The Mirror

A Premier League star, who previously had Manchester United trials, is reportedly considering his future this summer

Manchester United may get a third opportunity to sign Lucas Bergvall after two previous failed attempts. The 20-year-old midfielder underwent trials with the club on two occasions before completing his move to Tottenham Hotspur in 2024.

Bergvall emerged as a standout performer during his debut season with Tottenham, securing the supporters' player of the year accolade. The Sweden international established himself as a key player under Ange Postecoglou and proved instrumental in the club's Europa League triumph, though injury ruled him out of the final against United.

However, Bergvall is claimed to be weighing up his future after slipping down the pecking order at Spurs, who are pursuing Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali. BBC Sport has reported that Bergvall's representatives have held discussions with Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Chelsea.

United showed their interest in Bergvall during the Sweden international's teenage years. His reported willingness to depart Spurs this summer presents United with a fresh chance to bring him to Old Trafford.

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Bergvall's initial trial spell at United took place in 2020, shortly before Brexit rules barred clubs from signing under-18 players from abroad. He subsequently returned to Carrington in 2022, despite United being unable to sign the Swedish talent until 2024.

OPINION

Manchester Evening News has previously reported that changes within the recruitment department meant United failed to complete a deal for Bergvall during his second trial. He joined Swedish outfit Djurgarden later that year, where his displays caught Spurs' attention and prompted their approach.

Following an impressive start at Tottenham, he fell out of favour last term during a difficult season for the club. Bergvall managed only 11 league starts as his progress was halted.

The talented midfielder is considering his future as Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi targets Tonali. United are already familiar with Bergvall's ability and what he could bring to the squad as Michael Carrick's team go through their own midfield overhaul.

United are searching for central midfielders following Casemiro's departure this summer. The Red Devils have already secured a deal for Atalanta's Ederson and have been linked with various other players.

Bergvall's circumstances offer United a chance to rectify past mistakes. Additionally, he has been compared to Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong, one of United's previous transfer targets.

"His best position is as a number eight," Djurgarden sports coordinator Peter Kisfaludy told football.london in 2024. "He's a box-to-box player, running into the box and he's really good at playing the ball between the lines.

"He's a little copy of Frenkie de Jong. He's really fast with the ball, really good with the ball and a fantastic dribbler."

Bergvall will be keen to nail down a regular starting berth next season following a stop-start campaign with Spurs. While securing a place in United's midfield would be no easy feat, the talented youngster could bring an end to a transfer saga that first began six years ago by making the move to Old Trafford.

Mikel Arteta is plotting Arsenal's next big signing

Arsenal continue to be linked with a host of potential transfer incomings a week into the summer window. All except 15 Gunners stars, who are representing their nations at the World Cup 2026, are currently enjoying their summer break off the back of a Premier League title-winning season.

There is no rest for manager Mikel Arteta, however, who is working alongside sporting director Andrea Berta behind the scenes on Arsenal’s summer transfer plan. The English champions are set to have a busy window, which is expected to kick into gear in July following the conclusion of the World Cup.

They made six signings last July, which contributed massively to their club record expenditure of £250million across the window as a whole. This time around, it is understood that the north Londoners will look to bring in fewer players who are of a higher calibre.

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Now, Mirror Football takes a look at two of the latest transfer developments involving Arsenal, from a high profile Premier League star to a highly rated youngster.

Tottenham transfer hijack

Arsenal may be able to hijack Tottenham’s pursuit of Sandro Tonali this summer. That’s because the Newcastle midfielder’s preference is to join the Gunners as opposed to their north London rivals, according to the Daily Mail.

Spurs had an £80m bid for Tonali rejected by the Magpies last week and are expected to return with a second offer shortly as they look to conduct their transfer business early. It was reported that Newcastle chiefs were surprised by Tottenham’s bid as they had only previously discussed a potential move to Arsenal or Manchester City.

But, should the Gunners make an approach before their rivals make ground, they could successfully hijack a Spurs signing for the second time in a year. Eberechi Eze appeared last August to be heading to N17 before a last minute U-turn saw Arteta make a move for the Crystal Palace man.

Arsenal were offered the chance to sign Tonali by his representatives on the last day of the January transfer window earlier this year, but there wasn’t enough time to finalise the deal. However, speculation has persisted in recent months that the Gunners are still interested in acquiring Tonali.

Next Alexis Sanchez scouted

Danish side FC Midtjylland are reportedly expecting Arsenal to make a move to sign long-term target Dario Osorio. The north Londoners scouted Osorio, 22, last summer.

While a transfer didn’t materialise then, the winger’s impressive season in Denmark, where he managed eight goals and 10 assists, means they are still interested in his signature. And FC Midtjylland’s technical director Kristian Kjaer has told The Standard that the Gunners are still keen to bring in the Chilean, who he compared to former Arsenal great Alexis Sanchez.

"We know that Arsenal have been looking into Osorio, but we also know other clubs in the Premier League have done the same," Kjaer said. "I also think it is well known that Bournemouth looked into him historically. There are other clubs in the Premier League also looking into him.

"In my opinion, he serves the Premier League very, very good because he has a hard-working mentality. His defensive transition runs are amazing, his top speed is amazing. Left-footed right winger can go to the right and to the left of his direct opponent.

"He has the full package, seen as the next Alexis Sanchez in Chile. I can see him making a difference in the Premier League."

Tottenham are undertaking an ambitious and expensive overhaul of their squad after narrowly avoiding relegation from the Premier League and want to sign Marcus Rashford

Tottenham have turned their attention to Marcus Rashford as the next step in their ambitious squad revival.

Spurs are desperate to avoid a repeat of their last two miserable Premier League campaigns and are ready to splash the cash in the summer transfer window.

Successive 17th-place finishes have seen the under-pressure Spurs hierarchy press the reset button after Roberto De Zerbi steered them clear of relegation to the Championship. Jan Paul van Hecke has already been signed in a £52million deal from Brighton and Spurs aren't stopping there.

They have seen an £80m bid rejected by Newcastle for midfielder Sandro Tonali but are already considering options to bolster their misfiring attack. Rashford has seen his dream move to Barcelona put in serious doubt by the club's decision to spend £69m on his England team-mate Anthony Gordon and may be forced to consider alternatives.

There appears very little chance of Rashford continuing his career at Manchester United after his successful loan spell with Barca. And Spurs are ready to try their luck by bidding for the England star.

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The i reports that the north London side are ready to test United's resolve with an offer for Rashford. United have set an asking price of £40m for the 28-year-old forward after Barca refused to trigger the £26m clause in his loan deal.

There are two obvious barriers towards Rashford joining Spurs. Firstly, they are unwilling to pay £40m and will test the waters with a lower offer to begin with. Secondly, Rashford still has his heart set on Barcelona and doesn't want to return to the Premier League.

De Zerbi is reportedly keen to bring in Rashford, who got 14 goals and 14 assists in 49 games for Barca last season. United want Rashford's future resolved as soon as possible because they want his substantial wages off the books so they can reinforce their own squad.

While Rashford knows he will have to take a major pay cut on his £315,000-a-week United wages, there are still several factors holding back a deal. Rashford is currently focusing on England's World Cup campaign, having scored in their 4-2 win over Croatia, so that will slow down the speed of negotiations.

Bayern Munich have emerged as an option, although the German giants are currently on a watching brief. Bayern were beating to the signing of Gordon by Barcelona, so are in the market for a left-sided attacker, but are reportedly prioritising a move for PSV's Ismael Saibari.

Rashford is in the shop window at the World Cup, where he is pushing Gordon for a starting place in England's XI to face Ghana on Tuesday night in Boston. United will be hoping he can add to his strike against Croatia in order to drum up more transfer interest.

Spurs have already landed centre-back Van Hecke but will find signing Tonali tougher going. Newcastle reportedly value the Italy international midfielder at £100m and Arsenal and Manchester United are also in the running for his signature.

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a number of midfielders this summer, including Sandro Tonali and Mateus Ferna

Lucas Bergvall has told Tottenham Hotspur of his intentions to leave the club this summer. The 20-year-old, who only made the switch to North London from Djurgarden in 2024 in an £8.5million deal, found consistent playing time hard to come by during the closing stages of 2025/26, predominantly featuring as a second-half substitute after Roberto De Zerbi's arrival.

And now, the Athletic report that the Sweden international - who is presently representing his country at the 2026 World Cup in North America - is seeking a new challenge elsewhere. While the midfielder has previously caught the eye of clubs including Chelsea and Aston Villa, Spurs showed no willingness at the time to part ways with him.

Whether either side remain interested in his services is yet to be determined. Considering how expensive the midfield market has become this summer, a transfer for Bergvall - who remains under contract until 2031 - is unlikely to be straightforward.

His current market valuation stands at approximately £52m, though given his eagerness to move on, potential buyers may succeed in negotiating that figure down somewhat.

This development comes as Spurs have been associated with several highly-regarded midfielders this summer, as they aim to strengthen their engine room to prevent another disappointing campaign.

The Lilywhites ended up 17th in the Premier League table last term, barely escaping relegation to the Championship on the final day of the season with a 1-0 victory over Everton.

And with De Zerbi now in charge for the upcoming campaign, it appears Spurs are actively pursuing upgrades right across the squad. The Athletic reports that the club are prepared to break their wage structure to secure a deal for Sandro Tonali, who stood out in a struggling Newcastle United side last term.

Yet, with a price tag hovering around £100m, it remains uncertain whether the Lilywhites will stump up the funds needed to tempt the Magpies, given they are determined to keep hold of the Italian.

West Ham's Mateus Fernandes has been mentioned as another potential target, with the East London outfit possibly looking to reduce their wage bill after suffering relegation this season.

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It is understood that Spurs have approached their London rivals regarding a transfer, though the Hammers still value the 21-year-old at approximately £80m with his prime years still to come.

Tottenham Hotspur have had an £80million bid for the Italian midfielder turned down by Newcastle United

There are many roles on a football pitch that cannot be judged by statistics. In a relatively deep central midfield position, Sandro Tonali occupies one of them.

So, it would be unfair to use basic numbers to suggest his most recent season with Newcastle United was not his best one. Those numbers are quite stark, though.

He did not score in the Premier League and contributed only two assists. He was booked four times. He was part of a Newcastle team that finished 12th and won only 14 of their 38 matches.

Tonali is a good player, no doubt about that. He cost in excess of £55million three years ago. And it understandable that Newcastle, and manager Eddie Howe, would want to keep hold of him.

They have shown great faith in him, having supported the player during the 10-month ban he received for breaking betting regulations. It is also understandable that they would turn down an opening bid from any suitor. That is the way negotiations work. No-one accepts a first offer.

But with their £80million valuation of the 26-year-old Italian, Spurs are being more than realistic. And if Newcastle hold out for - and get - £100million for Tonali, it will be proof that the Premier League transfer market is madder than ever.

In support of their nine-figure valuation, Newcastle will probably point to Elliot Anderson, the player they sold to Nottingham Forest for £35million in the summer of 2024 and who now looks certain to join Manchester City in a deal that is likely to be finalised at somewhere close to the £130million mark. Across two seasons with Forest, Anderson has six Premier League goals and ten assists.

He is an integral part of the England team and is clearly an extremely good player. But he was also an integral part of a Forest team that finished 16th in the Premier League last season.

Clearly, there is a premium on central, combative midfielders. Mateus Fernandes is clearly going to leave West Ham after their relegation to the Championship, having only been at the club for a year following his £38million move from Southampton. Now, it seems, he is valued at around £80million.

Fernandes was decent enough in West Ham’s doomed campaign but how has he more than doubled in value? This is a player who has now been relegated with two clubs in two seasons.

The cost of players in the Premier League is getting silly. Jan Paul van Hecke had a very good game for the Netherlands in their 5-1 thrashing of Sweden at the World Cup. But he only had a year of his Brighton contract left to run and Spurs still paid in excess of £50 million for him.

It is what the Germans used to call ‘stupid English money’. There does appear to be one outlier this summer.

It seems Manchester United will accept £40million from another Premier League club - apart from Liverpool or Manchester City - for Marcus Rashford. In the context of the current market, that is hard to fathom - almost as hard to fathom as Barcelona’s decision not to activate a £26million purchase clause at the end of the 28-year-old England attacker’s loan deal.

But Rashford, for whatever reason, seems to be an exceptional case. Because if the prices being bandied around for Tonali, for Anderson and for Fernandes are paid, the summer window promises to bring a spending spree that is remarkable, even by Premier League standards.

Liverpool are reportedly not in the running to sign Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven this summer

Liverpool are reportedly not pursuing Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven this summer, despite recent reports indicating a potential deal could materialise.

The Reds have been tentatively linked with a move for the Spurs centre-back previously, and the speculation has emerged once more this week.

Andoni Iraola will be focusing on preparations for his debut campaign as Liverpool's new boss, having been confirmed as Arne Slot's successor earlier this month.

Those preparations will include involvement in the club's summer transfer window strategy, with reports surfacing that Van de Ven could feature on Liverpool's list of targets this summer.

Nevertheless, Fabrizio Romano has stated that there are no intentions for Van de Ven to join either Liverpool or Barcelona, with the latter also being mentioned as a potential option for the Netherlands international.

It has been indicated that Spurs regard Van de Ven as a key figure in their squad and do not anticipate the defender departing north London throughout the summer transfer window.

The development followed a report in Dutch publication De Telegraaf claiming that Liverpool and Barcelona have both submitted an approach to secure the 25-year-old centre-half this summer.

The uncertainty surrounding Van de Ven's future arrives at a time when Spurs have finalised the signing of defender Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton in a deal understood to be valued at approximately £52million.

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Liverpool currently have four senior centre-back options at their disposal, with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni set to be joined by new signing Jeremy Jacquet.

The Reds have been dealt a blow after Ibrahima Konate departed the club this summer on a free transfer to Real Madrid, fuelling speculation that strengthening at centre-back could be firmly on the agenda during the current transfer window.

Liverpool will also be aware that Leoni is still working his way back from an ACL injury sustained on his debut last September, while Jacquet picked up a shoulder injury in February in what turned out to be his last appearance for Rennes before his switch to Merseyside.

Iraola has already seen Liverpool bolster his newly-inherited ranks, with Victor Munoz completing a permanent transfer to Anfield from Osasuna.

The Spain international has put pen to paper on a six-year deal after Liverpool reached an agreement worth £34.5m to secure the signature of the versatile forward.

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Arsenal have been linked with several players during the summer transfer window, including Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali

Arsenal enter the summer transfer window in a commanding position as the reigning Premier League champions. Mikel Arteta will want to build on his side’s success by securing the club’s top targets.

The Gunners have assembled a formidable squad but there is always room for improvement. Arsenal have consistently been linked with Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers, while Morocco starlet Ayyoub Bouaddi has also been touted for a move to the Emirates Stadium during the World Cup.

Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali is another player who has been the subject of transfer speculation. The 26-year-old was claimed to be an Arsenal target during the previous window and is on the radar of several Premier League clubs.

Meanwhile, the Gunners are reportedly interested in signing Tottenham Hotspur academy prospect Elijah Upson. Here, Mirror Football looks at some of the biggest stories surrounding Arsenal.

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Sandro Tonali transfer battle update

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly entered the race to sign Newcastle star Sandro Toanli. Arsenal were initially linked with a surprise move for the Italy international at the end of the winter transfer window.

The Times reports that Spurs have held talks with Tonali’s representatives over a possible move to Roberto De Zerbi’s side. Newcastle are claimed to value the midfielder at up to £100million.

It is added that Tonali has been offered to multiple clubs, including Arsenal and Manchester United. Newcastle have already sold one of their star assets this summer after Anthony Gordon sealed his move to Barcelona.

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Arsenal deal Tottenham blow

Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Tottenham Hotspur academy star Elijah Upson. The defender is set to leave Spurs at the end of his contract and could face the blow of Upson joining their north London rivals.

The Athletic reports that Arsenal are targeting Upson as part of their drive to sign top prospects, following their interest in Leicester City’s Jeremy Monga. Upson made 23 appearances in all competitions last season, captaining Spurs’ U18s on several occasions.

The England U18 international is the son of former Arsenal defender Matthew Upson. The 47-year-old spent five-and-a-half years with the Gunners, featuring 57 times and winning the Premier League title in 2002.

Brighton centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke, wanted by Spurs, suffered significant swelling to his eye following a collision in Holland's thrilling draw with Japan

Tottenham transfer target Jan Paul van Hecke is set to be assessed by Dutch national team medical staff on Monday after he suffered significant swelling to his right eye in Holland's 2-2 World Cup draw with Japan in Dallas.

The issue, sustained from a kick, worsened during the second half and images of the bruising, taken as he greeted his family in the stands, have raised further alarm.

Van Hecke has also since revealed the damage impacted his vision, stating: "He kicked me in the eye with all his might. I was heading for the ball, so I thought something might happen.

"At some point, it definitely affected my vision. I can't see very well on that side right now. I hope it will get a little better in a few days. I think it will swell up a bit more later, but that's also part of the game."

While it's not clear when the incident took place, Van Hecke was able to complete the full 90 minutes as Ronald Koeman's Oranje surrendered the lead on two separate occasions in their Group F opener.

The 26-year-old, who is swiftly approaching the final year of his current contract with Brighton, feels Holland should have pressed higher up the pitch after restoring their one-goal cushion through Crysencio Summerville.

He continued: "We scored two fantastic goals, but personally, I think we dropped back a little too much. If we had kept putting pressure on the opponent, we could have made the game easier for ourselves

"It happens naturally. A goal changes the flow of the game. When you take the lead, you start to defend it. But you have to keep defending high up the pitch. Sometimes it's difficult, but I think we could have done better."

After seeing two bids rejected, Spurs remain in discussions with their Premier League counterparts over a deal for the central defender, who is eager to reunite with former boss Roberto De Zerbi in north London.

While other clubs had considered entering the race, Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle are among those to have kept tabs on Van Hecke, he is thought to have made it clear he wants to join Tottenham.

Van Hecke's former side NAC Breda are patiently awaiting an agreement as they have a small sell-on clause (worth 7.5%) that will entitle them to a small cut of profit.

Tottenham have already completed two signings this summer after snapping up Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi on free transfers from Liverpool and Bournemouth, respectively.

Tottenham are working to complete the signing of Jan Paul van Hecke, who has just one year remaining on his current contract with Brighton and Hove Albion

Tottenham transfer target Jan Paul van Hecke insists he already has "clarity" on his club future, hinting he is keen to reunite with former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi in north London.

Still, Van Hecke has also made it clear he does not want any lingering distractions ahead of his World Cup debut with the Netherlands.

Spurs have already seen two bids rejected for the Albion centre-back, while the Seagulls are keen to sign Croatian gem Luka Vuskovic as his replacement after tabling a separate £30million offer.

Discussions between the parties are continuing but regardless, Van Hecke looks set to partner Virgil van Dijk at the back for Holland in their Group F opener against Japan in Dallas.

When quizzed on his situation, he said: “First of all, I just want to focus on the Dutch national team on Sunday.

“That is a very important match for us, for me. So that’s my focus until now. Of course, things are also playing, and I know that myself too. But that’s not for now, that’s more after the World Cup. I will then see where I play.

“I have also said very clearly that I would like to have clarity for myself before the World Cup. And uh I have that too. But then for now for myself it’s just clear. I just want to play the World Cup as well as possible.

“That clarity will probably come after the World Cup when uh when I make that step, then it’s clear to everyone."

Van Hecke will also fulfil a childhood dream if he makes his World Cup bow.

His uncle Jan Poortvliet represented Holland at the 1978 tournament and even played in the final where Oranje fell short against hosts Argentina in Buenos Aires.

It's partially why he never forgets his roots and humble beginnings and ex-club NAC Breda are in line to profit from his potential transfer to Spurs, should that materialise.

Van Hecke added, alluding to Breda's 7.5 per cent sell-on clause: “My story is special anyway, because I was still playing as a main class amateur at 17.

“We were promoted then and that is of course special now that you take such a step and very nice amounts will eventually go back to where you started. Of course those people are watching and thinking about that amount!"

Holland boss Ronald Koeman is hopeful of having Van Hecke's Brighton team-mate Bart Verbruggen fit to start in goal. The shot-stopper recently picked up a hip injury in his nation's final World Cup warm-up match against Uzbekistan.

Tottenham are leading a rebuild under Roberto De Zerbi with two signings already made and at least one more on the Italian's shortlist

Tottenham can at last focus on what lies ahead following a tense conclusion to the Premier League campaign, which saw Roberto De Zerbi guide them to survival on the final day of the season. The Italian manager has already left his mark in north London with two significant acquisitions, snapping up Champions League victor Andy Robertson from Liverpool and Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth on free transfer.

However, further additions are anticipated during the summer window to enable De Zerbi to complete his preferred defensive unit. Robertson, 32, enjoyed eight silverware-filled years at Anfield and his know-how will prove crucial in helping reshape the mentality in north London, while Senesi has established himself as one of the Premier League's most reliable performers.

De Zerbi is nowhere near done with building his defence for the forthcoming campaign, though, having made plain his desire to link up again with Jan Paul van Hecke. This is evident in Spurs' chase of Van Hecke following two rejected offers for the Dutchman, as Brighton refuse to budge from their £70 million valuation.

The Dutchman is part of the Netherlands World Cup squad in the United States and Spurs' efforts to secure an agreement ahead of the tournament's start have thus far fallen short. Nevertheless, the sums being discussed demonstrate the club's determination to progress after disappointing consecutive 17th-placed finishes in the division.

The Lilywhites are plotting a major overhaul that could see an entirely fresh centre-back partnership installed. With uncertainty surrounding the futures of captain Cristian Romero and star defender Micky van de Ven, De Zerbi is laying the groundwork by chasing a deal for Van Hecke to form a pairing with Luka Vuskovic.

The 19-year-old produced an outstanding loan stint with Hamburg in the Bundesliga last term, netting six goals in 28 outings despite operating mainly as a centre-back. The German club were eager to prolong his stay for another year, but Spurs' determination to keep hold of the Serbian for next campaign indicates he is in line for a more prominent squad position.

Vuskovic has already suggested he will not be heading back to Hamburg or embarking on another loan spell. When questioned about his plans ahead, the teenager told Nova TV: "Playing with my brother [Mario] at HSV would be a dream and a dream come true for me, but it's hardly possible. I don't know what else to say except... impossible."

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He also offered an enthusiastic assessment of his new manager De Zerbi, saying: "I think he's a top-class coach. He likes attacking football, he likes build-up play, and I really like that. I hope we'll work well together in the future."

It could turn out to be an ideal partnership. De Zerbi is committed to giving first-team chances to younger players and Spurs will be determined to ensure Vuskovic receives sufficient game time to further his progression.

Senesi's arrival alongside the pursuit of Van Hecke could restrict Vuskovic to a substitute's role in the Premier League, particularly if Romero or Van de Ven stay at the club. But opportunities elsewhere - such as domestic cup fixtures - could arise for the youngster.

Bringing in Van Hecke to join Robertson and Senesi, a pair boasting extensive Premier League know-how, will only bolster their ranks with Pedro Porro established as their preferred right-back and Djed Spence offering backup.

Regarding exits, Kevin Danso may depart should Van Hecke arrive this summer, while Radu Dragusin is anticipated to seal a permanent return to Italy and young left-back Souza could go out on loan. Whether they can retain Romero and Van de Ven is an entirely separate question, and losing two of their experienced leaders would constitute a devastating setback ahead of the new campaign.

With a transfer for Manchester City winger Savinho also progressing, the painful recollections from the 2025/26 season under Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor are slowly receding into the past. Throw an exciting prospect like Vuskovic into the equation and the outlook appears considerably more promising for Spurs under their forward-thinking new boss De Zerbi.

Right-back: Pedro Porro, Djed Spence

Centre-back: Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi, Luka Vuskovic

Left-back: Andy Robertson, Destiny Udogie, Ben Davies