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Tottenham are expected to encounter another layer to the Yves Bissouma transfer saga, which could hit a lot closer to home.

Bissouma has struggled to hit his best form since he signed for Tottenham from Brighton three years ago.

The midfielder found it difficult to get gametime at all under Antonio Conte, but had his moments under Ange Postecoglou. However, he was still inconsistent despite showcasing his potential at times.

As a result, the Mali international is set to leave Spurs this summer. But the latest development in the saga could throw the club off guard.

Bissouma wants to remain in Premier League

The Tottenham midfielder has garnered interest from Italy and Turkey, with Fenerbahçe making contact with Bissouma.

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However, the Lilywhites could be out of luck as it now seems that the 28-year-old prefers a departure closer to home.

As reported by Sacha Tavolieri via X on Saturday (12 July), Bissouma has expressed his desire to remain at Tottenham – or at least in the Premier League this summer.

This could see him sign for a rival club who could pounce at the opportunity to sign a solid defensive midfield option with 12 months left on his contract.

It is without a doubt that Spurs would prefer for Bissouma to move abroad, but if they remain committed to letting him leave in the coming weeks, the club may be powerless to stop it.

Bissouma’s departure from Tottenham will be bittersweet

Bissouma has indeed failed to reach the expectations fans had surrounding his transfer. However, he fights for the badge and plays with his soul which is difficult to come across.

He did not put a foot out of line when facing Manchester United during Spurs’ biggest game in recent years.

Along with Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr, he ran circles around United’s midfield and guided the club to victory.

This is a performance which was not lost on Spurs supporters and will be remembered for years to come.

As a result, it will be difficult to part with a player who has shown he loves the club. But just like most things in life, this is something that must be done.

Tottenham are not out of the woods just yet as Real Madrid could make an approach for Cristian Romero this summer.

Daniel Levy would have taken a huge sigh of relief after it was widely reported that Atletico Madrid had ended their pursuit of Romero.

The Argentine has become a staple in the defence at Spurs, and the club were not keen on letting him leave Hotspur Way.

But the Tottenham chairman may be faced with no other choice after a recent big-money reveal.

Real Madrid want to sign a defender

Real Madrid were humiliated when they conceded four times against Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final on Wednesday (9 July).

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The players may have held their heads down in shame when they walked off the pitch, but the defeat seems to have lit a fire inside Florentino Perez.

As reported by Spanish outlet Marca on Saturday (12 July), Madrid are in the market for a defender after the game against PSG.

The report reveals that Xabi Alonso has asked for defensive reinforcements, and their £63million winnings from the Club World Cup could boost their pursuit in potential bad news for Tottenham.

The Spanish club have already expressed interest in Romero before and could return to the charge this summer.

If the player wishes to leave and with only two years left on his current contract, Levy may be forced to accept the sum that Madrid are willing to pay.

While Tottenham are keen on extending Romero’s stay, the last thing the North London club need is for a player of his magnitude to leave for free.

Tottenham must extend Romero’s contract

The partnership between Micky van de Ven and Romero has the potential to be one of the strongest in the Premier League next season.

Tottenham fans were robbed of seeing it in its entirety after a series of injuries took over Hotspur Way. But with Thomas Frank, who has a more cautious approach to Ange Postecoglou now at the helm, the duo could be platformed a lot more.

As a result, the North London club should look to extend Romero at all costs. He still has a lot left to give to the side as both a defender and a leader if Son Heung-min leaves.

Tottenham have already made several huge changes this summer and are far from being done.

Vinai Venkatesham has been praised by Spurs supporters for the noticeable changes to the communications department since he started at the club.

The CEO made clear that his key priorities are football, fans and staff, and he seems to be making good progress.

This, coupled with Daniel Levy’s desire to win the Premier League and UEFA Champions League in due course, has led to internal and external changes.

As a result, the Lilywhites have ramped up their efforts in the market this month, as Tottenham News brings you the latest from N17.

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Fenerbahçe set to hold talks with Bissouma and Tottenham

As reported by Yağiz Sabuncuoğlu via X(11 July), a representative authorised by Fenerbahçe has flown to London to meet with Tottenham and Bissouma.

This comes after the former Brighton midfielder was linked with a move to Juventus in addition to the Turkish club.

However, if all goes as hoped, the Turkish club could accelerate the file, which would see the Mali international leave Hotspur Way this summer.

James Maddison set to be axed at Tottenham

With the North London club officially announcing the signing of Mohammad Kudus and Morgan Gibbs-White not too far behind, James Maddison could find himself in a difficult situation.

Jamie O’Hara believes he will be pushed down the pecking order now that at least one of the two will play for Spurs next season.

While speaking on talkSPORT (10 July), O’Hara said: “I think that pushes Maddison down the pecking order a little bit.

“Dejan Kulusevski is a good player. When he’s fit and he’s on it, he’s really good, so do you play Kudus on the left and Kulusevski on the right? Gibbs-White, Dominic Solanke, that in my head is probably how you would start.

“But Kudus can play on the right as well, and as a number 10. It’s a good problem to have; we have a lot of games.”

Tottenham interest in Conor Gallagher threatens Rodrigo Bentancur

Conor Gallagher is one of the players Atletico Madrid are willing to hear offers for this summer.

Levy has shown he is willing to go the extra mile and could be up for the challenge despite the midfielder’s stint at Chelsea.

This latest development could see Rodrigo Bentancur leave Hotspur Way for good. Indeed, the midfield at Tottenham is beginning to become a little crowded now that Kudus has signed, with Gibbs-White still expected to follow.

And with 12 months left on his contract and no extension signed, the Uruguayan could become the next player to bid farewell.

Tottenham announce Manchester City goalkeeper addition to Under-18s squad

Tottenham have officially announced the new additions to their Under-18 squad for next season, which includes Farren Doran, who was signed from Man City.

He is seen as a talented player and is expected to provide competition for Blake Irow, who is their current number one.

In addition to Dorran, the North London club also confirmed the signing of Luca Williams-Barnett, who contributed to 32 goals in 23 appearances last season.

Bayern Munich could be partial to letting one midfielder leave for Tottenham after the success of Harry Kane.

Daniel Levy was hesitant to let Spurs’ all-time top goalscorer leave two seasons ago. However, after much persuasion and a sizable fee, Bayern signed Kane in 2023 and have not looked back since.

The forward has been the German club’s leading scorer for two consecutive seasons and helped them to the 2024/25 Bundesliga title after previously missing out to Bayer Leverkusen.

Kane thriving in Germany could be all Tottenham need to close the signing of his midfield teammate.

Tottenham urged to sign João Palhinha this summer

Tottenham have been urged to sign João Palhinha, who could be contemplating a move after falling down the pecking order at Bayern.

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The midfielder signed for the German club from Fulham last July and got off to a flying start. However, he struggled to start for Vincent Kompany again after sustaining a muscle injury in November.

As a result, the Portugal international could leave before his contract runs out in 2028, with Mirror Football, via Football Fancast (9 June), reporting that he could be available for just £25million.

And Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes Palhinha would thrive at Spurs despite his age.

“He was outstanding for Fulham,” Wenham said.

“Palhinha is a really good player, he has loads of leadership quality, which is something we need.

“People will say he’s a bit old, 29. Sometimes you need experienced players, you’re going to have a midfield with him, a 19-year-old Lucas Bergvall, a 19-year-old Archie Gray, maybe sometimes, and others.

“You need some leadership, you need people who have been there and done it and won it. I think he would be a really good addition.”

Tottenham could use experience in the midfield

With Yves Bissouma expected to leave Tottenham this summer, and Rodrigo Bentancur’s future uncertain, the Lilywhites could use more experience in the midfield.

The North London club will compete in the UEFA Champions League next season and will need to strike the perfect balance between youth and experience.

Therefore, if a transfer is on the cards this summer, Spurs should look to get it done before their pre-season tour ends. This would give Frank enough time to properly integrate Palhinha into the team.

Thomas Frank is expected to experiment when he lines up to face Reading next Saturday.

Tottenham are one week away from their opening pre-season fixture against Reading at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on 19 July.

The fixture will be the first time that Spurs supporters will get to see Thomas Frank and their new signings in action. As a result, the contest is a highly anticipated one.

But now that the wait is almost over, Tottenham News has predicted how the Lilywhites could line up.

Kota Takai and Phillips to get a chance for Spurs

There is no doubt that fans will be looking forward to seeing their team in action after a disappointing defeat to Brighton on the final day of the Premier League last season.

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With that being said, Frank will be determined to make a lasting impression with supporters, and that begins with pre-season.

The match is likely to feature both new and old faces, with Guglielmo Vicario as Spurs’ starting goalkeeper. The rest of the backline is where the Dane is likely to give some youth players their chance.

Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro should retain their spots on either flank, but instead of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero sandwiched between them, new signing Kota Takai and youngster Ashley Phillips could shock fans to form the centre-back pairing.

Frank will be eager to give Takai a chance after he was signed from the J-League side Kawasaki Frontale earlier this month. Meanwhile, it has been suggested that the former Brentford boss is keen to integrate Phillips into his squad after back-to-back loan spells.

Furthermore, George Abbott could be allowed to start in that defensive midfield spot after impressing during training earlier in the week. That would leave Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall to form a double pivot in front.

Brennan Johnson to make way for Mohammed Kudus

Brennan Johnson will go down as a club hero for the goal he scored in the UEFA Europa League final. However, Frank should be more inclined to see how his new signings perform with the team.

As a result, Mohammed Kudus could start on the right wing with newly-made permanent signing Mathys Tel, his partner-in-crime on the other flank. That leaves Dominic Solanke as their starting striker, which is unsurprising given the season he had.

Despite the game being a pre-season friendly, fans will be expecting a spectacle next week. There is a saying that one must start the way they wish to go on, and that is no doubt something Frank will want to adhere to.

Adam Wharton has been linked to Tottenham after an impressive season at Crystal Palace.

Palace signed Wharton in February 2024 from Blackburn Rovers for an initial fee of £18million.

The defensive midfielder has exploded since. He received his first senior call-up for England in May 2024, making his debut as a substitute in a 3-0 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina (3 June).

Wharton is currently one of the best defensive midfield talents in the Premier League, and with Yves Bissouma expected to leave this summer, Tottenham are on the hunt for his replacement.

Tottenham eye Wharton as next transfer target

As reported by GB News on Thursday (10 July), Tottenham are expected to make a move for Wharton.

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The report reveals that Thomas Frank has been given a war-chest of around £175m. However, this is not the first time Spurs have been linked with the Englishman.

The Lilywhites took notice of Wharton while scouting Ashley Phillips at Rovers. However, they decided against signing the 21-year-old, and Palace scooped him up instead.

Tottenham could now return for the youngster, and Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – would welcome the signing with open arms.

“Wharton would be an outstanding signing in my opinion,” Wenham said.

“Look at the difference it made when he came back into that Crystal Palace lineup for the FA Cup semi-final and final, huge difference to Palace. I think he’s a really good player.

“What is frustrating, though, is that the whole time Tottenham were scouting Phillips, Wharton was on the same pitch at Blackburn. You just wonder if we were linked with him, why we didn’t fork out the money to get him.

“However, we didn’t, Palace paid the £18m, and he is now worth triple that.”

Tottenham need to sign Wharton this summer

Wharton could become the final piece of a beautifully constructed puzzle at Tottenham.

He is an intelligent midfielder who is proficient in both the attacking and defensive elements of the game.

With Bissouma likely on his way out, he will be tasked with helping control the tempo of the match while progressing the midfield.

Rodrigo Bentancur could have played his final game for Tottenham as Atletico Madrid becomes a feature of the summer once again.

Bentancur was expected to reach unprecedented heights when Tottenham signed him from Juventus three seasons ago.

However, countless injuries and fitness issues have meant that the Lilywhites have been unable to see the midfielder at his best continuously.

Atletico have already been a huge feature of Spurs’ summer with Cristian Romero linked with a departure. However, the Spanish club is set to play an even bigger role after the latest transfer news.

Tottenham reignite interest in Conor Gallagher

As reported by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo on Friday (11 July), Conor Gallagher is one of the players Atletico are willing to hear offers for this summer.

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Tottenham are attentive to the situation and are set to reignite their interest from the season prior.

Daniel Levy has shown he is willing to exhaust all options to sign players this summer and could be up for the challenge despite the midfielder’s previous links to Chelsea.

This latest development could bring Bentancur’s time at Tottenham to an end once and for all, given their most recent signings. Indeed, the midfield at Tottenham is beginning to become a little crowded with the addition of Mohammed Kudus and the hope that the Morgan Gibbs-White file will be closed.

Furthermore, with James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Lucas Bergvall expected to remain this summer, it is difficult to see where Bentancur will fit in. And with 12 months left on his contract and no extension signed, the Uruguayan could become the next player to exit the doors at Hotspur Way.

Tottenham could yet extend Bentancur’s stay

While Bentancur’s preferred position is as a central midfielder, he is also comfortable in a more defensive role. This will be important next season with Yves Bissouma likely to leave this summer.

The Lilywhites need to sign a defensive midfielder, but so far their efforts in the transfer window have fallen flat.

As a result, if Tottenham cannot find a player to replace Bissouma, Bentancur’s profile may be enough for him to remain for a few more years after all.

Jamie O’Hara has suggested which Tottenham player will have to make way for Mohammed Kudus now that he has arrived at Hotspur Way.

Tottenham’s summer transfer window went up a notch when Kudus was announced as their statement signing.

The Ghanaian took the Premier League by storm during his debut season for West Ham. While he was unable to replicate the same form last season, his talent cannot be denied.

As a result, Spurs supporters’ worlds have been turned upside down by his signing, and it now seems that they could not be the only ones.

James Maddison to be dropped at Tottenham

The countless injuries sustained by James Maddison have already threatened his position at Tottenham.

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The Englishman spent the final part of last season on the bench after picking up an injury during the UEFA Europa League semi-final first leg against Bodo/Glimt (1 May). But if the injuries were not bad enough, the midfielder may have to fight for his spot in the starting lineup.

Indeed, O’Hara believes he will be pushed down the pecking order now that Kudus has signed, and there is still hope that Morgan Gibbs-White will follow.

While speaking on talkSPORT (10 July), O’Hara said: “I think that pushes Maddison down the pecking order a little bit.

“Dejan Kulusevski is a good player. When he’s fit and he’s on it, he’s really good, so do you play Kudus on the left and Kulusevski on the right? Gibbs-White, Dominic Solanke, that in my head is probably how you would start.

“But Kudus can play on the right as well, and as a number 10. It’s a good problem to have; we have a lot of games.”

Tottenham need healthy competition

All of the best teams in the world have players who are fighting for their spot every week.

Paris Saint-Germain won their first UEFA Champions League with a team that Luis Enrique has expressed has two world-class players in each position. Meanwhile, Manchester City have added Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders to a squad that already has Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva.

Tottenham should look to replicate something similar if they wish to excel in all competitions next season and beyond.

This would also be a huge boost for squad depth and rotation. One of the biggest struggles last season was the limited options coming off the bench after several injuries.

The moves that Spurs have made and look to continue making will help improve this aspect of the team. Therefore, the best may be yet to come with this Tottenham side.

Cristian Romero’s Tottenham future has been up in the air for several months now.

Romero has been hotly tipped for a move to join Atletico Madrid, amid continued suggestions that he is nearing the end of his time in N17.

Spurs have already turned down an offer totalling £60.2million for Romero, with Daniel Levy deeming the bid to be unsatisfactory as a large chunk of it was made up by add-ons.

Thomas Frank will surely be keen to see the Argentine’s situation resolved as soon as possible, as the ongoing saga threatens to derail the Dane’s bid to prepare the squad for the upcoming campaign.

Spurs ‘to hand Romero new contract worth £200,000-per-week’

There have been suggestions that Tottenham could be about to receive an improved offer from Atletico. Therefore, Romero’s situation still appears to be a long way from reaching its conclusion, despite the need for urgency on Spurs’ part.

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The new campaign is just over a month away, and Frank will surely be desperate to learn whether he will have the option of being able to build his defence around the 27-year-old.

Recent reports from The Athletic (11 July) have stated that Diego Simeone’s side believes Romero is about to be offered a new contract by Tottenham.

And Ex-Spurs scout Bryan King – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes the World Cup winner could be offered £200,000-per-week.

“I believe Romero will be offered a new contract,” King said.

“I’d imagine it will be a four-year deal, which will include certain clauses. I think he will be offered potentially £200,000-a-week to stay at Tottenham.

“Yes, he’s had injury problems and disciplinary problems. However, this is a World Cup winner we’re talking about. Tottenham need to keep hold of him.”

Tottenham may not find an upgrade on Romero

Levy has gained a reputation for his stubbornness during his time in charge, but on this occasion, it could end up playing into Tottenham’s hands.

The Spurs chief clearly has no desire to sell Romero, and if he remains undeterred in that stance, then it will provide a positive outcome for the Lilywhites.

The 44-cap international may have had his issues last term, as mistakes began to creep into his game. However, there is no doubt that on his day, he is a top-quality defender who has been there and done it at the highest level.

Even with the hefty transfer fee Spurs would receive, they would surely find it difficult to replace a man who has bags of European experience and also boasts a World Cup winners’ medal.

Tottenham had been keen on Jarrad Branthwaite, but that option is now off the table with the Everton man having recently penned a new deal.

Top-level centre backs aren’t easy to get hold of in today’s game, and with that in mind, Tottenham must do everything they can to keep Romero around.

Tottenham have markedly accelerated their preparations ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Thomas Frank has his players back training at Hotspur Way for pre-season, with the exception of Son Heung-min, ahead of his debut campaign in charge of Tottenham.

The Dane has also been blessed with four signings so far this summer, with more expected to follow as Daniel Levy is working to secure investment to increase available funds for the first team.

The Spurs chairman has made other significant changes across the board, prompting the club to make an official announcement.

Spurs announce new additions to their Under-18 squad

Tottenham have made a concerted effort in recent years to increase the productivity of their academy, with the emergence of Mikey Moore setting the example for the talented crop at Hotspur Way.

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Spurs have officially announced (11 July) the new additions to their Under-18 squad for next season, which includes the highly-rated Luca Williams-Barnett.

There is a belief within Spurs that the 16-year-old could become something special after the youngster impressed in an attacking midfield role, scoring three audacious goals from near the halfway line last season.

Williams-Barnett has signed a two-year scholarship with Tottenham and was inducted alongside eight other players from within the club.

One notable addition was goalkeeper Farren Dorran, who was signed from Manchester City, where he spent most of his youth developing at their famed academy.

The Lilywhites also confirmed that Joe Staunton would assume responsibilities as Under-18’s coach on an interim basis following Stuart Lewis’ promotion to Frank’s backroom staff.

Tottenham are building for a bright future

Frank’s attention during this transfer window has been focused on bringing in proven Premier League players to make an immediate impact on the first team.

However, Kevin Danso is the oldest signing Spurs have made this summer at 27 years old, while Mathys Tel and Kōta Takai are just 20.

Tottenham’s senior squad remains very young, and with the plethora of talent coming through the ranks, the Lilywhites are set for a bright future.