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Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin is rumoured to be close to joining AS Roma. According to reports, the Romanian stopper has his sights set on a return to Serie A, having made the move to the Premier League from Genoa in 2024. The 24-year-old tied the knot with his partner, Iona, at a ceremony in Bucharest and it has been suggested that he wants to make the move to the Italian capital to continue his career there.

According to Corriere dello Sport, the defender is keen on a return to Italy after enjoying spells with Juventus, Sampdoria and Salernitana before his two years in the north-west of the region. They claim that Roma are pushing to sign the centre-back, so much so that sporting director Ricky Massara held talks with his representatives during the wedding day on Tuesday. A fee in the region of €20million (£17m) has been mooted, or a loan with the obligation to sign, while personal terms are not said to be an issue having already agreed with the Giallorossi.

Dragusin has managed just one Premier League appearance this season after being sidelined for 11 months following his horror injury during the 3-0 win over Elfsborg last January. He has since been on the bench in each of the last five appearances as he creeps towards full fitness.

RB Leipzig have emerged as potential suitors but the mood in Rome remains positive, according to the report. It remains to be seen what an exit for Dragusin would mean for Spurs' January business; they have already landed the signature of England international Conor Gallagher after his £35million move from Atletico Madrid.

With Micky van de Ven sidelined through suspension, Spurs boss Thomas Frank opted for Kevin Danso to deputise alongside Cristian Romero with a host of youth options on the bench. Dragusin missed out due to his wedding commitments in Bucharest.

Frank has endured increasing pressure on his position in the north London hotseat following their 2-1 defeat to West Ham United that left them languishing in 14th, but an important 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday lifted spirits. Speaking at the end of December, Frank reiterated that they would only be forced into transfer business if the players they want are "fully committed".

He said: "Key, in every aspect. Any player we sign needs to be fully committed on the project. No doubt about that. Very important.

"Character for me, as I've said many times, is the most important thing. They need to buy into it so we are aligned. It makes it easier for me to say, 'Hey remember the bit I said about this...', then it's a little bit easier to have consequences."