Welcome to the ninth edition of The Athletic’s Transfer DealSheet for the summer 2025 transfer window
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Tottenham Hotspur
What happened this week?
The big news came over the weekend when
Morgan Gibbs-White signed a new contract at Nottingham Forest, ending Tottenham’s hopes of signing the England international midfielder. Spurs had moved to sign Gibbs-White two weeks ago, and it briefly felt as if a move was imminent, but now that
Gibbs-White has committed his future to Forest, Spurs will have to look elsewhere.
The only signing Spurs announced last week was 16-year-old
Oliver Boast, who has joined the academy from Leeds United.
Ashley Phillips returned to Stoke City on loan.
Away from signings, Tottenham played two friendlies on Saturday, against Wycombe Wanderers and Luton Town, drawing both of them. Thomas Frank’s squad have now flown out to Hong Kong for the first leg of their summer tour.
Would losing Son hurt Spurs on the pitch?
The Athletic reported this week that MLS side LAFC are working hard on a deal to bring Son Heung-min to Los Angeles during this summer window. There has been a feeling ever since the end of last season that this could be the perfect time for him to bow out, having lifted the Europa League trophy at the end of May.
Son has captained Spurs during pre-season and is on the pre-season tour to Hong Kong and South Korea. Tottenham have not received any bids for him but if that does happen, it would be a deeply significant moment, given how good and how popular Son has been over his 10 years at Spurs.
They would miss him in many ways — for his leadership, for his global profile — but also on the pitch, where he is still a sharp finisher even if he has lost some of his speed in recent seasons.
What positions/players are they still looking at?
After the collapse of the proposed move for Gibbs-White, do Spurs go for another creative midfielder or focus on other positions?
They have been thinking about adding to the No 6 position, where Spurs have struggled in recent years.
Christian Norgaard, so important to Frank’s Brentford team, has already gone to Arsenal. Tottenham are considering a move for
Joao Palhinha, the former Fulham midfielder who is now at Bayern Munich. He is available for a move this summer, but Spurs’ would prefer a loan rather than a permanent deal.
Then there is the left side of defence, which has needed reinforcements for some time.
Kyle Walker-Peters has signed for West Ham United. There have been reports in Spain linking Spurs with Real Madrid’s
Rodrygo, but that is not a position that Tottenham are focusing on.
Which players could be leaving?
Son is still the highest-profile potential departure, and it remains to be seen what will happen with him when the Spurs squad returns from their Asia tour in August.
Cristian Romero, who has been linked with a move to Atletico Madrid, now looks likelier to stay, with Atletico turning their attentions elsewhere. Some senior players could plausibly leave this summer, depending on the market for them, such as
Richarlison or
Yves Bissouma.
And then there are the youngsters who have been allowed to miss the tour while they pursue potential loan moves this summer:
Mikey Moore, Alfie Devine and
Dane Scarlett. Do not be surprised if they leave.
Jack Pitt-Brooke