Tottenham Hotspur are considering a summer move to sign Brighton and Hove Albion star Bart Verbruggen to replace one of their key players, according to talkSPORT.
Tottenham have a huge few weeks ahead under new manager Roberto De Zerbi, as they have seven matches to ensure they don't suffer an unthinkable relegation to the Championship.
Spurs confirmed the appointment of the Italian on a five-year deal on Tuesday, with GIVEMESPORT sources understanding that there is no relegation release clause in his contract.
Of course, the 46-year-old will be doing everything to avoid ending the season in the Premier League drop zone, but if he does then he is committed to staying in England's second tier and returning the club to the top flight.
De Zerbi has more than 10 days to work with his new players at the Hotspur Way training base, before they face the long trip north to play Sunderland a week on Sunday.
While Tottenham currently sit one place and point above the relegation zone, they could be in the bottom three by the time they kick off against Regis Le Bris' men should West Ham United beat Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier in the weekend.
Tottenham Eyeing Verbruggen to Replace Vicario
As with the majority of Tottenham's more ambitious transfer targets, any move for Verbruggen will likely depend on them preserving their Premier League status, according to talkSPORT.
They are ready to make a move should they stay up says the report, with De Zerbi giving the green light to a move as he is a 'huge fan' of the player he signed for the Seagulls.
Tottenham were already considering signing a new number one even prior to the appointment of De Zerbi, with ongoing doubts over Guglielmo Vicario's position.
New reports suggest that the Italian has 'agreed personal terms' with Inter Milan as he remains determined to secure a return to Italy this summer.
Spurs could face competition for the 'unbelievable' Verbruggen's signature, with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich also keen on a player who is said to be valued at £50m.
What Has Verbruggen Said About De Zerbi?
During the duo's time together at the Amex Stadium, Verbruggen said he loved playing De Zerbi's style of football on the south coast.
The Dutchman said: “I love it, I think it’s a good style - nice to watch, but also the best for winning games. That’s the most important thing. I’m always so interested in the mechanics of the build-up and pressing of the opponents. So I enjoy every day working with him and this group of lads and improving.
“I’ve played with more coaches who like to have a lot of possession, like to play out from the back, so in terms of that it wasn’t too big [a change]. But every coach has his own details and his own thoughts and ideas.
“So of course you need to adapt and you need to adapt to the new league as well. But the lads have helped me and it wasn’t as if I came from a team that played kick and rush.
“I’ve always felt comfortable with the ball at my feet and I take a lot of joy out of that and in my head that’s the way you have to play football.”
Given Verbruggen's love for De Zerbi's style and the fact that the Italian signed him for Brighton in the first place, this move could be one to watch if Spurs stay in the Premier League.
Which Goalkeepers Are Most-Suited to De Zerbi's Style?
To supplement our scouting report, we leveraged AI-assisted analysis to deep-dive into the goalkeepers who are most-suited to De Zerbi's style of play.
🥇 Ederson
Still the benchmark.
Elite at progressive passing under pressure
Turns build-up into immediate attacking advantage
Core to Manchester City’s positional play
👉 The purest example of what De Zerbi wants.
🥈 Marc-André ter Stegen
The most controlled version of the role.
Exceptionally secure in tight build-up phases
High passing accuracy and composure
Key to FC Barcelona’s structure
👉 Less risky than Ederson, but nearly as effective stylistically.
🥉 Bart Verbruggen
The system-native De Zerbi goalkeeper.
Has already operated inside De Zerbi’s structure at Brighton & Hove Albion
Very comfortable receiving under pressure
Strong technical base with room to grow
👉 Not as polished as the other two yet—but:
he’s arguably the closest developmental fit for the system long-term.
🧠 Why Verbruggen makes the top three
Including him isn’t just sentimental—it’s tactical: