5 Tottenham news & rumors to start your Wednesday, July 3
By Manuel Meza
Today, we have a series of exciting updates from the world of football, focusing on Tottenham Hotspur's summer activities and notable player movements.
We'll cover Tottenham's firm stance on keeping Cristian Romero, their interest in Jacob Ramsey, Tom Huddlestone's retirement, the signing of Archie Gray, and how Gray fits into the new Tottenham lineup. Let's dive into the details.
5 Tottenham news & rumors to start your Wednesday, July 3
1. Tottenham determined to keep Cristian Romero
Tottenham Hotspur's resolve to keep defender Cristian Romero this summer appears steadfast, according to recent comments from Ben Jacobs, reflecting the club's strong stance against losing the Argentine center-back. Romero, a pivotal acquisition from Atalanta in 2021 for £44 million, initially faced challenges adapting to Tottenham after his move from Bergamo to North London. Despite this, his performances saw a significant upturn last season, earning him the vice-captaincy under manager Ange Postecoglou.
His standout displays have not only solidified his position in Tottenham's defense but also attracted attention from European giants like Real Madrid, as reported by The Standard in mid-June. Ben Jacobs, speaking on The Last Word On Spurs podcast, emphasized Tottenham's reluctance to part ways with Romero, citing a firm stance unless an exceptionally lucrative offer emerges. Jacobs stated, "Tottenham do not want to lose Romero, and barring some insane astronomical bid, there’s very little chance that he’s going to go anywhere." He referenced potential figures nearing the £80 million mark, similar to Harry Maguire's transfer to Manchester United, suggesting even such substantial sums might not sway Tottenham.
2. Tottenham's pursuit of Jacob Ramsey
Tottenham Hotspur is reportedly exploring a move for Jacob Ramsey, but only if Aston Villa agrees to include Giovani Lo Celso in the deal, as per The Standard's recent report. Recent developments indicate that Tottenham's interest in Jacob Ramsey has intensified, with the midfielder emerging as a priority target under manager Ange Postecoglou. Initial reports suggested Spurs proposed a £20 million offer plus Giovani Lo Celso to Villa, a bid promptly rebuffed by the Birmingham club, according to Matt Maher, from The Standard.
Despite this setback, football.london's Alasdair Gold confirmed Tottenham's serious intent in Ramsey, noting discussions around a potential deal. Gold highlighted Postecoglou's admiration for Ramsey's suitability within his tactical setup, emphasizing Tottenham's readiness to meet Villa's valuation, estimated between £40 million to £50 million, per football.london. However, challenges remain for Tottenham in offloading surplus players to facilitate Ramsey's acquisition, particularly given the financial implications involved. Villa's interest in Lo Celso could potentially facilitate negotiations, given manager Unai Emery's positive stance on the Argentine midfielder.
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3. Tom Huddlestone announces retirement
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Tom Huddlestone has announced his retirement from professional football after a distinguished career spanning nearly 20 years. He now looks to transition into coaching, marking the end of an era for the seasoned player. Tom Huddlestone, a stalwart of English football, bids farewell to the pitch at the age of 37. Beginning his journey at Derby County, he made a significant impact at Tottenham Hotspur from 2005 to 2013, contributing to the club's rise in the Premier League and Champions League qualifications under various managers, including Harry Redknapp.
During his tenure at Spurs, he appeared in 144 matches before transferring to Hull City, where he made an additional 133 league appearances spanning the Premier League and Championship. Huddlestone also earned four caps for England, fulfilling a childhood dream. Huddlestone's retirement marks the conclusion of a career marked by unwavering dedication and memorable performances. Known for his exceptional passing ability and physical presence in midfield, he was a linchpin for Spurs during a transformative period in the club's history. As he transitions to coaching, his wealth of experience promises to enrich the next generation of footballers.
4. Spurs sign Archie Gray
Tottenham Hotspur have officially confirmed the acquisition of 18-year-old midfielder Archie Gray from Leeds United this summer. It is their second signing of the summer, as Lucas Bergvall was a deal which was pre-arranged ahead of time. Archie Gray arrives in North London with plenty of promise, after helping Leeds United to the Championship playoff final last season. With this in mind, here is the best Tottenham Hotspur lineup with Archie Gray slotted in...
It had been reported over the weekend that Brentford were very close to the signing of Gray, with reports that a bid had been accepted, and that Gray was reluctantly going to sign. Over the weekend, other reports surfaced suggesting that Spurs were planning to intercept the transfer and that Gray might be headed to a different London club. Leeds would have been very hesitant to comment and even mentioned being "heartbroken to see one of our own depart" when confirming the deal was finalized.
5. Best Tottenham lineup with Archie Gray
For Ange Postecoglou, there are not expected to be too many changes to the way he sets up his back-line. Guglielmo Vicario is the obvious choice between the sticks as he had a good debut season and he will be covered by a centre back partnership of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, with EURO 2024 standout Radu Dragusin providing depth in this position. At right-back, Pedro Porro keeps his place as he had an excellent showing last time out. On the opposing flank, it will be Destiny Udogie who hopes to go the full season injury-free this time out.
The midfield is where the most amount of changes will occur for Tottenham Hotspur. With the new summer signing Archie Gray being seen as a future prospect, we believe he is ready to make an immediate impact. Therefore, we would place him in a midfield pivot alongside Rodrigo Bentancur, who will also be aiming to stay injury-free after last season's issues. Adding an attacking element to the midfield will be James Maddison, who joined in 2023. Maddison started excellently last season but he quietened down as the season progressed. He will hope to be firing on all cylinders from the offset of next season.
It will be the trademark front three for Ange Postecoglou again next season. He will hope to sign an out-and-out centre forward. As things stand, the most budget friendly option appears to be a player Tottenham are actively interested in signing, Jonathan David. Therefore, we will throw David into the striker position immediately, he is ready to make the step up. This means Son Heung-Min can return to his strongest position, at left-wing. He will stay at Tottenham next season. Off the right, it will be a toss up between Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson but we do believe that Dejan gets the nod as things stand.
That’s all for today’s updates! Stay tuned as the transfer window heats up and clubs finalize their summer signings. Have a great day!