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Tottenham Hotspur won the first-ever overseas North London Derby after Pape Sarr’s long-range screamer saw Thomas Frank topple Arsenal 1-0 in Hong Kong.

This was only Thomas Frank’s fourth game as Spurs boss, and already he’s got a North London Derby win under his belt. It’s been three long years since Tottenham last beat their fiercest rivals, and even though this was a pre-season friendly, the bragging rights feel just as sweet for the Spurs’ supporters.

Frank named arguably his strongest available XI for this clash. The only notable absentee was Dominic Solanke, with the manager revealing pre-match that the striker wasn’t quite ready. On the plus side, James Maddison made his long-awaited return after nearly three months out.

First half: Arsenal 0-1 Tottenham

There was nothing “friendly” about this. From the very first whistle, both sides looked determined to win and preserve the intensity of this historic rivalry.

It was all Arsenal for the first few minutes, though. Martin Odegaard had a deflected shot inside 40 seconds, and moments later, William Saliba headed just wide after the Norwegian’s scuffed volley dropped kindly to him.

It didn’t take long for Tottenham to get comfortable and grow into the game, however. The first real chance came when Pedro Porro nearly scored straight from a corner – his delivery hitting the woodwork after Micky van de Ven was too strong for David Raya at the far post. Richarlison reacted quickest to the loose ball, only for Saliba to block his header on the line.

Arsenal’s press was aggressive, and while Spurs coped well for the most part, there was one scare when Declan Rice pounced on a loose header from Cristian Romero. Fortunately, Porro got back on time to deflect the effort for a corner.

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Then came Tottenham’s double woodwork moment. Wilson Odobert’s slightly deflected shot hit the right-hand post after Mohamed Kudus’ blocked effort led to the opening. The resulting corner somehow hit the left-hand post, bounced off Richarlison, and went over the bar. It might’ve gone in had the Brazilian got the faintest of touches, but it wasn’t to be.

With hardly a minute for the half-time whistle, Tottenham managed to take the lead.

Pape Matar Sarr picked up the ball just beyond the halfway mark, spotted Raya off his line, and launched a stunning effort that chipped over the Arsenal keeper and into the net. 1-0 to Spurs.

Arsenal responded with a pair of quick corners, but Spurs went into half-time with a deserved lead.

Second half: Arsenal 0-1 Tottenham

There were no changes at the break as Spurs kept their compact 4-4-2 off the ball. As expected, Arsenal dominated possession, but Frank’s side were structured well.

Arsenal pressed hard for an equaliser. A slick combination between Lewis-Skelly, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Martinelli ended with the latter blazing over the bar.

Arsenal looked a lot more physical after the break, probably because Arteta had a word with them at half-time after their poor set-piece defending. It was much more intense than what you would usually expect from a friendly, and Spurs had started to match that physicality as well.

Spurs’ best second-half chance fell to Micky van de Ven after Mathys Tel skipped past his marker down the left and lobbed the ball across the box. The Dutchman couldn’t convert from close range, heading wide when it looked easier to score.

Then came a scare as Martin Zubimendi, fresh off the bench, attempted a volley that took a slight deflection and looped just over the crossbar. Havertz followed it up with a tame left-footed effort straight into Guglielmo Vicario’s gloves.

The only real action in the final 15 minutes was the introductions of Son and then Maddison, along with a few classic NLD tussles. There were scrappy fouls, time-wasting complaints from Arteta (ironically), and a few unnecessary yellow cards to end the game with.

Spurs Web Man of the Match: Pedro Porro

What’s next for Spurs in pre-season?

This was a tactically sharp performance from Thomas Frank’s men. After years of being second best in this fixture, Spurs fans will just be glad to finally see their team come out on top.

Special mentions go to Pedro Porro and Djed Spence, both of whom were outstanding at full-back, solid in their duels, quick in recovery, and effective going forward. Wilson Odobert was a constant trouble on the left wing, full of tricky movement and dribbling that caused all sorts of problems for Arsenal’s defence.

And then there’s Pape Matar Sarr. The Senegalese midfielder has been one of the most-used players under Frank this pre-season, and it’s easy to see why. He’s a workhorse and you’ll never see him tired or not wanting to run whilst on the pitch. Sarr looks destined for a breakout campaign under the new boss.

Tottenham now travel to South Korea for pre-season matches against Newcastle and Bayern Munich.

Cristian Romero appears to have sent a clear message to fans, dropping a potential hint about his Tottenham Hotspur future following his latest pre-season performance.

Tottenham Hotspur fans know that they have a world-class defender in Cristian Romero, and many supporters would love to see the Argentine remain at N17 beyond this season.

Romero, however, has attracted interest from sides in Spain this summer, with Atletico Madrid reported to have been keen on signing Romero from Tottenham.

Those reports have since died down, and that is because it was revealed that Atletico Madrid have turned their attention away from the Spurs star centre-back and instead want to focus on other targets.

Cristian Romero hints at Tottenham stay after pre-season outing

The Tottenham centre-back, following his recent outing with the Lilywhites, has now taken to social media and has hinted at the possibility of him staying in north London.

Romero, after captaining Tottenham to a 1-0 win against their bitter rivals, Arsenal, captioned his Instagram post: “Getting ready for what is coming. All together this season.”

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Since returning to Hotspur Way this summer, Cristian Romero has been very involved in Tottenham’s pre-season preparations.

The Argentine centre-back has featured in every friendly clash aside from the tie against Luton Town, missing out only because it was a double-header pre-season tie which saw him feature against Wycombe instead.

Spurs defender Romero likely to remain in north London

His post, of course, hints that the World Cup winner is willing to continue at Spurs this season, which is a big boost for the north Londoners.

Reports over the past week have also made similar claims, with the New York Times revealing a few days ago that Romero is likely to remain at Hotspur Way.

It was also revealed that Tottenham Hotspur made a transfer decision, opting not to go for a centre-back after showing ‘strong interest’, following Thomas Frank’s talks with Romero.

Tottenham would now be looking to tie Romero down to a new contract, as it had been previously reported that Daniel Levy was exploring that possibility.

Tottenham Hotspur conquered Arsenal in the first North London derby to take place abroad, and there were some impressive performances from members of Thomas Frank’s squad.

Tottenham have kept their unbeaten run under Thomas Frank going with a first victory in the North London derby since May 2022, when Antonio Conte was in charge.

Today’s performance was far superior to the two showings on Saturday, when Spurs were held to draws against both Wycombe Wanderers and Luton Town.

Everyone who partook in the win against Arsenal will be feeling good, but not everyone managed to impress with their individual display. Here are the three winners and losers of Tottenham’s Hong Kong triumph.

Pedro Porro could do great things for Tottenham next season

Pedro Porro took his time getting up to speed last season. It is easy to forget that not only was he linked with a move away from Spurs, but many of his displays were underwhelming. This led to some calls to start Djed Spence on the right side of defence instead.

Porro improved a lot in the second half of the season, and currently, he has the look of a player who is ready to hit new heights. The Spaniard’s deliveries from set pieces were threatening today, and he almost managed to score directly from a corner.

He also defended well, making nine clearances during the match and dealing with three different wingers across the entire match. Porro will continue to be one of the first names on the Tottenham team sheet, as he was under Ange Postecoglou, and it is easy to see why.

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Djed Spence played well in a more conservative role

There is a reason Bukayo Saka had very little impact in today’s derby. That reason is Djed Spence, who had a very good defensive performance.

Spence made the losers list against Luton Town because he conceded possession more than once in a dangerous area. However, he was far more composed against Arsenal and, rather than attempting to do too much, he stuck to his defensive duties and kept the opposition at bay.

With the continuing absence of Destiny Udogie, Spence played at left-back and that appears to be his stronger position. It would make sense to make that his permanent position and use Archie Gray as a backup right-back, unless Spurs invest in a new signing who can play on the right.

Pape Matar Sarr was the match winner for Spurs

There’s a Sarr man who’s magic on the ball. What an improvement we are witnessing in the quality of Pape Matar Sarr! There were times last season when he seemed like a filler player – someone Tottenham fielded for no reason other than because there were no alternative options.

If Sarr brings his pre-season form into the new campaign, this will certainly not be the case for long. He got himself on the scoresheet twice against Wycombe, with two close-range efforts. Today, the Senegalese midfielder scored one of his more traditional goals – a shot from distance.

Sarr dispossessed Myles Lewis-Skelly and chipped the ball over David Raya, getting the right amount of power, height and direction on his shot. His general play was very good too, and he looked particularly lively in the first half. It was another great showing from a man with a purpose. Sarr is clearly eager to impress his new manager, and he is certainly succeeding.

Now onto our three losers from the 1-0 win

Richarlison was off target for Tottenham vs Arsenal

Richarlison did not have a bad game against Arsenal. In fact, his pressing was essential to Sarr being able to make the tackle, which led to Tottenham’s only goal of the game.

However, the Brazilian had a brilliant chance to head in a goal for Spurs from when Raya found himself unable to collect a corner kick. Instead of finding the back of the net, Richarlison hit the post, leaving Tottenham supporters stunned as to how he managed to mess up the perfect goalscoring chance.

With Dominic Solanke injured, this was Richarlison’s chance to play as a central striker and prove he is a better goalscorer than the Englishman. However, he failed to show he can be the clinical finisher Tottenham so desperately need. Showing good energy is useful, but a striker without an end product has little chance of leaving the bench.

Antonin Kinsky did not even feature against Arsenal

Everyone by now will be aware of the rumours circulating regarding Antonin Kinsky. He has been able to enjoy a decent number of minutes so far in pre-season, but Guglielmo Vicario played the full 90 today.

To make things worse for the 22-year-old, Vicario kept a clean sheet, and it seems likely he will remain as the main goalkeeper at Tottenham during the upcoming season.

Kinsky will want to be playing as much as possible, but it is likely he will either have to settle for sporadic appearances, when Tottenham have cup games, or go out on loan.

Where does Archie Gray fit into Thomas Frank’s team?

Archie Gray was the dog’s body at Tottenham last season. He played mostly as a centre-back, but also as a full-back and a defensive midfielder. Injuries to other players certainly benefited the England U21 international, but he could struggle for game time in a team where all the regular starters remain fit.

Gray only played five minutes plus stoppage time against Arsenal. Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Rodrigo Bentancur all started ahead of him, while the more experienced Yves Bissouma looks to be ahead in the pecking order.

The 19-year-old has shown glimpses of what he is capable of at Tottenham, but he will have to do something special to give himself a chance of starting next season. It could be that Gray’s best chance to play is as Porro’s understudy. After all, he did play mostly as a right-back in his final season at Leeds United.

Thomas Frank has offered an update on Dominic Solanke’s injury status following Tottenham’s win over Arsenal.

In his first taste of action against Tottenham Hotspur’s fiercest rivals, Thomas Frank managed to secure a much-needed win, beating Arsenal 1-0.

It was a professional display from the Lilywhites, one that saw them perform really well in every area of play, keeping things tight at the back, while also offering enough going forward.

It was a well-taken halfway line strike from Pape Matar Sarr that proved to be the difference in the clash, as the in-form midfielder lofted the ball over Raya, who was left in no man’s land.

Thomas Frank, following the clash against the Gunners, has now addressed the media, this time speaking about one of his injured stars who did not feature against Arsenal.

Dominic Solanke has been sidelined, missing out on Tottenham’s double-header pre-season clash last weekend and, despite making the trip to Asia, he missed out against Arsenal entirely, not even making the bench.

When asked about the forward’s fitness and recovery, Frank revealed that the striker is closing in on a return, stating (football.london): “He is close, if not for Sunday then he should be fit to play against Bayern.”

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Spurs look ahead as Solanke recovery nears

Tottenham still have two pre-season games to play this summer before their first competitive match against PSG in the UEFA Super Cup.

A clash against Newcastle United is next on the agenda for Thomas Frank’s men before they travel back to Europe to take on Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.

Tottenham looked solid in the clash against Arsenal, and while the early signs are positive, there is still a need for extra additions to this side – at least a ten who could link up with Dominic Solanke when he returns.

Alasdair Gold has now provided an update on Tottenham’s move for Joao Palhinha and the North London club’s midfield plans over the coming weeks.

While a number of outlets have reported that Tottenham are pushing ahead with a move for Joao Palhinha, a move for the Portuguese international may not be straightforward for the Lilywhites.

This is because, according to some sources, Palhinha would prefer to remain at Allianz Arena and fight for his place.

However, that is not deterring Tottenham Hotspur, who are now pushing ahead with talks over a move for the Portugal international.

Tottenham expect a midfield exit as they step up Joao Palhinha talks

The Athletic were the first to report on Thursday that Tottenham have begun talks with Bayern Munich over a loan deal for Palhinha.

Alasdair Gold has now also backed up the claim, confirming that conversations are being held regarding a temporary switch to N17 for the former Fulham man.

The journalist added that the Palhinha talks suggest Thomas Frank’s men are confident of offloading at least one midfielder over the coming weeks.

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Senior Spurs man expected to make way for Palhinha

It has been reported over recent weeks that Tottenham are working to find a buyer for Yves Bissouma, who has only one year left on his contract.

Several Italian outlets had previously claimed that Juventus are eyeing a move for Bissouma, but the speculation linking the Mali international with a move to Turin has cooled over the last few days.

Tottenham Hotspur have now opened talks with one of the biggest clubs in Europe over signing a midfielder on a season-long loan deal.

With Yves Bissouma continuing to be linked with a move away from Tottenham, the North London club are sure to enter the market for a new number six, and they have set their sights on a Bayern Munich star.

Over the last two weeks, various outlets have claimed that Thomas Frank is keen on bringing Joao Palhinha to Tottenham, with the Dane seeing the Bayern midfielder as a natural fit for his system.

Some sources have claimed that Spurs may face competition from their Premier League rivals for Palhinha, but it now appears that the Lilywhites are pushing to win the race for the midfielder.

Tottenham have opened talks over a loan deal for Joao Palhinha

The Athletic have now revealed that Spurs have officially opened talks with Bayern Munich over a loan move for the former Fulham man.

It is revealed that the Lilywhites prefer to sign the 29-year-old in a temporary deal rather than a permanent one.

Tottenham Hotspur do enjoy a good relationship with Bayern, having agreed several deals with the Bavarian club over the last few years, including the permanent signing of Mathys Tel earlier this summer.

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The Athletic point out that Palhinha has fallen further down Vincent Kompany’s pecking order after the arrival of Tom Bischof from Hoffenheim this summer, and could be allowed to leave the Allianz Arena.

Spurs may have to convince Bayern Munich to loan Palhinha

It has been claimed in the German press over the last week that while Tottenham want to sign the Portugal international on loan, the Bundesliga giants would prefer a permanent sale.

According to Bild, Bayern are hoping to get a fee of €25m-€30m (£21.7m-£26m) from Spurs for Palhinha so that they can use those funds to push through the signing of VfB Stuttgart forward Nick Woltemade.

Tottenham Hotspur secured a 1-0 win over Arsenal in the pre-season North London Derby in Hong Kong on Thursday afternoon, with Thomas Frank handing 90 minutes to a number of key players.

Let’s take a look at the five things we learned from Tottenham 1-0 Arsenal:

New set-piece focus under Thomas Frank

We already knew that Tottenham would have an increased focus on set-pieces under Thomas Frank this season, but we perhaps didn’t expect to see the fruits of his labours so soon. With Pedro Porro whipping them in from the right and Mohammed Kudus from the left, Tottenham threatened from corners at almost every single attempt. The real masterstroke – along with the world-class deliveries – was having Micky Van de Ven crowding out the keeper.

Guglielmo Vicario will tell you how difficult it is to defend your box while being pushed around by outfield players. Spurs hit the post twice from inswinging corners and had good chances on the rebounds from both of those deliveries. The only thing we didn’t see today was the mysterious long throw after Thomas Frank held Spurs auditions, but the early set-piece signs are very positive.

Lucas Bergvall in the Tottenham ten

Lucas Bergvall was spotted training in the ten role for Tottenham this week, and Frank deployed the Swede there from the start against Arsenal. As we have seen so far from our first taste of Frank-ball, the advanced midfielder plays more like a second centre-forward, linking up play and also running beyond the striker to create openings. With James Maddison not fit enough to start and Dejan Kulusevski recovering back in North London, the task was handed to Bergvall today.

It feels like Bergvall’s skills lend themselves more to picking up the ball in deeper areas and driving into the final third, but his tireless high press was certainly an asset today against Arsenal. We have already seen Mikey Moore, Pape Sarr, and Bergvall occupy that role so far this pre-season, so it seems like Frank is holding tryouts.

Mohammed Kudus was a Tottenham standout

Mohammed Kudus was not only Tottenham’s most dangerous attacker, but he was the most dangerous attacker on the pitch. Not only is he impossibly tricky with the ball at his feet, but he also possesses an underrated strength, making him difficult to brush off the ball. Myles Lewis-Skelly certainly had problems all day long up against the former West Ham man.

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Tottenham have long since missed that ‘spark’ player capable of creating something from nothing, and Kudus is starting to look like that player. It will take him some time to forge a relationship with the likes of Maddison and Solanke, but early signs show that he is fostering a nice partnership with Pedro Porro.

Pape Matar Sarr from halfway

Channelling his inner Harry Kane from the 2019 pre-season friendly against Juventus, Pape Sarr got his name on the scoresheet with an iconic halfway line strike this afternoon. After a mixture of a Richarlison trip and a Sarr press nicked the ball from Lewis-Skelly, the Senegal international took one glance to spot David Raya off his line, then drove the ball expertly over the Arsenal keeper’s head from 50 yards out.

There have been question marks over how Frank will use Sarr in his 4-2-3-1 formation, but the midfielder looked really bright in the holding two alongside Rodrigo Bentancur today. If he can improve his consistency receiving the ball on the turn under pressure, he could be a real asset in the engine room thanks to his limitless energy.

Thomas Frank brings balance to the force at Tottenham

Frank told the media this week that Tottenham will be more balanced under him than they were at times with Ange Postecoglou, and we certainly saw that today.

He said: “What I like to add is probably a bit more balance in my view. Attacking, defending. And then, of course, I think if you want to achieve something big, we need to be good in all phases of the game.”

West Ham could be about to turn heads again, as they reportedly consider a move for one of Tottenham’s midfielders this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United finally put their differences aside and did business this summer, with Mohammed Kudus completing a £55million switch from East to North London.

In the last 14 years, Kudus is the only player to move from West Ham United to Tottenham, with Scott Parker being the last.

Spurs fans are not against the two clubs doing business together, with many supporters of the Lilywhites calling for Lucas Paqueta to be signed, after Tottenham’s recent setback with Morgan Gibbs-White.

West Ham consider move for Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma

A fresh report from Gazzetta dello Sport (as relayed by Sport Witness) now reveals that there is a possibility that West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur will do business once more this summer.

It is claimed that the Hammers are considering a move for Spurs midfielder Yves Bissouma this transfer window, as they look to bolster their squad ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Bissouma, 28, has just under a year left on his Tottenham contract, with the Malian’s current deal set to expire next summer.

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As a result, Spurs cannot demand a significant fee for the 28-year-old, with reports claiming that the Lilywhites value Bissouma at around €15m to €20m (£13m to £17m).

Bissouma is attracting interest from several clubs

The Tottenham holding midfielder has since attracted interest from several clubs this summer, who could rival West Ham United for his signature.

Juventus are one of the sides showing interest in Yves Bissouma, but the Old Lady is yet to make any substantial move to secure the services of the Spurs man.

Fenerbahce were reported to be considering an opening bid for Bissouma, but it was claimed that their offer fell short of Tottenham’s asking price.

Mikey Moore is set to secure a loan move away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but he may not be the only one heading out the door. Several other Spurs youngsters could also find loan moves over the coming weeks.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Mikey Moore is edging closer to securing a loan move away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

A lot has been written about Moore’s loan destination, with Rangers expected to announce the arrival of Mikey Moore in the coming days, with a date for his medical having already been scheduled.

This is set to be the teenager’s first loan spell outside of Tottenham, since he broke into the team back in October 2024, with Moore in search of more regular playing time.

With Moore set to depart, we expect other Tottenham youngsters to follow suit, and now we have highlighted several others who could still be loaned out this summer.

George Abbott could secure loan above League Two after Tottenham pre-season

George Abbott is currently out with the Tottenham first-team squad in Asia as they continue their preparations for the upcoming season.

The midfielder has already featured in pre-season under Thomas Frank, impressing in the tie against Wycombe last Saturday.

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While he has made the trip to Asia to continue staking a claim for a spot in the first team, it is still expected that Tottenham will allow Abbott to pursue a loan move sometime this summer, although it may come late in the window.

Last season, Abbott was with EFL League Two side Notts County and made a strong impression, winning the EFL Goal of the Season award after a fantastic strike against Accrington Stanley in January, while also being shortlisted for the League Two Young Player of the Season.

Spurs have since rewarded Abbott with a new contract at Hotspur Way, and we believe that the midfielder, who managed 13 goal contributions last season, could now secure a move higher up the English football pyramid.

Luka Vuskovic has impressed at Tottenham but loan still possible

Tottenham’s new 6 ft 4 centre-back has impressed everyone at Hotspur Way since he joined following his £12million signing from Hajduk Split in 2023.

Luka Vuskovic’s height and stature have certainly caught the eye, with many Tottenham supporters excited about the addition of the young Croatian international.

Vuskovic made the trip to Asia with the rest of Frank’s squad and impressed in his debut against Reading, where he not only defended well but also scored a goal and provided an assist.

Despite his strong start, a loan move is still on the table this summer. Frank is continuing to assess Vuskovic, and if the Dane feels another loan spell is necessary, then the young defender could be sent out again, with German side Hamburg already showing interest.

Will Lankshear looking to prove himself in second loan stint

Tottenham Hotspur have scored four goals in pre-season this summer, and Will Lankshear is responsible for one, following his well-taken goal against Reading two weeks ago.

The young centre-forward is determined to earn a spot in the Tottenham first team this pre-season, but his chances could take a hit if Spurs bring in another forward before the window closes.

Richarlison’s future remains up in the air, and the club are reportedly in the market for a new striker. If there was a concrete chance for Lankshear to get a squad role, those rumours may not have surfaced.

Lankshear previously spent time on loan at West Brom during the second half of last season, but it proved underwhelming, as he failed to score in his six-month spell. Should another opportunity arise this summer, the young forward would no doubt be eager to prove himself.

Dane Scarlett facing pivotal loan decision at Tottenham

Dane Scarlett was another player left behind by Tottenham Hotspur this summer, alongside Mikey Moore, to allow time for a potential loan move to be worked out.

There have been no reports linking Scarlett with a move yet, but that may change as the summer unfolds.

The young forward is at a crucial stage in his career and desperately needs a strong season if he is to keep alive any hopes of breaking into the Tottenham senior side.

At 21, Scarlett has already been loaned to Ipswich Town, Portsmouth and Oxford United, scoring 14 goals in 74 appearances. With no clear pathway into the Spurs’ first team, another loan spell is likely to be on the cards.

Alfie Devine could be set for Championship move after Belgian stint

Alfie Devine was the final youngster to be granted permission to explore an early loan move this summer, while the rest of the Tottenham squad travelled to Asia for pre-season preparations.

The midfielder impressed last term, notching six goals and an assist in 32 appearances for Belgian side Westerlo, despite battling injuries throughout the campaign.

Interest in Devine has already begun to surface, with Championship side Millwall reportedly considering a permanent move for the 20-year-old, but it remains to be seen if Tottenham would sell their youngster.

However, should the club submit an offer, and a loan is agreed, then Devine could be sent out on loan again, with Tottenham keen to ensure his development continues.

Journalist Christian Martin has now revealed that Tottenham’s interest in a La Liga centre-back has cooled after Thomas Frank held conversations with Cristian Romero about his future.

While several Spanish outlets reported earlier in the summer that Atletico Madrid were determined to land Romero, the La Liga club’s pursuit of the Tottenham Hotspur man appears to have gone cold over recent weeks.

It has now been claimed that Romero is expected to remain at Spurs after Diego Simeone’s men were unable to strike a deal with Tottenham for the World Cup winner.

In fact, some sources have even claimed over recent days that Romero is in line to be made new Tottenham captain, particularly if Heung-min Son leaves.

Tottenham call off pursuit of South American star after Cristian Romero talks with Thomas Frank

Getafe’s Omar Alderete has been a long-term target for Tottenham, who have allegedly held talks over a move for the 28-year-old.

Christian Martin has now confirmed that the Getafe star is likely to end up in Serie A this summer as Tottenham cooled their interest in the player following Thomas Frank’s conversations with Romero.

When asked about Alderete’s future, Martin told Versus: “It seems that Tottenham never made a formal offer, if there was real interest, if they like the player. Same with the change of coach, eh?

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“Thomas Frank, the new coach, I understand. He spoke with Cuti Romero. He made him captain alongside Son. They’re another of those who had been tempted to go to the United States, and for the moment, the topic has cooled off anyway.

“A formal offer has appeared, a large, rich, powerful offer in terms of money coming from the United Arab Emirates. I understand that Alderete doesn’t prefer that, because in the last few hours, real interest has appeared.

“Specifically, not just from one, but from two big Italian clubs. I know, I can’t say yet. They asked me to be a bit reserved. There’s a good chance that Alderete will play for a big Italian club.”

Will Spurs sign a centre-back this summer?

Frank currently has Romero, Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso, Radu Dragusin, Ben Davies, Luka Vuksovic and Kota Takai at his disposal.

We do not know how ready Takai is to make the jump to the highest level, while reports continue to indicate that Vuskovic may be loaned out by Spurs.

While it is not out of the question that Tottenham may add one more centre-back to their squad, the club appear extremely unlikely to spend big on that position, given that Romero now looks to stay.