FootballFanCast

Juventus are now plotting a summer move to sign one of Tottenham Hotspur's star players in what would be a frustrating blow for all involved in North London.

Juventus plotting move to sign Tottenham star

It's a worrying time for Tottenham on and off the pitch. On the pitch, they sit one point above the relegation zone with a trip to Anfield awaiting them this weekend. If results fail to go their way, Igor Tudor's side then they will be inside the bottom three with eight games left to play.

Relegation would lead to dire consequences both on and off the pitch. Away from the action, the Lilywhites would likely face their most difficult ever transfer window, featuring an exodus of talent.

Already, rumours have been arriving about Micky van de Ven's future. Although, the Dutchman likely did himself no favours in the market when he received a red card against Crystal Palace last time out.

Former Premier League right-back Glen Johnson now believes that the defender has done enough to put the likes of Liverpool off a summer move.

He said: "Van de Ven at Liverpool or Manchester United? There’d probably be a lot of (Tottenham) players that people would want to look at, but the ones they are looking at are still the players who are in this team and in a relegation battle.

"So there would be a couple of gems you could get on the cheap, for sure. But, as I say, if they were that good, they wouldn’t be in this position."

Van de Ven is not the only player who could leave, however. According to reports in Italy, as relayed by Sport Witness, Juventus are now plotting a move to sign Djed Spence, who has been valued at just €30m (£26m).

Spence one of many Tottenham players who could leave

It's been a strange season for Spence. It was initially a strong start from the versatile full-back, who did enough to earn a place in Thomas Tuchel's England squad. In recent months though, his quality has fallen with the rest of his teammates and he is now staring down the barrel of the Championship.

He is undoubtedly a player of Premier League and European quality, which means that he may be unlikely to stick around for Championship football.

Jamie Redknapp even went as far as to call Spence a "tremendous talent" last February after an "excellent" performance against Manchester United.

The only hope that Spurs have when it comes to keeping hold of players like Spence is avoiding relegation, but their chances are looking bleaker by the week.

Tottenham Hotspur are in serious danger of being relegated from the Premier League to the Championship for the first time in their history this season.

The Lilywhites are one point ahead of the bottom three with nine matches left to play and have only won one of their last 15 league matches under Igor Tudor and Thomas Frank.

Spurs made the decision to part ways with Frank last month and brought Tudor in as an interim replacement until the end of the season, but the Croatian has lost all three of his games in charge.

Whilst there is still plenty of football left to be played this season, some supporters are already looking ahead to a summer rebuild of the squad, whether that will be in the Premier League or in the Championship.

One of the players who is getting fans excited about the 2026/27 campaign and beyond is central defender Luka Vuskovic, who is currently on loan at Hamburger SV.

Why Vuskovic is in the news

The 19-year-old central defender is a trending topic at the moment because he scored his fifth Bundesliga goal of the season against Wolfsburg on Saturday.

The teenage defender, who has started all 22 of his appearances in the league, also won 12 of his 12 duels and made 22 defensive contributions in his side's 2-1 win over Wolfsburg.

Vuskovic has won 54% of his ground duels and 77% of his aerial duels in the Bundesliga so far this season, although he has also made two errors that have led to shots or goals for the opposition.

The 19-year-old starlet is not exceptional with the ball at his feet, completing just 83% of his attempted passes and making those two errors, and that is one area of his game that will need to improve if he wants to be a regular starter at the top end of the Premier League.

Whilst he is still an exciting prospect, given his goal output and defensive work in the Bundesliga, Spurs have another young star who may be an even bigger talent than Vuskovic.

Spurs teen is a bigger talent than Luka Vuskovic

The Croatia international is proving himself to be a solid player in one of Europe's major leagues, but there is an academy star in North London who has not yet had the same opportunity to showcase his talents.

The England U18 international, who has been on the bench for six top-flight games, has scored 16 goals and provided eight assists in 19 academy matches this term.

Williams-Barnett has a sensational overall record at academy level, scoring 38 goals and providing 21 assists in 50 matches, and he has a return at U21 level that is fairly comparable to Harry Kane's.

Despite being an attacking midfielder, rather than a centre-forward, he has a goal record that is almost identical to the one that Kane had at Spurs at U21 level, before he went on to become the club's all-time top goalscorer with 280 goals.

Williams-Barnett, who Como scout Ben Mattinson claimed "scores bangers", has the form at academy level to suggest that the potential is there for him to be their biggest academy graduate since Kane.

He has an unbelievable return of both goals and assists as an attacking midfielder or wide player and that has also translated well to international level, with eight goals in 22 caps for England at various age groups.

The 17-year-old star, who has scored two goals in four caps for England's U18s, is a silky player who can cause opposition defences problems with his dribbling, passing, crossing, and shooting, making him a complete offensive weapon.

Vuskovic, meanwhile, still has areas of his game to improve because of his struggles in deep build-up, with too many loose passes and errors, and is not a complete centre-back, despite how impressive he has been aerially in the Bundesliga.

Williams-Barnett may not have proven himself at a level as high as the Bundesliga yet, but his attributes and form for Spurs at academy level suggest that the club have an even bigger talent than Vuskovic brewing in the youth set-up.

It is now down to the next permanent manager to give the young star a chance in the same way that Kane once was when he broke through into the senior side.

Tottenham are now eyeing up a former Juventus manager to replace the under-fire Igor Tudor, with the tactician apparently among the leading contenders if Spurs decide to make another change.

Igor Tudor faces stay of execution at Spurs

The Lilywhites' season has become a slow-motion disaster, and right now nobody at the club can say with any confidence how much longer Tudor will be the man tasked with stopping it.

The numbers alone paint a grim picture, but the manner of his defeats has been even more alarming.

A 4-1 humiliation at home to Arsenal in the north London derby set the tone. A 2-1 loss at Fulham followed.

Then came Thursday night's collapse against Crystal Palace — a game Spurs led before conceding three times before half-time, watching their own fans pour out of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in disgust, choruses of "sacked in the morning" echoing around a ground that hasn't been anywhere near a fortress in a long time.

The dressing room situation is not much better.

Reports have circulated suggesting a significant portion of the squad are struggling to adapt to Tudor's rigid, uncompromising methods.

His tactical decisions have baffled observers — not least the decision against Palace to withdraw a full-back at half-time and replace him with a central midfielder while already under the cosh.

Spurs looked shapeless, toothless and utterly devoid of conviction.

Tudor was sold to the Tottenham hierarchy as a specialist — a man capable of coming in late in the season, organising a team and grinding out survival. What they have seen so far is the opposite.

The Telegraph reported on Friday that the club's leadership were already weighing up the possibility of a second managerial change in a month, before confirming that Tudor would at least take charge for Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first leg at Atlético Madrid.

That is not a vote of confidence. It is a stay of execution.

And the fixtures coming up offer no comfort whatsoever. Atlético away in Europe, then Liverpool at Anfield, then the Atlético return leg, then Nottingham Forest at home in what amounts to a straight relegation shootout.

Reports have named the interim alternatives in case Tudor is shown the door, with Robbie Keane and Sean Dyche among the possible options.

Tottenham eyeing ex-Juventus boss Thiago Motta

Which brings us to a name that few would have predicted — and one that carries its own remarkable irony.

Italian sports daily Tuttosport are reporting that Thiago Motta has emerged as a contender to take over at Spurs should Tudor be relieved of his duties.

The very man Tudor replaced at Juventus last October could now end up replacing Tudor in return.

Motta's credentials are genuine.

He transformed Bologna into one of Serie A's most admired clubs, delivering a historic fourth-place finish in 2023/24 that earned them Champions League football for the first time in the club's history.

His football was ambitious, intelligent and built on clear principles. Juventus did not work out, but the job ultimately proved too big a transition too soon.

Whether he would consider a short-term rescue mission at a relegation-threatened Spurs is another matter entirely, but stranger things have happened at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season. Considerably stranger, in fact.

As a player, Motta enjoyed an illustrious career, and was even part of José Mourinho's Inter Milan treble-winning team from 2010.

He knows how to win, and Spurs desperately need that right now.

Igor Tudor has not spoken about relegation with his Tottenham squad but accepts they face a “life and death” situation in the Premier League.

Relegation not a danger word, insists Tudor

Spurs have become embroiled in a battle to stay up after enduring a run of two wins from their last 18 matches in the division.

Ahead of Sunday’s trip to Fulham, Tottenham are only four points above the bottom three, but Tudor does not feel the need to discuss relegation with his players.

He said: “No, I never used it, but not because it’s something too scary, or it’s a danger word, or we won’t sleep. It’s about that we need to refocus on ourselves.

“I also see the same way I speak with my players, to be focused on ourselves, on the training. That’s the only thing we can change.

“There is nothing to think about. The future or the points, even? The points come as a consequence of the training and the game. That’s the focus. That’s the main and only focus we need to have.

“I believe that the mentality changes by training. By doing the right things there and then to have enough training sessions that you can transmit this thing to your team that on Sunday this can be seen from the fans on the stadium.

“That’s the key. Hard work in other ways, there is no other possibility.”

Tudor has achieved instant results in his last two roles at Juventus and Lazio, but suffered defeat by a 4-1 margin at home to Arsenal last Sunday.

The 47-year-old acknowledged Spurs’ rivals were on a different level to his 16th-placed team.

Pedro Porro and Kevin Danso have returned this week to provide Tottenham with a timely boost and the duo fit perfectly into Tudor’s favoured system of a three-man defence with wing-backs, but he insisted now is not the time to talk about style.

Tottenham have contacted a Bundesliga boss instead of Pochettino...

“We are going to see when they are back, how they are back, what are the other players,” Tudor explained when asked about Porro and Danso.

“This is work to recognise what this team can do. You know, because when you start to work, you start, but then it’s a game to show you how is the real situation of the team?

“You know in a physical condition because it’s fantastic to go to press up and that’s when I speak about style. That’s also one part of the style, how you want to be without the ball, but then, if you have too much problems (at the) back, you need to think about the style?

“Is it the right style? Is it the right way? You can call it how you want, so I need to be smart to understand deeper the moment and the way how to take the points.

“Even not looking to the style now at this moment. The style needs to be in the second moment, because now it’s a question of life and death if I can say that in that way sportingly.”

Tottenham braced for Real Madrid interest in Archie Gray

According to reports in Spain, via TeamTALK, Real Madrid are joined by Bayern Munich in the race for Tottenham teenager Archie Gray.

The 19 year-old midfielder has been one of the bright spots in the last 18 months for Tottenham, featuring in a number of positions under Ange Postecoglou and Thomas Frank.

The Spanish press claim Madrid are seriously keen on the former Leeds youngster, with the Lilywhites quoting a price tag of €60million (£52.5m), which would make Gray one of the most expensive teenagers of all time.

Tottenham Hotspur are now plotting a summer move for a "really top-class" goalkeeper, with Guglielmo Vicario's future in doubt.

Spurs searching for Vicario replacement

Vicario has received his fair share of criticism this season, with Clinton Morrison slamming the goalkeeper for his inability to take responsibility for his mistakes back in December.

Most recently, the Italian put in a very poor performance in the North London derby, conceding four goals and receiving a SofaScore match rating of just 5.8, the lowest of any player.

It recently emerged Spurs are ready to brutally offload the 29-year-old in the summer, and they are stepping up their search for a new goalkeeper, with Lens star Robin Risser among the options, having impressed in Ligue 1 this season.

However, there is also an option from much closer to home, with former scout Mick Brown informing Football Insider the north Londoners are now plotting a move for Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

Brown said: “Tottenham are looking at a few new goalkeepers. If they can come to an agreement to sell Vicario in the summer, they’re going to need to bring in a replacement for him and somebody who will improve their side.

"The Crystal Palace goalkeeper, Dean Henderson, is somebody I hear Tottenham have been impressed by. Since the start of last season, he’s really upped his game for Palace and has become a crucial part of the success he’s had, he’s become a really top-class goalkeeper.

"He’s an England international as well which will always appeal to a side like Tottenham."

Henderson could be upgrade on Vicario

Vicario has kept seven clean sheets all season in the Premier League, while the Palace shot-stopper has the joint-second best record in the top flight.

The 28-year-old has also kept a 69.8% save percentage in the Premier League this season, compared to 64% from Spurs' current number one, which suggests he could be a real upgrade.

Sam Allardyce believes the Englishman is the best goalkeeper in the top flight, saying earlier this season: "This lad who I think is the best goalie, [because] he proved it all last year and this year. And he doesn’t have to do as much because they’re doing so well at the top end of the league now, and that’s Dean Henderson at Crystal Palace."

Henderson could be a fantastic signing for the Lilywhites, but the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium may not be the most attractive destination this summer, given that they are currently in a relegation battle...

Despite winning the Europa League last season, Tottenham Hotspur’s decline in the Premier League has been a major concern for the fans and staff behind the scenes.

The Lilywhites ended last campaign in a measly 17th place in England’s top-flight, with their inability to rise up the table carrying over into the current season.

Igor Tudor has been installed as the club’s new manager until the end of June, with the Croatian tasked with leading the side away from the relegation zone.

His side currently sit just four points clear of the drop zone after 27 matches, which could see the Lilywhites’ ever-present Premier League record come under huge threat.

However, if the side are to avoid an embarrassing collapse and drop into the second tier, the former Juventus boss should move away from selecting one player in his starting eleven.

The stats behind Gallagher’s struggles at Spurs

In an attempt to inject a fresh lease of life into the Spurs senior ranks, the hierarchy completed the £34m signing of central midfielder Conor Gallagher from Atlético Madrid.

Such a move was seen as an impressive piece of business at the time, especially after leapfrogging fellow Premier League side Aston Villa in the race for his signature.

However, the 26-year-old has already made six league appearances for the Lilywhites, but there’s no denying he’s so far failed to hit the heights many expected in North London.

He’s only managed to come out on top in 16% of the aerial duels he’s contested in England’s top-flight to date, with such a figure ranking him in the bottom 3% of all players in the league.

Gallagher has also been dribbled past 1.5 times per 90 so far this season, more than 91% of other midfielders in the league, which highlights his lack of defensive quality at present.

The aforementioned figures are no doubt a concern to Tudor and the staff in North London, with the side failing to keep a single clean sheet since his £40m transfer in January.

The Spurs star who’s becoming the biggest waste since Richarlison

Spending big on new players hasn’t been alien to Spurs over the last couple of seasons, as seen with the £60m move for Richarlison back in the summer of 2022.

Given the nature of the fee, the move raised eyebrows across the division, with the Brazilian ultimately being unable to hit the heights many once anticipated.

The 28-year-old has only managed to net 28 times in his 122 appearances for the Lilywhites, subsequently registering one goal every four games he’s featured in.

Injuries have also played a part in his struggles in North London, with his move to the club a couple of years ago undoubtedly one that has failed to ignite and now looks a huge waste of money.

However, he’s not alone in struggling at Spurs following a big-money transfer, as seen with Xavi Simons after his own move during the recent summer window.

The Dutchman arrived from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig with huge expectations, especially after the club’s previous hunt to land the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze.

The £52m transfer fee seemed to be great business at the time, but it’s safe to say the 22-year-old has failed to match the hype he arrived in North London with.

To date, Simons has only registered seven combined goals and assists in his 32 appearances across all competitions, including just one goal in the Premier League.

However, his underlying stats in recent weeks have also been a cause for concern, as seen with his below-par outing during the North London Derby on Sunday afternoon.

He lost 15 duels during the local derby - the most of any player on the pitch - whilst losing 100% of his aerial battles, which often saw him be dominated by the Gunners on home soil.

The youngster also failed to complete any of the four dribbles he attempted, whilst being unable to find a teammate with any of the crosses he made into the 18-yard box.

The aforementioned figures showcase the struggles he endured in and out of possession, with the 22-year-old ultimately way below the levels many expected upon his arrival.

He undoubtedly has time to turn his fortunes around in North London, but like Gallagher, he’s endured a much trickier start to life at Spurs than anyone could have imagined.

Both of them desperately need to find form, and quickly too, with the club’s precarious position in the Premier League becoming more serious after each and every game week.

When Thomas Frank was sacked and replaced by the hard-nosed Igor Tudor, Tottenham Hotspur fans were relieved and optimistic for the closing months of the Premier League season.

But positivity has been dashed after the north London derby, confirming to even Spurs' most glass-half-full supporters that their club are in danger of tumbling from the Premier League into the Championship.

Frank's eight-month spell in the Spurs dugout will go down in infamy, but the real crux of the decline stems back to years of poor recruitment, long before Frank replaced Ange Postecoglou at the helm.

Every inch of the field could be improved upon, but Tottenham's midfield have been disastrous this season, and it could prove their undoing.

What's gone wrong in midfield

Tottenham need to make a change. And change is afoot. This summer, for example, Yves Bissouma's contract will expire, and it's hardly likely that the Malian midfielder will earn a fresh deal.

He's not the only one. Currently sidelined with injury, Rodrigo Bentancur had been at the epicentre of Frank's sinking ship, and analyst Raj Chohan even said that the Uruguayan was a “candidate for worst centre-midfielder at a big six club”.

Joao Palhinha is an elite duel winner, but he's not exactly Christian Eriksen reincarnate, and he needs more fluent progressive passers alongside him.

Creativity is not solely sourced from the centre, but Tottenham's midfielders have been devoid of it, and that's contributed to the wider, sterile attacking play that has thrown Spurs down into the gutter.

Expected Goals (xG) is a metric designed to measure the probability of a shot resulting in a goal.

Bissouma and Bentancur aren't the only ones to blame, and while Conor Gallagher has been poor since joining from Atletico Madrid, there's another man in white who has been tipped for big things for several years now, but he's failing to kick on.

Spurs midfielder is becoming as bad as Bissouma

Pape Matar Sarr could only bury his face in his shirt after Tottenham were beaten at home by Newcastle United. A few weeks later he would cut a similarly disconsolate figure, with Tudor's arrival only emphasising how far these players have sunk.

Aged 23, Sarr's natural ability with a football has been described as "frightening" by journalist Antonio Mango, but he's hardly showing the kind of stability and application that warrants such former praise, instead lacking clarity and conviction.

Sarr has completed 86% of his passes in the Premier League this season. Despite this, he is only creating 0.3 chances per game, also winning only 44% of his duels.

That's regression right there. Look back to 2023/24, when he emerged as a Lilywhite having signed for £15m, and you'll see that Sarr has dropped from his prodigious standard, less certain on the ball and now more error-prone.

The Athletic's JJ Bull has put it less delicately, remarking after the Arsenal defeat that Sarr was "a big problem under Frank", but that he has proved his issues run beyond tactical instruction, making poor decisions and failing to utilise the kind of movement that an elite midfielder worth their salt would to thrive in the Premier League.

The Senegal midfielder has a remarkable gas tank and he's got the roundedness to become a Premier League superstar, but he's not bringing it all together, and there's perhaps a mounting concern that he will end up being Bissouma 2.0, failing to ever realise his potential in north London.

Sarr broke onto the scene as a top talent, touted for big things. It's starting to look like he will only realise his potential after closing the door on his time at Tottenham.

That makes a grim comment on where the Londoners are at, but it's only through this bunch of players that Tudor's side will bounce back before the summer transfer window and the perilous uncertainty that comes with it.

When Tottenham Hotspur sacked Thomas Frank and replaced him with Igor Tudor last week, the powers that be found themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Tudor, a coach without experience in the English game in any capacity and with a reputation for short-lived managerial stints, was thrashed 4-1 on his debut at the Spurs helm, but Arsenal's second battering of their rivals in the Premier League this season emphasises the severity of the crisis.

Tottenham's talented players are playing without their talent. The January transfer window represented a chance to put things to rights, but new recruit Conor Gallagher has thus far failed to provide a solution.

Conor Gallagher's start to life at Spurs

Gallagher, 25, is a midfielder with a wealth of experience at the highest level, from Chelsea to Atletico Madrid to the Three Lions squad.

He hasn't been a Lilywhites player for very long, but some fans are already frustrated by his performances.

Admittedly, it's not Gallagher's fault that he's the stylistic profile that he is. However, he's still not providing the all-action presence his arrival promised when Spurs snapped him up from Atletico Madrid in a £35m deal.

He was bright during that hard-fought draw against Manchester City at the start of February, but Gallagher's limitations as a ball-playing midfielder have been laid bare in recent weeks, accentuated by the fact that this was something that desperately needed fixing ahead of the closing months of the campaign.

Now Spurs are in real danger, but Gallagher shouldn't shoulder all the blame, having stepped onto a sinking ship.

However, assessing his long-term position as a mainstay in the Spurs midfield, it's clear that Gallagher needs to buck up his ideas as a box-to-box presence, with a young Spurs talent already showing that he could leapfrog him in the pecking order.

Spurs talent could surpass Gallagher

Tottenham are on a downward spiral, but they have a bedrock of up-and-coming quality that could lift them back to higher ground in the Premier League.

Leading that pack is Archie Gray, who at 19 years old has already chalked up 72 appearances and lifted a Europa League title after transferring from Leeds United to N17 in a deal worth nearly £30m.

At this early stage of his professional career, Gray is proving himself quite the versatile talent. That versatility is balanced against immense technical skill and a willingness to lead. In this, Spurs may find that they have a "future £100m centre-midfielder".

Gray is, at his core, a midfielder, even though he has been utilised across any number of positions.

Already standing at 6 foot 2, the dynamic prospect is one of the more seasoned Tottenham first-teamers of the past two years, and it's no mistake that he's still several years away from his physical prime.

Stifled by Frank's reluctance to give him minutes, Gray played the full 90 against Arsenal, struggling at right-back in what still showcased his flexible ability.

When Spurs sort out their overload of injury problems and resemble something closer to a coherent unit, Gray might just start to earn more chances to impress in his natural berth, and from that point forward, he would threaten the multi-faceted Gallagher's place in the starting line-up.

Harry Redknapp has even hailed Gray as being the club's standout player of the 2024/25 campaign, going on to suggest he is "the future Tottenham captain".

With the making of an elite No. 8, Gray might just be the star of the show down the line, though that might come at Gallagher's expense as a starting option.

Spursy. It's a tag that Tottenham Hotspur just can't seem to shake off.

Ange Postecoglou tried, and in a way, succeeded, ending 17 years of desperate lunges for silverware by winning the Europa League title last season, defeating Manchester United in the final. But what's come since has typified the Spursy tag.

Last week, the much-maligned Thomas Frank was given a merciful end to his time in the dugout. Any longer would have been a slight against a talented coach whose attempt at the job had not worked out. It had been untenable for a while already, long before that dismal home defeat to Newcastle United.

Frank's time at the helm spilt to the floor all the goodwill that had been poured into a cup. A European cup. But that cup proved a poisoned chalice for a club who have since spiralled out of control.

At the epicentre of the problems has been Cristian Romero, an immensely talented centre-back who just so happens to be Spurs' mutinous captain.

The latest on Cristian Romero's future

In 2023, Lionel Messi declared that his countryman Romero was "the best defender in the world". International allegiance suggests bias, but there's no question that Messi knows a thing or two about a good defender, having bested so many over the years.

The Argentina international is indeed one of the best in the business, but he's also volatile and hot-headed, as his red card against Manchester United illustrated earlier this month.

Romero will be absent when Spurs host Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, and given that he is showing all the signs of mutiny ahead of the summer transfer window, it's likely that ENIC Group will look to cash in and reshape their club's backline going forward.

A tough ask, even with Micky van de Ven already at the heart of Spurs' defensive system. But it's a fact Spurs must face, with the 27-year-old tipped to move away this summer, suitors from Spain preparing offers.

While Romero's departure would call for the addition of a high-profile replacement, Tottenham may want to look closer to home as they seek a route forward, with an incredible young talent in line to make his debut next season.

Spurs already have the perfect Romero replacement

Tottenham's problems cannot be pinned down to any one area of the pitch, and though they were toothless in attack under Frank's wing, there have also been fragilities at the back for too long.

Considering this, Romero's departure could prove a detrimental blow, but with Luka Vuskovic set to make his competitive bow in a Spurs shirt next season, there's cause for confidence yet.

Vuskovic is only 18, and yet he's emerging as one of the most talented centre-halves in Europe, currently out on loan with Hamburg in the German Bundesliga.

A modern-day defender, he is technically gifted and aggressive, developing out on loan in a manner similar to that of Arsenal's William Saliba, who joined that club from St. Etienne in France as an 18-year-old in 2019. Saliba spent three years out on loan in Ligue 1 before arriving in the Premier League as a polished, world-class star.

Now, Vuskovic could repeat that trick down N17. A threat in the attacking box, he's "turning into a goal machine", according to U23 scout Antonio Mango, and he is also one of the most robust and energetic defenders in Europe, averaging 8.3 clearances per game and winning 77% of his aerial duels.

This is absurd, especially for someone so young, but his sustained level over the year suggests he has what it takes to replace Romero at Tottenham next season, especially when you consider how he will be partnered with a bona fide superstar in Van de Ven.

The Croatian prospect is not the finished product, but that's only fuel for the argument that he could become one of the best in the world, something Spurs scouts recognised when they signed him from Hajduk Split, aged 16, in 2023.

Could Vuskovic be expected to perform with the same gusto and authority as Romero from the get-go? No. But he could certainly play an important part next season and beyond, growing into his skin as one of the most exciting young defenders in the world, someone who can lead Spurs back into the ascendancy.

You never know in football, but it does appear as if Romero will leave Tottenham this summer. At least the club will bank a pretty penny.

A new defender will be needed, for sure, but with Vuskovic flying back to England at the end of the season, this might just be a positive turning point for the Lilywhites.

Tottenham have decided to give Igor Tudor the chance to earn his place as the permanent long-term manager, with the Croatian already being trusted to line up his first summer signing.

Lange says Tudor could be at Spurs for a "long time"

Johan Lange has defended Tottenham’s lack of activity in the final weeks of the winter transfer window and revealed interim boss Tudor could get the role permanently.

The former Juventus boss is no stranger to a mid-season arrival and difficult position, but will be without at least 11 players for Sunday’s visit of rivals Arsenal.

“We interviewed a few (interim) candidates. Igor impressed us very, very much in the interview,” Lange explained.

“If you come in here on the Monday and you are playing at the weekend, you need to build relationships with the players immediately.

“You need to come in to build relationships but of course assess the style of the club immediately. He has shown that with great success, not only once but a few times, to come into that.

“That is one of the reasons why we believe he is the best candidate here now but of course also with his reputation and what he’s done in his career. Of course if things go well, he could be here for a long time.”

Tudor already lining up Italian midfielder as first Spurs signing

Spurs lost nine players through injury last month, but only signed Conor Gallagher and 19-year-old left-back Souza in the winter window.

"I personally believe the new European format changed the dynamic a little," Lange continued. “You are playing two very competitive matches (in January), with the fact that not only us but a lot of teams have what they would say is too many injuries.

“(That) meant that in January very few players who could make a difference for us now or in the future was available."

It seems that could change in the summer however, and they are so confident Tudor could get the long-term gig he is already lining up transfer targets.

Indeed, according to reports in Italy, Tudor is personally leading Tottenham's pursuit of Roma attacking midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini, a 36-cap Italy international.

The 29 year-old has played nearly 250 Serie A games in Rome, but is nearing the end of his contract, and the report claims the Giallorossi are now hurriedly trying to enter contract talks to ward off the interest.

However, the player is tempted by a move to the Premier League, knowing it could be the last major move he makes in his career.

Pellegrini has made 17 appearances in the Italian top flight this season as well as a further seven in the Europa League, scoring four times.

The midfielder has long been linked with a move to Newcastle, possibly as a replacement for Sandro Tonali who could soon return to Italy, but it seems Tudor's knowledge of Serie A could give Tottenham the upper hand.