Sport Witness

Yves Bissouma will now look to the January transfer window to depart Tottenham, after failing to do so in the summer transfer window.

That’s according to Africa Foot, who report that a knee injury is expected to keep the midfielder out until October and thus ruined his plans to leave Tottenham this summer.

The midfielder does not appears to be a part of Thomas Frank’s plans moving forwards and was linked with a move away throughout this summer, with several sides in Türkiye thought to be keen.

Indeed, Fenerbahce president Ali Koc revealed this week that they had ended up scrapping a move because of his latest injury. Africa Foot now report that will keep him out until October.

According to their information, several offers actually arrived from the Premier League, with Newcastle, Crystal Palace, West Ham and Chelsea also showing an interest.

Bissouma is interested in a move to revive his career away from Tottenham and according to their sources, has expressed a desire to stay in the Premier League. In fact, he would ‘play for any Premier League team’.

Tottenham, though, rejected this idea and would prefer to move him out of England. They appear to be favouring a sale to a club outside of England. Thus, discussions between them and Bissouma have reached an impasse.

The focus will now be on the January transfer window and finding a move that suits both parties during that month.

Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has made it clear that while he has no regrets about losing to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup final, it is a wound that remains open.

The Spurs star spoke to Cronache di Spogliatoio in a lengthy interview about his journey from the lower divisions of Italian football to winning the Europa League and playing in the Super Cup final in his home town of Udine.

He told the outlet that he is still disappointed that Tottenham couldn’t hold on to win more silverware, but is grateful that he could play a big game in his home territory.

“The final result wasn’t what we hoped for, especially given how the match unfolded. So, obviously, there’s still the disappointment of not being able to get across the finish line as we’d hoped. But I have to say that, as an experience, playing in a final, having done it at home in front of so many people, is still a historic moment for me.”

He described the game as a positive memory for himself.

“And, ultimately, a beautiful memory of an experience that was useful to me because, after all, there was the first final I’ve played in but it is the second one before I lose.

“Probably in May, I was on the good side, and I celebrated, I rejoiced, it was all fantastic and sometimes sport teaches you, after all, when you live these experiences, you can unfortunately also be on the other side.”

The Italian also described the game as a wound which is still open, but he has no regrets about Tottenham’s performance on the day.

“A wound that remains open but I still carry within me the emotions and the good feelings that were there during the match. Obviously, if I could change the ending, I would, but I have to accept it and there were certainly lessons of growth that I will carry within me, negative emotions that I will carry within me to grow along the way, but I have no regrets whatsoever.”

Vicario said that every member of Thomas Frank’s side had prepared in the best possible way and their performance showed that they can beat anyone.

“Well, our game plan was executed perfectly, and we were able to explore areas where Paris Saint-Germain could have struggled against us, and they did.

“This, however, as a test for us, as a growth strategy, must give us awareness of our own abilities. Because if we prepare things, follow what the coach tells us, we can be uncomfortable against any team, and we played against the strongest team in the world in 2025. So, as I said, it must be a source of great pride, of great growth, because when we are all aligned collectively at 100%, we can cause problems for any opponent.”

Vicario is very optimistic about Tottenham’s future under Thomas Frank and there is good reason for that.

Spurs lost to Bournemouth but they nullified Manchester City in their second game of the season.

Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani have added more firepower to the attack, with Pape Matar Sarr also growing in prominence in midfield. They also seem like a more well-oiled unit than they did under Ange Postecoglou.

Frank already appears to be getting a lot out of the team and it will not be a surprise if Tottenham finish inside the European places this season.

Randal Kolo Muani ended up at Tottenham Hotspur on deadline day as Juventus had simply grown tired of Paris Saint-Germain’s changing demands for him.

That’s according to journalist Fabiana Della Valle on his YouTube channel, relayed by Tutto Juve, who has provided his take on the situation today.

Muani joined Tottenham in a surprise deal right at the end of the transfer window, signing on loan from PSG as Spurs sought out a late alternative to Dominic Solanke, who is expected to remain on the sidelines after missing the start of the season.

The move was a surprise one given Muani had been linked with a move to Juventus throughout the summer transfer window after spending the second half of last season on loan with the Italian side.

They were determined to get him signed permanently but it never happened, leading to a war of words between the two clubs. PSG have made their stance clear, leading to a response from Juventus general manager Damien Comolli today in which he insisted various comments were simply lies.

Now Della Valle adds further details, explaining that Juventus simply got tired of negotiations, leaving Muani to join Tottenham instead.

“We know, in fact, that PSG didn’t particularly appreciate the back-and-forth of the last few days of the transfer market,” he said.

“In the end, they risked being left holding the bag because in the last few hours, Kolo Muani went to Tottenham, but Kolo Muani was supposed to go to Juventus.

“He was highly sought after by Juventus, who then ultimately decided to switch to Openda. So, what really happened? I’ve already told you a bit about it. I don’t see any changes, or about-faces, let’s put it that way, on Comolli’s part.

“Simply this, let’s say, this endless negotiation with PSG, who in any case didn’t want to accept the club’s demands. Juve, they was playing for a higher price and all this stuff, at a certain point they tired Juventus a bit, especially the general manager who is demonstrating he has very clear ideas, especially moving forward, as I can say, very clearly on his positions.”

Randal Kolo Muani joined Tottenham on loan from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day and there’s no shortage of theories about why Juventus didn’t sign him after months of trying to.

The striker was initially clear about moving to the Bianconeri, having done well during a loan spell in the second half of last season. As time passed and there was no agreement, Thomas Frank’s side capitalised on the chance.

The Italian press are convinced that Juventus simply refused the move on favourable terms late in the window, landing Lois Openda instead.

In France, they believe that PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi criticised Juve after Kolo Muani joined Tottenham, making it clear that they have been difficult to deal with.

Old Lady managing director Damien Comolli spoke to reporters at a press conference on Thursday.

He denied claims from France about Al-Khelaifi’s anger, as relayed by TuttoSport.

“I’ve read articles about discussions with the PSG president, but it’s false. We didn’t speak, these are lies. Don’t take what you read for granted.”

Comolli also made it clear that Juve are happy with how they operated in the transfer window, even if they missed out on the 26-year-old.

“We finished the transfer window feeling stronger. Then Bremer and Cabal returned, Dusan remained, and he proved his worth in the last few matches. We believe the team can be competitive.”

This seems like a back-and-forth where both clubs are trying to save face.

Tottenham shouldn’t be bothered by that, as they now have a player who will want to make a mark to secure his future elsewhere, as Spurs do not have an option to buy him.

This will motivate Kolo Muani to give his all and there is clear evidence of his ability, as he scored eight times in 16 Serie A games last season.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Luka Vušković completed a dry loan move to Hamburg SV towards the end of the summer window, and the north London club sanctioned a move so that he can continue his development.

Last week, we covered claims from Germany that Tottenham will receive under €1m from Hamburg, who are already impressed with the centre-back after his first training session.

The Bundesliga club’s manager, Merlin Polzin, has heaped praise on the Tottenham man and Bild have relayed his comments.

“Luka, in terms of his personality and self-confidence, is an absolute leader who leads the way. He defends with a naturalness and robustness that is good for us,” he said.

The manager has also confirmed the 18-year-old is in contention to make his debut against Bayern Munich on Saturday.

It looks like there’s excitement at Hamburg over securing the loan signing of the Croatia international, but they could risk losing him in January.

That’s according to Bild, and they report of a ‘special clause’ that Spurs have inserted as part of the loan deal, to cut short the defender’s loan stay in the winter market.

The report explains another Tottenham defender has to suffer a serious injury for Thomas Frank’s side to exercise the clause to recall Vušković. If that were to happen, the player could be ‘gone sooner than expected’ from Hamburg.

Fenerbahce president Ali Koç has revealed that an injury to Yves Bissouma stopped them signing him from Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

Fener Ajans cover comments from the Fenerbahce president today in which he admits the Tottenham man was the number eight that they wanted this summer.

“We all want a number 8. Bissouma was close, but he got injured,” he is quoted as saying.

“We want a smart number 8. She can distribute the ball intelligently and play box-to-box. We’re working on a young player. Transfers at Fenerbahçe don’t end until the last minute. Those coming in and out never end. We’ll push the envelope until the last moment.”

Bissouma has been linked with a move away from Tottenham throughout the summer, with him seemingly not a part of Thomas Frank’s plans moving forwards.

Numerous reports have linked him with a switch to Türkiye and Fenerbahce, although they have flip flopped. While reports have suggested that Bissouma was keen on the move, others have stated he wanted to remain in England for another year to secure a British passport.

Now Koç claims that a deal won’t be happening because of an injury. That’s interesting because he was reported to have returned from a muscle injury on August 30th. The Turkish transfer window doesn’t close until Friday, September 12th.

The cynics among us would suggest that’s an easy excuse, particularly after a report from Türkiye last week stated that Fenerbahce had been handed “a whole sheet of paper” detailing Bissouma’s personal issues and reasons not to sign him from Tottenham this summer.

Either way, it appears Bissouma won’t be moving to Fenerbahce before tomorrow’s deadline, with Koç insisting an injury has scuppered that idea.

Tottenham Hotspur made several attempts to sign Como star Nico Paz towards the end of the summer window.

Last month, Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reported about Tottenham tabling several bids, reportedly ranging from €40m to €65m plus €10m bonuses, for Paz, but the Serie A club weren’t keen on letting him leave.

The attacking midfielder was also said to be against making a switch to Tottenham as his desire is to return to Real Madrid in 2026.

On August 26th, Como owner Mirwan Suwarso said they hadn’t turned down any offer for the Argentina international in the recently concluded window.

Como sporting director Carlalberto Ludi gave an interview to TuttoMercatoWeb and they asked him about Spurs’ failure to sign the 21-year-old.

TMW specifically asked the director ‘how worrying it was’ when Tottenham’s interest in signing the South American arose, and when responding to that, he said the Europa League winners never sent a written offer.

“Not much, because no official offer has arrived, and by official, I mean signed,” he said.

The director has also hailed Nico Paz for not leaving Cesc Fàbregas’ side, where he has a contract until 2028.

“We’ve always had the player on our side. What makes us really proud is that, despite the sirens, many players and the coach have chosen to stay with us,” Ludi explained.

“We didn’t have to apply any pressure, other than to keep the course straight, maintain balance, and continue explaining the project to them.”

Tottenham strengthened their attacking midfield position by signing Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig on August 29th.

Napoli have been urged to follow Tottenham Hotspur’s example with a potential new stadium, as that’s a sign “you’re at the top”.

Area Napoli cover comments from journalist Peppe Iannicelli today in which he urges Napoli to follow the example set by Tottenham and Real Madrid.

Reports in Italy have suggested that Napoli are exploring the idea of abandoning their current stadium, the Diego Armando Maradona, to play in a new stadium in the coming years.

That stadium is now 65 years old after being opening in 1959, although it was remodelled in 1990 and has regularly been renovated over the years since.

There is now talk of a replacement being built in a deprived area of Naples, ahead of Euro 2023, which will be shared between Italy and Türkiye. Napoli have rejected proposals from the city to renovate the Maradona instead.

That’s led to some disappointment given its historical significance and sentimental value to the fanbase, something only strengthened after it was renamed in honour of their former icon.

Iannicelli believes that there is another solution, though and that is following the example set by Tottenham and Real Madrid, who have both rebuilt on their famous stadiums in recent years.

“If I had to make a decision for Naples and the future of the city of Naples, I would invest in a functional modernization of the Maradona Stadium, modelled after the Santiago Bernabeu which has now become a stadium capable of hosting the National Football League,” he said.

“When you reach that level, it’s like Tottenham’s stadium; it means you’re at the top, it means this city has a stadium where football is played on Saturdays, Taylor Swift performs on Mondays, and a big Broadway musical is on Thursdays, seen by 60,000 people.”

Bryan Gil ended his spell at Tottenham Hotspur when he left them to join Girona on a permanent transfer on summer deadline day.

Tottenham let the forward spend last season on loan at the La Liga club, but his spell there was cut short due to an injury.

On Tuesday, the Catalan club presented their new signing to the media, and the 24-year-old was accompanied by Girona president Delfí Geli and sporting director, Quique Cárcel.

AS have relayed their comments, and the newspaper points out Tottenham collected €6m plus €4m potential bonuses from Gil’s sale to the Spanish club.

According to Cárcel, the negotiations dragged for long mainly because of Tottenham and hailed the player for not entertaining other offers.

“It’s been a very long summer; we talked about his return from the very beginning. We knew it would be complicated due to the current transfer market,” he said.

“Tottenham had their arguments. He was the key because we spoke to him from the start, and he wanted to return. It’s appreciated that a player who has had many offers was willing to wait for Girona.”

The Spain international has thanked Girona for betting on him as he only wanted to leave Spurs to join them in the summer window. He also addressed claims of the possibility of the Europa League winners terminating his final year of contract.

“I want to thank everyone for the confidence shown and for being here today. I was very clear about coming here and continuing what I did last year. It’s a very important step for me, and I’m happy to sign as a permanent player. We’re all where we want to be. It’s been an important summer, but what I wanted happened, and I’m happy,” Gil explained.

“There was talk of terminating my contract with Tottenham, but they never wanted it. If that had been the case, I would have been here by July, and everyone would have felt more at ease.”

The attacker joined the north London in 2021 and spent two years on loan to Sevilla, Valencia and Girona. During his time at Tottenham, he struggled to impress and had two assists [no goal] from 43 games in all competitions.

Gil is thrilled to have finally left the Premier League club, where he failed to shine.

“The most important thing is to be happy somewhere. Thank God I was very happy and comfortable last year and now being part of this project for the next five years is important,” he added.

“I’ve changed teams a lot; I couldn’t be happy at Tottenham because if you don’t play, you’re not happy, and I’m going to be happy here. It’s important to be happy to be able to perform at the highest level and make it back to the national team.”

Burnley summer signing Quilindschy Hartman or Tottenham Hotspur star Micky van de Ven? For journalist Valentijn Driessen, there’s only one answer, at least for the Netherlands.

Soccer News cover comments from him today in which he picks the Burnley man over the Tottenham man as the Netherlands’ starting left-back.

Van de Ven has been earning rave reviews since joining Tottenham in a €40m move from Wolfsburg in 2023, establishing himself as the starting centre-back alongside Cristian Romero.

That’s yet to happen for the Netherlands and he’s instead often found himself playing at left-back for them as Ronald Koeman has other options at centre-back, including captain Virgil van Dijk in his preferred left-centre-back position.

That continued during this international break as the Tottenham defender started at left-back in the 1-1 draw with Poland and then replaced Nathan Ake in the position as a second half substitute in the win over Lithuania.

Whether he continues in the role long-term remains to be seen, particularly given he is a centre-back by trade and continues to play there for Tottenham. Driessen, for his part, thinks it should be a long-term thing and believes Burnley’s summer signing is the ideal choice instead.

“The ultimate left back plays at Burnley. That’s Hartman. He’s the best left back, but he’ll have a few months to get back to his old level,” he said when asked if Van de Ven was the best option by presenter Pim Sedee.

“Then I think he’s the best left back on the Dutch national team. Jurriën Timber played there too. If you don’t play him in the center, you can put him at left back,

“Van de Ven has a lot of energy, speed, and strength. He can run really fast to the byline, and then he doesn’t know what to do. That’s a problem.”