BBC

Woking manager Jermaine Defoe says he is building a squad of players that "believe in the project" as he prepares for his first full season in charge.

The 43-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur and England striker was handed his first managerial role in March 2026, replacing Neal Ardley at the National League club. They lost just one of his six matches in charge, taking nine points from a possible 18.

Defoe has been working with director of football Jody Brown to strengthen the squad, with six signings added already this summer.

"What's really pleasing for me is that there were lots of players out there getting interest from other clubs, and they wanted to come here," Defoe told BBC Radio Surrey.

"It's great that they believe in the project, and they believe that they can come and be part of something that's trying to do something special."

The new arrivals include forwards Ashley Clarke, 20, from AFC Bournemouth, and Josh Ayres, 20, from Rotherham United.

"Josh and Ash are great kids, and they want to learn," Defoe said. "That's what you want, players who are coachable, who want to train every day and improve.

"As a manager I just want to try and give these players as much of the benefit of my experience as I can, whether that's a centre-back or a number nine."

Ayres said he was already benefiting from having a former England striker as his boss.

"Its different with him, as the gaffer can still play," he said. "He is involved in training, but if he really joined in, he'd show us up for sure.

"He's helping me understand the best way to score goals, and be the sort of striker he wants me to be.

"He's trying to get me to be a nuisance and have freedom in the box, getting me to drop in and spin off, making it harder for the defender."

While Woking are looking to build, they also lost influential central defender Aaron Drewe this summer after both parties failed to agree a new contract.

"Yes it was a blow, but it's part and parcel of football," Defoe said. "He's a good player, he had options. You get players who say they want to stay here, and some who want to go and explore.

"We've brought in Zico [Asare] instead. Similar profile: dynamic, quick, good defender one-on-one, wants to learn and improve. That's what happens, that's football."

Defoe said he believes that the club have created a good squad mix, with young, hungry players alongside the experience of striker Aiden O'Brien (32), midfielder Jake Forster-Caskey (32) and goalkeeper Craig Ross (36).

"Ultimately, we want the team to be fit, dynamic, have high energy at the top of the pitch, win the ball back, be exciting, and give the fans something to cheer about."

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Tottenham defender Radu Dragusin has joined Serie A side Fiorentina on loan for the 2026-27 season.

The deal also includes an obligation for the Italian side to buy the 24-year-old if specific performance-based criteria are met.

Dragusin joined Spurs from Genoa for £25m on a six-and-a-half-year deal in January 2024 and has made 48 appearances for the club.

He struggled to recover from a serious knee injury suffered in February 2025 and only featured 11 times last season.

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Preston North End have signed Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Alfie Devine for a club-record fee on a five-year contract.

The fee is undisclosed but the Championship club have said it is "almost three times" the fee they paid for Portsmouth forward Callum Lang in February, which was reported to be around £2m.

Devine, 21, scored eight goals in 45 league appearances on loan with the Lilywhites last season.

He came through Wigan's academy before joining Spurs in August 2020 and is their youngest-ever goalscorer after getting on the scoresheet in the FA Cup win at non-league Marine aged 16 years and 163 days in January 2021.

"From the end of last season going into the summer, it was always a priority in terms of where I wanted to be. It took its time, but I'm delighted it's gone through," Devine, whose father Sean played rugby league for St Helens, told the club website., external

"From the first minute I came here until my last minute of last season, I absolutely loved it."

We asked for your views on which free agents Spurs could target this summer and whether there is one player they are linked with but you hope they never sign.

Here are some of your comments:

Steven: Dusan Vlahovic. Players of his calibre rarely become available for nothing. Use the transfer budget to strengthen other positions and pick up a top-class striker on a free. That's smart recruitment.

Josh: We need a better striker, so why not take a punt on Vlahovic?

K: Mo Salah to Spurs. Why not?

Finn: Tottenham should sign Luka Modric on a free. After the heartbreak of Croatia's World Cup exit, he deserves one last chapter at the club where everyone fell in love with him. He's an ex-Spurs player, still world class and his experience would help the team so much. Bring Modric home.

Paul: Modric to Spurs. As a player/coach who will guide Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray. Just having him around the place would fit in with where Roberto de Zerbi is taking the club. The one thing we can't buy is experience.

Mark: Vlahovic would be my free-agent signing. I'm not convinced about Savinho because we already have plenty of wingers with no end product.

We asked for your views on how big a statement of intent it is for Tottenham to spend up to £100m on Sandro Tonali, and what the club should do next in their summer of big spending and big changes.

Here are some of your comments:

Natan: It's such a big statement signing. A player basically at the top level and in their prime. Arsenal and Manchester City rumoured to be going for him too. We've seen this story so many times and it never usually ends with us getting the player.

Fouad: The left wing definitely needs strengthening - since Son Heung-min left, no-one has even came close. The right wing is fine with Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski. Probably need another left-back or left wing-back too.

Doug: Amazing signing. We've gone about this rebuild in the right way, strengthening our defence first and now the midfield. We still need a striker and left winger, which I have no doubt we'll add soon. A lot of talk of overpaying but us Spurs fans don't care as it's what the market is just now, and we've suffered years of the club waiting to try to find a last-minute bargain. The club have finally shown us their intent to put football first by seriously supporting the manager in the signings he wants, going after top-class players and paying the wages needed to sign them.

TheSpursGuru: A fantastic signing for the club. Great to see us finally spend some money. We clearly need some players to leave in the near future too, and I think we need at least a new striker in through the door. Dusan Vlahovic is a free agent we should go after and then spend some more money on a new winger.

New Tottenham signing Sandro Tonali says "there was only one" club he was going to join this summer.

The 26-year-old midfielder joins Spurs for a club-record fee which could reach £100m after three seasons with Newcastle in which he became a key player and helped the club win the Carabao Cup - their first trophy in 70 years.

"I'm very happy to be here," Tonali told club media after the move was confirmed.

"When I arrived at the club today, it felt fantastic. People said about there being four or five clubs - there was only one.

"I spoke to the head coach for close to two hours about the club, the fans, the stadium and our football. It was like magic because I knew immediately that I had to sign for Tottenham. I've played against Tottenham a few times and always found a great atmosphere made by great fans. I can't wait to start the season."

Spurs boss Roberto de Zerbi identified his countryman as a target during his time in charge of Sassuolo several years ago when Tonali was playing in Serie A.

On adding the Italy international to his new-look Spurs side, he said: "Sandro is a special player and a great signing for our club.

"I have followed him for a long time, as he came through the youth system at my hometown club, Brescia, and I'm so happy to be working with him now. Given his qualities, there was a lot of interest in Sandro this summer. However, he was very clear in his desire to join Tottenham, and I know our fans will love what he brings to the team."

Spurs fans, how big a statement of intent is this move? And what should the club do next in their summer of big spending and big changes?

Tottenham have completed the signing of Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali for a club-record fee which could reach £100m.

The 26-year-old joins the London club after three seasons with the Magpies.

Spurs had a bid of around £80m rejected by Newcastle, but reached agreement on a deal where they are expected to pay an initial £92.5m plus a further £7.5m in add-ons.

"I'm very happy to be here," said Tonali. "People said about there being four or five clubs - there was only one.

"I spoke to the head coach [Roberto de Zerbi] for close to two hours about the club, the fans, the stadium and our football.

"It was like magic because I knew immediately that I had to sign for Tottenham. I've played against Tottenham a few times and always found a great atmosphere made by great fans. I can't wait to start the season."

Tonali joins fellow big-money signing Mateus Fernandes, who moved from West Ham to Spurs for a fee of £85m.

Italy international Tonali joined Newcastle from AC Milan for £55m in July 2023.

He was banned for 10 months by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) for breaching betting rules shortly after his arrival.

But he became a key player on his return and helped Newcastle win the Carabao Cup in 2025 - their first trophy in 70 years.

In a social media post,, external Tonali said it was "time to say goodbye" to the Magpies and manager Eddie Howe, although "it's hard to find the right words" as he also thanked the club's fans for their support.

"Thank you to the staff and my team-mates for believing in me and helping me grow," he wrote.

"A special mention to the gaffer, Eddie, who's been a real guiding figure and who always had my back throughout this journey.

"This city gave me more than football. It gave me a home, moments I'll hold onto forever, and people I will always be grateful for. Thank you for everything."

Spurs boss De Zerbi, who took over at Tottenham at the end of March and narrowly saved the club from Premier League relegation, described Tonali as a "special player".

He added: "I have followed him for a long time, as he came through the youth system at my hometown club, Brescia, and I'm so happy to be working with him now.

"Given his qualities, there was a lot of interest in Sandro this summer. However, he was very clear in his desire to join Tottenham, and I know our fans will love what he brings to the team."

It has been a busy summer for Tottenham after they finished 17th - and two points above the relegation zone - in the Premier League last season.

Defenders Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi have arrived on free transfers and the club could end up spending a combined £237m on centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke and midfielders Fernandes and Tonali.

"He [Tonali] has outstanding technical quality to go with real football intelligence, and has the character to thrive in a demanding, high-pressure environment," said Spurs sporting director Johan Lange.