Sport Witness

Football can often be a cruel sport, both on and off the pitch.

Spare a thought right now for Bradley Locko. L’Equipe report the Brest player has been of interest to Tottenham Hotspur this summer and was very close to signing for Nottingham Forest.

The 22-year-old had a Premier League dream lined up that would have changed his life overnight. Much bigger wages would be game changing for both the youngster and his family, and it was all within grasp.

L’Equipe report none of that will be happening now because Locko has ruptured his Achilles tendon. It was a freak accident in training and didn’t involve any other player.

He’d only returned to training on Tuesday after taking part at the Olympics with France and picking up a silver medal.

AS Roma are looking at a deal for Tottenham midfielder Giovanni Lo Celso, if they sell Paulo Dybala to a club in Saudi Arabia’s Pro League.

That’s according to El Chiringuito and journalist Diego Plaza Casals, who say Lo Celso may have another option on the table as he looks to leave Tottenham.

Lo Celso has long been linked with a move away from Spurs, having struggled under several managers and continued that under Ange Postecoglou last season.

He’s now in the final year of his deal with the club so this is Tottenham’s last chance to make any money on him as he’ll be free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with clubs in Europe from January for next summer.

So far there have been few options for him, with several reports making it clear that Real Betis are biding their time to try and get him at the end of the window, perhaps taking advantage of Tottenham’s desperation.

El Chiringuito now report that Roma want the Argentine midfielder as a potential replacement for Dybala, who is currently being linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.

Tottenham are believed to want €15m for the midfielder, a fee Roma would surely be comfortable matching.

Aston Villa and Betis are also in the mix and interested, but the focus may now be on the Italians, if Dybala departs.

Reports in Turkey today said Fenerbahce are keen.

According to a claim in the Turkish media, Fenerbahce are showing interest in Tottenham Hotspur attacking midfielder Giovani Lo Celso.

The Istanbul club are looking to bolster their squad in this transfer window and former Spurs boss Jose Mourinho wants a reunion with the Argentine.

Sporx have reported on the future of Lo Celso at Tottenham after he struggled to get starts last season. It’s claimed Fenerbahce have been offered the playmaker via agents.

It’s been well reported this summer that Fenerbahce are looking to strengthen in midfield, and they’ve been linked with a number of players in England. Mourinho is said to have approved the transfer of Lo Celso and the Super Lig side are now working on a deal.

He made 24 appearances for the Premier League side last season, scoring two goals. However, he made just four starts in the league and may have to move on this summer to get regular first team action.

The 28-year-old is contracted to Tottenham until June 2025 so they may need to cash in on him this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to sign Burnley’s Wilson Odobert this summer, according to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri.

He took to X, formerly known as Twitter to state that the 19-year-old is close to signing for Tottenham.

The journalist further claims the Burnley player already cleared the medical tests with Tottenham on Thursday.

Odobert hasn’t been training with Burnley today and was not at their facilities. Tavolieri says that’s because his arrival at the north London club is ‘imminent now’.

The France U23 international’s deal with the Championship side lasts until 2028. Tavolieri makes no mention of the fee Burnley will collect from his transfer to Ange Postecoglou’s side.

There’s also no mention of whether the attacker will join Spurs on loan or a permanent transfer. With the Premier League side edging towards completing the deal, the details should be clarified in the next few hours.

The player joined the Clarets from Troyes in August 2023. Former Burnley manager Vincent Kompany used him across the front three positions last season, and he managed four goals and three assists from 33 games.

Back in May, journalist Christian Martin reported Liverpool are in the picture to sign Piero Hincapié. The Reds aren’t the only English club as Tottenham Hotspur are also chasing the Bayer Leverkusen player this summer.

Recent claims in Germany have stated the defender won’t continue at Leverkusen. He’s looking for a new club, to enjoy regular minutes this season.

El Comercio relay that and then share their own take on this case, which is when Tottenham and Liverpool are mentioned.

Bayern Munich have also shown interest, but they will ‘have to fight’ with Spurs and Arne Slot’s side for Hincapié.

It’s claimed the Premier League duo want to sign the 22-year-old, while Atlético Madrid are also in the mix.

Studio Fútbol also claim Tottenham, Liverpool, Bayern and Atlético are the four clubs keen on signing the Ecuador international.

The centre-back clocked in 2,617 minutes from 47 games in all competitions last season.

Hincapié’s deal with the Bundesliga winners lasts until 2027. The report states Xabi Alonso has held talks with the player and ‘asked him to stay’ amid interest from Spurs, Liverpool and two other clubs.

The South American has to decide whether to continue at Bayer Leverkusen or join a new club in this window.

Ivan Perišić has been sharing his fury after he departed Hajduk Split, not long after arriving on a free transfer following his departure from Tottenham.

Dalmatinski cover comments from the winger today, who again finds himself as a free agent after a major falling out with Gennaro Gattuso.

Hajduk Split confirmed that they had parted ways with Perišić this week following a dramatic few days after a fall out with Gattuso.

Perišić had only returned to his former club permanently on July 4th, with it being agreed months earlier that he’d be set for an emotional move home from Tottenham.

He spent the second half of last season with the Croatian side on loan recovering from injury and doing everything he could to be ready for Euro 2024. It was seen as the perfect end for the winger, who started his career with Hajduk before moving around Europe and playing for the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich and then Tottenham.

It’s come to an unceremonious end, though, thanks to the falling out with Gattuso, something Perišić is clearly not very happy about.

“I came to Hajduk in the hope that together we will realise our dream and take the title,” he said.

“I had a good contract at Tottenham, and even when I was injured, I had an excellent offer from a big foreign club, where I would have fantastic conditions for rehabilitation and at least the same chance to play, as I had here.

“Instead, at the invitation of the club management and the fans, I chose a life without a family living abroad in the hope that I can help fight for the title and place in the group stage of the Champions League.

“Well, I guess it’s clear to everyone that I didn’t choose Hajduk and Split because of money or healthcare. In my desire to help, I put my health and my family on the back burner many times and I don’t regret it because I don’t know any other way, but on Sunday evening someone else stepped forward and decided that he no longer needed my help.”

According to a claim in the Turkish media, Fenerbahce are showing interest in Tottenham Hotspur defender Sergio Reguilon, as Brighton and Manchester United look to take one of the Super Lig club’s stars away.

The Spaniard has already been linked with a move to the Super Lig this summer after reports of interest from Galatasaray.

Fotomac today report on the latest developments regarding Reguilon’s future at Spurs and they say it’s likely he will be offloaded by the Premier League club before the transfer window closes.

It’s claimed Fener manager Jose Mourinho has made him his first choice as they prepare for the departure of Ferdi Kadıoğlu.

Kadıoğlu looks to be on the verge of heading to the Premier League after reports Brighton and Manchester United are trying to get a deal done for the Turkey international. At this moment, the Seagulls look the likeliest destination.

Reguilon is seen as an ideal replacement and the Turkish media outlet report official contact with Tottenham will be happening soon.

Barcelona and Sevilla have also been linked with the defender this summer and they can offer him a return to La Liga.

Reguilon spent last season on loan at Manchester United and Brentford after falling out of favour at Tottenham.

On August 6th, L’Equipe stated Tottenham Hotspur and Atlético Madrid are in the picture to sign Lille star Jonathan David.

The striker has less than a year left on his deal and is expected to leave the Ligue 1 side this summer. He impressed for Lille over the years and managed 26 goals and nine assists from 47 games last season.

Tottenham are one of the clubs keen to sign the 24-year-old, according to Ouest-France.

The Canada international’s performances haven’t gone unnoticed, especially in England, where only Spurs are mentioned.

It’s claimed Ange Postecoglou’s side are ‘very interested’ in signing the former Gent man in this window. They are running out of time as the report states Tottenham will have to ‘work harder’ if they want to bring David to the Premier League.

Lille president Olivier Létang has insisted that David is likelier to stay as we get closer to the end of the window. At the same time, he hasn’t ruled out the player’s exit in the next few weeks.

“I’m not going to make promises today that I can’t keep, but it’s true that the further we go, the more likely it is that we’ll keep him with us. I said last week that he could leave if, and only if, we were able to replace him,” he told RMC Sport, relayed by Ouest-France.

“The closer we get to the end of the window, the more complicated it is to find a top-quality striker like Jonathan.

“We have the capacity to keep him, because we’re not under pressure from a financial point of view. We’re very happy to have him. He’s very happy to be with us, very happy to be at the club, very happy with what he’s experiencing. I’d say anything is possible.”

On Monday, AC Milan confirmed that they have completed the signing of Emerson Royal from Tottenham Hotspur. The right-back’s exit has seen the Premier League side look for his successor in the market.

On Tuesday, Brazilian journalist Bruno Andrade reported Spurs have set their sights on AS Monaco’s Vanderson, and have started talks to sign him this summer. He also stated the Ligue 1 side are expecting to receive a bid of around €40m from Tottenham.

Andrade has relayed this and provides more on Tottenham’s efforts to try and sign the 23-year-old, in a report for UOL.

The Brazilian is one of the main targets for Ange Postecoglou’s side in this window. After holding talks, it’s claimed Spurs are ‘preparing a bid’ to secure his services.

There’s no mention of the fee the north London club are willing to offer, while Monaco are hoping to collect €40m for the fullback.

UOL state that those close to Vanderson believe a ‘breakthrough is possible’, meaning the South American’s entourage seems to be optimistic of Tottenham acquiring his signature.

With all parties in favour of a transfer, there’s a good chance Spurs can bring Vanderson to England. However, as we pointed out on Tuesday, it’s not immediately clear why Tottenham would need the player.

Manchester City’s Yan Couto is rejecting a move to Tottenham in favour of joining Borussia Dortmund instead.

That’s according to Sport BILD, who report that Tottenham were ‘vying’ for the defender but found themselves rejected by him.

The newspaper explains that Couto is the top candidate for Dortmund at this moment in time as they look to sign a full-back, an area they consider in need of strengthening.

He is likely to cost around €25m to get from Manchester City, who do not have him in their plans after he returned from a loan spell at Girona.

Tottenham are also ‘vying’ for the player’s signature but the Brazilian wants to join Dortmund, knowing there is an opportunity for him to establish himself as the Germans are ‘understaffed’ in his position.

He, therefore, has rejected the opportunity to join Tottenham and is instead waiting and hoping that he gets the move to Dortmund that he wants.

They’ve been moving for the best part of a fortnight and reports this week had them getting closer to securing an agreement with Manchester City and pushing the matter over the line.

We’re a bit doubtful of the claims regarding Tottenham, though, as they don’t need a right back given they have Pedro Porro in the position and have just signed Archie Gray who can also play there. In addition, Djed remains at the club for now, even if there’s some doubt around his future.

Instead, this feels more like Sport BILD making more of it than there is and perhaps even backing their own horse, insinuating they’ve won the battle with a Premier League side when in reality there wasn’t much of a tussle.