Sport Witness

AIK Fotboll’s Zadok Yohanna is attracting attention from the Premier League, including Tottenham Hotspur.

The 18-year-old came up through the ranks of Nigerian side Ikon Allah FA and joined AIK Fotboll in June 2025.

His preferred position is on the right wing, but at the Swedish club, he also operates as a wing back. The Nigerian’s performances and potential have already caught Chelsea’s attention.

On April 10th, Sport Witness covered claims from Nigeria of the Blues keeping a close watch on the player. Two days later, we relayed news the Swedish club have set a €20-25m price.

AIK Fotboll recruitment chief Miikka Takkula has confirmed interest without revealing the details.

Tottenham join Chelsea in following player

Expressen in Sweden now report on Tottenham keeping a close watch on the youngster.

Broadcaster TV4 initially reported unnamed Premier League sides’ scouts were in Sweden to watch Zadok Yohann.

The outlet found out from their sources that a Spurs official was in Sweden yesterday. The scout watched Zadok Yohanna live in his side’s 2-1 loss to Degerfors IF.

He played the full 90 minutes, and after the match, the same outlet had a chat with the attacker, who was unaware the Spurs scout was in attendance.

“No, I don’t know. I didn’t know there were scouts here. I’m just focusing on my game. My focus is completely on AIK,” he said.

When asked about his future, Yohann explained: “Of course I have a dream.”

Meanwhile, the player has impressed Degerfors IF manager Henok Goitom.

“Yohanna is an exceptional player. I love watching him play. He plays like he plays on the street. We told Samba [Diatara] that he is good. And to [Elias] Barsoum that we have to play two against one there,” he added.

Our take: Spurs unlikely to spend big

If earlier claims are to be believed, the Allsvenskan side are requesting around €15-25m to sanction his sale.

Since moving to Europe, Zadok Yohanna has played 15 matches, managing four goals and three assists. He hasn’t been tested at the highest level yet.

Tottenham Hotspur’s João Palhinha future after this season remains uncertain.

He joined Spurs on loan from Bayern Munich in August 2025, a year after moving to the Bundesliga side.

The move to Tottenham saw the 30-year-old return to the English capital, where he had an impressive two-year spell at Fulham. He left Marco Silva’s side to join Bayern Munich.

Palhinha has been a regular for the north London club and maintained his place even after managerial changes.

He played 2,550 minutes from 40 matches, managing five goals and three assists for Tottenham.

His Premier League stats this season are as follows:

Appearances: 28

Total minutes: 1,831

Interceptions per game: 0.9

Tackles per game: 3.5

Balls recovered per game: 2.5

Clearances per game: 1.6

Blocked shots per game: 0.4

Duels won per game: 5.8

Last month, Sport Witness covered claims from Germany that the Portugal international is tipped to leave Tottenham after this season.

Fresh update on Tottenham future

Sky Deutschland now pick up on that and explain the midfielder’s future remains uncertain.

However, there is a ‘new development’ and that could favour João Palhinha extend his stay at Tottenham Hotspur beyond the loan spell.

As part of the temporary deal, Roberto De Zerbi’s side have a €25m purchase option but want to negotiate the price. In other words, Spurs are looking to lower the price to buy the former Sporting man in the summer.

Sky makes no mention of the fee Tottenham want to pay or if the Bundesliga winners are open to accepting their request.

For now, Bayern Munich are yet to make the final decision on the Portuguese’s future.

Our take: Premier League stay could be key

Tottenham Hotspur are now 18th in the table, trailing 17th placed West Ham United by two points.

Roberto De Zerbi has five more league matches to help Spurs avoid relegation from the Premier League.

If they were to stay in the top flight, João Palhinha’s long-term future could be at Tottenham, as long as Bayern Munich agree to lower the price.

That should be possible as he’s unlikely to be part of Vincent Kompany’s plans next season.

Spurs’ remaining fixtures are as follows:

Tottenham Hotspur were among the clubs in attendance as Sporting secured their place in the Taça de Portugal final with a 0-0 draw away at FC Porto, progressing thanks to their 1-0 win in the first leg.

Spurs have been active in Portugal in recent days, and this fixture offered a useful checkpoint across several profiles. A Bola reported their presence at the Estádio do Dragão.

Sporting did not need to chase the match. They sat deeper, protected their advantage and accepted long spells without the ball. Porto took control of territory and finished 18 times. Sporting managed just three shots.

That imbalance shaped the evaluation, especially for players dealing with pressure and defensive responsibility. And that’s where we start.

Maxi Araújo and wide reliability

Maxi Araújo is one of the more established names linked with Tottenham, and this was a performance built on discipline.

He was not eye-catching in an attacking sense, but he played his role well. Araújo helped contain Porto’s fierce attack and worked closely with his left winger. In a match where Sporting had to defend for long periods, his consistency stood out.

That kind of reliability can carry weight for Spurs, particularly if they look to add players who can adapt to different game states.

Experience and flexibility in midfield

Pablo Rosario added another layer to the scouting picture and arguably one of the more interesting ones for Tottenham.

He began the match as a defensive midfielder and later dropped into central defence after a change in the back line. Rosario remained composed under pressure, kept his passing simple and helped Porto progress play when space opened.

He also showed awareness off the ball, positioning himself well to break up transitions and support the defensive line. In a game where Porto were constantly pushing forward, his ability to balance structure and progression stood out.

At 29, he is not a long-term project. Still, for a club like Tottenham, especially in a period that could involve squad reshaping, players like Rosario can offer immediate depth and flexibility without requiring a major investment.

Right side and defensive reshaping

Young right-back Eduardo Quaresma delivered a really solid display. That is relevant considering Tottenham’s situation at that position, with uncertainty around Pedro Porro.

Quaresma handled his defensive duties with composure and showed awareness in positioning. He did not offer much going forward, but this was a match that asked more from him without the ball.

In the back line, Ousmane Diomande provided a different profile. He brought physical presence and showed confidence stepping out with the ball when possible. In a game where Sporting were often pinned back, those moments carried extra value.

With questions around the future of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, Tottenham’s need to assess centre-back options remains clear. And Diomande would be a top notch choice.

Goalkeeper angle and long-term thinking

Diogo Costa was not heavily tested, but he showed his usual concentration late in the match. His quick reaction in stoppage time helped keep Porto alive in the tie, even if it was not enough.

For Tottenham, any long-term planning in goal may depend on the situation around Guglielmo Vicario. Costa fits the profile of a reliable and experienced option at a high level.

In the end, Tottenham watched players operate in a game where one side attacked constantly and the other defended with discipline. Araújo’s consistency, Rosario’s versatility, Quaresma’s positioning and Diomande’s presence all came in that setting.

Those details tend to matter more than the scoreline. And in this case, the match offered exactly the kind of test Spurs needed to observe.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Dejan Kulusevski hasn’t featured for the Premier League side since May 2025.

The Sweden international underwent surgery that month and has been on the sidelines since then.

Initial expectation was for the Tottenham man to regain full fitness in a few months and then before the end of last year.

However, the attacking midfielder is yet to return to the pitch and Sport Witness have given a timeline of recovery process and delay.

On October 1st, Jon Dahl Tomasson, who was then the national team manager, explained the Spurs attacker is in a “different phase of his rehabilitation.” Later that month, Sweden sacked him and appointed Graham Potter as his successor.

On November 20th, the former Chelsea boss hinted Kulusevski could return “around New Year”.

A month later, Potter said player could return for March’s international break, but the optimism disappeared in February. The coach admitted “it will be tough to come back in March.”

Sweden secured World Cup qualification in March.

At that time, the 25-year-old said he’s confident of representing his national team in the summer and this is despite undergoing another surgery recently.

Tottenham have no plans to sell

Calciomercato have a report on Dejan Kulusevski and Spurs’ plans for his future after this season.

Prior to his setback, there were rumours of the former Juventus man returning to Italy with AC Milan as his contender.

Kulusevski hasn’t played under Roberto De Zerbi yet, but the coach is keen on retaining him. The Italian manager wants him at his disposal even if the north London club drop to the Championship.

Tottenham Hotspur, for their part, aren’t planning on selling him in the summer, while the player has also ‘never expressed his desire’ to leave.

Sources close to him insists that his focus is on regaining full fitness as he’s ‘determined to return to the pitch and return to the highest level.’

However, Calciomercato do warn Spurs’ relegation from the Premier League could impact the Swede’s future.

Spurs’ remaining fixtures

Roberto De Zerbi’s side are now 18th in the table, two points behind 17th placed West Ham United.

Tottenham Hotspur have five more matches left in the Premier League this season. They are against

Tottenham Hotspur’s season has already been shaped by injuries, and now even their scouting radar seems to be catching it.

The North London club have been dealing with a relentless run of fitness issues. At one stage, they had well over ten senior players unavailable, forcing constant reshuffles and exposing a thin squad. It has been one of the defining themes of their delicate campaign.

Against that backdrop, Tottenham have also been planning their squad for next season, wether they stay up or not. As part of that, Sport Witness sources understand they are among the English clubs to have made informal checks on Corinthians attacker Kayke.

No offer has been made. There has been no formal approach. This is simply early-stage monitoring, the kind clubs carry out regularly before deciding whether to move further.

Who is this prospect?

Kayke Ferrari, 21, has only recently broken into the Corinthians side. He has benefited from Memphis Depay’s injury and has earned the trust of manager Fernando Diniz.

The forward has played 13 matches in 2026, already more than his combined appearances across the previous two seasons. He has two goals and one assist at senior level.

Kayke’s rise through the Corinthians academy did not take long to turn heads. At U17 level, he scored 13 goals in 28 matches, a return that quickly pushed him up to the U20s.

He kept that momentum going, continuing to find the net and playing his part in the club’s Brazilian youth cup triumph in 2024.

That form soon translated into first-team opportunities. His debut arrived early in the 2024 Paulista, thrown straight into a derby against São Paulo.

A direct, skilful winger, Kayke is known for his dribbling, improvisation and eye for goal – traits that have helped him stand out despite limited senior minutes so far.

Injury scare raises immediate concern

Nothing seems to be so simple for Tottenham nowadays. And even Kayke Ferrari’s situation took a worrying turn in his latest outing.

The forward went down with a knee problem and had to be substituted immediately.

The reaction from the Corinthians bench said a lot. Players were visibly concerned, some even turning their attention away from the match to follow his condition. Initial treatment involved ice on the sideline, but the pain appeared severe.

During the quick assessment, Kayke was in tears. At one point, he even gestured a twisting motion with his hand, suggesting the knee had rotated during the incident.

There is no confirmed diagnosis yet. However, there was early concern internally about a potential ACL injury. Further tests were scheduled to determine the severity.

What happens next

Tottenham’s interest remains at a very early stage, and this injury complicates things further.

Also, interest has not been limited to England. Bolavip in Brazil said clubs in Spain and Italy are also watching, although, again, nothing has progressed beyond scouting.

Still, the situation carries a slightly ironic edge. Spurs, already battling a season full of medical setbacks, had only just started looking at Kayke Ferrari – and he has now picked up a potentially serious injury himself.

For now, everything pauses. Tottenham will wait. Kayke will undergo tests.

Given how this season has gone in North London, some may joke the club cannot catch a break – even when they are only watching from a distance.

Tottenham’s Manor Solomon has witnessed ups and downs during his ongoing loan at Fiorentina. Developments are emerging and there could be good and bad news for Spurs.

Sport Witness covered the Israel international’s move to Italy. This came right after he spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Villarreal, where he played only six times in La Liga.

Things have been better at Fiorentina, where the winger has two goals in 11 league games.

He missed multiple matches due to a thigh injury and returned to action a week ago.

Despite not having started a game since being back fit, Fiorentina could be considering a permanent deal for the Tottenham player.

Lower fee sought

Gazzetta dello Sport today look at how Solomon and Leeds United loanee Jack Harrison have performed since joining La Viola. The Englishman sparkled in the absence of the 26-year-old, scoring against Lecce, assisting against Lazio and Verona.

While this can push Fiorentina into keeping him, things are different for Solomon.

Manager Paolo Vanoli likes his pace and tenacity but there are major doubts over his fitness. This has stopped him from lasting the entirety of 90 minutes even when he was fully fit.

Tottenham inserted an option to buy of €10m in the loan deal.

Fiorentina, aware of the player’s fitness troubles, see that as a big gamble. This is leading them to speak to the London club for a discount.

Our take: Tottenham should accept discount

Since joining Tottenham, Manor Solomon has never quite been seen as a player who has a big future there. The fact that Fiorentina is his third loan spell says everything about his situation.

Since Spurs roped the winger in for free, they won’t lose out on much if they do sell him.

He hasn’t been poor by any means in Florence and Tottenham should capitalise on the chance. There is every chance his injury problems can grow as time goes by, which is why Roberto De Zerbi’s side should be open to speaking to Fiorentina and executing a sale.

Tottenham Hotspur have been looking more and more towards Brazil in recent windows, and it’s not hard to see why.

It’s a market that regularly produces top talent at relatively accessible prices. On top of that, players are often open to a move to England, even if the situation isn’t perfect.

That matters right now, with Spurs still not entirely safe and at least flirting with the idea of a drop to the Championship. Even so, a move to England can still be attractive.

They’ve already been active there too. Tottenham recently worked on a deal to sign left-back Souza from Santos, which fits this wider strategy of tapping into the Brazilian market.

With that context in mind, Spurs have now taken another step.

Tottenham officials in Belo Horizonte

According to local insider outlet Central da Toca, a Tottenham scout was in the stands for Cruzeiro’s 2-0 win over Grêmio at the Mineirão last weekend. However, there’s no confirmation yet on who exactly they were watching.

Goals from Lucas Romero and Christian sealing the result after a dominant display. Both stood out on the night, but neither is believed to be among Tottenham’s main targets.

Cruzeiro have a few names catching attention, and their recent performances have only increased that.

Kaiki looks like the obvious one

Inside the Brazilian club, Kaiki is seen as the most likely to move to Europe. The 23-year-old left-back was close to joining Como last window, with a deal around €12.5m (£10.8m) on the table before Cruzeiro pulled back.

He ticks a lot of Premier League boxes. Physical, reliable, and able to get forward. Add in a recent Brazil call-up under Carlo Ancelotti, and his profile has only grown.

From a squad building point of view it could only make sense if Destiny Udogie is bound to leave Tottenham in the summer. Or even his fellow Brazilian Souza is expected to be loaned out. Still, he is a smart catch for any European side.

Kaio Jorge is the high-impact option

If the scout was looking for immediate attacking output, then Kaio Jorge would have been impossible to ignore.

The striker has started 2026 in strong form, with nine goals in 12 matches. Last year he scored 26 in 46. He looks sharp, confident, and increasingly decisive in front of goal. That alone puts him on the radar of clubs across Europe.

West Ham tried to sign him in the January window and failed. That’s because the club are reportedly not willing to entertain offers below €50m (£43.5m).

That pushes him into a very different category. For Tottenham, especially with uncertainty around their league position, that kind of investment would require serious conviction.

Others also on the radar

Another logical name is Jonathan Jesus, who sits in a slightly different bracket. He’s younger, 21, and probably less polished, but that comes with a lower entry cost.

Earlier this year, Zenit made a move in the region of €8m (£6.9m), which Cruzeiro rejected. Even so, that valuation puts him firmly in the “development signing” category.

Young wingers Keny Arroyo and Néiser Villareal also fit that description. Both are 20-year-old and are giving defenders hell.

Arroyo plays on the right. He arrived from Besiktas last summer for €8.5m (£7.3m) and is one of the first names in the team sheet since. Villareal can play on the left or up front. And before arriving at Cruzeiro, Barcelona had him on their radar following his performances for Colombia at the 2025 U20 World Cup.

The ‘experienced’ angle

There are also the more experienced profiles to be watched. Like centre-back Fabrício Bruno, who has already attracted interest from Juventus.

At 28, he doesn’t fit the same resale model as the others, but he offers something different – reliability, leadership, and immediate impact. If Spurs were thinking short-term stability, he could be part of that conversation, even if he’s not the typical target.

He recently renewed his deal until 2028. That makes him a difficult target, but his profile – technical, inventive, and able to control the final third – is exactly the kind Tottenham usually look at.

What this means for Spurs

This doesn’t feel like a one-player mission. It looks much more like Tottenham building a broader picture of the squad and identifying multiple options depending on how their summer shapes up.

Spurs are clearly building knowledge and keeping tabs on multiple players rather than rushing into a deal. But if their situation becomes clearer in the coming weeks, things could move quickly.

Either way, this is another sign that Brazil is becoming a key part of Spurs’ recruitment thinking – and Cruzeiro might just be the next place they dip into.

Xavi Simons thought he was Tottenham Hotspur’s hero against Brighton. And when he scored the winning goal, he celebrated like it too.

But while his teammates celebrated with him, Willem van Hanegem thinks that they should have been very unimpressed. In fact, he thinks Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman will think the same way he does.

Highs to lows for Xavi Simons

The Dutch forward had arguably his best game for Tottenham in the 2-2 draw with Brighton on Sunday.

After providing the cross for Pedro Porro’s opener, his superb solo effort appeared to have won the game in the second half.

The 23-year-old celebrated his goal wildly, taking his shirt off to celebrate in front of the home crowd as if he had scored a last-minute winner.

Instead, he was later seen on the verge of tears as Georginio Rutter’s late equaliser broke Tottenham hearts and plunged them further into relegation trouble.

Van Hanegem was watching on and was left unimpressed by Simons’ big celebration after his goal.

“If a player like that had played in our era, and the manager didn’t want to take him off, then the players certainly would have taken him off themselves,” he said, via PSV Inside.

“If Koeman sees this now, wouldn’t he have something to say about it? Xavi Simons always plays his own game. It is truly terrible to watch.”

Tottenham focus

The bigger question is whether Xavi Simons can recover from the emotional blow to repeat his performance against Brighton again.

The reality is that such performances have been sorely lacking this season following his big-money arrival from RB Leipzig in the summer.

But if he can perform like he did against the Seagulls more often, Tottenham might have a fighting chance of dragging themselves out of their current predicament.

The Dutchman looked devastated after the final whistle, though. And coming back from that might be a task he finds difficult.

Tottenham Hotspur‘s Luka Vušković injury situation at Hamburg SV is concerning for both clubs.

The Croatia international last made an appearance in the Bundesliga side’s draw against FC Augsburg on April 4th.

He has been on the sidelines since then and there’s been various claims of what’s wrong with the Tottenham man.

Timeline of events over Vušković’s injury

Last Wednesday, Hamburg manager Merlin Polzin said the defender underwent intensive treatment. Two days later, the coach insisted he could risk the 19-year-old for the clash against Werder Bremen on Saturday.

However, the Tottenham owned player didn’t feature in the derby defeat. On Monday, Sport Witness covered claims from Germany his knee injury is much worse than initially feared.

On Tuesday, we relayed news that Spurs and Hamburg medical staff are analysing Luka Vušković’s latest MRI scans. Claims from Croatia insisted there’s no serious setback and he could return to face SC Freiburg on May 10th.

Fresh updates on Tottenham player’s recovery

Bild discuss the latest on Luka Vušković’s rehabilitation process when reporting the latest on Hamburg SV’s injury situation.

The newspaper relay comments from Hamburg sporting director Claus Costa, who gives a detailed explanation why the defender’s setback is challenging to deal with.

“A knee sprain or contusion causes internal bleeding. This makes it difficult to control the knee precisely and correctly. That’s something that takes time,” he said.

The Bundesliga side’s official insists the need to take a cautious approach with the centre-back while remains optimistic he will feature again this season.

“Of course, we miss Luka. Because he’s not on the pitch, he’s somewhat sidelined. We have to be patient and wait until he’s available again,” Costa explained

“I’m optimistic that he’ll be able to play again this season. If he’s fit to play, nothing can stop him. He’s extremely ambitious and desperately wants to play for us again. That’s why we’re confident.”

Our take: Croatian may not play again this season

On Tuesday, Sport Witness relayed news Roberto De Zerbi’s side need to give the green light for him to return to the pitch with Hamburg SV.

Taking Luka Vušković’s current situation into account, it won’t be surprising if Tottenham don’t give the approval.

Spurs taking a safer approach with the Croatian would have no direct impact on their results this season. However, this makes sure he avoids risk of any further setbacks.

Tottenham Hotspur are in ‘intensive medical consultations’ with HSV Hamburg over Luka Vušković, who will not be risked in any way, shape or form.

BILD add to the growing information regarding the 19-year-old as he looks to return from a knee injury before the end of the season.

Three-way approval

The Croatian centre-back has been shining at Hamburg since joining them on loan from Tottenham in the summer.

He’s very much a key player for the German side at this point. And his absence has been sorely felt in the last two weeks without him. In that time, Hamburg have conceded seven goals, lost two games and felt relegation breathing down their necks.

They are currently sat on 31 points, seven clear of Wolfsburg in 17th and five ahead of St. Pauli in 16th. But there is plenty of time left for them to be dragged back in. They need the Tottenham loanee back as soon as possible.

But the decision is not theirs to make. Reports in Croatia and Germany explained that today. According to those, Tottenham hold all the power on a potential return. Now BILD add their own information.

‘Intensive medical consultations’

BILD report that any return for the defender requires a triple ‘yes’. HSV must be convinced that he can play safely. The player himself must be convinced as well. Then Tottenham hold the final call.

They are currently engaged in ‘intensive medical consultations’ about their defender. BILD say no decision will be made that runs counter to Spurs’ interests.

In other words, Tottenham simply won’t risk allowing a premature return to the pitch that could aggravate his injury. They, it seems, would simply prefer for the Croatian not to play.

Whether that is with next season in mind, or even a summer transfer, is not made clear. But it seems Tottenham will hold firm, and only make a decision based on their own interests. And that risks upsetting HSV as they look to battle against relegation.