Tottenham news: Bale swap deal, Ndombele option, Champions League boost, lineup vs Middlesbrough - Football.London, Football.london

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There is plenty to talk about Tottenham at the moment.

The upturn in results that came wit a new manager has stopped, with Spurs failing to win either of their last two Premier League games.

That has left them trailing Chelsea by six points in the race for a Champions League place and with work to do.

Will work be done in the January transfer window? Everything Jose Mourinho has been saying suggests no, but you can never be sure when it comes to the Portuguese or Tottenham Hotspur for that matter.

For now, all focus is on an FA Cup third round clash with Middlesbrough on Sunday.

All the build-up and more is below in our round-up of the biggest news stories from around Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the last 24 hours.

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Bale swap deal

It seems unlikely that Tottenham will enter the transfer market this month.

Jose Mourinho has played down links with plenty of players so far, maintaining he is happy with the squad that he has at his disposal.

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Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has been linked with a return to Tottenham Hotspur(Image: AP Photo / Joan Monfort)

That will not stop the rumors, however.

And one former Spurs player has urged the club to go and re-sign Gareth Bale this month – using Christian Eriksen as leverage in the deal.

Read all about it here.

Ndombele solution

Tottenham have struggled in central midfield this season.

It has been one of the key issues for why the club is outside of the top four so far.

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Marco Stiepermann battles for possession with Tanguy Ndombele(Image: Julian Finney / Getty Images)

Neither Mauricio Pochettino nor Jose Mourinho now has been able to settle on a midfield two in front of the defense, nor find the best trio of attacking players in behind Harry Kane.

But rather than going into the transfer market, there is someone already at the club showing just what he can do when given the opportunity – Tanguy Ndombele.

*************************** Read all about the incredible stats behind his displays so far here.

Middlesbrough lineup

Will Mourinho make wholesale changes to his team for the FA Cup clash with Middlesbrough?

Some changes are enforced, with Ndombele and Harry Kane out of action, but he could well bring some young guns into the starting XI too.

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Jose Mourinho ahead of Spurs’ game against Southampton(Image: ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP via Getty Images)

Spurs fans will want a strong side, as they chase some silverware – a cup they have not won since (***************************************************. Here’s how we think Mourinho could line up on Sunday.

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Champions League boost

Spurs have not been in the top four all season.

They have had chances to overhaul Chelsea in recent weeks but failed to take any of them and find themselves six points adrift of Frank Lampard’s side.

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******************************** The UEFA Champions League trophy(Image: Eurasia Sport Images / Getty Images)

It is going to be an interesting second half to the campaign, with Manchester United, Spurs and Arsenal all trailing the Blues and looking to get that last Champions League spot.

But Spurs, as well as Arsenal and Chelsea, have been boosted in that pursuit by a nightmare scenario at United.

************************************************ (Read all about that here. (******************************************** (Read More) ************************************************