Johan Lange and Roberto De Zerbi have already welcomed some new faces to Hotspur Way this summer, but there's still room for improvement
Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed an excellent start to the transfer window, but there's still plenty of work to be done. Johan Lange has been tasked with giving the squad a makeover this summer, with Roberto De Zerbi eager to essentially build a new team from scratch.
At the end of last season, when the Lilywhites escaped relegation from the Premier League by the skin of their teeth, the Italian discussed his plan to make wholesale changes. He told reporters: "From tonight, we have to start to organise and to build a new team.
"I think we have now to change too many players. We have 10, 11, 12 players good enough to stay. Good enough. Like players. Especially like people. And then we have to complete the squad with the first level of players."
Then, in an interview with club media, De Zerbi continued: "I'm looking forward to building a new team. I'm looking forward to calling these players, to speak with them and to introduce the new season and to speak with the new players we have to bring.
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"We are lucky to stay here, and we have to compete in the best way we can," the 47-year-old added. "We have to organise the next season, we have to build a stronger team. Now we have to move on and to prepare the future of our club."
Lange leapt out of the gates when the transfer window opened earlier this month, securing the signatures of Andrew Robertson, Marco Senesi, and Jan Paul van Hecke. If Tottenham are to qualify for the Champions League next season, De Zerbi will need to welcome more new faces to Hotspur Way.
So, with odds provided by BOYLE Sports, football.london has looked at eight players the Lilywhites could sign this summer.
Savinho - 1/5
Savinho, whose contract at the Etihad Stadium expires in June 2031, featured 36 times across all competitions for Manchester City last season, scoring four goals and providing three assists. Despite making plenty of appearances, the 22-year-old rarely started for Pep Guardiola's side.
He played a little over 1,500 minutes, with the large majority of outings coming from off the bench. Tottenham are in desperate need of a left-sided winger, so Savinho would likely get the opportunities he wants under De Zerbi.
Sandro Tonali - 1/3
Tonali, whose contract at St. James' Park expires in June 2028, featured 53 times across all competitions for Newcastle United last season, scoring three goals and providing seven assists. Despite his best efforts, the Magpies failed to retain the Carabao Cup and finished in the bottom half of the Premier League.
Although Tottenham also failed to qualify for either of UEFA's three club competitions last term, they've leapt out of the gates and laid down a marker in the transfer window. De Zerbi has already prised a few big names from rivals this summer as he looks to build a dynasty in north London.
Carlos Baleba - 10/11
Baleba, whose contract at the Amex Stadium expires in June 2028, made 35 appearances across all competitions for Brighton last season without scoring or assisting. Unlike Tonali, who often chipped in, he offered little quality in the final third.
The 22-year-old is, however, more of a holding midfielder who guards the backline, tasked with breaking up play, recycling possession and playing through the lines. Baleba showed flashes of quality, but still largely disappointed for the Seagulls.
Christian Pulisic - 3/1
Pulisic, whose contract at the San Siro expires in June 2027, featured 34 times across all competitions for AC Milan last season, scoring 10 goals and providing four assists. The 27-year-old winger enjoyed a promising start to the campaign, banking eight of his 14 contributions before suffering a hamstring injury in October.
Harry Wilson – 4/1
Wilson, who's set to become a free agent this summer, featured 41 times across all competitions for Fulham last season, scoring 11 goals and providing eight assists. All but three of the 29-year-old winger's contributions came between November and February; an excellent vein of form sandwiched by a couple of knocks.
Marcus Rashford - 5/1
Rashford, whose contract at Old Trafford expires in June 2028, featured 49 times across all competitions while on loan at Barcelona last season, scoring 14 goals and providing 14 assists. Despite the 28-year-old's great performances for the Catalan outfit, helping Hansi Flick's side win La Liga, they chose not to sign him permanently.
As it stands, it remains unclear whether Rashford will remain at Manchester United this summer. Next month, he'll enter the final two years of his contract, so the Red Devils will soon need to make a decision on his future.
Jadon Sancho - 8/1
Sancho, who will leave Old Trafford when his contract expires at the end of June, featured 39 times across all competitions while on loan at Aston Villa last season, scoring one goal and providing three assists. The 26-year-old winger only clocked about 1,600 minutes for Unai Emery's side, with many of his appearances coming from off the bench.
Adam Wharton - 20/1
Wharton, whose contract at Selhurst Park expires in June 2029, played 53 times across all competitions for Crystal Palace last season, scoring one goal and providing seven assists. Playing a key role in Oliver Glasner's side, the 22-year-old midfielder helped the Eagles win the Community Shield and the Conference League.
He predominantly featured in the double pivot of a back-five formation. Although De Zerbi will likely deploy a back-four, Wharton will be tasked with a similar job: fire passes through the lines and beat the press with one-touch passes.