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Roberto De Zerbi has handed one Tottenham player an ultimatum after their clash against Sydney FC on Wednesday.

Spurs are now deep into their pre-season preparations for the 2026/27 Premier League campaign.

Following victories over MK Dons and Auckland, De Zerbi's men continued their Australia tour with a 1-1 draw against Sydney FC.

Mathys Tel scored the only goal of the game for Spurs before they prevailed 4-2 on penalties ahead of their eye-catching showdown with Chelsea on August 1.

It's been a huge summer so far at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, having armed De Zerbi with a war chest of funds to assemble a squad that should be challenging for Europe after consecutive 17th-place finishes.

Tottenham have spent an eye-watering £237million on new signings, notably breaking their transfer record twice with deals for Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, as well as capturing Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi, Martin Dubravka and Andy Robertson.

Spurs are expected to continue being active in the window, too, with Savinho handing in a transfer request at Manchester City as he aims to force through a move to north London.

But while incomings have dominated the headlines at Tottenham, several players have exited the club, and more could follow, including talented youngster Lucas Bergvall.

The 20-year-old made it clear that he wanted to leave the club in June, and according to reports, Spurs have rejected offers from Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest for the midfielder.

Bergvall, who made four appearances for Sweden at the World Cup, only started 11 times in the Premier League last term and wants to play regular first-team football.

De Zerbi cannot promise the precocious talent a starting place in his engine room, especially with the breadth of options at his disposal, none more so than new signings Fernandes and Tonali.

Roberto De Zerbi won't stand in the way of Lucas Bergvall leaving

Bergvall started alongside Archie Gray in Tottenham's draw against Sydney on Wednesday, but his selection isn't an indicator of what is to come.

The Swede has been pushed firmly down the pecking order this summer, reinforced by De Zerbi's comments after the match.

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Although the Italian wants him to stay, he cannot promise him a starting place and won't stand in his way if he chooses to leave.

"I'm always being very clear with him and with you. I would like that he stays with us," De Zerbi said.

"I think he's potentially a top, top, top player. But then I don't want to convince anyone to stay. Tottenham is already, without me, a top club and we are not to convince anyone to stay.

"He can find the space if he stays with us. The competition within the players will be very strong because we are Tottenham and we have to build a strong squad - not just 11 players - especially considering a lot of injuries we suffered in the last two, three seasons."

De Zerbi risks Bergvall's development stagnating if he stays, and therefore, with his heart set on playing regular first-team football, it's likely he could depart this summer.

It is widely reported that a £60m offer could prise him away, a steep asking price for someone with just 50 Premier League appearances under his belt.

A well-respected journalist has appeared to debunk a fan conspiracy about summer signing Mateus Fernandes.

Fernandes arrived from West Ham United for a fee of £85 million earlier in the summer after impressing at the Hammers despite their Premier League relegation last term.

The 22-year-old has since impressed Tottenham fans in friendlies against MK Dons, in which he scored a stunning volley, and Auckland in New Zealand.

However, concerns have grown among Spurs fans in recent days after footage of the midfielder sitting out training went viral, causing some to suggest he had suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

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One said: “Ah man, someone is claiming Mateus Fernandes has done his ACL. Spurs or not, I really hope he hasn’t. That would be harsh on such a talent.”

Another added: “Very unfortunate that Mateus Fernandes picked up an ACL injury, per sources. Spurs will probably get relegated now as he is their best midfielder by a country mile.”

A third claimed: “So because Fernandes watched a training session he’s torn his ACL? This place is a f**king circus….”

While a fourth commented: “Why am I seeing rumours of Mateus Fernandes tearing his ACL on my timeline?”

Journalist debunks Fernandes theory

But rest assured, Football London journalist Alasdair Gold has cleared up the conspiracy theory.

Gold reports that Fernandes is ‘unlikely’ to feature in Spurs’ pre-season friendly against Sydney FC on Wednesday (July 29).

“The midfielder is not injured,” he wrote.

“Instead, it is because head coach Roberto De Zerbi has been pushing the players hard in training, especially those who returned earlier to pre-season, and various players’ time in sessions and matches is being monitored and managed based on a variety of factors such as fatigue, little niggles, illness or even jet lag.

“Various players have so far been rested from matches and training sessions with that in mind over the opening weeks of pre-season.

“De Zerbi’s style of football is an all-action, draining one, and the players’ fitness is being pushed this summer to deal with that ahead of the season, with the arrival of the Italian’s long-time strength and conditioning coach Agostino Tibaudi to join another former colleague, first-team fitness coach Marcattilio Marcattilii, to ensure the team is ready for what is to come.”

De Zerbi’s side continue their pre-season against Chelsea on August 1 before taking on La Liga side Getafe in a behind-closed-doors game on August 8.

The Lilywhites round off their pre-season with back-to-back friendlies against Bundesliga side Hoffenheim on August 15 and 16.

Spurs get their Premier League campaign underway away at Brentford on August 22.

Tottenham Hotspur have been making significant moves in the transfer market this summer as they look to give Roberto De Zerbi the tools to return the club to the upper end of the Premier League and fight for European football.

The Italian manager managed to maintain Spurs’ top-flight status on the final day of last season, managing to finish 17th after being involved in a relegation battle with West Ham for the final weeks of the campaign.

Since they narrowly avoided relegation, they have brought in Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Martin Dubravka, Mateus Fernandes, and Sandro Tonali to ensure they are not in that situation again this campaign.

Two of the signings, Van Hecke and Senesi, are centre backs which may put Spurs in a position to allow their captain, Cristian Romero, to leave White Hart Lane; however, they could not have envisaged that he may depart for potentially one of their major rivals.

Reports from Italy are suggesting Arsenal and Chelsea are considering a shock move for the Argentina international.

Inter Milan had been linked to the club previously, with Spurs thought to be asking for €50 million (£42m).

It is believed Inter would be keen on a loan with an obligation to buy deal, similar to the one that took Manuel Akanji to Italy from Manchester City last year, hoping to pay €25 million for his services, half of what Spurs are currently asking.

Corriere dello Sport reports that Romero would be open to a return to Italy after departing Atalanta four years ago to join Spurs, with Inter being the preferred destination.

However, the report has also suggested Arsenal and Chelsea could provide the biggest risk to the Serie A champions sealing the signing of the Spurs captain.

While a move across London being greenlit by Spurs to either of these rivals would seem strange, it would be a surprise if Chelsea were to add Romero to the squad as they are on the brink of signing Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace.

Arsenal, on the other hand, need a centre back as William Saliba is set to miss the start of the season due to a back problem, and so they may be in the market to cover this absence.

Whether Spurs would even contemplate selling their captain and one of their top performers to their north London rivals, though, is an entirely different matter.

Spurs have accepted the departure of one of their star players this summer following on from the World Cup, reports claim.

Under new manager Roberto De Zerbi, Spurs have wasted no time splashing the cash this summer as they look to climb up the league table after avoiding relegation on the final day with a win over Everton.

The North London side have been the big spenders in the Premier League, dropping £237 million on a trio of signings in Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke.

Spurs have also dipped into the free agency market, drafting in Andy Robertson, Marco Senesi and Martin Dubravka.

Naturally there will be outgoings for Spurs and it's reported that the club accept that captain Cristian Romero will move on.

Sportitalia, quoted by FC Inter 1908, say that Romero's exit has been confirmed and that the Argentina international has attracted strong interest from Inter Milan.

The Nerazzurri had contact with Spurs over England defender Djed Spence but then Romero's name came up and a potential deal was proposed for the 28-year-old.

Inter are now exploring a transfer and see Romero as a top defensive target after both Stefan de Vrij and Francesco Acerbi moved on.

It has been claimed that the club still see his asking price as too high but they are hopeful of bringing it down during negotiations and encouragingly, Romero is keen to return to Serie A.

He joined Spurs from Atalanta, initially on a loan deal on the same day he was sold by Juventus.

The World Cup winner has made 156 appearances in all competitions and helped the club end their trophy drought by winning the Europa League in 2025.

Roberto De Zerbi drops exciting Spurs transfer update

Spurs already have two brand new Premier League-proven centre backs in the building in Van Hecke and Senesi and they want to keep Micky van de Ven by opening fresh contract talks.

But further additions are planned by Spurs, with De Zerbi telling club media that the transfer market has not finished for his team.

In the forward department, they have also been linked with Manchester City's Savinho and Bournemouth wonderkid Eli Junior Kroupi.

"I feel very good because we are working well," he said.

"I think we are building a very good team, with some very important new players, and we are starting the project in another part of the history of the club.

"I spent a lot of time [understanding the club] before joining in April and I knew very well the ideas of the owner of the club and the plan was clear before the Everton game.

"Now we are inside (the project), we are excited with the idea to build a very strong team. Now we have to finish as it is not finished yet, our transfer market, in and out, but at the moment I am very happy, very proud and very positive.

"To build a soul, to build a new team with the qualities for sure but with soul, with passion, with all the values we have."

Harry Kane has enjoyed a successful period at Bayern Munich since taking the decision to leave Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2023, lifting several pieces of major silverware since joining the German side.

While the England captain has appeared to enjoy life in the Bundesliga, lifting the title on two occasions, there has always been a question about whether he may return to Spurs as his career starts to near the end.

There is no suggestion that the three-time Bundesliga Golden Boot winner is considering hanging up his boots anytime soon; the striker will be 33 at the start of this upcoming season.

It had long been believed by many English football fans that Kane would make a return to Spurs and the Premier League to claim the competition’s top-scoring record off Alan Shearer.

The former Newcastle star netted on 260 occasions in the Premier League, while Kane has netted 213 goals, leading many to think he may need two or three seasons to break the record.

However, it appears like Shearer may be breathing a sigh of relief if reports are to be believed from Christian Falk in CF Bayern, as he denied that the English striker would make the move to Tottenham or Real Madrid this summe.

He said: “As for reported interest from Real Madrid and Tottenham… Los Blancos have to make a new plan, which could take a year, perhaps even two. Perhaps they’ll be good enough next year under new manager José Mourinho, but they don’t know.

“At Bayern Munich, Harry Kane knows there’s a chance. Sorry, Tottenham. Harry wants to win the Champions League now. He can’t wait for Spurs to build towards something. He wants the big title.”

According to the report, it is believed that he is more likely to sign a contract extension with the German champions.

The main reason behind this is due to their performance and the fact the club are building under Vincent Kompany, with the ultimate goal of lifting the Champions League appearing possible within the next season or two.

Falk said: “Bayern Munich will give Harry Kane some holiday time after England’s World Cup exit. Of course, now there will be extra time to take advantage of to start contract talks, and I hope this will happen soon, as we really want to keep Harry in the Bundesliga.

“What I’ve heard about the striker’s contract situation comes directly from the club, as Harry blocked any questions about his contract while he was concentrating fully on the Three Lions’ World Cup campaign.

“Now, he can focus on Bayern Munich again. Perhaps this showed him what he has at Bayern Munich. He will win titles in Bavaria, but of course he wants to win the Champions League—that's the next big title he can win. And, crucially, it’s one he’s yet to win! Kane knows he has a big chance to win it if he stays with Bayern.”

Tottenham are in uncharted territory this summer after spending £237million on new signings, and several players could leave the club to create further space in their squad.

To the delight of Spurs fans across the globe, the club have already smashed their transfer record twice, first landing Mateus Fernandes for £85m from West Ham and then capturing Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United for a whopping £100m.

Fernandes and Tonali arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after Jan Paul van Hecke joined from Brighton for £52m, with Roberto De Zerbi also securing the free transfers of Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka.

The Lilywhites have been very aggressive in the summer window so far to prove they still belong in the 'big six' conversation, despite recording back-to-back 17th-place finishes, and their push to land Premier League-proven stars suggests their fortunes could change.

Tottenham are now expected to splash the cash on attacking talent after addressing their defence and midfield but to ensure they comply with the Premier League's 25-man squad rule, the club are required to sell, prising the door open for several players to exit.

This is part of the club's new policy, notably selling players for better value and at the right time. This process began in January with the departure of Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace for £35m and will continue in this window.

Spurs have already agreed to sell promising defender Luka Vuskovic to Brighton for £46m, with football.London reporting that a further six players could depart in a huge squad overhaul.

Radu Dragusin has already joined Fiorentina on a season-long loan, while Preston North End have paid a club-record fee to land midfielder Alfie Devine on a five-year contract.

Tottenham could also listen to offers for Djed Spence, Cristian Romero, Guglielmo Vicario and Lucas Bergvall, with this major clear-out potentially generating as much as £222m.

What Tottenham's CEO said about player sales

De Zerbi doesn't have the luxury of building a big squad he can rotate for European competition, and with six signings already through the door, there is an acceptance that sales are needed.

That is why key first-team stars Spence, Romero, Vicario and Bergvall could all leave the north London giants, reinforcing the point that Tottenham CEO Vinai Venkatesham made earlier this year.

"Player trading is also about knowing when to sell and being decisive about moving players on who are not part of our future," he said.

"Doing so is essential to maximising value and managing our financial fair play obligations. Despite common belief, we are not immune to these rules and must carefully manage our squad development plans against them."

It appears everyone is pulling in the right direction at Tottenham, and once more sales are confirmed, supporters can get excited about more new players joining De Zerbi's project.

Spurs are reportedly in talks over deals to sign two more players that would take their summer transfer spending well over £250 million.

Roberto De Zerbi's side have already completed five permanent signings during the window after they finished in 17th place in the Premier League last season.

Midfielder Mateus Fernandes has arrived from West Ham for a club-record £85 million, while centre-back Jan-Paul van Hecke has been signed from Brighton for £52 million.

Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka all add extensive Premier League experience on free transfers.

In addition, Spurs have agreed an initial fee of £92.5 million with Newcastle to sign midfielder Sandro Tonali, with included add-ons set to take the deal up to £100 million.

But De Zerbi and Spurs are not done there as they seek to avoid any repeat of last season's Premier League nightmare, which saw them still at risk of relegation heading into the final day of the campaign.

Spurs target two more signings

They are turning their attention to Serie A, according to Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb, with a bid planned for Atalanta right wing-back Raoul Bellanova.

Spurs already have Pedro Porro and Djed Spence on their books at right-back, but Spence can also fill in on the left if required.

It is claimed that several Premier League clubs have enquired about signing Bellanova, who came through AC Milan's academy, and a price of between €15 to €20 million (around £13 to £17 million) has been quoted.

The report notes that, 'in all likelihood, this was Bellanova's final season with Atalanta', despite the fact that the Italian club have already sold fellow right wing-back Marco Pelestra to Chelsea for a fee of approximately £43 million.

In Bellanova's case, Atalanta spent around €20 million to sign him from Torino in 2024, and it would be a surprise were they not to make some sort of profit on the 26-year-old's sale.

Everton are among the other clubs believed to be interested in signing the Italian, as their search for a successor for Seamus Coleman at right-back continues into yet another summer.

TuttoJuve, meanwhile, claim that Spurs are one of two clubs, alongside Bayern Munich, that are 'pushing' to sign Juventus centre-back Gleison Bremer.

The Brazil international has made 122 appearances in all competitions for Juve and has also proven to be a source of goals, scoring 12 during his time at the club.

He suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in October 2024 but returned in time to play a full part in Juve's 2025/26 campaign, where they finished down in sixth place in Serie A.

Juve are said to value Bremer at €54 million and have 'no intention of letting him go easily', but could enter discussions over a sale if their asking price is met.

The 29-year-old is currently part of Brazil's World Cup squad, though hasn't yet played a minute at the tournament under Carlo Ancelotti.

Tottenham are showing no signs of slowing down in the summer transfer window after making a huge statement of intent.

Spurs only survived in the Premier League by the skin of their teeth last term as they recorded back-to-back 17th-place finishes.

But in an attempt to challenge for Europe once more, the club's hierarchy has armed Roberto De Zerbi with a war chest, allowing the Italian to splash the cash.

The summer window has only been officially open for three weeks, but Tottenham are about to break their transfer record for the second time in a matter of days after agreeing a £100million transfer for Sandro Tonali.

The Newcastle United midfield maestro will join £85m arrival Mateus Fernandes and £52m defender Jan Paul van Hecke, with Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka all arriving as free transfers.

Tottenham's owners are determined to turn the tide and show they remain a 'big six' club, as their relentless spending looks set to continue.

According to Friday's print edition of Corriere della Serra, super agent Jorge Mendes has offered AC Milan winger Rafael Leao to Tottenham after helping Fernandes move to north London.

Leao has already expressed his desire to leave the Italian giants and could be available for €60m (£51.3m) or on a loan with an obligation to buy, despite holding an eye-watering €175m release in his contract.

The 27-year-old, who is currently starring for Portugal at the World Cup, would offer De Zerbi a potentially world-class option on the left flank.

De Zerbi isn't currently spoilt for choice with quality wing options, largely relying on Mathys Tel last term, with Leao presenting a huge upgrade.

Combining explosive pace with direct dribbling and incredible end product, the Portuguese international is one of the best wingers in the world on his day, and the statistics certainly reinforce that claim.

Rafael Leao is the elite winger Tottenham need

Spurs have encountered a multitude of problems in recent years, and one of those is players who are reliable enough to produce consistent output in the final third.

Richarlison was the club's top scorer in the Premier League last term with 11, but second to him was defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha with five as their attacking problems were exposed.

Leao has shown that he can fix that issue, having produced 145 goal involvements in 291 appearances for Milan, while also scoring and assisting at this year's World Cup.

A goal threat down the flank and when he moves into central areas, Leao is equally elite at creating chances, ranking in the top 16 per cent of Serie A wingers for successful crosses per 90 last term and top 10 per cent for big chances created.

In big game moments, De Zerbi is crying out for someone with speed, guile and composure in the box, and the AC Milan superstar can provide those traits in abundance.

Leao is the sort of signing that could transform their attack if he returns to his best, giving Tottenham even more reason to secure an agreement.

Tottenham Hotspur aren't slowing down as they've reportedly identified another £80million star as their next transfer target.

The Premier League transfer window hasn't even been open for three weeks but Spurs are wasting no time in making several massive statement signings.

After a dismal season saw them finish 17th and just two points clear of the relegation zone, it's clear that the club want new manager Roberto De Zerbi has an elite squad ready to challenge for a spot in Europe once again.

So far this summer, Spurs have already completed SIX signings, the first being Andrew Robertson and Marcos Senesi who arrived from Liverpool and Bournemouth as free transfers following the expiration of their contracts.

Spurs then splashed out on the £52m signing of Netherlands defender Jan Paul van Hecke, who joined from Brighton having previously worked with De Zerbi at the Amex.

Another free transfer for Martin Dubravka followed, with the former Manchester United and Burnley goalkeeper arriving ahead of the expected departure of Guglielmo Vicario this summer.

On Tuesday, Spurs won the race for Portugal midfielder Mateus Fernandes, beating Manchester United by agreeing an £85m deal to sign the star player from West Ham.

Less than 24 hours later, the London club broke their transfer record for a second time this week with another blockbuster midfield signing after agreeing a deal worth up to £100m with Newcastle United for Sandro Tonali.

And now, Spurs are reportedly eyeing up Bournemouth star Eli Junior Kroupi as their next target as they look to bring in a left forward to add to their attacking line.

Following his standout season with Bournemouth last season, the Frenchman has attracted interest from the likes of Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.

The one sicking point for several clubs interested in Kroupi is his price point, with The Independent reporting that Bournemouth are looking for north of £80m for the 20-year-old.

But this is apparently not an issue for Spurs, who will ramp up their pursuit of the youngster in the coming weeks.

Failing that, AC Milan star Rafael Leao and Manchester City's Savinho are reportedly other options for Spurs on the wing, with discussions also ongoing about a move for City goalkeeper James Trafford.

Will Spurs break the Premier League spending record?

So far this summer, Spurs have already spent a whopping £237m, which on its own places them 10th in the rankings of the biggest transfer window spends ever.

Should they spend a further £80m on Kroupi, this would take them north of £300m and all the way up to third in the top 10 rankings.

Currently it is Liverpool sitting on top of the top 10, having spent around £414.5m last summer with blockbuster signings like Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, both of which broke the Merseyside club's transfer record.

Behind them having spent £391m in the summer of 2023/24 is Chelsea, who went all out bringing in 11 singings including Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Cole Palmer, Axel Disasi, Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku.

If Spurs continue their spending spree this summer, bringing in Kroupi, Trafford and any other signings, it is almost certain that they will work their way further up the top 10 and could even claim the top spot from Liverpool given time.

Tottenham Hotspur looks poised to sign Sandro Tonali for a fee that could climb to £100 million, and it appears Newcastle United have already spent a significant chunk of this income on a World Cup star.

The rebuild at Spurs is truly underway this summer, as they have already confirmed Andy Robertson, Marco Senesi, and Jan Paul van Hecke will be playing at White Hart Lane next season.

In recent days it appears they are about to add to those additions, and in the process, they broke their record transfer fee spend twice, first with the agreement to bring Mateus Fernandes to the club before the Tonali deal.

Newcastle are expected to see their club captain Bruno Guimaraes make the move to Arsenal this summer, and so fans will be pleased that news has broken that they are set to bring a World Cup star to St James’ Park.

It has been announced, as reported by The Athletic, that Newcastle has agreed to a deal with Bundesliga club Hoffenheim to bring Ivory Coast star Bazoumana Toure to the club for an expected fee of £42 million.

The winger will be a much-needed positive for Newcastle in the summer transfer window, as the club have seen Anthony Gordon leave St James’ Park for Barcelona before this recent news regarding the futures of Tonali and Guimaraes.

Last season in the Bundesliga, Toure scored five goals and laid on nine assists in 29 starts for Hoffenheim, and it is believed he will fill the gap of the departed Gordon.

Newcastle may feel it was important to bring Toure to the club after they missed out on the signing of Victor Munoz last month, with the Spanish international opting to make the move to Liverpool.

While it is expected that Toure will be wearing the black and white of Newcastle next season, fans of the 2025 League Cup winners will not believe it has been done until he is holding the jersey in an official announcement after they lost out on several signings in recent seasons.