To The Lane And Back

Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has been linked with a return to Serie A.

It has been widely believed within the Tottenham Hotspur fanbase that Guglielmo Vicario will likely depart this summer. Even though Roberto De Zerbi spoke positively about the 29-year-old at the back end of last season, insisting that he is his No.1, the rumours of an impending exit from Spurs for the Italian international show no signs of slowing down.

A groin surgery during the March international break led to Guglielmo Vicario losing his No.1 spot to Antonin Kinsky, who deputised brilliantly and played a crucial role in keeping the North Londoners in the Premier League. Vicario was firmly on the radar of Inter Milan for several months and had even agreed on personal terms. However, in May, reports suggested that Inter Milan had cooled their interest in the Tottenham goalkeeper.

Over recent weeks, Juventus have reportedly added Vicario to their goalkeeping shortlist as they hunt for a new No.1 ahead of next season. However, Juventus are not going to have a free run at the Italian international.

Napoli enters transfer race for Tottenham goalkeeper

According to a report from Area Napoli, Napoli have entered the race for Vicario. The 29-year-old is highly regarded by the Napoli officials, and a deal could happen, although it would hinge on Alex Meret leaving this summer.

Meret, Napoli’s current first-choice goalkeeper, is set to enter the final year of his contract. He is highly regarded by incoming boss Max Allegri, although the club owner Aurelio De Laurentiis would prefer to cash in on Meret this summer.

Nonetheless, the report included extra interesting details, relaying claims of a potential meeting between Vicario and Giovanni Manna. It focused on a caller making revelations during a show on Radio Marte.

“Yesterday, Giovanni Manna met Vicario in the city. They were together at the ‘Riserva Rooftop di Posillipo,’ a well-known restaurant frequented by players and executives of the Neapolitan club,” the caller stated.

A bidding war could erupt between Juventus and Napoli

Tottenham have begun scouring the market for a new goalkeeper, with our officials looking to upgrade on Vicario. This means that the Lilywhites are very much open to offloading the Italian glovesman, who has endured three up-and-down years in N17. The ex-Empoli seems to be targeting a return to his homeland, where both Napoli and Juventus are vying for his signature.

If Napoli manages to sell Meret, they’d try to replace him with Vicario. At the same time, Juventus are seeking new personnel between the sticks owing to Michele Di Gregorio’s mixed performances this past campaign. So, we might see a bidding war erupt between the two Serie A clubs for Vicario, which will be received positively by the Spurs chiefs.

The long-serving Welsh international paused his summer break to deliver an incredibly emotional public tribute honoring a true club pioneer.

You rarely see modern professionals step back from their own spotlight during the chaotic offseason. Ben Davies decided to break that mold completely this week, as the veteran defender wanted everyone focused entirely on an absolute giant of Welsh football history instead. 91-year-old Cliff Jones finally received a thoroughly deserved MBE.

Hearing about this royal recognition brought massive smiles to faces across the entire fanbase. Finding the right words to describe his impact feels almost impossible sometimes. Swapping Swansea for the capital back in 1958 changed our history forever, and the tricky winger eventually tallied 358 senior appearances.

Grabbing 159 goals from out wide remains an absolutely ridiculous achievement for any player. Taking his immense talents to the international stage earned him fifty-nine caps for Wales. He even graced the 1958 World Cup quarter-finals. Davies, himself, recently penned a fresh contract extension ahead of his thirteenth domestic campaign.

Current defensive stalwart cherishes irreplaceable memories shared with our double winning trailblazer

Moving to London back in 2014 seemed rather daunting until Davies met his fellow countryman. “I was lucky enough to meet him when I first arrived at Spurs,” the full back admitted to the official Tottenham website. He cherishes those regular trips to the family home, listening to old footballing tales together.

“He is recognised as one of the true greats of the game at both Swansea and Tottenham and, of course, with Wales,” the current player pointed out. Think about that legacy for a second. This mentor essentially drove Bill Nicholson toward that legendary 1960-1961 First Division and FA Cup double.

Scoring during that brutal 5-1 demolition of Atletico Madrid in the 1963 European Cup Winners’ Cup final cemented his myth. Watching club legends get their flowers while still with us is always a special feeling.“I am so proud that he has been recognised with an MBE,” Davies quipped.

Fabio Paratici eyes reunion with ‘this’ star as Fiorentina explore summer move for Tottenham defender.

Fabio Paratici could accelerate Fiorentina’s pursuit of Radu Dragusin as the former Tottenham sporting director looks to strengthen his defence in Serie A, according to Tutto Mercato Web, with the Romanian centre-back’s position at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium becoming increasingly untenable as the summer rebuild progresses.

Dragusin’s situation has been developing predictably throughout the window. The arrivals of Marcos Senesi on a free transfer and the imminent completion of a deal for Jan Paul van Hecke have pushed him even further down the defensive pecking order, and with Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Kevin Danso also ahead of him in the queue, the prospect of meaningful first-team involvement next season looks remote at best.

His agent has acknowledged as much, confirming he is waiting for talks with Tottenham to clarify what plans exist for his client and making clear that a move away is not being ruled out. The fact that Dragusin managed just two minutes of football across Tottenham’s final eight games of last season, having briefly held a starting position in February, tells its own story about where he stands in De Zerbi’s thinking.

Paratici oversaw Radu Dragusin’s arrival at Tottenham

Paratici’s interest adds a personal dimension to the potential departure. The former Spurs director oversaw Dragusin’s arrival at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in January 2024 and retains a high opinion of the Romanian’s qualities, having seen him shine for Genoa in Serie A before his move to England. Fiorentina’s willingness to assess the financial and technical conditions required to make a deal work suggests genuine rather than speculative interest.

The complications are twofold. Dragusin’s knee injury earlier in his Tottenham stint means his fitness requires careful assessment before any club commits significant funds, and his contract running until 2030 means Tottenham hold the leverage in any negotiation. Fiorentina are also simultaneously trying to negotiate a discount on the €10 million option to buy clause attached to Manor Solomon’s loan deal, suggesting their budget requires careful management across multiple fronts simultaneously.

For Tottenham, a Dragusin sale would free up wages, reduce squad congestion, and generate funds for other areas of the rebuild. The connection to Paratici at Fiorentina makes this one of the more straightforward potential exits of the summer.

A Mexican striker has been offered to Tottenham by his agent.

Santiago Gimenez has been offered to Tottenham Hotspur by his agent in the last few hours, according to Spurs Insight on X via Calcio Mercato, with the Mexican striker’s representatives actively working to find their client a new club following his difficult spell at AC Milan.

The approach adds yet another name to Tottenham’s striker shortlist as De Zerbi continues his search for the attacking reinforcement that has been identified as one of the most pressing priorities of the summer rebuild. The club is expected to sign a new striker, with Dominic Solanke’s injury problems and Randal Kolo Muani’s uncertain future leaving the position chronically understaffed for a team with genuine European ambitions next season.

Gimenez’s profile is immediately interesting in the context of what De Zerbi demands from his centre-forward. The 25-year-old Mexican international arrived at Milan from Feyenoord in January with a significant reputation built on prolific Eredivisie performances, having scored 49 goals in 71 appearances for the Dutch club before making the switch to Serie A. The transition to Italian football proved more difficult than anticipated, however, and his time at the San Siro has not delivered the consistent returns that his previous record suggested it might.

The Milan connection carries an element of symmetry, given that Rafael Leao is simultaneously being linked with a departure from the same club. Whether Tottenham pursue Gimenez seriously will depend largely on De Zerbi’s assessment of whether the striker’s qualities match what his system requires, and whether the difficulties experienced in Serie A are attributed to circumstance or something more fundamental about his game.

Gimenez could thrive under De Zerbi

The fact that Gimenez’s agent is proactively offering him to clubs suggests the player himself is open to a fresh start, and a move to a Premier League club under a manager with a clear attacking philosophy could be exactly the environment needed to rediscover the form that made him one of the most feared strikers in European football during his Feyenoord years.

Roberto De Zerbi lauds Pedro Porro after defender signed new deal with Tottenham.

Roberto De Zerbi has delivered a glowing tribute to Pedro Porro following the confirmation of a new contract for the Spanish right back, describing the defender as a very important player whose mentality and desire to improve every single day sets him apart as exactly the kind of character the head coach wants to build his Tottenham side around.

The contract extension ends weeks of uncertainty surrounding Porro’s future, with Barcelona having been reported to be preparing a €30 million approach and the player himself having previously expressed a desire for a new challenge. That he has instead committed his future to Tottenham represents a significant statement of faith in De Zerbi’s project and a genuine boost to the rebuild.

De Zerbi’s words in response were warm, specific, and revealing about the qualities he values most in his players. He said (h/t Chris Cowlin on X):

“Pedro is a very important player for us, who has consistently shown his ability to influence matches in both defensive and attacking situations. As well as his technical quality, I also love his mentality. Every day he wants to work, to learn and to improve, and these are the characteristics that help players reach the highest level.”

The emphasis on mentality over technical ability alone is a recurring theme in De Zerbi’s assessments of his players. He has spoken throughout his tenure about the need for a cultural reset at the club, for players who turn up every day with the right attitude and the genuine hunger to develop. Porro, in the head coach’s assessment, embodies exactly that.

The praise extended to Porro’s footballing intelligence and the energy he brings to the group as a whole. De Zerbi continued:

“He understands football in a very intelligent way, and brings energy, intensity and personality to the team. This new contract is good news for everyone at the Club. We believe in Pedro, and I am excited to continue working with him and helping him achieve even more in the coming years.”

Relief for Tottenham fans

For Tottenham supporters who feared losing one of the more consistent performers of the past two seasons, the news that Porro has signed a new deal is as welcome as any transfer announcement. The rebuild is not only about bringing players in. Keeping the right ones is equally important.

Johan Lange hails Pedro Porro as one of the world’s best full-backs after Tottenham secure his long-term future.

Johan Lange has underlined the significance of Pedro Porro’s new contract by describing the securing of his future as an important priority for Tottenham this summer, paying tribute to a player he believes has developed into one of the finest full-backs in world football during his three and a half years at the club.

The sporting director’s statement is notable for the specific and ambitious language it uses to frame Porro’s standing in the game. Describing him as one of the best full-backs in the game is not the kind of cautious corporate praise typically reserved for contract renewals.

It is a genuine statement of belief in a player whose imminent World Cup involvement with Spain serves as external validation of exactly that assessment. Lange said (h/t Chris Cowlin on X):

“Securing Pedro’s future was an important priority for us this summer. During the past three-and-a-half years, he has made huge progress to become one of the best full-backs in the game, and the fact he is about to play in the World Cup for Spain is testament to that. Pedro is at an age where he can provide leadership and experience, while still having room for further development. His character, work ethic, and quality are exactly what we look for when building a squad capable of competing at the highest level, and we are delighted that he has chosen to continue his journey with the Club.”

Lange recognizes Porro’s leadership and experience

The reference to leadership and experience alongside continued development potential reflects the profile Tottenham are deliberately targeting throughout this rebuild. Porro at his current age represents a player in the ideal window of his career, experienced enough to contribute meaningfully to the club’s culture while still young enough to improve further under De Zerbi’s methods.

The mention of character and work ethic is equally deliberate. De Zerbi has spoken throughout his tenure about needing players who want to learn and improve every day, and Lange’s framing of the renewal in those specific terms confirms that Porro embodies the values the club is trying to embed across the entire squad.

Barcelona’s reported interest has been seen off. Porro stays, and Tottenham are better for it.

Teddy Sheringham urges Tottenham to sign leaders as De Zerbi’s summer rebuild gathers pace.

Teddy Sheringham has delivered a pointed and timely warning to Tottenham Hotspur as the summer transfer window accelerates, insisting that simply recruiting more of the same kind of player will not change the club’s trajectory and that what is genuinely needed is a fundamental shift in the character and leadership profile of the squad.

The former Spurs striker who scored 125 goals for the club, has been one of the more vocal critics of the club’s direction throughout a turbulent season, and his message ahead of what promises to be the most consequential summer in the club’s recent history carries the weight of someone who understands exactly what the dressing room culture at Tottenham requires to produce sustained success. Sheringham said (h/t Chris Cowlin on X):

“The most important thing for Tottenham to remember is that if you just bring in the same sort of players that you always have, that you’ve already got, and they’re all good players, you’ll end up in the same position again, and that’s not good enough for Tottenham at the moment. They need to go and bring some leaders into the camp and change the whole picture at Tottenham.”

The observation cuts to the heart of a problem that has defined two consecutive seasons of underperformance. Tottenham have not lacked quality in their squad in either campaign. The injury list has been extraordinary, but even accounting for absences, a group containing players of the calibre of Micky van de Ven, Rodrigo Bentancur, Conor Gallagher, and Dejan Kulusevski should not be fighting relegation. The issue, as Sheringham identifies, is not purely technical. It is cultural, and culture is built by the characters inside the dressing room as much as the tactics on the training pitch.

Tottenham are headed in the right direction

The signings made so far this summer suggest De Zerbi and the club have heard that message clearly. Andy Robertson, a Champions League winner and long-serving captain of one of the world’s most demanding clubs, brings exactly the leadership profile Sheringham is describing. Marcos Senesi’s arrival statement spoke of wanting to win things and return the club to where it belongs. Pedro Porro’s contract renewal was framed explicitly around his mentality and daily desire to improve.

Whether the summer’s remaining business continues in that spirit will determine whether Sheringham’s warning has truly been heeded or merely acknowledged.

Tottenham have been rebuilding their side more actively than ever.

Tottenham Hotspur are one of several clubs keeping tabs on Ayyoub Bouaddi, according to reports, later relayed by a boatload of Spurs pages, and after Friday night’s display at the MetLife Stadium it is not difficult to see why. The Lille midfielder, who only turned 18 in October, was arguably Morocco’s standout performer as they held Brazil to a 1-1 draw in their World Cup Group C opener, completing 60 of 66 attempted passes for a 91% accuracy rate and winning nine ground duels in the process.

Ismael Saibari put Morocco ahead in the 21st minute, and it was Bouaddi’s pressing that directly contributed to the goal. He and Noussair Mazraoui closed down Lucas Paqueta, with the ball eventually finding its way to Brahim Diaz before Saibari finished. Vinicius Junior equalised for Brazil 11 minutes later, but the Atlas Lions came away with a thoroughly deserved point and Bouaddi came away with a global reputation.

The queue forming for Ayyoub Bouaddi’s signature

This was his first senior international appearance, having only switched his allegiance from France to Morocco last month with FIFA approval. Bouaddi made his Lille debut back in October 2023, becoming at 16 years and three days old the youngest player ever to appear in a European club competition. He has since amassed 63 Ligue 1 appearances.

Pedro Porro joined Tottenham on a permanent transfer in the summer of 2023.

Tottenham Hotspur have tied down Pedro Porro to a new contract, with transfer insider Fabrizio Romano confirming the deal is fully signed and sealed. The agreement runs until June 2031, with an option to extend by a further year to June 2032, and includes a salary rise for the 26-year-old right-back.

Romano was unequivocal in his assessment; despite persistent reports linking Porro with Manchester City and others, there was never a realistic chance of him leaving. “Untouchable,” the Italian journalist stated on X. His tweet read:

“BREAKING: Pedro Porro signs new deal at Tottenham, all sealed with the right back and his agents. New contract valid until June 2031 plus an option until June 2032, salary rise and deal done. Despite reports on City & more clubs, never any chances for exit. Untouchable.”

Reward for consistency for Pedro Porro at Tottenham

The new deal comes on the back of another season of heavy involvement for Porro at N17. The Spaniard made 34 Premier League appearances in 2025/26, starting 32 of them, and contributed one goal and two assists across the campaign.

Porro arrived at Spurs from Sporting CP in July 2023 for £40 million, and has not looked back since. The deal was made permanent after he had first arrived on loan in January, earlier that year. In his debut season he notched three goals and eight assists across 35 league games, and the following year added a Europa League winner’s medal to his collection. Three full seasons in, the right-back slot is unequivocally his.

On the international front, Porro is set to feature for Spain at the World Cup, with their Group Stage opener scheduled for June 15. For Tottenham, locking him down long-term removes one of the more unnecessary talking points of recent months.

Savinho has been linked to Tottenham for almost a year now.

Tottenham have been linked with a move to bring Savinho to Hotspur Way for a while; ideally we can roll back to last summer to get an understanding of how much the club likes him and rates him.

But while that transfer did not materialise last summer, the North Londoners are on his case again this time around.

Spurs have been looking to take advantage of Pep Guardiola’s exit in order to pursue his signature this summer, and it looks like that the Lilywhites will surely get their man.

The potential of having him at N17 is a genuine reason to be excited about it, given that the Brazilian is still only 22 years old and has experience in the Champions League alongside his exceptional dribbling capabilities. And additionally, he has a ceiling that he has barely come anywhere near, which gives Spurs a player who can be the face of the club in the years to come.

But let’s be honest, the Lilywhites’ faithful have been burnt before in this hype machine. So before this move gets into an announcement and this ticker tape falls off, we take a look at a few honest reasons why Tottenham supporters will need to be patient with Savinho in his first season donning the Spurs badge.

Why Tottenham fans need to be patient with Savinho

He already has a finishing problem; you don’t need to remind him

While Savinho has an excellent dribbling capacity, he does not match it in front of goal. And you can see that in his numbers in front of goal.

He has scored only six goals for Manchester City in 81 appearances, which he boasts of representing the sky blue. And that sort of return for a player that you’re expecting to be a first choice for a big six side is surely a concern and a half.

If you look at him play, he does quite well to get into shooting position, but then he hesitates to shoot or stops looking for a pass.

Time and again you will see him beat his man and cut inside, but then that final shot is part of the sequence that lets him down time and again.

So, for a Tottenham side that is desperate for goals from their players, our wide players, having a marquee winger who does not convert regularly, means that Tottenham will have to rely on their striker for goals.

So the fans that are expecting him to come in and chip in with 15 goals a season are in line for disappointment.

He has been mismanaged for the past couple of seasons

So the version of Savinho that Tottenham fans have most recently watched is not the real version of Savinho.

Pep has mismanaged him quite badly since he moved to City. The Brazilian only started seven (7) games in the Premier League of a possible 38 games, and his underwhelming performances meant he was omitted from Brazil’s squad for the ongoing World Cup.

So he is a player whose confidence has taken a massive hit in the past couple of seasons because of the start-stop manner of football at a club where he was never given any sense of priority.

So players coming out of that sort of environment generally take some time to rediscover themselves.

And Tottenham have De Zerbi, a manager who boasts a track record of success working with wide players like he did during his time at Brighton. But this sort of rehabilitation takes a while. We may see him be more like the City version of himself for maybe the first half of the season while he finds his footing and confidence again.

The Odobert comparison

Many Tottenham fans have been quite critical of Wilson Odobert since he moved to N17. The wide French forward has barely been appreciated despite his exquisite dribbles, and most of that is because of how the decision-making gets him in the final third. He makes that wrong pass. He shot the wrong shot. Somehow, after all the hard work to get himself in a good position, he finds a way to scuttle it.

And that is exactly what Tottenham are supposedly getting in Savinho.

He drives into the penalty area and then finds a way to make it difficult for himself, and this has been a pattern of his career, be it at Atletico Mineiro, Girona or Manchester City.

At Girona a lot of those flaws were masked because of the extraordinary season he had. He was making high-volume dribbles, and then he was getting space for passes, which meant that his inconsistencies were masked.

But in a high-pressure environment at Tottenham, each of those passes matters. And every wrong impulsive decision will be scrutinised far more harshly than it was at Girona or at Man City.

A misplaced pass in a big moment or a dribble when a shot was the right call or him just keeping the ball for too long when a teammate was in space, the crowds in the English top tier and the newspapers don’t forgive that, especially when these habits are out of a £60 million signing.

But that being said, he does have a very big ceiling but for a while Tottenham fans need to show some patience while he finds his confidence back.