Tottenham have refused loan offers for Brazilian defender Souza and are set to tell the young defender he is part of Roberto De Zerbi’s plans for next season, Football FanCast sources understand.
Spurs have already sanctioned a host of exits, moving on Luka Vušković to Brighton in a deal worth over £50m, alongside sales for Radu Drăgușin, Alejo Veliz and Alfie Devine.
But the biggest departure looks set to be captain Cristian Romero, with Fabrizio Romano confirming the Argentine will leave this summer, with Inter Milan and Barcelona both showing concrete interest.
The fee – reportedly in the £40-50m range – remains a sticking point however, as the Lilywhites will not lose their captain on the cheap.
Contrastingly, Micky van de Ven’s situation is entirely different. Despite months of speculation linking him with Liverpool and Barcelona, Tottenham have made their stance clear, with the Dutch defender described as “untouchable” and firmly part of De Zerbi’s long-term plans.
Djed Spence has also been heavily linked with a move away, with Inter increasingly seen as his most likely destination as talks progress over a fee.
Whether the England star’s impressive performances at the World Cup – starring in particular at left-back – change the club’s stance remains to be seen.
Souza’s situation meanwhile stands out as another example of Spurs picking their battles carefully this summer. The club have rejected multiple loan approaches from within the Premier League and are now set for sit down talks with the youngster.
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Who is interested in Souza this summer? |
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Everton |
A new left-back is among David Moyes’ targets this summer, alongside a backup goalkeeper and further attacking additions. The position remains unsettled even after previous windows of squad-building, making a loan for a promising young left-back a sensible, low-risk option to develop while more senior needs are addressed elsewhere. |
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Brentford |
Keith Andrews never nailed down a first-choice left-back last season and wants to deploy Keane Lewis-Potter further forward. That instability, even during an otherwise strong campaign, points to a lingering gap Brentford may look to fix with a temporary, low-cost solution rather than a major outlay. |
With Spence expected to depart as things stand, the 20 year-old Brazilian will be told to stay put and fight with the experienced Andy Robertson for the starting left-back role.
His ability to play both in a back four and as a wing-back in a five is seen as a huge boost to the manager’s options in that position.
Destiny Udogie is no longer seen as a reliable option due to his injury troubles and could also be sold.
Souza in line for Brazil berth
Souza is also emerging as a genuine long-term option for Brazil at left-back, with the national federation monitoring him as part of Ancelotti’s planning beyond the current World Cup cycle, according to Brazilian reports translated by Sport Witness.
With Douglas Santos set to be 36 by 2030, Brazil’s coaching staff are already scouting younger alternatives, and Souza’s profile has stood out enough to earn a place on that shortlist – despite having played just a handful of minutes since his January move to Tottenham.
The 20-year-old joined from Santos for around €15m on a five-year deal, making his senior Spurs debut against Manchester United in February and becoming the club’s youngest-ever Brazilian player in the process.
That he’s retained his standing with the national team off the back of such limited game time speaks to the impression he made before leaving Brazil, and underlines why Tottenham are so reluctant to loan him out or let him leave this summer.
