Roberto De Zerbi is looking for up to three transfers to bolster his Tottenham squad in the summer transfer window but must remain within the rules
Roberto De Zerbi wants "two or three" more signings at Tottenham before the transfer window closes on September 1 but the club must fit them within the Premier League rules.
Spurs have slowed down with the new arrivals and it has been six weeks since they splashed out £237million on signings with the last one their most expensive in the club's history as Sandro Tonali joined from from Newcastle for £92.5million plus £7.5million in potential add-ons, which could make him the Lilywhites' first £100million player.
That meant Tottenham broke their transfer record for the second time after getting Mateus Fernandes from West Ham in an £85million deal a week before. Before that duo walked through the door, the north London outfit spent £52million on Brighton centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke with free transfers sealed for Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka for De Zerbi's squad.
Heading out of the Tottenham exit door have been Manor Solomon to West Ham for £5million plus another £2million in add-ons, Will Lankshear to Middlesbrough in a £20million package and Yang Min-hyeok is set to leave on loan for Belgian side Westerlo.
That all came after Luka Vuskovic was sold to Brighton for £46million with £4million in add-ons and Radu Dragusin headed off to Fiorentina on loan with a £21.4million obligation to buy. Midfielder Alfie Devine joined Preston in a £6million deal and Alejo Veliz left for Brazilian side Bahia for £7.8million.
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Yves Bissouma exited north London when his contract expired while Randal Kolo Muani and Joao Palhinha left at the conclusion of their loan deals.
Tottenham want to make further signings this summer, with Manchester City star Savinho a key target along with others on the wishlist such as Liverpool's Cody Gakpo and another City attacker in Omar Marmoush.
With that in mind, it's time to check the Premier League rules on who can and cannot be registered at the end of the transfer window.
The registration rules state that a club must name a squad with a maximum of 25 senior players containing at most 17 non-homegrown players and the rest homegrown.
A homegrown player is a player who, according to the Premier League rules has "irrespective of nationality or age, been registered with any club affiliated to The Football Association or the Football Association of Wales for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons, or 36 months, before his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21)".
Austrian Kevin Danso qualifies as a homegrown player because he was in the youth academies at Reading and MK Dons for years before leaving England at the age of 16 and later returning for a season at Southampton. However Scotland captain Robertson is not, as he was first registered with the English FA only at 20 when he joined Hull.
However, players born on or after January 1, 2005, regardless of where they come from, do not have to be registered in the main 25-man squad and instead go on an under-21s list.
With all the above in mind, Tottenham currently have 20 non-homegrown players over the age of 21, when they are only allowed to have 17. They are Guglielmo Vicario, Antonin Kinsky, Martin Dubravka, Andy Robertson, Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke, Kota Takai, Mateus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali, Rodrigo Bentancur, Dejan Kulusevski, Richarlison, Pape Matar Sarr, Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert.
They also have eight homegrown players over the age of 21 in Dominic Solanke, Kevin Danso, Brandon Austin, Ben Davies, James Maddison, Conor Gallagher, Djed Spence and Dane Scarlett.
So that means that Spurs currently have 28 senior players in total when they can only register 25. Takai is expected to head out again after returning from loan, while goalkeeper Vicario is likely to be sold with Kinsky the new number one under De Zerbi with support from Dubravka and the homegrown Austin.
That means one other foreign player will have to be sold or loaned out just to fit into the regulations with captain Cristian Romero another linked with the exit door. Another option is that Xavi Simons or Wilson Odobert are left out and not registered until January as both work their way back from anterior cruciate ligament injuries, although the latter might be back before then.
With the homegrown players, Dane Scarlett could depart this summer which frees up a space in that department.
All of that means that Spurs would currently only be able to sign a player aged 21 or under without issues or face the prospect of selling more players this summer, with Djed Spence linked with a move to Inter Milan and Lucas Bergvall to Nottingham Forest and Newcastle, to fit in any new senior arrivals.
Matters would get far more complicated in future seasons if Tottenham qualify for Europe as UEFA's Under-21s list requires players to have been at the club for two years.
For now though, Tottenham can keep signing players aged over 21 but only if others leave. That strict squad limit of 25 senior stars with no more than 17 non-homegrown players must be adhered to.