Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi wants to reunite with a player he coached at Marseille.
Tottenham Hotspur must invest heavily in the upcoming summer transfer window to bolster the squad that narrowly managed to beat the drop.
Vinai Venkatesham and Johan Lange are also scouring the market for fresh blood that needs to be pumped into the squad after a forgettable season. The Lilywhites are looking for reinforcements in midfield, especially in the creative department, owing to the problems they faced this past season.
James Maddison recovered from an ACL injury in April and managed a few cameo appearances, while Dejan Kulusevski was sidelined for the entire campaign after undergoing several knee surgeries. To add to their woes, Xavi Simons ruptured his ACL last month and is unlikely to return this year. Thus, it is not surprising that the Hotspur Way chiefs are looking to add a creative midfielder to Roberto De Zerbi’s squad.
Brighton ready to listen to offers for Matt O’Riley
Spurs have been linked with a move for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Matt O’Riley ahead of the summer transfer window.
Matt O’Riley was sparingly used by Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler since he returned from his loan at Marseille in February. The midfielder played only four times in the second half of the campaign. On loan at Marseille, where he was coached by De Zerbi, the Dane made 25 appearances in all competitions, registering a goal and six assists.
Tottenham’s interest in the Brighton man is seemingly driven by De Zerbi, and there has been a development surrounding the versatile midfielder. According to an exclusive report from Football Insider, Brighton are willing to listen to offers for O’Riley as he is not a part of Fabian Hurzeler’s plans moving forward. Spurs are lining up a move for the 25-year-old, although they are behind Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund in the race as they have advanced their interest in the player.
The report adds that the Seagulls are looking to recoup as much of the £25million that they paid to sign him from Celtic in the summer of 2024. The South Coast Club knows he is surplus to Hurzeler’s requirements and are prepared to cash in ahead of next term. Spurs are chasing the ex-Fulham academy talent’s signature, but they must find a solution to beat the likes of Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund to thrash out a deal.
O’Riley will be a good fit at Tottenham
De Zerbi managed O’Riley for six months at Marseille, so he knows the player’s strengths and weaknesses. The Denmark international would bring technical ability, composure, creativity and versatility to Tottenham’s midfield. At 25, he fits the profile of a player who can grow into a leadership role and cement himself in the XI for years to come.
Unlike Atletico or Dortmund, Spurs can offer a more direct pathway to starting football, especially with De Zerbi playing a more enterprising brand of football and hoping to build a dynamic squad. O’Riley could be slotted straight into the heart of the midfield alongside Rodrigo Bentancur, giving Spurs a solid and composed pairing for the upcoming season.