Sport Witness

On Thursday, Gianluca di Marzio reported AS Roma have made initial contact for Tottenham’s Radu Dragusin.

They were believed to be pushing, with manager Gian Piero Gasperini desperate for new signings.

Di Marzio later provided an update, explaining that a formal initial loan offer is being considered for the Tottenham player.

Today’s Gazzetta dello Sport has an update on the defender, who has played only once since returning from a serious knee injury.

The newspaper state Roma have indeed made initial contact with Spurs. It was more than just an enquiry and the move has ‘gained momentum in recent hours’.

The Italian side have also had concrete contact with Dragusin’s agent, and progress is being made.

The only problem Roma face is meeting Tottenham’s demands. Thomas Frank’s side would prefer to let him depart permanently and are hesitant to sanction a straightforward loan.

The newspaper also mentions interest from Fiorentina, but the player isn’t keen on La Viola.

Roma would prefer a low cost loan, with perhaps an option to buy in the summer. They’d likely have to meet somewhere in the middle with Tottenham for the 23-year-old.

A loan with a compulsory purchase clause based on certain conditions could be the way forward. That’s what Roma were considering for Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee.

Tottenham Hotspur are Aston Villa are ready to make advances to sign Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush in the winter market.

That’s according to WinWin, who state a source has informed them about Tottenham and Aston Villa’s interest.

The Egypt international has started only two league matches for Manchester City this season. An injury he suffered in September has played a part in limiting his game time.

Recent claims mentioned Tottenham’s interest. Last month, Egypt manager Hossam Hassan insisted transfer links aren’t distracting Marmoush at the ongoing AFCON.

Aston Villa have now joined the Europa League winners in chasing the 26-year-old. The report states ‘interest is real’ from Unai Emery’s side.

Both Tottenham and the Villans have a desire to sign the Manchester City player on loan in January.

The forward has ‘not yet decided anything’ on his immediate future, and Winwin claim his priority is to continue at Manchester City. His agent will hold talks with Pep Guardiola’s side, to understand if he can have an important role at the Etihad this season.

Spurs and Aston Villa aren’t giving up. It’s claimed they are waiting for him to finish his AFCON campaign with Egypt to intensify negotiations, with a hope that they can convince Marmoush to leave Manchester City.

The Egyptian has a contract until 2029. Guaridola’s side will have a huge say whether to let him go out on loan in January.

Tottenham Hotspur sporting director Fabio Paratici has agreed to join Fiorentina as their new head of football. The Serie A side are waiting for him to terminate his contract with Spurs, something which has been delayed.

The Italian media are confident of his arrival at Fiorentina and are waiting for Tottenham to give the green light.

Tuesday’s edition of Corriere dello Sport reports Paratici has started implementing his plan at the Serie A side.

They’ve already signed Manor Solomon on loan from Tottenham in the winter market and are now targeting another player from the north London club. Fiorentina are looking to sign Tottenham defender Radu Drăgușin in the ongoing window.

The 23-year-old recently returned from a serious injury he suffered a year ago.

Tottenham player prefers Serie A to Premier League

Last month, Drăgușin’s agent Florin Manea said his client prefers to return to Italy amid interest from England. He also left the door open for a move this month.

On Boxing Day, Firenze Viola stated Fiorentina have made initial contact over a move.

Corriere back ithatup and add Tottenham rejected the Italian club’s initial approach. The situation has now changed as the centre-back is ‘on his way out’ of Spurs. Therefore, Fiorentina are pressing to sign him.

Drăgușin has to compete for a place at Fiorentina and therefore, he needs to be convinced about joining them.

Since returning to full fitness, Radu Dragusin has played only five minutes for Tottenham. His future in England can now be linked to that of Manchester City’s Nathan Ake.

The Dutchman has played only 322 minutes in the Premier League this season. Even in the 2024/25 campaign, he featured in only ten games.

Naturally, doubts have been emerging about his future.

Corriere dello Sport report on AC Milan’s need to improve their backline, and both men are in the picture.

Tottenham’s Dragusin is being closely monitored and everything can come down to his fitness. In the meantime, Ake’s candidacy as a target has also emerged due to his lack of game time at Manchester City.

The Netherlands international was on Milan’s radar two years ago. He is now seeking to play more ahead of the World Cup and a move to the San Siro is a possibility.

The last week of the January transfer window can prove key, with Milan sporting director Igli Tare already at work.

Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-Jae is also seen as a target, however, the South Korean is expected to cost more than the Manchester City and Tottenham players.

This can swing things in the favour of Dragusin and Ake, with the Romanian also linked with Fiorentina.

Tottenham look to have found themselves something of a gem in Luka Vušković, however, it’s clear the young defender has his own intentions.

Spurs agreed a deal for the Croatian in 2023, with that then becoming official in 2025. Hajduk Split had developed the youngster, and he’s extremely fond of his boyhood club.

In the summer, the Spurs owned player was sent on loan to Hamburg. He’s impressed during his time in the Bundesliga and that’s made going to the World Cup with Croatia a realistic prospect.

Speaking with Croatia newspaper 24Sata, Vušković said that appearing just once at the upcoming tournament would be a dream. Despite being just 18-years-of-age, the defender has shown a level beyond his years and it wouldn’t be a shock if he could be useful for Tottenham next season.

Tottenham player has specific dream… won’t let go

However, those who have been following his progress will know Vušković has different plans. The youngster’s big brother Mario is also at Hamburg. The pair dream of playing together but Mario is serving a doping ban.

Should Spurs allow the younger Vušković to remain on loan next season… that dream can happen.

“We are very close. I’m happy that he is my brother because he has helped me a lot in my career and in life. I wanted to show him and everyone that I am with him. That I believe that he will come back one day, just to stay positive. I wanted to show the whole world who we Vuškovićs are and how, despite all the adversity, we stand by each other.”

Tottenham paid a little over £10m for the player and he was recently valued at €40m. Asked about that, he said: “My parents told me, they were the first to see it. I am happy, but I did not expect such a jump in value. It is difficult to say whether it is realistic or not, but considering how prices in football are moving today, it is obvious that it is. However, he should have justified that price with games on the field.”

Saturday’s edition of AS has a big feature on Real Madrid’s Erasmus success. The Spanish newspaper explain the club have sent multiple youngsters elsewhere almost like a finishing school.

Making sure they retain low buyback clauses, it enables them to control the player’s future as well as give him a permanent transfer to enable adaptation. All the while, the youngster is motivated to perform and seal a Los Blancos return.

Tottenham Hotspur and their attempt to sign Nico Paz being blocked is seen as a great example. Paz moved to Como in August 2024 for just €6m, with Madrid keeping a €9m buyback clause applicable this summer.

Last season he established himself as one of Serie A’s best youngsters under Cesc Fabregas. That brought interest from Tottenham and there were consistent reports in Italy of a transfer effort.

Nico Paz convinced to snub Tottenham

Real Madrid would have received 50% of the profit from a sale. Alternatively, they could convince the player to wait a year and return for €9m. That would involve snubbing Spurs and an immediately higher salary.

AS explain Tottenham offered a package to Como worth €70m, which is consistent with claims at the time. Real Madrid had to convince him to wait, and he ‘didn’t hesitate’ do so.

Premier League clubs, including Spurs, have been ‘pushing hard’. Nico Paz, however, is determined to have a Real Madrid future.

The 21-year-old is one of a number of players Real Madrid have in a similar situation around Europe.

Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini has made Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin his ‘top target’ for the January transfer window.

That’s according to Gazzetta dello Sport. They report that while Roma’s focus is on attacking reinforcements, they also want to improve at the other end of the pitch.

According to their information, Gasperini sees the Romanian centre-back as a ‘top-target’ this month.

Work is now underway to see if Tottenham will agree to a deal. The belief is that Dragusin could leave on loan after returning from a torn cruciate in his right knee.

Roma are one of several Italian clubs looking into signing Dragusin this month. But the fact that Gasperini has made him a top target could now accelerate their interest.

They may have to fight Fiorentina. They were quickly linked at the end of last month when it was made clear Fabio Paratici could be joining the Italian club. He’s already done a deal to send Manor Solomon there from Tottenham and could do the same with Dragusin.

Manor Solomon is ‘hours away’ from leaving Villarreal, returning to Tottenham Hotspur and then being loaned to Fiorentina.

That’s according to El Periodico Mediterraneo, who cover the winger today. They explain why it didn’t work out in Spain for the winger.

He joined Villarreal in the summer transfer window after a successful loan spell at Leeds United last season. But he had struggled to establish himself at the Spanish side in the last few months.

He was never a guaranteed starter for Marcelino. He simply relied on him as a game-changer than anything else. That’s led to an agreement to send him back to Tottenham this month. They’re quickly shipping him out to Fiorentina on loan after that. And according to El Periodico, the deal is ‘hours away’ from being done.

It’s a surprising move but the newspaper explains that really, Solomon’s card had been marked since October 1st. He ‘prioritised his Jewish faith’ over his ‘professional interests’ at that point, refusing to play during Yom Kippur.

From that point, everything seemed to point to his exit, especially as the loan from Tottenham included an option for it to be cancelled.

Now he’s hours away from the deal being concluded, having seemingly failed to impress Marcelino at Villarreal. In fact, he’s already in Italy for a medical.

Gianluca di Marzio provides footage of the Tottenham man today, bedecked in Fiorentina gear after undergoing various medical tests with the Italian side. That’s further evidence he’s now on the verge of finalising his latest exit.

Manor Solomon was full of smiles and waves as he reacted to those waiting for him.

Tottenham have emerged as the latest club to make a concrete move for young left-back Souza, but Santos responded with a firm stance ahead of January.

Reports from Brazil show that Spurs tested the waters and met immediate resistance from the Brazilian side.

Journalist Lucas Musetti reports that Tottenham submitted an official proposal for the 19-year-old left-back in recent days. Santos rejected the approach and replied with a clear demand of €17m, for 70% of the player’s economic rights.

Musetti adds that Tottenham’s offer stayed well below that figure, which makes a January deal highly unlikely.

Santos’ reaction reflects their broader strategy. The club see Souza as a key part of their plans and do not want to weaken the squad mid-season.

Under contract until 2028, the defender became a regular starter towards the end of the season. Internally, the board believe his value can still rise further in 2026.

Tottenham are not the only club to face that position. There were previous approaches from AC Milan and Chelsea, which also failed. In each case, Santos held firm and refused to open negotiations.

However, Tottenham could point to a more immediate first-team pathway, while Chelsea’s earlier plan involved a spell at Strasbourg as part of a longer-term strategy.

For Spurs, the response offers clarity. Santos have set a clear benchmark and signalled that any serious move would require a far higher investment.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Manor Solomon has been on loan at Villarreal since the summer.

The striker has played 358 minutes from 11 matches this season, managing a goal and four assists. His game time has been reduced since October, resulting in exit claims in recent weeks.

On December 15th, El Periódico Mediterráneo reoorted the Tottenham owned player’s camp weren’t ruling out a Villarreal exit in the winter market. Later that month, AS reported he had to make the final decision over leaving the La Liga side.

Friday’s edition of Marca reports the Spanish club aren’t expected to carry out new signings in this window. They add the Yellow Submarine will see a few players leave and Solomon is in this list. It’s claimed the 26-year-old’s loan stay will be cut short so that he can join relegation-battlers Fiorentina.

Another Spanish newspaper, AS, backs up this claim. They explain the Israel international has a clause that allows him to end his stay at Villarreal in January. He has decided to exercise it in order to make a switch to the Serie A side.

The Israel international’s move to Fiorentina is also covered in Italy. Gianluca Di Marzio reports the Spurs man will join La Viola on loan with an option to buy.

Di Marzio claims Solomon will arrive in Italy on Friday, to undergo medical tests and sign a contract with Fiorentina.