Sport Witness

Last month, Gazzetta dello Sport spoke of interest from Chelsea and Manchester United in Dusan Vlahovic. Tottenham have now also been dragged into the race for the striker.

This comes from Quotidiano Sportivo, who look at the Serbian’s situation.

The outlet note that despite Vlahovic having scored four times for Juve this season, his spot in the side isn’t certain.

There is no sign of a new deal for him, with his contract running out in 2026. Talks have stalled and now the 25-year-old’s agent is working hard to find a new club.

The report claims Tottenham and Chelsea have tested the waters for the striker. There’s hope a club from the Premier League signs the player, who earns €12m a year.

These wage demands are too big for Juve, but will not be a major problem for clubs in England.

The report indicates that Vlahovic could come in as a replacement for Randal Kolo Muani at Tottenham. The Frenchman is still interested in a move back to Juve, having spent the second half of last season in Turin.

Spurs don’t have an option to buy him permanently from Paris Saint-Germain. As a result, Vlahovic could arrive on a free transfer as a new striker option.

Yves Bissouma hasn’t made an appearance for Tottenham Hotspur this season.

According to L’Equipe, the Mali international has been sidelined with a knee injury for several weeks.

Mali manager Tom Saintfiet included the Tottenham player in his squad for October’s fixtures. He didn’t feature in their 2-0 win over Chad last week due to an injury.

On Sunday, the midfielder came off the bench in the 66th minute in the national team’s 4-1 World Cup qualifier win over Madagascar. He was forced off the pitch six minutes later due to an injury.

L’Equipe say the 29-year-old was kicked by an opposition player, seconds after coming on.

Bissouma tried to carry on but was unable to stand on his feet. He had to lie down before being stretchered off the pitch.

The report states it ‘seemed very serious’ as the Spurs man was holding his head with both hands.

L’Equipe indicate the Europa League winners would be unhappy with Saintfiet’s decision to hand minutes to Bissouma. They could ask whether his return was rushed or if Mali took a risk.

The scoreline was 3-0 when he was brought on. His setback could have been avoided had Saintfiet decided to leave Bissouma as an unused substitute.

HSV Hamburg sporting director Claus Costa has admitted they already want to extend Luka Vuskovic’s loan move from Tottenham.

Transfermarkt.de have an interview with the sporting director today in which he’s asked about the Tottenham loanee.

Vuskovic arrived on loan from Tottenham late in the window. Spurs had delayed making a decision on him after he returned from a loan spell in Belgium in the summer.

They eventually decided to loan him out for another season. Hamburg then moved quickly to snap him up for the year. Vuskovic has made an immediate impact, quickly establishing himself as a key player in the Bundesliga side’s defence.

They’ve quickly fallen in love with him, despite the clear warnings about doing that with a loanee.

Indeed, there has been some panic among the club’s fans this week after it was reported that Tottenham could recall Vuskovic in January. That, though, is dependent on Thomas Frank’s side being hit by several, long-term defensive injuries first.

“We’re helping Tottenham…”

Costa has already moved to allay those fears and now admits he is actually focused on trying to keep the defender from Tottenham for longer.

“The Luka Vuskovic issue has been with us throughout the summer,” he said.

“We always had the clear intention of signing him – and he committed to us relatively early on. We didn’t want to take Luka away from Tottenham and instead wanted to create a win-win-win situation.

“We’re helping Tottenham, Luka is helping us, and we’re all helping him. He’s playing very convincingly, has a great charisma, and gives us a lot. We’re happy to have him.

“It’s only October, so much can still happen between now and May; there are many variables. As of now, there’s no contractual option. Based on what we’ve seen so far, we’d like to keep him longer – definitely.

“We certainly wouldn’t mind. The question is how we’ll get there, what Tottenham’s plan is, and how Luka’s season is going. But that’s a crystal ball gazing exercise and impossible to assess as of today.”

Vasco da Gama forward Rayan is making history on the pitch. That’s why clubs such as Tottenham and Aston Villa continue to monitor him closely.

His rise is still going beyond transfer talk. According to a report by Globo Esporte, the 19-year-old has reached a new level of consistency. He’s now among the most productive young forwards in Brazil.

Rayan has scored 14 goals in all competitions this year, four of them in his last four matches. He’s become the leading U20 scorer in the country alongside Palmeiras’ Vitor Roque.

In the Brasileirão, Rayan has nine goals and is fighting for the U20 top-scorer spot. A mark that would put him in elite company.

The list of players who previously topped the under-20 scoring charts in Brazil includes names such as Neymar, Gabriel Jesus, Rodrygo, Marcos Leonardo and Estêvão. All of those went on to build high-profile careers overseas. It’s no surprise that Tottenham, Aston Villa and others are keen.

Manager Fernando Diniz has been full of praise for the young striker’s development, saying: “He’s a very different player, one of the few forwards in Brazil who is complete. Tall, fast, left-footed, strong in the air, and capable of playing across the front line.”

He also stressed that “he tracks back well, helps defensively, and can play as a winger, a false nine, a centre-forward, or on the opposite flank”. A positive overview on the youngster’s abilities.

Tottenham and Aston Villa interest is justified

This mix of talent, versatility and maturity explains why Tottenham and Aston Villa are both keeping close watch. Spurs have already sent scouts to Brazil and are seen as favourites to make a move. Villa are seeking a winger with goal-scoring ability and have identified Rayan as a strong fit.

The teenager is under contract until December 2026, and Vasco have made it clear that they would only open talks for offers around €30m (£25.7m), despite his €40m (£34.3m) release clause.

Yet the player’s continued evolution, both statistically and technically, means his value could rise again before January.

From a promising academy graduate to one of the most decisive under-20 forwards in South America, Rayan’s progression is now being written in goals, not rumours.

And Tottenham and Aston Villa are watching closely as he continues to join the ranks of Brazilian prodigies who made their mark before heading to Europe.

HSV Hamburg sporting director Claus Costa has admitted they already want to extend Luka Vuskovic’s loan move from Tottenham.

Transfermarkt.de have an interview with the sporting director today in which he’s asked about the Tottenham loanee.

Vuskovic arrived on loan from Tottenham late in the window. Spurs had delayed making a decision on him after he returned from a loan spell in Belgium in the summer.

They eventually decided to loan him out for another season. Hamburg then moved quickly to snap him up for the year. Vuskovic has made an immediate impact, quickly establishing himself as a key player in the Bundesliga side’s defence.

They’ve quickly fallen in love with him, despite the clear warnings about doing that with a loanee.

Indeed, there has been some panic among the club’s fans this week after it was reported that Tottenham could recall Vuskovic in January. That, though, is dependent on Thomas Frank’s side being hit by several, long-term defensive injuries first.

Costa has already moved to allay those fears and now admits he is actually focused on trying to keep the defender from Tottenham for longer.

“The Luka Vuskovic issue has been with us throughout the summer,” he said.

“We always had the clear intention of signing him – and he committed to us relatively early on. We didn’t want to take Luka away from Tottenham and instead wanted to create a win-win-win situation.

“We’re helping Tottenham, Luka is helping us, and we’re all helping him. He’s playing very convincingly, has a great charisma, and gives us a lot. We’re happy to have him.

“It’s only October, so much can still happen between now and May; there are many variables. As of now, there’s no contractual option. Based on what we’ve seen so far, we’d like to keep him longer – definitely.

“We certainly wouldn’t mind. The question is how we’ll get there, what Tottenham’s plan is, and how Luka’s season is going. But that’s a crystal ball gazing exercise and impossible to assess as of today.”

HSV Hamburg sporting director Claus Costa has dismissed fears Tottenham could bring back Luka Vuskovic early in the January transfer window.

Transfermarkt.de have an interview with Costa today in which he allays fears about the Tottenham loanee. In fact, he makes it clear he wants him to stay at the club for longer than a year.

Vuskovic joined Hamburg on loan at the end of the summer transfer window. Tottenham had initially avoided letting him go as they were unsure what to do with him. He had returned from a loan spell in Belgium in the summer.

The decision was finally made to send him out on loan. That suited Hamburg, who had positioned themselves at the front of the queue. They had the advantage that Vuskovic’s older brother also plays for them.

The loan deal includes an option for Tottenham to recall the defender back in January. But that can only happen if they suffer several, long-term injuries. And Costa insists they’re not concerned about it at Hamburg.

“We had very constructive discussions with Tottenham; they’re a top-professional club, judging by the communication with loan manager Andy Scoulding,” he said.

“They’re closely monitoring the player, which shows how they assess Luka. Tottenham isn’t interested in weakening us or ruining the loan.

“It’s understandable that they’re trying to protect themselves against possible worst-case scenarios. Otherwise, I don’t want to comment further.

“I believe Tottenham also knows how good the situation here is for Luka. That’s why I hope we never get into a situation where we have to think about anything else.”

Tottenham star Lucas Bergvall has admitted he doesn’t need criticism from the Sweden fanbase after his horror miss in the defeat to Switzerland.

Aftonbladet provide comments from the Tottenham midfielder today alongside support from plenty of his teammates.

Sweden were beaten 2-0 by Switzerland on Friday evening in what had been deemed a must-win game for their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup next summer.

It was a tense evening for them as they were booed onto the pitch by their own fans. And that ended up translating onto the pitch as the away side secured all three points.

Bergvall had been handed his chance to impress by Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson with a starting place in the side. The build up in the week had been very much focused on the Tottenham youngster deserving his opportunity.

He ended up with his moment in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, though. With the score at 0-0 he was presented with a golden chance to open the scoring when Alexander Isak put him in front of an open goal. Instead, the Tottenham man got the ball caught under his feet, allowing Ricardo Rodriguez.

It proved to be a defining moment, for all the wrong reasons. And Bergvall knows there will be criticism. Not that he needs to hear it.

“I misjudge the ball. Of course I’m going to score there. I don’t know what else to say. Sometimes it bounces right, sometimes wrong,” he said.

“Yes, probably. I can’t think of anything else right now. It’s an absolute disappointment,” he added when asked if it was his worst miss ever.

“I don’t think they (the fans) need to say too much about it, I know I’ll do better.”

Fortunately, it seems his teammates have quickly forgiven him. Several came out in the Tottenham man’s defence after the game.

“He is a very all-round player, who has almost all the qualities you need. He has had a great autumn at Tottenham. We have to help each other to get the most out of each other,” said Isak.

“It’s clear that it’s an opportunity, but he will learn. He is extremely talented, and you can see the heights he has,” added Ken Sema.

“Then it’s clear that it’s a bit unlucky that he misses, it’s perhaps one of those chances you usually score on. You’re there to support him, but I think he knows exactly what he needs to improve on in the future.”

“I told him at half-time to forget about it,” concluded Roony Bardghji.

“I can imagine he’s a bit down and it’s tough, but that’s football. That’s what happens. It’s nothing that will affect him.”

HSV Hamburg are not overly concerned with Tottenham having a recall clause in Luka Vuskovic’s loan deal.

That’s according to SHZ, who say Tottenham aren’t interested in bringing the 18-year-old back if they don’t need to.

They explain that the youngster has quickly established himself as a key player since arriving in Germany. Hamburg are impressed, but there is some worry they could lose him early.

That’s because recent reports indicated that Tottenham have a recall clause for the January transfer window. That’s seen as a ‘small flaw’ in the growing love affair between the player and HSV.

According to the reports, Tottenham can recall Vuskovic if they suffer from injuries. SHZ, though, say the clause is more intricate than that.

First off, they say that none of Tottenham’s bosses ‘have any interest’ in an early end to the loan. Even if that changed, several conditions would have to be met. HSV had to ‘swallow’ the clause, but they put in multiple safeguards to protect themselves.

At least two Tottenham defenders would have to suffer ‘serious injuries’ for Vuskovic’s return to even be considered. The severity of the injuries is also important. A simple strain is not enough for the clause to be activated.

Tottenham would have to move early

Tottenham also have to inform HSV at the start of the January transfer window if they intend to use. They can’t simply activate it whenever they wish. Furthermore, MOPO report that the clause expires in the middle of January also.

There may even be financial compensation for HSV in the even of an early termination. The likelihood of the clause being used is low, though. Tottenham made it clear that they absolutely wanted Vuskovic to stay in Hamburg until the end of the season.

Relations between them and HSV are also ‘exemplary’. This was demonstrated at the end of the window when the two clubs finalised the deal quickly. Regular contact has been maintained since then. In fact, Tottenham’s loan manager has even attended games to keep an eye on the defender.

All in all, it appears HSV have nothing to worry about. The clause exists, but Tottenham aren’t interested in using it unless there’s extreme circumstances.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Lucas Bergvall was mainly used as a substitute in the league last season.

The midfielder’s situation has improved under Thomas Frank and he’s started six matches this season.

Bergvall was an unused substitute in both Sweden fixtures last month. In fact, he hasn’t made an appearance for them since November 2024, and there’s many not happy about that.

The Tottenham player recently said he isn’t letting himself become stressed by the situation. He says it’s a decision for manager, Jon Dahl Tomasson.

Friday’s edition of Göteborgs-Posten have relayed his comments.

“There are incredibly good players who perform week in and week out in the top leagues, then it is always up to Jon who plays, but there are incredibly good players. Sometimes you play, sometimes you don’t play,” he said.

Göteborgs-Posten have also relayed comments from Anders Andersson, who represented Sweden between 1994 and 2005.

Andersson is delighted with the manner in which the 19-year-old has conducted himself.

“I have to give Lucas Bergvall an applause because I think he handled it perfectly,” he said.

Tottenham player not providing media fuel

Andersson himself experienced competition for a place. The newspaper mentioned his battle with Tobias Linderoth during Euro 2004. Anders Svensson and Kim Källström also competed for the attacking role.

This resulted in a lot of media attention, and Andersson says it didn’t help the Sweden players. He used Bergvall as an example to explain how the situation is different now.

“I think Bergvall deserves all the praise, especially now that he didn’t get to play a single minute. I didn’t see much negativity from him about it,” he added.

“It’s good that you don’t try to spread the negative mood yourself, but that you take it internally. It’s sad for the journalists, but it’s very good for the group.”

Lucas Bergvall is expected to start against Switzerland on Friday evening.

Tottenham are reportedly keeping an eye on Athletico Paranaense’s highly-rated youngster Bruninho, according to Itatiaia Esporte.

The 17-year-old midfielder is considered one of the biggest prospects in the club’s academy and has also attracted attention from Real Betis and Zenit Saint Petersburg.

The report states that representatives from Tottenham and the other two clubs have already signalled interest. They’re considering the possibility of making an early move for the teenager. Bruninho, however, will only be able to leave Brazil after turning 18, on August 16th 2026.

Athletico see the midfielder as one of their most valuable assets. They could be open to a transfer in the first half of next season, depending on his development.

The player has already trained with the senior squad. He’s expected to make his professional debut before the end of their league campaign this year.

Bruninho renewed his contract with the club at the end of September, as also reported by Itatiaia. Earlier this week, he scored in the semi-final of the Under-17 Brazilian Championship against Atlético Mineiro, despite Athletico’s elimination.

The teenager’s progress will continue to be closely followed by the Premier League side, with Tottenham among those monitoring his next steps.