Sport Witness

Tottenham Hotspur’s Pedro Porro says it’s difficult with just ’13-14 players to train and play with’ at the Premier League side.

Igor Tudor’s side travel to Spain to face Atlético Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday. The return leg will be in north London next week.

Ahead of tomorrow’s clash, the right-back gave an interview to Radio Marca‘s La Tribu to assess Tottenham’s situation and their poor run in the Premier League.

Spurs enjoyed a good run in the Champions League group stage, winning five and losing one of their eight matches. This saw them finish fourth in the table, behind Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Liverpool.

However, the north London club have failed to replicate their European form in the Premier League. Spurs have seven wins from 29 league matches and are now 16th, one point above the relegation zone.

Tottenham’s major concerns

Radio Marca asked Porro why the English club have done well in Europe and so poorly in the Premier League.

When responding to that, the 26-year-old pointed out injuries to several players as the main reason.

“It’s difficult, because when you’re competing in four competitions under these circumstances… we already had that bad experience last year in the Premier League with so many injured players, and you just can’t compete,” he said.

“We have young players coming on strong, and looking at this season, it’s basically the same. You’re going to play against Arsenal, City, Liverpool, or Chelsea, and you just can’t.”

The Spain international even said the current injured players may be stronger than the fit players.

“We could field a starting eleven of injured players that might even be stronger than the eleven that’s currently playing. And it’s not out of disrespect to anyone, but that’s basically the reality,” Porro explained.

“We have to think and maintain a positive mindset. I’ve told my teammates, it’s difficult to compete like this, but we always have to give 100%, even though things aren’t going well in the Premier League, just like last year. We’re going to approach the tie with the same ambition we’ve shown so far in the Champions League.”

Analysis: Porro has a point

Dejan Kulusevski hasn’t featured for Spurs this season as he has been on the sidelines since May 2025.

Tottenham’s injury list includes the Swede, James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur, Ben Davies, Lucas Bergvall, Radu Drăgușin, Wilson Odobert, Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence.

Sweden manager Graham Potter said it’s going to be difficult for Kulusevski and Bergvall to make it for March’s international break.

Meanwhile, Micky van de Ven will be suspended for the next league clash after his sending off against Crystal Palace last Thursday.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Souza has barely started life in the Premier League, yet Brazilian media already speculate about his future if the club suffer relegation.

The 19-year-old left-back joined Spurs from Santos in January. However, reports in Brazil claim he could quickly become a saleable asset if the London club drop into the Championship.

That scenario was raised by Bolavip, who link the player’s situation directly to Tottenham’s current struggles near the bottom of the table.

Souza has only just begun his Spurs career. His first start came recently, although the match lasted less than 40 minutes. Micky van de Ven’s early red card forced manager Igor Tudor to change the system, which limited the Brazilian’s involvement.

Even so, the report argues the defender could still be affected by Tottenham’s wider financial situation.

Transfer scenario linked to Tottenham’s league position

Bolavip explain that Tottenham currently sit dangerously close to the relegation zone, with 29 points from 29 matches. The gap to the drop zone is just one point. But this is not news for anyone at this point.

It’s a known fact that relegation would force Spurs to rethink their squad structure. The financial hit of leaving the Premier League would likely trigger player sales.

In that context, Souza is mentioned by the Brazilian press as one possible departure. The logic is simple. He is young, recently signed and still carries strong market value.

The Brazilian outlet states Tottenham could need to sell players quickly in such a scenario. Therefore, newer assets like Souza may become part of that strategy.

Background of the Tottenham signing

Souza arrived in north London from Santos for around £15m (€17m), as we covered at the time.

The deal represented a major sale for the Brazilian club. Santos kept roughly 87.5% of the transfer fee, which amounted to about £13m (€15m).

At just 19 years old, Souza had long been considered one of Santos’ most promising prospects. That reputation helped convince Tottenham to move for him earlier this year.

Also, the money from his sale just helped Santos’ uplift a transfer ban. Spurs have delayed the payment a bit, but the situation ended up positively for the Brazilian side.

Our take: patience may make more sense

Souza is indeed a valuable asset for Tottenham. However, he has not yet had enough minutes to justify the fee paid to Santos.

There are clear signs of talent, intensity and personality. Still, his time on the pitch has been too limited to properly show what he can offer.

Because of that, selling him for a fee equal to or higher than the initial £15m (€17m) would likely be difficult right now.

There is also the financial context to consider. Souza is not among the highest earners in Tottenham’s squad.

For that reason, keeping him during a potential Championship campaign may actually make more sense. Regular minutes and a larger role could allow him to develop properly – and potentially increase his value in the process.

Brentford star Kevin Schade could continue in the Premier League by joining Tottenham Hotspur or Chelsea in the summer.

That’s according to Bild, who mention both Tottenham and Chelsea in a report focusing on Bayern Munich.

Sky Deutschland recently reported Bayern Munich’s interest in the Brentford player. Bild relay it and then provide their own take on the winger’s chances of joining the Bundesliga winners after this season.

According to the report, Vincent Kompany’s side are indeed monitoring the 24-year-old, who has starred for the Bees this season.

Ali Barat manages Schade, and also represents Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, now on loan at Bayern Munich. The agent is aware the Bavarian club have the Germany international in their target list.

Tottenham and Chelsea offered Kevin Schade

Transfermarkt now values the Brentford star at €35m, but Bild claim Keith Andrews’ side will need €70m to sanction his sale. This is ‘too much’ for Bayern Munich, who see him as Luis Díaz’s backup.

The player, for his part, would be pleased to join the German champions. However, Bayern Munich are unlikely to sign him for €70m.

The report state Spurs and Liam Rosenior’s side could be alternatives to Bayern Munich for Schade.

Two months ago, Sport Witness covered claims from Germany of Spurs’ interest in the attacker. Thomas Frank knew him well from his time at Brentford, but the Dane has left the north London club.

Tottenham could still have a chance to secure his services as Bild claim Schade’s agent has offered him to Spurs. The same source adds the representative is also in talks with the Blues.

In short, the agent is offering Schade to Tottenham and Chelsea. However, it’s not clear whether either of them is willing to spend €70m.

Our take: Should Schade join Tottenham or Cheslea?

Tottenham have Wilson Odobert as the left winger in the squad while both Mathys Tel and Richarlison can operate in the same position.

The Brazilian reportedly wants to leave after this season. Odobert has struggled with injuries while Tel is yet to impress regularly.

At Chelsea, Rosenior has last summer signings Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens on the left wing. The duo are yet to consistently impress at Stamford Bridge.

Therefore, the Brentford man could be a good option for both Tottenham and Chelsea.

HSV Hamburg coach Merlin Polzin has played down a recent tantrum on the pitch from Tottenham Hotspur youngster Luka Vuskovic.

BILD cover the situation today, and the Tottenham youngster’s outburst following a 1-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen.

The 19-year-old was heavily involved in the drama at the end of the game. HSV were pushing for an equaliser late on when he first failed to convert an effort from four metres out. He then headed a rebound against the bar from three metres out.

Seconds later, the game was over. And rather than securing a point, HSV had lost 1-0. What followed was pure frustration from the Tottenham youngster.

What Bild say happened

He kicked the post four times, with full force. He then proceeded to kick an advertising board before taking off his boots and hurling them at the empty substitutes bench. It’s described as a wild outburst on the pitch, for all to see.

It naturally earned the Tottenham youngster plenty of attention, not all positive. It certainly raised eyebrows given the calm, composed and impressive performances he’s put in for the German side so far this season.

The wild outburst, perhaps, showed he’s still only young with plenty to learn. That’s at least the stance being taken by his coach, Merlin Polzin. He played down the incident in his post-game comments.

“Luka thrives on his emotions,” he said.

“I think when you have a chance against a team like that in front of almost 60,000 fans, right at the end, it’s perfectly normal for the emotion to have to come out.”

He then addressed the defender kicking the posts, with a grin on his face.

“I’m sure the goalposts in Hamburg are sturdy and will absorb that.”

Context of Tottenham player’s tantrum

Interestingly, it’s not the first time Vuskovic has found the post to be his enemy either. Earlier in the season, in the 2-1 win against Heidenheim, he missed a golden opportunity from a similar position. That saw him hammering the post with his hand, bruising his finger in the process.

The difference that time, was that HSV won. This time it’s a defeat, perhaps why he upgraded to using his feet.

Our take on Luka Vuskovic situation

The young defender has been one of the best in the Bundesliga this season, showing why Tottenham were correct to sign him in the first place. He’s already been the subject of Bayern Munich chatter, although there appeared nothing especially serious in that.

As we’ve repeatedly covered, Vuskovic has made it clear he wants to play with his brother at Hamburg. Mario is currently serving a doping ban and will only be available next season.

That would mean Tottenham agreeing to a further loan. Whilst that may be frustrating for Spurs, it would be a route to keeping the player and his family onside. Having Vuskovic over the period of his contract represents more value, and therefore a further loan for the first half of next season is a potential solution for all involved.

Contract situation, value and agents

Tottenham have the defender on a contract lasting until 2030, with his Hamburg loan set to expire in the summer. Transfermarkt value him at €40m, with that amount seeing a dramatic rise from €7-10m in 2024.

Vuskovic is represented by Gol International and is their most valuable client.

In January, Sport Witness covered claims from Spain about Barcelona regretting their failure to spot Micky Van de Ven before he joined Tottenham.

The example was used as a reason the Catalan club now try to focus on getting some talents signed early on in their career. They didn’t take the risk with Van de Ven, and that was seen as a ‘lesson’ that Barcelona do not want to repeat again.

Now, the Spanish giants are interested in bringing in the Tottenham player himself. With Spurs struggling, this summer is seen as the perfect opportunity to get him to the Camp Nou.

Sport report on the defender in detail, describing him as an alternative to Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni.

Van De Ven seeking Tottenham exit

The Spanish newspaper report Bastoni was Barca’s first-choice option to improve their defence. As of now, Inter aren’t looking to let the player depart and he also has a very high price tag.

That is why Tottenham’s Van De Ven is seen as a viable option. There is belief he would prefer joining Barcelona over Real Madrid.

Hansi Flick’s side have received very positive reports about him, both on a professional and personal level. The price is put at €65m, or a little lower.

Van De Ven’s stance is likely to be important. Sport state ‘doesn’t want to stay’ at Tottenham due to the ongoing ‘crisis’.

Barca waiting to resolve doubts

Sport further claim that Barcelona do have some minor doubts about the Netherlands international. They have been made aware of some errors that he has made this season. This is bringing about concerns about whether he suits Flick’s high-line setup.

That is why further considerations will be made about Van De Ven.

Tottenham brought the defender in from Wolfsburg in 2024. The 24-year-old leaving would provide a profit, but also be a hole for the Premier League club to fill.

Nottingham Forest will only consider opening talks for Murillo if offers reach at least €70m (£60m), according to Brazilian outlet RTI Esporte.

The report states that interest from Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur has intensified ahead of the 2026/27 season. However, Forest’s stance is clear. They are not prepared to negotiate below that figure.

This appears to be the most concrete valuation to emerge so far. Previous reports in Brazil had suggested a range between £50m and £70m (€58m-€81m). Now, the indication is that Forest would only start discussions from the upper end of that spectrum.

Murillo, 23, is in his third season at the City Ground after joining from Corinthians in 2023. Forest paid €14m (£12m) for the defender at the time. His market value is currently estimated in Brazil at around €55m (£47m), underlining the scale of his rise.

Nottingham Forest set firm benchmark

Setting a €70m (£60m) floor sends a strong message to Tottenham and other interested clubs. Spurs will likely be moving for a central defender in the summer, with doubts around several players.

Nottingham Forest view Murillo as a cornerstone of their defensive structure and a premium asset in the market.

There are other suitors for him around Europe. A few weeks ago, AC Milan considered a €30m price tag ‘unrealistic’, so they surely won’t like this update. As for Bayern Munich, they know Murillo ‘won’t be cheap’.

His profile explains the demand. He is left-footed, physically imposing and comfortable progressing the ball. At 23, he also fits the recruitment model of clubs seeking long-term defensive solutions.

Forest’s league situation may fuel speculation, but there is no indication they are under pressure to sell. Instead, the message is that any suitor must meet a price that reflects both performance and potential.

Financial ripple back to Brazil

Any deal at €70m (£60m) would also have consequences in Brazil. As we covered recently, Corinthians retained 10% of the profit from a future sale when they transferred Murillo.

Based on the €14m (£12m) initial fee, a €70m (£60m) sale would generate a profit of €56m (£48m). Ten per cent of that would hand Corinthians approximately €5.6m (£4.8m), before solidarity payments are included.

For now, there has been no formal approach. However, with Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham all credited with interest, Nottingham Forest have effectively drawn a line in the sand.

What happens next depends on whether any of those clubs are prepared to match the €70m (£60m) benchmark.

Tottenham Hotspur have now completed the process that was holding up Santos’ efforts to lift their transfer ban.

After days of waiting for key documentation linked to Souza’s £12.8m (€15m) move to north London, Santos have officially settled their outstanding debt with FC Arouca, according to Bolavip in Brazil.

The Brazilian club paid €2.5m (£2.1m) to clear the issue related to defender João Basso’s transfer. As a result, FIFA will remove Santos from its sanctions list and the club can once again register players.

Christian Oliva, their newly signed midfielder who had been unable to feature due to the restriction, is now expected to be registered immediately.

From delay to resolution

Earlier this week, we covered Brazilian reports stating that Santos were waiting on a formal document from Tottenham before they could finalise payment to Arouca. That delay effectively kept the transfer ban in place. Now, the matter has been resolved.

While the exact administrative timeline has not been detailed publicly, the key point is that the funds connected to the Tottenham deal have now been used to unlock the situation.

Interestingly, this comes only weeks after Santos had structured an international banking operation to bring forward their share of the Souza fee, using Spurs’ financial reliability as the backbone of the arrangement. The club anticipated around £13.7m (€16.2m) from the deal.

The recent hold-up therefore appeared procedural rather than structural. The payment has now been made.

What this means beyond the ban

The immediate benefit is obvious. Santos can register new signings and continue squad planning without restriction. However, the wider implication is financial breathing space.

The money from Tottenham does not simply resolve the €2.5m (£2.1m) debt. It also strengthens Santos’ short-term liquidity during a delicate restructuring phase. The club’s overall debt remains significant, and cash flow management is critical.

In practical terms, Spurs’ transfer fee has helped Santos stabilise operations and maintain momentum in the market.

For Tottenham, this closes a small but closely watched side story. For Santos, it restores flexibility – and gives them room to use the remaining funds strategically rather than firefighting sanctions. In the meanwhile, Souza is still waiting for his first start at Spurs.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Kevin Danso is once again on Besiktas’ radar, with a meeting already held and a summer approach planned, according to Turkish outlet Fanatik.

The report says that Besiktas president Serdal Adali has identified the Spurs centre-back as the preferred partner for Emmanuel Agbadou next season.

The Istanbul side are already planning their defensive structure for 2026-27 and have turned their focus to north London.

Fanatik state that contact was previously made during the winter window. However, the clubs failed to reach an agreement due to financial conditions.

Previous talks and financial backdrop

Tottenham signed Danso from Lens in July 2025 for €25m (approximately £21.5m). That figure now frames any potential negotiations.

At the time of earlier contact, Besiktas were reportedly working with a valuation closer to €20m (£17.2m). That gap appears to have been decisive in January.

Still, the new report claims a meeting has since taken place with the Austrian defender. Danso is described as being receptive to Besiktas’ project. That detail is significant, even if it does not yet reflect Tottenham’s position.

There is no indication Spurs are actively looking to sell. The story is driven from the Turkish side, with Besiktas preparing to reopen discussions once the transfer window opens.

What happens next for Tottenham

For Tottenham, the situation hinges on squad planning and valuation. Spurs invested €25m (£21.5m) less than a year ago, which strengthens their negotiating position.

If Besiktas return in the summer, they will likely need to bridge the previous financial gap. Otherwise, Tottenham would have little incentive to sanction a move.

In addition, Danso has developed into a reliable figure for Tottenham. He played an important role in last season’s Europa League title-winning campaign, offering consistency and leadership at the back during the knockout stages.

As a result, any potential departure would not be straightforward. Losing a defender who contributed to European silverware would represent a significant blow to squad depth and experience heading into another demanding season.

At this stage, the groundwork appears to have been laid in Turkey. The next step, according to Fanatik, will come when the summer window officially opens and Besiktas knock on Tottenham’s door again.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Cristian Romero could join Real Madrid, after Atlético Madrid missed out on him last summer.

The Argentina international had concrete interest from Atlético Madrid. Their manager, Diego Simeone, had expressed a desire to sign him, but a move never took shape.

In July, Sport Witness relayed news from Spain that Tottenham has rejected Los Rojiblancos formal approach for Romero. A month later, the centre-back signed a new contract with Spurs, which lasts until 2029.

Romero has kept his place in the north London club’s starting lineup this season and even managed six goals and four assists from 28 matches.

However, Spurs are 16th in the table, four points above the relegation zone.

Real Madrid interest in Tottenham star

Recent claims have talked about the possibility of the former Atalanta man leaving Igor Tudor’s side after this season. Real Madrid and Barcelona are looking to sign him in the next window.

Sport Witness recently covered claims that Romero has a verbal agreement in with Real Madrid. Barcelona are also keen and are open to offering Ronald Araújo as part of the deal for the Spurs star.

El Intransigente now relay the Real Madrid claim and then provide their own take on this case. The outlet aren’t certain whether Romero will leave the Premier League side for Los Blancos in the summer.

However, they do provide Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni’s stance on the possibility of the defender joining Real Madrid.

Scaloni encourages Real Madrid move

Scaloni handed Romero his national team debut in 2021 and the latter has been a regular since 2022. He prefers his players competing at the highest level and the 27-year-old can achieve this with Real Madrid move.

The outlet says: ‘Real Madrid’s interest could open up a completely new scenario, not only from a sporting perspective but also symbolically: a move to one of Europe’s giants would place him on a whole new international level.’

Should the Tottenham man end up at the Spanish capital club, El Intransigente believe it could change his role in the national team.

Romero could become an ‘undisputed pillar’ for Argentina if he were to join and establish himself at Real Madrid.

The outlet says Scaloni would ‘celebrate the leap in quality’ if Romero were to join the Spanish capital club.

In the winter transfer window, Sport Witness covered Juventus’ attempts to sign Tottenham’s Randal Kolo Muani.

The Frenchman spent the second half of last season in Turin and impressed. The Old Lady saw him as a fix for their problems again in January and the player was keen on the return.

Former Tottenham manager Thomas Frank proved to be a hindrance, as he didn’t want to lose another player amidst a raft of injury problems.

Kolo Muani scored in the Champions League against Eintracht Frankfurt some weeks ago, and then scored his first Premier League goal against Arsenal on Sunday.

Considering he is only on a dry loan at Spurs, Juve are still looking to bring him back to Turin.

Tottenham player continues to have admirers

Today’s TuttoSport report Juve are still very keen on the striker.

He is a favourite target for the summer, with Dusan Vlahovic’s contract at the club running out soon.

There are two reasons why the Tottenham player still appeals to the Bianconeri. One is the fact that he made an impact last season, playing a key role in their Champions League qualification.

There is also a financial reason to consider, as Juve feel a package worth €40m can seal the deal. This will help PSG recoup a high amount, especially since the 27-year-old never quite sparkled during his time with the Ligue 1 giants.

Kolo Muani has shown promise at Spurs

While Kolo Muani hasn’t quite been consistent at Tottenham, he has contributed to seven goals in all competitions.

Apart from playing upfront, he has also played on the left and has always shown willingness to work his socks off. An injury earlier in the campaign derailed his progress and Frank’s system also affected his output.

His numbers can get better in a more attacking side and Juve have seen that. His best came under Igor Tudor himself and his presence at Tottenham can define the player’s future.

If Kolo Muani has a good few months, another big move could yet be possible.

Juventus fixated, and why PSG may not be impressed

The Serie A side appear somewhat fixated with Kolo Muani. After his loan in Turin last season, Juventus spent much of the summer trying to secure another loan.

They’d had a purchase option with PSG but decided instead to pile the pressure on for a loan. The French club weren’t impressed and insisted Juve cough up some serious money.

As the transfer window was closing, PSG relented on the loan idea… but not to Juventus. Instead, the Frenchman was sent to Tottenham Hotspur.

PSG won’t want another summer of a dragged out negotiation with Juventus.