Sport Witness

Yago Santiago spent five years at Tottenham Hotspur before leaving them for Elche CF in July of last year.

Spurs signed the forward for their academy from Celta Vigo in 2019 and he played for their U18, U19 and U21s. Santiago impressed for Tottenham U21, managing 18 goals and 12 assists from 81 games.

The 22-year-old, however, wasn’t provided any opportunity with Tottenham’s first team.

Thursday’s edition of Atlántico says the attacker has ‘experienced a rollercoaster of emotions’ since leaving Tottenham for Elche.

His situation improved since joining the Spanish club and he’s played 1,449 minutes from 20 games, managing two goals and three assists in the process. Santiago’s season was cut short in January when he suffered a serious injury and he’s still on the sidelines. This meant he wasn’t to fully enjoy Eclhe’s promotion to La Liga.

After suffering a knee injury in January, the report states he also had a shoulder injury, which has been bothering him from this time at the north London club. Santiago spoke to the newspaper to open up about the long-standing issue with his shoulder.

Atlántico asked him about his knee, and he said: “The truth is, it’s responding very well. It’s also true that I’m working hard and, in fact, I’m still in Elche working every day. It’s an injury where it’s best to take it slow and not rush things. So far, everything’s going very well, so I’m happy and relaxed. Let’s see if I can start training with the group in August and get back into the swing of things.”

They immediately asked the player about his shoulder, and Santiago explained: “I’ve been carrying that injury since I was at Tottenham. It popped out in a game, and from then on, it came back very easily. I spent two years in pain, and it dislocated in several games. So, we took the opportunity to fix it.”

Yago now has a La Liga season to look forward to, hopefully with all his issues patched up.

Tottenham’s Mikey Moore showed glimpses of his talent under Ange Postecoglou during the 2024/25 season.

The 17-year-old played 10 Premier League games, and scored once in five Europa League games, playing a role in their march towards silverware.

The youngster’s talent has now attracted attention from Juventus and Gazzetta dello Sport cover interest from the Turin club.

They claim the Tottenham talent’s profile appeals a lot to Bianconeri general manager Damien Comolli, who is said to have an excellent relationship with Spurs from his time spent with the club.

Moore is seen as a player who can help form a young spine at Juventus and join someone like Kenan Yildiz in a youthful attack.

The newspaper believe Tottenham value the attacker at around €20m, which feels like a typically Italian optimistic view.

Gazzetta explain that Spurs have managed to fend off interest from Manchester United and Manchester City, which should have helped the newspaper wise up about that low valuation.

Juventus don’t have a great recent record of giving consistent opportunities to very young players and in the unlikely event Spurs even considered a sale, there’s probably better destinations.

In addition, Moore doesn’t turn 18 until August and wouldn’t be able to leave English football until that date, due to revised rules following Brexit.

Tottenham Hotspur are after Sporting Charleroi’s Adem Zorgane, according to DZ Foot.

The Algeria international has been with the Belgian club since 2021 and has two years left on his contract.

Zorgane has recently expressed his desire to leave, and Charleroi CEO Mehdi Bayat has also admitted that will happen at some point in the near future.

The 25-year-old is valued at nearly €10m, which is seen as affordable for a player with his age and experience. DZ Foot state this is ‘enough to convince Tottenham’ to follow the situation.

Tottenham were particularly impressed with his display against KVC Westerlo, likely in May, when Charleroi sealed a 4-3 win.

As well as the Europa League winners, Royal Antwerp are also looking at the Algerian. They failed to bring in Charleroi manager Rik De Mil but that hasn’t stopped them from looking at the player.

DZ Foot state Zorgane’s arrival at Royal Antwerp will depend on a few exits. Tottenham, on the other hand, have no such constraint, and the €10m valuation is certainly affordable for them.

Zorgane played 41 games in all competitions for Charleroi last season.

AC Milan have been repeatedly linked with Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko over the past week or so as they look for a new left-back.

The 28-year-old is seen as a Rossoneri option who won’t cost too much and who can be versatile and play in other positions when required. Wednesday’s edition of Gazzetta dello Sport brings up an alternative, Tottenham Hotspur’s Destiny Udogie.

At this point it’s worth rewinding back to last month, and reiterating what the player’s agent, Stefano Antonelli, said to the Italian media at the time.

Antonelli was quoted as saying: “It’s the second year of an incredible experience at Tottenham, where he’s always played: talking about vertical growth is absolutely in line with reality.

“He’s a player who could play in all the top European clubs. With the conquest of the Champions League, next season will be completely different.

“The transfer market is always open in all directions. Now I challenge anyone to go and buy Udogie from Tottenham for a sum less than €50m. Which Italian team can do it lightly?

“In Italy many players have arrived from the Premier League who have done not well, but very well, look at Anguissa, Lukaku, Tomori, to name a few. McTominay is a player of another category. Players who perhaps had little space in England: how can you think of going to take a Tottenham regular? Something special has to happen for the club to let him go.

“Translated: either a large amount of money, or because he is not part of the technical plans. As of today, I think I can exclude the second hypothesis.”

Perhaps AC Milan and/or Gazzetta dello Sport have completely forgotten those comments.

The Italian newspaper state Tottenham would be asking for over €30m, and add: ‘What seems impossible today, could become possible at the end of August.’

That is very unlikely indeed.

Udogie’s market value is surely well in excess of €30m, closer to the €50m his agent suggested, and there’s no signs that either the player’s camp or Tottenham have any plans for a transfer whatsoever.

Given all of that, the claims of a relatively cheap deal are laughable, and taking Zinchenko from Arsenal looks the much likelier transfer.

Atlético Madrid haven’t made progress in their pursuit of Tottenham Hotspur’s Cristian Romero.

On May 29th, the centre-back, who has a contract until 2027, said he would like to play in La Liga. Last Monday, Marca stated Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy wants to extend his contract and block his exit.

Two days ago, Diego Simeone went public with his desire to sign the Tottenham star this summer.

TyC Sports relay Simeone’s comments and then provide the latest on the 27-year-old’s chances of ending up at Atlético.

After Spurs’ Europa League final win last month, an earlier report from TyC Sports stated Romero wants to leave Tottenham and move to Spain. They even reported his move to the Madrid club is getting closer, but that wasn’t the case.

Last month, claims from Spain stated the centre-back will do everything possible to leave the north London club if they didn’t keep Ange Postecoglou. Tottenham, however, parted ways with him and appointed Thomas Frank as his successor.

The latest report from TyC Sports explains Frank’s appointment could be key for the Argentina international staying at Tottenham.

Frank’s arrival could be a ‘breath of fresh air’ for the club that finished 17th in the league. Spurs are starting a new project under the Dane, where they will play in the Champions League.

The report states these are the multiple factors that could lead Romero ‘decide to stay’ at stay at Tottenham at least for one more season. This could be blow for Simone and his side, who are keen on signing the World Cup winner.

Tottenham Hotspur are chasing Stade Rennais’ Arnaud Kalimuendo, according to claims from France.

On Tuesday, L’Equipe reported Tottenham have decided to accelerate their efforts to sign the striker. They also stated Spurs are waiting to find out the Ligue 1 club’s asking price before considering making an offer.

Ouest-France now provide the latest on Tottenham’s pursuit and the French club’s asking price.

This is mentioned in a report that focuses on Stade Rennais’ efforts to trim their squad. It indicates they are in favour of sanctioning the 23-year-old’s sale this summer.

Tottenham are ‘hot’ for the frontman, who impressed this season, scoring 18 goals and registering four assists from 34 games.

The France U23 international held talks with Tottenham and others last week. Ouest-France explains the Europa League winners and another unnamed club are the hottest candidates to sign the frontman.

At this point in time, neither Thomas Frank’s side or another interested party have started direct negotiations with Stade Rennais.

Tottenham are told the fee needed to sign Kalimuendo as the report states the French club are expecting more than €30m for him.

On Tuesday, UOL in Brazil reported Tottenham Hotspur want Vanderson and are willing to invest heavily on him this summer. They also stated Barcelona are negotiating, while AS Monaco would favour selling him to the north London club.

A ‘confidential’ report from Wednesday’s edition of Sport is titled: ‘Tottenham go for Vanderson’.

They cover Tottenham’s interest in the 23-year-old and Barcelona plans for the right-back position.

Jules Koundé was first choice right-back last season and suffered a hamstring injury towards the end of the season. In his absence, the Barcelona manager deployed Eric García, who impressed in the role.

Therefore, the Catalan club have decided not to strengthen their right side of defence and have cooled their interest in Vanderson. Sport say he would have been delighted to join Barcelona but now has to look for a new club.

Vanderson’s future points to the Premier League where both Tottenham and Liverpool are named as suitors. The Reds are no longer looking at him after signing Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen.

Tottenham are ‘best placed’ to sign the Brazil international. Sport state Monaco value him at €35m and are ‘convinced that Spurs will meet their request’, which Barcelona were unwilling to do.

Thomas Frank departed Brentford last week for Tottenham Hotspur, to become Ange Postecoglou’s successor at the north London club.

Frank spent over six years at Brentford before leaving them for Spurs. On Monday, the Bees confirmed that his assistant, Claus Nørgaard, has left the club.

Nørgaard joined Brentford as Frank’s assistant in December 2022 and now steps down from his role. He won’t be following the 51-year-old to Tottenham.

Denmark’s Bold spoke to Nørgaard, who explained he’s pleased to have worked with the new Tottenham manager at Brentford.

“Everything has happened with great respect for each other. I have the best memories with Thomas after working closely together for two and a half years,” he said.

The former Brentford assistant manager then went on to explain why he won’t accompany Frank to Spurs.

“There were several things that came into play when Thomas moved to Tottenham. Personally, I couldn’t make it fit in that well,” Nørgaard explained.

“When you take a job like the one Thomas has taken, it requires enormous dedication. Now we’re parting ways, and I greatly appreciate our collaboration over the many years.”

Having left Brentford, Nørgaard wants to spend the rest of the year with his family. He has plans to travel with them in the coming months and then his aim is to look for a new job.

Nørgaard started his coaching career at lower division Danish side VSK Aarhus in 2012. He managed Superliga side Sønderjyske Fodbold between January 2017 and December 2018 and that’s been his only experience in the Danish top division.

On his future plans, he added: “I’m a football coach and will be coaching again, but it won’t be until the new year.

“Due to Brexit, we will be out of England in two months. So, our plan is to travel around the world and then return to Denmark, where we will then find a place to live.”

Tottenham Hotspur are set to battle with Barcelona for AS Monaco’s Vanderson this summer.

That’s according to UOL, who mention Spurs’ plan when covering Barcelona’s advances to sign the right-back.

Both Tottenham and Barcelona have looked at the 23-year-old in the past and are now keen on securing his services.

UOL state the Spanish champions are ‘counting on the player’s preference to play for the club’ and have intensified talks with the Ligue 1 club.

The Catalan club have to be wary about Tottenham, who are ‘still firmly in the running’ to sign the defender.

According to the report, the north London club are willing to ‘invest heavily’ to acquire his signature. Monaco are dreaming of collecting over €35m for the fullback.

UOL say the Ligue 1 club would prefer to sell Vanderson to Tottenham. They still have to convince the player as he wants the La Liga winners.

Pedro Porro is the first choice right-back for the Premier League club. It’s unclear whether they would invest close to €35m on Vanderson just as a back up for the 25-year-old Spaniard.

Tottenham Hotspur can get ahead of both Newcastle United and Bayer Leverkusen in the race to sign Stade Rennais’ Arnaud Kalimuendo.

Last month, we covered claims from France that Newcastle have made an approach for the striker. It was also stated Eddie Howe’s side are willing to pay a substantial fee to sign him.

A fresh report from L’Equipe now states Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen haven’t made any advances despite their initial approaches.

On the other hand, Spurs have ‘decided to accelerate in the last few hours’ to secure the 23-year-old’s services.

The newspaper states Tottenham will contact the Ligue 1 club’s management over a move for the France U23 international. At this moment in time, the Europa League winners have not made an official offer yet.

That’s because Thomas Frank’s side will wait to find out the French club’s demands to sanction Kalimuendo’s sale this summer. This is assuming Stade Rennais are willing to let go of the frontman, who has a contract until 2027.

There’s no mention of Stade Rennais’ request and Transfermakrt currently value him at €22m.

Kalimuendo managed 18 goals and four assists from 34 games this season.