To The Lane And Back

As Thomas Frank takes charge of the proceedings at the helm at Tottenham Hotspur, the North Londoners are expected to evolve into more of a system-driven side that plays in a more compact manner and are a flexible team that is built on positional discipline and intelligent ball use. And as the Lilywhites transition their roster as per the playing style of the incoming Danish head coach, they have turned their attention to Borussia Mönchengladbach defender Ko Itakura, who has built a reputation as one of the most composed and tactically versatile centre-backs in the German top tier.

Following the Europa League triumph under Ange Postecoglou (and qualifying for the Champions League while doing so), whilst keeping in mind how the North Londoners had struggled with depth in the previous campaign, Daniel Levy would be looking to ensure that the Lilywhites are ready to compete on all fronts in the upcoming campaign.

And bringing in a defender could be one of the priorities at N17 this summer, given how Spurs suffered with injuries at the heart of defence in the 2024/2025 season, which saw the likes of Archie Gray being deployed as a makeshift centre-back. Then to build on that, we are also seeing reports compounding about Cristian Romero linked with a possible N17 exit in the ongoing summer transfer window, making it more of a priority to bring in a new centre-back this summer.

The Premier League heavyweights are said to have been made aware of the 28-year-old potential availability during the summer transfer window, given how Daniel Levy and his team have been touching base over a possible transfer over the past eighteen months, and per Givemesport, the Lilywhites have now been informed that he will be available in the coming weeks.

But this is where the question arises: does Itakura fit the mould of what Thomas Frank needs at Hotspur Way?

Let’s get into Ko Itakura for a moment…

Strengths

The Japanese international is a system-flexible centre-back who is comfortable playing in a back four as well as slotting in a back three (and this plays well in the hybrid framework that Thomas Frank uses). The fact that he reads space well and has that ability to anticipate attacking movements to make proactive interceptions also bodes well in the compactness that the Dane head coach likes to operate within.

Moreover, one of his biggest assets is his ability to pass within different ranges, given that he can play through a diagonal ball to break a press or even play a vertical pass into the midfield. I think this ability he has with the ball brings a lot of high-value ball progression to the side, which has the capacity to get better if mid-blocks (which the North Londoners did struggle against last season).

And the thing is that he also gives you that versatile capability given how he can play as a right centre-back in a three and as a right CB in a four. He can also play in a defensive midfielder role (as a deep pivot) if needed. Now this makes him a valuable player, especially when Frank wants to adjust shapes mid-game or cover for injuries without changing his structure.

And lastly, he brings a sense of composure under pressure, which will be a big boost given how the North Londoners, at times in the last season, struggled with hurried clearances (especially without Romero), and then Itakura brings you that sense of calmness in the press as he takes his time on the ball and plays low-risk exits from danger situations.

Weaknesses

When I am thinking about the elite physical standards of the Premier League, then Itakura will not be the most physically dominant defender. The Japanese international relies more on positioning than playing with his physicality, and this can end up being tested in high-tempo situations or in aerial duels against strikers like Haaland or Havertz.

And there is also this recurring muscle problem that he has been undergoing in the past couple of seasons, and given all the injuries that the North Londoners suffered in the last season, it would be a slight red flag to consider his signatures.

How can Ko Itakura tactically fit in at Tottenham?

So if Thomas Frank is to play a back three (3-5-2), then play Itakura as RCB, where he is tasked with ball progression and then protecting the wide zones behind Pedro Porro when he bombs forward to attack. He can combine well with a deeper pivot like Bentancur or Frendrup (if Tottenham signs him). And would be ideal in games where the North Londoners are expecting a lot of possession.

You can also start him next to Micky van de Ven in a back four where he plays in a more reserved role, given that here he gives Van de Ven that freedom to carry forward, while the Japanese international drops deeper and gives you that right-footed balance to left-footed Micky. He is quite ideal for games where you need a sense of symmetry in build-ups from the back.

And when playing against possession-heavy sides (City or Arsenal), you can play him as a deep pivot, so you end up having more vertical compactness and a more secure base in the middle of the park, especially when Bentancur is pushing higher.

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Author Opinion

Now signing Ko Itakura will not bring you world beating headlines but he will give you exactly that tactically astute option that Thomas Frank will like in his roster.

If Levy is looking to bring in a sense of depth and mobility without paying hefty fees then Itakura is a signing that makes sense.

Tottenham need to build on the Europa League success and kickstart a new era at N17

Tottenham Hotspur fans have not endured a good time in the last two decades under the leadership of Daniel Levy. The Lilywhites have managed to win only two major trophies since 2001 during Levy’s tenure. And it is safe to say that the North London club has regressed on the pitch in recent years. The main objective for the Spurs chairman is to make profit, not winning silverware at N17.

The Europa League success just summed up Daniel Levy’s tenure at the North London club. The Lilywhites won their first major trophy in 17 years, thanks to the heroics of Ange Postecoglou and his team. And what does Levy do? He went on to sack the Australian tactician just two weeks after the historic achievement due to poor domestic results.

One step forward, two steps back… that is exactly how Spurs have operated in the last two decades. The fans have also been frustrated with Daniel Levy and multiple protests are held before home games to showcase their anger towards the club’s ownership. The need to commercialise Tottenham has made the results on the pitch a second priority in recent seasons.

Troy Deeney does not expect great things at Tottenham next season

Tottenham are kickstarting a new era at N17 following their Europa League success. Club chairman Daniel Levy recently put out a bold statement stating that Spurs are now aiming to win the Premier League and the Champions League in the coming years. This was a clear message to the fans that the North London club will operate differently now, and look to build on the European success next season.

However, Troy Deeney does not believe Tottenham will win any major trophies again anytime soon. Speaking on The Fellas podcast, Deeney said,

“Listen, I don’t know what Spurs are. I say this all the time and the spurs fans get a bit angry. But I don’t actually know what Spurs are. We never think they’re going to win the Premier League. No one has ever said ‘let’s put a tenner on Spurs to win the league.’ We don’t expect them to win the FA Cup.”

Troy Deeney does not what the expectations are at Tottenham due to the past failures that the club has endured. The ex-Watford striker suggested that he does not believe the Lilywhites will win the Premier League anytime soon. Deeney also goes on to say that Spurs will not win the FA Cup as well under Thomas Frank as the club is destined for setbacks under Daniel Levy.

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Tottenham are looking to offload Alejo Veliz this summer

Thomas Frank has undertaken a major rebuild job at Tottenham Hotspur ahead of his first season in charge as the Dane goes about putting his mark on the squad he inherited from Ange Postecoglou.

There is expected to be plenty of business happening over the next couple of months at N17, with several players likely to depart in different capacity. One of those linked with an exit is Alejo Veliz.

Spurs spent £13m to sign Alejo Veliz from Rosario Central in the summer of 2023. He was deemed an investment for the future rather than a player who’d be tasked with making an immediate impact at the club. Former boss Ange Postecoglou did not fancy the Argentinean striker and he has been sent out on loan twice to La Liga.

The 21-year-old spent the second half of 2023/24 season on loan at Sevilla, before returning to Spain to join Espanyol on a season-long this past term. Veliz had a poor time with Espanyol, netting just once in 27 La Liga outings, as thus, the Catalan side are not interested in signing him permanently.

Following back-to-back underwhelming loan spells, the young striker is seemingly not fancied by new boss Thomas Frank too, and the club are looking to move him on. Rosario Central were keen were planning to re-sign Veliz, but Tottenham are now in talks with another club.

According to TyC sports journalist German Garcia Grova, the North Londoners have opened talks with Racing Club to sell Veliz. He claims on X that Racing Club have offered around £3.7 million to sign 60 per cent of the player’s rights, and Spurs have greenlighted his sale. The 21-year-old also wants to move back to Argentina, with talks over the structure of the deal continuing.

Veliz is one of the names placed on Tottenham’s chopping block as the move to invest on him two years ago has not worked out. He is surplus to requirements, and while it could be argued that the striker is only 21 and must get a look in from the new boss, the Hotspur Way chiefs seemingly feel the time is right to cash him in now before his stock plummets further.

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While a move to Tottenham has not worked out, the South American is still very young and will be back himself to potentially revive his career at the Racing Club. Hopefully, the deal goes through sooner rather than later.

Tottenham want to make a ‘statement signing’ by bringing in Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze

The 2025 summer window is a crucial one for Tottenham Hotspur, who are expected to strengthen their squad following their return to the UEFA Champions League.

Spurs have agreed a deal with Kawasaki Frontale to sign Japanese defensive prospect Kota Takai earlier this week, after the permanent captures of Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel. More additions are expected to be made before the summer window slams shut, particularly further up the pitch, as the Lilywhites aim to compete on multiple fronts during the 2025/26 season.

Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze has been one of Tottenham’s top summer targets. The North Londoners are eyeing a move for the England international as ‘statement signing’ in a bid to bolster their attacking ranks. The 26-year-old, who moved to Crystal Palace from Queens Park Rangers in 2020, has a £68m release clause in his contract, which Spurs are certainly wary of.

Eberechi Eze has been fantastic for the Eagles, scoring 40 goals and providing 28 assists in 167 appearances, including the strike that won the FA Cup in May. He was the club’s MVP in their successful FA Cup campaign, scoring in the quarter-finals, semi-final, and of course, the final against Manchester City.

The Greenwich-born talent’s potential move to Spurs could spell danger for James Maddison. Maddison and Eze are proper playmakers and have thrived in the No.10 role for their respective clubs.

The Tottenham star enjoyed a strong last season, delivering 23 goal contributions in 45 outings. However, the 28-year-old’s story with injuries continued as he suffered a serious knee injury in May that forced to miss him the Europa League final. He is expected to be out for a couple of months, which has raised question marks over his future under the new boss at N17.

Now, ex-Spurs scout Bryan King has questioned whether Maddison and Eze can play together at Tottenham.

Maddison and Eze are technically gifted, intelligent playmakers who’d improve any team in the Premier League. Despite both preferring to play centrally, they can co-exist and thrive in Frank’s system. It is worth noting that Eze can also operate off the left, and with Son Heung-min entering the twilight of his career, his long-term position could be on that flank at Spurs if signed. This would then allow Maddison to wreak havoc centrally whilst combining with Eze in the half spaces.

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Back in June 2023, Maddison had congratulated Eze on making his England debut in a 4–0 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying win against Malta. He wrote under the Palace ace’s Instagram post: “Deserved. Baller.”

Considering Spurs need a bigger and stronger squad next season, fans would hope to see Maddison and Eze flourish if the latter is signed this summer.

Tottenham need to generate funds to back Thomas Frank in the summer

Tottenham need to be proactive in the transfer window as they look to kickstart a new era under Thomas Frank. The Lilywhites endured a dismal Premier League campaign, finishing just a place above the relegation zone. The poor league position also resulted in huge financial constraints as the North London club incurred a loss last season.

However, the Europa League success saved the club’s blushes in more ways than one. Not only did it ended the club’s long-standing trophy drought, but it also ensured that there was a huge influx of cash heading their way for the summer. It was reported earlier that Spurs approximately earned £70m after getting over the finish line in the final against Manchester United.

Now, the North London club must do everything they can and back Thomas Frank in the summer if they want to succeed under the Danish tactician. Daniel Levy has not made matters easy for himself as he put out a bold statement suggesting that the Europa League success was not enough, and Spurs will now aim for the Premier League and the Champions League in the coming years.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy may find it tough to finance the club in the summer

Tottenham are already under a lot of scrutiny as fans did not like Daniel Levy’s decision to sack Ange Postecoglou just two weeks after the Europa League success. Not only that, but many are now hoping that the Spurs chairman puts the money where his mouth is and back Thomas Frank in the transfer window.

However, finance expert Stefan Borson has pointed out the difficulties Daniel Levy would face in financing the club in the summer. Speaking to Football Insider, Borson said,

“My understanding from conversations that I’ve had is that even if they wanted to, Spurs are limited in that they’ve got the Champions League money, it’s going to be really important. But they are restricted by both banking covenants in terms of what they can spend and what they can lose profit-wise, and also cash.”

The finance expert added,

“Daniel Levy is a very wealthy individual by virtue of his stake in Tottenham, but it’s paper assets and wealth. He’s not crystallised it, so he’s obviously taking very nice money as a salary over the years and he’s clearly very wealthy, but most of his wealth is wrapped up in the shares of Tottenham, which are not a liquid asset.

“I guess he could go to a bank and borrow, using it as collateral. If he’s not prepared to do that, then he’s not in a position to put money into the club either. They are limited by both of those things.”

Stefan Borson has suggested that Tottenham only have the Champions League money to spend in the summer as they are restricted by bank covenants. The finance expert adds that Daniel Levy’s stake at the club is paper assets and wealth, meaning all his money is through shares and it is not liquid asset to spend. Borson also points out that the club chairman could use his shares as a collateral in the bank, but Spurs might struggle for cash if Levy does not decide to do that.

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Now, fans can only hope that the Lilywhites manage to find a way to generate funds in the summer to invest in the squad. The North London club must try and sell some of their underperforming players, and use the income generated from that to bring in new arrivals. But, it is not as easy as it sounds, and Daniel Levy must be proactive in the transfer market to deliver on his promise of backing Thomas Frank.

Tottenham have the chance to fend off competition for Parma star Giovanni Leoni in the summer

The problems at Tottenham need to be addressed quickly as time is running out in the transfer market. The Lilywhites endured a disappointing Premier League campaign last season, and must bring in reinforcements in the summer to get things back in track. Not only that, but the North London club must also look to make statement signings to back Thomas Frank heading into next season.

With pre-season approaching quickly, Daniel Levy cannot afford to be complacent in the transfer market. There is a lot of work to be done and that involves cashing-in on underperforming players as well. The fans will hope that the right players are brought in before pre-season begins, so that Thomas Frank gets an idea of his first-choice team for next season.

The defensive problems at N17 have been in the media spotlight for a long time now. And Levy should address them first as the Lilywhites cannot endure similar problems next year. The lack of squad depth at the back might prove to be catastrophic again if it is not addressed in time by Spurs.

Tottenham are interested in signing Parma defender Giovanni Leoni

Tottenham need to bring in new defenders to address the problems at the back before next season starts. With Cristian Romero heading for a potential exit amid Real Madrid links, Daniel Levy must look to bring in a quality replacement that could fill the void left behind by the Argentina international heading into the new campaign.

As per FcInterNews, Spurs are interested in signing Giovanni Leoni from Parma in the summer. The Lilywhites want to land the Italian at N17 and develop his game even further by giving his first-team experience in the Premier League. However, the North London club faces competition from AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Atletico Madrid for the 18-year-old’s signature.

The aforementioned report also states that Parma have set an asking price of €30m for the defender. But the Italian club are willing to reduce the asking price to €25m if they are allowed to keep the centre-back on loan for next season. Inter Milan are the favourites to land the 18-year-old as former Parma boss Cristian Chivu recently became the club’s new manager for next season. The highly-rated manager gave Leoni his debut in Serie A last season.

It remains to be seen if the Lilywhites decide to proceed with the deal to sign Geovanni Leoni. Spurs do not need another young player in their ranks as the club is looking to bring in experienced centre-backs to play under Thomas Frank. However, a deal to sign the talented defender for mere €25m is too good to turn down. And he could also form a partnership with new Tottenham signing Kota Takai in the future.

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Tottenham are ready to bring Southampton star Kyle Walker-Peters to N17 again

It has been another slow start to the summer for Tottenham despite the Europa League success that the club endured last month. The Lilywhites managed to qualify for Champions League football as well for next season, yet the North London club has not made any significant signings since the season ended.

While other clubs are bolstering their squad for next season, Spurs are stuck to what they have and have not managed to find the breakthrough in negotiations with many potential targets. The Lilywhites need to address a lot of problems on the pitch as they look to kickstart a new era at N17 with Thomas Frank at the helm.

One of the key areas that Spurs struggled in last season was the defence. At first glance, one may think that it is the centre-back position that needs to be addressed. But that is not the only position that took a hit last season as the club finished just a place above the relegation zone in the Premier League. The full-backs were also exposed and it was clear that an upgrade was needed in the wide areas, given how much Thomas Frank depends on them.

Tottenham are ready to sign Southampton star Kyle Walker-Peters

Tottenham full-backs Pedro Porro and Djed Spence endured a ‘stop-start’ campaign under Ange Postecoglou last season. Both defenders were in and out of the team, and that affected their rhythm to perform consistently for a stretch of games. It was also reported earlier that Pedro Porro was linked with a high-profile move in the summer to Barcelona.

Now, Spurs are set to land another full-back in the summer that could provide cover on both flanks for Thomas Frank. It was reported earlier that the Lilywhites were willing to test the waters for Southampton star Kyle Walker-Peters, despite some heavy competition from West Ham United for his signature.

Well, as per GiveMeSport, Walker-Peters has given Tottenham a priority and wants to join the North London club in the summer. The England international is aiming to test himself in a new environment and believes he can make a mark at Hotspur Way again. The aforementioned report also suggests that Crystal Palace and Fulham are also aiming to sign the 28-year-old, but he is keen to re-join Spurs on a free transfer.

It is fair to say that fans can be excited about the Southampton star re-joining the club. Kyle Walker-Peters has made a name for himself at the St. Mary’s Stadium and is Premier League-proven as well. Not only that, but the 28-year-old could provide cover a right-back, or as a make-shift left-back if the club endures an injury crisis.

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The versatile full-back will thrive under Thomas Frank as he would be given the license to venture forward as and when its necessary. Walker-Peters excels in defending 1v1’s and he is also good at putting in dangerous crosses from the by-line. The England international has a good passing range as well, which is key when the team is on a break during a fast counter-attack.

Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario was heavily linked with a move to AC Milan earlier last week

Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario has time and again proved his importance in the team through his leadership and command. The Italy international may not be the best option to have between the sticks, but his impact in the dressing room cannot be taken lightly. The 28-year-old has already made a mark at N17 following his switch from Empoli in 2023.

It is fair to say that the Spurs keeper endured a ‘stop-start’ campaign last season under Ange Postecoglou. For a goalkeeper, confidence and rhythm is everything… and the injury that Vicario endured earlier in the season proved to be catastrophic as the Italian was side-lined for almost four months.

Understandably, the 28-year-old took time to get back in form after recovering from his long-term injury. But in the end, it was all worth the wait as he played a crucial part in helping the Lilywhites end their 17-year wait for a major trophy. Guglielmo Vicario managed to keep three clean sheets in the knockout stages of the Europa League, including one in the final against Manchester United.

Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario is set to stay at N17

It was reported earlier last week that Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario was set to head for pastures new in the summer amid strong transfer links. The Italy international was linked with a move to AC Milan and it was suggested that he was seen as an ideal replacement of Mike Maignan heading into next season.

However, the Lilywhites have made it clear that they have no intentions of selling the 28-year-old in the summer and view him as a crucial part of the future. And after hearing this, John Wenham cannot contain his emotions as Vicario is set to stay at N17 for the time being. Speaking to Tottenham News, Wenham said,

“It seems Spurs have shut down any exit talk about Vicario. I think that is the completely correct decision. Yes, there have been a few lapses in concentration from the goalkeeper. However, he is a leader in the squad. If Son moves on this summer, Tottenham won’t want to dismantle the entire leadership group and start from scratch. Therefore, Vicario must stay.”

John Wenham has suggested that Tottenham have taken the right decision by not allowing Guglielmo Vicario to leave the club in the summer. The Lilywhite Rose owner acknowledged that the 28-year-old does have faults in his game, but his leadership qualities are important for the dressing room. Wenham also adds that Spurs might potentially lose Heung-Min Son and Cristian Romero in the summer, so they cannot afford to lose another member of the leadership group in Vicario.

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Tottenham considering making an offer for West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has the chance of backing new boss Thomas Frank in the ongoing summer transfer window by bringing in new players to help the Dane close on their rivals next season.

Indeed, Spurs have shown interest in several players this summer, with most of them attackers. They have already signed Mathys Tel on a permanent deal from Bayern Munich. The North London club were keen on signing Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo, but their interest have significantly cooled down after it became apparent that the player has his heart set on a move to Manchester United.

Since then, the Lilywhites have been on the hunt for an alternative to Mbeumo. West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus has emerged on the club’s radar.

Mohammed Kudus took the Premier League by storm after arriving at West Ham from Ajax in the summer of 2023, delivering 18 goals and 10 assists. However, the African player failed to build on his debut campaign and match his productivity, bagging only five goals and three assists in 32 Premier League outings. Yet, several clubs have been on the lookout for his signature.

According to an exclusive report from TBR Football, both Tottenham and Arsenal have held fresh talks with West Ham over the signing of Kudus. The North London duo are now considering bidding for the Ghanaian international, who has a mammoth £85m release clause in his contract.

The Hammers are planning to sell the 24-year-old to hand their manager Graham Potter funds to rebuild the squad after a disastrous 2024/25 campaign. It was reported last week that Tottenham were planning to low-ball an offer in the region of £50m to test the Irons’ resolve for Kudus, but as of now, there have been no update over a bid. Instead, Spurs have held fresh talks with West Ham perhaps to understand their demands.

The aforementioned report adds West Ham are set to accept a deal above £60 million for the versatile attacker amid interest from clubs such as Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle United as well. But it is Spurs and Arsenal who have shown the concrete interest in signing Kudus.

Both North London clubs were miles apart from each other in the Premier League last season but will be competing in the UEFA Champions League next term. The Gunners finished second in the Premier League, while the Lilywhites clinched the Europa League trophy to qualify for the elite European competition.

Bukayo Saka, one of England’s best talents, has locked down his place on the right flank at Arsenal. So, Mikel Arteta is on the lookout for Saka’s back-up and ideally would want Kudus to essay that role, something the West Ham forward certainly will think many times before accepting.

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At Spurs, though, Brennan Johnson did score 18 goals from the right-wing berth but he had a habit of going missing in games. Frank may look for an upgrade on Johnson or a different profile on the right flank, which might intrigue Kudus into joining his forces at N17.

That said, it remains to be seen whether Tottenham actually tables a proposal and manages to beat our bitter rivals to the West Ham star’s signature.

Tottenham-linked Real Betis star Johnny Cardoso is set to seal a move to Atletico Madrid

Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer business is slowly taking shape, as new boss Thomas Frank tries to rebuild the squad for next season.

Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel have become permanent members of the squad following productive loan spells, with technical director Johan Lange spearheading the recruitment drive. Spurs have also agreed a £5 million deal with Kawasaki Frontale for highly-rated Japanese defender Kota Takai.

However, Thomas Frank has now learnt that one of the club’s top transfer target will not be arriving in North London this summer. However, there remains good news, as Spurs could yet profit from the player’s decision.

According to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano on X, Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso is closing in on a move to Atletico Madrid. The two clubs are finalising details of transfer fee and package worth over €30m, with the deal set to be sealed in the next 24 hours.

Despite the Lilywhites having the option to sign, Johnny Cardoso has agreed to join Atletico Madrid. Until a couple of months ago, it was a foregone conclusion that the USA international is on his way to the Premier League, given that Tottenham have a £21m buy option for him this summer. But, their pursuit of the Real Betis star became difficult when Atletico Madrid turned their attention towards the player.

Now, it is only a matter of time before Cardoso becomes Atletico Madrid’s new recruit, handing Spurs a big blow. But the North Londoners are due to receive some of the fee that the La Liga club will pay to sign the defensive midfielder, thanks to a sell-on clause.

Daniel Levy and Co. will be frustrated at Cardoso’s desire to move to Atletico, given that he would have certainly strengthened their options in midfield. The American has been outstanding in La Liga, and started as his side lost 4-1 to Chelsea in the Europa Conference League final this past season. the 23-year-old made 46 appearances, making five goal contributions for Manuel Pellegrini’s side.

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Missing a player of Cardoso’s talent and high ceiling hurts, but Tottenham do have the required tools to lure quality players to N17 and drive their appetite for trophies. It was smart from our club’s negotiating team to add a sell-on clause when selling Giovani Lo Celso to Betis last year, and let’s hope the fee we receive from his sale helps us in funding one of our summer targets.