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Mateus Fernandes has revealed that Roberto De Zerbi was the key reason he joined Tottenham for a club-record £85million fee from West Ham.

Fernandes is the latest player to credit De Zerbi’s influence as being pivotal to why he joined Spurs, with the 21-year-old becoming the club’s fifth signing of the summer.

Spurs have been aggressive in the summer transfer window, and are also set to complete a deal worth up to £100m for Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali.

De Zerbi has been at the centre of these plans and has played a huge role in convincing the likes of Fernandes and Tonali to join Spurs despite successive 17th-place finishes in the Premier League.

Speaking after his arrival was officially announced, Fernandes praised De Zerbi’s influence and said they shared the same ideals about football.

"I'm very excited for this next step. Spurs is a massive club, and the head coach was a key part of why I have decided to join,” Fernandes said.

"When we spoke, it was very special. We look at football in the same way - going onto the pitch as a strong team, with fight and energy, to try and win every game. I can't wait to get started, to meet the fans, to meet everyone, and give everything for the club."

On Fernandes, De Zerbi praised his ability to perform under pressure and his Premier League experience, which has been a consistent theme of Spurs’ recruitment this summer.

"I've admired Mateus for a long time because he combines quality on the ball with the intensity and intelligence that are so important in the way we want to play,” De Zerbi added.

"Despite his age, he already has good experience in the Premier League and has shown quality and consistency at this level. Mateus is comfortable under pressure, can progress the ball, works hard for the team and has the courage to make things happen in difficult moments.

“I believe this is the ideal environment for him to continue his development, and I'm excited to start working with him."

New Tottenham midfielder Mateus Fernandes has labelled head coach Roberto De Zerbi as a key factor behind joining the club.

Spurs reached an agreement with West Ham to capture the services of Fernandes on Tuesday for a guaranteed fee of £85million, the Press Association understands, before the transfer was officially confirmed on Thursday.

Fernandes has signed a long-term contract with the Premier League club and will aim to avoid the unwanted ignominy of a third consecutive relegation after unsuccessful survival battles with Southampton and West Ham in recent seasons.

“I’m very excited for this next step. Spurs is a massive club and the head coach was a key part of why I have decided to join,” Fernandes told the official club website.

“When we spoke, it was very special. We look at football in the same way – going onto the pitch as a strong team, with fight and energy, to try and win every game.

“I can’t wait to get started, to meet the fans, to meet everyone and give everything for the club.”

Portugal international Fernandes emerged as a key target for De Zerbi after a strong individual campaign with West Ham where he was deployed as a deep-lying midfielder and credited for his progressive ability on the ball alongside his strong defensive attributes.

Manchester United initially led the chase for Fernandes, who was also admired by Paris St Germain and Real Madrid, but Tottenham made clear their desire to sign the 21-year-old and showed their financial power with a big-money move.

De Zerbi said: “I’ve admired Mateus for a long time because he combines quality on the ball with the intensity and intelligence that are so important in the way we want to play.

“Despite his age, he already has good experience in the Premier League and has shown quality and consistency.

“Mateus is comfortable under pressure, can progress the ball, works hard for the team and has the courage to make things happen in difficult moments.

“I believe this is the ideal environment for him to continue his development and I’m excited to start working with him.”

Fernandes progressed through the academy of Sporting Lisbon and briefly played with new Spurs team-mate Pedro Porro before a strong loan spell at Estoril alerted Southampton to him in 2024.

A tally of four goals and seven assists for Saints could not prevent relegation, but West Ham paid in the region of £40million to sign the highly-rated youngster and he will now join De Zerbi’s revolution at Tottenham.

The club-record signing of Fernandes follows the free transfers of Andy Robertson, Martin Dubravka and Marcos Senesi along with the £52m capture of Dutch centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke this summer, but Spurs are not finished there.

An agreement was reached with Newcastle on Wednesday for Italy international Sandro Tonali in a deal which could be worth an overall package of £100m.

Majority owners the Lewis family promised to be “all in” to fund the necessary rebuild after back-to-back 17th-place finishes and the aforementioned transfers will take Spurs’ spending up to £237m during this window.

Tottenham will target attacking reinforcements next, with interest in Bournemouth forward Junior Kroupi.

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Tottenham Hotspur have agreed to a £100 million deal with Newcastle United to secure the services of midfield superstar Sandro Tonali.

The London side endured an abysmal 2025/26 Premier League season, becoming embroiled in a relegation battle with rival club West Ham.

After surviving the drop, Spurs pilfered Mateus Fernandes from their relegated London rivals; now, Newcastle United will part ways with Tonali in a club record deal.

Tottenham Hotspur splash £100 million and break club record in Sandro Tonali deal

According to reports from transfer experts Fabrizio Romano and David Ornstein, the deal for Tonali could reach £100 million.

This would exceed the £85 million it took to purchase Fernandes from West Ham, and set a club transfer record for Tottenham Hotspur.

The deal is comprised of a £92.5 million upfront fee, with potentially £7.5 million in add-ons.

Spurs' pursuit of Tonali intensified in June, before contact was made with Newcastle to negotiate the midfielder's exit.

Tonali will join a growing list of players pilfered by Tottenham Hotspur this summer from fellow Premier League sides.

Liverpool lost veteran left-back Andy Robertson to the London club on a free transfer, after he departed from Anfield at the end of last season.

Spurs also took Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth, again on a free transfer, and Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton, for a fee of over £50 million.

The add-ons are believed to be Champions League-related, in the event of Tottenham Hotspur qualifying for the competition next season.

Tonali played 53 times for Newcastle last season, in an underwhelming campaign that saw the Magpies finish 12th. The lure of London, a vast pay increase and the opportunity to work under fellow Italian Roberto De Zerbi has proved too strong.

Tottenham Hotspur would demand at least £100million if Liverpool attempted to pull off a stunning move for Micky van de Ven this summer.

That is the opinion of former senior Tottenham scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.

The Reds are reportedly eyeing a move for the defender this summer, but the North London club view him as a crucial part of Roberto De Zerbi's squad.

Van de Ven, 25, is under contract until 2029 and captained the team towards the end of the season, but there have been moments of uncertainty surrounding his future of late.

The Netherlands international was seen arguing with Tottenham fans on several occasions during the season, and endured by far his worst individual campaign since the 2023 switch from Wolfsburg.

Liverpool are in need of a centre-back following the departure of Ibrahima Konate, with new arrival Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni coming off the back of significant injuries while Virgil van Dijk has begun to show signs of slowing.

Bryan King on 'very good player' Micky van de Ven

Tottenham are set for huge change in their backline this summer after a season of dismal defensive displays.

Jan Paul van Hecke has arrived from Brighton in a deal worth £52m, and Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson have both signed on free transfers.

Exits are expected, too, with Luka Vuskovic being pursued by Brighton and Cristian Romero reportedly likely to leave.

Van de Ven is the one that Tottenham cannot afford to lose, however, given his age and his quality.

"I think he's a very good player, Van de Ven," King told Football Insider. "He's got pace, I think he's a good player. He's been one of the better players for Tottenham.

"That'd be a very expensive thing for Liverpool to do, I think. Tottenham would want a lot of money for him. It'd be £100m for him, that's for sure."

Tottenham's latest Jan Paul van Hecke move suggests Micky van de Ven is now on his way Tottenham have safety year on Van de Ven

Tottenham have reportedly been in talks with Van de Ven over a new contract, but no agreement has been found yet.

The Lilywhites can afford to wait another year, but next summer will represent decision time.

When the defender has two years remaining on his deal, Tottenham will need to make a call. Sell him for big money, or risk allowing him to enter the final year of his contract and forcing them into accepting a lower fee.

That is, of course, unless an offer tempting enough to accept this summer comes in for Van de Ven.

Tottenham have beaten Manchester United to the £85million signing on Mateus Fernandes.

Both Spurs and Man Utd had made the young Portuguese a priority summer signing as the Hammers welcomed a bidding war.

Both Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain were also said to hold an interest in one of Europe’s most promising young midfielders

Fernandes was prepared to join either club, as his agent, Jorge Mendes, negotiated with the rival bidders.

And Standard Sport understands that Spurs have triumphed, beating Man Utd to their no1 summer target with bigger financial outlay.

Spurs will pay a guaranteed £85m fix fee for the 21-year-old, easily surpassing the previous club-record £65m purchase of Dominic Solanke in 2024.

Man Utd’s finances could not match Spurs’ might, both in terms of fee and player salary.

Fernandes will now become Spurs’ fifth summer signing, after Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke and Martin Dubravka.

Man Utd will now look at alternative midfield options after suffering a huge blow to their summer plans.

West Ham players return to training next week, and Spurs will now look to wrap up the deal in time for Fernandes to begin pre-season in north London.

Fernandes’ imminent arrival will mark the second summer running that Spurs have signed a star player from their rivals.

Last summer, Mohamed Kudus joined Spurs in a deal worth around £60m.

Spurs will then look to wrap up a deal for Sandro Tonali as manager Roberto De Zerbi looks to completely overhaul his midfield.

Newcastle are demanding close to £100m for their midfielder, which would see Spurs smash their club-record transfer for the second time.

Spurs have reportedly agreed personal terms with Tonali on a six-year deal, and have seen a first bid for the Italian rejected by Newcastle.

Tottenham have announced that they will face Bundesliga club Hoffenheim in back-to-back pre-season friendlies this summer.

Spurs will first host the German outfit at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, August 15, before then facing Christian Ilzer’s side again the following day in a behind-closed-doors game held at their Hotspur Way training ground.

The games will be staged the weekend before the start of the new Premier League season, and will add to a pre-season schedule that already includes matches against Auckland FC in New Zealand, Sydney FC and Chelsea in Australia, plus a behind-closed-doors match against MK Dons at Spurs’ training ground.

While many of Roberto De Zerbi’s first-team squad are currently away with their respective countries at the World Cup, the first batch of Spurs players will return for pre-season training on Friday, July 10.

The squad will then fly to New Zealand on Thursday, July 23 - four days after the World Cup final.

No firm date has yet been agreed for when those involved at the World Cup will return to Spurs.

But new signing Andy Robertson, who has already been knocked out of the World Cup with Scotland, could be in line to return to training before the squad flies out to New Zealand.

Spurs kick-start their pre-season tour against Auckland FC at Eden Park on Sunday, July 26, as part of the New Zealand International Football Festival.

They will then head to meet Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on Wednesday, July 29, before facing London rivals Chelsea at Accor Stadium on Sunday, August 1, as part of the 2026 Sydney Super Cup.

SAINTS are set to pocket millions as Premier League giants Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur battle to sign Mateus Fernandes.

The Portuguese midfielder, 21, joined West Ham from St Mary's last summer following the club's relegation, in a deal worth around £42million.

Fernandes was unable to keep the Hammers in the Premier League, with Nuno Espirito Santo's side brutally relegated in 18th place on 39 points.

It means the former Sporting CP star is set for a fourth club in as many seasons, with a price tag of up to £80m mooted to secure his signature.

As part of the deal to take Fernandes to West Ham, a future sell-on clause was inserted, guaranteeing Saints a percentage of any transfer profit.

The exact significance of the clause is unconfirmed, but it has been reported to be 15 per cent of the profit the Hammers make on the starlet's sale.

If he was purchased for £80m, that would mean West Ham made a £38m profit - seeing Saints pocket £5.7m, as 15 per cent of the £38m profit.

If it is actually a 20 per cent clause that Saints hold, they would take £7.6m in the event that Fernandes was sold to Man United or Spurs for £80m.

Even if Fernandes was only bought for £70m, Saints would be owed £4.2m for a 15 per cent clause and £5.6m if the clause they hold is 20 per cent.

Reports suggest that Fernandes is open to moving to either Old Trafford or Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - whichever club agrees a deal with West Ham.

Champions League giants Real Madrid, managed by Jose Mourinho, were also rumoured to be tracking him, but are said to have dropped their interest.

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Liverpool are on the verge of having two stars complete moves to the North London club this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur, who narrowly avoided relegation last season, are making moves to ensure such a scenario does not play out again.

Conversely, or not so much so, the 2024/25 Premier League victors are looking to get back to winning ways under new boss Andoni Iraola, after Arne Slot delivered a torrid sophomore campaign at Anfield.

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Liverpool on verge of having TWO stars pilfered by Tottenham Hotspur ahead of Andoni Iraola's first campaign

Liverpool's Andy Robertson departed from Anfield at the end of the 2025/26 season, ending a nine-year spell with the Reds.

The Scot, currently playing at the 2026 World Cup, could be joined in London by a fellow Red, also lighting it up on the world stage.

Cody Gakpo, currently enjoying a solid 2026 World Cup campaign with three goal involvements for the Netherlands, could join his former team-mate at Tottenham Hotspur next season.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, the North London club are in discussions with Liverpool regarding the Dutchman's future.

This arrives after the Reds signed Spain's Victor Munoz, a young but exciting La Liga talent who could rival Gakpo on the left flank.

It also arrives after Spurs' long-time pursuit of Manchester City player Savinho, with the North London club now, reportedly, weighing up the benefits of a move for Gakpo instead.

The Dutchman, who endured a poor season individually under fellow countryman Slot in 2025/26, is concerned about his starter status, or lack thereof, at Liverpool under his new Basque boss.

The signing of Munoz was personally pushed for by Iraola, making it unclear as to whether Gakpo's future lies in being a starting or rotational player.

Mohamed Salah's departure also raises alarm bells, with Gakpo's best years coming under the Egyptian's guidance, and his form dropping significantly without his wing partner performing to the usual level last season.

Despite this, Liverpool's 'out-of-form' stars could be amongst the most intriguing transfers of the 2026 summer window.

Almost every player who performed poorly under Slot last season has seen a significant upturn in form at international level, with Gakpo being no exception.

For now, the Dutchman's future remains undecided, but Spurs are probing and could see two experienced Liverpool players in their team next year.

Midfield starlet seeks summer exit

Despite being under contract until June 2031, the 20-year-old has made it clear to the Spurs hierarchy that he believes his future lies away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as several Premier League sides and clubs across Europe monitor the situation - per The Athletic.

The Sweden international was previously the subject of intense speculation during the winter window. Tottenham could face a battle to keep hold of him after rebuffing various enquiries, including from Chelsea and Aston Villa.

From Player of the Year to the sidelines

Bergvall’s trajectory at Spurs has been a rollercoaster since his arrival from Djurgarden in 2024. He initially flourished under Ange Postecoglou, playing a pivotal role in the club's 2025 Europa League triumph - their first piece of silverware in 17 years.

His performances during that campaign were so impressive that he was officially named the club's Player of the Year, seemingly cementing his status as a cornerstone of the team's future.

However, the managerial merry-go-round has stunted his progress. Thomas Frank, who replaced Postecoglou, often deployed the Swede in wide areas rather than his preferred central midfield role. This trend continued under Igor Tudor and has worsened since Roberto De Zerbi took charge in March.

The Italian tactician’s 4-2-3-1 system appears ill-suited to Bergvall’s attributes, with the midfielder barely featuring in the final weeks of the 2025-26 Premier League season.

Premier League rivals on high alert

The uncertainty surrounding Bergvall’s future has not gone unnoticed by Tottenham’s domestic rivals. Both Aston Villa and Chelsea have previously established contact with the club to explore the possibility of a transfer.

While Spurs originally maintained that the player was not for sale, his formal request to move on could force a change in stance if a substantial offer is presented this summer. De Zerbi’s vision for the squad also suggests a transition away from the Swedish youngster.

The Athletic adds that Tottenham are pursuing high-profile targets such as Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, indicating a desire for more established Premier League experience in the engine room. With no European football on the calendar for the upcoming season, minute distribution will be tighter than ever, leaving Bergvall in a precarious position regarding his development.

International bright spot amidst club gloom

While his club career has hit a stumbling block, Bergvall continues to make waves on the international stage. He recently made history by becoming Sweden’s youngest-ever player to appear at a World Cup when he came off the bench during the 5-1 victory over Tunisia. During that match, he provided an assist for Graham Potter’s side, reminding onlookers of the technical quality that made him such a coveted prospect two years ago.

Despite his individual milestones, Sweden’s tournament remains in the balance following a heavy defeat to the Netherlands on matchday two.