Radu Dragusin’s future just got a lot more interesting. A journalist now says Napoli manager Antonio Conte wants to bring the Tottenham defender to Italy, even though Dragusin already has an agreement in place with AS Roma.

Dragusin is back to full fitness after tearing his ACL in January 2025, but his time at Tottenham looks like it’s almost up. Roma are pushing hard to sign him when the transfer window opens. They tried a loan deal with an option to buy, but Spurs turned that down. Still, Roma aren’t giving up.

Il Corriere dello Sport reported Tuesday morning that Dragusin is “pushing for Roma.” He’s apparently been talking with Roma for days and has already agreed on contract terms.

Tottenham are open to selling the 23-year-old this month, but they want €20 million. Roma don’t want to go higher than €15 million and would rather take him on loan first, with an option to buy. They’re just not ready to gamble big on a player who only recently came back from a major knee injury.

Then came a twist. On Tuesday afternoon, Italian journalist Mirko Di Natale posted on X that Napoli have asked about Dragusin. Conte, who managed Tottenham not that long ago and just won Serie A with Napoli, is now trying to strengthen his squad for another title run.

Di Natale said Roma are still leading the race, but talks with Tottenham have stalled. They can’t agree on the deal structure, especially the loan with an option to buy. Meanwhile, RB Leipzig is lurking in the background, offering Tottenham a straight purchase.

Tottenham only signed Dragusin from Genoa in January 2024 for £26.7 million. He’s under contract in north London until 2030.

Other Tottenham transfer headlines: Mathys Tel wants out in January, and Dean Jones has the inside scoop on why Conor Gallagher is picking Spurs over Aston Villa, with the midfielder set for a medical soon. And, just to stir the pot, a former Tottenham manager has weighed in on whether Thomas Frank should be sacked.

The modern transfer market never really follows a straight line, and Jacobo Ramón’s story at Como shows just how long a club’s influence can hang around, even after a player leaves. Caught Offside reports that the 21-year-old centre back has become one of the most-watched defenders this winter. Chelsea and Liverpool are keeping close tabs, but everyone knows Real Madrid still holds the real power.

When Ramón left Madrid for Como last summer, most people saw it as a chance for him to grow, get some games, take on some responsibility, and find his feet away from the Bernabeu. Instead, he’s blown up faster than anyone expected. He didn’t just settle in—he’s become a regular starter, standing out for his calm on the ball, smart positioning, and the kind of technical quality that works just about anywhere.

Premier League clubs are circling. Since December, agents say Chelsea, Tottenham, and Liverpool have all been tracking Ramón. Newcastle, Brighton, and Crystal Palace have sent scouts to watch him up close. It’s obvious what they see: even at 21, he looks comfortable running a defence, stepping into midfield, and sniffing out danger before it happens.

Chelsea likes him as a long-term project—he fits their whole youth-first approach. Liverpool’s interest is more about style. Ramón is quick, calm, and good under pressure, perfect for a system that needs defenders who can handle wide-open spaces and push the line up.

But any move comes with a web of complications. Ramón’s under contract at Como until 2030, and Madrid made sure they didn’t really let go. They put in an €8 million buy-back clause and a 50 per cent sell-on clause. So Madrid can either bring him back for cheap or cash in if he moves somewhere else.

His market value sits around €18 million, but for Premier League clubs, that number could climb fast. Madrid can buy him back and flip him right away, and Como will want a fee that reflects both his performances and potential.

So, the real question isn’t who wants him—it’s what Madrid wants to do. If they think Ramón’s ready, they can bring him back now. If not, they still get half the fee from any other club.

For Chelsea and Liverpool, that means waiting. He’s a tempting option for January, but Madrid’s control makes this more of a long-term chess game.

From Chelsea’s side, Ramón looks like exactly the kind of defender they like—young, skilled, and adaptable. Fans will be excited about the idea of getting ahead of the pack, not waiting until he’s a star in England. But there’s a catch. With so many young defenders already at the club, supporters might wonder if there’s a real plan for him—or if he’s just another asset, brought in because the opportunity was there.

Liverpool fans see things differently. They value defenders who think fast and play forward, and Ramón ticks those boxes. They trust the recruitment team not to overpay, especially with Madrid lurking in the background. Most fans get that this is probably one to watch, not one to force. If Liverpool goes for him, they’ll want it to be a smart, strategic move—not a rushed January deal dictated by messy clauses and outside pressure.