BBC

Over the years, the legend of Luka Vuskovic has grown and grown. His prodigious leap and a physique well beyond his age, combined with two successful loan spells, have only added to the hype. Three years on from his £12m signing, many are ready to kneel before Luka and name him the solution to all our defensive issues without ever having seen him play in the flesh.

Last night in Dallas, Luka had an opportunity to add to that reputation and prove that he is ready, but a chastening opening-game defeat at the hands of players he will be expected to face week in, week out did not go to plan. The legend took a serious hit.

Luka's rise to becoming a major talking point is down to a breakout season in Germany with Hamburger SV. The Croatian took the opportunity with both hands. He finished the season as the top-scoring defender and was named in the 2025-26 Team of the Season.

His success coincided with another disappointing season at N17. As we battled relegation with centre-backs who looked uninterested in the fight, over in Europe Luka was crashing through opposition strikers as though they were made of paper.

His strong performances propelled him into the media limelight, the Croatian national team and the consciousness of every Spurs fan. Suddenly, Luka was viewed as an option, no longer a protégé.

What has always made Luka stand out is his frame. It is what gives him the edge in duels and makes him such an asset at set-pieces, but his size comes at a cost. His lack of recovery pace was there for all to see as Jude Bellingham stormed through to slot home England's third. His lack of pace, speed on the turn and mobility are genuine concerns.

Not every defender needs to be as fast as Micky van de Ven, but you need to be able to maximise your strengths and hide your weaknesses. Tottenham, right now, are not in a position to offer him the minutes he needs to grow from being a prospect into a genuine top-level centre-back.

Hopefully, given time to reflect on what happened in Dallas, his team of advisers will make the correct decision. Demanding to start at Spurs when we have already added Marco Senesi and are about to announce Jan Paul van Hecke is not realistic.

Vuskovic remains an exciting prospect, but one in need of playing time and strong guidance on and off the training pitch. The most sensible decision for all parties would be a loan at a Premier League club with a similar style of football.

The hard work and focus needed to turn the legend into reality starts now.

Tottenham Hotspur have joined the list of clubs interested in Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali.

Spurs manager Roberto de Zerbi is a long-time admirer of the Italian and even identified him as a target during his time in charge of Sassuolo, while Tonali was playing in Serie A.

Now, several years on, it is understood Spurs have explored the financials of a deal for the 26-year-old.

Manchester City and Arsenal have also shown an interest, as BBC Sport previously reported, but no club has yet made a formal approach.

Newcastle have already sold forward Anthony Gordon to Barcelona for £69.3m, but chief executive David Hopkinson has previously made it clear they will only trade players on "our terms".

They are in a strong position as Tonali is effectively contracted until 2030 after the Italian signed a new deal during his 10-month betting ban to repay the faith the club showed in him.

The current market could also work in Newcastle's favour, if a bidding war ensues, given the valuations of midfielders elsewhere.

Nottingham Forest rejected a second offer worth around £120m from Manchester City for Elliot Anderson, while relegated West Ham want up to £80m for Mateus Fernandes.

Newcastle may have finished above Tottenham in the Premier League in three of the last four seasons.

However, Spurs are still a long way clear of Newcastle in the revenue table thanks to substantial off-field income streams, which have offset difficult league campaigns.

In the respective clubs' most recent financial accounts, the Londoners generated £230m more in revenue than Newcastle.

Spurs are now looking to make the most of such headroom by raising their salary ceiling.

In an interview with BBC Sport, in May, the club's chief executive Vinai Venkatesham confirmed the change in approach and said they needed "experience, leadership and also that kind of physical robustness".

Tonali fits this description on his day.

His technical qualities are well-known, but in 2024-25 - his best league campaign for Newcastle - he also tirelessly won possession back in midfield on 109 occasions, made 34 interceptions and applied 1,308 high pressure movements.

No wonder even his usually measured head coach Eddie Howe once said he "fell in love" with this all-rounder when he first watched him play.

Howe would ideally not want to lose players like Tonali, Gordon or Alexander Isak for that matter, who joined Liverpool for a British record £125m last summer.

But Newcastle are having to become better sellers and plan accordingly as part of the club's rebuild.

If a huge offer of up to £100m is eventually made by one of Tonali's suitors, it may be tempting to cash in on a player whose form has noticeably dipped.

However, at this early stage of the window, that remains a big if.

We asked for your views on Tottenham agreeing a £52m deal to sign Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke and how head coach Roberto de Zerbi could go about using the club's depth in defence next season.

Here are some of your thoughts:

Toby: A great move. Two Dutch central defenders reminds me of the two Belgians who provided Spurs a solid platform for glory previously. We fell just short then, but we won't under De Zerbi.

Robert: Van Hecke is a decent player but I would much rather have seen us integrate Luka Vuskovic into the squad and used the money elsewhere. We need another striker and more creativity in midfield, with Xavi Simons out for some time and James Maddison only just back from a serious injury.

Doug: Cristian Romero and Radu Dragusin will go. I think De Zerbi may well opt for a back three in some games at least, meaning our main picks will be Van Hecke, Van de Ven and Marcos Senesi. That will leave Kevin Danso and Ben Davies as back-up. Then we need to decide what we do with the rest. I would love to see Vuskovic play for us, he deserves his chance but I don't see him getting it at the minute so he should be loaned out again. Players like Kota Takai and Ashley Phillips should be sold.

Tottenham striker Mason Melia is preparing for the club's pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia.

The 18-year-old, previously a Republic of Ireland youth international, will hope to impress under Roberto de Zerbi after joining Spurs in January amid strong competition from Premier League rivals, including Everton, Manchester City and Chelsea.

He signed from St Patrick's Athletic for an Irish record £1.6m fee, rising to £3.2m with add-ons, having played nearly 100 senior games before his 18th birthday, including matches in the Uefa Conference League.

However, Melia arrived with a niggling back problem that required treatment over the past six months.

He returned in early April and scored two goals, as well as providing an assist, in the final six under-21 matches of the Spurs academy season.

It remains unclear whether he can break into De Zerbi's plans or if a loan move will be considered later in the transfer window, which closes on 1 September.

Tottenham have signed Scotland forward Kirsty Hanson from Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee.

Hanson was impressive in the Women's Super League last season, scoring 12 goals in 22 matches.

Only Manchester City's Khadija Shaw and Arsenal's Alessia Russo scored more than Hanson, who was named Villa's player of the year.

She also scooped up WSL Football's goal of the season award for her strike against West Ham, and it is a major blow for Villa to lose her this summer.

"I'm absolutely delighted. It’s an exciting time to be a part of this club," said Hanson.

"I'm ready for a new challenge and I always want to be better every single day. Martin Ho, the staff and the players are at such an exciting point - and I want to be a part of that."

The 28-year-old had a year remaining on her contract at Villa and it is unknown what fee Tottenham have agreed to sign her for.

She has scored six goals in 48 Scotland appearances and will reunite with Spurs manager Ho, whom she worked with at Manchester United while he was assistant coach.

"I know Kirsty well from working with her previously and I know the qualities she brings both as a player and as a person," said Ho.

"She has strong experience in the league, international experience with Scotland and a clear hunger to keep pushing her game forward.

"We are delighted she has chosen to come to Tottenham Hotspur and I'm excited to work with her again in an environment where we believe she can continue to develop, contribute and become an important player for the club."

Tottenham had a strong campaign in 2025-26, finishing fifth in the table in Ho's first season in charge, and they have already shown ambition in the transfer market.

Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a £52m deal with Brighton for Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke.

Scotland defender Andy Robertson has already signed from Liverpool, with Argentinian centre-half Marcos Senesi agreeing a move from Bournemouth.

The arrivals of Van Hecke and Senesi will leave Roberto de Zerbi with a wealth of central defensive options.

But with no European football next term, how many of Tottenham's centre-halves will still be in north London at the start of the 2026-27 campaign?

Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin are already at the club, as well as 19-year-old defender Luka Vuskovic, who spent last season on loan at Hamburg but is reportedly wanted by Brighton as well as a host of top European sides.

Spurs fans are yet to see him in competitive action for the club, although could get a first-hand glimpse of the sought-after youngster's potential when England face Croatia on Wednesday.

Romero, meanwhile, who like Senesi is representing Argentina at the World Cup this summer, has spent five seasons at Spurs and captained the club to a first trophy in 17 years when they beat Manchester United to win the Europa League in 2025.

But he has long been touted with a move away, and the 28-year-old's availability - either through suspension or injury he only played 23 Premier League games last season and 18 the campaign before - is a source of frustration among supporters.

Dragusin has also been linked with an exit - the Romanian reportedly turned down Bayern Munich to join Spurs in January 2024 but an ACL injury has disrupted his time at the club and the new additions will push the 24-year-old further down the pecking order.

Should Romero and Dragusin depart, that would leave De Zerbi with Senesi, Van Hecke, Van de Ven and Danso, as well as with a decision to make over whether Vuskovic remains, goes on loan or is sold permanently.

It's worth noting Van de Ven started at left-back in the same Netherlands back four as Van Hecke on Sunday against Japan, but Spurs are also not short on bodies in that position with Robertson soon to arrive.

Or, with all these new arrivals, might De Zerbi opt for a back five?

Brighton have no immediate plans to make a fresh offer for Tottenham defender Luka Vuskovic.

The revelation Brighton have agreed a £52m deal with Tottenham for Jan Paul van Hecke to move to north London sparked suggestions of a renewed attempt to sign Vuskovic, the 19-year-old who will be part of Croatia's squad to face England on Wednesday.

Vuskovic is viewed as one of the most highly rated young players in Europe and Brighton have already had a £30m offer rejected for him.

After spending last season on loan in Germany with Hamburg, Vuskovic will face more competition for the central defensive positions with the arrival of Van Hecke, although there has been speculation over the future of skipper Cristian Romero.

Brighton are keeping across the situation but they will not be making another bid at the moment.

Evidently, they do need a replacement for Van Hecke, who started 36 out of their 38 Premier League games last season.

However, they do have time.

With a year left on his contract, Brighton feel they have negotiated an excellent deal around Van Hecke, particularly as his move to Tottenham includes what is regarded as a significant sell-on clause, should the 26-year-old Netherlands World Cup star leave the club at some point.

Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a £52m deal with Brighton for Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke.

The 26-year-old started in his country's 2-2 draw with Japan on Sunday at the World Cup.

Van Hecke has a year left on his current Brighton contract and showed no inclination to extend the deal.

Brighton had already turned down one offer for a player who joined them from NAC Breda in 2020.

However, they have now accepted Tottenham's offer, which should clear the way to Van Hecke rejoining former Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi in north London.

The deal also includes a significant sell-on clause with Brighton profiting further should Spurs sell the player.

Van Hecke made 131 appearances for the Seagulls and started 36 out of 38 Premier League games for Fabian Hurzeler's side last season as they secured an eighth-place finish. That secured European qualification for only the second time in the club's history.

Tottenham have already strengthened De Zerbi's squad in an effort to improve markedly on successive 17th-placed finishes.

Scotland defender Andy Robertson has already signed from Liverpool, with Argentinian centre-half Marcos Senesi agreeing a move from Bournemouth.

Pedro Porro has signed a new long-term contract with Tottenham, having made 152 appearances since arriving in January 2023 from Sporting CP.

The 26-year-old had two years remaining on the contract he signed when he joined Spurs and, while not disclosed, it is understood this new one will to run until 2031.

Head coach, Roberto De Zerbi, said: "Pedro is a very important player for us, who has consistently shown his ability to influence matches in both defensive and attacking situations.

"As well as his technical quality, I also love his mentality. Every day he wants to work, to learn and to improve, and these are the characteristics that help players reach the highest level.

"He understands football in a very intelligent way, and brings energy, intensity and personality to the team.

"This new contract is good news for everyone at the Club. We believe in Pedro, and I am excited to continue working with him and helping him achieve even more in the coming years."

Sporting Director, Johan Lange, added: "Securing Pedro's future was an important priority for us this summer.

"During the past three-and-half years, he has made huge progress to become one of the best full-backs in the game, and the fact he is about to play in the World Cup for Spain is testament to that."

Tottenham right-back Pedro Porro has signed a new, long-term contract with the club. The length of the deal has not been disclosed by Spurs, but the contract is understood to run until 2031.

Porro, 26, had two years remaining on the contract he signed when he joined Spurs on a permanent transfer from Sporting CP in the summer of 2023.

Spurs had initially signed Porro on loan in January 2023 with an obligation to make the move permanent that summer for £40 million.

The Spaniard has made 152 appearances for Spurs including 47 in all competitions last season, the most of anyone in Roberto De Zerbi's squad.

"During the past three-and-half years, he has made huge progress to become one of the best full-backs in the game, and the fact he is about to play in the World Cup for Spain is testament to that," said Spurs sporting director Johan Lange.

"His character, work ethic and quality are exactly what we look for when building a squad capable of competing at the highest level and we are delighted that he has chosen to continue his journey with the club."

Spurs boss De Zerbi added: "As well as his technical quality, I also love his mentality. Every day he wants to work, to learn and to improve, and these are the characteristics that help players reach the highest level.

"He understands football in a very intelligent way, and brings energy, intensity and personality to the team."