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Roberto de Zerbi talked to the media about the evolution of the Tottenham team over the summer.

There have been significant changes to the composition of the first team. Jan Paul van Hecke was bought from Brighton for £52 million in June, then free transfers followed for Marcos Senesi from BournemouthAndy Robertson from Liverpool during July. Sandro Tonali was acquired for £100 million from Newcastle United, and Mateus Fernandes departed from West Ham for £85 million.

· ‘I want 21, 22 players, I think that's enough’

In the last week, Guglielmo Vicario has joined Juventus on loan, Djed Spence signed for Inter Milan, and Cristian Romero put pen to paper with Atletico Madrid. It means de Zerbi has needed to appoint a new club captain and also consider how he manages the other options in the backline.

“First of all,I'm really disappointed with Djed, because I love him, we have a great relationship, he's a very good guy, he's a very important player, but in the end, I have to respect, if he wants to play 38 games, I can't give my word, any guarantee for the players, especially if we are building a big competition inside of the squad. Right-back is, I think in this moment, one, maybe the best, maybe one of the three best right-backs in the world.

“In the left-back we have Destiny Udogie and Robertson, and both are big, big level, and if you don't want to stay anymore in Tottenham, in a big club, you have to leave. Like with Cuti, the same with Spence. Vicario called me on Wednesday when he left. I'm sorry, but football is like this.

“The new captain is Micky van de Ven. The second, Pedro Porro, third, Ben Davies, the fourth, James Maddison and the fifth, Archie Gray. Why five captains? I want many captains inside of the pitch and to be clear in the position. Every one of them, they deserve to be a captain or in the group.

“I don't want 25, 26 players. I want 21, 22 players. That's enough, especially if these players can adapt in more positions on the pitch, and we have many players who can play in different positions, Gray midfielder, right back, Conor Gallagher number 10 or number 8, it's the same van de Ven or Davies left-back. We have Mohamed Kudus, winger or a number 10, so we have a lot of solutions.

"It's not right to speak about the players until they are official. Just to say, I'm very happy. We have not finished yet in the transfer market. It's an important part, I think, because so far we have had a great summer of signings - great players, great behaviour, great spirit, great personality. You know better than me in the Premier League, you don't win the game with the names, with the big players.

Tottenham Hotspur have announced the departure of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who has joined Juventus on loan until the end of the season.

The deal also includes an option for the Serie A side to make the move permanent next summer, bringing an end to Vicario's three-year spell in north London.

Vicario joined Spurs from Empoli in June 2023 and made 117 appearances for the club, keeping 29 clean sheets.

The Italian international earned his first senior cap while playing for Tottenham in March 2024 and played an integral role in the club's Europa League triumph in 2025.

His departure now leaves Roberto De Zerbi with a decision to make between promoting Antonin Kinsky, or returning to the transfer market for another goalkeeper.

Promotion for Kinsky?

Kinsky appears to be the obvious candidate to take over as Tottenham's first-choice goalkeeper.

The Czech shot-stopper joined Spurs in January 2025 as the club dealt with a crisis between the sticks. He was initially brought in to provide competition before becoming Vicario's understudy when the Italian returned from injury.

The 23-year-old's time in the first team has not been without its difficult moments, however.

One of Kinsky's most infamous appearances came during last season's Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid, when interim manager Igor Tudor substituted him after just 17 minutes.

The goalkeeper had made two mistakes leading to Atletico's opening goals and was visibly distressed as he left the pitch.

That night will undoubtedly remain a low point, but it should not overshadow what has otherwise been an encouraging start to life in north London.

Kinsky's Premier League form was relatively impressive, with De Zerbi showing a willingness to trust the youngster over Vicario when given the opportunity.

With Vicario now heading for Turin, Kinsky could finally have the chance to establish himself as Tottenham's long-term number one.

Could Kinsky be rivalled?

Spurs have already strengthened their goalkeeping department this summer with the signing of Martin Dubravka.

The 37-year-old joined on a free transfer after leaving Burnley following their relegation from the Premier League last season.

Dubravka brings a significant amount of experience to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, having made 197 Premier League appearances, the majority of which came during his time with Newcastle United.

However, his age suggests he is more likely to provide competition and experience rather than become Tottenham's long-term solution.

That could leave Kinsky with a clear opportunity.

Austin the outside bet

Elsewhere, Roberto De Zerbi could turn to academy product Brandon Austin, although that appears to be the less likely option.

The 27-year-old has made just one Premier League appearance for Spurs during his career and has generally occupied a role as an understudy.

For now, Kinsky appears to be the natural successor to Vicario.

Tottenham have already added experience in Dubravka, but the departure of their former number one presents Kinsky with perhaps his biggest opportunity yet.

The question is whether Spurs are prepared to put their faith in him.

After a huge summer outlay, admittedly offset by outgoings, Tottenham are bidding to begin afresh with an Italian head coach at the helm, urging for even more business this summer.

Mikey Moore may discover his future lies elsewhere by the end of the transfer window if Tottenham lodge bids for established wingers to add to the squad, but his performance warrants some rethinking.

Roberto De Zerbi is expected to implement his usual daring and expansive style this season, hoping to at least assuage the disgruntlement in this area of North London, and show why he may be a good fit.

For what it's worth in a largely insignificant friendly, there was evidence of the advantages and the tension that arises from De Zerbi's bold methods.

Story of the Match

Mathys Tel and youngster Moore gave snapshots of their impetus, stretching the pitch on the flanks, and Andy Robertson underlapped the former, fizzing in a cross towards Richarlison, who had a certain goal taken off his toe by Albian Hajdari.

Lucas Bergvall was baiting the press and living dangerously when he, somewhat fortuitously, escaped a swarm of defenders, and the Swede showed the value his attributes can bring.

Christian Ilzer's visitors conjured a few warning signs with some productive possession, as Adam Hlozek's strike was blazed over the bar, lacking the composure to test Antonín Kinsky after 15 minutes.

Hlozek, who featured in Czechia's World Cup squad, almost made amends for missing that opportunity when he gradually approached shooting range on the edge of the area.

A positive run from midfield culminated in some trickery and a curled effort onto the crossbar, using back-pedalling defender Jan Paul van Hecke to pick his spot.

Bergvall Stakes His Claim

Standout Bergvall continued to stake his claim for a stable place in De Zerbi's ranks, after receiving bids from Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United this summer and at one point set on searching for a new chapter.

The deepest-lying midfielder in this passage found a corridor of space to glide past the contingent of blue shirts into opposing territory, and he forced the first save from captain Oliver Baumann.

Formerly of West Ham United, visiting right-back Vladimír Coufal spun without looking at the ball and planted his hands on Marco Senesi, impeding the new signing from meeting his header.

Stuart Atwell deemed this soft and opted against awarding a penalty before the first hydration break.

Moore smartly delivered early across the face of goal to establish greater control, with Tel and Richarlison lunging to apply the finishing touch, but the ball agonisingly flashed past them both at the back post.

Akin to the start of proceedings, Robertson was on hand for another threatening ball into the box towards Richarlison, as Scotland's captain continued subtly interchanging with Tel.

Club-record signing Sandro Tonali shifted it on to Robertson well, and Richarlison swept his left-footed effort past Baumann in the 35th minute for the opening goal.

Despite losing Bazoumana Touré to Newcastle United and Andrej Kramarić to injury, Hoffenheim looked inventive and were knocking on the door for an equaliser before the interval.

Adam Daghim's shot called Kinsky into action, saving comfortably to his bottom right once the German side aggressively prompted errors from the hosts. Their best chance then came from Wouter Burger's sumptuous glancing header, which crept wide of the left post.

Moore's Second-Half Brace

The away side made wholesale changes at half-time, with all ten outfield players replaced by head coach Ilzer, who will oversee Hoffenheim in the Europa League in the upcoming season.

Patrick Wimmer had his shot saved by Kinsky before Mats Rots prodded his effort narrowly wide to build on the momentum their teammates gathered.

Tel evaded a handful of challenges and sent in a timely delivery to Moore, who appeared in front of Tristan Spranger and tucked his finish away to double the advantage.

Wimmer's wild second strike sailed over the bar, wasting a well-crafted move by Hoffenheim, and Tottenham's intensity was almost rewarded with a third goal.

Baumann spilled the ball in the box and Richarlison almost bundled it into the net, although the referee had already decided the striker committed a foul.

Hoffenheim fashioned further chances in their pursuit of cutting the two-goal deficit. Max Moerstedt turned and forced Kinsky to sharply stick his leg out at his near post to deny the substitute striker.

With energy still left in the tank, Tel darted inside and showed great agility, yet his final product in front of goal seemed inferior to the service he provided to his teammates.

The Frenchman added to his earlier assist when his piece of ingenuity allowed him to find Moore, who slotted between the legs of the defender and wheeled away in celebration with ten minutes left.

Eyes On The Premier League

Tottenham were resounding winners and held on to a clean sheet to cap off an unbeaten pre-season. Their attention turns to the fast approaching competitive campaign under De Zerbi, who seeks to steer Tottenham clear of another damning finish near the drop zone.

Tottenham Hotspur have endured a difficult two seasons as they have registered back-to-back 17th placed finishes in the Premier League.

The side from North London did claim the UEFA Europa League title in May 2025, under manager Ange Postecoglou, but that did not lead to an improvement in their domestic campaign last season.

New manager Roberto De Zerbi arrived at the club during the latter stages of last season and he has now had a summer transfer window in charge. He has been able to start to shape a squad in his image and some of the new arrivals could offer genuine hope for this season.

There will likely be a hope that the good times can return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and that the club can be competing in the top half of the table again.

They will want to put the last two seasons behind them and likely view this as a fresh start.

Turning around the fortunes of the club may not prove to be an easy task and could require patience from the supporters.

There have been positive signs throughout pre-season, such as a win over London rivals Chelsea, but the real challenges will come when the new season gets underway.

Here is VAVEL's 2026/27 season preview for Tottenham Hotspur.

Words by Jack Lewis

Tottenham Hotspur were looking to turn over a new leaf last campaign. Heung Min-Son had headed Stateside to LAFC, Daniel Levy had left his chairman role, and hopes were high for a return to league success.

Those hopes rested on former Brentford boss Thomas Frank. After a strong UEFA Super Cup showing and three wins from their opening four league games, including victory at the Etihad Stadium against Manchester City, Spurs sat third by Halloween.

But the wheels quickly came off.

Just one league win followed before Christmas, with heavy defeats to Arsenal and Chelsea piling pressure on Frank. A defensive style, lack of chances and a mounting injury list only made matters worse.

After an FA Cup exit to Aston Villa and seven league games without a win, Frank was sacked in early February.

With relegation becoming a genuine concern, Tottenham turned to an unlikely replacement.

Igor Tudor arrived, but his appointment left many Spurs supporters scratching their heads. His time in North London proved just as short-lived, with Spurs dumped out of the UEFA Champions League by Atletico Madrid before Tudor was dismissed as interim boss after just 44 days.

ENIC soon turned to former Brighton and Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi, and his task was simple: keep Tottenham in the division.

The managerial bounce never really arrived, but crucial wins eventually followed.

Victories over Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa gave Spurs breathing room before a final-day win against Everton finally secured their survival.

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Relief poured from the players at the final whistle. After a campaign that had lurched from optimism to crisis, Tottenham had finally done enough to avoid the drop.

They finished two points clear of West Ham United and preserved their place in the top flight.

For a club that had started the season dreaming of a fresh era, survival represented a remarkably modest achievement.

But after everything that had gone before, it was one the Spurs faithful could celebrate.

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Transfer activity

Words by Jack Lewis

Daniel Levy may have spent this transfer window looking through his fingers. Those days of Tottenham stretching every pound are, thankfully for Spurs fans, gone.

Six new faces have walked through the door at N17 this summer, and even the most pessimistic supporter would struggle to argue they have not strengthened.

Free transfers Martin Dubravka and Andrew Robertson bring valuable Premier League experience, something Spurs badly lacked last season.

Robertson, in particular, looks an excellent addition. At 32, the veteran full-back still offers plenty of energy and discipline, qualities Roberto De Zerbi will hope rub off on a younger squad.

Marcos Senesi adds further strength at the back. The Argentine impressed during Bournemouth's strong Premier League campaign last term and arrives on a free transfer after turning down three contract offers from the Cherries.

Then there is Jan Paul van Hecke, reunited with the manager who handed him his final Brighton contract. The 26-year-old made 36 appearances last season and could prove a ready-made replacement for Cristian Romero.

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West Ham fans have even more reason to resent their London rivals after losing Mateus Fernandes. The Brazilian was the Hammers' engine room last season, and De Zerbi has spent £85million to bring him across the capital.

And then comes the crown jewel.

Sandro Tonali has made the move from Newcastle United for a staggering £100million. The Italian midfielder will be expected to drive Spurs towards a return to European football.

There have been plenty of departures too, as Tottenham look to recoup some of their summer spending.

Luka Vuskovic heads to Brighton for £50million following his loan spell with HSV, while Will Lankshear joins Middlesbrough for more than £10million after impressing at Oxford United.

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Manor Solomon has also joined West Ham, Alfie Devine has moved to Preston North End, and Radu Dragusin heads to Fiorentina on loan.

After last season's chaos, Tottenham have certainly made their intentions clear: this time, there are no excuses.

Ones to watch

Words by Joshua Smith

Spurs' excitement continues with these three players to watch for this season.

De Zerbi has had an incredible first window, signing Mateus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali, Marco Senesi and Jan Paul Van Hecke to make progress on the good start the Italian had at the club in the few games he took charge of in the 25/26 season.

The transfer window so far for Spurs has been one of the most exciting ones of recent times.

The change in ownership power has seen more money pumped into revamping the squad, and with a strong squad and enough depth to go far in a season with no European competition, things are looking on the up.

Now, with a team that looks like it can compete for European places, here are three players to watch out for at Spurs this season.

My first pick to watch out for is Archie Gray. A wonderkid, no doubt, as well as being one of the top leaders of the group at such a young age, it seems as if the 20-year-old will be able to step up in his preferred midfield position this year.

Gray's best attributes are his range of passing up the pitch, as well as his positional awareness. He always occupies spaces that enable his teammates to either progress with the ball or bounce off him, something that the likes of Rodri and Fabinho were brilliant at in their peaks. It would not surprise me if rival fans start talking about the English youngster in those conversations in a couple of years' time.

With Tonali and Fernandes either side of him, and the addition of Van Hecke at centre-back, it seems as if Spurs have invested heavily around Gray for the England youngster to really shine this season and become one of the league's best midfielders.

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Watch this space.

My second choice to watch out for is Antonin Kinsky.

The young keeper's revival after the horror show of Atletico Madrid is nothing short of outstanding.

Originally brought in as a backup, the opportunities given to him after the woeful run of games from Vicario gave him the confidence to show everyone what he was about.

The support from fellow Spurs fans showed the faith had not been lost for the Czech keeper.

With some unbelievable saves and an overall very solid end to the season, it seems as if Kinsky will continue as the number one this season.

It is now his time to shine, and I think he will show himself to be one of the best keepers in the league this season.

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My third and final player to keep an eye out for is Conor Gallagher.

The Englishman has had a brilliant impact since De Zerbi took charge, showing great grit and determination in the midfield.

He is a De Zerbi style player with experience, and that passion and quality to win back and keep possession.

This season, having a physical midfield may allow Spurs to dominate games, and Gallagher will be a huge part of that.

Already being one of the most exciting players in pre-season so far, it would not be a surprise if we see Gallagher return to the previous levels he reached at Crystal Palace and Chelsea.

With how strong the recruitment has been so far, it feels like Spurs are one or two attacking signings away from having a strong top four contending squad.

The improvement on the past few seasons is huge.

The hype is already building, and these three players will be huge parts of that hype and rebuild in North London.

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Strongest XI

Words by Sam French

In goal, it looks likely that it may be Antonin Kinsky who starts as the club's number one keeper. It is not yet clear if Guglielmo Vicario will remain in London or if he will move on.

Kinsky was key to Spurs' survival last campaign and, having signed a new contract with Tottenham, it is clear that he has the trust of his manager and the club.

Spurs have strengthened defensively with several new arrivals.

It would be expected that new signing Jan Paul van Hecke will start at centre-back alongside the highly-rated and fellow Dutch international Micky van de Ven.

This comes following the departure of club captain Cristian Romero to Atletico Madrid.

At right-back, Pedro Porro possesses quality and will look to improve on his showings for Spurs last season. He returns to London as a FIFA World Cup winner with Spain. Porro also scored in Spain's semi-final win against France.

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Andrew Robertson and Destiny Udogie both offer strong options at left back and provide the ability to get forward and pose a threat higher up the pitch.

In the middle of the park, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes would both likely start in De Zerbi's strongest eleven.

Further up the pitch, there will likely be James Maddison. He missed virtually all of last season through injury and will be keen to prove that he can still compete as one of England's best attacking midfielders.

He brings some much‑needed creativity to the centre of the park and Spurs certainly did miss his creativity for most of last campaign.

The best forward line to start the season for Tottenham will likely be a front three of Mathys Tel, Dominic Solanke and Mohammed Kudus.

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Xavi Simmons remains out injured but he would offer another attacking threat once he returns to fitness.

Manager's tactics

Words by Olufunmilayo Olusanya

Tottenham Hotspur's 2025/26 Premier League campaign was defined by three head coaches and a desperate fight against relegation, ending in a second successive 17th-place finish.

Thomas Frank, appointed in June 2025, introduced a pragmatic, transition-focused style. Favouring a flexible 4-2-3-1 (occasionally shifting to 3-5-2), he prioritised long balls, width, crosses and aggressive pressing.

Set-pieces, coached by Andreas Georgson, became a major strength. However, limited central progression and struggles with possession at home contributed to his February dismissal.

Igor Tudor's brief 44-day interim spell centred on a high-intensity 3-4-2-1 system that dropped into a back five. He emphasised man-oriented pressing, physicality, vertical play and wing-back width, but injuries and limited time prevented consistent results.

Current manager Roberto De Zerbi took charge in late March with the side in the relegation zone.

He implemented a more controlled, possession-based approach built on short build-up from the back, press-baiting, and a 4-2-3-1 that often became a 3-2-5 in possession.

Simplified for survival, his methods improved ball retention, high recoveries and defensive solidity.

The season highlighted a shift from direct pragmatism to structured possession under extreme pressure.

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Expectations

Words by Sam French

The expectations amongst most Spurs supporters will be that this season simply has to be better than the previous two.

It will be unrealistic to suggest that Spurs will suddenly be competing for the league title because they have been well short of that level for a while.

They have drastically fallen behind their rivals and watching their closest rivals Arsenal lift the trophy last season will hurt them.

However, they have to not compare themselves with the Gunners at the moment.

That said, it could be argued that there will likely be an expectation and a pressure on Spurs to make a good start to the new season.

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This will be because they will not want to lose any ground on the teams they wish to be competing with and will not want to be looking down the table over their shoulder.

Brentford are their first opponents and it will not be an easy game but will be one that Spurs will be expected to win.

Progress does not always come immediately but managers in football do not get time to wait for progress.

De Zerbi will know that but he may also believe that after keeping Spurs in the league he deserves time to take them forward and make the fixes required.

A season of stability and one where the side is moving in the right direction would likely be the expectations.

It is not easy but a top half finish would represent success.

That said, some supporters may be more ambitious and believe that Spurs should be qualifying for European competitions again.

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De Zerbi has added quality and experience to the squad so the belief that this season can offer something different is built upon these foundations.

The first few weeks of the season may provide an idea of what exactly Spurs can achieve and if their new signings are able to make an impact from the start.

Fail to impress and the similar worries of the last two seasons could return.

Djed Spence is closing in on a move from Tottenham Hotspur to Inter Milan in a deal worth around €30–31.5 million, equivalent to roughly £25.6–27 million. Multiple reliable sources, including The Athletic, The Guardian, ESPN and Fabrizio Romano, have confirmed that talks between the clubs are advanced, with a verbal agreement reported on 12 August 2026.

Spence, the versatile England full-back, is keen on the switch and has already agreed personal terms with the Serie A champions. Inter require a replacement for Denzel Dumfries, who departed for Real Madrid earlier in the summer. The 26-year-old’s ability to operate effectively on either flank, combined with his prior Serie A experience during a loan spell at Genoa, makes him an attractive target for the Nerazzurri.

Squeezed Out At Tottenham

At Tottenham, Spence’s path to regular first-team football has narrowed under head coach Roberto De Zerbi. Pedro Porro remains the preferred right-back, while Destiny Udogie and new arrival Andy Robertson compete for the left-back role.

With Spurs not competing in European competitions this season, De Zerbi is understood to be open to allowing Spence to leave in search of consistent minutes.

From Middlesbrough To The World Cup

Spence joined Tottenham from Middlesbrough in 2022 for a fee of up to £20 million. After loan spells at Rennes, Leeds United and Genoa, he established himself in north London and earned a surprise call-up to England’s 2026 World Cup squad, where he started several matches, including the semi-final against Argentina. His performances raised his profile significantly.

Sell-On Clause And Rival Interest

Middlesbrough are expected to receive a percentage of any profit through a sell-on clause. While Premier League clubs such as Everton, Liverpool and Manchester United had previously shown interest, Inter have emerged as the clear frontrunners.

As of mid-August 2026 the transfer has not been officially completed, but the two clubs appear close to finalising the move that would see Spence return to Italian football.

Atlético Madrid have agreed a deal in principle with Tottenham Hotspur to sign Argentina international Cristian Romero. The package is valued in the region of £34.2 million (€40 million) including add-ons, with Spurs retaining a 15 per cent sell-on clause on any future transfer.

The 28-year-old centre-back has already agreed personal terms with the La Liga club and is expected to sign a four-year contract with the option of a further year. A medical remains the final major hurdle before the move can be completed.

From Atalanta To Spurs Captain

Romero has been linked with an exit from north London throughout the summer despite his contract running until 2029. He joined Tottenham from Atalanta in 2021, initially on loan before a permanent deal worth around £42-43 million.

Over five seasons he made approximately 156 appearances and scored 13 goals, establishing himself as a key defensive figure and later club captain.

Last season proved challenging. Romero was sent off twice during Tottenham's battle against relegation and missed the closing weeks with a knee injury. He recovered in time to feature prominently for Argentina as they reached the 2026 World Cup final.

Inter, Arsenal And Barcelona Miss Out

Several clubs monitored the situation. Inter Milan had previously agreed a similar fee with Spurs but failed to finalise personal terms. Arsenal showed late interest, though Tottenham were unwilling to sell their captain to their local rivals.

Barcelona's pursuit cooled, leaving Atlético in pole position. Romero had made clear his preference for a move to Spain and the chance to work under fellow Argentine Diego Simeone.

What The Deal Means

For Atlético Madrid, the signing would represent their fourth addition of the window and a significant reinforcement of the back line. For Tottenham, it marks another high-profile departure in a summer of transition.

With clubs aligned and the player keen, the deal appears close to completion pending the formalities.

West Ham have completed the signing of Tottenham Hotspur winger Manor Solomon, who has signed a three-year deal with an option for a further year.

Solomon becomes the Hammers' third permanent summer signing following Venezuelan Keiber Lamadrid and experienced defender Joël Veltman.

From Fulham to North London

The 27-year-old first arrived in England during the 2022/23 season when he joined Fulham on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk. That loan earned him a move to Tottenham Hotspur in 2023. However, he failed to impress in North London, only making six appearances in three years.

During that time, he went on loan three times. Firstly, to Leeds United, who at the time were in the EFL Championship. This was where he impressed, as he scored 10 goals and picked up 13 assists for the West Yorkshire side.

The next two seasons saw him go on loan to Spanish top-flight side Villarreal and Italian outfit Fiorentina. However, he struggled for game time and failed to impress during those loans.

Solomon eyes a fresh start

Despite the last few years, Solomon is looking to bounce back, and after signing, he spoke to the West Ham website about how much he is looking forward to playing for the East London club.

“I'm really happy to be here, happy to be a Hammer, and I can't wait to get started!

“I know West Ham has a rich history both in the Premier League and in Europe. It's a Club that won a European trophy just three years ago, and I think this is where the Club should be, and I'm here to help the Club to be where it belongs.

“I've spoken both with the manager and with Nils [Koppen]. They showed me the project, what they want to build there. Of course, our first task is to get promoted, to go back to the Premier League. I really like all the ideas and everything they have presented for me.

“I'll try to give my all in the first season and then in the seasons ahead. I want to be here for a long time, and I want to make the fans really happy.”

More West Ham business to come

The deal for the Israeli international will include a ten per cent sell-on clause and he is expected to complete his medical in the coming days, becoming their third summer addition following the arrival of Joel Veltman earlier this week.

His move to the London Stadium had been put on hold after the two clubs hit a stumbling block over the structure of performance-related add-ons, but Solomon is now expected to sign a three-year deal with an option of a further year.

The 27-year-old's arrival signals West Ham's intent on improving their squad before the deadline as they go in search of an immediate return to the Premier League.

Touching down on British shores

Solomon shone for Shakhtar Donetsk, having signed from Israeli outfit Maccabi Petah Tikva at the start of 2019, and he went on to secure three Ukrainian Premier League titles with noteworthy performances in the UEFA Champions League.

Among his highlights were standout goals against Real Madrid and Manchester City as he announced his name to the footballing world, subsequently securing a loan move to Fulham ahead of the 2022/23 season.

Solomon continued to show his attacking prowess, despite having the first half of his season curtailed due to a knee injury, and netted his fifth consecutive league goal in a defeat to Brentford to become the first Fulham player to achieve such a feat.

A free transfer to Tottenham Hotspur followed in the summer of 2023, a free transfer from Shakhtar due to the Russo-Ukrainian War.

He registered five Premier League appearances under Ange Postecoglou but his knee issues came back to haunt him again, an injury ruling him out in September for the rest of the season to halt his promising start to life in a Spurs shirt.

Loans to regain his best form

The road to recovery was a long one but he eventually returned with a loan spell at Leeds United, then of the Sky Bet Championship, for the 2024/25 campaign.

Solomon played an influential role in their return to the top flight, something he will be aiming to replicate in a West Ham shirt, with ten goals and 12 assists in the league as he played a starring role in Daniel Farke's side.

Stints at Villarreal and Fiorentina came last term but he had a mixed spell at both, although he was a more regular feature for the latter with 16 Serie A appearances and two goals.

Is east London the perfect move?

The fact that some Spurs supporters wanted to see Solomon as an attacking option for the forthcoming season speaks volumes about his impressive pre-season, as well as the player West Ham are getting their hands on.

Crysencio Summerville's departure was a setback, yet an inevitable one, and Solomon goes some way to softening the blow and filling the void left by the Dutchman.

The Hammers' attacking options are notably sparse and although Taty Castellanos and Jarrod Bowen are expected to carry the goal-scoring burden, Pablo and Maxwel Cornet are yet to prove themselves in claret and blue.

Solomon's ability to thrive in one-vs-one situations with his rapid acceleration and clinical finishing will prove a vital tool, not to mention his experience of securing promotion from this division during his time at Leeds.

Another string to his bow is his versatility across the forward line and while he will most likely be deployed as a left-winger in Nuno Espirito Santo's system, he can also fill in on the opposite flank and in attacking midfield.

A move back to the Championship may help revitalise Solomon's career after a stagnant 2025/26 and could play a pivotal role in orchestrating a promotion push.

Tottenham 1-1 Getafe: Gallagher's late strike rescues a draw  VAVEL.com

The former Tottenham Hotspur striker has enjoyed two excellent seasons in the Netherlands, netting 30 Eredivisie goals and playing an influential role in their first KNVB Cup triumph in 13 years last term.

While also establishing himself as the focal point of Ireland's forward line at international level, the Hammers have earmarked the 24-year-old as their primary forward target who has an £18 million price tag.

Everton, Leeds United, Porto and Stuttgart are all reportedly interested in the striker whose AZ contract lasts until 2029, but West Ham are willing to meet the asking price, potentially making him the Sky Bet Championship's most expensive signing.

Loans from Spurs gain valuable experience

Born in Dublin, Troy Parrott joined Spurs in the summer of 2017 and was quickly identified as a long-term successor to Harry Kane.

He began in their youth ranks before signing on professional terms on his 17th birthday in February 2019, an indication of how highly rated he was in north London.

His Tottenham debut came nearly three years later in a 5-0 win over Burnley before extending his stay as he penned a new three-and-a-half-year contract.

Ahead of the 2020/21 campaign, Parrott embarked on the first of several loan spells away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, making the move to Millwall.

However, he struggled for minutes so his season-long loan deal was cut short in order to sign for Ipswich Town where he made 18 appearances.

A successful stint at MK Dons followed, orchestrating their League Two play-off push with ten goals and seven assists, which led to Spurs again extending his deal in the summer of 2022 for a further three years.

His fourth loan spell in three years came with Preston North End and despite showing promising signs in 34 appearances, a knee injury prevented him from fully showcasing his true potential in Lancashire.

Move abroad proves vital for his development

All of Parrott's temporary moves had been within the Football League, but a move to the Eredivisie with Excelsior provided him with the perfect opportunity to kickstart his career overseas.

He did just that in a struggling side, netting 17 league goals yet wasn't able to save them from relegation.

Unsurprisingly, interest was rife in the Irish striker with the league's big-hitters eager to secure his signature and it was AZ who won the race in the summer of 2024 as Parrott permanently departed Spurs for £6.7 million.

He was an instant hit as he hit 20 goals across all competitions, including 4 UEFA Europa League goals as AZ reached the round of 16, before notching 16 in the league last term as they finished in seventh place.

This also sparked the best of his time on the international front as he asserted himself as Ireland's starting striker. He soon became a national hero by netting a hat-trick against Hungary to book their place in the play-offs for the FIFA World Cup, having scored a brace against Portugal only a few days prior.

A wanted man

Whether West Ham can land their target remains a big question with Championship football lacking the allure which top-flight sides possess.

The Hammers are particularly light in the forward department with Taty Castellanos and Niclas Fullkrug reportedly seeking a move away while Pablo has yet to hit the ground running since signing in January.

The arrival of Parrott would signal serious intent from West Ham as they aim to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking and a player whose goal-scoring exploits speak for themselves would go a long way to achieving that objective.

A return to London would certainly appeal to Parrott who would be front and centre of their promotion push.

Having only brought in one new face this summer in Keiber Lamadrid, West Ham are set to have a very busy end to the window as they aim to replace the key stars who have departed following relegation.