Sport Witness

Tottenham Hotspur’s Radu Drăgușin has recovered from a serious injury he suffered in January.

The Romania international is yet to make a competitive appearance for Spurs this season. Last weekend, Thomas Frank left him on the bench in Tottenham’s defeat to Liverpool.

On Tuesday, TuttoMercatoWeb reported there’s a very high chance he could move to Italy, either in January or next summer. They also stated AS Roma, Napoli and Fiorentina could be potential destinations.

Earlier today, TMW journalist Alessio Lento explained the centre-back will hold talks with Thomas Frank before considering an exit in the winter market.

Digi Sport in Romania got in touch with Drăgușin’s agent Florin Manea. He explains the 23-year-old will have to consider changing clubs if he can’t enjoy regular minutes at the north London club.

“He couldn’t have played in December, January [wasn’t registered for the Champions League]. Maybe that’s why there are speculations,” he said.

“These are speculations, we are calculating them. We haven’t made any decision, but we will see. If the number of matches isn’t what we want, then we will also take this into account [leaving Tottenham].”

The former Genoa man has a contract until 2030, and the Europa League winners have no plans to sell him. The representative adds his client has a decision to make on his future, considering there’s interest and offers.

“The club’s position is that they don’t want to sell him, but I will think about it. I talk to him, and we will see what decision we will make,” Manea explained.

“There would be offers, there is interest. From England as well, but a smaller club, so Italy is best, you go to a bigger club.”

Fiorentina have been credited with an interest, partly because of Spurs sporting director, Fabio Paratici. La Viola want to appoint the Italian as their head of football.

Manea has also responded to the Fiorentina and the Inter Milan links.

“I don’t know, he [Paratici] has just moved. There is speculation. So far, no one has called me. It is a situation in balance,” he added.

“I haven’t spoken to [Inter manager] Chivu, I only called him to congratulate him. I know that in the summer he will look for a central defender for Inter. If we decide to have more games by the summer, we will announce and maybe Chivu will call me.”

“He’s got 4.5 years left at Tottenham, but the problem is that he was kept away for 11 months due to injury, I can’t wait another seven. We need to find a solution to play more matches until the summer. He’s 100% determined to play. Now we have to think until January.”

Tottenham Hotspur may have been handed a boost in the race for Brazilian talent Rayan, as he’s broken from super-agent Pini Zahavi.

Why is that a boost? Well, if Sport are to be believed, it means he’s one step further away from potentially joining Barcelona.

The newspaper explains that Rayan had temporarily signed with Zahavi to represent him outside of Brazil. However, that deal has now expired. According to their information, the player and his Brazilian representatives decided not to renew it.

That’s a blow for Barcelona. Deco, their director of football, likes the youngster. And a deal may have been facilitated thanks to the relationship he and the club have with the Israeli super-agent.

They also have a very good professional relationship with his Brazilian agents, and there is a direct line of communication with them. In fact, the newspaper is insistent that Zahavi’s non involvement isn’t a major change.

The likes of Tottenham might feel differently though. They’ve also been linked with a move, of around €50m, and might have had to work around Zahavi to make that happen.

Now he’s seemingly out of the picture. Tottenham’s chances of beating Barcelona at least are surely much higher.

Earlier on Wednesday, Gazzetta dello Sport reported on AS Roma interest in Tottenham’s Radu Dragusin.

This came after FirenzeViola revealed Fiorentina’s approach for the defender, with Spurs having rejected those advances.

There was confidence that due to Fabio Paratici’s presence in Florence, the Romanian can move there. Tuttomercatoweb’s Alessio Lento has now reported about the 23-year-old’s situation at Tottenham.

He makes it clear the centre-back wants more game time and this is attracting interest from two clubs in Italy.

There is no confirmation of which clubs those are but it can be safely presumed that Roma are one potential suitor. Before seeking an exit, Dragusin is set to have a conversation with Tottenham about his situation.

This will be key as the Romania international will understand whether he is an important player for Thomas Frank or not.

The centre-back hasn’t featured since January 2025, when he picked up a serious ACL injury. In the meantime, Kevin Danso has impressed as a back-up to Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven. Under Ange Postecoglou, Archie Gray comfortably operated at centre-back.

All of this shows that Dragusin has fallen down the pecking order at Tottenham.

Fiorentina have been working on appointing Tottenham Hotspur’s Fabio Paratici as their new head of football.

The Italian returned to Tottenham in October to start his second spell as their sporting director. However, he wants to return to his country.

Two days ago, Firenzo Viola stated he’s given his approval to the Serie A side. The same outlet also explained Spurs were left surprised with all the drama around Paratici.

Labaro Viola, another website dedicating its coverage to Fiorentina, now brings the latest.

With the 53-year-old already giving his approval, La Viola have to strike an agreement with Tottenham. Paratici is now ‘only awaiting the formalities of his separation’ with the north London club.

The report’s title says it’s ‘only a matter of time’ before the Europa League winners give the green light for the Tottenham man’s exit. There’s confidence this will happen at some point as the outlet claims there’s no doubt about his arrival.

Paratici seems to have his heart set on a return to Italy. It’s claimed the Spurs director is already thinking about Fiorentina and how to help them get out of the difficult situation. They are currently bottom of the table, with one win after 16 league matches.

Radu Dragusin could be the first name on Fabio Paratici’s list at Fiorentina if Fabio Paratici joins the Italian club from Tottenham Hotspur as expected.

That’s at least the prediction from Firenze Viola. They cover the Tottenham defender today and Fiorentina’s interest in him.

They explain that Dragusin is leaving Tottenham in the January transfer window. A return to Serie A would make sense given his previous success there.

According to Firenze Viola’s information, Fiorentina already inquired about him a month ago too. At that point, Tottenham refused to negotiate for him. But that could change if Paratici moves to the Italian club this months.

Reports in Italy have made it clear that Paratici is closing in on a return to his native Italy after Fiorentina moved for him over the weekend. A deal is expected to be finalised in the coming days.

He could help facilitate a deal between Fiorentina and Tottenham for the Romanian defender. It still remains to be seen if Spurs will allow him to depart in January, though. The idea is there either way, and the contact last month would suggest they’ll be right at the front of the queue if Tottenham do change their stance.

Fabio Paratici’s move from Tottenham Hotspur to Fiorentina should be sealed in the next few days.

That’s according to journalist Gianluca di Marzio, via La Viola. The journalist has been speaking to Sky Italy about Paratici’s imminent Tottenham departure.

Reports over the weekend from Italy stated that Paratici was closing in on a return to Italy after Fiorentina had moved to try and hire him. The deal was believed to be advancing rapidly, with Paratici giving his approval to the idea.

A report today then explained that Tottenham had been left surprised by the news. They had reportedly only learned of it thanks to the reports in Italy.

That report explained why Paratici was on the verge of leaving Tottenham, despite Fiorentina currently battling relegation in Serie A. The Italian only returned to the club earlier this year after serving an 18-month ban handed down by FIFA.

He was working alongside Johan Lange as one of two sporting directors. But now appears ready to turn that in for a relegation battle in his homeland.

Di Marzio has now explained what is going on behind the scenes, adding his own details on when and why Paratici is set to leave Tottenham.

“Paratici today gave a preliminary agreement to Fiorentina, accepting the contractual proposal from Ferrari, who acted as an intermediary with President Commisso,” he said.

“Now he will speak with Tottenham to try to get the green light. It’s a four-and-a-half-year contract, so full powers and a long-term investment in his role.

“I think it will be a matter of a few days, but Paratici has given his approval. He was convinced by Fiorentina’s project. He evidently felt he wanted to return to Italy and be a point of reference in an Italian club after the negotiations with Milan fell through.

“I presume he will also be involved in the transfer market, discussing it with Vanoli and Goretti, who remains.”

Tottenham Hotspur have been hailed for their treatment of Luka Vuskovic as he continues to shine in the Bundesliga with HSV Hamburg.

BILD cover the 18-year-old today. They explain that his performances this season, and ever-increasing market value, are ‘just the beginning’ for the youngster.

They point out that there are ‘countless facts’ in favour of the defender. The Tottenham loanee is the best tackler in the Bundesliga, leads in aerial duels as well, and intercepts the second most passes of any player.

He’s also a goal threat, with two already to his name after seven on loan at Westerlo last season. And he’s racking up experience by the day, with 76 professional appearances to his name to date. He’s even a strong candidate for Croatia’s World Cup squad after already making his debut with them.

His current manager, Merlin Polzin, has been mightily impressed. He’s seen the Tottenham man shining both on and off the pitch.

“He has exceptional talent,” he said.

“But what impresses me even more than his occasional good plays on the pitch is his work ethic. If I’m in the office very, very early in the morning, he’s there just before or after me, working out in the weight room. What I really like is his self-criticism.”

All the top clubs already have the Tottenham man on their list. Alongside Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi, he’s seen as the hottest defensive prospect in Europe.

Tottenham have ‘done everything right’ on that front. They paid €11m to get him, have developed him across three loan spells and tied him to a deal until 2030. That’s already warded off the likes of Bayern Munich. And if he were to leave, his transfer fee would be €100m plus.

For now, the focus is on development and HSV are dreaming of his loan being extended next year. They want to see him play alongside his brother Mario at the club. He’s banned until November next year. Whether Tottenham will sanction it, remains to be seen.

They’ve made all the right decisions so far when it comes to the youngster, who is quickly becoming a teenage superstar.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Radu Drăgușin suffered a serious injury in January and spent over 300 days on the sidelines.

The centre-back is yet to make an appearance since then but was in the squad for Spurs’ defeat to Liverpool on Sunday. Tottenham invested around €30m to sign the defender from Genoa in January 2024. He could return to the Serie A next year.

That’s according to TuttoMercatoWeb. They report there’s a ‘very high’ possibility of the 23-year-old moving to Italy in the winter market or next summer.

It’s claimed Drăgușin returning to Serie A is a ‘more concrete possibility than ever’, at the latest after this season.

The Romania international has a contract until 2030 and Spurs would want to recoup the €30m fee.

The outlet claims a loan with a purchase obligation could be the best formula to convince Tottenham for January. A few Italian clubs would prefer a buying option instead of an obligation.

TMW report AS Roma could consider signing him, especially if Frank’s side are willing to let him leave on loan.

Napoli showed serious interest in Drăgușin before he joined Tottenham and TMW say they still hold him in high regard. It’s unclear whether they are willing to make an approach.

Carlos Vinícius’ standout season in Brazil has prompted reflection as well as praise. The former Spurs’ striker, who finished the Brazilian league as his club’s top scorer with 12 goals in just 14 matches, spoke on ESPN and looked back on the European experiences that helped shape his mindset. Among them, one name stood out above the rest: Harry Kane.

During the interview, Vinícius explained that his biggest learning point from elite football in England came at Tottenham, but had little to do with tactics or finishing technique. Instead, it was about behaviour and consistency at the highest level. “Kane was the one I learned the most from,” Vinícius said. “It’s a very high level.”

Kane set the standards at Tottenham

Playing alongside Kane at Tottenham Hotspur exposed him to a daily standard he still carries with him. “What really catches my attention with these top players is the level they keep and the fact they can score a hat-trick one game and turn up the next day as if nothing special happened,” Vinícius said. “Very natural. It’s like, ‘let’s go again, let’s work again’.”

That mentality, he suggested, is a defining trait of English football culture. He described Kane as polite, involved, and entirely focused on his job, a profile he associated with the broader professionalism he encountered in England. “Kane is a proper Englishman. Polite, involved, does his job, then goes home. The English are like that.”

Now thriving back in Brazil, Vinícius’ words underline how his most productive spell yet still traces its roots to lessons learned during his time in London, where standards were set long before the goals arrived.

On Sunday, Tuttomercatoweb were quite optimistic about Fiorentina’s move for Tottenham sporting director Fabio Paratici.

FirenzeViola also claimed the Italian has given his approval to joining La Viola, who won their first game of the season on Sunday.

Amidst all of this, there was a lack of information on Tottenham’s stance regarding Paratici.

FirenzeViola report the London club have been left ‘surprised’ by all the fuss. They have only heard about Fiorentina’s approach for Paratici through the Italian press.

As of last night, their sporting director hadn’t directly informed them about any chance of leaving. They are still waiting to be contacted by Paratici about a potential switch to Fiorentina as an exit will require the termination of his two-year contract.

It is believed that the relationship between the 53-year-old and the Tottenham management is good. The club stood by the Italian during his suspension and they are expecting more communication from the director.

Fiorentina remain confident about their move, despite this. If anything, this will only slow down their talks and they are looking to make Paratici’s move official by the weekend.

Tuttomercatoweb have it a little differently. They report initial contact between the two clubs has taken place.

Paratici is said to be ‘flattered and drawn into a seemingly impossible challenge’. That must be some big flattery, given Fiorentina’s current position and potential relegation.