Tottenham defender has been linked with an exit late in the transfer window.
Tottenham Hotspur have undergone a defensive overhaul under head coach Roberto De Zerbi this summer.
The Italian tactician has welcomed Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke, all three Premier League-proven commodities, to strengthen a defensive unit that was extremely leaky last season. Following their arrivals, the club decided to offload some defenders who were either surplus to the gaffer’s requirements or wanted a new adventure. This led to the departures of Radu Dragusin, Luka Vuskovic, Cristian Romero and Djed Spence.
Tottenham reject Sunderland’s bid to sign defender on loan
Another Spurs defender is now linked with an exit. It appears that one Premier League club tested Tottenham’s resolve to see if they are willing to allow one senior defender to leave before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.
According to a report from BBC Sport, Tottenham have rejected Sunderland’s bid for Kevin Danso. The Black Cats had proposed a season-long loan offer for the 27-year-old, but the N17 officials have rebuffed it.
Kevin Danso made his first appearance of the season against Charlton Athletic in the Carabao Cup in midweek. He entered the pitch as a second-half substitute and scored with his first touch, powering a header past the Charlton Athletic goalkeeper in the 5-1 win. The Austrian international expressed his delight after scoring his first Spurs goal.
However, Danso could struggle for regular opportunities at the North London club this season. The arrivals of Senesi and Van Hecke, coupled with Micky van de Ven signing a bumper new contract, are likely to limit the 27-year-old’s minutes. He is behind the trio in the pecking order, but De Zerbi does not want to let Danso leave in the final days of the transfer window.
Given Spurs’ injury problems over the past few seasons, De Zerbi is keen to keep the centre-back unit’s defensive unit intact, and that involves the Austrian international staying at White Hart Lane. The versatile defender was signed on loan from RC Lens in January 2025 and the deal was made permanent later that year, with Spurs paying the French club £21m.
Danso has been reliable whenever called upon since arriving in N17, and he is someone who will act as a back-up to Van Hecke this term. Thus, it is understandable why De Zerbi does not want to part ways with the ex-Southampton man. It now remains to be seen whether Sunderland return with a different proposal or end their pursuit of the experienced defender.