, he lost Harry Kane. Spurs couldn’t do much about it because the striker’s mind was already set.

But how the team has reacted should be applauded and that’s where Postecoglou also deserves his flowers.