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Tottenham Hotspur are in talks with one of their first-team defenders over signing a new contract with improved terms after impressive performances last season.

Tottenham Hotspur’s pre-season squad to tour Asia was revealed only two days ago, and it highlighted just how short Spurs are in the full-back department.

Ben Davies, as it stands, is the only recognised left-back at Tottenham following the recent injury picked up by Destiny Udogie, which prevented the Italian from flying to Asia.

Of course, there are makeshift options still available to Thomas Frank, with Djed Spence – who deputised at both left-back and right-back last season – very capable of filling in on either flank.

Djed Spence in talks with Tottenham over new contract

New reports from Paul O’Keefe, a Tottenham insider, have revealed that work is underway behind the scenes to offer Djed Spence a new deal at Spurs.

Spence was an excellent performer for Tottenham last campaign, with the 24-year-old showing great resilience in working his way back into the Spurs squad after being frozen out in previous years by Antonio Conte.

However, thanks to his impressive performances in the 24/25 season, Spence was rewarded with a new contract last term, with Spurs improving his previous wages and tying him down till 2028.

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O’Keefe’s tweet on X reads: “Djed Spence in talks with Tottenham over a new improved contract.”

Spurs must keep Spence but also sign another full-back

Given Tottenham’s depth in the full-back area, keeping hold of Djed Spence is even more important thanks to his versatility.

Nevertheless, the addition of another full-back still needs to be explored this summer – one that can do a job either on the right or the left.

Udogie’s injury record does not inspire any confidence that the Italy international would be available all season.

As Tottenham continue to be linked with several big-name players, football finance expert Dan Plumley has revealed how the Lilywhites can fund another big purchase or two this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur fans are not too pleased with the club’s transfer business so far, with Mohammed Kudus, Mathys Tel and Kota Takai being the only players to arrive through the door this summer.

The club are now well into their pre-season campaign and have jetted off to the Asia leg of the tour, and the frustrations of the supporters are mainly due to the fact that Spurs wasted two-and-a-half weeks on the failed pursuit of Morgan Gibbs-White.

According to reports, Tottenham are not panicking despite Gibbs-White’s snub, with several reports indicating that the Lilywhites may be ready to break their transfer record on other signings this summer.

Tottenham set for £87m financial boost

There have been suggestions that Tottenham have already made a bid of €70m (£60.6m) for Illiya Zabarnyi despite the fact that Thomas Frank has no shortage of centre-backs at his disposal.

Some journalists think Spurs may have received a cash injection from ENIC, but Dan Plumley has now revealed that it is the over €100m (£87m) in expected Champions League revenue that may have encouraged the Lilywhites to take some gambles this summer.

When asked how Tottenham could afford to spend big on Zabarnyi, Plumey told Football Insider: “A few factors to consider. If we look at the numbers we can see, we’re looking 2024’s numbers on PSR cycles, and from the outside looking in, and not a case of how much they can spend, but how much could they have lost and still been compliant, they could have lost around £200m in the 2024 window and still been compliant with PSR.

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“If you roll that forward, going into the season we’re about to start, you’ve got Champions League revenue, which is going to be at least €100m (£87m) for an English club. You’ve still got Premier League TV money, which is year on year, and they’re an established Premier League club. Their match day revenue has gone up because of the new stadium in recent years, so financially, they’ve always seemed absolutely fine.

“It’s one of those again where it’s how much do they want to spend, and I think with this one, getting into the Champions League is huge within this context because that’s going to mean that you can go and invest in your squad, and you’ve got to because that’s the elite competition in Europe.”

Why Tottenham are unlikely to sign Illiya Zabarnyi

While Plumey’s point is valid and we might see Tottenham spend big on a couple of more players this summer, Zabarnyi may not be near the top of their wishlist.

This is because it now appears like Cristian Romero is likely to remain at Spurs after Atletico Madrid reportedly gave up on their efforts to sign the Argentine.

Tottenham Hotspur are not panicking after being snubbed by Morgan Gibbs-White, and the North Londoners have drawn up a four-man shortlist to replace the central midfielder.

It was reported until late last week that the Gibbs-White remained keen to complete a move to Tottenham after the North Londoners met the player’s £60m release clause.

However, out of nowhere, news broke on Saturday that Gibbs-White decided to sign a new three-year contract at Nottingham Forest, with the development coming as a huge blow to the Lilywhites.

Some sources have backed Tottenham to move on very quickly from the Gibbs-White snub, and Graeme Bailey has now suggested the same thing.

Tottenham are not panicking after missing out on Morgan Gibbs-White

It was suggested a couple of days ago that Tottenham had identified Xavi Simons as a target earlier this summer, but the North London club will miss out on the Dutchman, who is expected to sign for Chelsea.

The two-and-a-half-week delay on the Forest star’s pursuit may end up costing Spurs, but Graeme Bailey has revealed that there is no panic at the North London side at the moment.

The journalist revealed that the club have several alternatives in mind and will take their time to pick the right one to sign.

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Bailey told TBR Football: “Gibbs-White was disappointing to them as we know, but there are going to be no knee-jerk reactions. They have done work on a lot of players; they have several options they like.”

Who are the options on Spurs’ radar to replace Gibbs-White?

The same update from TBR Football says that Harvey Elliott is one of the options on Tottenham Hotspur’s radar, with the London side first expressing an interest in the Liverpool star back in June.

Additionally, the outlet says that Spurs are continuing to monitor the situation of Man United’s Alejandro Garnacho, who is also on the radar of other Premier League sides.

Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey and Man City starlet James McAtee are also on Thomas Frank’s transfer shortlist.

Destiny Udogie has now rubbished reports that he could be out of action for a long time after Tottenham confirmed that the left-back is injured.

Thomas Frank said that Udogie was left out of the friendly against Luton Town as a precaution, but the events that have followed over the last few days suggest that the problem might be more serious than first thought.

Udogie has not travelled with the Tottenham squad on their pre-season trip to Asia, which got some alarm bells ringing among Spurs fans.

In his press conference in Hong Kong on Tuesday, Frank admitted that Udogie has suffered a knee injury, which Tottenham are still assessing.

Destiny Udogie shuts down rumours of a long injury layoff at Tottenham

The Italy international has been no stranger to knee and hamstring injuries in his two years at Tottenham Hotspur, and some supporters are thus understandably worried that this could keep him out of action for several months.

There are even rumours floating around social media that Udogie could miss the majority of the first half of the season as he could be sidelined for up to four months.

However, the 22-year-old has taken to Snapchat to dismiss the claim, writing: “four months?” along with a laughing emoji, with a band that read ‘fake’ across the image.

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Will this accelerate Spurs’ move for a left-back?

It has been widely reported this summer that Thomas Frank wants to add another left-back to his squad.

Fulham star Antonee Robinson is thought to be one of the options on Tottenham’s radar, but the speculation linking the USA international with a move to N17 has died down over recent months.

Tottenham Hotspur have officially made four signings in the summer transfer window, but there are still shortcomings across the first-team squad.

The world of professional football is a fast-paced environment. One day, a club delights their supporters, and the next, there are protests. This is quite an extreme example, but not so dissimilar to what has happened at Tottenham Hotspur.

There was growing optimism that this would be the summer when Spurs altered their transfer strategy to show ambition and compete for more silverware.

The signing of Mohammed Kudus was a good start, and it looked like Tottenham would once again cross the £50m mark to secure the signature of Morgan Gibbs-White. In the end, a deal was not completed, and Gibbs-White signed a new contract with Nottingham Forest.

Some clubs would waste no time in signing an alternative, but Spurs have headed to Asia for a pre-season tour, with a squad which is lacking in quality. There are positions where there is a particular need for a player who will take the team to the next level.

Tottenham do not have a complete goalkeeper

The goalkeeper position at Tottenham has frequently been discussed as an area where there is adequate depth. With the sale of Josh Keeley and Antonin Kinsky being linked with a loan move to Lille, this might not be the case for long.

Kinsky himself does not look ready to be Tottenham’s starting goalkeeper. His handling ability needs work, and a loan move could be beneficial for him. However, that would leave Spurs short on shot-stoppers. Quantity is not the sole issue, as questions have been raised over whether or not Guglielmo Vicario is good enough to start.

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There are certainly obvious weaknesses in the Italian’s game and despite spending two years in North London, Vicario does not look to have improved much in those areas. He still lacks composure at set pieces, while his goalkeeping in general was not overly convincing towards the back end of last season.

Despite Vicario’s shortcomings, the chances of Spurs signing a new goalkeeper to compete with him seem slim.

Spurs are an injury away from peril at left-back

With Destiny Udogie injured, Tottenham lined up against Wycombe Wanderers with Ben Davies at left-back, while Jamie Donley filled the role at Luton Town.

Donley is an attacking midfielder. It is not good that his rare chance to play for Spurs is in a secondary position. Likewise, Davies has not primarily played as a left-back for some time, and should Tottenham really still be in a position where he is still having to step in as Mr Reliable?

It is clear that if Udogie gets injured, Spurs lack quality on the defensive left flank. Of course, other players are capable of playing there, such as Djed Spence. However, Thomas Frank appears to prefer him on the right. Whatever way you look at it, Spurs could use a new solid left-back.

Tottenham lack a star holding midfielder

There is no issue in the Tottenham midfield where quantity is concerned. However, there is no one pivot or defensive midfielder that can be deemed the standout man. Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray both impressed last season, but are they ready to be starting week-in, week-out?

Yves Bissouma had a strong finish to the season, but he has never really reached the heights expected of him at Spurs. Rodrigo Bentancur is widely viewed as a more complete player, but even the Uruguayan international has struggled to make an impact at times. His less liberating role under Ange Postecoglou certainly did his game no favours.

The numbers may be there, but there is no current Tottenham midfielder who can dominate the middle of the park, the way players like Mousa Dembele did. There are plenty of ‘okay’ centralised players at Spurs, but no one currently is offering the wow factor.

Spurs badly need a new striker

Game after game passes by and it looks all the more likely that Dominic Solanke will fail to succeed in sorting out his finishing. The Englishman’s goalscoring record in his first season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was simply not good enough.

Solanke scored 19 league goals in his final season at Bournemouth, but he has struggled to find the back of the net since joining Spurs. Comparing him to Harry Kane is unhelpful, but even Heung-min Son and Richarlison had better goal tallies in the 2023/24 season.

Other than Solanke, Tottenham’s out-and-out striker options are Will Lankshear and Dane Scarlett, neither of whom will challenge the 27-year-old. If Spurs fail to sign a centre forward before the transfer window closes, it will be nothing short of a disaster.

Tottenham still have problems on the left wing

Without meaning to sound like a stuck record, Tottenham really lack quality on the left flank. Mathys Tel is yet to prove himself, while Mikey Moore looks set to join Rangers on loan. That leaves Richarlison and Son, and despite Frank saying Son has a role to play at Tottenham next season, there are no guarantees he will remain at the club.

The Korean is a legend, there is no question about that. However, Tottenham are in trouble if Son remains a first-team player, as he is simply no longer the world-class forward he once was. Richarlison has issues too, as he is injury-prone. As well as this, he has never really had his standout moment at Spurs.

If Son does remain at Tottenham, there may not be an addition on the left wing, but this would be a huge mistake. However, Spurs have made an approach for Rodrygo, a player who is capable of playing on either wing.

Tottenham are closely tracking a 21-year-old Championship player they were linked with back in 2024 – but they are not alone, with several Premier League rivals also in the hunt.

Tottenham Hotspur are very well covered in terms of depth in the attacking area of the pitch, as Heung-min Son, Mathys Tel, Brennan Johnson, Mohammed Kudus, Richarlison, Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert and Mikey Moore are all front-footed attacking players with flair.

However, that depth could quickly be tested if Heung-min Son departs for LA FC, Mikey Moore secures a loan move to Rangers, or Richarlison is sold, with all three situations reportedly being monitored.

Tottenham do have other pressing priorities when it comes to strengthening their squad, particularly in midfield, where the holding role is still lacking a dominant and consistent presence.

Tottenham monitoring Leicester City midfielder Bilal El Khannouss

TBR Football are now reporting that Tottenham are amongst a host of Premier League clubs keeping close tabs on Leicester City’s No.11, Bilal El Khannouss.

It is understood that El Khannouss’ future remains up in the air this summer, and he is widely expected to leave the King Power Stadium following the club’s relegation from the Premier League last season.

Other Premier League clubs, including Sunderland, Leeds United and West Ham United, are also believed to be tracking the player’s situation, alongside Tottenham and Newcastle United.

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Spurs rival European clubs for El Khannouss’ signature

It is further reported that clubs outside of England have also shown an interest in the Leicester City man.

The likes of RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt, Monaco, Atalanta and Valencia are all said to be admirers of the 21-year-old, who continues to build a reputation as one of the most technically gifted young players in Europe.

El Khannouss has long been on Tottenham’s radar, with reported interest from the North London club stretching as far back as 2024.

A creative and direct attacking midfielder who can also operate from wide areas, El Khannouss is a front-footed footballer who always looks to impact matches with incisive passing and technical quality.

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.