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Tottenham Hotspur have put the brakes on incoming transfers to focus on outgoings.

Last week, Roberto De Zerbi confirmed that Guglielmo Vicario and Cristian Romero have asked to leave.

And while that isn’t ground-breaking news by any stretch of the imagination, hearing it from the horse’s mouth felt like official confirmation.

Youngsters such as Luka Vuskovic, Alfie Devine and Will Lankshear have moved on, while Mason Melia is close to sealing a move to Lincoln City on loan.

And now, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Mikey Moore is in advanced talks to leave after an offer from Bundesliga side FC Koln.

Mikey Moore in talks to leave Tottenham for Koln

Last month, we wrote on Read Tottenham that Moore could join Koln, especially with Spurs interested in signing Said El Mala.

Nothing has been said about the Lilywhites’ interest in the German international, but Romano has confirmed that they have received an official bid from the Bundesliga side for Moore.

“EXCLUSIVE: FC Köln send official bid to sign Mickey Moore on loan from Tottenham!” wrote Romano on X.

“Negotiations at advanced stages with #THFC as deal could be completed next week with Moore open to the move. Several clubs keen but Köln now clear favourites.”

It’ll be a pity to see Moore go, but we can’t help but think it is the right move for his career. He wouldn’t have been happy playing a bit-part role during the forthcoming season, especially after a successful stint with Rangers.

Smash it on loan once again, Mikey!

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Tottenham Hotspur have been the most active Premier League club in the transfer market this summer.

After signing six players, a handful of notable departures have also been confirmed, while a few others are close to being finalised.

The likes of Will Lankshear, Luka Vuskovic and Alejo Veliz have been allowed to move on, while Mason Melia is close to leaving Tottenham on loan.

Recruiting young players is something clubs across the Premier League have focused on in recent years.

And if reports from the Daily Mail are to be believed, Tottenham have beaten Arsenal to the signature of England U-15 midfielder Isaac Allen.

Tottenham set to sign Isaac Allen

Last month, we reported on Read Tottenham that Spurs and Arsenal were locked in talks to sign Allen.

And now, Daily Mail journalist Isaan Khan has confirmed that the youngster is on his way to the white half of North London.

On 22nd July, Khan tweeted that the two great rivals are looking to pip one another for Allen.

“Tottenham are close to beating Arsenal to signing West Ham’s Isaac Allen,” wrote Khan on X.

“The England Under 15 midfield captain has been actively pursued by the Gunners for weeks – the club are keen on the player. But Spurs are confident.”

And now, he reposted the tweet, adding that it’s a ‘done deal’ for the Lilywhites.

Over the years, De Zerbi has played a pivotal role in the development of several young players.

And we’ve already seen in pre-season so far that he isn’t afraid to throw the kids into the firing line, with Malachi Hardy and Luca Williams-Barnett showing their class, among others.

Let’s hope Allen is the next in the production line as he clearly seems like an exciting talent.

A Sunderland bid for Lucas Bergvall worth €66million plus bonuses has reportedly been submitted to Tottenham Hotspur.

The Sweden international is also said to have chosen the Black Cats ahead of rival interest from Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United.

Tottenham have not accepted the proposal, while neither club has officially confirmed negotiations.

However, the offer places Sunderland close to the valuation Spurs have maintained throughout the summer. Tottenham previously rejected a £46million proposal from Newcastle and have reportedly demanded around £60million for Bergvall.

Sunderland bid for Lucas Bergvall tests Tottenham stance

According to The Athletic, via Foot Mercato, Sunderland have offered €66million plus add-ons and Bergvall has selected them as his preferred destination.

The 20-year-old has attracted several Premier League suitors after informing Tottenham that he would prefer to seek a new opportunity.

Bergvall’s route into Roberto De Zerbi’s midfield has become more difficult following the expensive arrivals of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes. He remains on Tottenham’s pre-season tour, but his long-term position is unresolved.

De Zerbi has praised Bergvall as a “big, big talent”, although he refuses to retain players who are unhappy in north London.

“If he wants to stay, I will be happy,” the Tottenham boss said. “Otherwise, we have to find a new solution.”

ReadTottenham covered De Zerbi’s clear transfer message after the Italian confirmed that direct discussions with Bergvall were planned.

The Sunderland bid for Lucas Bergvall could now settle the situation. Spurs would make a substantial profit on a player signed from Djurgården in 2024, while freeing another place within De Zerbi’s crowded midfield.

Tottenham must now decide whether the reported package is too valuable to reject or whether they still see Bergvall as an important part of their future.

In recent weeks, Tottenham Hotspur have been focused on outgoings after splashing the cash on six new arrivals.

However, Roberto De Zerbi confirmed that the Lilywhites are not done in the transfer market and will look to finish with a flourish.

While they have strengthened their midfield and defence, attack remains an area of concern.

Over the course of the transfer window, Manchester City attacker Savinho has been heavily linked with a move to Tottenham.

And the Brazilian’s recent social media activity suggests he is more than open to a move to North London.

Savinho follows Tottenham midfielder Sandro Tonali on Instagram

Savinho made a massive impression at Manchester City, but in recent seasons, he has fallen down the pecking order.

And with Enzo Maresca replacing Pep Guardiola at the helm, it remains to be seen if there is a proper role for him in the team.

Tottenham are on the lookout for two attacking players who can come into the team and make an immediate impact.

And their interest in Savinho is well documented, with an official offer expected between now and the end of the transfer window.

As seen above, to add fuel to the fire, Savinho has suddenly followed new Tottenham signing Sandro Tonali on Instagram.

And while this doesn’t confirm anything, naturally, it has got the fans talking as talks of a potential move to Tottenham continue to intensify.

Roberto De Zerbi’s side continued their perfect start to pre-season as Tottenham eased past Aukland in a 2-0 victory.

Dane Scarlett opened the scoring before Richarlison completed a composed victory in front of 40,112 supporters.

De Zerbi named a youthful starting side containing eight academy graduates. Archie Gray captained Tottenham from midfield, while Brandon Austin, Kota Takai, Manor Solomon and Mikey Moore also started.

Spurs broke the deadlock after 12 minutes following an excellent pass from Gray. The 20-year-old released Solomon behind the Auckland defence before goalkeeper Michael Woud saved his initial effort.

Scarlett reacted first to the loose ball and converted the rebound from close range. It was the striker’s first goal of pre-season after featuring in the opening 1-0 victory over MK Dons.

Auckland created their best chance through Sam Cosgrove. The former Birmingham City forward raced beyond the Spurs defence, but Austin left his goal quickly and made an important one-on-one save.

The Evening Standard’s match report confirmed Tottenham carried their narrow advantage into half-time after largely controlling the opening period.

Auckland FC 0-2 Tottenham after Richarlison goal

De Zerbi added greater senior experience shortly after the hour mark.

Ben Davies, Mateus Fernandes, Conor Gallagher, Mathys Tel and Richarlison were among those introduced as Tottenham looked to increase the tempo.

The changes produced the second goal after 70 minutes. Tel found space on the left before delivering a low cross towards Richarlison, who applied a simple finish from inside the penalty area.

Sky Sports confirmed Scarlett and Richarlison scored in the 12th and 70th minutes respectively.

Andy Robertson and Jan Paul van Hecke did not make their Tottenham debuts despite travelling to New Zealand. Sandro Tonali was also left out as De Zerbi continued to manage his squad’s workload.

ReadTottenham’s Auckland match preview outlined how several senior players had only recently joined the touring group after receiving additional rest.

De Zerbi explains James Maddison absence

James Maddison was another notable absentee at Eden Park.

De Zerbi explained that the midfielder had not trained fully during the previous five days. Destiny Udogie was managed for the same reason, with neither issue considered serious.

The Tottenham boss did not want to take any risks following Maddison’s recovery from the anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered last summer. He could return against Sydney FC alongside Tonali.

De Zerbi also praised Gray after handing him the armband. The Italian believes Gray possesses experience and maturity beyond his age, adding that young players will receive opportunities if they prove they are ready.

Tottenham now move on to Sydney with two victories and two clean sheets from their opening pre-season fixtures.

Tottenham starting XI

Austin; Tye Hall, Hardy, Takai; Kyerematen, Gray, Solomon, Donley; Williams-Barnett, Moore; Scarlett.

Goals

Auckland FC vs Tottenham takes place at Eden Park on Sunday as Roberto De Zerbi’s side continue their pre-season preparations in New Zealand.

Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes could retain their places, while Andy Robertson and Jan Paul van Hecke are pushing to make their Spurs debuts.

Tottenham began their summer schedule with a 1-0 victory over MK Dons at Hotspur Way. Fernandes scored the winner after only three minutes, meeting a loose clearance with a powerful volley from outside the penalty area.

ReadTottenham covered how Fernandes made an immediate impact on his Tottenham debut. Tonali and Martin Dúbravka also received their first minutes following their summer arrivals.

Auckland provide a different challenge. The hosts won the A-League Grand Final in May, becoming the first New Zealand club to claim the title, although several important players and former head coach Steve Corica have since departed.

When is Auckland FC vs Tottenham?

The friendly takes place at Eden Park on Sunday, 26 July.

Kick-off is scheduled for 3pm local time, which is 4am BST for supporters in the United Kingdom. Tottenham will wear their new home kit, while rain and temperatures of around 11°C are expected in Auckland.

How to watch Auckland FC vs Tottenham

The match will not be shown on a traditional UK television channel.

Supporters can watch live through SPURSPLAY, subject to regional availability. Tottenham will also provide text updates through the Match Centre on the club’s official website and app.

A standard annual SPURSPLAY subscription costs £45, reduced to £35 for One Hotspur members. Access is included for eligible season-ticket holders and One Hotspur+ members. ReadTottenham has explained how supporters can watch all seven pre-season fixtures.

Tottenham team news

De Zerbi has selected a 35-player squad for the tour of New Zealand and Australia.

Robertson and Van Hecke joined the group after receiving additional rest following the World Cup. Both defenders could make their first Tottenham appearances, although De Zerbi may manage their minutes carefully.

Tonali, Fernandes and Dúbravka are available after featuring against MK Dons. James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Mathys Tel, Lucas Bergvall, Richarlison and Mikey Moore have also travelled.

Guglielmo Vicario remained in London after suffering a minor training injury. Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert and Dejan Kulusevski are continuing their rehabilitation at Hotspur Way.

Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr have been granted extended leave. Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Marcos Senesi and Djed Spence are also absent following their involvement in the latter stages of the World Cup.

Players to watch

Fernandes will attempt to build on his excellent opening appearance. The former West Ham midfielder offered energy beside Tonali and showed his ability to attack loose balls around the penalty area.

Robertson and Van Hecke should also receive minutes during the tour. Their availability gives De Zerbi the opportunity to begin developing a defensive structure ahead of the Premier League season.

Bergvall’s involvement will attract attention following transfer interest from Nottingham Forest. De Zerbi has praised the midfielder’s talent but admitted they must discuss whether he wants to remain and compete for his place.

Predicted Tottenham XI

Kinsky; Takai, Danso, Davies; Udogie, Tonali, Fernandes, Robertson; Maddison, Tel; Solanke.

De Zerbi is likely to make extensive changes during the match. Several academy players have travelled, while the Italian will want to distribute minutes across his senior squad.

Score prediction

Auckland FC 1-3 Tottenham

Auckland should provide a competitive and physical test in front of a large home crowd. However, Tottenham’s attacking depth and additional match sharpness should help De Zerbi secure a second pre-season victory.

Tottenham began pre-season with a 1-0 victory over MK Dons, but the result offered only a partial view of Roberto De Zerbi’s rebuilt side. The first Tottenham pre-season talking points included Mateus Fernandes’ immediate impact, quicker passing and a familiar lack of cutting edge.

Fernandes settled the friendly with a superb volley after only three minutes. However, Spurs struggled to turn their control into clear chances against a well-organised League One defence.

Several senior internationals were still absent after the World Cup. James Maddison also missed the game, despite having no international commitments this summer, while De Zerbi used different teams in each half.

The experimental selections limited any firm conclusions. Even so, Cartilage Free Captain’s match analysis identified several early trends which could influence Tottenham’s remaining transfer plans.

Tottenham pre-season talking points offer De Zerbi clues

The clearest tactical feature was Tottenham’s attempt to move the ball quickly. Fernandes, Sandro Tonali and Conor Gallagher often used one-touch passes to find the free player.

Those combinations were not always accurate. However, the intention reflected the type of third-man passing associated with De Zerbi’s teams.

Spurs also started with encouraging intensity. Their press disrupted MK Dons early, although the tempo fell as fitness levels became a factor.

Fernandes provided the outstanding moment. His first-time volley underlined the technical ability which persuaded Tottenham to sign him from West Ham.

Tottenham described Fernandes as a midfielder who is comfortable under pressure when announcing his arrival. De Zerbi also highlighted his ability to progress possession and make an impact in difficult moments.

ReadTottenham covered Fernandes’ spectacular debut goal, but his wider performance also offered encouragement. He combined quickly, competed for possession and looked comfortable within De Zerbi’s early structure.

Tottenham attack remains an obvious concern

The larger issue came in the final third. Tottenham controlled possession but rarely opened up an MK Dons side defending in a compact 5-4-1 shape.

Dominic Solanke struggled to influence the game, while Mathys Tel and Manor Solomon produced only occasional moments of danger. Richarlison later had a goal disallowed and saw another effort saved.

Tottenham need more imagination when opponents protect their penalty area. Quick passing can move a defence, but De Zerbi still requires players who can beat an opponent or deliver the decisive final action.

Mikey Moore provided some of those qualities after half-time. The academy winger attacked defenders and played several ambitious passes across the pitch.

Luca Williams-Barnett also caught the eye in an unfamiliar central role. His balance and willingness to progress possession helped Spurs threaten more often, although he sometimes held the ball for too long.

Their performances should earn further opportunities during the tour. However, placing too much creative responsibility on teenagers would be risky during a Champions League campaign.

De Zerbi has already created genuine competition

Sandro Tonali had a quieter introduction. MK Dons’ deep defensive shape limited his opportunities to carry the ball or play through open spaces.

The Italian will need time to understand the movements around him. His partnership with Fernandes remains one of the most important areas of Tottenham’s pre-season.

Martin Dubravka also made his debut and protected the lead with an excellent late save. Meanwhile, several academy players filled unfamiliar positions because of the reduced senior group.

De Zerbi has already warned that reputation will not determine his team selection. Moore and Williams-Barnett responded positively, while Fernandes made the strongest possible opening statement.

Tottenham’s first friendly was never going to define the new season. It did provide an early outline of De Zerbi’s intentions, alongside a reminder that the forward line still needs work.

Mateus Fernandes marked his Tottenham debut with a stunning winner as Roberto De Zerbi’s side beat MK Dons 1-0 at Hotspur Way. The summer signing needed only three minutes to make his first impact in a Spurs shirt.

Mathys Tel delivered a corner which goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray punched towards the edge of the penalty area. Fernandes met the clearance with a powerful volley which struck the inside of the post before crossing the line.

Tottenham shared footage of Fernandes’ superb opening goal, which ultimately proved enough to settle the behind-closed-doors friendly. The strike offered an early glimpse of the midfielder’s technical quality and confidence.

Fernandes started alongside fellow new arrival Sandro Tonali and Conor Gallagher. Spurs controlled possession against MK Dons’ compact defensive shape, although clear chances were limited.

Mateus Fernandes debut gives De Zerbi early encouragement

Dominic Solanke and Manor Solomon were both denied by MacGillivray during the first half. Gallagher also came close to converting Tel’s cross after Tonali opened the defence with a clever pass.

De Zerbi changed his entire side at half-time, allowing Martin Dubravka to make his first Tottenham appearance. Richarlison had a goal disallowed before seeing another effort saved, while Mikey Moore and Yang Min-hyeok also threatened.

Dubravka preserved the victory with an excellent late save from Ben Wiles. The result gave De Zerbi a winning start to pre-season, one month before Tottenham open their Premier League campaign against Brentford.

ReadTottenham had highlighted the prospect of Fernandes and Tonali making their debuts before both midfielders started at Hotspur Way. Fernandes ensured the first appearance belonged to him with a goal worthy of winning any match.

Tottenham will now travel to New Zealand for the first stage of their overseas tour. They face Auckland FC at Eden Park on Sunday, with Fernandes pushing to retain his place in De Zerbi’s midfield.

Mateus Fernandes couldn’t have endeared himself any better to the Tottenham Hotspur faithful.

The Portuguese midfielder sealed a headline move to North London earlier this summer for a fee believed to be in the region of £85m.

A few days later, Sandro Tonali’s move to the club eclipsed that record, but there was a lot of anticipation to see the duo play for the club.

Tottenham are currently playing against MK Dons in a pre-season friendly, with both Tonali and Fernandes starting at the heart of the midfield.

And it’s safe to say the Portuguese midfielder has already made a big impression at his new club with a stunner from outside the box.

Mateus Fernandes makes immediate Tottenham impact

While Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson and Martin Dubravka will have to wait longer for their Tottenham debuts, Tonali and Fernandes were thrown straight into the XI by Roberto De Zerbi.

And Fernandes broke the deadlock with a stunning volley from outside the box to break the deadlock for the hosts as he offered a glimpse of what he brings to the club.

As seen above in the video, his goal genuinely was a thing of beauty as he struck the ball so sweetly.

Naturally, Tottenham fans have taken to social media to lavish praise on their new signing.

@ben_bowman_ wrote, “I’ve seen enough, send another £85M to West Ham,” while @thespursweb added, “Some effort from Mateus Fernandes!”

With halftime approaching, the Lilywhites are currently 1-0 up and will look to add to their advantage.

De Zerbi is also expected to make a raft of changes at the interval, but Fernandes’ goal will certainly be something to remember for the Tottenham faithful.

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Tottenham Hotspur defender Djed Spence was a surprise star for England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup under Thomas Tuchel.

The versatile defender was coming on the back of a tough season at club level but enhanced his reputation with a string of magnificent displays for his country on the grandest stage.

In recent weeks, Spence has been linked with a move to Inter Milan, with the Italian champions looking to bolster their rearguard to aid another title push.

And now, if reports from Italy are to be believed, they no longer want to sign the defender from Tottenham.

Inter pull out of Djed Spence deal with Tottenham

Along with Spence, Inter Milan have also been linked with a move for Cuti Romero, with the Argentine defender likely to move on this summer.

Naturally, with two players wanted by the same club, it looked like a deal could be happening.

Earlier today, Fabrizio Romano said Inter are favourites to land Romero, although a fee is yet to be agreed.

And now, Orazio Accomando reports that Inter have stopped their pursuit of Spence for the time being as they have no intention of paying Tottenham’s asking price, which is believed to be €47m.

He wrote on X: “Exclusive: Inter has decided for the moment not to proceed for Spence.

“Tottenham’s request for the winger exceeds 40M pounds (about 47M euros), a figure deemed excessively high by the Nerazzurri club, which continues to evaluate several profiles.”

The same journalist has claimed that he will publish an update on Romero in due course, so this is a space worth following for the Tottenham faithful.

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