Tottenham Hotspur have been offered the chance to sign a top star this summer alongside their pursuit of Bournemouth star Eli Junior Kroupi.

Spurs have completed six signings already this summer, bringing in Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Martin Dubravka, Jan Paul van Hecke, Mateus Fernandes, and Sandro Tonali in deals worth in excess of £220m.

But the Lilywhites are still looking at other deals, with a mega offer being lined up to sign Kroupi despite Bournemouth not wanting to sell. However, the north London side are now looking at other forward options, which has seen them offered the chance to sign a household name.

Tottenham Offered Dusan Vlahovic

According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham have been offered the chance to sign former Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic on a free transfer.

Vlahovic, who has been described as ‘one of the best strikers in the world’, recently left the Serie A giants after his contract expired, and is now searching for a new club, ideally in the Premier League.

The 26-year-old is attracting big interest from Turkish giants Besiktas, but Spurs are understood to be keeping a close eye on the situation as they assess their own forward options for the new season. Richarlison is expected to depart, while Randal Kolo Muani has left following the end of his loan spell.

Kroupi remains the club’s top target for the striker role, which could see any move for Vlahovic put on the back burner as a result.

But with the Serbian international available on a free transfer, it’s a deal that could emerge as a bargain considering the major expenditure being put out by the ownership to strengthen other areas of the squad during this window.

Vlahovic Would Be Excellent Plan B

Dominic Solanke is currently the first-choice and only senior striker in the Spurs squad, but if De Zerbi is able to get his way and complete a deal to sign Kroupi, the expectation is that the Frenchman would be first choice.

Solanke would be excellent competition for him, and offer a different profile, but Vlahovic has got a much better goalscoring record throughout his career, and he is the type of profile who is a bit of a hybrid between them both.

The likelihood is that Vlahovic’s wages and the fact he wouldn’t be an automatic starter are going to be a hurdle that needs overcoming, but if Kroupi doesn’t arrive then it makes a deal much more feasible, and it’s one to keep an eye on while he remains unattached.

Wimbledon is among the most lucrative tennis tournaments on the planet, but what are the ball boys and girls paid who help to ensure that every match at SW19 runs smoothly?

While singles champions take home a record £3.6 million and first-round casualties pocket £80,000, naturally, the youngsters on duty don’t make anywhere close to that sort of money.

However, that isn’t to say that the job isn’t highly sought after. The All England Club maintains a highly competitive selection process, pulling the vast majority of its 280-strong cohort from approximately 1,400 local school applicants in Year 9 and 10.

Training For Wimbledon Ball Boys and Girls Explored

Andrew Couldridge via Reuters

Former holders of the role insist that the preparation for it mirrors a high-stakes athletic boot camp rather than a casual summer job. Training officially begins in February at local indoor facilities, requiring teenagers to master physical endurance, precise ball-rolling physics, and prolonged periods of immobility.

By mid-may, operations transition directly to the SW19 grass courts, where the teenagers work in strict, high-stress one-hour rotations under the scrutiny of millions of global television viewers.

“The training was intense and very physical. We practiced how to throw the ball perfectly to the players and how to stand still for long periods,” Alex Crockford, a former Wimbledon ball boy, told The Mirror.

Pay for Wimbledon Ball Boys and Girls in 2026

Susan Mullane via Reuters

Despite the demanding nature of both the training and the job itself, it may surprise you to learn that the teenagers selected don’t technically earn a salary at all.

Those selected for this year’s tournament will perform under strict professional conditions for a flat expense stipend rather than a standard wage, highlighting the stark financial divide at the heart of the multi-million-pound tournament.

The around 280 teenagers that are present to smooth the operation of all 675 matches across the fortnight will receive just £200 to cover basic expenses.

The flat rate, combined with the perk of keeping a luxury Ralph Lauren tournament uniform, has sparked contemporary debates over the extraction of elite, high-pressure labor under the guise of sporting tradition.

Despite the lack of an hourly wage or formal salary, the role remains a highly sought-after badge of honor across participating boroughs.

The minimal payout exposes growing friction within the current sports landscape. As Wimbledon’s global broadcasting rights and corporate hospitality revenues reach historical peaks, the event continues to rely heavily on a “prestige economy” that trades financial compensation for social cachet. While the young participants overwhelmingly express pride in their roles, industry watchdogs question how long a multi-million-pound entertainment product can ethically justify an unpaid workforce.