Sport Witness

The Italian media have found themselves in the firing line for helping Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario to embarrass himself this week.

La Gazzetta dello Sport report on the Tottenham goalkeeper today after a social media incident went viral, for the wrong reasons.

The Tottenham goalkeeper was photographed celebrating with his Italy teammates in front of the TV this week as they watched Wales lose to Bosnia on penalties in the World Cup playoffs.

Italy faux-pas

The Italian team, report Gazzetta, celebrated wildly as the ‘favoured Welsh’ were eliminated.

RAI cameras were watching them, videoing the reactions from the Tottenham goalkeeper and others in the player’s lounge. They were in public thanks to their families being at the game.

The incident did not go down well, particularly in Bosnia. They have very much seen the reaction as arrogance from the Italians.

According to Gazzetta, the issue risks becoming a ‘scandal’ but mostly it has ‘slipped into nonsense’.

Italy and their players are already trying to play it down ahead of the game in Bosnia. That is likely to be ‘the most challenging in recent memory’ for the Italians.

RAI in the firing line

Guglielmo Vicario and his teammates haven’t helped that one bit. But according to Telelombardia director Fabio Ravezzani, the issue lies with Rai.

Instead of condemning the Tottenham goalkeeper and his teammates, he questions what the Italian TV station were doing.

​​”The (grave) mistake was stealing these images and broadcasting them as if we were on Big Brother,” Tutto Juve report him saying.

“This is the point. The images of celebration, filmed without their knowledge and broadcast after they were recorded, certainly hindered the trip to Bosnia. Broadcasting them was an own goal for RAI.”

Now the pressure is on Italy, who face a huge and difficult game is Bosnia against a side and crowd they’ve only helped motivated. Fortunately for Vicario, questions are being asked about why anybody knows rather than why they did it.

Tottenham Hotspur have been given a very clear transfer message from Mathys Tel’s camp as fresh claims about a move away from north London start to circulate again.

The 20-year-old only joined Spurs permanently last summer, signing until 2031, and the transfer was reported at around £30m (€35m) after an earlier loan fee of about €10m.

But Tel is not a player Tottenham brought in for a short-term fix. He was meant to be part of the club’s next attacking cycle. Yet the season has not really taken off for him. He had 31 appearances in all competitions, with three goals and one assist, while 24 of those outings have come in the Premier League for 898 minutes.

With Spurs sitting dangerously low in the table and Tel still trying to establish himself, it is not hard to see why rumours have started to build again. Recent reporting has also pointed to fitness concerns, with talk of a thigh issue during the international break.

Agent sends strong Bundesliga signal

Mathys Tel’s agent, Gadiri Camara, has now responded to the latest talk from Germany. Local outlet Fussball Transfers says he addressed speculation involving Borussia Dortmund and made the player’s position very clear.

“I don’t know if Dortmund really want Mathys, but honestly a return to Bayern is the only possibility for Mathys to come back to Germany. He can’t play for another club in the Bundesliga. He loves Bayern.”

That is obviously notable for Bayern. It is also notable for Tottenham.

The key line for Spurs is not really the Bayern affection. It is the firmness of the stance around the Bundesliga. Tel’s camp are effectively saying that, if his future is ever discussed in Germany again, there is only one destination they would entertain.

That shuts down the Dortmund angle quickly and leaves Tottenham with a simpler picture.

What it means for Tottenham

Mathys Tel is still young enough for Spurs to stay patient. He does not turn 21 until late April, and his contract gives the club strong control.

At the same time, this is another reminder that Tottenham are dealing with a player whose emotional connection to Bayern has not disappeared. That does not mean he is pushing for an exit now. It does mean any long-term discussion over his future may eventually involve Munich again.

For the moment, though, the message is straightforward enough. If Tel leaves Tottenham and heads back to Germany one day, his agent insists it will only be for Bayern.

In recent weeks, a host of Tottenham players have been linked with exits.

Destiny Udogie is one and transfer vultures are hovering to take advantage of the situation. Spurs won’t be used to it, but each season when Premier League clubs are hovering around the drop-zone, clubs start sniffing around for bargain deals.

Those clubs often tend to be from Turkey and Italy, looking for loans initially. The process has already started with Tottenham.

Udogie has played 22 times in all competitions this season, with his campaign having been hampered by injuries. He picked up a hamstring problem against Manchester United but returned to action at the weekend against Nottingham Forest.

The Italian will play a key role in the remainder of the season, with Igor Tudor’s side just one point off the drop.

Sport Witness have covered Juventus’ interest in Udogie, with the Bianconeri seeing him as a replacement for Andrea Cambiaso. The former Genoa player’s exit was seen as one way of financing the signing.

Now, the Old Lady seem to be growing desperate for Tottenham’s relegation to find a suitable deal.

Spurs can sanction loan exit

Calciomercato IT look at Juve’s interest in Destiny Udogie, who has grown in stature at Tottenham. He has also played an inverted full-back role, which makes him quite similar to Cambiaso, who himself is very versatile in nature.

The outlet believe that if Spurs go down, several players can depart in the summer. Udogie can be one, even if his current contract runs out in 2030.

Due to the Old Lady’s inability to afford a permanent deal, they are hoping for loan. If Tottenham are relegated, there is belief they will sanction a loan. That is because they would want the full-back to play regularly and retain his value before a permanent exit.

Juve’s interest will come in handy to do that, with Luciano Spalletti’s side in pole position for his signature.

Our take: Exit can help the player

The 23-year-old has a long way to go in his career, in terms of development. Tottenham have taken him to another level but it remains to be seen if they can help reach the next step.

The way things are going, Destiny Udogie might just stagnate at the London club. There are no signs right now that players can fulfill their potential there, even if they do not get relegated.

That is why considering an exit will make sense for the Italy international. He has experience of playing in Serie A from his time at Udinese and Juve’s sale of Cambiaso can leave them open for a starter in the left-back spot.

So if the Old Lady really want him, the player may be keen.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Lucas Bergvall says Sweden manager Graham Potter has to decide on his minutes for the clash against Poland.

The midfielder was a regular under Thomas Frank, playing 26 matches under the Dane’s orders and managing a goal and four assists.

Tottenham parted ways with the manager in February and appointed Igor Tudor until the end of the season.

Bergvall hasn’t featured regularly under Tudor because of an injury setback. On January 20th, he suffered an ankle injury in Spurs’ 2-0 Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund at home.

Last month, Potter said it’d tough for him to be fit on time for the ongoing international break.

However, he returned to the pitch in Tottenham’s 3-2 Champions League win over Atlético Madrid last week. At the weekend, he again came off the bench in Spurs’ 3-0 league defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Despite his earlier doubts, Potter included the youngster in his list. On Thursday, Bergvall played 13 minutes in Sweden’s 3-1 win over Ukraine in the World Cup playoff.

Tottenham man proves doubters wrong

After yesterday’s match, Fotbollskanalen spoke to Lucas Bergvall about his fitness and other topics.

On his early return from injury and making it to the national team squad, he said: “It’s been tough. But it was incredibly fun to be back and that we won.

“Yes, it went quickly. But it’s hard to say when you get an injury like that. It varies from person to person how quickly it goes. I was lucky to get back in time.”

The Tottenham Hotspur player’s main goal was to make it to Graham Potter’s squad.

“Yes, that is the way it is. And this was the goal. Getting back to the national team squad. I think most people counted me out when I got that injury. I just tried to rehabilitate as quickly as possible and get back,” Bergvall explained.

Sweden must beat Poland on Tuesday, to make it to the World Cup. The midfielder, for his part, feels ready to start in this crucial tie.

“It’s up to the coach but I’m ready,” he added.

Prior to yesterday’s match, Potter said the Spurs man is “super important” for the national team.

On this comment, Bergvall said: “Did he say that about me? First of all, it’s incredibly fun to hear him say that. I’m just trying to come here and help the team as best I can now after the injury. Contribute what I can so that we can get to the World Cup.”

Sweden squad for March international break

Graham Potter’s squad to face Poland on March 31st:

Goalkeepers: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Melker Ellborg, Noel Tornqvist

Defenders: Victor Lindelof, Isak Hien, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Carl Starfelt, Daniel Svensson, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Herman Johansson

Midfielders: Mattias Svanberg, Jesper Karlstrom, Yasin Ayari, Hugo Larsson, Lucas Bergvall, Besfort Zeneli, Gustav Lundgren, Williot Swedberg, Eric Smith, Elliot Stroud

Forwards: Viktor Gyokeres, Anthony Elanga, Gustaf Nilsson, Benjamin Nygren, Roony Bardghji, Taha Ali

Tottenham Hotspur’s Dejan Kulusevski is confident of making it to the World Cup, should Sweden qualify for the tournament.

The attacking midfielder last made an appearance for Tottenham in their league defeat to Crystal Palace in May 2025.

He had to go under the knife for a knee injury and has been on the sidelines since then.

Initial expectation was for the Tottenham star to return to the pitch at the end of last year but that didn’t happen.

However, the former Juventus man failed to regain full fitness. Sport Witness have given a timeline on his recovery process and the delay in his return.

On October 1st, Jon Dahl Tomasson, who was then the national team manager, explained the Spurs attacker is in a “different phase of his rehabilitation.” Later that month, Sweden sacked him and appointed Potter as his successor.

On November 20th, the former Chelsea manager hinted Kulusevski could return “around New Year”.

A month later, Potter was convinced his player’s return for March’s international break, but the optimism disappeared in February. The coach admitted “it will be tough to come back in March.”

Three days ago, Sport Witness relayed news that his injury situation is a ‘mystery’ as he visited the national team camp earlier this week.

A video showed him limping while going to meet his teammates. On Thursday, the Spurs man said he underwent another surgery two weeks ago.

Tottenham player’s situation improving

Viaplay interviewed Tottenham Hotspur’s Dejan Kulusevski and Aftonbladet have relayed his comments. He has now provided an update on his injury situation, after the latest surgery.

“I understand that people were worried. But it was really for the wrong reason. It was really positive that I did this little procedure and that we were able to find the problem,” he said.

“Now everything should be good. It’s just a matter of slowly and surely coming back. I can see the light. It feels better now. I really have a positive feeling about these two important matches and a World Cup in two or three months. This is how the book and the chapter will end. I’m convinced of that.”

“I did everything I could to be ready to play for today. It didn’t work. Maybe for things you won’t even find out about. But at the end of the day, God decides. I’m very confident with where I am today.”

The attacker is confident of making it to the squad, should Sweden qualify for the World Cup. He also sent a message to the Premier League side and his Tottenham teammates.

“100%. Yes. That is the driving force I have. Having that opportunity is absolutely fantastic. It is a challenge that I have not been able to overcome so far in terms of getting healthy, but it is not over yet,” Kulusevski explained.

“I don’t want people to worry about me. I’ve never felt better in my life. I feel much stronger now. I hear people wondering if I’ll be the same player when I come back. No, I’ll be much stronger, much better, much smarter and better for my teammates.”

Sweden’s upcoming fixture and squad

After overcoming Ukraine, Sweden face Poland on March 31st

Graham Potter’s squad:

Goalkeepers: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Melker Ellborg, Noel Tornqvist

Defenders: Victor Lindelof, Isak Hien, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Carl Starfelt, Daniel Svensson, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Herman Johansson

Midfielders: Mattias Svanberg, Jesper Karlstrom, Yasin Ayari, Hugo Larsson, Lucas Bergvall, Besfort Zeneli, Gustav Lundgren, Williot Swedberg, Eric Smith, Elliot Stroud

Forwards: Viktor Gyokeres, Anthony Elanga, Gustaf Nilsson, Benjamin Nygren, Roony Bardghji, Taha Ali

Tottenham are unlikely to find a quick agreement with Sebastien Kehl, as their proposed model wouldn’t be to his liking.

BILD report that Tottenham need to think very carefully about the offer they will propose to the former Borussia Dortmund director of football.

Kehl is suddenly one of the hottest names on the market following his abrupt exit from Borussia Dortmund two days ago.

Tottenham turn to Kehl

Interest in the 46-year-old has quickly surfaced, and Tottenham are one of those interested parties. A report in England this week stated Kehl is being seriously discussed at the club as they seek a replacement for Fabio Paratici.

The Italian has returned to Italy, straight into another relegation battle. Fiorentina are a couple of points clear of the Serie A drop zone, and Paratici certainly won’t want two relegations on his CV from this season.

Tottenham are reportedly desperate for a reset at the top after another disastrous campaign, which could still end up with Championship football.

Managerial changes are already being considered while a new director of football is required. Kehl’s availability on a free transfer makes him an attractive option.

Quick deal unlikely

But BILD report that a quick agreement is unlikely. That’s because Tottenham are considering a multi-director structure, a model Sebastien Kehl is unlikely to accept.

Spurs would want him to work alongside other names, with the likes of Dougie Freedman and Paul Winstanley also in the mix. He, though, would seemingly prefer to work alone.

That structure, and the number of people with a say in transfers, will be crucial for Spurs this summer.

Competition for Kehl

There is competition for his signature too. Hamburger SV and Wolfsburg have both monitored Sebastien Kehl for months. Tottenham would represent his first major, foreign opportunity.

His stock is rising, and Dortmund will be watching closely to see where their former sporting director lands next. If it is to be at Tottenham, they need to seriously consider the model that they will propose to him.

Kehl’s next move won’t just be a career step, it will reshape the club that manages to secure him.

Given Tottenham’s issues in recent years, their fans would surely welcome that. For now, the former Dortmund director finds himself the centre of an intriguing power play before the summer has even started.

Brighton & Hove Albion’s Yasin Ayari has talked about Tottenham Hotspur star Dejan Kulusevski struggling through his injury nightmare.

The Brighton player made his debut for Sweden in January 2023 and has been a regular since 2024.

However, the midfielder hasn’t been able to play alongside the Tottenham player for the national team since March 2025.

That’s because Kulusevski suffered a knee injury in May last year, cutting short his season with the Premier League side. It also forced him to miss Tottenham’s Europa League final win over Manchester United.

The 25-year-old forward underwent surgery and is yet to make an appearance for Spurs since. During the time he’s been out, the club replaced Ange Postecoglou with Thomas Frank and the Dane with Igor Tudor in February.

Sport Witness have provided a timeline of the former Juventus man’s recovery process and the delay in his return.

On October 1st, Jon Dahl Tomasson, who was then the national team manager,explained the Spurs attacker is in a “different phase of his rehabilitation.” Later that month, Sweden sacked him and appointed Potter as his successor.

On November 20th, the former Chelseamanager hinted Kulusevski could return “around New Year”.

A month later, Potterwas convinced his player return for March’s international break, but the optimism disappeared in February. The coach admitted “it will be tough to come back in March.”

Sweden manager Graham Potter is yet to call up Dejan Kulusevski since his appointment in October. His situation forces the coach to leave him out of the list for this international break.

Brighton man on Tottenham star’s struggles

Yasin Ayari has made it to Potter’s list and is now with the national team camp. This gave Fotbollskanalen an opportunity to chat with the Brighton man. The Tottenham star’s absence came up during the conversation.

The 22-year-old is a close friend of Dejan Kulusevski, and is engaged to the Spurs player’s sister. Ayari talked about his compatriot’s injury and what the national team miss in his absence.

“He is a good personality both on and off the field. A natural leader. But first and foremost his qualities, of course. A fantastic footballer. Now he is unfortunately not there, but we have to make the best of the situation,” he said.

“I see him suffering and I know how much this means to him, especially when it comes to the national team. He wants to do something big with this country. I think everyone knows that. Of course it’s a shame. But I just hope it will be good when he comes back.

“You want to be there and support. It’s tough even if you don’t show it. I try to be there. Family and friends try to be there to support him. We try to help him as much as we can. But we all know how strong he is mentally.”

Sweden’s squad and March fixture

The national team have a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine in Valencia on March 26th. A defeat tomorrow will end their hope of making it to the World Cup.

Graham Potter’s squad for this match:

Goalkeepers: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Melker Ellborg, Noel Tornqvist

Defenders: Victor Lindelof, Isak Hien, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Carl Starfelt, Daniel Svensson, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Herman Johansson

Midfielders: Mattias Svanberg, Jesper Karlstrom, Yasin Ayari, Hugo Larsson, Lucas Bergvall, Besfort Zeneli, Gustav Lundgren, Williot Swedberg, Eric Smith, Elliot Stroud

Forwards: Viktor Gyokeres, Anthony Elanga, Gustaf Nilsson, Benjamin Nygren, Roony Bardghji, Taha Ali

The UK press has spoken of Roberto De Zerbi as an immediate managerial option for Tottenham Hotspur. The Italian left Marseille earlier this year and is therefore a free agent.

Sport Witness have already covered Sky Germany’s stance about the London club’s interest in Adi Hutter. They appeared certain that no contact has been made between the two parties.

This also came right after reports in England suggested the German as a target, after he left Monaco last year.

Now, Tottenham might be set to face difficulty in a move for De Zerbi, even if he is without a club.

Italian to restart next season

Gianluca Di Marzio has reported on the former Brighton manager’s future, stating Roberto De Zerbi won’t return to management immediately. He is keen on evaluating offers at the end of the season before making a final decision.

This has been described as a ‘confident’ stance from the 46-year-old, whose contract at Marseille was mutually terminated some weeks ago.

The Italian has made this decision clear to clubs that have approached him after his spell in France.

However, this isn’t seen as De Zerbi actually rejecting Tottenham. He may well be interested in managing the London giants but they will have to wait for a few months. Taking over right now and trying to firefight relegation isn’t in his plans.

Things getting difficult for Tottenham

Igor Tudor’s exit could leave Tottenham in an even bigger mess than where they find themselves now. They would want a manager who makes immediate impact and finds vital points, instead of preaching new ideas to the players.

Roberto De Zerbi belongs to the second category, evident from every spell of his. That is why he prefers to wait and wants to start his next adventure afresh instead of rushing into the next possible opportunity.

He is someone who demands constant dedication to the project from the players and the ownership too. If his ideas aren’t respected, he often turns combative and that can lead to drama. The manager is very focused on the process, potentially making him a bad fit for Tottenham’s current demands.

Even if he were to arrive in the summer, that combative nature will still be present, similar to what Spurs experienced with Antonio Conte.

Barcelona have Tottenham Hotspur’s Micky van de Ven in their target list for the summer window.

The centre-back has been a regular for the Premier League side since joining them from VfL Wolfsburg in August 2023.

He’s played 89 matches for Tottenham of which 38 are from this season. During that time he’s managed 10 goals and three assists.

The Netherlands international’s role hasn’t changed under Thomas Frank or his successor Igor Tudor, and that allowed him to maintain his place in the national team.

Below are his stats per game from the Premier League this season.

Interceptions: 0.8

Tackles: 1.1

Clearances: 3.9

Dribbled past: 0.3

Ball recovery: 3.4

Duels won: 3.4

Van de Ven hasn’t had a good run in recent weeks as Spurs continue to struggle in the Premier League. Spurs are now 17th in the table, a point ahead of18th placed West Ham United.

Barcelona interest in Tottenham player

The Dutchman has managed to attract Barcelona interest. They are looking to improve their defence after this season and have already identified a few targets.

Back in January, Sport Witness covered claims from Spain that Micky van de Ven is the ‘dark horse’ in the target list.

Fast forward to March and Wednesday’s edition of Sport has a report covering Barca’s plan for the 24-year-old.

Hansi Flick’s side are prioritising a move for Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni. At the same time, a few alternatives are lined up, in the event the Italian doesn’t end up at the Camp Nou.

This is where Van de Ven comes into the picture, and he ‘wants to leave’ Tottenham after this season.

Barca’s sporting leaders like him despite his inconsistency and ‘lapses in concentration’. Therefore, they made an approach to find out his willingness for a transfer while making it clear that he isn’t the priority target.

Sport’s title say ‘Van de Ven is waiting’, indicating he has a hope of joining the Catalan club.

Dutchman’s contract, value and agent info

Micky van de Ven will have three years left on his contract after this season.

His value, as per Transfermarkt, is €65m, the highest so far in his career. A fee higher than this may be required to take him away from Tottenham.

Agency Team Raiola, led by agent Vincenzo Raiola, take care of his interests and future.

Tottenham Hotspur have not held concrete talks with Adi Hütter yet, contrary reports in the English media.

Sky Sport Germany report that Tottenham are yet to hold concrete talks with the 56-year-old, despite him being named as a potential replacement for Igor Tudor.

Pressure continues to build on Tudor at Tottenham after Sunday’s 3‑0 defeat to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest. That loss left Spurs one point outside the relegation zone with seven games remaining.

Tottenham appointed Tudoor as interim manager on February 13th to replace Thomas Frank but has struggled to prove the firefighter impact Spurs’ board hoped for.

Pressure mounting on Tudor

Instead, he has overseen just one win victory in seven games and zero wins in the Premier League. Tottenham have picked up just one point in five league games under him. They remain the only side without a win in the league in 2026.

The pressure is now mounting on the Croatian boss. Multiple reports following Sunday’s loss indicated he could be sacked in this international break. Roberto de Zerbi has emerged as a frontrunner to replace him.

So, too has Hütter. A report in England this week indicated that he is on the shortlist of immediate replacements that Spurs are looking at.

The 56-year-old, crucially, is out of work and available. Some of those reports even stated Tottenham had made contact to gauge interest. A report on the 19th already explained that Tottenham were keen.

Sky Germany say otherwise, though. According to their information, there have been no concrete talks between Adi Hütter and Tottenham yet.

Is Hütter the right fit?

The question is whether Adi Hütter is the right choice should Tottenham elect to sack Igor Tudor in this international break.

He is a proven winner with five trophies to his name to date. He was also named Bundesliga Coach of the Year twice at Eintracht Frankfurt.

But, like Tudor, he has no Premier League experience and stepping into a high-pressure relegation battle with seven games remaining is a significant gamble.

His departure from AS Monaco also raises concerns and could deter Tottenham’s decision‑makers.

Appointing Hütter would represent another left‑field choice at a time when many argue the club cannot afford further gambles.