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A fresh update has shed light on what Xabi Alonso’s stance is on Rodrygo and has made a big claim about the rumours, suggesting that Tottenham are now pushing ahead with a move for the Real Madrid star.

Regular readers of Spurs Web will be aware that several Spanish outlets have claimed over the past few days that Tottenham are advancing their interest in Rodrygo.

According to some sources, Spurs have already started talks with Real Madrid over a deal for Rodrygo, whose future at the Santiago Bernabeu is in major doubt.

In fact, it was even claimed by AS on Tuesday that Tottenham want to make Rodrygo the crown jewel of the Thomas Frank project and are not put off by Real Madrid’s asking price of €90m (£76m).

Tottenham are not looking to sign a wide-forward like Rodrygo

This update comes from The Athletic, who say that Alonso and the Real Madrid hierarchy will not stand in the Brazilian’s way if a fair offer arrives through the door.

The outlet claims that Arsenal held talks with the winger’s entourage earlier this summer, but they are now focused on strengthening other positions and are happy with their options at left wing.

Paris Saint-Germain have denied any interest in Rodrygo, while Liverpool are now prioritising landing Alexander Isak from Newcastle United.

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However, interestingly, the publication asserts that despite claims to the contrary from the Spanish press, Tottenham Hotspur are not looking at players in Rodrygo’s position at the moment.

Spurs may soon have a big vacancy to fill at left wing

While Spurs are not short of options in attack, Thomas Frank has hinted that Tottenham may sign another wide-forward, who is good in one-on-one situations and can make runs in-behind the opposition backline.

That might be because an increasing number of sources are now reporting that Heung-min Son is edging closer to a move to Los Angeles FC.

Cristian Romero’s future at Tottenham appears to be taking shape, and for once, it is good news for Spurs fans hoping the club keeps its top stars.

One of Tottenham Hotspur’s main focuses this summer window is to keep hold of some of their better players, while they strengthen the rest of their squad.

Spurs have looked to show some ambition so far this summer, signing Mohammed Kudus for £55 million, making him their fourth most expensive signing ever in their history.

Tottenham looked to show more ambition following that move, swiftly looking to sign Morgan Gibbs-White after having paid up his release clause, but Spurs have since missed out on the Forest midfielder, following his signing of a new contract.

Cristian Romero now expected to stay at Tottenham

It remains to be seen if Tottenham show more ambition this summer following their recent setback.

However, on the other front, in terms of keeping their best players, Spurs look to have made significant strides in that regard, as the New York Times is now reporting that Tottenham defender Cristian Romero is likely to remain at Hotspur Way this summer.

Romero has been subject to consistent links with a move away from Tottenham, with Atletico Madrid showing a keen interest in landing the Argentine.

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However, the Spanish outfit’s interest has since cooled off, as they are reported to have turned their attention to other targets.

Why keeping Cristian Romero is key for Spurs

Of course, Romero’s remaining at Tottenham is a major boost to the north London club looking to compete on all fronts next season, including in the Champions League.

Romero is a player with a host of experience, having won the Copa America, World Cup and more recently the Europa League, which makes it even more important to keep him at Tottenham given his experience and leadership.

Cristian Romero was labelled the best defender in the world by Liverpool star Mac Allister, showing just how highly rated he is among his peers.

A Tottenham midfielder is reportedly one of six to eight targets Al-Ahli are prioritising this summer, as the Saudi club looks to make another splash in the transfer market.

Tottenham Hotspur are keen to strengthen their midfield this summer, as we saw with their £60million attempt to sign Morgan Gibbs-White.

However, while Tottenham are looking to bolster that area of the pitch, Spurs are also open to offloading one of their current midfielders this summer, Yves Bissouma.

Bissouma has attracted interest from sides in Europe, including Fenerbahce and Juventus, yet Tottenham have still not managed to sanction a sale for the Malian.

Al-Ahli eye Tottenham’s Yves Bissouma in summer rebuild

Journalist Ben Jacobs has now reported that Yves Bissouma is among a host of players attracting interest from Al-Ahli this summer.

It is understood that the Saudi Arabian club are looking to sign six to eight new players, and Bissouma is one of the names currently being considered.

The Tottenham midfielder is joined on Al-Ahli’s shortlist by the likes of Bilal El Khannouss and Wilfred Ndidi, while Morgan Gibbs-White has also been scouted by the Middle Eastern outfit.

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Spurs pre-season minutes offer Bissouma showcase

While Tottenham are actively looking to sell Bissouma, the 28-year-old midfielder has still been involved in the club’s pre-season fixtures in recent weeks.

Bissouma featured against Reading in the holding midfield role, and then played against Luton Town in a hybrid role that saw him cover at left-back at times and drop in to help Tottenham build with a back three.

Tottenham Hotspur kick off their Asian pre-season tour with the first-ever overseas North London Derby against Arsenal on Saturday at the brand-new Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong.

It feels a bit odd to put “North London Derby” and “Friendly” in the same sentence, so we’ll try to avoid that wherever possible.

When this fixture was first announced, reactions were mixed. One set of fans felt that derbies like this -arguably one of football’s fiercest rivalries- should be sacred to N17 or the Emirates to preserve the authenticity. Others welcomed the idea, arguing that an extra clash, even in pre-season, only benefits everyone involved: fans across the globe, clubs financially, and players who’ll get to test themselves in derby conditions without the pressure of points.

Arsenal are the designated home team for this one, and they come into the clash with confidence. The Gunners saw off AC Milan 1-0 before edging Newcastle 3-2, both in Singapore. Their 2024/25 campaign saw them finish second in the Premier League for the 3rd time in a row and reach the Champions League semi-finals, but it all ended trophyless. That’s a record they’ll be desperate to change.

Meanwhile, Spurs’ return to Europe came in style. After a dismal domestic league finish that left them just above the relegation zone, they still managed to win a long-awaited European trophy and secure Champions League football in the upcoming season.

Thomas Frank’s tenure at Tottenham Hotspur began against 3 League One oppositions. First, a 2-0 win over Reading, followed by back-to-back draws against Wycombe (2-2) and Luton Town (0-0) on the same day.

Now, it gets serious. Spurs face Premier League sides, German giants Bayern Munich, and then the long-anticipated UEFA Super Cup final against PSG.

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What time does Arsenal vs Tottenham kick off?

Location: Hong Kong

Stadium: Kai Tak Sports Park, Kowloon City

Date: Thursday, 31st July 2025

Kick-off Time: 12:30 pm BST

Where to watch the friendly between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur

Both clubs will stream the match on their official platforms; Arsenal.com and SPURSPLAY, for fans with active subscriptions. Do note, availability may vary depending on your region.

For fans in the US, the match will be available on Paramount+, while supporters in India can stream the game via FanCode.

Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur: Head-to-head record

While this game won’t count towards the official head-to-head tally, it’s still a derby, and fans will want to walk away with bragging rights.

Spurs haven’t tasted derby victory since May 2022, going winless in the last four clashes under Ange Postecoglou. Arsenal claimed three wins and a draw in that period, dominating the recent chapters of this rivalry.

For Thomas Frank, this fixture might be a friendly, but a win here would go a long way with the fanbase and set the tone ahead of a massive season.

Tottenham team news

Thomas Frank confirmed that Destiny Udogie, Manor Solomon, and Kota Takai haven’t travelled due to injury, while Radu Dragusin, Dejan Kulusevski, and Bryan Gil remain at Hotspur Way for rehabilitation.

Mikey Moore, Alfie Devine, and Dane Scarlett have also stayed behind to explore loan opportunities.

On a positive note, Frank shared updates on Rodrigo Bentancur and Dominic Solanke, both of whom missed last weekend’s double-header. Solanke is “progressing well”, though remains a doubt, while Bentancur is ready to return.

No fresh signings have arrived since Mohammed Kudus, after the late collapse of the Morgan Gibbs-White deal.

There have been links to exciting talents and a few big names, but nothing concrete yet has developed.

Arsenal team news

Gabriel Jesus, who has been linked with an unexpected move to Spurs, remains out. Meanwhile, Gabriel Martinelli and Jurrien Timber are both recovering from hamstring and ankle problems, respectively.

Riccardo Calafiori is also expected to miss out due to a muscle injury.

However, fans can expect to see new marquee signing Viktor Gyokeres in action, who is likely to make his Arsenal debut in this very derby.

Predicted Tottenham line-up

Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Bentancur, Gray, Bergvall; Kudus, Tel, Son.

Predicting starting XIs for friendlies hardly ever go right, but most of the players listed above should feature at some point. Due to the lack of left-back options, there’s a fair bit of chance Frank won’t repeat the experiment of playing Jamie Donley there like he did against Luton – even for 45 minutes.

Our prediction

This one might not count in the table, but it counts. The atmosphere, the pressure, the fans, everything about the North London Derby still matters, whether it’s July or November.

Mohammed Kudus could light it up for Spurs, while Arsenal fans will have their eyes glued on Viktor Gyokeres as he makes his first appearance in red.

Derbies are rarely predictable, but this one feels like it could tilt Tottenham’s way. Arsenal may have the recent bragging rights, but with Frank keen to make a statement, we’re backing Spurs to edge this.

A centre-back, who Tottenham Hotspur have been credited with a serious interest in over the last few weeks, could line up against Spurs in the UEFA Super Cup clash in two weeks.

Reports first emerged a couple of weeks ago that Tottenham are ready to make a big offer for Illia Zabarnyi, and since then, a number of other sources have talked up the Lilywhites’ interest in the Bournemouth man.

This includes an update by Duncas Castles, who asserted that Spurs have already made a bid of €70m (£60.6m) for Zabarnyi, who is also being targeted by Paris Saint-Germain.

Football Insider even reported last week that Tottenham are the front-runners to land Zabarnyi, with Andoni Iraola’s men unlikely to turn down offers of over £60m for the young centre-back.

However, despite these reports, many sources have maintained over the last few weeks that Zabarnyi would prefer to join PSG over Spurs this summer if the Parisians can reach an agreement with Bournemouth.

The centre-back may now get his wish as the Ligue 1 giants are attempting to do just that as they aim to send a bid to the South Coast club.

This update comes from Fabrizio Romano, who says that the Ukrainian had agreed on personal terms with PSG last month.

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However, he adds that despite rumours suggesting otherwise, Tottenham Hotspur have not held any concrete talks over the Cherries star this summer.

Romano tweeted: ‘Ilya Zabarny wants PSG and Paris Saint-Germain are set to improve their bid! The verbal agreement has been reached with Zabarnyi in June and PSG are set to approach Bournemouth again. No active talks with Tottenham so far despite reports.’

Why Tottenham may have changed their mind on Zabarnyi

A possible reason Tottenham’s interest in the Bournemouth man may have cooled could be that Cristian Romero now looks likely to remain at Spurs.

In fact, some outlets have even claimed that Romero is the favourite to be made the captain by Thomas Frank, particularly as Heung-min Son edges closer to the exit door.

Tottenham take on fierce rivals Arsenal in a highly anticipated pre-season showdown overseas, and we have highlighted five key players to keep an eye on as Thomas Frank continues shaping his squad ahead of the new campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur are slowly coming to the end of their pre-season preparations, with the Premier League season now just a couple of weeks away from kick-off.

Next up for Tottenham in their preparations for the upcoming season is a clash against fierce rivals Arsenal in Hong Kong, China – a match that marks the first ever north London derby to be staged outside of England.

New manager Thomas Frank will be hoping to lay down an early marker with a win over one of Spurs’ biggest rivals on Thursday, even if the encounter is only a pre-season friendly.

For Tottenham fans, there will certainly be a few things worth keeping an eye on during the game, and we have highlighted five players to watch.

James Maddison fitness watch for Tottenham vs Arsenal

James Maddison has been out for several months, having picked up an injury at the back end of last season – one that ruled him out of both the Europa League semi-final and final.

Maddison has been working his way back to full fitness and even returned to the training pitch last week ahead of Tottenham’s pre-season trip to Asia.

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Interestingly, Maddison was among the players to make the journey to the Far East, which suggests a return for the 28-year-old is close. It could very well come against Arsenal on Thursday – perhaps in the form of a short cameo off the bench.

Spurs will be waiting on Dominic Solanke’s return

Tottenham fans are no strangers to injury issues, and just last week, Thomas Frank had to navigate what can only be described as a minor crisis within his squad.

Dominic Solanke was one of three Spurs players absent from the recent double-header of friendlies, with Destiny Udogie and Rodrigo Bentancur also sidelined.

The England international did make the trip to Asia, but it remains unclear whether he will recover in time for the clash against Arsenal.

Tottenham have turned to Mathys Tel and Richarlison to lead the line in Solanke’s absence – a situation that could persist if he is not fit to start.

Jamie Donley could feature at left-back again for Spurs

Tottenham’s left-back position is fast becoming a real problem area in Frank’s squad, and we have spoken previously about the urgency to address it before the season begins.

At present, Ben Davies is the only recognised senior left-back available, following Destiny Udogie’s knee injury, which ruled him out of the match against Luton Town.

Djed Spence could be an option on the left, although Frank has typically deployed him on the right so far.

Jamie Donley did get minutes at left-back during the Luton Town match, and with the 20-year-old among five academy prospects on the Asia tour, he could continue in that role during pre-season.

Mohammed Kudus set for first north London derby in Spurs shirt

Tottenham’s new signing, Mohammed Kudus, has been one of the standouts in pre-season so far.

The former West Ham United midfielder made a strong impression during a lively cameo against Reading, where he provided an assist and was involved in the build-up to Will Lankshear’s goal from a corner.

Kudus is now poised to feature in his first north London derby on Thursday – albeit in a pre-season setting. He will be no stranger to the rivalry, having played in several heated encounters while at West Ham.

Could this be Heung-min Son’s final north London derby?

Heung-min Son was always going to be included in Tottenham’s pre-season tour of Asia.

The 33-year-old remains an iconic figure in the region, and given Tottenham’s commercial agreements with investors, it is all but certain Son will feature heavily in matches against Arsenal and Newcastle United.

Dominic Ball has lifted the lid on Jamie Donley’s mentality and rise at Leyton Orient, after the young Tottenham midfielder’s tough start out on loan.

Sometime last season, Jamie Donley opened up on his goal for this summer, stating that he wants to fight for a spot in the Tottenham Hotspur first team.

The midfielder, capable of playing in a host of positions, including as a right winger, a central midfielder, a centre-forward and an attacking midfielder, impressed during his time out on loan at Leyton Orient.

It was his first loan spell ever in his career, and Donley was outstanding for the O’s, winning Leyton Orient’s Player of the Season, after scoring eight goals while also grabbing 11 assists.

Dominic Ball speaks on Jamie Donley’s mentality during Leyton Orient spell

Speaking to talkSport, Dominic Ball, who came through the Tottenham youth setup, playing with the likes of Harry Kane, has now opened up on what it was like playing with Jamie Donley on loan at Leyton Orient.

The former Tottenham man opened up on how Donley recovered from a tough few months during his loan spell at Leyton Orient.

He said: “That was his first loan, his first length of games, and there was a period at the start of the season where he was not playing and things were not going well, and he had a choice to make.

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“Go back to Spurs and just accept a failed loan, or sort of dig deep and make it happen. I remember just saying to him, like Jay, even for yourself, keep training hard for yourself, because it will change.

“There are so many things happening in football out of your control, but you train hard for yourself. I remember saying to him in the first game that me and him played together, I was like, we are entertainers, let us relax, let us enjoy this.

“And he always said that he kept that with him, and he ended up being our most influential player. I do not know what his level is going to be – whether that is Prem, Champ, or even higher. But I am looking forward to seeing him sort of progress because he is a talent!”

Donley’s pre-season form and Tottenham’s next steps

Of course, Jamie Donley is a talent, and many Tottenham fans would be hoping the midfielder reaches his full potential, just like Harry Kane, who had loan spells away from Tottenham before securing a spot in the first team squad.

So far in pre-season, Donley has been handed game time, often featuring in the number 10 role behind the striker, but he is yet to score a goal.

Tottenham Hotspur take on Arsenal in their fourth pre-season friendly under Thomas Frank and the first-ever overseas North London Derby, and it is clear to see which team is currently in a stronger position.

Tottenham Hotspur supporters are not best pleased at this moment in time. Two uninspiring draws against League One opponents have certainly been a contributing factor, but the club’s transfer business is the primary cause of frustration.

Spurs failed to sign Morgan Gibbs-White and on top of this, Tottenham fans are not happy that Antonin Kinsky may be sent out on loan. With the UEFA Super Cup little more than a fortnight away, it is essential that Spurs turn rumours into results and strengthen their squad.

In the meantime, Tottenham will continue to prepare for the new season with a North London derby in Asia. Looking at the two teams’ transactions so far this summer, it is clear to see which has the advantage heading into Thursday’s game.

Tottenham have moved slowly in the transfer market

Tottenham’s failure to secure players linked with the club means they have only signed two new players. Of these, only Mohammed Kudus is likely to compete for a first-team spot. The loan moves of Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso were made permanent, but neither of these players were first choice last season, except when there were injuries.

There is still time to do business and Tottenham have begun talks to sign Rodrygo from Real Madrid. This is the biggest rumour to be doing the rounds at the moment, but it is a slightly strange one. The Brazilian is definitely first-team quality, but he played predominantly as a right winger last season, a position where Spurs already have depth.

The most likely scenario would be that Rodrygo would play up front, and he is not the only player Tottenham could sign. However, whoever Spurs could bring to North London is theoretical and unconfirmed. It looked like Gibbs-White was on his way to Hotspur Way, but nothing came of the transfer talks.

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As things stand, it has been a disappointing window for Tottenham, just when many of the more sceptical supporters were beginning to believe the club was getting serious.

Arsenal have been far busier than Spurs

Offering praise to Arsenal is undesirable, but it has to be said that they are doing a great job in the transfer market. The club have shown ambition and are not afraid to spend big, while adding players across a number of positions.

Christian Norgaard is a particularly good signing. The former Brentford midfielder is strong in defence, but he also gets forward and gets goal contributions. He may be 31 years old, but he will definitely deliver on the £15m fee Arsenal paid for him.

The Gunners have signed players both young and old. Kepa is a goalkeeper who brings plenty of experience, while defender Cristhian Mosquera and former Spurs academy player Noni Madueke can be developed into top players.

There are also the marquee signings of goal machine Viktor Gyokeres and midfield maestro Martín Zubimendi. This level of activity compared with Tottenham’s is staggering.

Arsenal were already in a better position than Tottenham

Spurs clinched the Europa League last season, while Arsenal have not won a major trophy since their 2020 FA Cup win. However, when looking at the quality of the respective squads, Arsenal’s was already far superior before this summer. When one team finishes second in the Premier League and the other 17th, it is hard to argue otherwise.

Despite this, it is they who are pushing on and adding quality first-team players. It is clear the club have a clear strategic goal, which is likely to win the English top flight.

Tottenham, on the other hand, do not look close to being prepared for the new season. Thomas Frank cannot be expected to perform miracles, and so he must be backed before the window ends. Otherwise, expect another disappointing league campaign and certainly no guarantee of silverware.

A new report has revealed what Manchester United are planning to do with Kobbie Mainoo this summer after Tottenham Hotspur expressed an interest in the midfielder.

We know that Tottenham are looking to add another central midfielder to their squad, and many different players have been mooted as targets for the Lilywhites over the last few weeks.

It emerged last week that Kobbie Mainoo is on Tottenham’s radar as Man United continue to struggle to reach an agreement with the midfielder over a new contract.

Some sources have claimed that Spurs have a realistic chance of landing Mainoo this summer, and it has emerged over recent days that Tottenham have made contact over a deal for the Man United man.

Manchester United do not want to sell Kobbie Mainoo to Tottenham

GiveMeSport claim that the plan at the Manchester club is to retain Mainoo for the upcoming season.

The outlet confirms that Tottenham Hotspur have indeed made ‘informal enquiries’ about the 20-year-old’s availability, but they have been informed by the Red Devils that they are not looking to sell the youngster.

Instead, the Manchester club want to give their academy graduate a chance to become an important part of Rubem Amorim’s plans after falling down the pecking order towards the end of last season.

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Spurs are hoping that Man United change their stance and listen to offers for the midfielder, but that has not happened so far.

Man United hoping to tie down Mainoo to a new contract

Additionally, the outlet adds that Mainoo has held positive talks with Amorim and is desperate to prove his worth to the Portuguese coach.

The midfielder is keen to be on the plane to the 2026 World Cup and hence wants to become a regular in United’s starting eleven, and he is using pre-season to show Amorim and his coaching staff that he can be a valuable player.

The report adds that influential figures at Old Trafford are determined to convince the youngster to sign an improved contract.

Fabrizio Romano has revealed what Tottenham Hotspur have already started doing after being snubbed by Morgan Gibbs-White over the weekend.

Spurs do not have time to feel sorry for themselves after Gibbs-White had a change of heart and decided to sign a new deal at Nottingham Forest, with the Lilywhites still having plenty of work to do in the transfer window.

It has emerged over recent days that Tottenham have started working on signing a defensive midfielder, with Thomas Frank being keen to add a top-class number six to his squad.

We have also heard that Spurs are looking to add a marquee wide-forward to their squad this summer, amidst the uncertainty over Heung-min Son’s future.

Tottenham have begun working on Morgan Gibbs-White alternative, says Fabrizio Romano

Romano has now confirmed that Spurs have also started working on signing an alternative number ten after Gibbs-White decided to stay put at the City Ground.

When asked if Tottenham will target another creative midfielder, the journalist told GiveMeSport: “They’re working on it [alternative targets for Gibbs-White]. As soon as I know, I will tell you.”

It has been reported over recent days that Harvey Elliott, James McAtee and Xavi Simons are among the options on Spurs’ radar, but the Lilywhites are expected to miss out on the Dutchman, who is on the verge of joining Chelsea.

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Could Tottenham turn to a discount £30m option?

Some sources have also suggested that West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta could emerge as a target for Tottenham after the Brazilian was cleared of the spot-fixing allegations against him.

According to The Daily Mail, West Ham are ready to sell Paqueta for just £30m this summer, despite nearly selling him to Man City for £80m two years ago.