Tottenham Hotspur are facing yet another difficult moment as pressure continues to build on manager Thomas Frank, with fresh uncertainty surrounding the future of defender Radu Dragusin.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Romanian centre-back has informed the club that he would like to leave, having already reached an agreement with Roma. The news adds to the growing sense of instability at Spurs during what has been a deeply frustrating season.
Frank is currently fighting to keep his job after a worrying run of results that has left Tottenham stuck in 14th place in the Premier League table. Spurs have managed just one win in their last six league games, and confidence around the club is at a low point.
Since replacing Ange Postecoglou last summer, Frank has overseen only 11 wins from his first 31 matches, with just four victories coming in the last 17 games across all competitions. Those numbers have not gone down well with supporters, many of whom are growing increasingly vocal in their criticism.
Tottenham’s problems were made worse by their recent FA Cup exit. A 2-1 home defeat to Aston Villa in the third round ended another potential route to silverware.
Although Spurs showed some fight in the second half, Unai Emery’s side held firm and secured the win, leaving the home crowd deflated. That defeat followed a string of disappointing performances that have slowly eroded patience both inside and outside the dressing room.
Tensions have also been inflamed by off-field issues. Frank came under fire after images circulated of him holding a cup featuring an Arsenal badge before a match against Bournemouth. For a fanbase already feeling disconnected, the incident only added fuel to the fire.
In recent weeks, supporters have made their feelings clear, chanting “boring, boring Tottenham” during a goalless draw with Brentford and booing the players after a 1-1 draw against Sunderland.
The mood turned even darker following a late defeat at the Vitality Stadium, where Antoine Semenyo’s 95th-minute winner condemned Spurs to another painful loss.
After the final whistle, travelling fans were seen exchanging angry words with players, underlining just how toxic the atmosphere has become.
Despite all this, Tottenham’s hierarchy are not yet ready to make a sudden decision on Frank’s future. Reports suggest the club wants to avoid a knee-jerk reaction, but there is a clear understanding that results must improve quickly. Another run of poor performances could leave the board with little choice.
Frank’s task has been made far harder by an ongoing injury crisis. Mohammed Kudus is expected to miss at least two months with a quad injury, while Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall, Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski are all currently sidelined.
On top of that, Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr have been away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, leaving the squad stretched to its limits.
Internal tension has also begun to surface. Club captain Cristian Romero appeared to criticise the club’s hierarchy on social media after the Bournemouth defeat, raising eyebrows among supporters.
There have also been reports of unrest in the dressing room following the decision to allow Brennan Johnson to join Crystal Palace, with some players questioning the overall direction of the club.
In the midst of all this negativity, Spurs have at least added one new face. The club recently completed a £13 million deal to sign Santos left-back Souza, bringing in some much-needed defensive cover as Frank tries to steady the ship.
However, attention has quickly shifted back to potential exits. After the controversial sale of Johnson, it now appears that Radu Dragusin could be next to leave North London.
The defender has endured a difficult period, having spent much of the past year recovering from a serious ACL injury. Although he has recently returned to the squad, his path back into the starting lineup has been far from smooth.
Roma have been working behind the scenes to bring Dragusin back to Italy, and Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that talks are now advanced.
According to Romano, the player has already agreed personal terms with Roma and has made it clear to Tottenham that he is open to the move. Roma’s relationship with Spurs is said to be strong, and direct contact has taken place between the two clubs.
Dragusin joined Tottenham from Genoa for around £27 million two years ago, but he now finds himself behind Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Kevin Danso in the defensive pecking order.
With limited game time on offer, the chance to return to Serie A and play a key role again is understandably appealing. Roma are offering him a fresh start and the opportunity to regain prominence after a long and frustrating spell out through injury.
For Tottenham, the situation sums up the uncertainty surrounding the club right now. While Frank battles to turn results around, the possibility of losing another first-team player only adds to the sense of a team at a crossroads. The coming weeks could prove decisive, not just for the manager, but for the direction Spurs choose to take from here.
