Tottenham Hotspur are continuing their pre-season tour in Japan, where they are set to face Vissel Kobe on Saturday. This match in Tokyo is the first of three friendlies they will play in Asia before heading to South Korea.
Tottenham’s manager, Ange Postecoglou, is familiar with Vissel Kobe, having previously managed in the J-League. He is expected to rotate his squad significantly, as he has done in earlier friendlies against Hearts and QPR, where he used two different starting lineups in each half.
Postecoglou provided an injury update, revealing that two key players, Richarlison and Destiny Udogie, are not yet ready to play. This injury situation was a challenge for Postecoglou last season, as the squad was often stretched thin due to significant injuries. However, there is positive news with Ben Davies returning to action after an injury at the end of last season.
Postecoglou also hinted at potential transfers, mentioning interest in Eberechi Eze. Despite this, the focus remains on the current squad, with the manager assessing whether to bring in a new striker. Richarlison, who had a promising run last season, scoring nine goals in ten league games, has a concerning injury record. As he continues to recover, there are questions about his reliability for the upcoming season.
There is also growing interest from Saudi Arabia in Richarlison, which could provide Tottenham an opportunity to replace him with a more reliable striker ahead of the new season.
