Sport Witness

HSV Hamburg coach Merlin Polzin has played down a recent tantrum on the pitch from Tottenham Hotspur youngster Luka Vuskovic.

BILD cover the situation today, and the Tottenham youngster’s outburst following a 1-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen.

The 19-year-old was heavily involved in the drama at the end of the game. HSV were pushing for an equaliser late on when he first failed to convert an effort from four metres out. He then headed a rebound against the bar from three metres out.

Seconds later, the game was over. And rather than securing a point, HSV had lost 1-0. What followed was pure frustration from the Tottenham youngster.

What Bild say happened

He kicked the post four times, with full force. He then proceeded to kick an advertising board before taking off his boots and hurling them at the empty substitutes bench. It’s described as a wild outburst on the pitch, for all to see.

It naturally earned the Tottenham youngster plenty of attention, not all positive. It certainly raised eyebrows given the calm, composed and impressive performances he’s put in for the German side so far this season.

The wild outburst, perhaps, showed he’s still only young with plenty to learn. That’s at least the stance being taken by his coach, Merlin Polzin. He played down the incident in his post-game comments.

“Luka thrives on his emotions,” he said.

“I think when you have a chance against a team like that in front of almost 60,000 fans, right at the end, it’s perfectly normal for the emotion to have to come out.”

He then addressed the defender kicking the posts, with a grin on his face.

“I’m sure the goalposts in Hamburg are sturdy and will absorb that.”

Context of Tottenham player’s tantrum

Interestingly, it’s not the first time Vuskovic has found the post to be his enemy either. Earlier in the season, in the 2-1 win against Heidenheim, he missed a golden opportunity from a similar position. That saw him hammering the post with his hand, bruising his finger in the process.

The difference that time, was that HSV won. This time it’s a defeat, perhaps why he upgraded to using his feet.

Our take on Luka Vuskovic situation

The young defender has been one of the best in the Bundesliga this season, showing why Tottenham were correct to sign him in the first place. He’s already been the subject of Bayern Munich chatter, although there appeared nothing especially serious in that.

As we’ve repeatedly covered, Vuskovic has made it clear he wants to play with his brother at Hamburg. Mario is currently serving a doping ban and will only be available next season.

That would mean Tottenham agreeing to a further loan. Whilst that may be frustrating for Spurs, it would be a route to keeping the player and his family onside. Having Vuskovic over the period of his contract represents more value, and therefore a further loan for the first half of next season is a potential solution for all involved.

Contract situation, value and agents

Tottenham have the defender on a contract lasting until 2030, with his Hamburg loan set to expire in the summer. Transfermarkt value him at €40m, with that amount seeing a dramatic rise from €7-10m in 2024.

Vuskovic is represented by Gol International and is their most valuable client.

In January, Sport Witness covered claims from Spain about Barcelona regretting their failure to spot Micky Van de Ven before he joined Tottenham.

The example was used as a reason the Catalan club now try to focus on getting some talents signed early on in their career. They didn’t take the risk with Van de Ven, and that was seen as a ‘lesson’ that Barcelona do not want to repeat again.

Now, the Spanish giants are interested in bringing in the Tottenham player himself. With Spurs struggling, this summer is seen as the perfect opportunity to get him to the Camp Nou.

Sport report on the defender in detail, describing him as an alternative to Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni.

Van De Ven seeking Tottenham exit

The Spanish newspaper report Bastoni was Barca’s first-choice option to improve their defence. As of now, Inter aren’t looking to let the player depart and he also has a very high price tag.

That is why Tottenham’s Van De Ven is seen as a viable option. There is belief he would prefer joining Barcelona over Real Madrid.

Hansi Flick’s side have received very positive reports about him, both on a professional and personal level. The price is put at €65m, or a little lower.

Van De Ven’s stance is likely to be important. Sport state ‘doesn’t want to stay’ at Tottenham due to the ongoing ‘crisis’.

Barca waiting to resolve doubts

Sport further claim that Barcelona do have some minor doubts about the Netherlands international. They have been made aware of some errors that he has made this season. This is bringing about concerns about whether he suits Flick’s high-line setup.

That is why further considerations will be made about Van De Ven.

Tottenham brought the defender in from Wolfsburg in 2024. The 24-year-old leaving would provide a profit, but also be a hole for the Premier League club to fill.

Nottingham Forest will only consider opening talks for Murillo if offers reach at least €70m (£60m), according to Brazilian outlet RTI Esporte.

The report states that interest from Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur has intensified ahead of the 2026/27 season. However, Forest’s stance is clear. They are not prepared to negotiate below that figure.

This appears to be the most concrete valuation to emerge so far. Previous reports in Brazil had suggested a range between £50m and £70m (€58m-€81m). Now, the indication is that Forest would only start discussions from the upper end of that spectrum.

Murillo, 23, is in his third season at the City Ground after joining from Corinthians in 2023. Forest paid €14m (£12m) for the defender at the time. His market value is currently estimated in Brazil at around €55m (£47m), underlining the scale of his rise.

Nottingham Forest set firm benchmark

Setting a €70m (£60m) floor sends a strong message to Tottenham and other interested clubs. Spurs will likely be moving for a central defender in the summer, with doubts around several players.

Nottingham Forest view Murillo as a cornerstone of their defensive structure and a premium asset in the market.

There are other suitors for him around Europe. A few weeks ago, AC Milan considered a €30m price tag ‘unrealistic’, so they surely won’t like this update. As for Bayern Munich, they know Murillo ‘won’t be cheap’.

His profile explains the demand. He is left-footed, physically imposing and comfortable progressing the ball. At 23, he also fits the recruitment model of clubs seeking long-term defensive solutions.

Forest’s league situation may fuel speculation, but there is no indication they are under pressure to sell. Instead, the message is that any suitor must meet a price that reflects both performance and potential.

Financial ripple back to Brazil

Any deal at €70m (£60m) would also have consequences in Brazil. As we covered recently, Corinthians retained 10% of the profit from a future sale when they transferred Murillo.

Based on the €14m (£12m) initial fee, a €70m (£60m) sale would generate a profit of €56m (£48m). Ten per cent of that would hand Corinthians approximately €5.6m (£4.8m), before solidarity payments are included.

For now, there has been no formal approach. However, with Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham all credited with interest, Nottingham Forest have effectively drawn a line in the sand.

What happens next depends on whether any of those clubs are prepared to match the €70m (£60m) benchmark.

Tottenham Hotspur have now completed the process that was holding up Santos’ efforts to lift their transfer ban.

After days of waiting for key documentation linked to Souza’s £12.8m (€15m) move to north London, Santos have officially settled their outstanding debt with FC Arouca, according to Bolavip in Brazil.

The Brazilian club paid €2.5m (£2.1m) to clear the issue related to defender João Basso’s transfer. As a result, FIFA will remove Santos from its sanctions list and the club can once again register players.

Christian Oliva, their newly signed midfielder who had been unable to feature due to the restriction, is now expected to be registered immediately.

From delay to resolution

Earlier this week, we covered Brazilian reports stating that Santos were waiting on a formal document from Tottenham before they could finalise payment to Arouca. That delay effectively kept the transfer ban in place. Now, the matter has been resolved.

While the exact administrative timeline has not been detailed publicly, the key point is that the funds connected to the Tottenham deal have now been used to unlock the situation.

Interestingly, this comes only weeks after Santos had structured an international banking operation to bring forward their share of the Souza fee, using Spurs’ financial reliability as the backbone of the arrangement. The club anticipated around £13.7m (€16.2m) from the deal.

The recent hold-up therefore appeared procedural rather than structural. The payment has now been made.

What this means beyond the ban

The immediate benefit is obvious. Santos can register new signings and continue squad planning without restriction. However, the wider implication is financial breathing space.

The money from Tottenham does not simply resolve the €2.5m (£2.1m) debt. It also strengthens Santos’ short-term liquidity during a delicate restructuring phase. The club’s overall debt remains significant, and cash flow management is critical.

In practical terms, Spurs’ transfer fee has helped Santos stabilise operations and maintain momentum in the market.

For Tottenham, this closes a small but closely watched side story. For Santos, it restores flexibility – and gives them room to use the remaining funds strategically rather than firefighting sanctions. In the meanwhile, Souza is still waiting for his first start at Spurs.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Kevin Danso is once again on Besiktas’ radar, with a meeting already held and a summer approach planned, according to Turkish outlet Fanatik.

The report says that Besiktas president Serdal Adali has identified the Spurs centre-back as the preferred partner for Emmanuel Agbadou next season.

The Istanbul side are already planning their defensive structure for 2026-27 and have turned their focus to north London.

Fanatik state that contact was previously made during the winter window. However, the clubs failed to reach an agreement due to financial conditions.

Previous talks and financial backdrop

Tottenham signed Danso from Lens in July 2025 for €25m (approximately £21.5m). That figure now frames any potential negotiations.

At the time of earlier contact, Besiktas were reportedly working with a valuation closer to €20m (£17.2m). That gap appears to have been decisive in January.

Still, the new report claims a meeting has since taken place with the Austrian defender. Danso is described as being receptive to Besiktas’ project. That detail is significant, even if it does not yet reflect Tottenham’s position.

There is no indication Spurs are actively looking to sell. The story is driven from the Turkish side, with Besiktas preparing to reopen discussions once the transfer window opens.

What happens next for Tottenham

For Tottenham, the situation hinges on squad planning and valuation. Spurs invested €25m (£21.5m) less than a year ago, which strengthens their negotiating position.

If Besiktas return in the summer, they will likely need to bridge the previous financial gap. Otherwise, Tottenham would have little incentive to sanction a move.

In addition, Danso has developed into a reliable figure for Tottenham. He played an important role in last season’s Europa League title-winning campaign, offering consistency and leadership at the back during the knockout stages.

As a result, any potential departure would not be straightforward. Losing a defender who contributed to European silverware would represent a significant blow to squad depth and experience heading into another demanding season.

At this stage, the groundwork appears to have been laid in Turkey. The next step, according to Fanatik, will come when the summer window officially opens and Besiktas knock on Tottenham’s door again.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Cristian Romero could join Real Madrid, after Atlético Madrid missed out on him last summer.

The Argentina international had concrete interest from Atlético Madrid. Their manager, Diego Simeone, had expressed a desire to sign him, but a move never took shape.

In July, Sport Witness relayed news from Spain that Tottenham has rejected Los Rojiblancos formal approach for Romero. A month later, the centre-back signed a new contract with Spurs, which lasts until 2029.

Romero has kept his place in the north London club’s starting lineup this season and even managed six goals and four assists from 28 matches.

However, Spurs are 16th in the table, four points above the relegation zone.

Real Madrid interest in Tottenham star

Recent claims have talked about the possibility of the former Atalanta man leaving Igor Tudor’s side after this season. Real Madrid and Barcelona are looking to sign him in the next window.

Sport Witness recently covered claims that Romero has a verbal agreement in with Real Madrid. Barcelona are also keen and are open to offering Ronald Araújo as part of the deal for the Spurs star.

El Intransigente now relay the Real Madrid claim and then provide their own take on this case. The outlet aren’t certain whether Romero will leave the Premier League side for Los Blancos in the summer.

However, they do provide Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni’s stance on the possibility of the defender joining Real Madrid.

Scaloni encourages Real Madrid move

Scaloni handed Romero his national team debut in 2021 and the latter has been a regular since 2022. He prefers his players competing at the highest level and the 27-year-old can achieve this with Real Madrid move.

The outlet says: ‘Real Madrid’s interest could open up a completely new scenario, not only from a sporting perspective but also symbolically: a move to one of Europe’s giants would place him on a whole new international level.’

Should the Tottenham man end up at the Spanish capital club, El Intransigente believe it could change his role in the national team.

Romero could become an ‘undisputed pillar’ for Argentina if he were to join and establish himself at Real Madrid.

The outlet says Scaloni would ‘celebrate the leap in quality’ if Romero were to join the Spanish capital club.

In the winter transfer window, Sport Witness covered Juventus’ attempts to sign Tottenham’s Randal Kolo Muani.

The Frenchman spent the second half of last season in Turin and impressed. The Old Lady saw him as a fix for their problems again in January and the player was keen on the return.

Former Tottenham manager Thomas Frank proved to be a hindrance, as he didn’t want to lose another player amidst a raft of injury problems.

Kolo Muani scored in the Champions League against Eintracht Frankfurt some weeks ago, and then scored his first Premier League goal against Arsenal on Sunday.

Considering he is only on a dry loan at Spurs, Juve are still looking to bring him back to Turin.

Tottenham player continues to have admirers

Today’s TuttoSport report Juve are still very keen on the striker.

He is a favourite target for the summer, with Dusan Vlahovic’s contract at the club running out soon.

There are two reasons why the Tottenham player still appeals to the Bianconeri. One is the fact that he made an impact last season, playing a key role in their Champions League qualification.

There is also a financial reason to consider, as Juve feel a package worth €40m can seal the deal. This will help PSG recoup a high amount, especially since the 27-year-old never quite sparkled during his time with the Ligue 1 giants.

Kolo Muani has shown promise at Spurs

While Kolo Muani hasn’t quite been consistent at Tottenham, he has contributed to seven goals in all competitions.

Apart from playing upfront, he has also played on the left and has always shown willingness to work his socks off. An injury earlier in the campaign derailed his progress and Frank’s system also affected his output.

His numbers can get better in a more attacking side and Juve have seen that. His best came under Igor Tudor himself and his presence at Tottenham can define the player’s future.

If Kolo Muani has a good few months, another big move could yet be possible.

Juventus fixated, and why PSG may not be impressed

The Serie A side appear somewhat fixated with Kolo Muani. After his loan in Turin last season, Juventus spent much of the summer trying to secure another loan.

They’d had a purchase option with PSG but decided instead to pile the pressure on for a loan. The French club weren’t impressed and insisted Juve cough up some serious money.

As the transfer window was closing, PSG relented on the loan idea… but not to Juventus. Instead, the Frenchman was sent to Tottenham Hotspur.

PSG won’t want another summer of a dragged out negotiation with Juventus.

Igor Tudor played something of a €1.5m gamble with Juventus that eventually paid off with his move to Tottenham Hotspur.

That’s according to Tuttomercatoweb and Tutto Juve, who both cover the manager today. The Italian outlets cover Juventus’ half-year financial reports. Those reports have detailed the cost to sack Tudor in October.

TMW explain that the decision to terminate Tudor’s contract in October 2025, alongside his coaching staff, cost the club €7.6m in total.

The Croatian manager had a contract for another year and a half. Juventus terminated that early in October before he eventually arrived at Tottenham.

Why Tottenham manager walked away from €1.5m

Tutto Juve provide more detail on the matter. According to them, Tudor elected to leave ‘half a year’s salary’ on the table. Juventus owed him another €3m but ‘to avoid litigation and a long trail’ he gave that up.

Fortunately, a few months later, he joined Tottenham, ‘probably with a bit of luck on his side’. The belief was that the money he left at Juventus was ‘absorbed’ into the contract he later signed with Spurs.

In other words, Tudor played something of a gamble. He left €1.5m on the table but freed himself up to later move elsewhere. Tottenham then came calling and he signed a contract with them until the end of the season instead.

Why Juventus contract was questioned

There’s no mention of his pay-packet with Spurs, but it’s likely to include the €1.5m he left behind at Juventus. There’s certainly no criticism on his part.

Instead, Tutto Juve question why they handed Tudor such a deal at a time when “every Euro counts”. Extending his deal for an extra year was a ‘half-hearted move’ at best. That is particularly the case given Antonio Conte was supposed to be the target at all costs.

That means Tudor could ‘only have been a backup’. Now the Italian side rue a €7.6m payment to remove Tudor and his staff as they focus on life at Tottenham.

Tottenham manager Igor Tudor faces a huge challenge at his new club and saw the first signs of that in the defeat to Arsenal.

Sport Witness have covered how the Croatian has already been making some major decisions, in an attempt to bring the club back on track. He had a difficult job to do at Juventus too last season and he didn’t disappoint, taking them into the Champions League.

The Tottenham job right now is similar to where Tudor found himself at Udinese. He saved the club from relegation in 2018 and Spurs need the same.

Former Udinese player Bram Nuytinck has now spoken about Tudor’s time at the club, and spoke of a broken relationship with the manager.

Dutch defender not a fan of Tottenham manager

Currently at NEC, the defender spoke to Gianluca di Marzio about his time under Tudor.

He made it clear that the Croatian shouts a lot and the two never quite got along at Udinese. The Dutchman also revealed Tudor’s tough approach to training, something he’s started at Tottenham already.

“Even in Udine I had a difficult time. With Tudor, who coached us twice, we never really clicked. The first time, in 2018, he shouted a lot, he was harsh. I remember an argument with Seko Fofana in training. He sent him off the pitch.”

Bram Nuytunck clarified that Udinese needed a shock at that point and the Tottenham manager gave them exactly that.

“The team needed a shock. He came on with four games to go and we were in difficulty. At the time I didn’t understand it, but over time I’ve come to terms with it. In the end we saved ourselves, he left and came back the following year, in similar circumstances. Same script: tough approach and safety.”

Adding more details, the player revealed Tudor played a role in his sale from Udinese.

“He was confirmed for the following season and in the summer he told me he no longer wanted me in the team.

“I’ll tell you – on the last day of the transfer window, the management called me. ‘Bram, we sold you to Ligue 1. We’re sorry, but you’re not in the coach’s plans. Good luck .’ I didn’t want to believe it. I knew I could still help Udinese. In fact, I refused the offer and was left on the bench for months.”

Nuytinck revealed he enjoyed much more under Luca Gotti than Tudor.

“Until After ten games, Tudor was fired. Gotti arrived in his place , and something special immediately happened with him. In his first job, he relaunched me as a starter, and it was fantastic. I thank him. I stayed at Udinese for another three years thanks to him too.”

Tottenham manager takes no prisoners

It is clear that Tudor was quite open and clear about his rules and ideas at Udinese. This impacted Nuytinck’s career but the club achieved a larger goal of staying in Serie A.

That is exactly what Tottenham want right now too, considering the desperate situation. Thomas Frank appeared to have problems with specific players and Tudor will have to fix that using his own, ruthless methods.

Injuries won’t help but the new manager will have to make big decisions around selections in the next few weeks. That is likely to define the season and considering his track record as interim manager, Tudor can surely be relied upon to do the task.

At least Igor Tudor is specifically experienced at dealing with a troublesome Dutch defender during a relegation battle. That may come in handy soon.

Xavi Simons joined Tottenham Hotspur from RB Leipzig in August 2025, after Chelsea courted him for several months.

The attacking midfielder has scored two goals and contributed five assists from 32 games for Tottenham. This includes one Premier League goal against Brentford in December and two assists in the league in 2026.

The Netherlands international initially struggled at Tottenham, resulting in criticism from a section of the Dutch press.

Three months ago, Sport Witness covered French claims stating the former Paris Saint-Germain is struggling to cope with the Premier League’s intensity.

Simons received a straight red in Spurs’ league defeat to Liverpool in December and had to serve a three-match ban. Since then, he has played every minute in the league while Tottenham have failed to register a win.

He failed to impress in the 4-1 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday. His performance against the Gunners has been subject to criticism from a section of Spurs supporters.

Tuesday’s edition of Bild claims RB Leipzig supporters have now slammed the 22-year-old for his actions online, adding to his personal drama.

Backlash from Leipzig fans to Tottenham player

At the weekend, the Bundesliga side came close to securing three points against Borussia Dortmund. Fábio Silva scored a late equaliser, forcing Leipzig to settle for a point.

After the match, the Portugal international shared a post on Instagram, captioned ‘Until the last minute’. Bild explain the Tottenham player not only liked it but also commented ‘Brindemos’, which translates to ‘Let’s toast’ in English.

Bild’s title states ‘Fans furious! Xavi celebrates Dortmund goal’, which should give a clue that his latest comment clearly didn’t please the supporters of his former club. There’s been a backlash against him to the extent it’s reached the German media.

The Dutchman spent two seasons at the German club, managing 22 goals and 24 assists from 78 matches.

Simons played with Silva at PSV Eindhoven during the 2022/23 season and Bild say the pair have been friends since then. Therefore, it’s not surprising to see him comment on Silva’s latest post.