Spurs weigh Amar Dedic swoop as Newcastle close in — is a late hijack on?

Tottenham’s recruitment drive shows no sign of slowing. Six signings already through the door for Roberto De Zerbi, two more being worked on in Savinho and Cody Gakpo — and now a fresh focus on the right flank as Djed Spence heads for Inter Milan and Cristian Romero lines up a switch to Atletico Madrid.

The state of play at right-back

Pedro Porro has the shirt and a new long-term deal to match, but there’s precious little specialist cover behind him. Archie Gray can fill in, yet he’s a midfielder by trade. Contrast that with the left, where Andy Robertson, Ben Davies, Destiny Udogie, Souza and Micky van de Ven offer a crowd of options. No surprise, then, that Spurs are hunting a proper Spence replacement before the 1 September deadline.

Newcastle lead the race for Dedic

Fabrizio Romano says Newcastle are closing on an agreement with Benfica for Amar Dedic, with personal terms sorted and confidence on Tyneside that a deal gets done. The Bosnia and Herzegovina international, 23, is admired at Hotspur Way too. Ben Jacobs has indicated on air that Spurs have Dedic on a newly drawn shortlist and value his ability to operate on either side of the defence. There’s been no formal move from Tottenham to Benfica or the player — yet — but the interest is real.

For those tracking the market on the best betting sites, this one reads like a two-horse dash. Newcastle are in front, but Spurs have the pace to pounce late if the numbers line up.

Spurs’ alternatives — and De Zerbi’s preference

Dedic isn’t the only name in the frame. Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest) and Daniel Muñoz (Crystal Palace) are also under consideration. That aligns neatly with De Zerbi’s clear fondness for players with Premier League mileage — all six of Spurs’ confirmed summer additions have it, and the same theme has carried into their pursuits of Savinho and Gakpo. If Newcastle box off Dedic, Tottenham may pivot quickly toward domestic options.

How a hijack could happen

Timing is everything. With Newcastle hoping to close, Spurs would need to strike decisively — think fee structure, add-ons and a swift pitch to the player about minutes behind Porro. The Magpies have already felt late-window pain on other targets this summer, so expect them to guard this one carefully. But we’ve all seen enough deadline-day drama to know a hijack is never off the table.

What Dedic would bring

Energy up and down the line, comfort on either flank and a tidy engine in transition — Dedic profiles as a modern, front-foot full-back who could shadow Porro without compromising Tottenham’s aggressive shape. For a side that will play on the front foot under De Zerbi, he ticks plenty of boxes.

Pundit’s verdict

If Spurs want Dedic, they’ll have to move now, not next week. Otherwise, the smart money says they lean into De Zerbi’s Premier League bias and push for Williams or Muñoz. Keep an eye, too, on the centre-forward situation; there’s an appetite to add a striker before the window shuts, and Tottenham won’t want to be caught short if injuries bite.

Bottom line: Newcastle are in the box seat for Dedic. Tottenham’s shortlist is drawn, the budget’s flexing, and the clock is ticking. Strap in — this one has all the makings of a classic late-window subplot.