Rudy's Rumour Mill: Inter eyeing Ordonez as Newcastle monitor Monaco midfielder

Inter are targeting Club Brugge's Joel Ordonez
Inter are targeting Club Brugge's Joel OrdonezReuters / Violeta Santos Moura

Tottenham continue to search for a new sporting director, Inter have targeted Joel Ordonez for the summer, while Newcastle are monitoring Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara. These are some of the main stories over the last few days on the transfer market, courtesy of Tribal Football's transfer expert Rudy Galetti.

European clubs monitoring Czech talent Ambros

Lukas Ambros is expected to leave Gornik Zabrze this summer, and this is already considered a certainty inside the market, even if the race for his signature is still completely open.

Several important European clubs have already gathered information about the young Czech midfielder and are starting to move early in order to anticipate the competition before the value of the player rises even more in the coming months.

Ambros, an attacking midfielder born in 2004, is only 21 but has already gained experience with the Czech Republic Under-21 national team, collecting seven appearances and scoring one goal so far. His development at the international level is another sign of the potential many scouts see in him.

This season, he has been one of the most interesting players at Gornik Zabrze. In 19 league appearances, he has scored one goal and provided four assists, showing creativity, vision and good technical quality in the final third. 

Ambros' radar graphic in the Polish league this season
Ambros' radar graphic in the Polish league this seasonOpta by StatsPerform

It is no surprise that clubs from several of Europe’s top five leagues are now following him closely. Scouts from different teams are also expected to be in the stands next Sunday when Gornik Zabrze travel to face Widzew Lodz.

There are still a few months before the summer transfer window opens, and Ambros is under contract with Gornik until 2029, but the race for the talented Czech playmaker has clearly already begun.

Tottenham continue search for new sporting director

Tottenham secured a very important point after Richarlison’s last-minute goal against Liverpool, a result that allowed the club to stay one point above the relegation zone.

For manager Igor Tudor, who has already faced criticism after only a few matches, the main priority remains clear: securing Premier League safety as soon as possible. The dramatic draw gave Spurs some breathing space in a difficult moment of the season, but attention at the club is not focused only on the pitch. Tottenham are also continuing their work behind the scenes as they search for a new Sporting Director.

The club has been looking for a replacement since Fabio Paratici left in January to join Fiorentina, and several candidates are currently under consideration. Among the names being evaluated is Kyriakos Dourekas. Dourekas is currently working in Saudi Arabia with Neom SC, where he has been the sporting director since 2024. The Greek executive brings significant international experience after several years in different roles across European football.

Before his move to Saudi Arabia, Dourekas worked at Nottingham Forest between 2018 and 2024. Earlier in his career, he spent 25 years at Olympiacos, from 1993 to 2018, holding a variety of positions and gaining deep knowledge of the football industry. While Tottenham fight to secure their position in the league, the search for a new sporting director continues to be an important part of the club’s future planning.

Alaves' Protesoni weighing up future options

The future of Carlos Protesoni remains open as the summer transfer window approaches. The Uruguayan midfielder is currently under contract with Alaves until June, and several clubs are already monitoring his situation closely. In recent months, Protesoni has received approaches from clubs in Europe, Major League Soccer and Mexico.

Back in January, some American teams had already made initial contacts with the player and his representatives, and those conversations remain active ahead of the summer market. Despite this interest from overseas, Protesoni’s first preference would be to continue his career in Europe.

However, a stay at Alaves cannot be ruled out. With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, talks between the player and the Spanish club over a possible renewal are ongoing. 

Both sides are evaluating the situation while keeping the door open for an agreement. So far this season, Protesoni has had limited playing time in LaLiga, making nine appearances for a total of 240 minutes, partly due to a few minor injuries.

On the contrary, his role in the Copa del Rey has been more consistent, and his performances in the competition have been solid. Those displays have helped reopen discussions with Alaves. Still, with several clubs watching closely, Protesoni’s future could also lead to a free agent move this summer if no renewal is reached. 

Inter targeting Ordonez as key defensive reinforcement

Inter are already planning for the future and have started contacts with the management of Ecuadorian defender Joel Ordonez as the club looks to strengthen its defence ahead of next season. The Serie A leaders want to add at least one young centre-back with strong potential during the summer transfer window, and Ordonez is considered one of the priority names on the shortlist.

The 21-year-old defender currently plays for Club Brugge and has impressed scouts with his physical presence, defensive awareness and room for development.

Club Brugge's Joel Ordonez in action against Atletico Madrid's Marcos Llorente in the Champions League
Club Brugge's Joel Ordonez in action against Atletico Madrid's Marcos Llorente in the Champions LeagueReuters / Violeta Santos Moura

Inter are closely monitoring his situation and have included him among other main defensive targets. However, reaching an agreement will not be easy, as a fee of more than €30 million is required to convince Club Brugge to sell the Ecuador international. 

Ordonez extended his contract with the Belgian club until the summer of 2029 last year, but despite the long-term deal, it is widely expected that he could leave in the coming months as interest from top European clubs continues to grow.

For Inter, the defender represents a possible long-term replacement for Stefan de Vrij as the club gradually plans the next phase of their defensive line. With strong competition expected from other European teams, Inter have already begun their move early in order to position themselves in the race for the talented Ecuadorian centre-back.

Newcastle keen on Monaco midfielder Camara

Newcastle United are already planning possible changes in midfield for the future, and Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara has emerged as one of the names on the club’s radar. The Senegal international is being considered as a potential replacement for Sandro Tonali as the English club evaluates different options ahead of the summer transfer window, among which is the 22-year-old midfielder.

AS Monaco's Lamine Camara in action against Paris St Germain
AS Monaco's Lamine Camara in action against Paris St GermainReuters / Abdul Saboor

However, a deal will not be easy to complete. Monaco are open to a sale only if their valuation is met, and strong competition from other clubs could lead to a bidding war in the coming months. Several teams, especially from the Premier League, have been following Camara for some time and are monitoring his development closely. His performances this season in Ligue 1 have confirmed the potential that many scouts already noticed.

Camara has played 17 league matches so far this season, providing four assists and showing his qualities as a dynamic defensive midfielder with good vision and energy in the middle of the pitch. Despite his young age, he is already an important player for the Senegal national team: Camara has made 23 appearances and scored six goals, numbers that highlight his growing influence at the international level.

For Newcastle, he represents one of the promising midfield options for the club’s long-term project, but the race for him is long.