Tottenham Hotspur fans hoping that Dejan Kulusevski may soon be available to help turn things around, we’ve got bad news. It’s not imminent.
Just a week after what sounded like a very positive step forward for the 26-year-old, the word from Sweden is different.
Graham Potter announced his Nations League squad this week. The Swedes are looking to make another positive impression in the tournament having qualified for the World Cup via that route last year.
They kick off against Romania on September 25th. There had been hope that the Tottenham midfielder would be included in the group.
Indeed, Potter added to that hope by recently hinting at the possibility. That has now changed. He’s confirmed Kulusevski won’t be in the group.
“He isn’t available. Dejan is still undergoing rehabilitation,” Expressed report him saying. He then went into more detail to Fotboll Skanalen.
“He (Kulusevski) takes it step by step. First he has to be involved with Tottenham, and they’re the ones in charge in the end,” he added.
“They see him every day and can make the decision best. When he’s not involved there, it’s hard for us to take him out – even if we want to.
“Dejan is a top player, but we understand and respect the situation he is in. He’s not far away, but when you’ve been away for so long, it’s important to be careful with the final stage of rehabilitation.”
Potter: “Vi respekterar Kulusevskis situation”.https://t.co/jft0lRA7Qh pic.twitter.com/4qWPTODac4
— Fotbollskanalen (@fotbollskanal) September 16, 2026
Tone change from Sweden boss
Now, that’s a very different tone from just a week ago. Sport Witness reported Potter providing a very positive update on that front.
The Sweden manager had been speaking in Sweden about the Tottenham midfielder’s potential return to the international set up.
“He is actually very close. I am so impressed with him, how he has handled his injury,” he said at that point.
“Of course, we have to be careful with him. I hope he comes with us, but we have to talk to Dejan and Tottenham first.
“He is incredibly important to the team. We love him, his character and qualities. He is a world-class player, and it helps enormously to have him with us.”
Now, the tone is very different. Or, at least, Tottenham and Sweden are more concerned than Potter was a week ago and won’t be risking it.
At this point it would be easier for everyone if they just stopped asking Potter about the midfielder and left him to it rather than hopes continually being raised and dashed like this.
🇩🇪 Mikey Moore | Everton and Fulham were prepared to pay €30m for Tottenham player in the summer, but 19-year-old thought a loan move to Bundesliga was the better option https://t.co/dKLW3g9z00 #efc #ffc #fulhamfc #thfc
— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) September 16, 2026
