Inside Futbol

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Veteran goalkeeper Yann Sommer had an option to join Tottenham Hotspur this summer, but instead chose to go to Belgian side Club Brugge.

The north Londoners have shown their ambition in the summer window, as they have already brought in six new players.

Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka joined Spurs as free agents to beef up the quality of the squad, while cash was splashed elsewhere.

Roberto De Zerbi had been looking for a new goalkeeper, though he landed Dubravka and Antonin Kinsky looks likely to be the number 1.

It appears though that Tottenham had other irons in the fire and were hugely keen on Sommer.

According to Belgian daily Het Laatste Nieuws, the north Londoners wanted to bring in 94-time Switzerland-capped Sommer.

The 37-year-old left Italian giants Inter Milan this summer after his contract expired, and a handful of European clubs were keen on him.

The 37-year-old left Italian giants Inter Milan this summer after his contract expired, and a handful of European clubs were keen on him.

La Liga side Villarreal were also one of his suitors, but it has been suggested that he wanted to play as the first-choice goalkeeper.

Despite Tottenham’s significant financial power, he chose Club Brugge as his next club, instead of the north London giants.

Back in 2022, Spurs were linked with the ex-Switzerland international for a potential move, but he stayed put at Borussia Monchengladbach.

Sommer signed a three-year deal at the Belgian giants, who will be playing in the Champions League next season as well.

Ex-Newcastle United custodian Dubravka, though, has close to 200 Premier League appearances under his belt and will provide Tottenham with experience.

Now it remains to be seen who will be Tottenham’s first-choice goalkeeper ahead of the new campaign, with their pre-season set to kick off later this month.

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Tottenham Hotspur attacker Mathys Tel is ‘making headlines’ at Galatasaray, given how interested they are in him, with the Frenchman identified as a transfer target.

The north London club have been super active in the ongoing transfer window so far, as they have signed some key players.

The arrivals of Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali have been dubbed brilliant business, while the likes of Marco Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke have beefed up the backline.

However, after missing out on European football completely, following another 17th-placed finish in the league, the pressure is on to produce something special in the Premier League.

Some outgoings are also set to take place and the permanent departure of Luka Vuskovic to Brighton has seen Spurs pocket a £50m package.

Highly rated midfield star Lucas Bergvall could also leave, but Spurs have rejected an offer from Nottingham Forest for the Sweden international.

More Spurs stars are attracting European transfer interest this summer and this time it is versatile French forward Tel.

Former PL star Davinson Sanchez Leroy Sane Lesley Ugochukwu Ilkay Gundogan Lucas Torreira Former Premier League stars at Galatasaray

According to Turkish journalist Salim Manav, Galatasaray are keen on the 21-year-old Spurs man.

It has been suggested that the France Under-21 international is ‘making headlines’ at the Super Lig champions this summer.

Serie A club Roma have been linked with the ex-Bayern Munich man, but they are currently focused on West Ham United winger Crysencio Summerville.

The 21-year-old’s agents offered him to Cimbom earlier this month, and now the Turkish giants are also sounding out that idea.

However, he could also remain at the north London club, as Roberto De Zerbi rates the French youth international’s potential.

Tel’s current deal runs for five more years at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but with only 13 league starts last season, he could look to seek a new challenge.

Galatasaray will be able to provide Champions League football and it remains to be seen if they will make a move for the 21-year-old attacker in the coming days and weeks.

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Former scout Riccardo Guffanti has hailed Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario as a ‘top-notch’ player, while pointing to the Italian’s courageous decision to walk away from Udinese in pursuit of regular football as the defining moment behind his rise.

The 29-year-old’s future in north London has been clouded by uncertainty in recent months as he does not feature in Roberto De Zerbi’s plans.

The Italian tactician holds Antonin Kinsky in high regard, rewarding him with a new contract and viewing him as his first-choice goalkeeper, while Spurs have also strengthened the department with the arrival of Martin Dubravka.

As a result, Vicario has been exploring his options, with Tottenham even claimed to be open to sanctioning a loan move should a suitable opportunity arise and a loan fee offered.

Juventus have continued to keep tabs on the Italian and he has been identified as a viable option in Turin, although the Bianconeri are currently prioritising a move for Aston Villa custodian Emi Martinez.

A former Serie A goalkeeper has previously suggested Vicario would not improve the Old Lady, although a former Serie A boss has taken the opposite stance, labelling him as one of the finest shot-stoppers in European football.

Napoli have also been monitoring Vicario’s situation, with sporting director Giovanni Manna holding lengthy informal talks with the Italian last month.

The Serie A outfit’s pursuit, however, hinges on whether current number one Alex Meret commits his future to the club, with his contractual situation still unresolved.

Reflecting on Vicario’s journey, Guffanti argued the goalkeeper’s rise was built as much on personality and character as talent, praising his ability to overcome setbacks.

He recalled how Vicario made the rare decision to leave Udinese and instead drop into Serie D football because he refused to remain behind two established goalkeepers, stressing that very few young players would have the courage to take such a path purely in pursuit of regular football.

Guffanti added that Vicario’s willingness to take that gamble ultimately paid off, with the Tottenham goalkeeper gradually rebuilding his career after his spell in Serie D before his quality inevitably came to the fore.

He further lauded the Italian as a goalkeeper of the highest calibre, convinced his talent was always destined to shine through

Guffanti said on Radio Tutto Napoli (via Italian outlet Tutto Mercato Web): “I want to talk about Vicario because his story is exceptional in terms of his character choices.

“I always talk about personality, character, the ability to emerge from difficulties.”

He then shed light on the situation Vicario found himself in during his Udinese spell: “He truly had the strength and courage to ask to leave Udinese and preferred to go and play among the amateurs.

“He did it precisely for his personality and his character, because he didn’t want to remain closed off knowing he had two players in front of him, equally important players.

“It’s rare for a young man at that stage to decide to leave a professional club just to play for an amateur club.

“He followed that path, going to play in Serie D, then he recovered and slowly re-emerged, because in the end the quality of the players always comes out.

“And he is top-notch.”

Whether Napoli press ahead with a move for Vicario this summer should become clearer as the transfer window progresses, although a former Serie A goalkeeper has already backed the move, while an Italian legend has also spoken highly of the Spurs shot-stopper.

The Italian could yet emerge as an option for Juventus as well, although that would likely depend on their pursuit of Martinez failing to come to fruition.

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Tottenham Hotspur have a ‘very high’ valuation of full-back Djed Spence, but that has not stopped Inter Milan from considering a swoop for him.

The Nerazzurri want to bring in a new wing-back this summer and have just seen a swoop for Anan Khalaili called off due to a failed medical.

Now a number of new options are under consideration at the San Siro, with Inter Milan looking closely at who to make a move for.

Tottenham’s England international defender Spence is a player who is rated highly at Inter Milan and he is amongst those being considered.

According to Italian journalist Daniele Mari, Spence’s ‘valuation is very high’ at Tottenham, but Inter Milan do like him.

It is unclear just how much Tottenham might want to let Spence go and whether the numbers involved in the deal make a swoop for the defender a realistic one.

Spence would not be new to Italian football as he had a loan spell with Genoa in Serie A in 2024, which gave Inter Milan a chance to take an up close look at him.

The defender ended his stint having played 16 times in Serie A at Genoa

Genoa’s sporting director at the time declared that Spence had ‘untapped potential’ and the Italian side were keen to keep him.

Ultimately the finances of the deal did not work for Genoa and Spence stayed at Tottenham.

He has since made a place for himself in the Tottenham team, with his performances even booking a ticket to the World Cup with England.

If Inter Milan do press ahead with a swoop for Spence then developments are only likely once the World Cup has concluded.

Tottenham have added at the back this summer, but only brought in one full-back in the shape of the experienced Andrew Robertson.

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