Sport Witness

Int August, Tottenham Hotspur secured a preferential option to buy Johnny Cardoso for €25m this June as part of the deal that saw Giovani Lo Celso move to Real Betis.

Atlético Madrid have come forward to sign the 23-year-old in the summer window. Three days ago, Marca reported a full agreement is ‘imminent’ with the player.

Earlier claims stated Tottenham will be entitled to receive 20% of the profit if Cardoso is sold to another club.

At the weekend, ABC Sevilla stated this is not valid since Spurs and the midfielder never came to an agreement. They also reported Real Betis will request €40m to sanction his sale.

Diario de Sevilla, a newspaper local to the Andalusian club, provides the latest on Spurs’ €25m preferential option to buy the American. He’s happy with Manuel Pellegrini’s side but the opportunity to earn more and play at a higher level could convince him to leave.

They also point out the north London club’s €25m clause is valid between June 1-30th. At this moment in time, Tottenham haven’t contacted Real Betis or Cardoso to inform them that they want to trigger the clause.

That’s because some sources suggest he’s ‘not of great interest’ to the Premier League side, although things may change in the coming weeks.

Atlético have been keen and have been in talks to secure his services. Tottenham’s latest stance on Cardoso allows them to work calmly on this operation.

Over the past few months, multiple claims from Spain have stated Real Betis’ Johnny Cardoso isn’t keen on joining Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs secured a preferential option to buy the midfielder for €25m this summer, as part of the deal that saw Giovani Lo Celso move to Real Betis last August.

Despite Tottenham’s buying option, Atlético Madrid want to beat them to sign Cardoso in the summer window. Two days ago, Marca reported a full agreement between the two parties is imminent.

Saturday’s edition of ABC Sevilla states Atlético have been in talks with his entourage for a while. They are trying to attract him with a higher level and salary. They should soon start negotiations with Manuel Pellegrini’s side.

Real Betis are requesting €40m for the midfielder. They haven’t received any offers but are optimistic a bid around this region will arrive eventually.

The report again points out Tottenham’s €25m buying option that’s valid throughout June. The Europa League winners will get 20% of the profit if the American is sold to another club before June 30th. This was also agreed as part of the Lo Celso deal.

The newspaper states it’s now not valid because Tottenham have no agreement or pact in place with the player. Therefore, the deal agreed between the two clubs is ‘not valid’.

ABC Sevilla state: ‘As there is no closed agreement between the London club and the player, this pact between entities is not valid, according to sources involved in the negotiations, and the transfer to another entity, such as the aforementioned Atlético, can take place without taking the English club into account.’

If this is true, it’ll be more disappointment for Tottenham as they are set to miss out on the player and the possibility of earning money.

Tottenham youngster Alejo Veliz would like to move to Rosario Central this summer, after they brought Angel Di Maria back to the club.

That’s according to journalist Cristian Camiño, whose quotes regarding the Tottenham striker have been relayed by Soy del Millo.

They report him saying that “Alejo Véliz wants to join this super Rosario Central that is being built,” when discussing transfers on TNT Sports.

The website then explains things further, detailing that Véliz has plenty of offers in Argentina this summer as River Plate, Boca Juniors and Rosario Central are all looking for new strikers. The Tottenham man has already received a call from River Plate and Boca Juniors to ask about his situation.

The belief is that he isn’t wanted by Tottenham, and they will be happy to move him on for the right price after another unsuccessful loan in Spain this season.

Rosario Central, his former club, are seen as having the advantage, though, specifically after they brought Di Maria back to the club. They’re building ‘a team full of stars’ so they can ‘seriously compete’ this season and that’s led to several players looking at them favourably. The Tottenham youngster is one of them.

It remains to be seen if a deal can be done with Spurs for him, particularly after he cost nearly €15m to sign in 2023. Either way, he is apparently keen on the return and that’s a basis for negotiations to start this summer.

Over the past few weeks, Tottenham Hotspur star Cristian Romero has been repeatedly linked to Atlético Madrid.

The Argentina international played a key role in helping Spurs win the Europa League this season. After the success in the final, Romero said he loves Tottenham “very much” when asked about his future.

That didn’t stop the Atlético links, and earlier this week, the defender admitted he would like to play in La Liga.

Two days ago, we covered claims from Spain which stated Atlético CEO Miguel Ángel Gil is set to contact Spurs chairman Daniel Levy for Romero. Spanish journalist Rubén Uría has told El Desmarque that Ange Postecoglou’s situation can influence the Argentine’s future.

In short, the centre-back is likely to stay at the north London club if they were to stick with their current manager.

“The key lies in who will be the Tottenham manager. If Postecoglou stays, I think Cuti won’t leave. Now, if there’s a change of coach, Cuti will do everything possible to leave,” he said.

“He wants to live in Madrid, not London. He wants to play for Atleti and has already spoken with Cholo Simeone several times. A meeting is planned between Miguel Ángel Gil Marín and Levy to find out if they can sit down and negotiate or if the player will stay in London.”

Levy’s decision on whether to retain Postecoglou and the upcoming meeting with Miguel Ángel Gil will be key for the World Cup winner’s future at Tottenham.

If Diego Simeone’s side fail to sign the Tottenham player, Uría claims they will shift their focus on Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapié.

Alejo Véliz hasn’t impressed since leaving Rosario Central for Tottenham Hotspur in 2023.

Last month, the striker told Olé he would “absolutely” like to return to his former club and win the title with them.

The Tottenham player could be presented an opportunity to return to Rosario Central in the summer window.

That’s at least what journalist Esteban Edul is reporting, and he took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to provide an update.

On Thursday, the Argentine club announced that their former player, Ángel Di María, has returned to the club.

Edul reports that after signing the former Real Madrid man, Rosario Central “will begin work” to sign the 21-year-old. He claims Véliz is the “No.9 they dream of”.

That’s all he has to say about the Argentina U21 international, without providing Spurs’ stance on the potential operation. Véliz, for his part, has already left the door open if we take his recent comments into account.

Tottenham have sent the frontman on loan to Sevilla and Espanyol in last 18 months, but neither spell worked out. The Europa League winners have to make a decision on his future once he returns to the club this summer.

On Friday, Marca reported Tottenham Hotspur star Cristian Romero has informed Daniel Levy of his desire to join Atlético Madrid in the summer window. They also said the two parties will have a new meeting and that the La Liga club have to dig deep to sign him.

On Wednesday, journalist Rubén Uría said Atlético’s hopes of signing the 27-year-old are still alive. He also stated Levy will hold a meeting over his future in the coming days.

The latest claims from the UK have stated Tottenham are requesting €70m for Romero. AS relay that in their Thursday edition, and then give their own take on this case.

Los Rojiblancos are aware the centre-back wants to join them, but Spurs are ‘not making his exit easy’. That’s because there’s no need for them to sell and Ange Postecoglou has requested they retain the player.

Tottenham have qualified for the Champions League, and this is another argument to keep the Argentina international.

The Madrid club are well aware the operation could drag on, and the report makes it clear they have no plans to pay €70m for him.

Atlético CEO Miguel Ángel Gilis is now expected to get involved and contact Tottenham, likely Levy. His club ‘want to know firsthand how willing’ Spurs are to sell Romero.

Tottenham’s Champions League qualification, Postecoglou requesting to retain him and Levy’s history as a tough negotiator all point to Romero’s signing for Atlético being a ‘soap opera’.

Atletico Madrid’s hopes of signing Cristian Romero from Tottenham are not dead yet, with Daniel Levy set to hold a meeting in the coming days over the transfer.

That’s according to journalist Rubén Uría, via Esto Es Atleti, who has been revealing all on the possible deal on his Twitch channel.

They report that Atletico’s interest in the Tottenham defender is real and that ‘decisive days’ are approaching to determine whether the move will happen.

Atletico have already made their moves for the defender, with their CEO Gil Marín set to meet Daniel Levy in the coming days to discuss whether there is room for a negotiation. The Spanish side want to hear Tottenham’s position and then hear from the defender himself.

Romero has already spoken to Diego Simeone and the Argentine boss has made it clear that he wants him in his team next season. Romero has reportedly expressed his intention to leave London. He believes a change of scenery would be positive for his career and family life.

The main obstacle to a transfer is Tottenham. Ange Postecoglou has been clear that he doesn’t want the Argentine to leave.

“For now, the story is still alive,” Uría is reported as saying.

“Cuti wants to leave, and he’s been clear, there will be an important meeting that will determine the course of the transfer.”

Tottenham Hotspur are one of the clubs in the picture to sign Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sané in the summer window, according to Bild.

The forward has just over a month left on his contract and it’s unclear whether he’ll still be with the German champions.

He’s currently on vacation with his family in London and could have a future in the city if Tottenham were to secure his services.

Sané’s agent Pini Zahavi has held talks with Arsenal and Chelsea, but Spurs are ahead of their London rivals. The report states Tottenham are currently the ‘hottest’ club in England for the former Manchester City.

They secured a berth in the Champions League after winning the Eruopa League and this makes them an attractive option for the 29-year-old. A move to the Premier League seem to be attractive for both him and his family.

Bayern Munich want the attacker’s future sorted out soon, before the Club World Cup in June. They have already offered him a new contract worth €10m per year plus €5.5m in potential bonuses.

The Bundesliga winners won’t be improving their offer. Despite this, Bild state Zahavi is expected to travel to Munich this week and there should be more clarity on Sané’s future after this meeting.

Multiple Premier League clubs have been dragged into the picture as Sane has been in renewal talks and perhaps the trip to London is yet another tactic from his camp to try and get more money from Bayern.

Earlier this year, Djurgårdens IF CEO Henrik Berggren said they are expecting more money from Lucas Bergvall’s sale to Tottenham Hotspur.

In February 2024, Spurs agreed a deal with the Swedish side for the midfielder to arrive at the north London club later that year.

Since moving to Tottenham, the 19-year-old has played 2,334 minutes from 43 games in all competitions, managing a goal and four assists in the process.

DIF Podden reported all bonuses related to the Sweden international’s sale to the Premier League club have been activated. Fotbollskanalen got in touch with Djurgårdens IF sporting director Bosse Andersson, and he confirmed DIF Podden’s report.

The youngster was part of Tottenham’s Europa League winning squad but was forced to miss the final against Manchester United. Andersson admits he expected it would take years for the bonuses part of the agreement to kick in.

“I can confirm that all the bonus parts that are included have clicked in,” he said.

“Lucas has had such progress both in the Premier League and in Europe and has been involved in so many matches. We can say that what we thought it would take several years has happened very quickly.”

The official insists his sale to Tottenham is expected to be the club’s biggest operation for a “very long time”.

When asked whether it’s the biggest sale in Swedish football history, Andersson explained: “I don’t know, but it wouldn’t surprise me. If I had to go by my own admission, we’re number one there.”

The sporting director refused to provide figures related to the agreement with Tottenham. Expressen earlier reported that the fee could reach over SEK 220m [€20m] with bonuses included.

In the past few days, Tottenham have emerged as suitors for Pisa defender Francesco Coppola.

Alfredo Pedulla reported last week that Spurs are one of the candidates to land the youngster, who impressed during a loan stint at Serie C side Vis Pesaro in the 2024/25 season.

Tottenham have upped their interest the youngster and La Nazione have provided an update on their chase.

The outlet claims Spurs’ approach for Coppola has been rejected, with the Pisa management having been present in Bilbao to watch the Europa League final.

The Italian side are surprisingly quite confident about keeping the youngster for their Serie A campaign next season. The belief is that Coppola is an ‘unsellable’ entity right now.

There is no indication about how much Pisa want either. It can be presumed that Tottenham either have to shell out a major amount for the 20-year-old or they would have to wait to land him later.

The Tuscan side are clear that they want Coppola to showcase his abilities in the top flight next season, with the defender yet to have made a first team appearance for them in his entire career.