Tottenham Hotspur have had a mixed season so far in 2026/27, and there is clear room for improvement following the international break.
Spurs currently sit 11th in the Premier League table after three wins from their opening ten games, but their performances in recent weeks had been much improved prior to falling to a 1-0 defeat to Leeds earlier this month.
De Zerbi spent almost £400m on 10 new players in the summer transfer window to bolster his squad and build the team in his image. Jan Paul van Hecke, Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Savio, Omar Marmoush, and Tosin all joined on permanent deals, while Mykhailo Mudryk joined on loan, and Andy Robertson, Martin Dubravka, and Marcos Senesi signed on free transfers.
But despite major upgrades all over the pitch, the north London club have struggled to find the back of the net consistently, scoring just 10 goals in their 10 league games so far.
The manager has tried a number of different combinations across his forward line too, with mixed results. Savio has looked sharp his end product has been poor, Marmoush has struggled to rediscover the form that saw him shine at Frankfurt two years ago, Dominic Solanke doesn't seem to fit the way De Zerbi wants to play, and both James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are continuing to deal with injury problems.
One player who has been a consistent threat in the attack is Mohammed Kudus, but the Ghana star is yet to score this season, although he has registered three assists and been a livewire in most games.
In the majority of games this season, Kudus has been playing on the right wing and using his dribbling and pace to create chaos in one-on-one situations. But the Italian boss may have been given some food for though during the international break, after watching the talented forward playing for Ghana.
Kudus played as a number ten as the Black Stars claimed a 2-0 win over Somalia in an African Cup of Nations qualifier, which sees them sitting in third in their group, six points behind leaders Ivory Coast and three points behind second-placed Gambia.
And the former West Ham star was the clear man of the match in his new role, notching an assist, creating more chances than anyone else, having more touches in the opposition box than anyone else, and having more shots than anyone else across the 90 minutes. Now De Zerbi could use him there to solve some major issues in the Spurs ranks.
Kudus Could Be Perfect Tottenham Solution
Spurs' biggest problems this season have come when they haven't been able to field a true number ten in the team. The team has struggled whenever Mateus Fernandes, Conor Gallagher, or even Omar Marmoush have been used in that role, and it's because they're not naturals.
Marmoush is more effective playing as a second striker or playing off the left wing, while Savio has got a dangerous left foot and likes to operate on the right wing to be able to cut in and shoot. With Maddison and Kulusevski battling with fitness issues, and Mathys Tel finding some form before the break, this is a great chance for De Zerbi to unleash Kudus centrally.
He has all the attributes needed to make a real impact in the role, and he has the quality and work rate to become a key member of the side there. De Zerbi should have been watching closely, and should now be looking to use him in a similar way to get the best out of him for the team.