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Tottenham Hotspur have just received some bad news in their rumoured pursuit of La Liga right-back Andrei Ratiu as a Champions League club have entered the race.

Spurs have no shortage of options at right-back, with Pedro Porro, Djed Spence and Archie Gray at Ange Postecoglou’s disposal.

However, despite this, the Lilywhites have been backed to make a move for a Rayo Vallecano right-back, who is having a standout season in La Liga.

It has been reported over recent weeks that Tottenham are plotting a move for Andrei Ratiu, who has a release clause of just €25m (£20.6m) in his contract.

While that deal might seem straightforward on paper, Spurs have just learned that they are set to face a lot of competition for the Romanian.

Bayer Leverkusen and Tottenham both interested in Andrei Ratiu

AS have now claimed that Ratiu’s impressive displays of late have seen several clubs from England and Italy take notice, while the likes of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are also monitoring his progress.

However, the report says that the ones who are particularly keen on signing the 26-year-old at the moment are Bayer Leverkusen.

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Xabi Alonso’s men expect Jeremie Frimpong to leave at the end of the season and are positioning themselves to replace the Dutchman with Ratiu.

This report also refers to the right-back’s £20.6m release clause and explains that there could be a heated transfer battle for his services this summer.

Rayo Vallecano director makes confident Ratiu claim

AS also relay an interview that Rayo Vallecano sporting director David Cobeno has given to DAZN recently about the Romanian international.

Cobeno insists that the Spanish club are very confident of retaining Ratiu despite his low release clause.

He says about the right-back’s future: “We are very happy with Andrei here. The discourse is always the same, whoever wants him will have to pay the clause.

“Our wish is that he continues at the level he is at, and we are very confident for the future. Time will tell if he stays with us or if someone pays the clause.”

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly very keen on signing a two-time Premier League winner on a free transfer, but it has now emerged that Arsenal have held talks with the player regarding a summer switch to the Emirates.

Given how the financial restrictions have impacted teams across Europe, free agents have unsurprisingly become extremely highly sought after, especially ones with proven experience of winning at the highest level.

One situation which a lot of clubs will be watching with interest is that of Leroy Sane, with the winger’s current deal at Bayern Munich running out this summer.

It was reported back in February that Tottenham have reached out to Leroy Sane to enquire about his availability. It was subsequently even claimed later in the month that Spurs were in a strong position to win the race for Sane following their contacts with the player’s camp.

However, the Lilywhites have now received a double blow as there have been fresh developments on Bayern’s contract talks with the winger while Tottenham’s fiercest rivals have also entered the race.

Sane is expected to decide on his Bayern future in weeks

Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has now revealed that while many at Bayern are still sceptical if Sane will sign a new deal, the winger’s improved performances have been ‘recognised’ by the German club’s hierarchy.

Contract talks between the Bavarian side and the former Manchester City man are continuing, with an official offer yet to be made. However, the pacy winger is said to be open to taking a pay cut, with a final decision expected within the next few weeks.

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Interestingly, Plettenberg adds that Arsenal are ‘seriously interested’ in signing Sane and have already held ‘concrete talks’ with the wide-man.

Why Tottenham might struggle to attract Leroy Sane

Unless Tottenham Hotspur qualify for the Champions League via the Europa League, it would be very difficult for them to convince a player of Sane’s quality to join them.

Even if they do win the Europa League, a deal would still be difficult as the winger is not likely to have any shortage of offers in the summer if he does not sign a new deal at the Allianz Arena.

It was reported a couple of weeks ago that Sane is also attracting interest from Liverpool and Manchester United, as well as clubs from Spain and Italy.

Tottenham Hotspur fans are desperate for revenge against Chelsea after their dramatic 4-3 defeat earlier this season. But Paul Merson’s latest prediction won’t sit well with them.

It doesn’t often get bigger than derby games in a season. For Spurs, a Premier League campaign brings several of them, but Thursday’s clash against Chelsea is one of the biggest.

The Blues already have the bragging rights this season, having edged a chaotic 4-3 victory in the reverse fixture.

Revenge will be on the minds of Tottenham fans, who will be hoping for a much-needed response, especially after a frustrating season that has seen their side struggle for consistency.

With European qualification still on the line for Chelsea, this is a crucial encounter. Tottenham, on the other hand, will be looking to make a statement, but Merson’s outlook on the game won’t sit well with the Lilywhites’ faithful.

Paul Merson backs Chelsea to see off Tottenham

While Tottenham Hotspur will be aiming for their 51st victory over Chelsea, Paul Merson isn’t convinced they’ll get it.

Writing in his column for Sportskeeda, the former Arsenal man said: “This is Chelsea’s main game of the season. It’s definitely high stakes but still a fixture they are expected to win!

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“We always wait for Tottenham to come good, saying stuff like, ‘Oh, they will get better when they have all their players fit’, but it never happens!

“Chelsea have not been great this season, but I’d be shocked if they don’t win this game. It’s a must-win game for them too.

“I expect Manchester City and Newcastle to win this gameweek and Forest will also get a point. Now that puts pressure on Chelsea in the race for top four. If they don’t beat Tottenham, they could slip to sixth in the table.

“Cole Palmer has hit a bit of a brick wall with his form now. Nicolas Jackson returning to the line-up will be a boost to him. But there is no doubt that Palmer has to get back in form if Chelsea want to finish inside the top four.

“Believe me, the remaining fixtures are not very kind to Chelsea. If they are not careful, they could be in big trouble. That game against Forest on the final day of the season could end up being hugely significant, who would’ve thought that at the start of this campaign?”

Paul Merson’s Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

No more excuses for Ange Postecoglou anymore

Ange Postecoglou is finally expected to have his full-strength squad for the first time since the season began.

The Australian will have his first-choice centre-back pairing of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero ready to start.

Kevin Danso, Ben Davies and Archie Gray will be additional depth, while Radu Dragusin remains the only long-term absentee due to an ACL injury.

Richarlison has also been spotted in training, hinting at a return, while Dejan Kulusevski has dropped clues about his availability this Thursday after being seen without a protective boot in a recent social media post.

This leaves Postecoglou with no excuses—Spurs must show improvement. Thursday’s derby is more than just a London rivalry. It’s about pride, momentum, and proving that Tottenham can step up when it matters. Now, it’s over to them.

Tottenham’s hopes of securing Luka Stojkovic have hit a roadblock, with fresh reports suggesting they are no longer alone in the race for the highly-rated youngster.

Last week, we reported that Spurs had reignited their interest in Dinamo Zagreb’s Luka Stojkovic, a player they were once in pole position to sign last summer.

The deal never materialised, but the 21-year-old remains on Tottenham’s radar. The forward has impressed this season, scoring four goals and assisting three in 27 appearances this season.

However, fresh reports now suggest that it will not be straightforward if Tottenham Hotspur are to snap up the 21-year-old this summer.

European giants join Tottenham in Luka Stojkovic chase

Spurs’ interest in Stojkovic has been confirmed by Croatian newspaper 24 Sata, but they also report that several European heavyweights are now in the mix.

Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Napoli, and Atletico Madrid are all said to be closely monitoring the Dinamo Zagreb forward.

The publication describes Stojkovic as a ‘wonderkid’ and states that these clubs will continue tracking him until the end of the season.

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His performances in the coming weeks could be crucial in shaping his future, with potential suitors poised to submit official offers if sufficiently impressed.

Spurs face a battle as Dinamo Zagreb reluctant to sell

Despite the growing interest, Dinamo Zagreb are reportedly unwilling to sanction a sale at this moment.

The Croatian side have already agreed to let Petar Sucic join Inter Milan and do not want to lose another key player in quick succession.

According to the news outlet, Tottenham’s pursuit appears serious, but this situation has become a ‘headache’ for Dinamo, who are also in the process of appointing a new sporting director.

With multiple clubs circling and Zagreb keen to hold firm, Spurs will have to fight hard if they want to land Stojkovic.

A club has just contacted Alejo Veliz about the possibility of a summer transfer from Tottenham, but they have allegedly been met with an interesting response from the striker’s camp.

Alejo Veliz has struggled in his two back-to-back loan spells at Sevilla and Espanyol, with the striker having scored just one league goal so far this season for the Catalan club.

This potentially has left Tottenham with a decision to make this summer and some reports have claimed that River Plate are keen on taking Veliz back to Argentine football.

It was explained that the South American giants were keen to add the Tottenham Hotspur man to their forward line before the Club World Cup gets underway this summer.

River Plate receive Veliz transfer blow

TyC Sports have now backed up River Plate’s interest in signing Veliz, but they reveal that the club received a major blow when they reached out to the Spurs man.

They were reportedly ‘met with a refusal’ from the 21-year-old’s entourage, who made it clear that the player is not planning to return to his home country this summer, just two years on from swapping Rosaria Central for Tottenham.

The outlet claims that Veliz’s priority is to continue plying his trade in Europe for the time being, but it is not revealed if any club on the continent have expressed an interest in the youngster.

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What are Tottenham’s plans for Alejo Veliz?

We have heard some contrasting reports over the last week and a half about Spurs’ plans for the Argentine at the end of his loan spell at Espanyol.

Initially, it was claimed that Tottenham want Veliz to be part of their pre-season plans and have not yet made any final decision on his future.

However, just a few days ago, it was claimed by an alternative source that Ange Postecoglou has already decided that Veliz is not part of his plans.

Tottenham Hotspur are keen on securing Jonathan David on a free transfer this summer, but the North London club have just learned the eye-watering demands that the striker’s representatives have made ahead of a potential summer switch.

The Canadian striker looks set to be one of the most hotly contested signings of the summer window when his contract with Lille ends in June.

Over the last couple of weeks, it has been widely reported that Tottenham have held talks with David’s representatives regarding a summer transfer, but nothing concrete has materialised so far.

Unsurprisingly, many other clubs across Europe are ready to challenge Spurs for David, with the race intensifying as we get closer to the summer window.

Tottenham will have to spend big on Jonathan David

Journalist Sacha Tavolieri has now revealed on Sky Sports Switzerland that even though David is available on a free transfer, clubs have to spend a steep amount to bring him through the door after the demands made by his representatives.

The 25-year-old’s agents have reportedly informed interested clubs that they need to pay €9m (£7.5m) per season in wages, €15m (£12.5m) as a signing-on bonus and a further agent commission of €10m (£8.3m).

That means that just to sign off on the deal, Tottenham Hotspur and other interested clubs would have to spend an initial amount of €34m (£28.4m), making it an extremely expensive ‘free transfer’.

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Serie A clubs have an advantage over Spurs in race for David

Tavolieri explains that the demands of David’s representatives have put Premier League clubs in a tricky position as in England, salary budgets are not subject to the same tax rules as transfer expenses.

On the other hand, Serie A clubs prefer to compensate for their lower transfer fees by spending more on player salaries as the tax legislations in Italy are very different to the UK.

This gives Italian clubs the upper hand in the race for David, with Juventus already said to have spoken to the striker’s entourage and Inter Milan also expected to enter the race shortly.

Tottenham Hotspur have expressed an interest in signing a striker who has found the back of the net 21 times this season, but they have now learned that they will have to battle several European giants for the player, including Man United.

Elite number nines are hard to come by in today’s market, which is why clubs often have to break the bank to sign a top-class centre-forward.

It thus comes as no surprise that one man is catching the eye with his exploits in front of goal in the Portuguese top flight this season.

Over recent weeks, we have heard reports that Tottenham are one of the clubs keen on signing Porto’s Samu Aghehowa, who has not been able to stop scoring since swapping Atletico Madrid for the Portuguese giants last summer.

Tottenham battling four other clubs for Samu Aghehowa

A report in CaughtOffside has now backed up Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in the Porto man, revealing that the Lilywhites have been tracking the 20-yer-old closely this season.

However, the outlet reveals that they have been joined in the race for Aghehowa by Man United, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and West Ham, thus making their job very difficult.

The competition for the prolific Spaniard is now intensifying, with Ruben Amorim described as a ‘big fan’ of the player and alleged to be pushing for his signing.

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How much will Samu Aghehowa cost?

CaughtOffside say that Porto do not want to sell their star striker this summer, which means that interested clubs may have to trigger the €100m (£83.6m) release clause in his contract.

It remains to be seen if any club is willing to pay that amount for Aghehowa, but it is suggested in the report that Man United may not be able to do so.

With United’s finances not in the best shape at the moment, the outlet explains that they will first have to sell players to be able to afford a deal for the Porto man.

This potentially offers Spurs a chance to steal a march on their Premier League rivals in the race for the Spain international.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly been very impressed with Sunderland’s Chris Rigg ahead of the summer transfer window, but as things stand, the North London club have a lot of work to do to move ahead of Premier League rivals in the race for his signature.

While Spurs have had a poor season, what the club have shown under Ange Postecoglou is that they offer the right kind of environment for young players to thrive.

The likes of Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray have blossomed as a result of the backing and the freedom they have got this season, and Spurs are now seemingly looking to try the same trick with another promising youngster, who has lit up the Championship this term.

Over recent weeks, it has been reported that Tottenham are plotting a move for Sunderland midfield starlet Chriss Rigg, who has made himself a mainstay in the middle of the park for the Black Cats despite being just 17 years of age.

Tottenham are not the favourites to sign Chris Rigg

Football Insider have now also confirmed that Tottenham are fans of Rigg, but the outlet says that the Lilywhites only have an ‘outside chance’ of signing the teenager.

This is because the young midfielder is in ‘huge demand’ ahead of the summer, with the likes of Everton and West Ham also ready to bring him to the Premier League.

It is revealed that Tottenham are yet to make any proposal to Sunderland and the outlet adds that Postecoglou’s men risk falling further down the pecking order if they do not make an early approach in the summer.

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Rigg’s future depends on one huge factor

Football Insider point out that several top-flight clubs are ready to pounce on Rigg as the player will want to make the jump to the Premier League this summer if Sunderland fail to win the promotion.

However, if Regis Le Bris’s men do manage to progress into the top flight, they will be in a strong position to hold onto their academy graduate.

Sunderland are now within touching distance of confirming a spot in the playoffs, but their chances of achieving automatic promotion are all but over.

Cristian Romero’s future at Tottenham Hotspur is becoming a hot topic as the summer transfer window looms, with fresh reports suggesting that the club might be open to letting him go for the right price.

Cristian Romero has been a crucial figure in Spurs’ defence since his arrival three years ago, but speculation is mounting that Romero is eyeing a move away from Tottenham in search of Champions League football.

Atletico Madrid has reportedly made their interest in Romero known, viewing the Argentine as a priority signing this summer.

Sources claim that personal terms wouldn’t be an issue, as Romero is eager to make the switch to Atletico Madrid. The sticking point, however, remains negotiations with Spurs, who are yet to make their stance clear.

Tottenham’s asking price for Cristian Romero

Various reports have floated different figures regarding Romero’s potential price tag, but Football Insider has now revealed what sources believe Tottenham would be willing to accept.

According to their report, a bid of around £50 million could be enough to prise the Argentine defender away from North London this summer.

This valuation is notably lower than what Tottenham have reportedly placed on him in previous windows, with concerns over his inconsistent form and injury record potentially influencing their stance.

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Spurs originally secured Romero from Atalanta in 2022 for approximately £42million, following an initial loan spell with the club. Given the investment made and his role in the squad, a sale at this price might raise eyebrows among the fanbase.

Spurs must be firm on their valuation

£50 million feels like a reasonable fee, yet it still comes across as slightly underwhelming. Tottenham have a history of driving hard bargains when it comes to selling key players, so it’s difficult to imagine Daniel Levy not pushing for a higher figure, especially with Romero still having two years left on his contract.

If Spurs were to sell, they would have to bring in a capable replacement, and securing a centre-back of Romero’s calibre would not come cheap—especially with clubs knowing Tottenham have cash to spend. That’s why a figure closer to £60 million should be the minimum asking price.

Spurs have a Premier League showdown against Chelsea up next following their 2-0 League defeat a fortnight ago. Let’s take a look at how you can watch Chelsea vs Tottenham on Thursday, including predictions and team news.

The international break is well behind us, and now Tottenham Hotspur must turn their focus to the business end of the season. With just nine games remaining, Spurs sit 14th in the Premier League, having suffered 15 defeats.

Their upcoming clash against Chelsea on Thursday presents a chance for Ange Postecoglou’s side to build some much-needed momentum for the crucial run-in.

Of course, many would argue that the league campaign is a write-off, but with Spurs aiming to go all the way in the Europa League, Postecoglou knows that winning games domestically would be a massive boost in confidence. And there is no better way to spark some belief than by winning a London derby.

When and where is the game?

The Premier League showdown will take place at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, 3 April 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 8:00 PM UK time.

How to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea in the UK

For fans in the UK, the match will be broadcast live on Sky Go UK, NOW, Sky Go Extra, Sky Ultra HD, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, and TalkSport Radio UK.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea team news

Ange Postecoglou still has some injury concerns coming into this clash. Dejan Kulusevski remains sidelined with a foot problem, while Radu Dragusin continues his recovery from an ACL injury. Richarlison is also a doubt for this fixture.

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Kevin Danso is dealing with a hamstring issue, and Lucas Bergvall is another injury concern. However, Postecoglou has previously stated that Kulusevski, Danso, and Richarlison would all be fit after the international break. His pre-match press conference will provide further clarity on their availability.

As for Chelsea, they have received an injury boost ahead of Thursday’s game. Nicolas Jackson was spotted back in training after a brief absence, while Cole Palmer also returned to full training on Friday.

Spurs Web prediction

There’s a significant gap between these two sides in the league standings. Chelsea sit comfortably in 4th, while Spurs find themselves in a disappointing 14th place.

Tottenham’s record at Stamford Bridge does not inspire confidence either—their last win there came in 2018. Given Chelsea’s home advantage and Spurs’ struggles, securing a victory will be an uphill task for the Lilywhites.