Spurs Dig In Over Dragusin as Roma Circle; Vuskovic Waiting in Wings

Tottenham are standing firm over Radu Dragusin, rebuffing a loan offer from Serie A side Roma who view the Romanian as their primary defensive target, according to Sky Sports.

The timing raises eyebrows given Spurs' alarming recent form. Across their last seven outings, Ange Postecoglou's men have managed just a solitary victory while shipping 11 goals—hardly the record that screams defensive solidity. The usual centre-back pairing of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have been tasked with plugging the gaps, but clearly something isn't clicking.

Injuries have depleted the defensive ranks considerably this season. Kota Takai doesn't appear ready for regular action, while Ben Davies only returned to contention in mid-November. Dragusin's comeback proved even more dramatic—the 23-year-old managed just five minutes after nearly twelve months sidelined before Christmas, and hasn't featured in any subsequent fixture across three league games and the FA Cup third round.

That absence from the teamsheet might suggest the club view him as surplus to requirements. Nothing could be further from the truth. Spurs' refusal to entertain Roma's proposal underscores their conviction that Dragusin remains part of their long-term plans, at least for now.

The picture could shift come summer, though. Bryan King, formerly of Tottenham's scouting operation, believes a permanent departure may materialise further down the line. His reasoning hinges on Luka Vuskovic's development in Germany, where the young centre-back is impressing on loan at Hamburg.

"He'd sooner be playing for Tottenham than Hamburg, believe me," King explained. "If he's a fan favourite there, he won't want to disappoint them. He'll be getting positive vibes from the staff at Spurs because he's doing a fine job in Germany. He's got to be looked at as a potential first-team player for Tottenham."

King went on to suggest that bringing Vuskovic back into the fold next season could create space for Dragusin's exit. "You'd want him back at your club if he's progressing how he's expected to progress. He will be a very big asset to bring back and use next season. The one thing they've got to be looking at is letting go of Dragusin. They'll be bringing Vuskovic back out, and then they can sell Dragusin."

For now, though, the north London club are keeping their cards close to their chest—at least until the summer window beckons.