Tottenham have reached a verbal agreement to sign a player who was high on Aston Villa's list of summer transfer targets.
Spurs prepare for Brighton in must-win game for Roberto De Zerbi
Roberto De Zerbi has had no time to settle.
Just over a week into the job, one defeat already on the board, and now a home clash against his former club Brighton that Tottenham simply cannot afford to lose.
Spurs face the Seagulls this evening at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — a fixture that, during another season, would have the air of a mid-table clash.
Instead, it is like a cup final for the Lilywhites.
Tottenham are winless in 14 Premier League matches — their second-longest run without a win in the club's entire league history — and they remain the only side in the top flight yet to win a game in 2026.
De Zerbi's arrival was supposed to draw a line under all of that.
Instead, last week's 1-0 loss at Sunderland left them inside the bottom three with all three of their relegation rivals picking up points that weekend, so the pressure is already immense.
Brighton, by contrast, arrive in excellent form — four wins from their last five — and are sitting ninth in the table, pushing for a European finish.
De Zerbi knows this Seagulls squad inside out, given he built much of what they are today.
Whether that works for or against him remains to be seen, but there is no sentiment in a relegation scrap.
Brighton have scored 14 goals across their last five meetings with Spurs and have won three of those five. The numbers don't make for comfortable reading in north London.
Off the pitch, however, there is at least a sense that the club means business.
Amid the chaos of a season that has gone badly wrong, recruitment work has quietly been gathering pace — and two significant moves are now taking serious shape.
Tottenham have already reached a verbal agreement with Andy Robertson over a summer transfer from Liverpool, with the Scotland captain set to arrive on a free when his contract at Anfield expires — provided Spurs stay up.
It is a savvy piece of business if it comes off, adding an experienced head to what has been a leaky, uncertain backline.
They have gone one step further this week too.
According to The Athletic's David Ornstein, Spurs have been in advanced talks with Bournemouth's Marcos Senesi, with negotiations over a free transfer switch progressing quickly.
Now, talkSPORT have another update.
Tottenham reach 'agreement in principle' for Marcos Senesi in Aston Villa blow
As per their information, Tottenham have jumped to the front of the queue for the 28-year-old Argentine, who has made 122 appearances for the Cherries since joining from Feyenoord in 2022 and has already told the club he will be leaving when his deal expires this summer.
They add that Spurs have already reached an 'agreement in principle' to sign Senesi, but again, it is contingent on them remaining in the top flight.
This news comes as a potential blow for Unai Emery and Villa.
Reports from Argentina earlier this week claimed that Villa were launching a major offensive for the centre-back and were holding talks of their own, but it appears Tottenham have moved to hijack their deal for Senesi.
That being said, if De Zerbi's side go down, it would reopen the race for Villa and other suitors.
The left-footed centre-back is not short of options.
Other clubs, including Chelsea, Man United, Juventus, Barcelona and Liverpool have all been reportedly monitoring his situation, but it is Spurs who have made the most concrete move.
With Cristian Romero likely to leave this summer and uncertainty also hanging over Micky van de Ven's long-term future at the club, the need for defensive reinforcement is glaring.
Senesi, playing in his prime and proven at Premier League level, would tick a lot of boxes.