Sport Witness

Jonathan David joined Juventus on a free transfer in June. Despite a disappointing start to the season, Tottenham and Chelsea are said to be interested in the striker.

The Canadian international has scored just once in Serie A. He’s failed to establish himself as a first-team regular, delivering unimpressive performances.

Gazzetta dello Sport look at Juve’s striker options under new manager Luciano Spalletti.

They expect the Italian to use Dusan Vlahovic as his primary striker. This is because David has witnessed what is described as a ‘downward spiral’.

The newspaper believe that a January exit could be on the cards for the 25-year-old. Tottenham and Chelsea are keeping an eye on him, having also monitored Vlahovic’s situation closely.

Since Jonathan David seems to be further down the pecking order, he is likelier to depart in the winter market.

While this would be dramatic, the striker’s exit can hand Juve a major capital profit. He earns €6m per season right now, which is a significant amount for the Old Lady.

Arsenal and Tottenham target Rayan could soon sign the biggest deal of his career, as Vasco da Gama prepare a new contract offer worth around €180,000 (£155,000) per month.

According to Lucas Pedrosa from SBT and NewsColina, the Brazilian club are working on a five-year renewal plan designed to keep the 19-year-old in Rio for longer.

Rayan’s current contract runs until December 2026, but Vasco want to tie him down until 2031. The proposal includes a sharp salary rise and a long-term project aimed at helping the youngster mature in Brazil before heading to Europe.

The club want to avoid what they call the “bounce-back” effect – when young players move early and struggle to adapt abroad, as happened with Vitor Roque.

The Rio giants believe Rayan can become a generational talent. They even dream of seeing him play in the 2026 World Cup while still wearing Vasco’s shirt.

The club also hope to keep Fernando Diniz as manager to lead that project and ensure Rayan’s development continues smoothly.

Both Arsenal and Tottenham have been watching Rayan for months, with scouts attending several of his games. Vasco’s new offer, however, shows they have no plans to let him go cheaply.

Any Premier League move would now require a bid well above the €30m (£25.7m) previously discussed.

Sweden manager Graham Potter has included Tottenham Hotspur’s Lucas Bergvall in his list for November’s international break.

On October 20th, Sweden announced Potter as their new manager, and he announced his first squad on Wednesday. There were concerns over the Tottenham player’s involvement with the national team for the upcoming fixtures.

Potter says Bergvall remains hopeful he’ll be fit on time to face Switzerland and Slovenia in the World Cup qualifiers, and the Swedish football association’s official website have relayed his comments.

Last weekend, the midfielder started in Spurs’ league defeat to Chelsea. He was forced off the pitch after seven minutes due to concussion.

The 19-year-old missed Tottenham’s Champions League win over FC Copenhagen on Wednesday. Prior to this clash, Thomas Frank also said the Sweden international will miss the weekend’s Premier League match against Manchester United.

Liverpool summer signing Alexander Isak, who has been sidelines with an injury, is picked for the two World Cup qualifiers. Potter has explained that as things stand, the duo will join the national team camp this month.

“As things stand right now, they are available. Lucas has had a concussion but hopes he can be there when it is time for us to play. Alex can hopefully play a little this weekend and will come to Spain on Monday,” he said,

Dusan Vlahovic’s contract at Juventus runs out in 2026. Tottenham are monitoring the possibility of signing him on a free transfer.

Gazzetta dello Sport look at the striker’s situation in some detail.

The newspaper believe Luciano Spalletti’s arrival at Juventus has ignited hope of Vlahovic staying in Turin. He scored against Sporting in the Champions League on Tuesday. At the weekend, he impressed against Cremonese.

The question about his stay is financial. Even though both parties would like to continue, the 26-year-old has a massive salary.

He earns around €12m per season and this is weighing heavily on Juve’s accounts.

Tottenham, Bayern Munich and Barcelona are considering the possibility of signing him on as a free agent next summer.

Their moves can now hinge on how the relationship between Vlahovic and Spalletti develops.

The report claims that Tottenham might have to pay the Serbian more than what he currently earns. This can tempt Vlahovic into not renewing in Turin and seeking an exit.

He had come close to leaving Juve some months ago. As no clubs came forward, he ended up staying.

On September 24th, we covered claims from Spain that Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa have sent scouts to watch Sevilla’s Rubén Vargas. Later that month, the UK press also reported Spurs interest.

Orgullo Biri now relay claims made elsewhere and provide the latest on Tottenham.

The winger joined Sevilla from FC Augsburg in January and has adapted quickly in Spain. He has two goals and four assists from 10 league matches this season.

Vargas can also be utilised on the right wing and as an attacking midfielder. The 27-year-old’s versatility is said to be a perfect fit for Tottenham to ‘inject dynamism’ into their attack.

The Andalusian club are aware of the ‘intense interest’ but haven’t received a formal offer from Tottenham yet.

Vargas has a contract until 2029 and Transfermarkt currently values him at €11m. Orgullo Biri report the La Liga side don’t consider him untouchable.

Sevilla have a need to improve their finances. Therefore, they would consider selling the Switzerland international in January if there’s an offer over €18m.

It’s claimed people close to Vargas insist he remains focused on Sevilla amid claims of Tottenham interest.

Inter Milan defender Yann Bisseck finds the prospect of a move to Tottenham Hotspur ‘intriguing’. And so do his entourage.

That’s according to Gazzetta dello Sport, who report that the Inter Milan defender is ‘eager to test himself’ in the Premier League.

The newspaper cover him and AC Milan’s Strahinja Pavlovic today. They say that while both are key players in Milan, their futures could be far from both clubs.

According to their information, Bisseck is keen to test himself in the Premier League. He already had the opportunity to make the move to England in the summer, when West Ham offered €25m.

That came to nothing but now Tottenham are being linked. And that move is ‘intriguing’ to the player and his entourage. They all see England and the Premier League as an attractive destination for him.

This is why Inter Milan chiefs Giuseppe Marotta and Piero Ausilio are now actively scouting the defensive market. They’re starting with the most promising players in Serie A. Nerazzurri scouts have already set their sights on several potential targets.

They’re more than open to doing a deal with Tottenham if they want to offer it. And so are both Bisseck and his entourage. Whether Spurs offer it, remains to be seen.

Xavi Simons “doesn’t have the physicality” for the Premier League. And that’s why he’s struggling so much at Tottenham Hotspur.

That’s according to analyst Valentijn Driessen, relayed by FC Update, who has criticised the Tottenham summer signing.

Simons joined Tottenham from RB Leipzig this summer in a €60m deal. There are add-ons to take that fee higher.

The Dutchman was brought in to replace James Maddison after his unfortunate injury during pre-season. That’s yet to happen, though, with the forward enduring a difficult start to life at Tottenham so far. His current record stands at one goal and zero assists in 12 games so far.

He hit something of a low point on Saturday in Tottenham’s defeat to Chelsea. He was brought on as a substitute early in that game, but played a key role in Chelsea’s winning goal thanks to a poor pass back to Micky van de Ven.

A poor performance followed, before he was then substituted offer in the 73rd of the game. He had come on in the seventh minute.

At this point, it appears he’s yet to adapt to life in the Premier League, and Derksen thinks it’s a physicality issue. That’s something which has already been questioned in recent months.

“It’s also sad that you’re called on as a substitute and then taken off again after seventy minutes,” he said.

“You should have expected that. He doesn’t have the physicality for the Premier League.”

Fellow analyst René van der Gijp, meanwhile, wonders if the Tottenham man is questioning his choices at this point.

“Do you think Xavi Simons comes home in the evening and says to his wife: ‘That running with the ball isn’t very clever? Let’s see if I can think of something else.’ Or that his wife says: ‘You shouldn’t be running with the ball.’”

Richarlison has once again been called up by Carlo Ancelotti, as the Tottenham striker features in Brazil’s squad for the upcoming friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia in Europe later this month.

The Italian coach announced his list on Monday. He was asked specifically about Richarlison’s inclusion, given the Tottenham forward’s inconsistent playing time in the Premier League.

As relayed by Globo Esporte, Ancelotti explained in his press conference that the 28-year-old’s profile remains important for the national team. He highlighted his record as a traditional number nine.

“We are evaluating technical criteria,” Ancelotti said. “He’s a centre-forward, a striker with a profile different from João Pedro, Matheus Cunha or Vitor Roque, who like to play with the ball. He doesn’t have the same style”, he explained.

“We are looking for a central striker with that profile. Richarlison isn’t playing much right now, but as a number nine he has scored many goals for the Brazilian national team”, he concluded.

The coach’s comments show that Richarlison continues to hold Ancelotti’s trust, despite facing ups and downs at Tottenham.

His presence offers Brazil a more physical and direct option up front. That’s something the manager clearly values heading into the final matches of the year.

For Richarlison, the call-up represents another chance to turn consistency at club level into renewed confidence with the Seleção.

Xavi Simons has struggled since joining Tottenham Hotspur from RB Leipzig for €65m at the end of August.

The Netherlands international is yet to score and contributed one assist from 12 matches for Spurs.

Last week, Dutch journalist Johan Derksen said the Tottenham player isn’t physically strong enough for the Premier League.

Both Derksen and former PSV Eindhoven and Sparta Rotterdam winger René van der Gijp analysed the 22-year-old’s performances for Vandaag Inside on Monday. Voetbal Zone have relayed his comments.

Presenter Wilfred Genee believes the attacking midfielder is struggling physically at Tottenham.

“They’re just pushing him over. He can’t get past them,” he said.

Van der Gijp agrees with Genee’s analysis about the Dutchman and believes his game is ‘too predictable’.

“He just runs with the ball too much. Opponents have said: as soon as he starts running with the ball, just run into him. Finished,” Van der Gijp explained.

Derksen questioned Thomas Frank for praising the attacking midfielder.

“He’s just not good at it. That coach was very pleased with him, but I don’t see it,” he added.

Simons’ compatriot Tijjani Reijnders left AC Milan for Manchester City last summer. Unlike the Spurs signing, the 27-year-old midfielder has had a good start.

Derksen has used Reijnders’ adaptation as an example to be critical of Simons.

“Reijnders has adapted quickly. You don’t see that at all with Simons,” he said.

Tottenham Hotspur are one of the clubs to have set their sights on River Plate’s Lautaro Rivero.

On October 16th, we covered claims from Argentina that Spurs had sent a scout to follow the 21-year-old live in action. A day later, River Noticias reported Tottenham will make an offer to sign him at some point.

As well as the Europa League winners, Atlético Madrid have shown interest in the centre-back. La Razón in Spain cover the interest shown by the two clubs and provide the latest.

Atlético Madrid’s José María Giménez has struggled with injuries and Clément Lenglet has not performed well regularly. Therefore, they are looking for a new centre-back and Rivero has been identified as a target.

The Argentina international has a €100m release clause, but the La Liga side don’t plan to pay even half of that to sign him.

As well as the price, Atlético seem worried about Spurs pursing the defender. It’s claimed Tottenham’s interest could make him even more expensive.

He’s been protected by a €100m release clause in a contract lasting until December 2028. The report, however, states River Plate are aware it’ll be difficult to retain Rivero if there’s an approach from Europe.

It’s highly unlikely Tottenham or any other European club will pay such a big fee to sign Rivero.