Tottenham have suffered a blow in their pursuit of a highly coveted defender.
Tottenham Hotspur’s chances of staying in the Premier League were boosted massively on Sunday without them even kicking a ball. This is due to relegation rivals West Ham losing 3-1 to Newcastle United, failing to recover after a dismal start to the game.
A win for West Ham would have taken them above Spurs into 17th position, but their loss at St James’ Park has taken their fate away from their hands. Tottenham now remain in the driving seat to secure safety, and one point from their final two games against Chelsea and Everton should be enough.
Behind the scenes, the Hotspur Way chiefs have already started planning for the summer transfer window. Several scouting missions have taken place all across Europe in recent weeks to try to identify the right profiles required to strengthen Roberto De Zerbi’s squad ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Tottenham official jets to Italy to watch Juventus defender
According to a report from the Italian newspaper Tuttosport, Tottenham sent an official to Italy to watch Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu in action against Fiorentina at the request of Roberto De Zerbi. The 25-year-old played 90 minutes, as Juventus lost 2-0 to Fiorentina.
The €32m Pierre Kalulu has had a strong individual season, racking up 48 appearances in all competitions. The Frenchman can play at centre-back or right-back, and has chipped in with two goals and seven assists for Juventus. The Juventus star’s performances haven’t gone unnoticed by teams across Europe, particularly in the Premier League.
The versatile defender is understood to be highly sought after by De Zerbi, who wants to bring him to North London this summer. However, there is a problem.
Juventus plan to hand Pierre Kalulu a new deal
Juventus have no plans to part ways with Kalulu at the end of the season. Instead, the report adds that the Turin giants have accelerated contract talks with the defender’s entourage. H is now expected to sign a new contract until June 2030, which will also include a pay rise from his current package.
This would shut down the door for Tottenham to make a move for the three-cap France international, who has been called up to the squad for next month’s World Cup. A player of Kalulu’s versatility, pace, physicality, technical ability and experience would have been a smart fit in De Zerbi’s system. His aggressive and front-footed style of defending would have made him a strong option to replace Cristian Romero.
Now that Juve are close to tying Kalulu down to a new contract, the Lilywhites must turn their focus elsewhere to fortify their backline.