(Credit: Imago)

Jonathan Burnett

Tue 5 August 2025 16:02, UK

Tottenham Hotspur’s latest transfer activity has led to a big change for Radu Dragusin in Thomas Frank’s squad next season.

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Dragusin‘s Spurs career is yet to truly kick into life after his mid-season move from Genoa in January 2024, with 37 appearances made in all competitions across his 18 month spell in North London so far.

The Romania international had appeared regularly under Ange Postecoglou last season after injuries to Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, only for Dragusin to also be struck down himself in February.

Tottenham saw their centre-back suffer a season-ending ACL injury which cut short his first full season at Spurs, and their defensive record without Dragusin eventually contributed to Postecoglou’s sacking.

Spurs have strengthened in defence since Thomas Frank replaced Postecoglou with Kevin Danso, Luka Vuskovic and Kota Takai all completing permanent moves, but Dragusin’s role could still be prominent.

Joao Palhinha is back in the Premier League with Tottenham this season (Credit: Imago)

The additions of Danso, Vuskovic and Takai will provide Dragusin with new competition to break into Frank’s team once he returns to full fitness, but Spurs have also taken steps to bolster the engine room.

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Tottenham confirmed the loan signing of Joao Palhinha from Bayern Munich on Sunday and the Portugal midfielder’s arrival has had a ripple effect further back in the team for Dragusin, on and off the field.

Dragusin and Tottenham posted on Instagram (5 August) to announce that in order for Palhinha to make use of his favoured number six jersey, Dragusin would switch to his usual international number of three.

In a post liked by Dominic Solanke, Spurs’ official account said: “Radu Dragusin has elected to wear the number three shirt moving forward – the same number he wears for Romania”.

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Football Insider Verdict

With Ben Davies, Danso, Dragusin, Romero, Takai, Van de Ven and Vuskovic to choose, Frank will surely avoid the central defensive injury crisis which derailed Postecoglou‘s second season with Tottenham.

Further forward, Spurs’ midfield was at times non-existent under Postecoglou, and signings of Palhinha’s calibre will provide Frank with a much more solid foundation than was available to Tottenham last season.

Palhinha’s move to Tottenham includes £10million in wages as well as an option to buy, and if their new number six can shore up Frank’s midfield to ease the pressure on the likes of Dragusin, that clause will surely be triggered.

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