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Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was on the cusp of a move back to Inter Milan, but they turned elsewhere.

However, the Spurs shot-stopper is now on Juventus’ radar, per journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.

Tottenham are expected to move on from Vicario this summer. He had an excellent debut campaign but has struggled over the past two seasons.

Antonin Kinsky has usurped his place in the first team, forcing the Italian international to consider his future.

Vicario is not the only Tottenham player attracting interest from Juventus.

They have been keeping tabs on defender Radu Dragusin, who needs consistent playing time after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Tottenham must sell both players

Tottenham should look to capitalise on the interest and secure permanent sales of both players.

Vicario deserves credit for the standards he set during his first season in London, but it has been downhill since then.

His value is unlikely to increase, especially after two inconsistent campaigns in which he has lost his starting spot.

Spurs have already shown faith in the younger goalkeeper, and the focus should now be on building around him rather than keeping an unhappy back-up on the books.

A loan move would only delay the inevitable.

Tottenham need clarity in the goalkeeping department and should pursue a straightforward transfer to secure a respectable fee while interest remains strong.

The funds could then be reinvested into signing a proven goalkeeper capable of genuinely challenging Kinsky for the number one shirt.

Aston Villa have made a formal offer to re-sign the Manchester United-owned forward Marcus Rashford as Barcelona continue to hesitate over a €30m purchase option, as reported by Mundo Deportivo, relayed via Sport Witness. Rashford’s future has become one of the most talked-about transfer sagas of the summer, and Aston Villa sit right at the heart of it.

The 28-year-old previously spent the second half of the 2024/25 season on loan at Villa Park under Unai Emery, scoring four goals and providing six assists across 17 appearances. Emery wanted him permanently, but the player chose Barcelona instead. His loan agreement at the Camp Nou included a €30m purchase clause, though Barcelona’s financial constraints are making it increasingly difficult for them to justify the deal given his significant wage demands.

Aston Villa, Spurs, and the Race for a Manchester United Forward

Rashford has accepted a 40% salary reduction and reportedly offered to extend his proposed contract to five years through to 2031, helping Barcelona spread the financial cost of his amortisation over a longer period. Despite this, the Spanish champions remain non-committal. Barcelona appear to have shifted focus towards a £69m deal for Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon, which would directly squeeze Rashford out of Flick’s plans.

Manchester United, meanwhile, have grown increasingly frustrated. Barcelona hold the purchase option until a set deadline, but Newcastle, Tottenham, and Aston Villa have all registered interest. Aston Villa’s prior relationship with the player gives them a distinct edge over Tottenham in this pursuit.

Aston Villa Must Act Before the Window Moves On

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA – JUNE 02: Marcus Rashford of England reacts during a training session on June 02, 2026 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Rashford publicly thanked Emery on Instagram after earning a place in England’s World Cup squad, which suggests the professional bond between the two remains genuine and warm. That goodwill matters enormously in modern transfers.

Unai Emery should make his move now, directly and decisively. Waiting for Barcelona to reject Rashford before entering the conversation formally is not a strategy, it is passivity. Emery saw something real during that loan spell, a player who responded to structure, trust, and clear tactical responsibility. Rashford did not rediscover himself at Barcelona by accident.

He needed a manager who believed in him unconditionally, and Emery was the first person to offer him that after his deterioration at Old Trafford. The question now is whether Villa can offer him a football project compelling enough to make England’s Premier League a credible second choice after La Liga. They can, but only if Emery communicates that vision personally and urgently.

The Europa League win has given this Aston Villa side real weight and seriousness. A winger of Rashford’s quality fits the ambition. Emery should not rely on sentiment alone. He should present a specific sporting plan as they already have Champions League football next season and a squad capable of competing at the highest level. That is the argument Rashford needs to hear clearly and soon.

After almost succumbing to a stunning relegation, the Tottenham Hotspur hierarchy aren't messing around this summer.

There have been transfer links aplenty in the wake of our final day catharsis, with two free agents, Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi, expected to be the first new signings through the door. There have also been strong links to Manchester City's Savinho, and the man we're targeting to likely replace Cristian Romero.

While our club captain currently doesn't have the most bullish of markets, certainly not compared to a year ago anyway, the World Cup could do plenty to help his stock. The Argentine is waiting for one of La Liga's big three to step forward.

Admirably, Spurs aren't waiting for clarity on Romero's future. We're assuming he's heading off, and have identified Brighton & Hove Albion's Jan Paul van Hecke as his replacement.

Roberto De Zerbi is a huge fan of Spurs target Van Hecke

Spurs have already had an offer rebuffed for the Dutchman, who has just a year left on his contract with the Seagulls. Tony Bloom thus doesn't have too much leverage in negotiations this time around, and the club are continuing to negotiate.

It's a deal that makes plenty of sense, even if Van Hecke is a far from supreme athlete who isn't particularly strong in the air. Otherwise, he's incredibly well-rounded. The tough-tackling Dutchman is a superb passer who caught De Zerbi's eye when the pair worked together on the south coast.

De Zerbi helped a younger Van Hecke emerge out of nowhere and establish himself as one of the Premier League's most Spurs are making plenty of moves at the start of the summer transfer window. centre-backs. Back in December 2023, the Italian explained why he's such a fan of Van Hecke: "I think the most important quality of JP [Van Hecke] is the balance between the arrogance and the confidence in himself. He is not arrogant but his confidence in himself is high, high, high."

Don't get me wrong, we've seen this impressive self-assurance catch the Dutchman out, with Van Hecke committing a pair of notable errors in possession against Spurs and Leeds United towards the end of last season. Still, the swagger with which he performs is justified. Only Senesi (9.3) and Kieran Trippier (9.2) averaged more progressive passes in the top-flight than Van Hecke (8.5), who's an adept carrier, too.

"It is his secret to keep this level because he has an incredible personality, shows incredible leadership, and he is so young. It's not common to see one young player with that level of personality," De Zerbi added.

This is certainly a move championed by the manager, but one that also appeases the number-crunchers. Van Hecke can certainly fill the void left by Romero in possession, and his attributed balance nicely with his road-runner of a compatriot, Micky van de Ven.

With Cristian Romero expected to depart Tottenham Hotspur this summer, the club are taking a proactive stance in trying to replace him.

It's clear that Marcos Senesi, who's poised to join the club on a four-year deal as a free agent from Bournemouth, will offer Micky van de Ven potential respite on the left side of Roberto De Zerbi's defence. Senesi is far from an outstanding athlele, but he's an excellent passer with sound fundamentals.

It's a signing I don't think we can have too many complaints about.

However, he's not the only centre-back Spurs will have to sign this summer. While questions remain over Luka Vukovi's future, Romero's impending exit leaves a huge void to fill. Kevin Danso has proved a very likeable and able deputy in north London, but De Zerbi won't solely be relying upon the Austrian next season and beyond.

We're targeting a defender with whom De Zerbi is familiar.

Tottenham have first bid for Jan Paul van Hecke rejected

Jan Paul van Hecke rose to Premier League prominence when De Zerbi was at the helm of Brighton & Hove Albion. He's since blossomed into a Dutch international who's heading to his first World Cup this summer.

Like most Dutchmen, Van Hecke is self-assured and confident in his abilities. His personality impressed De Zerbi when the pair worked together, and now the Italian wants to bring the 25-year-old to N17.

According to The Athletic, Spurs have had their opening proposal for Van Hecke rejected by Brighton, falling short of the Seagulls' valuation. Tony Bloom will not let his players walk for less than he perceives them to be worth, but the Dutchman's contract situation leaves him with little leverage. Van Hecke's contract expires next summer.

It's unclear how much Brighton want for the Dutchman, with talks ongoing.

As I've previously noted, I think Romero needs a strong World Cup to reignite transfer interest. We know he can be a superb defender, one of the best around, but his stock has slumped over the past 12 months. 2025/26 was his worst season in Tottenham colours.

There's previously been intrigue from La Liga, with Atltico Madrid strongly considering a move last summer. However, their interest has cooled, Barcelona will likely be priced out, and Real Madrid are signing Ibrahima Konat.

Right now, the Romero market isn't hot. Still, there's an expectation that he's already played his last game in Lilywhite, with Van Hecke earmarked as his replacement.

Tottenham Test Brighton’s Resolve with Jan Paul van Hecke Approach

Tottenham Hotspur’s summer recruitment drive appears to be gathering momentum, with David Ornstein reporting in The Athletic that Spurs have made an offer for Brighton & Hove Albion defender Jan Paul van Hecke. While the proposal has reportedly fallen below Brighton’s valuation, negotiations remain active, signalling genuine intent from the north London club.

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The pursuit arrives during a significant period of transition for Tottenham. With Roberto De Zerbi now leading the club and questions continuing to surround the long term future of Cristian Romero, the interest in Van Hecke feels strategic rather than opportunistic.

De Zerbi Connection Could Prove Decisive

One of the most intriguing elements of this potential transfer is Van Hecke’s relationship with De Zerbi. The pair worked closely together during the Italian coach’s successful spell at Brighton between 2022 and 2024, a period in which the Dutch defender developed into one of the Premier League’s most reliable centre backs.

Photo by IMAGO

That familiarity may become a crucial factor. Players often speak about the importance of understanding a manager’s demands, and Van Hecke flourished under De Zerbi’s possession based, progressive approach.

Brighton remain in a strong negotiating position. The defender’s contract runs until June 2027, and there is no immediate pressure to sell. However, as reported by The Athletic, Van Hecke is among the players viewed internally as potential candidates for a major transfer this summer.

Fabian Hurzeler acknowledged the situation earlier this year when he said he expected discussions regarding the player’s future.

Photo: IMAGO

Brighton Facing Another Summer of Interest

Brighton have become accustomed to fending off approaches for their top performers. The club’s recruitment model consistently produces players capable of attracting elite interest, and Van Hecke’s rise follows a familiar pattern.

Since arriving from NAC Breda in 2020, the defender has steadily climbed through the ranks. Loan spells at Heerenveen and Blackburn Rovers accelerated his development before he established himself as a first team regular on the south coast.

His numbers underline his importance. Van Hecke has made 131 appearances for Brighton, including 106 in the Premier League. Last season alone, he started 36 league matches and missed just two through injury.

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That durability is increasingly valuable in a competition where squad depth can define a season.

Romero Succession Plan Emerging

Tottenham’s interest inevitably raises questions about Romero’s future. The Argentine remains one of the club’s standout performers, but elite defenders rarely lack admirers.

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Van Hecke possesses many of the qualities required to fill such a role. He is physically aggressive, comfortable defending large spaces and increasingly accomplished in possession. Modern centre backs are expected to contribute to build up phases as much as defensive actions, and the Dutch international excels in both areas.

As highlighted in The Athletic’s assessment, “Van Hecke is one of the better all-round defenders in the Premier League.”

The report also noted that he is “A tough, combative, right-footer who can also carry and pass the ball out of his own defensive area as well as anyone”.

Those attributes align perfectly with De Zerbi’s football philosophy and Tottenham’s desire to become more dominant in possession.

World Cup Stage Raises Profile

Van Hecke’s growing reputation extends beyond club football. The 25 year old has been selected in the Netherlands squad for the 2026 World Cup and appears increasingly likely to play a prominent role under Ronald Koeman.

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The Athletic observed that he “has a very good chance of starting between Virgil van Dijk and Micky van de Ven”.

Such recognition only strengthens Brighton’s position in negotiations. Players entering major international tournaments rarely become cheaper.

For Tottenham, though, the attraction is obvious. Securing a defender entering his prime years, already familiar with De Zerbi’s methods and proven at Premier League level, could represent one of the smartest moves of the summer window.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

Van Hecke feels like a player whose best years remain ahead of him. He is Premier League proven, physically strong and technically comfortable, qualities that have often been missing from Tottenham’s defensive structure during difficult periods. Supporters have watched too many defensive rebuilds fail because the club gambled on potential rather than proven quality.

The De Zerbi factor cannot be ignored either. If the manager believes Van Hecke can execute his tactical demands immediately, that reduces the adaptation period significantly. Spurs need players capable of improving the first team from day one.

There is also a growing sense that Tottenham must prepare for every eventuality regarding Romero. Even if the Argentine stays this summer, succession planning is essential. Elite clubs constantly look ahead rather than reacting when key players depart.

Brighton will understandably demand a substantial fee, but Van Hecke looks like the kind of investment that could anchor Tottenham’s defence for years. Given his age, experience and international pedigree, supporters would likely view this as a statement signing that reflects ambition rather than short term thinking.

Tottenham Hotspur have accelerated their summer recruitment by submitting a formal opening bid to Brighton & Hove Albion for defender Jan Paul van Hecke.

After securing Premier League survival on the final day under Roberto De Zerbi, Spurs are moving quickly to back their manager and overhaul a fragile defence at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

With star centre-back Cristian Romero widely expected to leave north London this summer, securing a commanding, elite distributor has become an urgent priority for the Tottenham hierarchy.

De Zerbi worked with Van Hecke during his time on the south coast, where the 25-year-old Dutchman developed into one of the league’s standout defenders.

Across the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, Van Hecke anchored Brighton’s backline, amassing 3,211 minutes, posting an impressive 87% passing accuracy and winning a combined 209 duels.

His familiarity with De Zerbi’s high-risk, build-from-the-back approach makes him a seamless, plug-and-play leader for a changing dressing room.

Securing Van Hecke will be no straightforward task, given Brighton’s reputation for demanding premium fees for their top assets. However, Tottenham hold an advantage as the defender’s contract expires next year and he has so far shown no willingness to sign fresh terms.

Tactically, Van Hecke offers the blend of defensive steel and progressive distribution that Tottenham lacked during their recent relegation scare.

While Spurs have seen their opening bid for the Dutchman rejected, negotiations with Brighton are set to continue.

Tottenham Hotspur have fired the starting gun in the race to sign Jan Paul van Hecke, the £70m-rated Brighton and Hove Albion defender, but have had their initial bid rejected.

The Dutch international, who turns 26 on Monday, is very much in demand with Chelsea and Liverpool also interested – but Spurs are hoping that the chance to work again with manager Roberto De Zerbi will prove decisive. It is not clear at what level Spurs made their initial offer for the centre-back.

Van Hecke and De Zerbi struck a up a strong relationship at Brighton, although it took the defender more than one season to convince the Italian he was ready for a place in the team. He became a regular in De Zerbi’s last season, 2023-24, when the team played in the Europa League. Since then, Van Hecke has played in all but six Premier League games in the following two seasons under Fabian Hürzeler.

With one year left on his deal, Van Hecke is a natural candidate for sale this summer for Brighton. No new contract has been agreed with the player and, as a trading club, Brighton would need to realise full value for the player. Tony Bloom, the Brighton chairman, has secured excellent deals for his best players over the years, including the three most lucrative sales, which were all to Chelsea: Moisés Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and João Pedro.

Spurs paid Brighton about £25m for Yves Bissouma four years ago. The Premier League club, who finished 17th this season, are trying to rebuild swiftly with a deal for free agent Marcos Senesi, the Argentine who was part of Bournemouth’s squad. Van Hecke is part of the Netherlands World Cup squad – one that has a high concentration of excellent defenders. He has won ten caps so far.

Van Hecke is the most recent recruitment success for Brighton, signed in September 2020 for about £1.8m from NAC Breda, in the second tier of Dutch football, after just 11 first-team appearances. It took him three seasons and two loans away from Brighton before he established himself in the first team, where he has become one of the most sought-after Premier League defenders.

Van Hecke was joint-sixth in the Premier League for interceptions last season; seventh for duels won and ninth for minutes played. His 36 starts for Brighton in the Premier League were more than any other outfield player in the squad.

Brighton, meanwhile, have announced the departure of sporting director Jason Ayto, with technical director Mike Cave to take charge of the summer window trading alongside chief executive Paul Barber.

Spurs declined to comment.

Tottenham Hotspur have a serious, serious need for goals this summer transfer window. Their only realistic scoring threat last season was Richarlison with 11 Premier League goals, but even he was sub standard at the striker position and is likely someone Spurs will finally move on from this year if they can find a decent enough financial offer, perhaps from a club in Turkey or Saudi Arabia.

The other No. 9's, Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani, were quite poor, especially when the team needed them the most during the Premier League relegation fight. Of course, the problem is that goals are at a premium, and in the landscape of world football, talented strikers are at a minimum, especially compared to 10 and 20 years ago.

An intriguing option has always been Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic, who occasionally shows the same quality he did at Fiorentina that made him the second hottest young striker on the planet after only Erling Haaland, the literal single season record breaking striker over at Manchester City.

Dusan Vlahovic is hitting free agency

Tottenham Hotspur have never bit on Vlahovic on the transfer market yet, but now Fabrizio Romano reports that the Serbian international is officially leaving in free agency this summer. Club legend and current sporting director Giorgio Chiellini commented on the departure, stating that he is sad Vlahovic cannot stay, however, they cannot accommodate his salary. Chiellini further hinted at a Premier League move by stating that Vlahovic's salary demands likely preclude him from going to a Serie A rival.

While Spurs have traditionally been known as a club that does not like to spend high on wages, they did break their structure in the winter for a center midfielder in Conor Gallagher. Dusan Vlahovic is an even more talented player who once scored 20 in a league season, and he has the quality, on paper, to still be that guy; it is easy to forget that he is still just 26 years old.

Vlahovic is available, and it is strongly implied by Chiellini that he is headed for the Premier League. Rivals Arsenal were linked in the past, but they already spent big on Viktor Gyokeres and seem to be profiling left wingers to compete with Gabriel Martinelli more than strikers.

So the runway is clear for Tottenham to make a competitive offer to Vlahovic. Goals are expensive, but Spurs may be more willing to spend on his wages knowing that there is no transfer fee. And we all know how much Spurs love to sign players from Serie A, especially Juventus.

Bayern Munich and João Palhinha have parted ways for good. Loaned out to Tottenham Hotspur for the 2025/26 season, the Portuguese international has settled well in North London. Negotiations between Spurs and Bayern would decide whether Palhinha would make his stay in London permanent or be swooped up by Sporting CP.

Bossing the CDM role

Palhinha has found his preferred role in the Spurs system. Being played as a defensive midfielder he has taken to his duties like a fish to water. He’s made more tackles than Joshua Kimmich, Aleksander Pavlović and Leon Goretzka combined in the respective domestic leagues this season. Thriving in a role requiring him to do a lot of the defensive “dirty” work, Palhinha and Spurs are set to extend their partnership per Sky’s Florian Plettenberg (via @iMiaSanMia).

The midfielder has Spurs on his priority list per a report by Fabrizio Romano as captured by @iMiaSanMia. Sporting CP are closely monitoring the situation and offer a return to his home country should talks between Bayern and Spurs fail.

Advantage Bayern

With a competitor to Tottenham for Palhinha’s signature, Bayern can negotiate a better price for the 30 year-old. Some major signings are planned for the summer and funds from outgoing players will be crucial to close the gap against competition. As seen in the Anthony Gordon case, FC Barcelona edged out Bayern Munich by a margin of €10 million.

If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…

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Young center back Luka Vuskovic is the most exciting player at the position and legitimately one of the biggest gems in world football, and Tottenham Hotspur can thank Hamburg for taking the Croatian sensation on loan last season and believing in him almost immediately. From the moment he started games in the Bundesliga, Vuskovic was turning heads and winning awards, affectionately known as "Air Vuskovic" by a Hamburg faithful that took him in as one of their own.

Though Vuskovic will be leaving Hamburg, as long as Tottenham do not royally screw things up, he will be ready to start from Day 1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the 2026/27 season, with even clubs like Barcelona dreaming of pairing him with their own young superstars like Pau Cubarsi.

Tottenham knew all along that Vuskovic had the potential to be special, and just one loan later, he has banked on that potential. But Spurs fans may be in for another treat, as they have a recent signing who, likewise, has the upside to become the next big thing in his position.

Souza has world-class potential

Souza joined Tottenham for a mere 13 million pounds from Palmeiras during the winter transfer window, and whlie he was not signed to immediately start and did not turn the tide of the relegation battle, he is a reason to not completely despise and otherwise highly underwhelming transfer window from Johan Lange and Vinai Venkatesham.

Though he did not play much, Souza shone brightly when he did play. According to The Athletic's Jay Harris, new manager Roberto De Zerbi is, like Lange, a huge fan of the Brazilian prospect's. The problem is that Spurs were interested in Andrew Robertson in that same transfer window to be veteran depth for the injury prone Destiny Udogie, and so Souza was never expected to get early playing time. And now that Spurs have signed Robertson for free this summer, talks of loaning out the 19 year old are under way.

Although Hamburg won't make much sense since they have Miro Muheim shining as a left wing back and a veteran leader, another Bundesliga club could make a ton of sense. So many left backs have become stars in that league at a young age - or even older, like former Barcelona prospect Alejandro Grimaldo over at Bayer Leverkusen - and those skills translate well to other leagues.

Souza is a great athlete with technical quality, and he could become one of the best left backs in the world one day. Luka Vuskovic did not need any time to become world-class in the Bundesliga, and while Souza may need more polish, this is a guy with the raw tools and upside to become the Vuskovic of left backs, if you will, for Spurs. Tottenham need to carefully his next landing spot, because if he ends up in a place where fullbacks are important to the attack and he can get challenged physically as a two way player (Ligue 1 would also make a lot of sense), then Spurs could have another new supersar on their hands.