CaughtOffside

Argentina kicked off the 2024 Copa América with a 2-0 win over Canada, thanks to goals from Manchester City’s Julián Álvarez and Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martínez. However, their defense played a key role in the victory.

In the first half, La Albiceleste faced seven total shots from the Canadian squad and the defense blocked four of them. Nonetheless, it wasn’t all withstanding the attack from the CONCACAF side as Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero had an impressive match playing all 90 minutes.

The Spurs standout registered three clearances, two interceptions, and six tackles while touching the ball 109 times. However, Romero also had an outstanding contest in terms of his passing.

Opta Javier highlighted on X that Romero completed 91 out of 93 passes for a 97.8 percent accuracy rate against Canada on Thursday. This is the third-highest pass accuracy for any player with over 90 passes in a Copa América match since 2016.

— OptaJavier (@OptaJavier) June 21, 2024

Argentina’s next game in the Copa América will be on Tuesday when they face Chile at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Romero will look to continue his impressive passing performance as the reigning champions look to secure six of six points.

Tottenham are among the clubs to have held initial talks over a potential transfer move for in-demand Bologna centre-back Riccardo Calafiori, CaughtOffside understands.

The 22-year-old is also wanted by Chelsea, Newcastle United, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Napoli, though Juventus is understood to be his preferred destination if he leaves Bologna this summer.

Sources with a close understanding of the situation have informed CaughtOffside that both Spurs and Newcastle have had some talks over signing Calafiori, while there have also been a number of clubs scouting the Italy international at Euro 2024.

One complication for Bologna this summer is that they would have to pay 40% of whatever fee they receive for Calafiori to his former club Basel, so they’re keen not to lose this top young talent without a fight.

It is felt that at least €35m would be needed for Calafiori, and he remains keen on linking up with his former manager Thiago Motta at Juventus, though he’d also be open to a move to the Premier League if this did not prove to be possible.

Calafiori transfer: Could Spurs or Chelsea sign the talented young centre-back?

Both Tottenham and Chelsea will have top four ambitions next season, so making good signings will be crucial for them this summer after disappointing campaigns last term.

An elite young talent like Calafiori could go a long way to helping both these teams, with Spurs arguably in need of an upgrade on their current defensive options to take them back to the days when they had rock-solid stars like Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen in that department.

Chelsea, meanwhile, will need a long-term replacement for departing Brazilian defender Thiago Silva, with Tosin Adarabioyo already coming in on a free transfer from Fulham, but with room for perhaps one more signing in that area of the pitch due to the inconsistent form of the likes of Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly keen on signing the Leeds United midfielder Archie Gray.

According to a report from the Athletic, the North London club are keeping tabs on the 18-year-old midfielder and it will be interesting to see if they decide to test the waters with an offer in the coming weeks.

Leeds United will not want to lose a key player like him any time soon, but there is no doubt that he would be a superb long-term investment for Tottenham. They could use more quality and depth in the middle of the park.

Gray is versatile enough to operate as a central midfielder as well as a full-back. He has been an indispensable asset for Leeds this past season, but he failed to guide his side to promotion in the end. The opportunity to move to the Premier League could be exciting for the young midfielder and it remains to be seen how the situation develops.

Spurs are one of the biggest clubs in the country and they could provide him with the platform to showcase his abilities in the English top flight. Regular football in the Premier League will accelerate his development and help him fulfil his potential as well.

Tottenham need more quality and depth

Meanwhile, Tottenham will be hoping to push for trophies next season and they will want to secure Champions League qualification. They need more quality and depth in the side in order for that to happen.

Signing one of the most talented young players in English football right now could prove to be a wise decision. Even if they have to pay a premium for him, he could justify the investment in the long term. Along with Tottenham, Borussia Dortmund are keeping tabs on the young midfielder as well. It remains to be seen whether they decide to come forward with a concrete proposal.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Djed Spence is a target for Genoa this summer.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Italian club have now submitted a formal bid to sign the 23-year-old.

The right-back joined Genoa on loan during the January transfer window and he has impressed with his performances in the Serie A.

The 23-year-old is highly rated across Europe and he is expected to develop into a quality defender in the near future. Regular football at Genoa could help him develop further and it is hardly a surprise that the Italian club are keen on signing him permanently.

He has already established himself as a key performer for them and he is only going to improve with coaching and experience. It will be interesting to see if Tottenham are willing to sanction his departure in the next few days.

Romano claims that negotiations are currently ongoing between the two clubs and Tottenham will make a final decision soon. The 23-year-old does not have a future at Tottenham and it would make sense for the north London club to cash in on him and bring in more quality of this summer.

Djed Spence needs to leave Tottenham

Spence cannot afford to sit on the bench at Tottenham at this stage of his career and it is fair to assume that he will be keen on securing a permanent exit from the club as well. He is highly rated at Genoa and staying at the Italian club would be ideal for his development.

If he manages to impress in the coming seasons, he will have plenty of opportunities to join another big club in the near future. For now, he must focus on his own development and join Genoa if they are ready to offer him regular opportunities.

Tottenham Hotspur and Brazil right-back Emerson Royal is attracting significant attention from top European clubs following his loss of a starting position to Pedro Porro.

With his style of play not fitting into manager Ange Postecoglou’s fast-paced, attacking system that relies heavily on inverted fullbacks, Royal is poised for a move away from North London.

Reports from Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport indicate that AC Milan are close to securing Emerson Royal’s services.

The publication claims that the player has reached a personal agreement with the Rossoneri, who view him as a perfect fit due to his pace, strength, and defensive capabilities.

Emerson’s versatility, being able to play as a centre-back or left-back, adds further appeal to Milan’s interest.

All that is remaining now is for the two clubs to come to agreement regarding the transfer fee for the player.

Tottenham initially set a price tag of €30 million for the 25-year-old, but they might settle for €20 million to expedite the transfer and reinvest in their squad before the preseason.

The Brazilian was linked with several clubs including Inter Milan as well as couple of Saudi Pro League clubs. However, the move to AC Milan now seems the most likely, with only the agreement on the transfer fee pending.

Additionally, Tottenham’s squad overhaul might see more departures, with midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg also linked to a Serie A move.

Newly appointed Napoli boss Antonio Conte is reportedly keen on adding the Dane midfielder to his squad, indicating a busy transfer window ahead for Spurs.

Conor Gallagher, the dynamic Chelsea midfielder, has made his intentions clear amidst swirling transfer rumours, confirming his desire to remain at Stamford Bridge and work under the club's new manager, Enzo Maresca.

Tottenham have received an offer from Saudi Arabia for atacking midfielder Giovani Lo Celso.

The Republic of Ireland's long-awaited triumph against a strong international opponent finally materialised, thanks to Troy Parrott's dramatic 92nd-minute winner. The moment sparked an outpouring of emotion, blending pure elation with palpable relief, as Ireland secured a hard-fought victory over Hungary.

Tottenham have received a major blow in their pursuit of a striker this summer as their top target prefers a move to Premier League rivals Chelsea.

Ange Postecoglou's first season at Tottenham Hotspur is almost complete, and while there's been some negative moments there has certainly been enough positives to suggest that the Australian coach has Spurs on the right track.