Tottenham Hotspur

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

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Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi says he wants to convince Djed Spence to stay at the club amid uncertainty over his future.

The 25-year-old defender, who signed a long-term deal with the club last year, has been linked with a move to Inter Milan and Everton.

De Zerbi says he sees Spence as an important part of his plans despite increased competition in his role after a summer of significant spending.

Spurs have spent a club record £237m so far this summer as they rebuild their squad after narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day of last season's Premier League.

"I repeat what I said to Djed, and to Lucas [Bergvall]," De Zerbi said, referencing comments he made about the in-demand Sweden midfielder a day earlier.

"I would like you to stay if you want to stay. If you don't want to stay, if you want to leave, then you have to leave."

Spence started in 23 of his 30 league appearances in 2025-26 as Spurs finished 17th for the second season in a row.

Spain's World Cup winner Pedro Porro currently occupies Spence's preferred right-back position at Tottenham - and De Zerbi has said he regards Porro as the "best in the world" in his role.

What do you want to happen with Spence? Do you think Tottenham would regret allowing him to leave?

Get in touch with your views here

Inter Milan signing England centre-back John Stones, 32, on a free transfer could scupper 28-year-old Argentina defender Cristian Romero's hopes of joining the Italian club from Tottenham. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external

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Roberto de Zerbi has provided a positive injury update on summer signing Mateus Fernandes following Tottenham's 4-2 penalty shootout win over Sydney FC.

A number of other senior names were also missing for the club's third pre-season fixture, including Kevin Danso, Micky van de Ven, Dominic Solanke, James Maddison, Jan Paul van Hecke and Destiny Udogie.

When asked about Fernandes' fitness, following rumours of a more serious injury, De Zerbi replied: "It is just fatigue in the calf. We took the decision to not take any risks with him. Next week, when we return to London, he will be able to work.

"With Danso, van de Ven, Solanke and van Hecke, I didn't think they were ready to play yet without risk. Maybe some of them can play in the next game on Saturday against Chelsea.

"Maybe not from the beginning, maybe at the beginning it will be Andy Robertson and Sandro Tonali.

"It is about managing the players, especially after the World Cup or after big injuries, like Udogie and Solanke had. They suffered long injuries last season and after a long trip and the jet lag, ahead of the beginning of a season, I wouldn't like to take any risks."

Next up in Tottenham's pre-season schedule is a fixture against Chelsea in the Sydney Super Cup on Saturday, 1 August (10:45 BST).

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Teenage forward Luca Williams-Barnett stole the show in Tottenham's 4-2 penalty shootout win over Sydney FC in a sign of how the club have changed.

The 17-year-old, who started the second half on the left but moved into his favoured attacking midfield position, opted for the first penalty and nonchalantly chipped a panenka down the middle.

It preceded a shootout in which Sydney FC duo Joe Lacey and Alexander Popovic hit the post and had a penalty saved by goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, with Sandro Tonali, debutant Andrew Robertson and Dane Scarlett all scoring to secure victory after a 1-1 draw.

Williams-Barnett stole the show to such an extent that his manager Roberto De Zerbi was describing him as a "precious diamond" after the match.

He added: "We have to work on him in the final third and he must work hard on his physicality. I've worked with a lot of young players in my time and he's a potentially special player."

Williams-Barnett, who joined Spurs from his local club Luton Town, aged 11, hit the crossbar immediately after coming on, giving Sydney captain Rhyan Grant a torrid time after his half-time introduction.

It was just one of several instances where he drove and shot on goal and he almost provided both Robertson and Tonali with assists.

Spurs legend Ledley King is travelling with the club in New Zealand and now Australia on the pre-season tour and follows the academy closely.

He says Williams-Barnett is "a talent with great ability" but told him to follow Harry Kane's path to show "sheer hard work and determination".

Defender Ben Davies says he plays with "no fear" but highlighted his need to keep improving his decision-making.

Williams-Barnett has played for Spurs throughout pre-season and became the club's youngest player to play in the Carabao Cup, aged 16 years, 11 months and 24 days, when making his competitive debut against Doncaster Rovers last season.

He truly looks like a "precious diamond" and not out of place in men's football.

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi says he has told midfielder Lucas Bergvall to stay but cannot promise him a starting role.

The Sweden international, 20, has received multiple offers from Premier League rivals Newcastle and Nottingham Forest but surprisingly started Spurs' 4-2 penalty shootout win over Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on Wednesday.

De Zerbi admitted he made mistakes in his handling of Bergvall during a chaotic end to the season following his appointment in March, when he narrowly guided Spurs to Premier League safety with a final-day victory over Everton.

BBC Sport understands Bergvall has told Tottenham he wants to leave.

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

"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."

It is also understood Bergvall wants to play in a deeper midfield role, a position he occupied in the 1-1 draw with Sydney FC alongside Archie Gray, but the arrivals of club-record signings Matheus Fernandes for £85m from West Ham and Sandro Tonali for £100m from Newcastle have cast further doubt over his future.

De Zerbi continued: "He wants space. He wants to play as a double pivot as a position. I can't give, for any player in the world, the place in the first XI guaranteed.

"I want to be honest with the players. I want to be clear. I don't want to make the first mistake. In terms of position, I can't give guarantee. It's right when he wants to play as a central midfielder.

"But to play as a central midfielder, sometimes it is to attack, sometimes to keep the holder, to move the ball faster. He has to improve."

However, the Italian also admits that "to stay with us, we have to have the right spirit, but if he doesn't want, then what can I do? Nothing."

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Tottenham continued their pre-season campaign with a penalty shoot-out win over Sydney FC on Wednesday after a 1-1 draw in normal time.

Mathys Tel's stunning free-kick opened the scoring in the first half at the Allianz Stadium but Roberto de Zerbi's side were pegged back by a Takahiro Sekine effort after the break.

On his fine strike and the game as a whole, Tel said: "It was a good goal. I also want to congratulate the team because we worked and we fought to the end, even in a friendly game. We just keep going all the time.

"Sydney played very well on the ball, they played also very well off the ball and it wasn't that easy against them."

De Zerbi utilised several youngsters after a long trip from New Zealand after their 2-0 win over Auckland FC on Sunday.

However, first-team players Archie Gray, Richarlison, Tel, Conor Gallagher, Ben Davies, Manor Solomon and Martin Dubravka all started, alongside Lucas Bergvall, who has been heavily linked with a move away with Newcastle and Nottingham Forest reportedly interested.

Among those getting a second-half run out was record signing Sandro Tonali and fellow new recruit Andy Robertson.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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Manchester City winger Savinho is open to leaving the club with a view to exploring a move to Tottenham.

The Brazil international is a key target for Spurs head coach Roberto de Zerbi and City are aware of the interest in the 22-year-old.

It is understood Savinho is keen to leave during this transfer window, with the machinations towards his potential move to London now under way.

The attacker joined City from sister club Troyes for £30.8m in July 2024, having spent the previous season on loan at Spanish side Girona.

Tottenham held talks to sign Savinho last summer, but the Etihad club were not looking to sell at that stage.

He subsequently signed a two-year contract extension last October, keeping him at City until 2031.

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Video assistant referees should only be used to change "blatantly incorrect" decisions and clear missed incidents, say European refereeing officials.

Chief refereeing officers from all 55 European national football associations met last week with Uefa refereeing officials and a representative from the International Football Association Board (Ifab) to address recent changes to the game's laws.

Attendees said "lengthy, microscoping reviews" indicate VAR has gone beyond its original scope.

When VAR was added to the laws of the game in 2018 by football's rulemakers Ifab, its "philosophy" was "minimum interference - maximum benefit", with the intention of reducing "unfairness caused by clear and obvious errors or serious missed incidents" relating to goals, penalties, direct red cards and mistaken identity.

Uefa said that at its recent meeting that refereeing bosses agreed a return to those original aims is needed.

"It was reiterated that, in accordance with protocol, VAR must only intervene in situations of 'clear and obvious' error, ie. when a referee decision is blatantly incorrect or when the referee has missed a clear incident," Uefa said in a statement.

"VAR is not meant to re-referee the game, it is an essential support to the referees, who must remain at the centre of all decision-making.

"Lengthy, microscoping reviews are often a symptom revealing that the decision on the field was not clearly and obviously incorrect, and should therefore be limited."

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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I'm increasingly impressed by Spurs as the days go by in this transfer window, hence their inclusion in that elite list. Their acquisitions policy looks to have improved markedly.

I wasn't sure that almost £100m for Sandro Tonali, clearly an exceptional player, was a great deal at that figure. But with £85m Mateus Fernandes alongside him however, it makes much more sense, even before you consider the industry Conor Gallagher will provide.

That midfield engine room suddenly looks much better staffed. Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall are no longer teenagers and are likely to grow in stature this season. There are also a number of important players coming back from injury too, particularly James Maddison.

With the appointment of Roberto de Zerbi also a mature decision by the board, Spurs could well be the team that improves most this season, though that isn't such a big call after the stinker they had last time round.

Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham continue their pre-season preparations in Australia after arriving from New Zealand on Sunday, with matches against Sydney FC and Chelsea to come this week.

New signings Marcos Senesi, Martin Dubravka, Sandro Tonali, Matheus Fernandes and, more recently, Jan Paul van Hecke, who had been away with the Netherlands at the World Cup, are with the squad.

However, there is also a significant youth presence - and excitement around 17-year-old forward Luca Williams-Barnett.

"He's a talent," said Spurs legend Ledley King. "There's a lot of hard work ahead of him, but there's no doubt that he's someone with great ability.

"He's seen players like Harry Kane come through the academy and, through sheer hard work and determination, put themselves in a position to kick on. He couldn't have a better role model.

"There's no doubt we're excited by his talent and the next part will be up to him."

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter in Sydney

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham legend Ledley King has responded to Andy Robertson's shirt number gesture, describing it as "a really nice touch".

The summer signing wore the number 26 shirt at Liverpool, but it is unofficially retired at Spurs out of respect for King's career. As a result, the Scotland international has opted for number three, a more traditional shirt number for a left-back.

Speaking in Sydney, where Tottenham are continuing their pre-season tour, King said: "For him to decide not to wear the shirt was a testament to his character really, a great sign of respect.

"Of course, I know he's a legend at Liverpool in that same shirt. It was a really nice touch.

"We spoke at the airport before we came out and shared a few words about it. It was nice."

Robertson has joined Spurs as one of the leaders in the dressing room after back-to-back seasons in which the club finished 17th, narrowly avoiding relegation last season with a final-day win over Everton.

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English football is set to implement a trial to try to eradicate the goalkeeper tactical timeout this season, BBC Sport can reveal.

The Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, National League and Women's Super League have agreed on the measure, pending permission from the International Football Association Board (Ifab).

Earlier this year, Ifab decided against changing the law and invited leagues to volunteer for trials.

Pro Ref, led by chief refereeing officer Howard Webb, has been in discussions with the leagues to determine how to tackle the issue. It settled on a team having to remove an outfield player from the field.

If a referee signals that the physio can come on to treat a goalkeeper, the coach will have 10 seconds to nominate another player to leave the pitch for one minute, telling the fourth official of their choice.

If no player has been selected within 10 seconds, the captain must leave the field.

Read more on the trial

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham had three managers last season, with Thomas Frank lasting less than eight months before being sacked.

Frank struggled to connect with the Spurs fans and was criticised for playing with a "safety-first" approach.

Micky van de Ven believes Roberto de Zerbi will have the team playing better football, helped by the new signings and a full pre-season to drill the squad.

"It's going to be different compared to the manager we had last season," Van de Ven said.

"It's going to be more with the ball, I think, more about playing football. I think it's also going to be more enjoyable for people to watch because we'll be playing offensive football.

"You can see he [De Zerbi] has brought a lot of passion into our group, a lot in terms of mentality and passion on the pitch.

"It is something we needed because everybody was a little bit down.

"He brings a lot of good energy and, from pre-season, we have really had the time to bring his football into the team. That's really enjoyable."

Tottenham are favourites to sign Brazil winger Savinho, 22, from Manchester City. (Sun), external

Meanwhile, Spurs boss Roberto de Zerbi has hinted that Mikey Moore, who spent last season on loan with Rangers, may be allowed to leave the club again this summer. (Herald - subscription required), external

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Mandeep Sanghera
BBC Sport journalist

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Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi said he did not want to take any risks as he fielded a young side in a pre-season win against A-League champions Auckland FC in New Zealand.

Dane Scarlett and Richarlison scored the goals for Spurs as Mateus Fernandes, an £85m signing from West Ham, was the only one of the club's major summer arrivals to feature.

Sandro Tonali, who joined Tottenham in a £100m deal from Newcastle United, missed out with "one small problem", while defenders Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi also didn't figure.

"It's a chance for the young players," De Zerbi told TVNZ before kick-off.

"After a very long trip, we can't take a risk with the players who are not ready to play yet."

Scarlett put Spurs into an early lead before some of Tottenham's more experienced players in Ben Davies, Mathys Tel, Conor Gallager and Richarlison came on, along with Fernandes, just after the hour mark.

Richarlison added his side's second in a game watched by a record crowd for a men's football game in New Zealand.

There were 40,112 at Eden Park, a ground where usual occupants the All Blacks are unbeaten in 32 years, as the figure surpassed the previous best of 37,034 who turned up when the New Zealand men's team played a World Cup qualifier against Peru in 2017.

Tottenham's next game is against Sydney FC on 29 July (10:45 BST).

Middlesbrough are considering a move for Tottenham defender Ashley Phillips, who spent last season on loan at Stoke City. (TeessideLive), external

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Tottenham have confirmed that full-back Andy Robertson will wear number three during his time at the club.

This is common for left-backs but it is not the Scotland international's go-to number; at his past three clubs (Liverpool, Hull City and Dundee United), Robertson opted to wear number 26.

"When I came here, I knew that the number 26 hasn't been used since the legend that is Ledley King and I wanted to respect that. He was an unbelievable player and has done so many good things for this football club.

"Number three means a lot to me – that's my national team number. I've had so many good memories as number three for Scotland so when I knew it was going to become available, it was a no-brainer for me.

"The number 26 is a really important number to me in my life and it will always stay like that, but number three is just as important and hopefully I can make as many memories in the number three shirt as I did in the 26."