Sport Witness

Aston Villa have been working on a deal to sign Marcos Senesi on a free transfer but now face competition from Tottenham Hotspur.

The defender’s Bournemouth contract runs out in the summer, with the player not renewing his deal. He’s impressed this season, playing 30 times in the Premier League.

SportWitness recently covered how Barcelona are in the chase, with the Argentine potentially waiting for the Catalan side to make a formal approach.

Juventus have already done that, with the defender possibly appealed with a move to Italy.

Significant indications are now arriving from the player’s entourage, with Aston Villa and Tottenham in the mix

English clubs willing to make wage offer

TuttoSport today report Juve have been exploring Senesi for weeks. They have been in touch with his representatives, as well showing interest in Leon Goretzka.

It’s believed Senesi has told Bournemouth about his decision to leave. He wants the opportunity to play for a top club now that he’s 28-years-old and also potentially earn a higher wage.

The Bianconeri have offered €3m per season on a four-year deal but it is difficult for Senesi to accept this. That is mainly because Aston Villa and Tottenham are also keen and are willing to offer €4m per season.

The newspaper feel the Old Lady will find it difficult to compete, with Borussia Dortmund also offering higher salary.

Money is what it will come down to, especially since Juve aren’t guarantee Champions League football.

Our take: Aston Villa may have upper hand

Largely due to the same reason as Juve, Tottenham might not have an advantage in this race. They will not play in Europe next season, with Aston Villa still in the race to qualify for the Champions League.

The Villans boast a much more stable project under Unai Emery and this could define Senesi’s career.

If Micky Van de Ven leaves Tottenham, Senesi may get more regular football in London. But Spurs have been riddled with instability in recent years.

The Argentine might want to stay away from that, making Villa Park a much more viable destination.

Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Newcastle United are in the picture to sign Eintracht Frankfurt youngster Niko Ilicevic.

Tottenham, Chelsea and Newcastle United have been looking at young talents from across the globe.

On March 21st, Sport Witness covered claims from South America of Chelsea’s plan to secure young talents from River Plate.

Later that month, Ecuador manager Sebastián Beccacece revealed Newcastle United are keen on signing an Ecuadorian talent.

Earlier this week, Sport Witness relayed news of Spurs accelerating to sign River Plate’s Ian Subiabre.

PL trio send scouts

Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Newcastle United are also focusing on Europe and have a common target.

That’s according to Bild, who cover the Premier League trio’s interest in Niko Ilicevic. The 15-year-old has made rapid progress at Eintracht Frankfurt in the last two years.

He made his debut for the German club U17s in September 2024 and then to the U19 side in July 2025.

The attacking midfielder stats for Eintracht Frankfurt U19 this season are as follows:

Appearances: 17

Starts: 14

Total minutes: 1,104

Goals: 4

Assist: 2

The Germany U16 international is considered as ‘one of the greatest talents in Europe’.

Tottenham, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Real Madrid and AC Milan are his suitors. These clubs have regularly sent their scouts to follow him live and ‘want to lure’ the teenager away from his club.

The Bundesliga side plan to promote him to the first team next season and also tie him down to a professional contract once he turns 16 years of age in October. They want to take this step later this year, in order to secure his future.

Despite interest from other clubs, Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krösche is working on Ilicevic’s case. He is in close contact with his family and already presented the German club’s plan for the young star.

Eintracht Frankfurt seem confident of retaining him and also extending his contract in October.

Why Ilicevic can’t move to UK soon

If Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea or Newcastle United were to lure Niko Ilicevic away from Eintracht Frankfurt, he won’t be able to move to England in the summer.

Brexit prevents him from making a switch to the UK until he turns 18 years of age in October 2028.

Therefore, Spurs, the Blues or the Magpies need a plan for him until January 2029, to secure his services.

Tottenham Hotspur’s growing push for Ian Subiabre is starting to shift the tone of a transfer battle they have been quietly building for months alongside Chelsea.

Both London clubs have tracked the River Plate winger since 2025. Chelsea made early contact through the player’s camp, while Spurs have moved more recently.

As we covered earlier, Tottenham have already begun to accelerate their interest, with signals from Argentina suggesting they are no longer just monitoring.

Now, a fresh update from Argentina strengthens that idea significantly.

Development and rising profile

Ian Subiabre only began to feature regularly for River Plate this calendar year, but his role has grown quickly.

So far in 2026, he has:

made 12 appearances

started six matches

played 566 minutes

scored one goal

provided two assists

In addition, he is averaging around one key pass per game, showing increasing involvement in attacking phases.

Across his full senior record, he has three goals and three assists in 35 appearances. Meanwhile, his performances for Argentina’s U20 side have added to his reputation, with five goals in 15 matches across major youth tournaments.

Manager Eduardo Coudet has used him primarily on the left flank, allowing him to attack defenders directly and cut inside. That role is helping him grow in confidence.

Tottenham now “very strong” in transfer race

Argentine journalist Hernán Castillo has provided a clear indication of where things stand heading into the next window.

Speaking on the situation, he suggested a sale is becoming increasingly likely and placed Tottenham at the centre of that movement.

“River is going to have a strong market in the middle of the year. They will spend, but they will also bring in money because it is very difficult for them to keep Subiabre. Very difficult. He has too much interest already.”

That alone sets the tone. However, he went further when discussing concrete interest.

“I know that Tottenham, Chelsea, Villarreal, Lazio are making constant enquiries. And now Tottenham are very strong.”

He also pointed to the financial expectations around a deal, adding:

“I know that for Subiabre, besides the people who represent him, there has already been an €8m (£6.9m) offer that River rejected. And Tottenham are thinking about €12m or €14m (£10.4m-£12.2m).”

Contract, pressure and timing

River Plate remain protected on paper. Subiabre signed a new contract until December 2028, with a €100m (£87m) release clause. However, the reality is different.

Offers around €10m (£8.7m) have already been rejected, but the club are aware that sustained interest is building. Castillo made it clear that River are already planning ahead financially, expecting departures.

“It is very, very likely that Subiabre will leave River. So they are going to have important money to go into the market and replace things they are already starting to replace.”

That expectation is important. It shows internal acceptance that keeping the winger beyond the next window may not be realistic.

“That’s why River are going to move a lot, and besides the money they already have planned, I think Subiabre will hardly stay for another window”, Castillo added.

What happens next

For Tottenham, this is where things become interesting. They are no longer entering a crowded race late. Instead, they appear to be positioning themselves as one of the most aggressive clubs in the process.

Chelsea remain in the background, with long-standing interest and prior contact. However, the latest signals from Argentina suggest Spurs are currently pushing harder.

The numbers also align with that approach. A deal in the region of €12m-€14m (£10.4m-£12.2m) would be enough to open serious talks, far below the official clause.

With River already preparing for a strong summer market and expecting exits, the conditions are forming. Tottenham’s move now looks less like interest and more like intent.

Emerson Royal is once again dealing with fallout linked to his time at Tottenham Hotspur. Now, an off-field issue threatens a possible suspension at Flamengo.

What looked like a chance to reset his career after leaving Spurs has instead turned into a period of instability. This has happened both on and off the pitch.

A move to AC Milan from Tottenham came and went quickly. Also, his switch to Flamengo has brought mixed results rather than a clear revival.

In Brazil, the 27-year-old has struggled to convince consistently. He has drifted between the starting XI and the bench, while criticism from supporters has grown louder.

Across just over a year at Flamengo, Emerson Royal has made 30 appearances, with one goal and four assists. In 2026, he has 11 matches and three assists.

Those are serviceable numbers. However, they do not tell the story of a player who has gradually lost the standout traits that once defined him.

At Real Betis, he earned praise for his attacking output. At Tottenham, he was valued for defensive reliability. Later, at AC Milan, his physical presence drew attention.

Right now at Flamengo, not even his undeniable charisma is working – and patience around him appears to be wearing thin.

Off-field issue could now complicate things further

Emerson Royal’s situation may now take another turn, and not for footballing reasons. Brazilian newspaper O Dia state that the defender has been ordered to pay €650,000 (£560,000) to a company linked to football agent André Cury.

The decision comes from Brazil’s Chamber for Dispute Resolution (CNRD). The player has been given a deadline of April 13th to settle the amount. If the payment is not made, further sanctions can follow, including a possible suspension.

Crucially, the case is linked to commitments made during his spell at Tottenham Hotspur. However, the exact nature of those commitments has not been made public.

Situations like this often involve intermediary commissions, image rights agreements, or disputes following changes in representation. Still, there is no confirmation on the specifics in Emerson Royal’s case, and any conclusion beyond that would be guesswork.

What this means for Royal

Emerson Royal may now face an awkward period where off-field uncertainty meets an already unstable on-field role. Even if a suspension is avoided, the situation adds pressure to a player who has not fully secured his place.

From a Premier League perspective, this also adds another layer to how his Tottenham spell is viewed in hindsight. He arrived with expectations, had moments of reliability, but ultimately left without fully convincing. Now, even years later, issues linked to that period are resurfacing.

The priority for Flamengo is to resolve the situation quickly and avoid losing a player who, while not indispensable, still plays a role in the squad.

PSV Eindhoven star Ismael Saibari should look to transfer to Tottenham Hotspur this summer, as he’s now done as much as he can in the Eredivisie.

Voetbal Primeur cover comments from Khalid Boulahrouz regarding the 25-year-old forward today. He thinks it’s now time for the Moroccan to head to pastures new.

Saibari has been the star man for PSV since moving up to their first team in 2022, having previously come through the U21 set up.

He’s since scored 41 goals and registered 29 assists in 140 games for the club and played a key role in back-to-back Eredivisie titles. This season he has 18 goals and nine assists in 34 matches.

That’s led to various insistence that he should move on. Aston Villa have been encouraged to move for him, for example.

Boulahrouz recommends Tottenham transfer

Now, it appears that Boulahrouz thinks it’s time for a change. And he’s recommending a move to Tottenham, despite their current struggles.

“A number of players might want to make a move, but perhaps nothing comes along that makes you think I’m going to trade PSV for that,” he said on Rondo.

“When I look at Saibari: he has definitely played out the Eredivisie. If you look at his statistics and his style of play: that is good enough to make a transfer.

“He is a Moroccan international, has an Africa Cup behind him, and is going to play in a World Cup. Assuming he is a starter and plays two matches well, you are simply gone. Then you have to push through.

“I am just curious what kind of club will come along. He needs to go to an attacking team, where he can come into his own. A nice club: they are not in a good position at all, but he can add something extra to Tottenham Hotspur. I would go to a club where he can be important.”

Would Tottenham make sense?

The question is whether a move from Tottenham would make sense this summer. It’s easy to see Ismael Saibari fitting in under Roberto de Zerbi, but he already has plenty of options in the same position.

Xavi Simons was an expensive addition last summer; James Maddison is still at the club and Dejan Kulusevski will be back from injury next season too.

Even up front there is Mathys Tel, Richarlison and Dominic Solanke competing for places. There would likely need to be departures before they’d consider a move for a player currently valued at €32m.

That’s before even considering their battle to remain in the Premier League. That’s the main focus for now before transfers come into play. Boulahrouz has made his recommendation either way.

Tottenham Hotspur apparently want to sell Luka Vušković this summer, placing a €40m asking price on the 19-year-old centre-back.

Sport BILD report that Vušković is officially up for sale at Tottenham this summer following his impressive loan spell at HSV Hamburg. But RB Leipzig will not be one of the sides making a move for him.

Leipzig’s new financial rules

SportBILD explain that despite RB Leipzig having spent years targeting young talent, and that still being the case, Luka Vušković will not be on their list.

Since the summer, Leipzig have implemented a strict performance-based wage structure at the club. That’s seen wages reduced from a base of €10m to €5m with bonuses only triggered by team success.

There has also been a reduction in spending. €25m is now the upper limit for incoming transfers moving forwards. And that means Luka Vušković is now off the table.

Leipzig love the defender and have been watching him all season. But Tottenham have set a €40m asking price on him and that’s too much for their taste.

Bild: Tottenham want transfer

According to the newspaper, Tottenham ‘want to sell’ Luka Vušković this summer but the fee is seen as unfeasible by Leipzig. The German side will pass on this particular auction.

There are likely to be a host of other suitors if Tottenham have decided to sell though. Several clubs in Europe are keen on the defender thanks to his performances in the Bundesliga this season.

He’s recently hinted that he’ll return to the Premier League with Tottenham at the end of the season. But there’s interest in England too, with Liverpool named as suitors on more than one occasion in recent weeks.

Questionable price tag

Tottenham setting a €40m price tag on the defender is questionable, though. Spurs may have only spent €11m to sign him a year ago but they will want considerably more than €40m to sell him this summer.

Indeed, Transfermarkt already rate the youngster at €60m thanks to his performances for HSV Hamburg this season.

Those displays, and the awards he’s picked up, have already established him as one of the best young defenders in Europe. Selling for €40m would be ridiculous, particularly when Luka Vušković is tied to a deal until 2030 as well.

That’s even if they truly want to sell in the first place. With Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven both pushing to leave, Vušković would surely be on they’d like to keep.

That’s a debate for the summer, but €40m seems too cheap for a player who has already proven he could be worth a lot more than that in the years to come.

Guglielmo Vicario has struggled at Tottenham throughout the season and transfer talk around his future is now intensifying.

Sport Witness have covered Inter Milan’s interest in the Italian, as they are about to lose Yann Sommer. Vicario is believed to be keen on a move and has already agreed personal terms with the Nerazzurri.

Claims about Tottenham’s asking price have been varying. But it has been clear that Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio has met with Vicario’s agent, wand watched the player in the Champions League game against Atletico Madrid.

With time ticking down for the season to end, Inter are now hyper-focused on bringing the goalkeeper back to Italy.

Tottenham player discussed during transfer meeting

Calciomercato’s Pasquale Guarro, who is an authority on Inter, reports that there is a positive mood at the Nerazzurri right now. They hammered rivals Roma and pretty much have one hand on the Serie A title.

As a result, they want to draw up plans for their youth setup and summer transfers. The Oaktree ownership organised a series of meetings with several sections of the club to discuss some priority areas. A transfer meeting was held yesterday and Tottenham’s Vicario was a topic.

He is currently Inter’s priority target to replace Sommer. The aim is to progress discussions about the 29-year-old and reach a consensus about a move for him.

It appears Vicario is the only ‘name on the table’ right now, which suggests how important the goalkeeping role is for Cristian Chivu’s side.

Tottenham should prepare for approach

Inter Milan want Vicario, that much is clear. They also tried to sign him before Tottenham bought him in from Empoli, where he impressed between the sticks.

Now, they have an excellent relationship with his agent Gabriele Giuffrida. This will help in a summer move, with Vicario’s contract running out in 2028. This makes 2026 the best time for him to leave Tottenham.

Even for Inter, it would be beneficial. The Italy international’s level has dropped, thereby allowing Chivu’s side to negotiate good discount. They aren’t high spenders in the market, so everything can come down to how much Spurs want for their stopper.

It feels like Inter are slowly tightening their grip over the deal. With personal terms agreed, they can now push Vicario to pressure Tottenham.

Fenerbahçe have Tottenham Hotspur‘s Pape Matar Sarr in their transfer target list for the summer.

Tottenham signed the midfielder from FZ Metz in 2021 and immediately sent him back on a season-long loan deal.

He arrived in the English capital in summer 2022, when Antonio Conte was manager.

Conte initially wanted the 23-year-old to go out on loan but decided to keep him. The player earlier revealed he then had his bags packed before an injury to Oliver Skipp changed everything.

Sarr has played 137 matches so far for Tottenham and 33 are from this season.

His Premier League stats per game this season are as follows:

Interceptions: 0.8

Tackles: 1.5

Possession won (final third): 0.2

Ball recovered: 3.4

Clearances: 2.1

Blocked shots: 0.5

Duels won: 3.8

Turkey transfer interest in Tottenham player

Takvim now have a report focusing on Fenerbahçe’s interest in Pape Matar Sarr and also mention Galatasaray as an option.

The two Istanbul rivals are now battling for the title, with Galatasaray leading the table with a one-point lead and a game in hand.

Meanwhile, the Yellow Canaries have already started preparations for the next window and have identified the Tottenham Hotspur player and Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy as targets.

Their interest in the Senegal international isn’t new but failed in the previous attempts to secure his services.

This time, Fenerbahçe are pursuing the 23-year-old ‘more decisively’ and have ‘restarted negotiations’. It’s not clear whether these discussions are with the player’s agent, Roberto De Zerbi’s or both.

Galatasaray are also showing interest in the midfielder and therefore, the two local rivals could battle it out for his signature in the summer.

Contract, value and agent info

Takvim make no mention of Tottenham’s transfer stance regarding Sarr.

In 2024, Tottenham Hotspur secured him on a new contract until 2030. His value, as per Transfermarkt, is now €32m and the highest was €45m in May 2024.

Earlier in the season, there were reports he changed agents and Unique Sports Group are now representing him.

Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea will have another close look at transfer target Maxi Araújo tonight, with the Sporting CP player stepping onto a major European stage at just the right time.

Sporting host Arsenal on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal. The return leg will take place in London on April 15th, giving Premier League clubs two high-level opportunities to assess the Uruguay international.

That matters even more given what we exclusively revealed recently. Both Tottenham and Chelsea have already made contact with Araújo’s representatives as they explore a potential summer transfer.

Tottenham and Chelsea scouts tracking

Maxi Araújo is no stranger to Premier League attention. Portuguese newspaper Record reported that as many as 12 English clubs sent scouts to Wembley to watch him in action for Uruguay against England in the last international break. Tottenham and Chelsea certainly were among the clubs present.

That follows earlier sightings at Sporting matches. Scouts from both clubs were also in attendance when Araújo impressed against Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League, scoring in a comeback win that further raised his profile.

Those repeated checks suggest this is no casual interest. Instead, it points to sustained monitoring ahead of a possible transfer battle. But he did drop some breadcrumbs for the London sides to follow.

Form and versatility on show

Maxi Araújo has delivered strong numbers this season. He has played 36 matches, starting 33 of them, with six goals and four assists. In the Champions League, he has added two goals and one assist, underlining his impact at the highest level.

Although he has mainly operated as a left-back for Sporting, his role is flexible. Under Marcelo Bielsa with Uruguay, he has been used further forward, often as a left winger.

That attacking profile could be on display again, depending on how Sporting approach the tie against Arsenal. So now he enters a key moment in his season.

Facing Arsenal across two legs offers a direct test against Premier League opposition. It also gives Tottenham and Chelsea fresh data points after already making contact with his camp.

And with the summer window approaching, performances in these matches could influence whether interest turns into formal offers.

Possible next steps

Sporting are aware of the growing pressure. The Portuguese club want to keep Maxi Araújo for another season, even with strong Premier League interest.

He remains under contract until 2029 and has an €80m (£69m) release clause, with expectations that serious offers would need to reach at least €40m (£34.5m).

Still, the market often dictates outcomes. With Tottenham and Chelsea already engaged and continuing to scout him closely, these Champions League matches could act as a live audition.

For Araújo, the stage is set. For interested clubs, the decision-making process may soon accelerate.

Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are keen on bringing TSG Hoffenheim’s Fisnik Asllani to the Premier League in the summer.

Both Tottenham and Chelsea could pose a problem for Borussia Dortmund and their efforts to sign the striker.

The 23-year-old initially joined the Bundesliga side’s reserve team in 2020 and made his way to the first team a year later.

He struggled for a prominent role and spent the last two seasons on loan at Austria Wien and SV Elversberg.

Since returning to his parent club, he’s been leading their attack and starred this season, scoring 10 goals and contributing eight assists from 29 matches so far.

Asllani’s Bundesliga stats are as follows:

Appearances: 27

Starts: 25

Total minutes: 1,867

Minutes per game: 69

Expected Goals: 7.17

Expected Assists: 3.37

Big chances created: 6

Big chances missed: 7

Tottenham and Chelsea transfer threat for BVB

Bild now report Serhou Guirassy will leave Borussia Dortmund after this season if he receives a suitable offer.

On March 18th, Sport Witness covered claims from Germany of Tottenham Hotspur as an option for him.

Guirassy’s situation has seen the Bundesliga side look for potential successor and have set their sights on TSG Hoffenheim star Fisnik Asllani.

The German-born Kosovo international is high on BVB’s list but no concrete talks have taken place yet. It won’t be easy for them to sign him because of Roberto De Zerbi’s side and Chelsea.

Bild claim both Spurs and Liam Rosenior’s side are ‘currently the hottest candidates’. In other words, the Premier League duo are now the frontrunners to sign Asllani.

There’s another factor that favours the two London clubs. The price is €30m for clubs that played in the Champions League in all of the last three seasons and €25m for the rest.

Tottenham and the Blues fall into the latter category, which is affordable for the duo. The interested parties, however, must convince the frontman as he’s comfortable where he is.

Due to the tough competition, Borussia Dortmund are also looking at Newcastle United’s Nick Woltemade. For now, he isn’t planning on leaving the Magpies after just one season.

Contract, value and agent info

Last July, TSG Hoffenheim extended Fisnik Asllani’s contract until 2029 and Transfermarkt now value him at €30m.

Agency Rogon are representing him. Their client list also includes Newcastle United star Joelinton and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Georginio Rutter.