Cartilage Free Captain

Mateus Fernandes is one of the two main midfield targets for Tottenham Hotspur this summer along with Sandro Tonali. Both deals are “in process” but a new report in the Telegraph yesterday suggested that things are coming along nicely for Fernandes, with Spurs having “positive talks” with West Ham on a deal that could cost as much as £85m.

Miguel Delaney, chief football writer for the Telegraph, says that Spurs are moving quickly to lock down a deal for Fernandes, knowing that Manchester United is interested and was at least at one point the player’s first choice for a destination. Delaney writes that Spurs’ transfer fee package is bigger than that currently offered by United, and Spurs are also offering bigger wages, which could tip the balance. He also writes that Fernandes is open to the possibility of moving to Spurs this summer,

Between him and Tonali, Fernandes is the player whom I think makes more sense for Tottenham’s midfield going into next season. He’s younger, moderately passy, and a good deep lying playmaker. He’s no Adam Wharton, but there hasn’t been a lot of movement on that front, suggesting Wharton might be a backup option if deals for Fernandes or Tonali fall through.

Frankly, I’d be fine with Tonali falling through considering he’d likely cost between £85m-100m to buy from Newcastle and is very similar in profile to the multiple midfielders we already have. In short -- we have Lucas Bergvall at home!

Fernandes, however, I’d be okay with. Let’s hope this gets done sooner rather than later.

What I’m about to report on is basically confirmation of what we more or less already knew, but it’s still worth writing on. According to online transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham Hotspur have reached full agreement with Slovakia international and former Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka to sign the player as a free transfer. Dubravka, 38, will come in as an experienced backup to Antonin Kinsky, the young Czech keeper who basically won the job in the last few matches of the 2026-27 season.

As I said earlier, this is a good stop-gap measure. Kinsky is young and relatively inexperienced, but appears to have won the starting job after excelling for Spurs in the last several matches of the season while Guglielmo Vicario was injured. Dubravka can come in and do a job if needed, but will also be a good mentor for Kinsky as he assumes a prominent new role. It’s also somewhat amusing that we have a Czech keeper and a Slovakian backup, meaning we’re reconstituting the old Czechoslovakia in our goalkeeping corps.

And speaking of Vicario, Romano confirms that Spurs intend to sell him this summer, with a number of Italian clubs interested in bringing Googly Elmo back to Nona’s cooking, including Juventus and Napoli.

Like I said, the writing was on the wall here for a while, especially Vicario’s departure, which has seemed destined since the end of last season. Kinsky’s a good keeper -- I don’t know if he’s BETTER than Vicario at this stage, but he’s younger and has earned the right to be Spurs’ #1. Vicario will return to his home country most likely. I harbor no ill feelings towards him -- he was good fur Spurs when we needed a solid keeper after Hugo Lloris left for MLS, and is an excellent shot stopper. He’ll be good for whatever Serie A club signs him, and hopefully we’ll also get a decent fee in the process.

Well, I didn’t think I was supposed to do a Hoddle today, but apparently I was. So my streak of [checks notes] three Hoddles without screwing it up is now broken! Huzzah!

So here is where you can discuss the pertinent (non-politics/religious) topics of the day, plus football. There are additional stories to come this morning as well. We know what they are, as do you.

Hoddle away, good people.

Song of the Day: “Jazz on the Autobahn” (The Felice Brothers)

YO DAWG I HEAR YOU LIKE WORLD CUP POLLS SO I PUT A WORLD CUP POLL IN YOUR WORLD CUP POLL

Seriously, it’s time for another SB Nation Reacts World Cup poll, and this time it’s Tottenham-centric. We know there are a few current Spurs players at the World Cup this summer and while none of them are exactly setting the world on fire, they’ve put a few decent performances over the first two weeks.

So let’s year from you – out of the current crop of Tottenham players in North America for the World Cup, which one is doing the best? Which one has put in the most impressive performances over two matches for their home countries?

I picked the five I think make the most sense to include, but you can also add “Other” if you want, and put your answer in the comments.

We’ll be back with the results later. (And yes, this is a sponsored poll.)

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts. Be on the lookout for results from the survey soon!

Tottenham have made two free agent signings thus far and according to Alasdair Gold might be close to a third. Gold is reporting that Tottenham Hotspur is close to a free agent acquisition of former Burnley and Slovakia international keeper Martin Dubravka.

This is fine, and actually a quite decent signing, especially if he’s coming in as an experienced backup. The scuttlebutt around the club right now is that Robert De Zerbi and Spurs are ready to part ways with Guglielmo Vicario, with Juventus very interested in the Italian keeper. Antonin Kinsky impressed in Tottenham’s run-in this past season, ably filling in for the injured Vicario and even keeping him out of the side for the last couple of matches. That’s an impressive thing for a young keeper, especially after the disasterclass performance in the Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid at the Wanda, a performance that surely dented his confidence. Spurs are expected to give Kinsky the shot at the #1 spot in Vicario’s place, and that means Dubravka would be coming in to both push and back up Kinsky.

Honestly, bringing an experienced and elder keeper in to back up your young potential star is a good move. Dubravka is 37 but has been around the block a LOT over his career. Should Kinsky be injured or simply find himself not up to the task of being Tottenham’s starting keeper, I have no doubt Dubravka could come in and do a job. I wouldn’t imagine that his deal would be longer than 1-2 years – he’s certainly not a long term signing, but he’d be able to mentor Kinsky and step in easily if required. He’s also not Czech like Kinsky but is from the same part of Europe and could be a good life mentor as well.

I don’t hate this at all. While it’d be nice to have a backup keeper be English, homegrown and club trained, that doesn’t matter so much this season as Spurs don’t have to contend with European competition this season. It might make less sense next year if Spurs get back into Europe, but for now this is both fine and good. Let’s make it happen.

You might have noticed that Cuti Romero was subbed off midway through the second half of Argentina’s 2-0 World Cup win over Austria yesterday. Apparently he picked up a knock to his knee and was subbed off as a caution, and continues to experience some pain.

The good news is that while he is expected to rest for a couple of days and is now confirmed out of the last match of the group stage vs. Jordan, according to Argentine journo Gaston Edul he will remain with the Albiceleste and will likely be just fine for the Round of 32.

Argentina have already clinched progression to the next round, so it’s very likely that they will rest a number of their starters since Jordan isn’t especially good and the only thing left to play for is seeding. If the next round were to happen tomorrow, they’d face Uruguay as runners up in Group H, but they could just as easily face Cape Verde should they pip Uruguay to second next week.

Romero’s future at Tottenham Hotspur remains uncertain. There are strong links that suggest he is likely to leave Tottenham this summer, but there have also been reports that he wants to stay at Spurs and continue the new project underway under Roberto De Zerbi. So who knows! What we do know is that nothing is likely to be determined until after the World Cup, and Argentina is expected to go deep into the knockout rounds. Cuti’s future will not be determined anytime soon.

The likely exit of Tonali has similarities to Alexander Isak’s long-drawn move to Liverpool for £125m, although the ex-AC Milan midfielder has so far not kicked up a fuss with the transfer drama, agent-driven, according to sources close to the deal.

Chronicle Live understands that Tonali’s agency, GR Sports, will net 10 per cent of the transfer sale, with Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi having strong links with Tonali’s representatives.

Hi, Hoddlers! You get me again today, I guess.

A while ago, back when I was still doing player ratings on here (they’re coming back next season, don’t worry), I did a rating to non-alcoholic beers, as I was just tipping my toes into the world of n/a drinks as I grappled with “involuntary medical sobriety.” Well, I have the same issues and I’m now “voluntarily medically sober” – haven’t had a drink since December, 2025. I do miss some things about drinking – the ritual, mostly, but I do really love whiskey – but I do like having experiences without the crutch of alcohol getting involved. Plus, alcohol is a carcinogen, and I’d really like this cancer to not get any worse if I can help it.

I’ve done beer, but I’ve also started sampling and (mostly) enjoying n/a “spirits”, and some of them are actually pretty good! Science still hasn’t managed to make a n/a whiskey that actually tastes like whisky, but there are a bunch of herbal extractions and especially Italian(ish) amaros that I’m really coming to enjoy.

Here are a few things I’ve tried lately, thanks to a membership at thezeroproof.com. Anyone else have recommendations?

The Pathfinder

This is the first n/a spirit that I really loved from the very first sip. It’s an herbal amaro, kinda? Dark, funky, herbal, slightly spicy, hemp-based with notes of wormwood, ginger, orange, and pine. I love it on ice with a slice of lemon, but it’s equally good in a highball, or neat. It’s not exactly like fernet branca, but it’s also not NOT like it, y’know? Recommended.

Lapo’s Apertivo

Looking for a non-alcoholic Campari? You’ve got plenty to choose from, but this is one I’ve enjoyed. Bitter, herbal, citrus notes. You can make a mean phony negroni with this, and it’s beautiful in a highball with a couple dashes of orange bitters.

De Soi Spritz Italiano

OK, want something in a can you can throw in the fridge or a cooler for the beach or whatever occasion you want? This n/a spritz is one of the better ones I’ve tried lately. Small bottles, craft reputation, and not exactly cheap, it’s not an “everyday can” but if you don’t want a beer but still want something portable, this is a good choice.

Lucano Amaro Zero

Another bitter herbal concoction, but this leans into a different flavor profile, with notes of myrtle, citrus, and rosemary. It’s quite nice, but hard to find in my area.

Gnista Barrelled Oak Bourbon Style

Remember how I said science hadn’t discovered how to make a n/a whisky that tastes like whisky? Well, they still haven’t. Gnista is trying to fill that gap, but it’s not especially close. You get some similar notes in a dram of this -- wood, chocolate, smoke -- but it’s emphatically NOT whisky. I don’t particularly enjoy it straight or even on ice. If you try this with an open mind and aren’t expecting WHISKY, you can probably find some fun n/a cocktail applications for this stuff. After trying it, I think I’ll wait for science to catch up.

Song of the Day: “Halfway to Mexico” (Abigail Lapell)

Today’s Football Links

Somehow Manchester City still hasn’t appointed Pep Guardiola’s long-lost twin brother Enzo Maresca as manager yet, but they still intend to. (BBC)

Scotland fans have left Boston and have now invaded Miami. Apparently 8k fans are attending a Marlins game tomorrow? (Miami Herald)

Rade Bogvanovich made a really offensive and racist comment on Serbian TV about black footballers, and has been forced to apologize. That’s the least he should do. (The Guardian)

You all saw the bombshell news yesterday that Lucas Bergvall has expressed his desire to leave Tottenham Hotspur this summer after seeing his involvement decline last season under Thomas Frank, Igor Tudor, and Roberto De Zerbi. It’s not a transfer request as I understand it, but rather a “declaration of his wants.” And now we’re seeing the immediate effects of this report coming out, with Athletic writer Jacob Tanswell saying Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa are both showing early interest in the 20-year-old Swedish international.

Bergvall signed an extension last season and is now contracted to Spurs through 2031, but while like Luka Vuskovic he doesn’t have a ton of leverage, Spurs are said to not want to send him out on loan, and would want £45m to sanction a permanent transfer. That’s a significant increase over the £8.5m they paid to Djurgardens to sign him initially a couple of years ago.

But when Spurs signed Bergvall, they promised him certain things including a pathway to the first team, and over the past season Lucas has seen his minutes decline through a combination of injury and managerial decisions. Alasdair Gold at Football.London says that, in contrast to Postecoglou’s unwavering support, Thomas Frank was distant with Bergvall and never let him feel like he belonged. When Bergvall did get minutes it was frequently out wide or higher up the pitch, rather than in his preferred deeper role as an 8. After Roberto De Zerbi came in to rescue the club from relegation, he prioritized senior players that he thought could make the most impact, and that frequently left younger players including Bergvall and Archie Gray on the bench.

From the outside the match with Postecoglou’s successor Thomas Frank should have been perfect. Another Scandinavian and someone who would know Bergvall well.

Instead it just never really clicked. In contrast to his previous coaches, who had all looked to put an arm around the talented teenager, football.london understands the Dane did not speak to the young midfielder as much individually. Whether it was a ploy to keep Bergvall on his toes - those around some other young Spurs players speak of similar experiences - it instead created unease over whether the youngster was actually in Frank’s plans or not.

— Alasdair Gold, Football.London

It really does feel like things are shaping up for Bergvall to be sold this summer. The Athletic reports that Bergvall had interest from Villa and Chelsea last winter, which Spurs rejected, implying that Bergvall’s dissatisfaction might have extended back that far. Annoyingly, Nottingham Forest would be a pretty ideal place for him to land, since if Forest sell Elliot Anderson as expected, he could slot directly into that deeper playmaker role. Villa might also be an attractive option if they have an opening, but that feels more speculative for now unless Villa give up on extending the contract of Youri Tielemans.

Roberto De Zerbi obviously has his guys that he wants, based on the club’s public pursuit of Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali and West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes. We also don’t know how much contact De Zerbi has had with Bergvall about his future at Tottenham. But none of this feels especially good or will lead people to suggest that Lucas is likely to stay. My guess is that if a concrete offer comes in for Bergvall that’s close enough to Spurs’ asking price, he’ll be gone. That could prove to be a costly blunder, if he lands on his feet and develops for another Premier League club.

Hello Hoddlers. You get a substitute teacher again today as Fitzie deals with more day job stuff.

I have a discussion question for you today that isn’t football or World Cup related. What is your personal internal age? I don’t mean what age are you now, but what age do you FEEL like you are, in your head?

About a year and a half ago I spent a weekend in Michigan on a Lake Michigan lakeside cottage with a bunch of male friends of mine — a “men’s weekend” with excellent food, lots of alcohol, and zero plans. It was early spring and I had just finished my first full course of chemotherapy — everything looked good and I was at the time NED - “no evidence of disease.” One of my friends, a guy originally from Germany, broached this same topic with us one evening and had an interesting theory. According to him, your internal age is pegged to the last time you had a significant life-changing or -defining event happen to you.

For my friend, his internal age was 26, because that’s how old he was when he moved from Germany to the USA. And so he always feels 26, because that was a moment in his life that defined who he is. We then went around the circle and talked about our internal age and discussed my friend’s hypothesis.

I’ve thought about this conversation a lot over the past 18 months or so. It’s a very interesting way of looking at age and how we feel about our own ages as we get older. Most of my friends are in their 40s and 50s and at that gathering many of them said that their internal age was late 20s or early 30s.

Had you asked me pre-cancer diagnosis, I probably would’ve said “29” — the age I was when my eldest child was born. Since cancer, and chemo, I feel exactly my current age. Not to belabor the point, but cancer treatment is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. And to my friend’s hypothesis, it was and continues to be a defining moment in my life. I feel every one of the circuits around the sun I’ve lived. I don’t mean this as a pejorative, but I’ve lived through some stuff that other people have not. I feel older, yes, but also wiser, more grounded. I’m no longer chasing youth, but content to live more in the moment. I look in the mirror now and I see someone very different than five years ag0 — greyer, yes. A few more lines around the eyes. Maybe a bit haggard, but also someone much more content with the idea of getting older than just a couple of years ago. Life is a gift. Cancer has taught me that much.

What about the rest of you? What’s your internal age? Do you subscribe to my friends’ theory of internal age and life-defining moments? Have your say in the comments.

Track of the Day: “Bad Man” (Fightmaster)

No links today, I’m writing this at 11 p.m. and I’m just tired. But do what y’all always do — put stuff in the comments and let’s talk about it.