Sport Witness

Emerson Royal is once again dealing with fallout linked to his time at Tottenham Hotspur. Now, an off-field issue threatens a possible suspension at Flamengo.

What looked like a chance to reset his career after leaving Spurs has instead turned into a period of instability. This has happened both on and off the pitch.

A move to AC Milan from Tottenham came and went quickly. Also, his switch to Flamengo has brought mixed results rather than a clear revival.

In Brazil, the 27-year-old has struggled to convince consistently. He has drifted between the starting XI and the bench, while criticism from supporters has grown louder.

Across just over a year at Flamengo, Emerson Royal has made 30 appearances, with one goal and four assists. In 2026, he has 11 matches and three assists.

Those are serviceable numbers. However, they do not tell the story of a player who has gradually lost the standout traits that once defined him.

At Real Betis, he earned praise for his attacking output. At Tottenham, he was valued for defensive reliability. Later, at AC Milan, his physical presence drew attention.

Right now at Flamengo, not even his undeniable charisma is working – and patience around him appears to be wearing thin.

Off-field issue could now complicate things further

Emerson Royal’s situation may now take another turn, and not for footballing reasons. Brazilian newspaper O Dia state that the defender has been ordered to pay €650,000 (£560,000) to a company linked to football agent André Cury.

The decision comes from Brazil’s Chamber for Dispute Resolution (CNRD). The player has been given a deadline of April 13th to settle the amount. If the payment is not made, further sanctions can follow, including a possible suspension.

Crucially, the case is linked to commitments made during his spell at Tottenham Hotspur. However, the exact nature of those commitments has not been made public.

Situations like this often involve intermediary commissions, image rights agreements, or disputes following changes in representation. Still, there is no confirmation on the specifics in Emerson Royal’s case, and any conclusion beyond that would be guesswork.

What this means for Royal

Emerson Royal may now face an awkward period where off-field uncertainty meets an already unstable on-field role. Even if a suspension is avoided, the situation adds pressure to a player who has not fully secured his place.

From a Premier League perspective, this also adds another layer to how his Tottenham spell is viewed in hindsight. He arrived with expectations, had moments of reliability, but ultimately left without fully convincing. Now, even years later, issues linked to that period are resurfacing.

The priority for Flamengo is to resolve the situation quickly and avoid losing a player who, while not indispensable, still plays a role in the squad.

PSV Eindhoven star Ismael Saibari should look to transfer to Tottenham Hotspur this summer, as he’s now done as much as he can in the Eredivisie.

Voetbal Primeur cover comments from Khalid Boulahrouz regarding the 25-year-old forward today. He thinks it’s now time for the Moroccan to head to pastures new.

Saibari has been the star man for PSV since moving up to their first team in 2022, having previously come through the U21 set up.

He’s since scored 41 goals and registered 29 assists in 140 games for the club and played a key role in back-to-back Eredivisie titles. This season he has 18 goals and nine assists in 34 matches.

That’s led to various insistence that he should move on. Aston Villa have been encouraged to move for him, for example.

Boulahrouz recommends Tottenham transfer

Now, it appears that Boulahrouz thinks it’s time for a change. And he’s recommending a move to Tottenham, despite their current struggles.

“A number of players might want to make a move, but perhaps nothing comes along that makes you think I’m going to trade PSV for that,” he said on Rondo.

“When I look at Saibari: he has definitely played out the Eredivisie. If you look at his statistics and his style of play: that is good enough to make a transfer.

“He is a Moroccan international, has an Africa Cup behind him, and is going to play in a World Cup. Assuming he is a starter and plays two matches well, you are simply gone. Then you have to push through.

“I am just curious what kind of club will come along. He needs to go to an attacking team, where he can come into his own. A nice club: they are not in a good position at all, but he can add something extra to Tottenham Hotspur. I would go to a club where he can be important.”

Would Tottenham make sense?

The question is whether a move from Tottenham would make sense this summer. It’s easy to see Ismael Saibari fitting in under Roberto de Zerbi, but he already has plenty of options in the same position.

Xavi Simons was an expensive addition last summer; James Maddison is still at the club and Dejan Kulusevski will be back from injury next season too.

Even up front there is Mathys Tel, Richarlison and Dominic Solanke competing for places. There would likely need to be departures before they’d consider a move for a player currently valued at €32m.

That’s before even considering their battle to remain in the Premier League. That’s the main focus for now before transfers come into play. Boulahrouz has made his recommendation either way.

Tottenham Hotspur apparently want to sell Luka Vušković this summer, placing a €40m asking price on the 19-year-old centre-back.

Sport BILD report that Vušković is officially up for sale at Tottenham this summer following his impressive loan spell at HSV Hamburg. But RB Leipzig will not be one of the sides making a move for him.

Leipzig’s new financial rules

SportBILD explain that despite RB Leipzig having spent years targeting young talent, and that still being the case, Luka Vušković will not be on their list.

Since the summer, Leipzig have implemented a strict performance-based wage structure at the club. That’s seen wages reduced from a base of €10m to €5m with bonuses only triggered by team success.

There has also been a reduction in spending. €25m is now the upper limit for incoming transfers moving forwards. And that means Luka Vušković is now off the table.

Leipzig love the defender and have been watching him all season. But Tottenham have set a €40m asking price on him and that’s too much for their taste.

Bild: Tottenham want transfer

According to the newspaper, Tottenham ‘want to sell’ Luka Vušković this summer but the fee is seen as unfeasible by Leipzig. The German side will pass on this particular auction.

There are likely to be a host of other suitors if Tottenham have decided to sell though. Several clubs in Europe are keen on the defender thanks to his performances in the Bundesliga this season.

He’s recently hinted that he’ll return to the Premier League with Tottenham at the end of the season. But there’s interest in England too, with Liverpool named as suitors on more than one occasion in recent weeks.

Questionable price tag

Tottenham setting a €40m price tag on the defender is questionable, though. Spurs may have only spent €11m to sign him a year ago but they will want considerably more than €40m to sell him this summer.

Indeed, Transfermarkt already rate the youngster at €60m thanks to his performances for HSV Hamburg this season.

Those displays, and the awards he’s picked up, have already established him as one of the best young defenders in Europe. Selling for €40m would be ridiculous, particularly when Luka Vušković is tied to a deal until 2030 as well.

That’s even if they truly want to sell in the first place. With Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven both pushing to leave, Vušković would surely be on they’d like to keep.

That’s a debate for the summer, but €40m seems too cheap for a player who has already proven he could be worth a lot more than that in the years to come.

Guglielmo Vicario has struggled at Tottenham throughout the season and transfer talk around his future is now intensifying.

Sport Witness have covered Inter Milan’s interest in the Italian, as they are about to lose Yann Sommer. Vicario is believed to be keen on a move and has already agreed personal terms with the Nerazzurri.

Claims about Tottenham’s asking price have been varying. But it has been clear that Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio has met with Vicario’s agent, wand watched the player in the Champions League game against Atletico Madrid.

With time ticking down for the season to end, Inter are now hyper-focused on bringing the goalkeeper back to Italy.

Tottenham player discussed during transfer meeting

Calciomercato’s Pasquale Guarro, who is an authority on Inter, reports that there is a positive mood at the Nerazzurri right now. They hammered rivals Roma and pretty much have one hand on the Serie A title.

As a result, they want to draw up plans for their youth setup and summer transfers. The Oaktree ownership organised a series of meetings with several sections of the club to discuss some priority areas. A transfer meeting was held yesterday and Tottenham’s Vicario was a topic.

He is currently Inter’s priority target to replace Sommer. The aim is to progress discussions about the 29-year-old and reach a consensus about a move for him.

It appears Vicario is the only ‘name on the table’ right now, which suggests how important the goalkeeping role is for Cristian Chivu’s side.

Tottenham should prepare for approach

Inter Milan want Vicario, that much is clear. They also tried to sign him before Tottenham bought him in from Empoli, where he impressed between the sticks.

Now, they have an excellent relationship with his agent Gabriele Giuffrida. This will help in a summer move, with Vicario’s contract running out in 2028. This makes 2026 the best time for him to leave Tottenham.

Even for Inter, it would be beneficial. The Italy international’s level has dropped, thereby allowing Chivu’s side to negotiate good discount. They aren’t high spenders in the market, so everything can come down to how much Spurs want for their stopper.

It feels like Inter are slowly tightening their grip over the deal. With personal terms agreed, they can now push Vicario to pressure Tottenham.

Fenerbahçe have Tottenham Hotspur‘s Pape Matar Sarr in their transfer target list for the summer.

Tottenham signed the midfielder from FZ Metz in 2021 and immediately sent him back on a season-long loan deal.

He arrived in the English capital in summer 2022, when Antonio Conte was manager.

Conte initially wanted the 23-year-old to go out on loan but decided to keep him. The player earlier revealed he then had his bags packed before an injury to Oliver Skipp changed everything.

Sarr has played 137 matches so far for Tottenham and 33 are from this season.

His Premier League stats per game this season are as follows:

Interceptions: 0.8

Tackles: 1.5

Possession won (final third): 0.2

Ball recovered: 3.4

Clearances: 2.1

Blocked shots: 0.5

Duels won: 3.8

Turkey transfer interest in Tottenham player

Takvim now have a report focusing on Fenerbahçe’s interest in Pape Matar Sarr and also mention Galatasaray as an option.

The two Istanbul rivals are now battling for the title, with Galatasaray leading the table with a one-point lead and a game in hand.

Meanwhile, the Yellow Canaries have already started preparations for the next window and have identified the Tottenham Hotspur player and Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy as targets.

Their interest in the Senegal international isn’t new but failed in the previous attempts to secure his services.

This time, Fenerbahçe are pursuing the 23-year-old ‘more decisively’ and have ‘restarted negotiations’. It’s not clear whether these discussions are with the player’s agent, Roberto De Zerbi’s or both.

Galatasaray are also showing interest in the midfielder and therefore, the two local rivals could battle it out for his signature in the summer.

Contract, value and agent info

Takvim make no mention of Tottenham’s transfer stance regarding Sarr.

In 2024, Tottenham Hotspur secured him on a new contract until 2030. His value, as per Transfermarkt, is now €32m and the highest was €45m in May 2024.

Earlier in the season, there were reports he changed agents and Unique Sports Group are now representing him.

Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea will have another close look at transfer target Maxi Araújo tonight, with the Sporting CP player stepping onto a major European stage at just the right time.

Sporting host Arsenal on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal. The return leg will take place in London on April 15th, giving Premier League clubs two high-level opportunities to assess the Uruguay international.

That matters even more given what we exclusively revealed recently. Both Tottenham and Chelsea have already made contact with Araújo’s representatives as they explore a potential summer transfer.

Tottenham and Chelsea scouts tracking

Maxi Araújo is no stranger to Premier League attention. Portuguese newspaper Record reported that as many as 12 English clubs sent scouts to Wembley to watch him in action for Uruguay against England in the last international break. Tottenham and Chelsea certainly were among the clubs present.

That follows earlier sightings at Sporting matches. Scouts from both clubs were also in attendance when Araújo impressed against Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League, scoring in a comeback win that further raised his profile.

Those repeated checks suggest this is no casual interest. Instead, it points to sustained monitoring ahead of a possible transfer battle. But he did drop some breadcrumbs for the London sides to follow.

Form and versatility on show

Maxi Araújo has delivered strong numbers this season. He has played 36 matches, starting 33 of them, with six goals and four assists. In the Champions League, he has added two goals and one assist, underlining his impact at the highest level.

Although he has mainly operated as a left-back for Sporting, his role is flexible. Under Marcelo Bielsa with Uruguay, he has been used further forward, often as a left winger.

That attacking profile could be on display again, depending on how Sporting approach the tie against Arsenal. So now he enters a key moment in his season.

Facing Arsenal across two legs offers a direct test against Premier League opposition. It also gives Tottenham and Chelsea fresh data points after already making contact with his camp.

And with the summer window approaching, performances in these matches could influence whether interest turns into formal offers.

Possible next steps

Sporting are aware of the growing pressure. The Portuguese club want to keep Maxi Araújo for another season, even with strong Premier League interest.

He remains under contract until 2029 and has an €80m (£69m) release clause, with expectations that serious offers would need to reach at least €40m (£34.5m).

Still, the market often dictates outcomes. With Tottenham and Chelsea already engaged and continuing to scout him closely, these Champions League matches could act as a live audition.

For Araújo, the stage is set. For interested clubs, the decision-making process may soon accelerate.

Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are keen on bringing TSG Hoffenheim’s Fisnik Asllani to the Premier League in the summer.

Both Tottenham and Chelsea could pose a problem for Borussia Dortmund and their efforts to sign the striker.

The 23-year-old initially joined the Bundesliga side’s reserve team in 2020 and made his way to the first team a year later.

He struggled for a prominent role and spent the last two seasons on loan at Austria Wien and SV Elversberg.

Since returning to his parent club, he’s been leading their attack and starred this season, scoring 10 goals and contributing eight assists from 29 matches so far.

Asllani’s Bundesliga stats are as follows:

Appearances: 27

Starts: 25

Total minutes: 1,867

Minutes per game: 69

Expected Goals: 7.17

Expected Assists: 3.37

Big chances created: 6

Big chances missed: 7

Tottenham and Chelsea transfer threat for BVB

Bild now report Serhou Guirassy will leave Borussia Dortmund after this season if he receives a suitable offer.

On March 18th, Sport Witness covered claims from Germany of Tottenham Hotspur as an option for him.

Guirassy’s situation has seen the Bundesliga side look for potential successor and have set their sights on TSG Hoffenheim star Fisnik Asllani.

The German-born Kosovo international is high on BVB’s list but no concrete talks have taken place yet. It won’t be easy for them to sign him because of Roberto De Zerbi’s side and Chelsea.

Bild claim both Spurs and Liam Rosenior’s side are ‘currently the hottest candidates’. In other words, the Premier League duo are now the frontrunners to sign Asllani.

There’s another factor that favours the two London clubs. The price is €30m for clubs that played in the Champions League in all of the last three seasons and €25m for the rest.

Tottenham and the Blues fall into the latter category, which is affordable for the duo. The interested parties, however, must convince the frontman as he’s comfortable where he is.

Due to the tough competition, Borussia Dortmund are also looking at Newcastle United’s Nick Woltemade. For now, he isn’t planning on leaving the Magpies after just one season.

Contract, value and agent info

Last July, TSG Hoffenheim extended Fisnik Asllani’s contract until 2029 and Transfermarkt now value him at €30m.

Agency Rogon are representing him. Their client list also includes Newcastle United star Joelinton and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Georginio Rutter.

Tottenham Hotspur are in the transfer picture to sign River Plate’s Ian Subiabre in the summer.

The 19-year-old is a product of River Plate’s youth system and made his way into their first team in 2024.

His development has already attracted interest from several clubs and Tottenham are now added to the list.

At the same time, it also helped him make his debut for Argentina U20 in 2025 and starred for them last year.

The winger first impressed at the U20 South American Championship and starred at the U20 World Cup, which Argentina lost to Morocco in the final. He managed five goals from 15 matches in these two tournaments.

Last month, Sport Witness relayed news of Chelsea facing competition from Arsenal, who muscle in to sign the wonderkid.

Tottenham join transfer race for Argentine

El Intransigente now make no mention of the Blues or the Gunners in a report focusing on their London rival.

Their title say Tottenham Hotspur ‘accelerate’ for Ian Subiabre and within the report, it’s said their interest has ‘set off alarm bells’ at River Plate.

Although he made his debut in 2024, the South American only started featuring regularly in this calendar year. His stats are as follows:

Appearances: 12

Starts: 6

Total minutes: 566

Minutes per game: 47

Goals: 1

Assists: 2

Shots on target per game: 0.5

Key passes per game: 1.0

As well as Spurs, unnamed German club have made contact to ask about the youngster.

Those close to Subiabre, meaning his entourage, aren’t ruling out analysing offers for the summer. This leaves the door open for potential negotiations with the Argentine club. If Roberto De Zerbi’s side were to make a serious move, everything indicates there could be negotiations.

River Plate, for their part, are standing firm and are referring to the attacker’s €100m release clause.

Contract, value and agent info

Ian Subiabre has a contract until December 2028. Transfermarkt value him at €3.5m, the highest so far in his career. Agent Claudio Caniggia takes care of his interest and future.

He played 35 matches for the first team, managing three goals and three assists. Taking these factors into account, Tottenham Hotspur or another European club are unlikely to pay €100m.

Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Aston Villa, AFC Bournemouth and Brentford are in the mix to sign West Ham United’s Crysencio Summerville.

The winger joined West Ham from Leeds United for over £25m [€28.7m] in August 2024 and his recent form hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Back in January, Sport Witness covered claims from Turkey of Galatasaray’s interest in a winter transfer. However, he didn’t leave Nuno Espírito Santo’s side, and that’s worked out well for him.

His form since the start of the year has seen Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Aston Villa, AFC Bournemouth and Brentford all show interest.

His Premier League stats this season are as follows:

Appearances: 24

Starts: 22

Total minutes: 1,864

Goals: 5

Assists: 1

Summerville has seven goals and four assists from 27 matches this season and the majority of those came from this calendar year.

Aston Villa, AFC Bournemouth and Brentford also keen

L’Eco di Bergamo, relayed by Tutto Atalanta, now cover the latest on Spurs, David Moyes’ side, Aston Villa, AFC Bournemouth and Brentford.

The report focuses on Atalanta looking at the 24-year-old for the summer as he remains a goal for manager Raffaele Palladino.

However, the Serie A side face a lot of competition, both domestic and abroad. From Italy, Napoli are ahead in the transfer race. In England, there’s a long queue and a fierce battle to secure his services.

This is when Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Aston Villa, AFC Bournemouth and Brentford are all named. In addition to these clubs, Marseille and Villarreal are also in the picture.

The newspaper claim West Ham United value Crysencio Summerville at €30m, which appears on the low side of reality.

That said, his value could drop if the Hammers are relegated. They’re currently 18th in the table, a point behind 17th placed Spurs.

It’s unlikely the Hammers would sell him for €30m should they continue in the top flight. The price could rise a lot if he impresses for Ronald Koeman at the World Cup.

Crysencio Summerville Contract, value and agent info

Crysencio Summerville has a contract until 2029, with an option for another year.

Tarik Muharemovic has been one of the best defenders in Serie A this season, and Aston Villa and Tottenham are increasingly being mentioned as potential suitors for him.

Currently playing in Serie A for Sassuolo, the defender proved to be a scourge for the Italian national team last week.

He put in an imperious performance for Bosnia against the Azzurri, helping his country qualify for the World Cup.

For Sassuolo, he has played 27 times in all competitions this season. He has impressed with his reliable ball-playing ability, also showcasing tough physicality.

Sport Witness have previously covered Premier League interest in the defender.

Now, Tottenham and Aston Villa have been told about what they need to pay for Muharemovic.

Sassuolo set Tarik Muharemovic transfer price

TuttoSport note how the Bosnia defender dominated Italian forwards last week and believe this shows how far he’s come in Serie A.

The game is seen as a test of his maturity and he passed with flying colours.

Tottenham and Aston Villa are vying for Muharemovic’s signature.

Bournemouth attempted to sign him in January and failed, but England is a potential destination for the defender.

As of now, Sassuolo are demanding €30m, which will hand them an ‘extraordinary capital gain’.

Muharemovic arrived at the Mapei Stadium for just €5m in 2025 after an initial loan and his value has risen quickly.

There is also competition from Italy, where Inter Milan and Juventus are keen. The Nerazzurri are likely a bit more advanced, having sounded out Sassuolo over a summer deal already.

Task likely complex for Tottenham and Aston Villa

It won’t be a surprise if more suitors come calling for Muharemovic in the next few weeks.

Sassuolo would like an auction, and are a club that survives off capital gains from big sales.

Juventus have a sell-on clause in his current deal and this would allow them to sign him for less.

Aston Villa and Tottenham are unlikely to find it easy in a deal. The Italian press will likely keep pushing other clubs to increase the player’s valuation.

There is no doubt about Muharemovic’s qualities, though. Tottenham may lose Micky Van de Ven in the summer and the Bosnia international could be the ideal replacement.

At 23-years-of-age he’s a long term option for either Aston Villa or Spurs and would also provide a sell-on opportunity. Sassuolo receiving €30m from either club works well for all involved.