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Van de Ven has spoken candidly about the club's transformative summer, suggesting that the record-breaking investment in the playing squad signals a vital shift in mentality. After a chaotic 2025-26 campaign that saw Spurs finish 17th for the second year running, the 25-year-old believes the board’s decision to back new manager Roberto De Zerbi with a £237m war chest is exactly what the dressing room required.

"It's really good that you can see the club has made some changes," the centre-back told BBC Sport during the club’s pre-season tour in Australia. "You can see the club has a new ambition. It's something that's really important for players who have been here for a long time. Last season was a stressful season, unacceptable from our side, so to leave all of that behind and go into the new season fresh means a lot."

The appointment of De Zerbi in late March marked a significant departure from the pragmatic approach of his predecessors. De Zerbi has already begun instilling a more expansive, possession-based philosophy. Van de Ven is particularly enthused by the tactical shift, noting that the Italian’s presence has revitalised a group of players whose confidence had been severely depleted during the struggle against the drop.

"It's going to be different compared to the manager we had last season," Van de Ven explained. "It's going to be more with the ball, I think, more about playing football. I think it's also going to be more enjoyable for people to watch because we'll be playing offensive football. You can see he [De Zerbi] has brought a lot of passion into our group, a lot in terms of mentality and passion on the pitch. It is something we needed because everybody was a little bit down. He brings a lot of good energy and, from pre-season, we have really had the time to bring his football into the team. That's really enjoyable."

Spurs have backed De Zerbi’s vision with unprecedented financial muscle, breaking their transfer record twice in the space of just 48 hours. The arrival of Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for £85m was quickly eclipsed by the sensational £100m signing of Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United. These marquee additions have been complemented by the £52m capture of Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton, alongside a trio of experienced free agents in Andrew Robertson, Marcos Senesi, and Martin Dubravka.

Van de Ven believes the quality of the new signings has already boosted the atmosphere during their travels in Sydney. "The feeling of the team is really good, to be honest," the defender added. "I have really enjoyed working with him [De Zerbi]. That's what we have been doing in this pre-season, and the guys who are coming in have been unbelievable as well. They have fit in well to the group."

With the foundations laid in pre-season and a revamped squad at his disposal, De Zerbi faces the challenge of translating this optimism into Premier League points. The manager has already issued a stern warning that any players unhappy with the new direction should find a way out of the club. For Van de Ven and the core of the team, the focus is now entirely on executing a vision that promises both results and entertainment. Tottenham are currently taking in a pre-season tour of Oceania. After defeating Auckland FC in New Zealand, they are next scheduled to face Sydney FC on Wednesday.

Van de Ven has spoken candidly about the club's transformative summer, suggesting that the record-breaking investment in the playing squad signals a vital shift in mentality. After a chaotic 2025-26 campaign that saw Spurs finish 17th for the second year running, the 25-year-old believes the board’s decision to back new manager Roberto De Zerbi with a £237m war chest is exactly what the dressing room required.

"It's really good that you can see the club has made some changes," the centre-back told BBC Sport during the club’s pre-season tour in Australia. "You can see the club has a new ambition. It's something that's really important for players who have been here for a long time. Last season was a stressful season, unacceptable from our side, so to leave all of that behind and go into the new season fresh means a lot."

The appointment of De Zerbi in late March marked a significant departure from the pragmatic approach of his predecessors. De Zerbi has already begun instilling a more expansive, possession-based philosophy. Van de Ven is particularly enthused by the tactical shift, noting that the Italian’s presence has revitalised a group of players whose confidence had been severely depleted during the struggle against the drop.

"It's going to be different compared to the manager we had last season," Van de Ven explained. "It's going to be more with the ball, I think, more about playing football. I think it's also going to be more enjoyable for people to watch because we'll be playing offensive football. You can see he [De Zerbi] has brought a lot of passion into our group, a lot in terms of mentality and passion on the pitch. It is something we needed because everybody was a little bit down. He brings a lot of good energy and, from pre-season, we have really had the time to bring his football into the team. That's really enjoyable."

Spurs have backed De Zerbi’s vision with unprecedented financial muscle, breaking their transfer record twice in the space of just 48 hours. The arrival of Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for £85m was quickly eclipsed by the sensational £100m signing of Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United. These marquee additions have been complemented by the £52m capture of Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton, alongside a trio of experienced free agents in Andrew Robertson, Marcos Senesi, and Martin Dubravka.

Van de Ven believes the quality of the new signings has already boosted the atmosphere during their travels in Sydney. "The feeling of the team is really good, to be honest," the defender added. "I have really enjoyed working with him [De Zerbi]. That's what we have been doing in this pre-season, and the guys who are coming in have been unbelievable as well. They have fit in well to the group."

With the foundations laid in pre-season and a revamped squad at his disposal, De Zerbi faces the challenge of translating this optimism into Premier League points. The manager has already issued a stern warning that any players unhappy with the new direction should find a way out of the club. For Van de Ven and the core of the team, the focus is now entirely on executing a vision that promises both results and entertainment. Tottenham are currently taking in a pre-season tour of Oceania. After defeating Auckland FC in New Zealand, they are next scheduled to face Sydney FC on Wednesday.

Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio has spoken out on the club's pursuit of Romero, acknowledging that active discussions are underway. The Italian side are eager to finalise a deal for the 28-year-old centre-back in the coming weeks.

Ausilo told Sky Italy: “It’s definitely a deal we are trying to sign with the player and the club. These things take some time but there’s definitely interest. Let’s see.”

The Nerazzurri are preparing to submit their first official offer, which is expected to be a loan deal carrying a mandatory purchase clause. While Tottenham had initially valued their captain at approximately €50 million, the total package being readied by the Italian champions is thought to be worth around €40m - per SportMediaset. The player’s representatives have already been spotted in Milan this weekend to conduct face-to-face meetings with the Inter hierarchy.

After five years in north London, Romero appears ready for a new challenge in a familiar league and The Guardian reports that Tottenham are ready to let him depart. The defender previously established himself at Atalanta before moving to England, and he reportedly views a switch to the San Siro as the perfect next step for his career following his exploits on the world stage.

Romer has made 156 appearances for Tottenham since arriving in 2021 and was a pivotal figure in the squad that secured Europa League glory last year. However, his disciplinary record became a point of contention during the 2025-26 season, where he served four separate suspensions.

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has already begun the process of reshaping his defensive unit, which has made the club more open to sanctioning Romero's departure. Spurs been proactive in the transfer market, securing the services of Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton in a deal worth £52m and signing Romero's Argentina team-mate Marcos Senesi on a free transfer.

The flexibility shown by Spurs in these talks is largely due to these recent acquisitions, ensuring the squad is not left short-handed at the back. While losing a leader of Romero's stature is never ideal, the significant financial injection from a potential sale would allow De Zerbi to continue his overhaul of the first-team squad.

For Inter, the potential acquisition of Romero would represent a major statement of intent as they look to defend their domestic crown and compete at the highest level in Europe. They are looking for a player with specific top-level experience, and Romero’s pedigree as a World Cup winner makes him the ideal candidate.

Negotiations will likely intensify in the coming days, with Ausilio expected to lead a new round of talks with Spurs officials shortly. With the player's heart seemingly set on a return to Italy, the onus is now on the two clubs to reach a compromise on the final price tag.

Tottenham have already invested over £200 million this summer, bringing in players such as Jan Paul van Hecke, Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali to avoid a repeat of last season's relegation struggle.

However, De Zerbi revealed following a 2-0 pre-season friendly victory against Auckland FC that Tottenham are far from finished in the transfer market.

The manager emphasised the need for further attacking reinforcements and explained his ambition to continue strengthening the squad over the coming weeks. De Zerbi stated: “We have to finish the window of this transfer market, because it's not finished yet, our transfer market.”

De Zerbi expects Tottenham to be in an even better position once the current transfer window concludes. He highlighted the ongoing discussions with the club hierarchy regarding the overarching vision for the club.

“I think we can be happier at the end of this transfer market, because I spoke a lot of time with the owner, with the board, and they want to build a very strong team for this season for sure, but to make the base for the future to become great again,” De Zerbi explained.

The manager also noted that Tottenham have to improve their physical condition and ensure the new arrivals quickly adapt to his specific style of play ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

Beyond new signings, Tottenham are closely evaluating their academy prospects. Mikey Moore spent last season on loan at Rangers and has impressed during pre-season, but De Zerbi remains undecided on whether the 18-year-old will depart on another temporary deal. “We have to see,” he said.

“We have to analyse the last part of the transfer market, because we try to bring wingers, and then we speak with him, with his agent, with the club, to find the best solution for everyone.”

Additionally, Luca Williams-Barnett and Malachi Hardy have caught the eye. De Zerbi added: “Luca is a big talent, very young, big talent. Malachi is another good player for the future of the club.”

Tottenham will continue their pre-season preparations as De Zerbi works to integrate the recent arrivals and finalise his squad. The club are expected to pursue additional attacking targets before the deadline while carefully managing the immediate futures of young talents like Moore and Williams-Barnett.

As the new season approaches, Tottenham have to balance first-team recruitment with academy development to navigate domestic financial regulations successfully.

Inter Milan continue to work on strengthening their squad during the summer transfer window, placing the reinforcement of their defence among their priorities, as the Italian league champions seek to add a player with experience and quality before the start of the new season, while contacts accelerate with one of the most prominent defenders in the English league.

Italian network Sportmediaset revealed that Inter have intensified negotiations with Tottenham Hotspur to sign Argentine defender Cristian Romero, who has expressed his agreement to return to the Italian league five years after leaving Atalanta.

Romero, 28, sees the move to Inter as the ideal step in his career. It comes after he reached the final of the 2026 World Cup.

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Inter's management are now preparing to submit their first official offer: a loan for the player with an obligation to buy, in a deal worth a total of 40 million euros.

Sporting director Piero Ausilio is expected to hold a new round of negotiations with Tottenham officials over the coming days, aiming to reach a final agreement.

Tottenham had initially demanded 50 million euros in exchange for giving up their captain. But Romero's clear desire to join Inter has handed the Italian club an advantage in the talks.

Spurs have also rearranged their defensive options this summer, signing Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi, which has made them more flexible when weighing up the offers for Romero.

An agreement with the player himself is not expected to prove a stumbling block, following positive talks with his representatives, while the two clubs continue to work on finalising the deal before the transfer market closes.

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The worlds of Hollywood and the Premier League collided in unexpected fashion when Holland, known globally for his role as Spider-Man, attempted to play the part of a football agent. Holland, a die-hard Tottenham fan, reached out to Haaland during the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix, at a time when the striker was the most coveted talent in world football following a 41-goal season at Borussia Dortmund.

Haaland eventually addressed the snub on his YouTube channel, clarifying that he was not intentionally being cold to the movie star. The City forward admitted he was unaware of who Holland was at the time of the initial message.

"That's the Spider-Man guy, and I don't watch Spider-Man," Haaland explained, while detailing the contents of the message he received.

The 26-year-old striker said it read: "'Hiya mate, just saw you in Monaco. If you want to grab a drink or something, give me a shout. And please come join Spurs.'"

While Haaland's eventual destination was Man City, where he has since broken countless records, he did eventually reply to the actor once he realised who was behind the message.

Haaland wanted to clear the air after reports suggested he had rudely dismissed Holland as just "a random person."

"I said it in a funny way, but it got taken out of context," Haaland explained. "I sounded a bit rude, so I sent him a message because I felt bad."

He then shared the exact text he sent to the actor to smooth things over: "There's a story going around that I was ignoring you. I just wanted to make sure you know that wasn't my intention. And by the way, I'm not too sure about Spurs at the moment, but who knows in the future?"

Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Holland joked about the lack of interest from the world’s best striker. "That is exactly the type of humbling experience that is important for actors," Holland said, laughing off the fact that his celebrity status carried no weight with the City star.

The timing of Holland’s comments also coincided with international heartbreak for Haaland, as England had recently defeated Norway 2-1 in the 2026 World Cup quarter-final. This led Holland to wonder if the invitation for a meal was still on the table. "I don't think he would have dinner with me after the other day," the actor remarked, acknowledging that Haaland would likely be "hurting" from the defeat.

Despite the initial awkwardness and the rejection of a move to the Tottenham, it seems a friendship is finally blossoming. After seeing the clips of Holland’s interview circulating on Instagram, Haaland decided it was time to finally accept the offer that had been sitting in his inbox for years.

In a comment that quickly went viral among football and movie fans alike, Haaland tagged the actor and wrote: "Dinner invitation accepted. A little late. Just name the place!"

Woking director of football Jody Brown has revealed the reasons behind the club's decision to terminate Defoe's contract after just four months in charge. The former Tottenham and England striker was dismissed on Thursday after overseeing six league matches, with the National League club now searching for a new manager ahead of the new season.

Brown admitted appointing Defoe had been his decision but said "growing concerns" from across the club ultimately forced Woking to act. He claimed feedback from players, staff, and other departments raised questions over the manager's commitment in the weeks leading up to his departure.

Explaining the decision, Brown accepted responsibility for Defoe's appointment before outlining why the club chose to end his spell.

"The recommendation to appoint Jermain as manager was mine, and I take full responsibility for it," he told the club's official website. "After meeting with him on several occasions, I believed he was the right person to lead the club into an exciting new era... However, in recent weeks there had been feedback from across the club, including players, staff and other departments, regarding growing concerns."

Brown also alleged Defoe and his assistant failed to attend key commitments as preparations for the campaign continued, adding: "A meeting was subsequently scheduled involving the directors, manager, assistant manager and head of operations to review preparations for the season. Neither Jermain nor his assistant attended that meeting or that day's training session."

Defoe presented a different version of events after his departure, insisting circumstances behind the scenes made it impossible for him to continue despite his belief in the project.

He said: "Unfortunately, circumstances have ultimately made it impossible for me to continue in the position. I am extremely proud of the work undertaken during my time at the club and genuinely felt that we were building something special."

The 43-year-old leaves after 116 days in charge, having recorded two wins and one defeat in six league matches. His final game was a 1-0 pre-season friendly defeat to Braintree Town before relations between the manager and the club broke down.

Woking must move quickly to appoint a replacement before the National League season gets underway, with an opening fixture against Sutton United fast approaching. The club now faces the task of rebuilding after an appointment that ended in public disagreement.

For Defoe, the short-lived spell represents his first senior managerial role after previous coaching positions at Rangers and Tottenham, with the former striker expected to take the experience into his next opportunity.

Xavi Simons has broken his silence on leaving Barcelona in 2019 and joining the ranks of Paris Saint-Germain.

The Tottenham star grew up at La Masia and stood out as one of the brightest talents in the Catalan club's youth ranks. Yet after a full decade in a Barcelona shirt, he chose Paris.

Seven years on, and before the start of his second season with Tottenham, Simons has finally given his side of the story. His departure, he confirmed, came because Barcelona preferred to put their trust in other players.

Spanish newspaper "Sport" published his comments to The Sports Agents podcast, where he said: "It was clear from the beginning that they did not believe in me. At that time, I decided not to speak because I was focused only on what I offered on the pitch."

He continued: "They told me that they had another group of players they trusted, and that they wanted to offer me a contract, but that I was not among the players who form a real part of the project."

"For me, the decision was clear," he added. "At that time, people did not know what actually happened behind the scenes; they only had opinions based on what they had heard, because there were stories that spread claiming I left for the money."

Did it hurt? "Of course," he said. "I spent my whole life there, and I went through different situations, and I lived through everything inside this club. My entire childhood was there."

Then came the sting of the rumours. "I love Barcelona, and so the spread of that account hurt me, and it also hurt my family, because it was not true," he noted.

The truth, Simons explained, was simpler than many imagined. "At that time they preferred other players. And for me, that was a good thing, because Paris already had a huge project."

At 16, he was rubbing shoulders with the elite. "I was training in Paris, at the age of 16, alongside the best players in the world. It did not need much thinking, the decision was easy. Barcelona did not trust me, and so my choice was clear."

One man made the move easier. On his experience at Paris, he said: "Neymar was the closest to me, and he told me: if you need anything, call me or send me a message or come to my house and we will sort it out. I will remain grateful to him forever. Besides being my role model, today I can consider him a friend."

Elsewhere in the lengthy interview, Simons opened up on the first months of recovery from the serious cruciate ligament rupture he suffered at the end of April, an injury that ruled him out of the 2026 World Cup.

"The first two days were extremely harsh," he said. "The first thing I thought of was the World Cup, and I asked the referees to allow me to try to stand one last time. I felt my knee come out of place and then return to it, and at that moment I realised that something serious had happened."

The confirmation broke him. "When they confirmed to me that it was the worst possible scenario, I felt as if the entire world had collapsed on top of my head," he added.

He concluded: "I told myself that I should not put too much pressure on myself. I am improving day by day, and that is something that makes me very happy."

Xavi Simons has been through the toughest spell of his life, he says on Tottenham Hotspur's club channels. The Dutchman suffered a serious knee injury at the end of last season.

On 25 April, disaster struck for Simons. During Tottenham's league match against Wolverhampton Wanderers, he twisted awkwardly and tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

That injury ruled Simons out of the World Cup with the Netherlands, as well as the crucial run-in at club level. Tottenham were locked in a nerve-shredding relegation battle at the time. Simons could barely stand the fact he could not help his team.

"It was a move I had probably made ten thousand times in my life," Simons recalls of the moment. "Just when I wanted to go past him, my opponent decided to step in front of me. I felt my legs pinned to the ground while my body went the other way."

"I said to myself, 'Let me see if something is wrong, let me get up.' I tried to get up, but then I felt my knee pop out of place and go straight back in. That was when I knew it was over. The doctors called me over and said: 'Xavi, we're sorry, but it's the anterior cruciate ligament.' When I heard that, it felt as if my whole body collapsed."

After that came the tears. "Of course I cried, just like my family," Simons said. "The next day my mother came to our house. I remember us sitting at the table in the morning and I just kept thinking that I was missing the most important thing: helping my club in the fight against relegation. She said to me: 'Xavi, stop it. It has happened. There is nothing you can do about it now. This is simply what has happened. You have to accept it and move on.'"

From then on, the midfielder's mindset changed, although the rehabilitation was mentally draining above all. "The first four days were the worst of my life. I couldn't sleep. I didn't eat anything for a week. I was in so much pain, I had to vomit, I was dizzy... it was terrible. I wouldn't wish that pain on anyone," Simons says.

Now the Netherlands international is on the way back, although he is not expected to return to the pitch until the next calendar year. "I'm doing well. I'm with my family and we have worked very hard. They have been through a lot with me over the past ten weeks. I also have the support of my club, and when I see how my body is responding, I think: 'Okay, this is going in the right direction.' Every day I want to improve and that motivation is very valuable to me," he says hopefully.

Arsenal and Tottenham are preparing to battle for Nusa after the Norway international enhanced his reputation at the World Cup, as per The Sun. The 21-year-old emerged as one of Europe's most exciting young attackers following an impressive Bundesliga campaign and a strong tournament, making six appearances and scoring Norway's first goal in the last-32 victory over Ivory Coast. His performances have intensified interest across the continent, although Leipzig remain firm on their £51 million valuation.

Arsenal are taking a patient approach before making a formal move, with the club waiting to assess interest in Gabriel Martinelli. While the Gunners are not actively looking to sell the Brazilian, an offer worth more than £51 million from Europe or Asia could change their stance. Leandro Trossard has already joined Besiktas, while Christos Tzolis has arrived from Club Brugge. Arsenal also missed out on top target Morgan Rogers after Chelsea completed a £117 million deal.

Spurs are equally interested but must first trim their squad. The futures of returning loanees Manor Solomon and Mikey Moore need resolving before Spurs can launch an official bid.

Nusa's admirers extend well beyond the Premier League. AC Milan and AS Roma have already opened direct talks with the winger's representatives as they attempt to steal a march on the English clubs. The same report claims that Milan view Nusa as a priority target and hope to finance a move by selling Rafael Leao, while Roma are prepared to test Leipzig with a £38 million offer.

Meanwhile, Spurs still have room for another winger after injuries ruled Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert out of the club's pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia.

Nusa is understood to be open to a new challenge following his successful World Cup, raising the prospect of negotiations accelerating in the coming weeks. However, every interested club faces the same obstacle. Convincing Leipzig to lower their £51 million asking price is expected to be the key factor before any deal can move closer to completion.