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Tottenham are set to sound the alarm as Atletico Madrid lurk for Rodrigo Bentancur.

Bentancur’s importance in North London has grown exponentially in recent months.

The Uruguayan has objectively been one of Spurs’ best players and has slotted into the defensive midfield role after Yves Bissouma proved unreliable for Ange Postecoglou.

This importance seems to have carried into the Thomas Frank era, with Bentancur receiving ample minutes during pre-season. However, Tottenham risk losing him to Atletico Madrid if they do not get their priorities in order.

This article includes exclusive comments from Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham.

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Tottenham must agree on a new contract with Bentancur

Bentancur’s contract at Tottenham runs out in June 2026, when he will be able to sign with another club on a free transfer.

He could even negotiate a pre-agreement with an overseas side as soon as six months before the end of his current deal. The midfielder was linked to Atletico Madrid earlier in the transfer window, and they could make a huge swoop for him in January.

As a result, Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes extending Bentancur should be a priority over the next few months.

“When Frank came in, he mentioned Bentancur almost immediately,” Wenham said.

“I think there is a concern that we need to get his contract extended because if you’re talking about backing the manager, this is somebody that Frank wants around.

“You can see that from his team selections, another start against Bayern. In the first half, he was probably our best player, along with Mohammed Kudus, in terms of just keeping things ticking over against the really aggressive, high-pressing Bayern midfield.

“He’s five months away from being able to negotiate a pre-contract. Atletico and others would happily sign him on that or wait for him to come for free in the summer. So it’s being cautious about that, and getting his contract extended is an absolute priority.”

Bentancur’s injury record could be an issue

One of the reasons why Tottenham could be hesitant to extend Bentancur is his past injury record.

The defensive midfielder has missed 55 games for Spurs since the 2021/22 season and has been out for almost 400 days as a result. This would make even the most optimistic of individuals sceptical about striking a deal.

However, upon further inspection, recurrent injuries seem to be a thing of the past. Out of the 55 games missed, only four were during the 2024/25 season and six for the season prior.

This indicates that Bentancur could mostly remain fit for the duration of his future contract with Spurs. While there is no way of knowing for certain, his current record does suggest that extending the midfielder would be a worthwhile investment.

Eye-watering total Tottenham could pay to sign Jack Grealish from Man City

Tottenham have again been linked with a move for Jack Grealish after failing to sign him during his time at Aston Villa.

The Lilywhites had been linked with a £30million move for the forward early on in his Villa career, but the Claret and Blue side ultimately elected to keep hold of their star.

Fast forward a couple of years, and Grealish was signing for Manchester City for £100m.

However, after a turbulent time in Manchester, the 29-year-old now looks set to leave the Cityzens, with Spurs one of the teams showing plenty of interest.

Grealish could cost Spurs £27m

Tottenham face competition from Everton for the signature of Grealish.

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The forward is keen on a move away this summer, having found his gametime limited last campaign. However, he could come at a healthy price for Spurs.

The most likely move for the former Villa man would be a season-long loan, with a possible buy-out clause included.

Man City reportedly want a £12m loan fee included in any potential deal, which could put off potential suitors.

However, Spurs have some spare cash, with top earner Son Heung-min departing for LAFC.

Grealish is on a reported eye-watering £300,000 a week at Man City, according to Capology. Should Spurs sign the forward, they would likely cover all of his wages for the season.

Add that amount onto a possible £12m fee, and the total amount the Lilywhites would pay for Grealish would be £27m.

Given James Maddison’s recent injury, Tottenham are looking to accelerate plans to sign more forward options, and Grealish could prove the perfect alternative.

Dejan Kulusevski could make way for Grealish

Another high earner in Dejan Kulusevski, could depart, with Grealish taking his place.

In a summer of change, Frank could look to move away from his injury-prone players.

The Swede is currently on £110,000 a week and, should Spurs offload the attacker, it could open up the possibility of more incomings in the coming weeks.

Bilal El Khannouss is a player who has been linked with Tottenham in recent days.

After Son Heung-min bid his final farewell, the Lilywhites became engrossed in the market once more.

However, finding a replacement for Son will not be easy. Not to mention adding someone else who can fill the void left by the injured James Maddison.

El Khannouss is one of the potential options. However, it doesn’t look as though a deal is likely.

This article includes exclusive comments from Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham.

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El Khannouss unlikely to arrive at Tottenham

As reported by The Times (6 August), Tottenham are monitoring Leicester City attacking midfielder El Khannouss and have opted not to pursue a deal for Harvey Elliott after initial talks.

The Moroccan can play as either an attacking or central midfielder and as a left winger, which was perfectly displayed during Spurs’ defeat to Leicester at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season.

While he stunned spectators during the game, Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – was not as impressed. He does not believe that Spurs should go to the trouble of adding a profile similar to those already in the squad.

“I’m sure he’s appreciated a lot on a short list,” Wenham said.

“He was good when Leicester beat us at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last January. However, who was he up against on that left side? Timo Werner and Sergio Reguilon? That’s the reality. That one game, that was the pair that was down that left-hand side.

“El Khannouss did look good in that game. However, for me, he’s too similar a profile to what we’ve already got in Wilson Odobert, Mathys Tel, and possibly Brennan Johnson as well. So I don’t see us signing that kind of player this summer.”

El Khannouss could be a good addition at Tottenham

For a fair price, El Khannouss could be the perfect player to light up the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next season.

His versatility is what could make him an essential player in Thomas Frank’s squad. With the ability to play in the midfield and on the left wing, Spurs would not need to splurge on replacements for both Son and Maddison.

Therefore, it could be wise for the North London club to ramp up their efforts and seal his transfer.

Tynan Thompson has made headlines for Tottenham following his form in pre-season.

After the success of Mikey Moore last season, Daniel Levy is determined to invest in Spurs’ academy.

Thompson is one of the more promising young stars. This was on full display during Spurs’ 2-2 draw with Wycombe Wanderers at Hotspur Way (26 July).

The winger’s substitution changed the pre-season game, as he provided an assist which brought Spurs level. But while the youngster seems to have made quite the impression on Thomas Frank, he still has some work to do elsewhere.

This article includes exclusive comments from Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham.

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Thompson to receive England call-up soon

Thompson had a solid season for Spurs’ Under-18s last season, scoring nine goals and providing six assists in 28 games.

However, the real test will come when he is promoted to the Under-21s. His success is not only important for his club career, but also for his international one.

After impressing at Tottenham, Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes his progression to the Under-21s and an England call-up is closer than ever.

“Thompson’s been unlucky not to be called up by England quite a few times, in that same squad with Luca Williams-Barnet, Junai Byfield and Malachi Hardy,” Wenham said.

“He’s been on the standby list maybe five times over the last year. Therefore, he’s not far from getting a call-up to play for England, and when he does get called up, I don’t imagine him coming out of that squad.

“At youth level, I think he’s a very good, traditional, direct winger with pace and power. He scored a very good goal for the Under-21s away at Leyton Orient as well.

“He also got that assist against Wycombe Wanderers and hugged the line well, kept his position, and his shape.”

Read More: Three Tottenham youngsters set for breakthrough seasons

Thompson can succeed at Tottenham

Breaking into the first team and receiving generous minutes is a tough ask for anyone at Tottenham, let alone an academy product.

However, as evidenced by his performances for the Under-18s and his cameo for Frank, Thompson has enough natural talent in his locker to succeed at the club.

But for now, it is about making a statement big enough at academy level to be noticed by the Spurs higher-ups. With Son Heung-min leaving North London and his spot on the left wing up for grabs, the Lilywhites will be hoping for a promising talent to take the reins.

And with a little bit of development and growth in certain areas, Thompson could take ownership of that spot in a few years.

Luka Vuskovic is a player most Tottenham fans would have preferred to see play for them next season.

The star-studded defender made quite the impression during his debut against Reading in pre-season.

The Lilywhites were goalless at the break before he was substituted on after halftime. After minutes on the pitch, he provided a headed assist to Will Lankshear before hitting home a goal of his own.

There has been a growing consensus among Spurs supporters that he could be the real deal, which is why this recent exit development has come as a surprise.

This article includes exclusive comments from Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham.

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Vuskovic‘s loan must be ‘worthwhile’

Tottenham have been keen to send some of their young players on loan this past week to continue their development plans.

Yang Min-hyeok and Alfie Devine are the latest additions to the list and will be spending next season at Portsmouth and Preston North End, respectively.

However, to the surprise of several fans, Vuskovic is a name Spurs are content to depart with for the summer.

Tottenham senior player loans this summer:

With speculation at an all-time high, Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes if Vuskovic does leave, it will need to be a worthwhile move.

“I mean, it’s hard. It depends on what the offer is,” Wenham said

“If he’s going to go to another Premier League team and he’s going to start for them and we’re saying we’re going to start with Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven with Kevin Danso as the backup, then that’s fine.

“It has to be a really impressive loan, in my opinion, to make it worthwhile, as well as one where he can play every week, because otherwise, he’s going to have plenty of gametime opportunities with us. We know that Romero and van de Ven will, at some point, get injured and be unavailable.

“So I would have liked to have seen him around with us, and there would have been opportunities to play games with us.”

Vuskovic could enjoy a loan spell

While Tottenham fans seem to be split down the middle when it comes to a potential Vuskovic loan, it could actually do him the world of good.

Other than a handful of pre-season games, he has yet to play in England and could struggle to adapt to the pace of the Premier League.

A loan move would allow him to develop and give him the minutes necessary to hone his talent further. However, for this to work out, he must be loaned to an English club in a competitive league.

But if Spurs meet this criteria, there is little reason as to why Vuskovic will not come back as an improved player in a year.

Nicolas Jackson could light up the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next season.

Tottenham are in desperate need of some attacking firepower before the forthcoming season arrives.

It is no secret that Daniel Levy has been searching the window in the hope of an answer to his woes, and Jackson could be the remedy to his problem.

But with just over a week until Tottenham are back in action in the Premier League, Levy must act soon to make up for lost time.

This article includes exclusive comments from Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham.

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Tottenham not expected to sign Jackson

It has been widely reported that Tottenham could advance for Jackson if Richarlison is sold this summer.

Richarlison has been linked to a departure, with Brazilian and European clubs interested.

However, after regularly featuring during Spurs’ pre-season tour, there are doubts surrounding his exit. As such, Jackson’s arrival at Tottenham looks unlikely.

And Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – does not believe Chelsea would be willing to sell to Spurs even if the club were desperate to sign him.

“We’re looking at around 15 goals, that’s the reality,” Wenham said.

“He’s also got a really stupid petulance for getting sent off. You’ve got needless red cards and things like that. I also just don’t see Chelsea selling him to us.

“There’ll be someone else who will offer the money that they would prefer him to go to. You’ve only got to look at the Conor Gallagher saga last summer. I don’t see Jackson coming to Tottenham.”

Tottenham should still sign a striker

Tottenham’s 4-0 defeat to Bayern Munich on Thursday (7 August) has demonstrated that the club still has its work cut out in the market.

Thomas Frank’s side was without much attacking firepower until Wilson Odobert was substituted on towards the end of the confrontation. Richarlison started the game, but ended up missing a huge headed chance.

Even if the Brazilian does remain, his injury record and minimal end product indicate that he cannot be relied upon. As a result, even if it is not Jackson, Spurs are in desperate need of another centre-forward.

If reinforcements do not arrive, it could be another long and difficult season for the Lilywhites.

Doctor shares yet another James Maddison injury bombshell as return date detailed

Tottenham attacking midfielder James Maddison will undergo surgery after a ruptured ACL in his right knee.

The England international is expected to be ruled out for a number of months as he will be undergoing his rehab.

Maddison, 28, picked up the injury in a pre-season friendly against Newcastle in South Korea and it will see him miss all or most of the upcoming season.

This article includes exclusive opinion from injury expert Dr Rajpal Brar, a doctor in physical therapy and a sports scientist.

Maddison faces eight to nine months on the sidelines

Dr Rajpal Brar has explained that while it takes eight to nine months for elite footballers to return to action, it also depends on the full extent of the injury.

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The priority will be to minimise the strength and mobility deficits for Maddison, that come with ACL ruptures.

After that, the medical staff will work with Maddison to get him back to walking and also build back his strength and mobility.

Dr Brar told Tottenham News: “This is typically an eight to nine-month return to play process for elite footballers, but also depends on the full extent of the injury, as the meniscus is often involved, and also which graft is used and so on.

“At the start, it will be all about trying to minimise strength and mobility deficits.

“Then it will be a gradual build-up over time, working his way back to walking and other movements while constantly focused on building strength, mobility and neuromuscular control.

“It will be a slow process, but they need to be very careful with his rehab.”

If Maddison were to miss nine months of action, it means he won’t be available until the start of May. At which point, it remains to be seen if he’ll even be risked in what could either be meaningless or high-stakes matches at the end of the season.

Tottenham will undoubtedly miss Maddison’s impact on the pitch

Maddison’s absence is a significant blow for Tottenham due to his creative flair and playmaking ability.

As a key midfielder, his vision, precise passing and knack for unlocking defences drive Spurs’ attack.

Without him, Tottenham’s fluidity and goal-scoring threat diminish, impacting their top-four aspirations in the Premier League.

Thomas Frank will need to find solutions quickly, as this is far from an ideal situation.

Yoane Wissa no longer appears to be on his way to Tottenham despite the Lilywhites being linked with the Brentford striker earlier in the summer.

Wissa is coming off the back of an outstanding campaign for Brentford, with the striker netting 19 Premier League goals under Thomas Frank last season.

Despite Wissa previously working under the Danish manager, recent reports suggest the 28-year-old is now pushing to join Newcastle.

Given those reports, Tottenham News has identified three strikers Spurs may look to sign instead.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin could be a cheap alternative

Given Dominic Solanke’s injury issues last season, Daniel Levy must bolster the number of strikers Frank has at his disposal if he wants to give him the best opportunity of guiding Spurs further up the table.

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While it may not be the most inspiring option, Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free may be a cheap stop-gap option that Levy opts for late on in the window if he cannot bring in an alternative.

Calvert-Lewin left Everton this summer after his contract expired.

However, Levy may back Frank to get the best out of the 28-year-old, who has multiple years of Premier League experience under his belt.

Nicolas Jackson to make the switch between London rivals

Nicolas Jackson, 24, has been linked with a move from Chelsea to Spurs this summer in a transfer that would be extremely controversial within the fanbase.

The Senegalese striker notably bagged a hat-trick against Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs side in a 4-1 win for Chelsea, but Jackson could end up in a Tottenham shirt next season.

Spurs are said to have made an approach for Jackson, with Frank seemingly being willing to undertake the challenge of polishing the raw elements of the striker’s game.

Spurs could welcome Aleksandar Mitrovic back to England

When Aleksandar Mitrovic cashed out and made the switch from Fulham to the Saudi Pro League, the Serbians’ Premier League career looked certain to be over.

However, Tottenham could be set to bring the 30-year-old back to England as Frank looks to add more goal scorers to his squad.

The striker scored 14 goals in his final Premier League campaign before making the lucrative move to Al-Hilal, where he has since kept up his impressive scoring form.

If Spurs could secure a loan deal with a bulk of his mammoth wages still being paid by his parent club, Mitrovic could be a solid addition to the Lilywhites squad.

Tottenham will have to get past Real Madrid to sign Como midfielder Nico Paz this summer.

Daniel Levy is keen to add another midfielder to his squad, especially now that James Maddison will be sidelined for most of next season.

Paz has been identified as a viable transfer target this summer. However, Real Madrid look set to make things difficult.

This article includes exclusive comments from Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham.

Tottenham unlikely to bypass Madrid for Paz

According to Gianluca Di Marzio (7 August), Tottenham have seen a bid of £34.7million rejected by Como for Paz.

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The promising youngster transferred to the Italian side from Real Madrid last summer and recorded six goals and nine assists in what was a stand-out season in Serie A.

However, Real Madrid have a buyback clause, and Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes the Spanish giants are unlikely to let Paz slip through their fingers.

“Real Madrid have a buyback of £6.9m this summer and £7.8m next summer,” Wenham said.

“Therefore, there is no way they are going to watch Como pocket £70m and not do anything about it.

“It doesn’t work like that. Real Madrid are in charge of the situation. At the end of the day, even if what was reported was credible, we’ve offered £30m under the asking price.

“It’s a nonstarter. It’s really straightforward. Paz won’t be happening. I think we can rule that one out.”

Tottenham could use Pape Matar Sarr as their 10

While Tottenham are keen on bringing a 10 into the fold, the London club may already have their man at home.

Pape Matar Sarr has featured regularly for Thomas Frank during pre-season and even started as Spurs’ 10 during a heavy 4-0 defeat to Bayern Munich (7 August).

While that experiment did not amount to much, Sarr has demonstrated in previous games that he could embrace the role with a little fine-tuning. Therefore, Spurs could be heading into the new season with Sarr as their 10 in a matter of days.

Alfie Devine has left Tottenham on loan to join Preston North End.

Devine started in the midfield for Tottenham during their opening pre-season win against Reading last month.

While the midfielder showed positive signs, he ended up featuring only once more for Thomas Frank during Spurs’ goalless draw against Luton Town.

Despite being hailed as one of the Lilywhites’ more promising youngsters in the past, it now seems that he is destined for a career away from Hotspur Way.

This article includes exclusive comments from Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham.

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Tottenham announce Devine contract extension and loan

Devine has been sent on numerous loans in the last couple of seasons, with the most recent being KVC Westerlo.

He was used generously by the Belgian side, netting six goals and providing one assist in over 2,000 minutes. However, for all his talent and potential, Devine has struggled to have his breakout season at Tottenham.

Indeed, Tottenham announced on Friday (8 August) that Devine has signed a new contract with the club and has joined Championship side Preston North End on loan for the 2025/26 campaign.

However, Preston have since confirmed via Instagram (8 August) that the loan move does include a buy option. Reacting to a potential loan move, Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes that a permanent transfer may be best for Devine.

“If the loan goes well and there is a fairly high buy option, then that can be positive,” Wenham said.

“I think in Devine’s case has just been at the club a long time now and he hasn’t really had the opportunity to break in. To start the first pre-season game under Frank seemed like a positive indication, but we didn’t see much of him after that.

“Therefore, I think it is a good opportunity for him to go out now and make a home for himself somewhere, maybe on a more permanent basis.”

Tottenham fans need to be patient with Devine

After a series of loan moves and false hopes, it always seemed like it would never work out for Devine at Tottenham.

There is no doubt that he is a talented player. However, the timing always seems to be off when it comes to him. James Maddison’s injury could have been the perfect moment for him to be given the nod.

However, the fact that Tottenham are reportedly interested in finding a replacement on the market and his recent loan move indicate that the club believes he needs a little more time to develop away from Spurs.

But a season at Preston and in England once again could be all it takes to see Devine explode. Therefore, Spurs supporters may need to be a little patient before reaping the full rewards with this one.