“Gladiators belong to Rome,” said Tottenham defender Radu Dragusin’s agent, as Serie A clubs circle.

Right now, Dragusin’s just waiting for Spurs to let him go to Roma. Tottenham’s not making it easy, though—they’ve already knocked back Roma’s loan offer. Spurs want to keep him, at least for now.

Dragusin’s situation isn’t ideal. He just got back from a nasty ACL injury, but he’s still stuck as Tottenham’s fourth-choice centre-back. Thomas Frank prefers Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Kevin Danso ahead of him. Dragusin hasn’t played much either. He watched from the bench while Spurs lost to Aston Villa in the FA Cup, and since returning to fitness at the end of December, he’s only managed five minutes of first-team football.

It’s pretty clear Frank doesn’t see him as part of the plan this season. Dragusin’s agent, Florin Manea, says they’re waiting for Spurs to open the door for a Serie A return. AC Milan and Fiorentina are both interested, too. “I’m waiting for Tottenham to say yes to Roma so things can really get going,” Manea told Rai Sport. “He’s got a couple of offers, but Italy means something special to Radu. He’s done well there. He’s a gladiator, and gladiators belong to Rome.”

Elsewhere, French reports say Mathys Tel wants out on loan before the World Cup this summer. Frank hasn’t used Tel much since Spurs signed him permanently for £30 million after his loan from Bayern Munich. Still, Tel started the last three games and scored in the 3-2 loss to Bournemouth.

Spurs are running thin up front. Mohammed Kudus is injured until April, Brennan Johnson has left for Crystal Palace, and the squad lacks depth in attack. Frank expects Tel to stay put in January, but says the club will be busy in the transfer market.

Brazilian reports also claimed Richarlison wants to leave Tottenham after the World Cup, with Flamengo and clubs in Turkey and Saudi Arabia all mentioned as destinations. But Richarlison shut down those rumours fast, replying on Instagram, “Who said that? F*** off.”

According to a recent report from Fichajes, Sunderland is looking to sign Real Madrid defender Ferland Mendy. They're apparently ready to put €11 million on the table for the French left-back.

So far this season, Mendy hasn’t seen much action for Real Madrid. He’s only made three appearances across all competitions, spending most of his time as a backup in Xabi Alonso’s squad. At 30, he needs more playing time if he wants to get his career moving again. Sunderland could give him that chance to prove he’s still got something to offer.

Mendy’s contract at Real Madrid runs until the summer of 2028, which means Sunderland probably won’t get him for cheap—especially if they want to make a deal before the January window closes.

Should Régis Le Bris go for it? Mendy’s known for his tackling and his ability to read danger. He doesn’t mess around—he’ll clear the ball when he has to, but he’s also tidy with his passing. With all his experience at the top level, he could fit in as a left-back or cover at centre-back if needed. The only real question is whether he can handle the physical, fast-paced style of English football, assuming Sunderland pulls off the transfer.

If they do, Mendy brings real quality and depth to Le Bris’s defence. With his background, he could be a serious asset for Sunderland over the next few years.

At 30, he still has a few strong seasons left. Sunderland would be smart to do whatever it takes to bring him in this winter. But Le Bris will need to give him a bit of time to settle in—adjusting to the pace of English football isn’t easy. Luckily, Sunderland isn’t fighting relegation, so they can give Mendy the breathing room he needs to get comfortable at the Stadium of Light.