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Tottenham Hotspur Links: Spurs Targeting Simone Zaza Again

By Alexander Balano

Jul 28, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino during training in advance of the 2015 MLS All Star Game at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 28, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino during training in advance of the 2015 MLS All Star Game at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Today’s Tottenham Hotspur Links is here.

One transfer rumor, two Tottenham injury updates and five Spurs players are talked about in general. These are the news that Hotspur HQ has in store today for you readers out there. Let’s get to the links.

Simone Zaza, the 24-year-old striker, was a transfer target for Tottenham during the summer transfer window even though he had already agreed to a €15 million (£10.5 million) deal with Juventus on July 7, 2015 by the time Spurs were interested in him. The Italian international, has made only eight appearances in all competitions so far this season but just six appearances in Serie A with two goals and no assists.

It didn’t help that Juventus also bought Paulo Dzyaba (22) and Mario Mandžukić (29) to go along with Álvaro Morata (23), so there weren’t many minutes to go around equally this season. Here’s a quick look between all four strikers on Juventus’ squad.

Mario Mandžukić — 12 appearances, 4 goals, 0 assists, 731 minutes
Simone Zaza — 8 appearances, 2 goals, 0 assists, 307 minutes
Álvaro Morata — 14 appearances, 3 goals, 2 assists, 789 minutes
Paulo Dzyaba — 16 appearances, 6 goals, 2 assists, 894 minutes

RELATED: Tottenham Links: Three Spurs Stars Who Have Disappointed this Season

  • Alex Pritchard tweets out another update
    • [via Alex Pritchard’s Twitter account]

Alex Pritchard hasn’t been able to do much this season with Tottenham due to a lingering ankle injury that he sustained in the summer while on international duty with England’s Under-21 team. Rest wasn’t enough so surgery was needed and it put the 22-year-old attacking midfielder on the shelf until at least January. Once Alex Pritchard returns, he’ll add another creative dimension to Mauricio Pochettino’s offense.

Nabil Bentaleb has been out since the end of August with, what the London Evening Standard calls as “ankle ligament damage”, but to make it easier for reading purposes it’ll be called an ankle injury moving forward. During Algeria’s two-legged World Cup qualifiers against Tanzania, a 2-2 draw, Nabil Bentaleb played the entire second half and came away unscathed. If Bentaleb doesn’t get hurt in Algeria’s next match, he could rotate into Mauricio Pochettino’s squad.

More from Hotspur HQ

In the same article, Érik Lamela is a doubt for Argentina’s World Cup qualifier in Colombia due to injury.

Here’s the quote by the London Evening Standard regarding Érik Lamela’s injury concern:

“Lamela sat out training with his national team due to a muscular problem, as they prepared for tomorrow’s clash in Barranquilla.”

It’s unknown if this is just a precautionary move by Argentine or if Érik Lamela has a serious injury. Either way, “a muscular problem” could mean anything and might put his and Tottenham’s season in a bit of problem with nine games in 37 days following the end of the international break.

As for a Son Heung-min update, the South Korean international could start against Laos after making a substitute appearance for around 30+ minutes and registering two assists in a 4-0 win. If Son doesn’t re-aggravate his foot, the 23-year-old midfielder is a potential starter for Spurs’ next three games to close out November.

Next: January Window Could be Opportunity for Spurs

Ryan Mason gets another call-up to Roy Hodgson’s England squad ahead of The Three Lions’ international friendly with France on Tuesday at Wembley Stadium. The 24-year-old midfielder already earned his first senior cap back on March 2015 against Italy. With Mason’s inclusion in Hodgson’s squad, the amount of Tottenham players is now at five with Harry Kane, Eric Dier, Dele Alli and Kyle Walker.