Football Italia

Friday’s reports claim that Premier League sides Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are both interested in a potential summer transfer for Roma midfielder and Italy international Niccolo Pisilli.

Could Pisilli be set for a Premier League move?

The 21-year-old, who has been included in Silvio Baldini’s Italy national team squad for the June international friendlies, is beginning to attract interest from some of the Premier League’s big spenders.

Pisilli had to bide his time for opportunities in Serie A in 2025-26, but by the midway stage of the season, he had become a first-team regular and featured in 21 consecutive league matches by the end of the campaign.

He also chipped in with a goal and two assists Roma’s final four matches of the season, which came as part of a five-game winning streak that pushed the Giallorossi into the Champions League positions.

Now, according to reports from romanews.eu, Tottenham and Newcastle have taken an interest and could be poised to make an offer this summer.

Friday’s report claims that Pisilli is currently valued in the region of €35m, which would not be a major issue for the likes of Newcastle or Tottenham and the riches they have at their disposal.

As has been widely reported, Roma must raise funds of up to €60m before the end of June in order to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations.

Randal Kolo Muani is set to return to Paris Saint-Germain after a mixed loan spell at Tottenham Hotspur, but his stay in the French capital is expected to be brief, with Roma reportedly on the verge of submitting a formal offer for the French international, and Como also emerging as an interested party.

According to TRT Sport, as noted by Calciomercato.it, Roma are close to making the first official approach to PSG for Kolo Muani’s signature.

The Frenchman managed only five goals in 41 appearances across all competitions at Spurs, largely deployed out of position on the right flank rather than as the central striker he prefers. His numbers were underwhelming, but interest in him remains considerable given his quality in seasons past.

Juventus lose ground in Kolo Muani race as Champions League failure takes its toll

Juventus had long been considered the frontrunner for Kolo Muani, having already held preliminary discussions with PSG over a potential deal.

However, their failure to qualify for the Champions League has weakened their hand considerably, with both Roma and Como, both of whom will compete in Europe’s elite competition next season, now better placed to offer the striker the sporting platform he desires.

Turkish clubs have also registered interest, though Kolo Muani is understood to have no desire to move outside the top five European leagues at this stage of his career.

As expected Andy Robertson will keep with his original plan to join Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham Hotspur, despite a late attempt from Juventus to hijack the deal.

The 32-year-old will be a free agent when his contract with Liverpool comes to and end on June 30 and saluted the fans at Anfield in an emotional final appearance.

He had been at the club since leaving Hull City in 2017 and knew that he would need to think carefully about the next step in his career.

Juventus too late for Robertson

Juventus had made an approach last week, but even those reports noted that it was an unlikely attempt, seeing as Robertson had agreed terms with Spurs six months ago.

Now transfer pundit Fabrizio Romano confirms that this was only a long shot, because the Scotland international has decided to stick with the original idea of coming to Tottenham.

This was made even more likely with the arrival of coach De Zerbi and their ability to avoid relegation from the Premier League on the last day of the season.

The midfielder made 36 competitive appearances for Liverpool this season, scoring three goals and providing two assists.

Italy international Guglielmo Vicario has been nominated for Premier League Goalkeeper Performance of the Season after his heroics for Tottenham against Chelsea.

The Azzurri player saw his campaign cut short by injury, undergoing surgery for a hernia in March.

Before that, he was first choice with the gloves for Spurs, and helped them to avoid relegation from the Premier League, prompting rumours of an Inter move.

Vicario up for Premier League award

Vicario is one of six players nominated for the Premier League Goalkeeper Performance of the Season award, which will be voted on by the public and the panel of experts.

Despite being on the losing side 1-0 to Chelsea, Vicario made eight big saves that day, including three from point-blank range all to deny Joao Pedro.

The other nominees are Jordan Pickford in Everton 2-0 Brighton, Robin Roefs in Crystal Palace 0-0 Sunderland, Martin Dubrovka in Burnley 1-1 Nottingham Forest, Robert Sanchez in Chelsea 1-2 Aston Villa, and Jose Sa in Nottingham Forest 0-0 Wolves.

England international James Maddison insists that there was a ‘serious possibility’ that Tottenham Hotspur would have been relegated to the EFL Championship had it not been for the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi heading into the final stages of the season: ‘Credit to him’.

Maddison heaps praise on De Zerbi after Tottenham survival: ‘He’s switched the mindset’

De Zerbi was called in to replace former Juventus boss Igor Tudor as head coach of Tottenham at the end of March, with Spurs sitting in 17th place with seven matches of the Premier League season left to go at that stage.

Despite going without a win during his first two matches in charge, De Zerbi went on to win three of his Tottenham’s final five matches of the Premier League season and kept the team up by a margin of two points on the final day of the season.

Several Tottenham players have credited De Zerbi with bringing in the ‘passion’ and drive that the players needed heading into a crucial run of Premier League fixtures.

Among them is England’s Maddison, who missed the vast majority of the 2025-26 campaign with a knee injury.

“Since he came in, he’s been brilliant. Without him coming in, there is a serious possibility we would have gone down, yeah,” Maddison told Sky.

“He’s switched the mindset, the passion he shows every single day rubbed off on the players and I think you could see that in the last few performances. Yes, maybe we could still be better in terms of quality and the moments we were producing.

“I never questioned the group’s mentality, I didn’t see a group who weren’t willing to try, it just needed Roberto to come in and fine tune it and get it out of some of the players and he managed to do that, so credit to him.”

“Without him coming in, there’s a serious possibility we would have gone down”

James Maddison praises the work Roberto De Zerbi has done at Spurs since coming to the club 🤝 pic.twitter.com/rvWVovljby

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 26, 2026

Roberto De Zerbi’s post-match press conference following Tottenham’s survival on the final day was as entertaining as, if not far more than, anything seen on the pitch this season for the North London club, with the Italian coach producing a moment that perfectly encapsulates his personality and the relief of keeping the club in the top flight.

De Zerbi sees funny side as Spurs finish in 17th

With a broad smile upon entering the room, the coach called out a journalist who had been a regular negative presence at the training ground throughout his tenure.

“Where is he? Where is he? That negative journalist who was always at the training centre?” he said. “Go and get him.”

Times journalist Tom Allnutt was in the mixed zone at the time but the coach requested he be brought before him.

The reporter was duly brought to the room, up to the stage, at which point De Zerbi greeted him with a smile and a warm handshake.

James Maddison has paid a glowing tribute to Roberto De Zerbi after Tottenham Hotspur secured their Premier League survival on the final day of the season, crediting the Italian coach with saving the club from what could have been a catastrophic relegation.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Maddison was effusive. “I’ve been really, really impressed with the manager,” he said. “That appointment saved a disaster from happening to be honest. He’s been living at the training ground. I sleep at the training ground the night before a home game, I’ve got too many kids. He’s there at 9pm with the tactics board.”

“That appointment has saved the disaster from happening” 🗣️

James Maddison on the impact of Roberto De Zerbi at Tottenham Hotspur ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/Qlknl38ipG

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 25, 2026

Vicario echoes Maddison praise as De Zerbi saves Spurs from embarassment

The sentiment was echoed by Italy international goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who took to Instagram to post an emotional tribute to the Spurs supporters.

Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham celebrated survival on Sunday, beating Everton 1-0, but there was tension on the touchline in the opening stages with the Italian tactician and Guglielmo Vicario angrily arguing with David Moyes and Seamus Coleman.

A Joao Palinha goal allowed Tottenham to beat Everton 1-0 on Sunday to secure Premier League survival.

De Zerbi and Vicario took centre stage during the match, first by arguing with Everton coach Moyes and defender Coleman and then when the goalkeeper almost choked De Zerbi while celebrating Palinha’s goal.

Tottenham hired De Zerbi at the end of March, and the Italian tactician has collected three wins, two draws and two losses during his time in North London.

Vicario and De Zerbi argue with Everton’s coach and defender

Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi and Everton manager David Moyes arguing…

Then Guglielmo Vicario and Seamus Coleman go at it as well 😂

PASSION!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/LtXyfVaFCu

— Football Confidential 🌐 (@footballconfid1) May 24, 2026

When Yann Sommer departs Inter this summer, as expected, with the veteran Swiss goalkeeper’s contract expiring in June, the question of who fills his boots will be one of the most consequential decisions Cristian Chivu and sporting director Piero Ausilio make this summer.

For much of the season, the answer appeared straightforward: Guglielmo Vicario, Inter’s long-standing target at Tottenham Hotspur. Increasingly, however, the evidence points in a different direction.

Inter have been linked with a potential move for Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario for much of the 2025-26 season, but recent updates indicate that the Nerazzurri have cooled off in their pursuit of the former Empoli stopper. Here’s why.

Vicario has spent the last three seasons in North London, having joined in a €19m deal from Empoli in the summer of 2023, becoming the most expensive departure in the history of the Italian club in the process.

The last two seasons, particularly in the Premier League, have been massively disappointing for Tottenham on a collective level. They are still mathematically at risk of relegation to the Championship in the final stage of the 2025-26 Premier League season, and for the second season in a row, will not finish any higher than 17th place in the English top flight.

Why are Inter leaning away from Vicario transfer?

There has been an upturn in Tottenham’s form following the appointment of Italian head coach Roberto De Zerbi at the end of March. They have won two and drawn two of their last four matches, and could secure Premier League safety when they take on Chelsea on Tuesday night.

As per La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tottenham surviving in the Premier League would make life more complicated for Inter if they were to continue with their hopes of signing Vicario this summer.

The Pink Paper claims that the goalkeeper is valued in the region of €20m, which would be lowered in the event of relegation, but this is now looking increasingly unlikely and negotiations could start to become more complicated again.

Secondly, Inter already have an heir to Yann Sommer ready and waiting in-house. The club brought in Josep Martinez for a €15.5m fee from Genoa in the summer of 2024, and the Spaniard has recently admitted that he is hoping to be confirmed as Inter’s no.1 for 2026-27.

The benefit with Martinez is that he already knows the club and players well and understands what Cristian Chivu wants from his goalkeepers. He put in a solid campaign in cup competitions this season and already has a full season of Serie A football under his belt from his time with Genoa.

Sommer will be leaving Inter at the end of the season, so there is still a need for Inter to bring in a new goalkeeper either way this summer, but promoting Martinez to no.1 would mean they are in the market for a cheaper understudy, rather than a comparatively expensive first choice.