Serie A club have been eyeing a late move for Tottenham defender.
Tottenham Hotspur prepared well for the start of the new season with back-to-back friendlies against Hoffenheim. The teams were split for the weekend fixtures; Saturday’s friendly saw Spurs beat Hoffenheim 3-0, before they were held 2-2 by the German club on Sunday.
Several players did not participate in either of the friendlies. While Dejan Kulusevski and Mohammed Kudus have returned to training at Hotspur Way, the fitness of a few players remains in doubt heading into the 2026/27 campaign.
Destiny Udogie hasn’t featured for Spurs throughout the pre-season campaign. Recent reports suggest that the flying left-back is fully fit, but Roberto De Zerbi and the medical staff are simply exercising caution regarding his overall workload to prepare him well for a taxing season. Amid his fitness worries, the Italian has been linked with a move back to his homeland.
Tottenham make transfer demands clear for Destiny Udogie amid AS Roma interest
Destiny Udogie has had injury troubles in the last two seasons in North London, yet he has a strong market in Italy. It has been recently reported that AS Roma have initiated contact with the 23-year-old’s entourage over a possible move to the Italian capital. 24 hours later, reliable Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla revealed that Tottenham have not yet opened the door for the defender to exit.
However, a new twist has now emerged. According to Italian daily Corriere dello Sport (h/t Sport Witness), Tottenham have placed a €25m valuation on Udogie. While the North Londoners have rejected the idea of a straight loan exit, AS Roma feel they can sign the Italian international on loan with an obligation to buy.
Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini wants to add the 23-year-old to his defensive roster. He is understood to be driving the club’s pursuit of Udogie, who has informed his entourage and De Zerbi that he will only leave Spurs if his next club ‘feels perfect’. It is understood that Roma is viewed as the ideal destination by him.
No chance for Udogie to leave
In three seasons he has played for Tottenham, Udogie has featured frequently, although injuries and constant chopping and changing of managers have played a big part in limiting his impact on the pitch. The last 12 to 15 months have been tough for the left-back, who had four separate spells on the sidelines last term.
When fully fit and firing, though, Udogie is an asset to the team, and De Zerbi is well aware of that. He is an admirer of his compatriot’s qualities in and out of possession, and with the club recently sanctioning Djed Spence’s sale to Inter Milan, it is highly unlikely that they will let go of another full-back in Udogie. Even if they decide to do so, there is no way Tottenham would want a paltry €25m for the player’s services.
Udogie still has four more years to run on his existing deal. Whilst he could take some time to get back to match sharpness and speed owing to him missing the entire pre-season, the Verona-born talent is De Zerbi’s first-choice left-back. All these factors point out to only one thing: a move to Roma is highly unlikely.