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Roberto De Zerbi’s second Tottenham transfer window produced its busiest 24 hours yet on 13 July, with three separate attacking sagas moving at once, a full house of Spurs players confirmed for World Cup semi-final week, and a club legend delivering an early verdict on the new manager’s start.

It is a day that captures where this rebuild stands: six permanent or free arrivals already in the building, De Zerbi’s forward-line search now running on three tracks simultaneously, and four first-teamers still on international duty in the United States chasing a World Cup final. Which of those threads matters most by the time the squad reconvenes for pre-season on 22 July is still an open question.

The pace has not eased since Tottenham’s talking points stood at roughly £237m committed on 12 July. A day on, Spurs have gone from a two-horse race for a winger to a three-name conversation, picked up fresh interest in a Bournemouth forward via a domino effect in Paris, and had two full-backs deputise their way into World Cup semi-finals. With that much moving, De Zerbi’s in-tray is only getting longer heading into the final fortnight before pre-season.

What is the latest on Tottenham’s search for a new winger?

Tottenham’s winger and forward search widened on 13 July to include Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush, with TEAMtalk’s Graeme Bailey reporting that both Spurs and Newcastle United have made enquiries as the Egypt international considers his role under new City boss Enzo Maresca. Sports Mole added that Tottenham’s interest in Marmoush’s team-mate Savinho appears to have cooled slightly in the process, though nothing has been called off.

On the same day, Italian outlet Tuttosport reported Tottenham are among the clubs to have tabled an offer for Paris Saint-Germain’s Randal Kolo Muani, with De Zerbi said to be “not displeased” at the idea of a reunion with the forward, who scored five goals in 41 appearances on loan at the club last season. Fabrizio Romano, meanwhile, confirmed AC Milan are willing to sanction Rafael Leao’s exit, even though Tottenham are not yet in direct negotiations for the winger.

Which Tottenham players are wanted by rivals?

Tottenham’s own pursuit of Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi picked up momentum on 13 July after Gianluca Di Marzio reported Paris Saint-Germain have reached an agreement in principle to sign Barcelona’s Ferran Torres instead, effectively ending PSG’s interest in Kroupi. Bournemouth still value the 20-year-old at close to £100m, with Spurs reportedly readying an opening offer in the region of £85m.

Going the other way, The Athletic’s Jay Harris and Patrick Boyland named Everton among the clubs monitoring Djed Spence after his performances deputising for an injury-hit Reece James at the World Cup. Any sale would depend on De Zerbi lining up a replacement, with Destiny Udogie settled at left-back following Andy Robertson’s free transfer and Pedro Porro first choice on the right.

What did Ledley King say about Roberto De Zerbi’s start?

Former Tottenham captain Ledley King used an appearance on The Managers podcast to praise the impact De Zerbi has already had off the pitch, telling listeners he had been “really impressed” by the club’s business this summer even before a ball has been kicked in the new season. It is the clearest external endorsement yet of a rebuild that has already produced a club-record deal for Sandro Tonali and the retention of Archie Gray despite Newcastle’s interest.

How are Tottenham’s World Cup players getting on?

Spurs will have four players chasing World Cup glory this week after Pedro Porro and Djed Spence helped send Spain and England into the semi-finals. Porro played the full 90 minutes as Spain edged past Belgium, while Spence made an impact off the bench as England beat Norway 2-1 after extra time. Cristian Romero and summer signing Marcos Senesi are also through with Argentina, meaning Senesi and Romero will face Spence’s England in Atlanta, while Porro’s Spain face France in Dallas — the only semi-finalist with no Tottenham representation.

Player Country Opponent Venue Kick-off (UK) Pedro Porro Spain France Dallas, Tue 14 July 8pm Djed Spence England Argentina Atlanta, Wed 15 July 8pm Cristian Romero Argentina England Atlanta, Wed 15 July 8pm Marcos Senesi Argentina England Atlanta, Wed 15 July 8pm

Is Tottenham’s move for Savinho still alive?

Yes, though it has not advanced to full agreement. As of 12 July, Fabrizio Romano described Savinho as “number one, two and three” on De Zerbi’s winger list, with talks centred on Manchester City’s roughly £60m valuation rather than personal terms. The 13 July reporting on Marmoush suggests Tottenham are exploring alternatives rather than stepping back from Savinho outright, but City have not yet sanctioned a sale.

Why is Sandro Tonali still not training with his new teammates?

As things stood on 12 July, Tonali had not yet trained with his new Tottenham teammates, with Football.London’s Alasdair Gold stressing there was “nothing to be concerned about” — the Italy international was simply waiting on his UK work permit to clear following his move from Newcastle. No update on that process was reported on 13 July.

Tottenham Summer 2026 Talking Points Facts

Has Tottenham completed a deal for Savinho? No. As of 13th July 2026, Tottenham remain in talks with Manchester City, with City’s roughly £60m valuation still the reported sticking point.

Is Rafael Leao joining Tottenham? Not yet. As of 13th July 2026, Fabrizio Romano says AC Milan are willing to sanction his exit, but Tottenham are not confirmed to be in direct negotiations for the winger.

How many Tottenham players have reached the World Cup semi-finals? Four — Pedro Porro and Marcos Senesi (Spain and Argentina’s quarter-final routes respectively), Djed Spence (England) and Cristian Romero (Argentina) — as confirmed on 13th July 2026.

When do Tottenham’s World Cup players play their semi-finals? Spain face France in Dallas on Tuesday 14 July, and England face Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday 15 July, with both matches kicking off at 8pm UK time according to Sky Sports.

Tottenham will have four players chasing World Cup glory this week after Pedro Porro and Djed Spence helped send Spain and England into the semi-finals, with Cristian Romero and Marcos Senesi also through to the last four with Argentina.

According to a Tottenham Hotspur update on Sunday, the semi-final picture is now complete following a dramatic weekend of quarter-final action in the United States. Porro was the first Spurs player to book his spot, playing the full 90 minutes as Spain edged past Belgium on Friday, while Spence made another impact off the bench as England beat Norway 2-1 after extra time on Saturday night. Sky Sports has since confirmed both remaining semi-finals kick off at 8pm UK time this week.

Cristian Romero And Marcos Senesi Set Up Blockbuster England Semi-Final

Argentina’s place in the last four was sealed by a 3-1 extra-time win over Switzerland, meaning club captain Romero and fellow centre-back Senesi will face Spence’s England in Atlanta on Wednesday, with the game live on the BBC. Romero has started all but one of Argentina’s matches at the tournament, while Senesi, a summer arrival from Bournemouth, has made one appearance after a late call-up following Leonardo Balerdi’s injury.

Porro’s route is rather different: Spain take on France, the only semi-finalist without any Tottenham representation, in Dallas on Tuesday. The right-back scored against Austria in the last 32 and has played every minute of Spain’s knockout campaign, having initially been an unused substitute for two of the three group games.

Roberto De Zerbi’s second Tottenham transfer window is moving at a pace few Premier League rebuilds can match, and 12 July finds Spurs holding two contradictory truths at once: a club-record midfielder who still cannot train, and an attacking search that is deliberately slowing down on one target just as it speeds up on another.

Six permanent or free arrivals in, and with roughly £237m already committed for the summer, the balancing act now is less about who Tottenham sign and more about which of two wingers gets the final green light. That is the most delicate call De Zerbi has faced since taking over, and it is being made in real time, in public, via Fabrizio Romano’s YouTube channel rather than a boardroom statement.

The pace has not let up since Andy Robertson walked in on a free transfer at the start of the month. Twenty-three players reported for the first day of pre-season at Hotspur Way on 10 July, Sandro Tonali’s British transfer record still stands at up to £100m, and Spurs open their pre-season fixtures against MK Dons in just ten days. So why, with that much already done, can De Zerbi still not say for certain which winger he will actually get?

Who have Tottenham signed so far in summer 2026?

Tottenham have made six permanent or free-transfer additions this summer. Andy Robertson joined on a free transfer after his Liverpool contract expired, and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka and defender Marcos Senesi also arrived without a fee. Jan Paul van Hecke followed from Brighton for £52m, before Mateus Fernandes completed an £85m move from West Ham on his 22nd birthday.

The headline arrival remains Sandro Tonali’s club-record switch from Newcastle United, confirmed by Fabrizio Romano as an “agreement between clubs closed and also on player side,” with David Ornstein of The Athletic putting the final figure at £92.5m plus £7.5m in add-ons tied to Champions League qualification. Between the paid deals alone, Tottenham have now committed close to £237m this summer.

Why did Sandro Tonali miss the start of pre-season training?

As of 12 July, Tonali has still not trained with his new teammates, but Football.London’s Alasdair Gold has stressed there is “nothing to be concerned about.” The Italy international is simply waiting for his work permit to clear following his move from Newcastle, a standard administrative process rather than any fitness issue.

Fernandes and Dubravka were among the 23 players who reported on 10 July, alongside Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert and Mohammed Kudus, who continue their rehabilitation from long-term injuries. Robertson, Senesi and van Hecke remain absent for a different reason entirely: FIFA’s mandated three-week post-World Cup break, which is keeping a dozen Spurs players away from Hotspur Way for now.

Who are Tottenham trying to sign next?

The seventh signing is now a straight fight between two names, and, according to Romano, it is not the one supporters have spent the summer talking about. Savinho remains “number one, two and three” on De Zerbi’s list, with Tottenham in talks with Manchester City over a fee reported by Sky Sports at around £60m — City’s valuation, not personal terms, is the current sticking point.

Cody Gakpo sits behind Savinho as the second serious option, but Romano says Liverpool “are yet to open doors to an exit”, leaving that interest, first reported at the end of June, as a watching brief rather than an active negotiation. Romano was direct on the third name in the conversation: Tottenham are not currently negotiating with AC Milan or Rafael Leao’s camp, despite weeks of speculation linking the pair to a cut-price deal.

Further forward, Tottenham have also been credited with interest in Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi as De Zerbi looks to finish rebuilding his forward line before the transfer window closes.

Which Tottenham players could still leave?

Not every rebuild story this summer has been about incomings. Tottenham rejected an offer from Newcastle United for midfielder Archie Gray earlier this month, choosing to keep him as part of De Zerbi’s engine room rather than cash in. It is a reminder that this window is being run on De Zerbi’s terms — additions and departures alike — rather than dictated by outside interest.

When do Tottenham begin their 2026-27 pre-season fixtures?

Spurs open their pre-season programme against MK Dons on 22 July, played behind closed doors, before a tour schedule that takes in Auckland FC on 26 July and Sydney FC on 29 July, both in Australasia, and a meeting with Chelsea in Sydney on 1 August. De Zerbi will be hoping Tonali’s work permit — and the World Cup stragglers’ mandatory rest period — are both resolved well before the squad boards that flight.

Tottenham Summer 2026 Ins So Far

Every fee above is as reported by Fabrizio Romano and David Ornstein and remains subject to the usual add-on caveats; none has been independently confirmed to the penny by either club.

Summer 2026 Transfer Window Facts

Has Tottenham’s deal for Savinho been completed? No. As of 12th July 2026, Tottenham are in talks with Manchester City but no fee has been agreed, with City’s roughly £60m valuation still the sticking point.

Is Rafael Leao joining Tottenham? No. As of 12th July 2026, Fabrizio Romano says Tottenham are not in negotiations with AC Milan or Leao’s representatives, despite weeks of speculation.

Why is Sandro Tonali not yet training with Tottenham? He is waiting for his UK work permit to clear following his move from Newcastle United — a paperwork process, not an injury, according to Football.London’s Alasdair Gold on 12th July 2026.

How much has Tottenham spent on permanent transfers this summer? Approximately £237m across six permanent and free-transfer arrivals, headlined by Sandro Tonali’s club-record fee, as of 12th July 2026.

Tottenham Hotspur’s club-record signing Sandro Tonali missed the opening days of pre-season training at Hotspur Way because he is still waiting for his work permit to clear, not because of any injury or fitness concern.

According to a fresh update from Football.London’s Alasdair Gold, Tonali is “going through the process” of securing his permit following his move from Newcastle United, with the reporter stressing there is “nothing to be concerned about” over the delay. Gold added that Spurs players are currently using the gym at The Lodge while renovation work continues on the first-team gym at Hotspur Way.

Mateus Fernandes And 22 Other Spurs Players Already Back At Hotspur Way

Twenty-three players reported for the first day of pre-season on 10 July, including fellow new arrival Mateus Fernandes, who joined the group on his 22nd birthday, and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert and Mohammed Kudus were also present as they continue their rehabilitation from long-term injuries.

Several other new signings have yet to join up, though for a different reason. Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi all remain away after involvement at the World Cup, with FIFA’s mandated three-week post-tournament break keeping a dozen Spurs players out of the building for now.

Tottenham Hotspur have made Savinho their top attacking priority this summer, with Roberto De Zerbi’s side continuing to push for a deal even though Manchester City are yet to sanction a sale.

According to a fresh update from Fabrizio Romano, Savinho remains “number one, two and three” among Tottenham’s options for a new winger this summer. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said Spurs “already wanted” the Brazilian a year ago and that he continues to be their clear priority over alternatives such as Cody Gakpo. Sky Sports has separately reported that Tottenham are in talks with City over a deal for the 22-year-old, though City’s valuation remains a sticking point in negotiations.

Roberto De Zerbi Wants Savinho For His Attacking Rebuild

Reports have put City’s asking price at around £60m, a figure Tottenham have so far been unwilling to meet in full, according to Sky Sports. Personal terms are widely reported to already be in place between the club and player, though that detail has not been confirmed by either party.

Romano has also moved to rule out a rival move for AC Milan’s Rafael Leao, telling followers that Gakpo and Savinho are the two names under serious consideration for the left-wing role, with the Brazilian very much first choice.

Tottenham Hotspur Transfer News LIVE: Rumours, Gossip & Done Deals  Read Tottenham

Tottenham’s summer rebuild is no longer just about who Roberto De Zerbi wants to bring through the door. It is now about the price Spurs are prepared to attach to the players who might leave.

That is why the latest Lucas Bergvall line matters. Gianluca Di Marzio has reported that Tottenham recently rejected a €50m offer from an English club, believed to be Nottingham Forest, while Napoli had been working around a lower ceiling.

For a midfielder signed from Djurgarden in 2024 for a fee widely placed below £10m, the profit margin is obvious. The more important point is strategic. Spurs appear willing to listen, but they are not willing to let a restless young asset become someone else’s bargain.

A Sale Only Works If It Changes The Ceiling

Bergvall’s situation has already been framed through pathway, minutes and World Cup exposure. ReadTottenham covered that angle in the France knockout-stage context, where the Sweden test sharpened the question of whether De Zerbi sees him as a developmental midfielder or a saleable asset.

This new report shifts the argument. If Tottenham have turned down €50m, the club are effectively telling the market that a Bergvall exit must be transformative, not convenient. That is a different stance from merely accepting that the player may want clearer minutes.

It also fits the wider rebuild picture. Sky Sports has reported that De Zerbi wants a major reshaping of the squad, with midfield a key department and Sandro Tonali among the priority targets. In that market, one outgoing deal can alter the entire spending calculation.

The danger is emotional as well as technical. Bergvall is young, tall, press-resistant and already interesting enough for Premier League and Serie A clubs to circle. Selling that profile too early would sting if he becomes a £70m player elsewhere.

Why Tottenham’s Number Matters

The number is doing two jobs. It protects Tottenham from a weak sale and it tests whether Forest, Napoli or any other suitor truly believe Bergvall can anchor their next midfield phase.

De Zerbi’s ideal midfield is not built on passengers. It demands receiving angles, sharp circulation, counter-pressing appetite and the bravery to play under pressure. Bergvall has the raw material, but the question is whether Spurs can afford to wait for the full version when they are also chasing established upgrades.

That is where the club’s internal logic becomes clear. A sale below Tottenham’s threshold would look like impatience. A sale above it would look like squad engineering, especially if it helps fund a more immediate midfield leader. The existing Tonali market discussion already shows how expensive that lane has become.

There is also a registration angle running beneath the valuation. Tottenham cannot build a leaner De Zerbi squad by treating every young player as untouchable, but they also cannot keep losing high-ceiling talent without a premium that visibly improves the first XI.

The most likely short-term outcome is a hard conversation after Sweden’s World Cup run ends. Bergvall can ask for minutes. Spurs can ask for commitment. De Zerbi can decide whether the player’s development curve is worth protecting.

De Zerbi Cannot Let Value Drift

Tottenham have too often been accused of holding players too long, then selling once leverage has faded. This is the opposite test: a young player with a live market, a manager demanding a faster rebuild and a club trying to behave like a sharper trading operation.

Rejecting €50m does not mean Bergvall is unsellable. It means Tottenham want the market to understand the rules. If a club wants to take a high-upside midfielder out of De Zerbi’s squad, it has to pay a fee that genuinely advances the rebuild.

That is the ruthless edge Spurs need this summer. Sentiment can shape the conversation, but valuation has to decide it.

Tottenham have not just added another friendly to Roberto De Zerbi’s first full pre-season. They have created a two-day audit of a squad that is being rebuilt at speed and still has some uncomfortable decisions sitting beneath the surface.

The club confirmed on Monday that Spurs will face TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in back-to-back fixtures in August. The public game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is scheduled for Saturday 15 August at 3pm, with a behind-closed-doors meeting at Hotspur Way following on Sunday 16 August.

That timing matters. Spurs begin their Premier League campaign at Brentford on 22 August, which leaves De Zerbi with one final weekend to stress-test combinations, minutes and roles after a summer shaped by new signings, World Cup absences and a compressed tour schedule.

A Second Fixture Changes The Use Of The Weekend

A single home friendly would have been useful theatre. Two Hoffenheim games give Tottenham something more valuable: separation.

The stadium match can be used to sharpen De Zerbi’s probable first XI, introduce summer arrivals to the crowd and rehearse the main tactical structure. The training-ground game then becomes the controlled space for those who need minutes without the noise: younger players, returning internationals, fringe options and anyone still being assessed for loan or sale.

That is especially relevant because the schedule already includes Auckland FC, Sydney FC, Chelsea in Australia and the behind-closed-doors MK Dons fixture at Hotspur Way. This is no longer a light commercial pre-season. It is a layered testing programme.

The Standard reports that the first group of players are due back for pre-season training on Friday 10 July, with the squad then flying to New Zealand on Thursday 23 July, four days after the World Cup final. The players who went deep in the tournament will have a different runway. That makes the Hoffenheim weekend the point where De Zerbi’s squad finally starts to resemble the group he must take into Brentford.

Hoffenheim Offer The Right Kind Of Resistance

Opposition profile is part of the value. Hoffenheim finished fifth in the Bundesliga last season and qualified for the Europa League again, according to Tottenham’s announcement. Christian Ilzer’s side should bring more tactical discomfort than a ceremonial home friendly usually provides.

That gives De Zerbi a useful benchmark. Tottenham have recruited defensively, with Marcos Senesi already placed at the centre of the defensive-control conversation, while Football.London has noted the possibility of new arrivals Andy Robertson, Jan Paul van Hecke, Senesi and Martin Dubravka all being involved by that point.

The question is not whether those players can get through a friendly. It is whether Spurs can look like a De Zerbi team under pressure: clean in the first pass, brave enough to bait pressure, compact enough behind the ball and quick enough to attack space when the press is beaten.

Hoffenheim also bring a useful memory. Tottenham beat them 3-2 away in January 2025 during the club’s Europa League-winning campaign, with James Maddison scoring and Heung-min Son striking twice. The names, staff and stakes have shifted, but the fixture still carries enough recent context to make it more than a generic summer booking.

The Final Calls Will Be As Important As The Debuts

Supporters will naturally look at the stadium game as a first proper glimpse of the rebuild. That is valid. A home crowd seeing De Zerbi’s structure, new defenders and possible late-window additions gives the day a launch-event feel.

Inside the club, though, the second game may be just as significant. Tottenham still have to decide who genuinely fits the squad, who needs a loan, who can survive as depth and which senior players are blocking minutes for more useful profiles. A 24-hour double-header is an elegant way to expose that without overloading the headline side.

The pricing also keeps the public fixture accessible, with adult tickets set at £20 and children’s tickets at £5. That supports the wider reconnection message Tottenham have been pushing around fixtures, kits and local identity, but the football department will judge the weekend by harder measures.

For De Zerbi, Hoffenheim is the last rehearsal before Brentford. For several Tottenham players, it may be the last clean chance to prove they belong in the first version of his rebuild.