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Tottenham Hotspur attacking midfielder James Maddison has not played a full 90 minutes for the club since tearing his ACL at the end of the 2024/25 season, and now that Xavi Simons has torn his own ACL at the end of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, Spurs need Madders more than ever in 2026/27 in Roberto De Zerbi's first full season at the helm of the club.

So far in the preseason, Maddison has been getting plenty of tune up action, but Spurs are obviously playing it safe and restricting his minutes as he works his way back to full strength. But even in the early going, Maddison has honestly done little to show that he is ready to be at full gear, and there is a real sense that Conor Gallagher is going to start the season as De Zerbi's main No. 10 until the former Leicester City man can prove he is near his 100 percent.

Even when he is not at 100 percent, Maddison is clearly superior to the other Tottenham players in terms of his vision, technical quality, passing ability, and creativity. But while those things are important, especially as a No. 10, they are not the only things that De Zerbi needs to see.

Tottenham need James Maddison at his best

Tottenham Hotspur need James Maddison to be fit and sharp. He needs to be sprightly on the ball, active defensively, and showing that he can be trusted for a full 90 minutes. Spurs fans need Madders to make that statement on the pitch in September so that they can feel secure that the man pulling the strings for this attack is at his best.

Spurs need Maddison. So far, they have not signed a single new attacking player, and while they are fully expected to land Savinho, Cody Gakpo, and/or a new striker, nothing is guaranteed in football - and Spurs have been pursuing the Manchester City winger for at least a year to no avail. So whether or not Spurs sign those new attacking talents, they are still going to need Maddison as their primary creator and a secondary scoring option when the 2026/27 Premier League season gets under way.

Now, it is natural for Maddison to still need a little bit of time to shake off the rust and get back to his best, but that can only be a little bit of time. Tottenham fans are waiting for the announcement on the field that Madders is back and in fine form.

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Tottenham fans have to come to an early James Maddison and Conor Gallagher realization

Roberto De Zerbi may be trying to answer the big Savinho doubt with Cody Gakpo

Tottenham are teasing a left wing plan that spells disaster for Mathys Tel

Tottenham's attacking transfer strategy can only have one solution

Bundesliga side Cologne continue to expect Tottenham Hotspur winger Mikey Moore to complete a season-long loan move, with club sources insisting they are unconcerned by the current delay, TEAMtalk can reveal.

The 19-year-old, who made a big impression during a productive spell at Rangers last season, has already agreed personal terms with the Bundesliga side.

A verbal understanding is also in place with Tottenham for a pure loan without any option or obligation to buy, given the north London club’s admiration for the teenage talent.

Moore’s contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium runs until 2030, and Spurs have made it clear they have no intention of selling permanently this summer, with high hopes for the attacker’s future.

The hold-up centres on head coach Roberto De Zerbi, who has yet to give final approval over a replacement, as Tottenham still look to push through deals for Savinho and Cody Gakpo – with the Liverpool star seemingly edging closer following a fresh update.

Moore has impressed the Italian during pre-season, most notably with a brace in the 3-0 friendly victory over Hoffenheim on Saturday.

Those displays, combined with Spurs’ ongoing search for attacking reinforcements, have prompted De Zerbi to keep the youngster involved a little longer than initially anticipated.

Meanwhile, sources also state a flight to Germany had even been arranged before the manager intervened.

Cologne still confident of securing Mikey Moore loan

Cologne, however, remain relaxed over the situation. German sources indicate the player is still firmly part of their plans and is expected to arrive in the near future once Spurs finalise their own squad.

The Bundesliga outfit view the temporary acquisition as an ideal opportunity to add a high-potential English talent capable of making an immediate impact.

For Tottenham, the arrangement fits their development strategy.

Moore is not yet deemed ready for regular Premier League minutes, and a campaign of consistent football in Germany is seen as the next step.

Spurs will closely track his progress throughout the loan, assessing how he adapts to the physical and tactical demands of the Bundesliga before deciding his long-term pathway back at the club.

With the transfer window still open, both parties are confident the formalities will be completed soon, allowing Moore to begin his next chapter in Cologne.

Mathys Tel has long had the inside track on being the starting left winger for Tottenham Hotspur among the players currently in the squad, but it will not be easy for him this season if Spurs make two expected upgrades in Savinho and Cody Gakpo, whom are both high on Roberto de Zerbi's list of potential forward targets this summer.

But Tel, who is also a player De Zerbi has said he likes, is making quite the statement to De Zerbi this summer that he merits serious consideration this season, having been passed over by multiple managers last season despite being the clear best attacking player on the team following Mohammed Kudus's injury.

Once again, Tel has been Spurs best forward this preseason, and he really placed a feather in his cap with a brace of assists in the 3-0 win over Hoffenheim on Saturday, proving impossible for the Bundesliga side's defense to contain.

Mathys Tel is creating now

While Mathys Tel was always touted highly for his ability to create his own chances and cause havoc with a positive attitude, one area of weakness that fans wanted him to work on was his ability to create chances for others and his quality as a passer.

With two brilliant, on a platter assists for Mikey Moore and a couple of other accurate passes leading to scoring chances against Hoffenheim, Tel has really sent a message to Tottenham Hotspur that he is seriously improving a major weakness and arguably the last real hurdle to him proving that he is a worthy starter in the Premier League on the left wing.

Tottenham owe Tel for some game changing moments last season as they survived Premier League relegation, but he did leave some assists on the table by not making the right decision or pass. So far this preseason, Tel has been better and more thoughtful as a creator, showing a leap in decision making and technical quality that many fans already believed he would be able to deliver on with more experience.

Touted as the next big thing in French football while at Rennes, Tel was unable to make the most of his opportunities at Bayern Munich, largely because he received so little of them, and Tottenham will have to be careful that after signing Savinho and Cody Gakpo to provide much needed attacking upgrades, they don't run into the same issue here either.

Today's best reads

Tottenham are teasing a left wing plan that spells disaster for Mathys Tel

Mikey Moore just proved what every Tottenham fan was afraid of

Roberto De Zerbi may be trying to answer the big Savinho doubt with Cody Gakpo

Cody Gakpo emphasizes the brutal reality of the Dominic Solanke myth

Tottenham Hotspur are moving closer to another significant summer departure after accepting Juventus’ proposal for goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

The 29-year-old’s future in north London has been uncertain after he lost his starting place to Antonin Kinsky towards the end of last season.

Roberto De Zerbi has continued to favour the Czech goalkeeper during pre-season, while Vicario has made no secret of his desire to return to Italy.

Juventus have now acted after abandoning their pursuit of Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez.

Tottenham have accepted Juventus proposal

According to The Athletic, Tottenham have accepted an offer submitted by Juventus overnight for Vicario.

The agreement is structured as an initial loan with an option for the Serie A club to purchase the Italy international permanently next summer.

All parties now expect the transfer to be completed, with Vicario keen on the opportunity to return to Serie A.

Juventus switched their attention towards the Spurs goalkeeper after ending negotiations for Martinez.

The Argentina international had been their preferred option, but concerns surrounding a finger injury and the financial demands involved caused the Italian giants to walk away.

The latest from La Gazzetta dello Sport also says Tottenham opened the door to a loan with a purchase option, while Vicario has been pushing for a move back to Italy for some time.

Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has given his ‘here we go’ confirmation as Tottenham accept an offer from Juventus for Guglielmo Vicario.

It was clear towards the end of last season that Vicario would be on his way out of Spurs this summer with Antonin Kinsky stepping in after the Italian underwent hernia surgery in March.

Vicario had been one of the many underperforming players last season as Tottenham managed to avoid relegation by two points on the final day of the campaign.

Juventus had been pursuing a deal to sign Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa, before that potential option collapsed, and Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio revealed recently that the Old Lady are now ‘serious’ about landing Tottenham goalkeeper Vicario.

Di Marzio wrote on his website: ‘Juventus are serious about Guglielmo Vicario and are ready to definitively tighten the deadline to bring the team a new goalkeeper. After having diverted their attention from the Martinez option to the Italian goalkeeper, the Bianconeri management has stepped up their game, giving a significant boost to a deal that is about to enter its final stages.

‘Discussions between Juventus and Tottenham are continuing at a rapid pace even now. The two clubs’ goal is to iron out the final details and reach a final agreement on the transfer. The clubs are working on a loan with an option to buy, a solution that would satisfy Juventus and allow Spurs to accommodate the player’s wishes, as he is ready to return to Serie A.

READ: Chelsea lead Spurs, Real Madrid as biggest spenders of the 2026 summer transfer window

‘Another crucial detail testifies to the extremely heated phase of the operation. The goalkeeper’s agent is already in the Piedmontese capital: having initially arrived in Turin to finalise the deal for Jhon Lucumí with the Bianconeri, the agent is now taking advantage of his presence in the city to personally advance negotiations for Vicario, sitting at the same table as the management . The parties are currently working intensely to reach a final agreement as soon as possible.’

Vicario to Juventus is ‘here we go’ done – Romano

And now Italian transfer insider Romano has revealed that a deal has been ‘agreed’ between Tottenham and Juventus with the Vicario transfer now ‘here we go’ done.

READ: Title tilting, relegation fighting, global megastar controlling: A pre-season target for every Premier League club

Romano posted on X: ‘Juventus agree deal to sign Guglielmo Vicario from Tottenham, here we go! Spurs accept loan proposal with buy option clause – not mandatory. Vicario wanted the move and leaves #THFC today. New goalkeeper for Juventus.’

The Athletic‘s reliable journalist David Ornstein also confirmed that Tottenham have ‘accepted’ a bid from Juventus for Vicario.

Ornstein wrote on X: ‘Tottenham Hotspur accept Juventus bid for Guglielmo Vicario. Proposal sent overnight; loan + option to buy 29yo #THFC goalkeeper next summer. All parties expect signing of Italy int’l by #Juve to go ahead after Martinez pursuit called off @TheAthleticFC.’

READ NEXT: Spurs guilty of two huge summer 2026 transfer undercharges with Arsenal outcast at 3)

Tottenham have reportedly secured Savinho's verbal agreement and are in talks with Manchester City over a deal worth about £85m as Spurs seek more quality out wide.

Tottenham want to sign a striker before the window closes as Spurs look to strengthen their forward line ahead of the new Premier League season.

Tottenham beat Hoffenheim 3-0 and drew 2-2 in a friendly double-header. Mathys Tel and Mikey Moore impressed, while Souza and James Maddison were rated the flops.

Newcastle and Nottingham Forest are expected to return with improved bids for Lucas Bergvall after Tottenham rejected £46m. Spurs are believed to want more than £50m.

Tottenham are interested in Crystal Palace right-back Daniel Muñoz after Djed Spence's exit to Inter left Pedro Porro as Spurs' only recognised senior right-back.

Djed Spence said he left Tottenham for Inter because he was 'drawn by the history'. The £30m move follows his World Cup and reunites him with John Stones and Josep Martinez.

Everton want Pape Sarr as a replacement for Idrissa Gueye. Tottenham would reportedly consider selling the midfielder for £21.4m as competition in Spurs' midfield grows.

Mikey Moore scored twice on Saturday but could still leave Tottenham on loan.

Roma are in constant contact over Destiny Udogie, with Tottenham said to want about €25m. The defender could be open to returning to Italy despite a Spurs deal to 2030.

Juventus have intensified talks with Tottenham for Guglielmo Vicario after cooling on Emi Martinez. The next few hours are said to be crucial in the goalkeeper move.

Cody Gakpo has been convinced to ditch Liverpool and join Tottenham Hotspur after sources revealed the incredible pitch made by Roberto De Zerbi that persuaded the Dutchman to move to north London, and with Spurs now described as “one step away” from a transfer.

The Dutch winger only signed a new and improved contract at Anfield last summer, having become a regular in Arne Slot’s side.

But with the 27-year-old suffering a massive drop in form for Liverpool last season, the winger found himself the subject of strong criticism from Reds fans, who were left mystified by Slot’s insistence on picking the player and overlooking the burgeoning talents of Rio Ngumoha.

However, with Slot now replaced at the helm by Andoni Iraola and with the Reds making a big push to bring in Bradley Barcola as a marquee addition on the left side of their attack, Gakpo’s days at Anfield appear well and truly numbered.

As a result, links to Tottenham have gathered momentum in recent weeks, and sources now understand that there is growing confidence that a deal can be struck following a significant buy-in from the player.

Indeed, as revealed by our transfer correspondent Graeme Bailey on Sunday, Gakpo has been convinced to join De Zerbi’s Tottenham revolution by the Italian himself, who we understand has promised the winger a key role in his attack.

Furthermore, TEAMtalk understands De Zerbi has made it clear to the winger’s camp just how important he could be to his plans in north London, with Gakpo hugely impressed by what he has heard from the Tottenham head coach and is now described as being ‘fully convinced’ that the opportunity to play a major role in De Zerbi’s project is both an attractive move and also regarded as the best next step in his career.

Counting on the player as an option on his left flank, De Zerbi is understood to have made it clear that he also values Gakpo’s versatility and ability to play a central role if required.

And with the 54-cap Netherlands star also having agreed personal terms, we understand Spurs are finally set to launch an official move this week…

IN DEPTH: Every completed Tottenham transfer in summer 2026: Signings, sales, loans

Liverpool set their price for Cody Gakpo sale

Despite a willingness to sell Gakpo and with the player looking set to slip down their pecking order in the upcoming season, Liverpool are making it clear that the winger will not be allowed to leave for a discounted price.

Indeed, sources insist the Reds are making it clear that they value the former PSV Eindhoven star at upwards of £60m – and could even demand as much as £70m to sanction his sale.

Significantly, though, Spurs are willing to match – or at least come close to the Reds’ demands – meaning a deal should be relatively straightforward once Spurs officially come to the table, and it’s understood a compromise package of around £65m (€76m, $88m) could be enough to satisfy all parties.

Backing up our report, Italian journalist Nicolo Schira, writing on X, has also described the transfer as being “one step away”.

In addition to Gakpo, Spurs also remain in the hunt to sign Savinho from Manchester City and De Zerbi believes the double wing addition will give his side the firepower to mount what many now expect to be a push for the Champions League places.

Since moving to north London, De Zerbi has helped Spurs avoid relegation to the Championship, having since embarked on an ambitious summer rebuilding programme that has seen big money splashed out on the likes of Jan Paul van Hecke, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes.

But De Zerbi knows he needs more options in attack and moves to strengthen that area are expected to gather pace this week.

On the outgoing front, there have been developments over the exit of Guglielmo Vicario in recent hours, with a move back to Italy now increasingly likely.

Meanwhile, a planned Tottenham hijack of an Everton defensive target has ignited as De Zerbi sets his sights on signing a sublime Djed Spence replacement.

Cristian Romero was a controversial figure in his time at Spurs, and has tainted his legacy to some degree.

The writing was on the wall for Cristian Romero at Spurs for some time. Despite being a quality player when in the right headspace, he all too often was not in the right headspace.

Tottenham fans were able to put up with it to a degree, but even they were eventually worn down by his endless antics. Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge covers Spurs, and he was pretty damning in his assessment of the defender’s legacy after a €40m move to Atletico Madrid was completed.

Romero announced his own exit from Spurs

Asked if Spurs fans were going to miss their central defender, Bridge was pretty clear: “No.”

He noted that Romero had announced his move even before Spurs had, continuing the rather lawless approach we’ve seen off and on the pitch from him over the years.

“On his day he was one of the best centre-backs in the world but those days came against Ecuador or Peru on international duty [for Argentina].

“There’s nothing wrong with being proud to play for your nation but there was too many times it was a chore playing for Spurs. He posted a few public comments about the board, which you can’t do. He was a key part of winning the Europa League but there was that final day saga about whether will he or won’t he watch his team try to avoid relegation.”

The club have brought in Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi to play at centre back, and fans will be hoping they immediately strike up a strong partnership so Romero is soon forgotten at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham's search for another striker has become one of the summer's busiest pursuits.

Tottenham are in the mix to sign another teen talent, with the focus on youth investment despite Roberto De Zerbi's preference for proven Premier League experience.

Cristian Romero is set to join Atletico Madrid in a £34.2m deal with a 15 per cent sell-on clause, ending his five-year Spurs spell after 124 appearances and 12 goals.

Cristian Romero confirmed his Spurs exit on Instagram ahead of a move to Atletico Madrid in a deal worth about £34.2m, saying he leaves proud after helping end the club's 17-year trophy drought.

Tottenham have shortlisted Amar Dedic as a possible Djed Spence replacement, but Newcastle are moving first for the Benfica full-back and no formal Spurs approach is known.

Tottenham's centre-back rebuild has brought ball-playing quality, but concerns remain over Van Hecke, Senesi and Van de Ven against quick dribblers after Romero's exit.

Tottenham's 35m euro sale of Djed Spence to Inter is framed as strong value, with the piece arguing Spurs could not block a 26-year-old full-back wanting a bigger role.

Tottenham are still working on Cody Gakpo, with personal terms no issue but no financial agreement yet. Liverpool could reinvest in two wingers if Spurs complete the deal.

Tottenham are pushing for Cody Gakpo and Savinho, but Victor Osimhen is not advanced. Wages are an issue and the likeliest outcome is Osimhen stays at Galatasaray.

Tottenham Hotspur have been trying to sell disgruntled goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario for months, and even before Antonin Kinsky emerged as a hero in the Premier League relegation fight and Spurs new No. 1 under Roberto De Zerbi, the club was interested in divesting from Vicario after an embarrassing 2025/26 season.

Many Spurs fans came into the season with skepticism about Vic, but because he was seen as a great pure shot stopper, a lot of his basic errors in possession or handling were forgiven. But as the shot stopping numbers deteroriated into literally the worst save percentage of any starting Premier League goalkeeper and the horrible goalkeeping gaffes only increased, Spurs supporters knew they had to move on.

It looked like Vicario's transfer back to Serie A would be a mere formality, but after initially showing strong interest in the former Empoli man, Inter Milan totally backed out of the deal, signing the superior Ivan Provedel instead to be their new No. 2. Meanwhile, rivals Juventus have been interested, but VIcario has only been a Plan B to them. They were initially going for Emiliano Martinez, who proved too expensive, and then Zion Suzuki, but the latter has seemingly chosen PSG.

Guglielmo Vicario could fetch more money later

So all roads lead back to Guglielmo Vicario for Juventus, but Tottenham Hotspur are realizing that Juve simply do not rate Vicario highly enough to spend outright on him. The word on the street comoing out of Italy now is that the Bianconeri want to try to buy Vicario on loan, and so Spurs have to hope for a favorable loan with an option to buy deal.

While Tottenham would prefer to sell Vicario outright so they can fully move on with Antonin Kinsky and Martin Dubravka as their goalkeeper pairing, perhaps a loan deal with Juve is actually the better move for the Lilywhites.

Vicario is at the lowest value point of his entire career after a shameful season in which he showed poorly as a shot stopper, ball handler, distributor, and leader. He was awful in all regards, clearly affected by Tottenham's difficult season and the fact that he was no longer important.

Going back to Italy can help Vicario feel more comfortable and rehab his value, and if he can manage to bounce back somewhat for Juventus, who want a new starting goalkeeper after Michele Di Gregorio's own huge tumble in form last season, then that can help him fetch Tottenham a better transfer fee next summer, whether attached to an option to buy or in a new sale entirely.