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Tottenham transfer setback as PL defender closes in on lucrative new contract

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back
By Aaryan Choksi | Last updated Aug 20, 2025 7:22 PM ET

Manchester City talent Rico Lewis decides to snub Tottenham Hotspur and extend his contract at the Etihad Stadium

Tottenham are still active in the transfer market hunting for an opportunity to bolster the squad in any way possible. The Lilywhites have done alright in the summer as of now and have addressed a few areas on the pitch. But there is still an underlying problem in the team that Thomas Frank will hope does not get exposed anytime soon during the season.

The North London club is short on manpower in the ‘full-back’ position. With the departure of Sergio Reguilon, Spurs are left with only one natural left-back in Destiny Udogie for the whole season. The Italy international will be tasked to play week in week out under Thomas Frank. And given his injury record, the Danish tactician will need to find a way to integrate another player in the same position.

Djed Spence is currently operating as a makeshift left-back for the Lilywhites as Udogie recovers from an ongoing injury. The Englishman has done a good job so far, and has also managed to contribute defensively and in the final third of the pitch. Thomas Frank relies heavily on his full-backs for build-up play and attacking from the byline. So, fans are hoping that Daniel Levy manages to bring in another defender before the window shuts.

Tottenham miss out on Man City talent Rico Lewis

Tottenham have clearly indicated that they are willing to sign a new full-back in the coming days if an opportunity arises. The Lilywhites are not looking to repeat the same mistake they endured last season. Ange Postecoglou was forced to play youngsters at the back due to the injury crisis at N17, and that disrupted Spurs’ chances of finishing strong in the Premier League.

Learning from last season’s mistakes, Daniel Levy has tried his luck by trying to sign a talented full-back this month. It was reported earlier that Spurs were in the running with Nottingham Forest and Chelsea to land Manchester City talent Rico Lewis. The England international was facing an uncertain future at the Etihad Stadium, prompting the Lilywhites to make a move. The report also stated that Forest had a bid worth €25m (plus €5m add-ons) rejected by the Cityzens.

Now, there is a new update regarding the future of the 20-year-old. As per David Ornstein (via X), Rico Lewis is all set to put pen to paper and extend his contract at Manchester City. The England international will sign a contract extension until 2030, squashing any chances of his exit in the coming days. Manchester City was never open to selling him and Pep Guardiola also considers him as a valuable member of the team.

This is a major setback for the North London club. Lewis would have been an ideal signing as he could either play as a left-back, or as a right-back. Not only that, but the 20-year-old also excels in the #6 position. Bringing him to N17 would have solves a lot of issues for Thomas Frank, considering the Danish tactician prefers players that are versatile.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.

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