Tottenham have already agreed deals with two free agent defenders ahead of the summer transfer window, although their signings depend on Spurs staying in the Premier League.
Spurs have agreed a deal to sign Andy Robertson from Liverpool when his contract expires this summer, while there is also an agreement in place to bring Marcos Senesi to the club from Bournemouth, with his contract also expiring this summer.
Both of those transfers are contingent on Tottenham being a Premier League club, however. And that is not guaranteed.
Spurs currently sit third from bottom in the table, two points adrift of West Ham in 17th with five games of the season to go. Signing both Senesi and Robertson would be sensible deals for Spurs and cost them nothing, as they look to revamp and rebuild their squad under Roberto De Zerbi for the 2026/27 season.
Spurs Face Major Defensive Changes This Summer
Cristian Romero is likely to leave this summer, while there are plenty of rumours around Micky van de Ven's future at the club too. Radu Dragusin is also likely to depart, meaning Tottenham could require big changes at the back.
And if they stay up, they could bring in another free transfer too for someone who would be perfect in Roberto De Zerbi's ball-playing system - John Stones.
Signing Stones would be big for Tottenham and would finally end a five-year transfer mission in the corridors of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Spurs tried to sign Stones in the later summer transfer window of a Covid-19 affected 2020.
The initial approach was for a loan deal, with a view to making the move permanent for around £20million because Stones was not playing that year under Pep Guardiola.
City turned down the offer and Stones would go on to become an integral part of Guardiola's back-line for the proceeding years, carving out an excellent career for himself at the Etihad Stadium.
Now, ten years after joining the Citizens in a £50million deal from Everton, Stones is set to move on. It is being reported that the £250,000-a-week England international will leave City at the end of the current campaign, with no sign of a contract extension being agreed.
That is sure to start a war for his services in the summer transfer window, with the 31-year-old still having plenty of years left in the tank.
Thigh problems have curtailed his 2025/26 season, with just 15 appearances in total this campaign. After only 20 appearances last season due to foot and hamstring injuries, it is not surprising to see him leaving City at the end of his contract.
John Stones Would Fit Into De Zerbi's Style Of Play
The injuries may put potential suitors off, and that could be the case for Spurs too, given the horrific injury problems they have suffered this season, but it is not just on the pitch that Stones would be an asset, but off it, as a leader too.
Spurs identified the free signing of Robertson as a leader to bring into the group, lacking them this season and Stones would be a perfect signing in that regard, but also for new head coach De Zerbi. He is a ball-playing centre-back, often utilised in midfield too because of his technical ability, and would suit the Italian's football down to the ground.
It would be something of a bind to see both Romero and van de Ven leave, given the partnership they have, but after back-to-back seasons near and in the Premier League relegation zone, signing center-backs Senesi and Stones on free transfers to replace them would signify very good business indeed.