Tottenham Hotspur have already completed six signings in what has been a remarkable summer transfer window to date, but they are far from being finished.

Tottenham completed the impressive free transfer signings of Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi early on, with the experienced Premier League duo joined by Jan Paul van Hecke and Martin Dubravka as Roberto De Zerbi completely reshapes his defensive line.

Spurs’ next business was even more impressive though, as they beat off competition from the biggest clubs in the Premier League to land Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali in an astonishing double midfield swoop, with West Ham United and Newcastle United receiving a combined £185m for their players.

With half-a-dozen new faces arriving at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, departures are also expected following successive 17th-place finishes in the English top flight, with Cristian Romero, Luka Vuskovic, Richarlison and Djed Spence among the players who could complete transfers away from north London.

Tottenham’s new transfer focus in terms of incomings is now further forward, as they look to bolster a frontline that will be without Randal Kolo Muani next term following a disappointing season-long loan spell from Paris Saint-Germain.

A new winger and striker could arrive, with the left-flank the particular area the club is looking to strengthen.

Rafael Leao Agrees to Join Tottenham

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AC Milan winger Rafael Leao publicly confirmed earlier this summer that he wants to explore a new opportunity away from the San Siro, following seven years with the Serie A giants.

The Portugal international, who will be on his way home from the World Cup after his nation were beaten by Spain in the round of 16, is a target for Saudi Arabian clubs, but his real desire is to move to the Premier League.

According to journalist Daniele Longo, Leao is willing to wait for a move to Tottenham this summer and is ready to say yes to linking up with De Zerbi in the English capital.

Leao Would be a Savinho Upgrade

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While Pep Guardiola has always waxed lyrical about Savinho, his lack of starts and minutes in general last term sum up a largely underwhelming City career to date.

The Brazilian would arrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with Premier League experience in tow, but he is clearly far from the finished article after a season where he contributed four goals and three assists in 36 appearances in all competitions.

At 22 years of age, the forward has time on his side, but we also know that De Zerbi likes players who will do a great job for Spurs right now.

Step forward Leao, who has been doing it at one of the biggest clubs in Europe for seven years now, in both Serie A and the Champions League.

While his consistency levels have dropped over the last season or two, Leao continues to exhibit his ridiculous pace and trickery on a regular basis.

De Zerbi is said to want to add speed to his attacking line, and there won’t be many better options on the market, and for a reported decent price in the modern era, than the ‘world-class’ Portuguese forward.

Ukrainian and Wimbledon tennis star Marta Kostyuk has given her verdict on the International Olympic Committee’s decision to allow Russia to compete at the 2028 Olympic Games.

The IOC have provisionally lifted the suspension of Russian athletes, which could mean they are able to compete in two years’ time. The World Anti-Doping Agency banned Russia from international competition for four years back in 2019.

This was later reduced to two years after arbitration, and Russia could now participate in other sporting events, including the 2030 World Cup. That’s despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, which started four years ago and saw Russia step up attacks on Kyiv in recent months.

‘I Don’t Agree’ – Kostyuk on Russia in Olympics

Marko Djurica via Action Images via Reuters

Kostyuk, who is from Kyiv, Ukraine, advanced to the semi-finals at Wimbledon after beating Italy’s Jasmine Paolini. She has slammed the IOC’s “terrible decision.”

The world number 13 told reporters after her win over Paolini: “My thoughts are that it’s terrible. I think it’s very, very far from fair play for all the countries involved here, not just for Ukraine. I 100 per cent don’t agree with this decision.”

Kostyuk vowed to beat any Russian opposition at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles: “I don’t think anything is going to change. I just want to go out there and hopefully beat every single Russian I play in the Olympics, and that’s it.”

The IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee in 2023, but the ban is said to be “no longer applicable”, allowing Russia to compete again. Russian athletes must “meet relevant anti-doping requirements” to participate in two years’ time.

Other Ukrainian sportspeople have spoken up against the decision, including skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych. He was disqualified from the 2026 Winter Olympics after carrying a message about Ukraine and he branded the IOC’s call ‘absolutely shameful.’

Kostyuk on Ukraine War Impacting Her at Wimbledon

Marko Djurica via Action Images via Reuters

Four years on and the war in Ukraine continues to take the lives of innocent people. The attacks in Kyiv occurred close to where Kostyuk’s family reside and she has highlighted just how difficult it is to focus on Wimbledon.

Kostyuk told the press: “It’s not easy to disconnect entirely. It was really tough for me last week when the first big attack happened. Then, on Monday, they ruined like four streets of residential buildings. It was like five kilometres away from where my parents live.

She added: “Again, another difficult night and a lot of dead people, innocent people, kids. It’s not easy. I tried to be aware of everything that’s going on. Of course, I try [not to let] these things influence me too much. Every day is different. I cope with it as it goes.”

Kostyuk faces Czech Linda Noskova in her first Wimbledon semi-final on Friday. She is standing up against the IOC’s decision but, in the meantime, is trying to make history by becoming the second Ukrainian since Lyudmyla Kichenok in 2023 to become a Wimbledon champion.

Didier Deschamps has placed his trust in the Argentine referees ahead of France’s World Cup quarter-final against Morocco tomorrow (July 9th).

There has been plenty of backlash over FIFA’s decision to appoint a team full of Argentine officials for the clash between Les Bleus and the Atlas Lions. Tension between Argentina and France from the 2022 World Cup final has built a rivalry between the two nations.

Deschamps gave a frosty response to questions about the situation and alluded to the refereeing performance in Argentina’s controversial 3-2 win against Morocco. French referee Francois Letexier has come under fire for several contentious decisions made during the Round of 32 game on Sunday.

Deschamps Praise For Argentina vs Egypt Referee

REUTERS/Mike Segar

Letexier ruled out an Egyptian goal after VAR intervened for a tame foul, which would have made it 2-0 to the African nation. A similar challenge occurred in the build-up to Enzo Fernandez’s winner, leaving the Egyptians irate.

Deschamps fielded questions ahead of France’s encounter with Morocco, and many of them focused on the appointment of Argentine officials. He eventually responded to one reporter: “We have to deal with it. I trust the referees. Our opponent is Morocco, not the referee. Let’s hope ours are as good as Monsieur Letexier was.”

FIFA have confirmed that Facundo Tello will referee the game, and he will be supported by assistants Juan Pablo Belatti and Gabriel Chade. Fellow Argentine Dario Herrera has been named the fourth official, making this the first match to be handled exclusively by a single nation.

Tello has a reputation for being card-happy and, in fact, handed out 10 red cards in one match. That came when he officiated the Argentine Super Cup back in 2022 and he’s now set to take charge of one of the biggest games at this year’s World Cup.

France have been the team to beat this summer’s World Cup and head into the game against Morocco as favourites. There is still a chance that a repeat of the 2022 final between the two nations in Qatar takes place.

Argentina are defending their World Cup and overcame Egypt with a late comeback win. The Moroccan manager and players hit out at Letexier’s performance and felt the South Americans and Lionel Messi were handed preferential treatment.

France Not Concerned

REUTERS/Mike Segar

The feeling in the French camp isn’t one of concern, and the squad are remaining professional rather than focusing on the officiating. Deschamps isn’t the only one from the France team to downplay the appointment’s significance.

Dayot Upamecano has also insisted that it has no impact: “I’m not going to focus on who the referee will be. We’ve never done that before, we’re going to focus on Morocco.”

Should France beat Morocco, they will face either Spain or Belgium in the semi-finals. A meeting with Argentina could take place in the final if Lionel Scaloni’s men defeat Switzerland in the quarter-finals and England or Norway in the semis.