Tottenham have held talks with the representatives of a Real Madrid star who’s also ready to take a dramatic pay cut to facilitate his next move, according to a new report.
Spurs face a critical 90 minutes tonight when Newcastle arrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for a Tuesday evening clash between two struggling outfits desperately seeking redemption.
Thomas Frank‘s north Londoners languish in 15th following seven consecutive Premier League fixtures without victory – a catastrophic run that leaves them just six points clear of the relegation zone.
Saturday’s 2-0 capitulation at Old Trafford extended their domestic winless streak into 2026, with Cristian Romero’s first-half dismissal compounding their misery.
The Lilywhites captain now serves a four-match suspension, forcing Radu Dragusin into the starting lineup alongside Micky van de Ven.
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Frank without star Tottenham duo for even longer after torrid injury update
The Dane is currently dealing with a major injury crisis.
Spurs cannot afford another defensive disaster against Eddie Howe’s Magpies, who themselves arrive nursing wounds from three straight defeats including Saturday’s 3-2 loss against Brentford.
A worry for Frank is Newcastle’s excellent recent record against Tottenham.
The Geordies remain unbeaten in five consecutive meetings with them across all competitions, winning four times, including a 2-0 Carabao Cup victory earlier this campaign and December’s 2-2 draw at St. James’.
Injury woes plague both squads heading into this battle.
Spurs continue to miss star playmaker James Maddison, while Destiny Udogie’s hamstring injury sustained at Old Trafford rules him out for 4-5 weeks.
Tottenham injury list
Problem
James Maddison
Knee
Dejan Kulusevski
Knee
Pedro Porro
Thigh
Kevin Danso
Ankle/Foot
Ben Davies
Ankle
Mohammed Kudus
Thigh
Rodrigo Bentancur
Thigh
Lucas Bergvall
Ankle
Richarlison
Thigh
Destiny Udogie
Hamstring
via Premier Injuries
Pedro Porro, Richarlison, Rodrigo Bentancur, Ben Davies, Mohammed Kudus and Kevin Danso all remain unavailable, while reports from Sweden this week suggest that Lucas Bergvall and Dejan Kulusevski face a prolonged spell on the sidelines.
Against this backdrop of mounting casualties, it is believed that Spurs are planning for the summer window to avoid a repeat of the last two seasons.
Tottenham hold talks with Antonio Rüdiger’s camp over summer move
According to TEAMtalk and journalist Graeme Bailey, Real Madrid star Antonio Rüdiger has emerged as a potential target for Spurs, conveniently following suggestions Romero could leave Tottenham this summer.
It is claimed that the German’s camp have held talks with English clubs, including Frank’s side, as Rudiger prepares for life away from the Spanish capital once his contract expires in June.
Bailey also reports Rudiger would accept significantly reduced wages compared to his current Madrid deal to secure a Premier League comeback.
Intermediaries have specifically approached Tottenham about a potential free-transfer for Rudiger, informing Spurs of the conditions required, alongside a few London rivals.
Former employers Chelsea received a similar approach, but BlueCo’s recruitment policy steers clear of signing veteran players over 30, effectively ruling out any Stamford Bridge reunion.
The defender remains on course for Germany’s World Cup squad this summer under Julian Nagelsmann, adding urgency to resolving his club future swiftly.
Non-Spanish sides can formally open pre-contract negotiations immediately, so Tottenham could have an opportunity here, and Bailey states they’ve been ‘gifted’ a chance to sign Rudiger at zero transfer cost.
The 32-year-old two-time Champions League winner is in the twilight phase of his career, but Spurs have already shown with their Joao Palhinha deal that they’re willing to strike moves for players past their prime.
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Tottenham could now sign £130 million star for free this summer
He’d be a welcome addition.