Sport Witness

Tottenham Hotspur have stepped up their search for defensive reinforcements, and a new name has now emerged from Brazil.

Arthur Dias, a 19-year-old centre-back at Athletico Paranaense, is firmly on their radar after recent scouting missions.

The Premier League club sent representatives to the Arena da Baixada to watch him closely. Those visits came during matches against Atlético-GO and Vitória, offering a clear look at one of the most promising young defenders in Brazil right now.

According to local journalist Monique Vilela, Spurs have already shown interest in a potential move. Globo Esporte has confirmed the information. Tottenham have expressed interest to the Brazilian club.

However, Athletico have made their stance clear. They do not want to sell immediately and plan to keep the defender at least until the end of the year.

Rising profile backed by strong numbers

Arthur Dias has quickly become a key figure despite his age. He has played 15 matches this season, starting every single one. That level of trust says a lot about his role under Odair Hellmann.

The numbers support the hype. In the Brazilian league, he averages 1.3 interceptions and 1.5 tackles per game. He also records 2.8 clearances and recovers the ball 4.4 times per match.

Perhaps more impressively, he is rarely beaten. He is dribbled past just 0.2 times per game. That suggests strong positioning and composure, traits that often translate well to European football.

On the ball, he also looks comfortable. Arthur Dias completes around 38.7 passes per game with an 85% success rate. His accuracy rises to 91% in his own half, while he still manages 76% in the final third.

For a young centre-back, that balance between safety and progression stands out.

Price set and Tottenham made to wait

Arthur Dias is under contract until the end of 2028, which gives Athletico strong control over the situation. As a result, they are already setting expectations for any future deal.

As highlighted by Globo Esporte, the Brazilian side are likely to demand between £17m and £21.5m (€20m-€25m). That places him firmly in the bracket of emerging defensive talents rather than a bargain option.

For Tottenham, this looks like early groundwork rather than an immediate transfer push. They have identified the player, gathered live data, and now face a decision.

What happens next

Arthur Dias’ development over the next few months will be crucial. If he maintains his level, interest is likely to grow, not fade.

Tottenham may need to act quickly if competition arrives. At the same time, Athletico’s stance suggests patience will be required.

This has the feel of a classic Premier League scouting story – early interest, rising valuation, and a club trying to hold its position.

Radu Drăgușin’s agent has insisted his client does not want to leave Tottenham Hotspur, nor is he pushing to depart either.

Florin Manea has dismissed talk of an impending exit for the 24-year-old for now, insisting there is nothing going on behind the scenes at Spurs.

No transfer talk

Reports have linked Radu Drăgușin with a move away from Tottenham regardless of what happens this season.

The belief is that the Romanian defender is on a list of players Tottenham want to move on this summer. A huge rebuild is being planned at Spurs, regardless of whether they’re relegated or not.

The defender, who has struggled to impress since joining the club in 2024, is reportedly on that list. That’s even if Cristian Romero and Micky van der Ven were to move on as well.

Florin Manea, though, says all transfer talk is off the table for now. His client is simply focused on keeping Tottenham in the Premier League.

“Radu didn’t ask me for anything,” he insisted to Digi Sport.

“I said we won’t talk until the end of the championship; he’s focused on saving Tottenham. I also talked to him last night, we have time, no one is rushing us for now. If someone calls me, you’ll realise I’m talking, but I haven’t been contacted, I’m telling you the truth.”

Italy interest

Those reports linking Radu Drăgușin with an exit have also suggested that clubs in Italy would be keen. Juventus and Fiorentina have been named specifically as suitors.

But Manea is playing that down as well. He insists that there hasn’t been any contact whatsoever for the Tottenham defender.

“As I said, his priority now is saving Tottenham. I haven’t talked to Fiorentina, Juventus or even Tottenham. I’ll arrive in England next week, I’ll meet with Radu and we’ll see,” he added.

A return to Italy would make sense, though. It’s where Drăgușin impressed previously and, where he looked most comfortable. Another Premier League move seems unlikely given his experience with Tottenham.

But all that, it seems, is for the future. For now, his agent is insistent that transfer talk is off the table.

Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa are keen on signing AFC Bournemouth star Marcos Senesi in the summer.

The Argentina international has just over two months left on his contract and his future is likely to be away from Bournemouth.

His contract situation and experience make him an attractive option for Tottenham, Aston Villa and several other clubs.

Last month, Sport Witness relayed news Aston Villa are offering a high salary to beat competition.

On April 9th, we covered claims from Italy of Tottenham and Unai Emery’s side being willing to propose €4m per year salary to the Bournemouth player.

Five days later, Sport Witness again covered claims of both Spurs and the Villans’ strong push for the free signing.

Encouragement for Tottenham and Aston Villa

Marcos Senesi has been speaking to Radio La Red AM 910 and Olé in Argentina have relayed his comments.

With a contract expiring in June, the centre-back is likely to leave Bournemouth for a new club in the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Manchester United, Barcelona and Juventus are among his options. Senesi is open to staying in the Premier League but isn’t ruling out other options.

“I don’t have a league preference. Obviously, I like playing in the Premier League; I enjoy the competition, but I’m not ruling out playing in another league either. I told my agent to let me know when there’s something very clear and concrete,” he said.

The Bournemouth star says his teammates believe he’s already agreed a deal with a new club.

“My teammates get annoyed because they tell me I’ve probably already signed with a club. They don’t believe me when I say I still don’t know what I’m going to do,” Senesi explained.

Roberto De Zerbi’s side [now 18th] would have to continue in the Premier League to sign the 28-year-old.

Value, stats and agent info

Bournemouth signed the centre-back from Feyenoord in August 2022 and he has been a regular since then.

He has played 124 matches so far for the Cherries of which 35 matches [3,005 minutes] are from this season.

The defender’s Premier League stats this season are:

Appearances: 33

Starts:33

Total minutes: 2,930

Interceptions per game: 1.5

Tackles per game: 1.7

Ball recovered per game: 4.2

Clearances per game: 6.9

Blocked shots per game: 1.2

Duels won per game: 5.4

Barcelona are looking at Tottenham Hotspur’s Pedro Porro, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero ahead of the summer.

The La Liga winners intend to improve their defence next season and Van de Ven is on their agenda.

Over the past few months, the Spanish media have covered claims of Barcelona interest in Tottenham’s 25-year-old central defender.

On March 25th, Sport Witness relayed news of the Catalan club making an approach for the Netherlands international. The same source said he’s a backup to their priority target, Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni.

Why Barcelona are focusing on Tottenham

Roberto De Zerbi’s side are now in the danger zone and have four matches left to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Spurs are 18th in the table, two points behind 17th placed West Ham United and trailing 16th placed Nottingham Forest by five points.

With relegation looming, Sport report Barcelona are circling around Tottenham Hotspur.

Barca sporting director Deco made a trip to London and held talks with several agents to explore multiple options for the summer. The details of the players aren’t revealed yet.

Sport state Hansi Flick’s side have Pedro Porro, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero as attractive options at Spurs.

Central defender Jules Koundé is the main right-back at the Camp Nou. They haven’t had have a recognised right-back in recent years and are looking to sign one in the summer.

Porro could be an option if the north London club drop to the Championship. The 26-year-old Spain international’s experience at the highest level and age makes him an ideal candidate for Barca.

The fullback’s value is around €40m and this would be a considerable investment for the Spanish giants. Last month, Porro refused to discuss transfer links as he wants to focus only on avoiding relegation.

Barcelona sporting leaders also appreciate Van de Ven and Romero, but it’s unclear whether they’ll make moves to sign either of them.

Our take: Deals for Spurs trio not easy

If Tottenham Hotspur were to continue in the Premier League, Barcelona would find it difficult to sign all three players.

In the event of relegation, Spurs are unlikely to sell the trio cheaply. There would also be other clubs trying to sign the best options.

Tottenham Hotspur are among the clubs battling with Arsenal for Sporting’s Maxi Araújo in the summer.

Last month, Sport Witness exclusively revealed Tottenham had initiated contact to sign the 26-year-old.

At the weekend, Record in Portugal stated Arsenal started talks to sign the left wing back, valued at around €60m.

He can also operate as a left-back and a winger and contributed 10 goals and 12 assists from 80 matches.

This includes six goals and four assists from 42 matches this season, mainly operating as a left-back.

He even played the full 90 minutes in both legs against Arsenal in the Champions League quarter final. The Gunners made it to the last four with a 1-0 aggregate score, courtesy of Kai Havertz’s goal.

His league stats this season are as follows:

Appearances: 25

Starts: 21

Total minutes: 1,855

Minutes per game: 74

Interceptions per game: 1.0

Tackles per game: 1.7

Possession won (final third): 0.4

Ball recovered per game: 4.0

Dribbled past per game: 1.0

Clearances per game: 1.2

Blocked shots per game: 0.2

Duels won per game: 5.3

Tottenham’s interest in Arsenal target

Spurs appointed Roberto De Zerbi as their new manager on March 31st but that wouldn’t have impacted their interest in the rising star.

A source informed Sport Witness that Tottenham Hotspur continue to have Maxi Araújo on their agenda, after initiating contact.

The north London club are still tussling to sign the Uruguay international despite the latest claims from Portugal reporting of Arsenal starting talks.

Earlier today, we revealed eight Premier League sides are following the South American.

Tottenham, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City. We aren’t aware about the Gunners’ approach or interest and about the other two English clubs.

Araújo’s release clause is at €80m and recent claims state the Lions want €60m. However, the same source informs Sport Witness that at least €45-50m is needed to secure his services in the summer window.

Our take: Tottenham need to stay in PL

Spurs are now 18th in the table, two points behind 17th placed West Ham United. Both sides have four matches left this season.

Tottenham Hotspur would need to avoid relegation from the Premier League to stand a chance to sign Maxi Araújo in the summer.

Even with the top flight stay, Spurs face competition from other English clubs to acquire his signature. With or without Tottenham, there’s likely to be a battle for the Sporting star.

Pervis Estupian’s struggles at AC Milan have continued to grow and the idea of a Tottenham transfer is very much on the table.

Sport Witness have previously covered the London club’s interest in the defender, who joined from Brighton last summer. There was excitement about the deal but instead, Davide Bartesaghi has become first-choice at left-back.

This was also evident during Milan’s 0-0 draw against Juventus. Much of the Italian media expected Estupinan to start but it was the youngster who got the nod.

The Ecuadorian came on at half-time but couldn’t really make an impact.

Roberto De Zerbi wants a reunion with Estupinan at Tottenham.

Hope fading for defender

MilanLive also expected the South American to start on Sunday against the Old Lady. They make that clear in a report from the weekend, surprised that Estupinan would be given the preference over Bartesaghi.

The outlet go on to say that despite having scored a big goal against Inter some weeks ago, Estupinan is likely to leave Milan in the summer.

Manager Max Allegri appears unconvinced and is happy to part ways. It is believed ‘De Zerbi is ready him’ to Tottenham, having seen the left-back thrive in a more attacking role at Brighton.

Milan are unlikely to oppose his exit and would only need a small capital gain to sell him. They paid Brighton a base fee of €17m last summer and Spurs could bring him to England for anything around that.

Our take: Tottenham may have a dilemma

The British press have already spoken of Spurs’ interest in Andy Robertson. The Scotsman could arrive as a free agent, especially if the London club stay in the Premier League.

Estupinan is younger and can possibly offer more than the Liverpool player. But he isn’t a free agent and can also attract more clubs in the summer.

That’s why Tottenham will have a dilemma on their hands at the end of the season.

De Zerbi has always been a demanding manager and it will be interesting to see if he pushes to sign his ex-player.

Nicolo Fagioli has been a shining light in a dark season for Fiorentina and Tottenham interest in the midfielder has now emerged.

The first few months of the season weren’t great for Fiorentina. They found themselves in the bottom three and struggled to get any momentum going.

That is when Fagioli played a big role in dragging them up the table, holding his own in deep midfield. In recent weeks, he has impressed further and he was the best player on the pitch at the weekend against Sassuolo.

Sport Witness have previously covered English interest in the former Juventus player, who was controversially excluded from the Italian national team last month.

That hasn’t stopped his reputation from growing further. Tottenham are hovering as a threat for the player, whose future is increasingly being spoken about.

Suitors presented warning

Corriere dello Sport note that Fagioli has been extraordinary for Paolo Vanoli’s side in the last three months. They make it clear that his talent was always clear to see even at Juve, who loaned him to Fiorentina in January 2025 before a permanent sale went through last summer.

This is paying off for La Viola, who are witnessing the Italian becoming one of the most-wanted midfielders in Serie A.

Tottenham are interested and so are Atletico Madrid and AC Milan. Max Allegri managed him in Turin and appears keen on a reunion.

But the report issues a ‘hands off’ warning to clubs. Fabio Paratici is a big fan of Fagioli and wants to launch an ambitious project from next season onwards.

That is why Fagioli will be the centre of the Fiorentina squad, which will undergo other changes in the summer.

Our take: Tottenham will have a chance

The report does well to hype Fiorentina’s ambitions. However, it feels like another attempt to simply portray Paratici’s ideas in a bright light, with the club needing very little to stay in Serie A.

Tottenham should, as a result, keep an eye on the 25-year-old. He is a complete midfielder who is capable of playing in a variety of roles. That is why Luciano Spalletti, during his time as Italy manager, called him up for the European Championships in 2024.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Luka Vušković has been on loan at Hamburg SV since last summer and has been a key player in Germany.

The Croatia international has been one of the standout centre-backs in the Bundesliga this season.

It has seen the Tottenham owned player attract interest from Barcelona, Bayern Munich and other clubs.

His Bundesliga stats this season are as follows:

Appearances: 25

Starts: 25

Total minutes: 2,250

Minutes per game: 90

The 19-year-old last made an appearance in the 1-1 draw against FC Augsburg on April 4th and has been on the sidelines since then due to an injury.

On April 15th, Hamburg manager Merlin Polzin said he’s undergoing intensive treatmenet.

Last Monday, Sport Witness covered claims from Croatia dismissing concern of a serious setback. A day later, Hamburg sporting director Claus Costa explained why the recovery is taking time.

He said: “A knee sprain or contusion causes internal bleeding. This makes it difficult to control the knee precisely and correctly. That’s something that takes time.”

Anxious wait for Tottenham man

Hamburg SV suffered defeats in their last three matches and Luka Vušković missed these fixtures due to the knee injury he suffered in training.

Bild now report the Spurs man hasn’t returned to training and instead, is a regular visitor to the treatment room.

The 19-year-old will undergo fresh tests on Monday, where he will carry out MRI scans, ultrasound examinations and performance tests. If these results are positive and the club’s doctors give the green light, he can then return to the pitch.

At the German club, there’s optimism the Tottenham Hotspur defender need few sessions to return to the pitch. The player, for his part, is ‘doing everything he can’ to feature again this season.

Hamburg are now 15th [18 teams in Bundesliga] and are six points above 16th placed VfL Wolfsburg, who are in the relegation zone.

The Bundesliga sides have three matches left and therefore, their leaders are anxiously waiting for Vušković’s test results on Monday.

Our take: Tottenham have a huge say

Earlier claims have made it clear that the Premier League side have to give their approval for Luka Vuškovi to return to the pitch.

Even if Hamburg’s medical staff give clearance to the Croatian, Roberto De Zerbi’s side will have the final say.

Tottenham Hotspur could decide not to give the green light, in order to avoid any further setbacks.

João Palhinha’s future is spiralling into uncertainty, with Tottenham Hotspur at the centre of the issue.

Sport 1 report on the Tottenham midfielder today and how he faces a difficult summer, given Bayern Munich don’t want him back.

Tottenham want a lower price

The German outlet reports that Tottenham are happy with João Palhinha this season and can imagine triggering an option to buy him this summer.

But they’ll only do so if Bayern agree to renegotiate the fee. The original clause sits at €25m guaranteed, potentially rising to €30m with add-ons. That’s a fee which Spurs consider too high.

Bayern, meanwhile, would love Tottenham to take him permanently. A deal for the Portuguese midfielder would allow them to limit the financial losses on a player they signed for €48m in 2024.

Bayern don’t want him back

Inside Bayern Munich, João Palhinha now longer fits the clubs long-term strategy. Bayern are shifting towards younger profiles, and Vincent Kompany has no space for the 30-year-old.

The German champions are openly hoping that Tottenham activate the clause. At the very least they hope that Spurs try and negotiate a permanent deal for the midfielder.

Sporting director Christoph Freund has already been blunt about this in public comments this week. He admitted that discussions about Palhinha’s future are on hold until the season ends. They need to see if Tottenham are a Premier League side at the end of the season.

Tottenham relegation battle complicates everything

Tottenham’s survival battle is the biggest obstacle to a deal. With the club winless in months and staring at the Championship, committing €25-30m to a 30-year-old midfielder is a luxury they may not be able to justify.

If they go down to the Championship, a deal will almost certainly be off the table. Even if they stay up, the fee still feels steep for a player who hasn’t transformed their midfield as they had hoped.

What happens next?

Everything ultimately depends on Tottenham’s league status. If they stay up, they will likely push Bayern to lower the fee. A deal is possible on that front.

If they go down, the purchase option becomes almost impossible. Even a negotiated fee seems unlikely with a major overhaul required.

If no agreement is reached either way, João Palhinha returns to Bayern, where he has no place or pathway into Kompany’s plans. It leaves the midfielder stuck in limbo, his fate very much in other’s hands.

Aston Villa and Tottenham have been linked with a move for Sassuolo’s Tarik Muharemovic in recent weeks. There are increasing signs that the Italian club would prefer a sale to England.

Sport Witness have covered interest from the two clubs, with Inter Milan and Juventus also in the race.

This follows Muharemovic’s impressive rise in Serie A this season. He has been one of the best defenders in the league, having also put in a commendable performance in a win over Como some days ago.

The Bosnian has been key to Sassuolo’s rise up the table, with the Neroverdi currently tenth in Serie A.

Now, it seems likely that they would rather sell Muharemovic to Aston Villa or Tottenham instead of an Italian side.

Inter pushing for signature

Gazzetta dello Sport bring some important details regarding the defender, revealing Inter’s push for him.

The Nerazzurri have reached a draft agreement over personal terms for the 23-year-old. They have spoken to Muharemovic’s entourage multiple times and are ready to offer him a five-year deal.

Despite this progress, the race for the centre-back isn’t over. Juventus do have a sell-on clause of 50% in the player’s contract, but Sassuolo are making things difficult for the Serie A sides. The newspaper believe ‘they’re clearly waiting’ for the highest bidder and possibly looking at Aston Villa and Tottenham with hope.

This is in line with CEO Giovanni Carnevali’s comments about Muharemovic some weeks ago.

He said: “If a Premier League club were to arrive, his valuation would change.”

Now, the Emilia-Romagna club’s actions are mirroring Carnevali’s words. They will gladly sell Muharemovic as they are very proud of their reputation to sell on their best players. But they are in no hurry and are placing themselves for offers from England.

Our take: Aston Villa and Tottenham should move for Muharemovic

Already this season, the ex-Bianconeri talent has shown a very reliable ability on the ball. As the campaign has gone on, the left-footer has also proved impactful off the ball, appearing to use his tall frame very well.

Profile wise, he is well suited to English football. That will help Aston Villa and Tottenham but so will Sassuolo. They have always appeared keen on creating an auction from their players, making the most out of their sales. This was very evident when Gianluca Scamacca was sold to West Ham.

Roberto De Zerbi’s side could particularly need a left centre-back, if Micky Van De Ven leaves. Muharemovic fits the bill and won’t cost more than €40m.