TEAMtalk

Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has already suffered his first transfer blow, with the Italian media claiming that Michele Di Gregorio has decided that he will not replace Guglielmo Vicario at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

TEAMtalk’s transfer insider, Graeme Bailey, reported on February 24 that Tottenham are ready to sever ties with Vicario at the end of the season.

Sources told us at the time that the Tottenham hierarchy have already decided that they would sell the Italian goalkeeper this summer.

Brighton and Hove Albion’s Bart Verbruggen, Manchester City’s James Trafford, Robin Roefs of Sunderland and Lens star Robin Risse are among the goalkeepers that Spurs are looking at for next season and beyond.

TuttoSport has now backed our claim about Vicario being on his way out of Tottenham, with the Italian publication also revealing that the north London club are looking at a potential deal for Michele Di Gregorio.

Di Gregorio had a loan spell at Juventus from Monza during the 2024/25 campaign and made the deal permanent last summer.

The 28-year-old Italian goalkeeper, who started his career at Inter Milan, is under contract at Juventus until 2029.

De Zerbi knows all about Di Gregorio from his time in Italy, and while the newly-appointed Tottenham boss would love to bring his compatriot to the Premier League, TuttoSport has claimed that the 28-year-old has no plans whatsoever to swap Juventus for Spurs.

The Turin-based publication has noted: ‘The Premier League can wait. DiGre, in fact, sees only Juventus in his future. This is why he has put offers from across the Channel for the Juventus goalkeeper on hold.

‘Among the clubs monitoring the Juventus number 16 is Tottenham Hotspur. The London club intends to change goalkeepers this summer (Guglielmo Vicario is pushing to return to Serie A and has been flirting with Inter for months) and has a great admirer in new manager Roberto De Zerbi.

‘This appreciation could lead Spurs to take to the field with safety assured to try and bring the goalkeeper to the English league.

‘It’s a shame for Spurs that Michele Di Gregorio currently only has eyes for the Old Lady.’

Want more breaking transfer lines from original sources? Add TEAMtalk as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust.

Latest Tottenham transfer news: Star wants exit, Barcelona raid

Meanwhile, a pundit has named the Premier League goalkeeper that Tottenham should sign and make him their number one between the posts.

A Tottenham first-team regular wants to leave, and there are several clubs that are ‘ready’ to make a move for him once the summer transfer window opens.

The prospects of Roberto De Zerbi sticking around as Tottenham Hotspur manager if he fails to keep the club in the Premier League have been assessed – and iconic former Spurs star Teddy Sheringham has exclusively revealed how he sees things playing out.

A disastrous season has seen Tottenham plunge into significant relegation danger, and having failed to win a Premier League clash since December 28, the club are now winless in 14 games and staring relegation firmly in the face. Falling out of the top flight would be the first time the club has suffered such a fate since 1977 – some 49 years ago.

To try and arrest their slide, Spurs have appointed Italian manager De Zerbi as their new head coach, the 46-year-old signing a massive five-year deal through to summer 2031 and heavily incentivised with a massive survival bonus.

However, after another toothless display saw Spurs lose 1-0 on De Zerbi’s first match in charge, away to Sunderland, many observers believe the club may be too far gone for De Zerbi to save, and that their chances of dropping into the second tier are advancing by the week.

As a result, questions have been raised over whether the Italian, who managed Marseille in the Champions League this season and sees himself as being of that level, would stick around if they dropped out of the top tier.

Asked by TEAMtalk on what he expects to happen, legendary star Sheringham offered a strong opinion and admitted the loss to Sunderland will increase fears that they could go on a run akin to that of the last manager, Igor Tudor.

“First things first, they’ve got to stay up – that’s the priority,” Sheringham exclusively revealed in association with BestBettingSites.

“Things can go bad – he could have a run like Igor Tudor and get one point from six games, and then you don’t know…”

However, Sheringham insisted that he fully expects De Zerbi to stick around regardless of the club’s status and pointing to the length of contract he agreed to.

“If someone’s getting a five-year deal, you’d like to think they’re staying on, but you never know in this game. I’d think he’ll be there whether they stay up or go down.”

With regards to transfer targets and improving on what has been in truth a dismal season, Sheringham insists everything depends on Spurs’ status next season, adding: “Then it’s about the calibre of player coming in – but that depends whether they’re in the Premier League or the Championship.”

GO DEEPER: Tottenham relegation chances now clear thanks to point-by-point survival guide

De Zerbi: One win needed to change Tottenham’s fortunes

De Zerbi, however, made it very clear that he intends to honour his deal after being unveiled as Spurs’ third manager of the season earlier this month.

And that stance is unlikely to alter after Sunday’s loss at Sunderland, which leaves the club two points adrift of West Ham.

Reflecting on that loss, De Zerbi believes his side – winless since December 28 – just need one win to change their mentality and boost their survival hopes.

“We have to be stronger. I spoke to the players five minutes ago, and I said the same,” De Zerbi told Sky Sports following the defeat on Wearside.

“I understand everything, I can understand it’s been a tough season. We are going through a tough moment for everyone. But we have to react, we have to react with enthusiasm, the right spirit. They showed that today. I can’t say anything about that.

“What we have to do is just work, just transfer what I think. I’m an honest man, I’m telling you what I think, what my opinion is. We have big players, but now they are in a bad moment. There’s results, the part of the season. But we have to work on one win. With one win, we can change everything this season.

“I have 24 hours in a day. It’s not a problem of time. I want to find the right way to reach the heads of my players. I’m honest. When I say we created two or three chances in the first half with Udogie, Richarlison, Solanke – we did the same what we’ve done in the week. For that, the qualities of the players are great, but not enough.

“Now we have to believe more in ourselves and our teammates. The crucial part is to win one game. One game, one game, one game.

“In terms of style of play, we can play much better than today. But after five or six training sessions, it’s difficult. The problem is not a style of play; the problem is the mental part. Together, we have to stay focused to win one game.”

Tottenham latest: Carragher, Neville assess relegation; Barcelona midfielder eyed

Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur are heading for the Championship and will unlikely win another game this season, according to a sickened Jamie Carragher, while Gary Neville has explained why the “unthinkable” can happen for the fallen Premier League giants.

Elsewhere, should Spurs stay up, the club are reportedly interested in signing a Barcelona midfielder this summer – and it’s believed a low fee could see them consider the sale of the talented Spain international.

In other news, Tottenham are reportedly ‘in talks’ to sign a Premier League sensation in what could prove a record deal this summer.

However, he will likely come in as a replacement for an emotional Spurs lynchpin, who looks likely to be one of the first major names to leave the club this summer.

Leeds go into a crucial clash away to arch rivals Manchester United on Monday evening knowing survival is very much in their hands and with a delve into the history books showing exactly what they, West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur must all do to avoid relegation.

The fight to stay in the Premier League looks poised to go down to the wire after another weekend of twists and turns in the top flight. While Wolves and Burnley now looked doomed to be playing Championship football next season, it remains uncertain which of four sides will join them in the second tier.

Sitting on 33 points and three clear of the drop zone, Leeds United head to Old Trafford on Monday evening in the best shape of all four sides.

A win could take Daniel Farke’s six clear of the drop, and while a tall order against Michael Carrick’s in-form side, Leeds take on basement boys Wolves on Saturday, meaning they now play twice before Spurs – the side currently sat 18th – kick a ball again.

Win both, and Leeds will be nine clear with five games remaining, putting Premier League survival very much in their hands.

West Ham also did their hopes the power of good with a thumping 4-0 win over Wolves, to move out of the drop zone, while Nottingham Forest picked up a battling point at home to Aston Villa.

Now, a dive into the history books shows exactly what each club’s chances of survival are and depending on the points tally they finish on.

Carragher turns on Tottenham as O’Hara slams five shocking stars

Meanwhile, a fuming Jamie O’Hara has now accepted Spurs will probably go down, fearing new manager Roberto De Zerbi is not a miracle worker and claiming that the team are carrying several “shocking” stars and naming five of them who he rates as simply not good enough.

At the same time, Jamie Carragher has delivered a relegation verdict on Spurs that will leave their supporters feeling sick as a first demotion from the top flight since 1977 looms large.

Elsewhere, Leeds and Spurs are both battling to sign the same player from Manchester City this summer, with a new report backing up what TEAMtalk were saying back in February about the £30m-rated star.

A fuming Jamie O’Hara has now accepted Tottenham Hotspur’s relegation from the Premier League this season, fearing Roberto De Zerbi is not a miracle worker and claiming that the team are carrying a number of “shocking” stars following their latest loss at Sunderland.

Winless in the Premier League across the calendar year, and having last tasted victory in the competition on December 28, a 1-0 loss at Sunderland on Sunday means Tottenham Hotspur are now staring down the barrel of relegation and no longer have their fate in their own hands.

Sat 18th, and two points from safety, they are next in action on Saturday evening when they take on Brighton in what is now a must-win game. And by the time that fixture rolls around, they will not have enjoyed a three-point Premier League haul in an astonishing 111 days; a run that is now the third worst in Premier League history since the turn of a calendar year.

With all the signs now pointing towards the drop, a raging O’Hara has exploded over a series of struggling Spurs stars and fears that the club are unable to count on new manager De Zerbi even giving them a new manager bounce.

“Absolutely shocking. Spurs didn’t deserve anything from the game. It sums up Spurs this season. They did absolutely nothing, offered nothing,” a raging O’Hara began on Sky Sports.

“Non-existent performances all over the park. Conor Gallagher, shocking. Randal Kolo Muani, shocking. Dominic Solanke, shocking. Richarlison, shocking. Destiny Udogie, shocking.

“You can’t carry six players when you are fighting relegation! You have to fight and put in a performance.

“Absolutely woeful again. I can’t believe how bad this team have got. De Zerbi is a good manager, but he can’t produce miracles; the players have to produce for him.

“Nowhere near good enough. The quality on the pitch is non-existent. These players have fallen so far off from where they think they are as footballers.

“I am not seeing anything from this team that warrants staying in the Premier League. There is nothing that says they can stay up. There isn’t enough fight, quality or passion.

“For the majority of the game, I couldn’t believe what I was watching. These players are nowhere near it.”

DON’T MISS: Jamie Carragher delivers damning Tottenham relegation verdict that will leave supporters sick

Tottenham relegation? O’Hara rates survival chances at just 10 per cent

In light of their winless run and in the games to come, O’Hara feels Spurs now have just a 10 per cent chance of avoiding the drop.

“They have not won this year,” he added. “It will be April 18 next weekend and Spurs haven’t won in the Premier League.

“Where are the points coming from? They need seven or eight points. Where are they coming from? I can’t see it.

“The players are not good enough and are not producing. Pumped by Nottingham Forest and beaten by Sunderland. West Ham have got fight. Forest picked up another point. Leeds have fight and have energy at home.

“I don’t see anything from Spurs to say they can get out of this. I cannot believe how bad this team have got.

“De Zerbi hasn’t got the players. I think you could see a style of play from Tottenham; he knows what he is doing in terms of how he wants them to play.

“A slower build-up and possession-based. You could see what he is trying to do but you have to rely on the players to put in a performance.

“What can you do as a manager? You are waiting to get beaten as they are not producing quality on the pitch. There is not enough quality. The players, it’s remarkable, the performances they are putting in at this stage of the season and what is on the line.

“Solanke, £60m Spurs paid for him! He was meant to be Harry Kane’s replacement, but it looks like he’s forgotten how to play football.

“Solanke’s performance today needs to be studied. It’s one of the worst performances I’ve seen. It’s remarkable some of the football I’ve seen. De Zerbi must be scratching his head.

“We don’t deserve anything from the game – Kinsky was the best player! I couldn’t believe what I was working. De Zerbi is not a miracle worker.”

Want more breaking news lines from original sources? Add TEAMtalk as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust.

De Zerbi seeking change of mindset

Despite that, De Zerbi himself is refusing to throw in the towel and believes one win is all it takes to change the club’s thinking.

“We have to be stronger. I spoke to the players five minutes ago, and I said the same,” De Zerbi told Sky Sports.

“I understand everything, I can understand it’s been a tough season. We are going through a tough moment for everyone. But we have to react, we have to react with enthusiasm, the right spirit. They showed that today. I can’t say anything about that.

“What we have to do is just work, just transfer what I think. I’m an honest man, I’m telling you what I think, what my opinion is. We have big players, but now they are in a bad moment. There’s results, the part of the season. But we have to work on one win. With one win, we can change everything this season.

“I have 24 hours in a day. It’s not a problem of time. I want to find the right way to reach the heads of my players. I’m honest. When I say we created two or three chances in the first half with Udogie, Richarlison, Solanke – we did the same what we’ve done in the week. For that, the qualities of the players are great, but not enough.

“Now we have to believe more in ourselves and our teammates. The crucial part is to win one game. One game, one game, one game.

“In terms of style of play, we can play much better than today. But after five or six training sessions, it’s difficult. The problem is not a style of play, the problem is the mental part. Together, we have to stay focused to win one game.”

Latest Tottenham news: Emotional lynchpin to leave; talks on for Prem sensation

Meanwhile, should Spurs stay up, Tottenham are reportedly ‘in talks’ to sign a Premier League sensation in what could prove a record deal this summer.

However, he will likely come in as a replacement for an emotional Spurs lynchpin, who looks likely to be one of the first major names to leave the club this summer.

Elsewhere, the club are reportedly interested in signing a Barcelona midfielder this summer – and it’s believed a low fee could see them consider the sale of the talented Spain international.

Tottenham Hotspur are heading for the Championship and will unlikely win another game this season, according to a sickened Jamie Carragher, while Gary Neville has explained why the “unthinkable” can happen for the fallen Premier League giants.

Despite being regarded as one of the Premier League’s traditional ‘big six’, Spurs are in massive danger of the drop, with Sunday’s 1-0 loss at Sunderland ensuring they are now 18th in the table and, for the first time this season, no longer have their own fate in their hands.

Having now gone 14 games without a victory – the third longest by any side in Premier League history since the turn of a calendar year – Tottenham Hotspur are now staring down the barrel with demotion to the second tier, for the first time since 1977, now a very feasible scenario for a club that many feel boasts the best stadium in world football.

Spurs now have six games left to save themselves, and, by the time they face Brighton in their next game on Saturday, it will be 111 days since their last Premier League victory.

After surveying that toothless loss at the Stadium of Light, though, Carragher has delivered a worrying relegation verdict that will leave their fans, just last season celebrating a first major trophy in 17 years, feeling a little sick inside.

“I can’t believe it. Tottenham look like they’re going to go down,” Carragher told Sky Sports. “The other [relegation-threatened] teams have something going for them.”

Spurs still have both Wolves (20th) and Leeds (15th) to play this season, potentially handing them hope, though the Sky Sports pundit doesn’t even think they will have enough to see off the division’s bottom side, so bad have they been…

“You look at fixtures, you think that’s a good game for Tottenham. But they’re awful. Tottenham’s a good game for them.

“Wolves are bottom of the league. Do you think Tottenham will go there, and win? No chance.”

DON’T MISS: Tottenham insider tells De Zerbi Prem No.1 would be ‘monumental improvement’ on Vicario, Kinsky

Gary Neville on why the ‘unthinkable’ could happen at Tottenham

Carragher’s colleague, Neville, meanwhile, believes the race for survival is arguably as interesting as the race for the title, claiming that Spurs will be the biggest ever side to face demotion in Premier League history if they succumb to the drop.

Assessing what will be a “monstrous moment”, Neville said on the Gary Neville podcast: “It’s as interesting as the title race.

“The Spurs question – can they go down? Will they go down? Is this the biggest club that’s ever gone down in Premier League history?

“Aston Villa are a massive club, but Tottenham have been in Champions League finals in the last five, six, seven years, and won the Europa League last year, this would be a monstrous moment.

“Some say it would be good for the game because it would demonstrate competitiveness, that anybody can go down in the Premier League, just as when Leicester won it. It was the most phenomenal story that anybody can win the Premier League.

“I actually like what De Zerbi did today on paper, putting Kolo Muani, Solanke and Richarlison up front as a three-pronged attack. It didn’t have great balance, but I thought that they would potentially cause more problems.

“They’ve lost at Sunderland, and they’ve got big matches to come. The unthinkable could happen.

“I think they’ll just get out of it, but I’ve got no confidence to sit here and say Tottenham are safe right now.

“Everyone knows they’re in massive trouble, and it’s the unthinkable.”

Jamie O’Hara, meanwhile, has ranked Spurs’ chances of Premier League survival at just “10 per cent” and believes new manager Roberto De Zerbi is not able to work “miracles”.

“They have not won this year,” he said. “It will be April 18 next weekend, and Spurs haven’t won in the Premier League.

“Where are the points coming from? They need seven or eight points. Where are they coming from? I can’t see it.

“The players are not good enough and are not producing. Pumped by Nottingham Forest and beaten by Sunderland. West Ham have got fight. Forest picked up another point. Leeds have fight and have energy at home.

“I don’t see anything from Spurs to say they can get out of this. I cannot believe how bad this team have got.”

Tottenham latest: Talks on for Prem sensation; Barcelona star wanted

Meanwhile, should Spurs stay up, the club are reportedly interested in signing a Barcelona midfielder this summer – and it’s believed a low fee could see them consider the sale of the talented Spain international.

In other news, sources can name the two rivals that will contend with Spurs for the signing of Andy Robertson this summer. And despite De Zerbi greenlighting the move, Tottenham must battle Celtic and a surprise Championship side for the Scotland captain’s signature.

Elsewhere, Tottenham are reportedly ‘in talks’ to sign a Premier League sensation in what could prove a record deal this summer.

However, he will likely come in as a replacement for an emotional Spurs lynchpin, who looks likely to be one of the first major names to leave the club this summer.

A Tottenham insider has told the club a Premier League No.1 would be a “huge improvement” on current options Guglielmo Vicario and Antonin Kinsky.

Spurs are having a woeful season, once again in danger of Premier League relegation. While they had a dalliance with it last season – finishing 17th but never in any real danger of the drop – this season they are very much embroiled in danger.

They began their 32nd game of the season in the drop zone, after West Ham climbed above them following a battering of Wolves on Friday, and ended it in the same position, losing 1-0 to Sunderland.

Nobody has had a good season at Tottenham, but goalkeeper Vicario has been pulled up for his lack of form, and a new stopper is being eyed as a result.

James Trafford is one of the main names linked with Spurs, given he largely sits on Manchester City’s bench, and reports suggest they might allow him to go out on loan.

But Wenham feels there’s a Premier League No.1 who could do a job.

He told Tottenham News: “On the goalkeeper situation, James Trafford has been linked heavily, and I think he’d be very good, and he would come because he wants to be a number one.

“He would be promised that at Tottenham, he would play all 38 league games next season without any injuries, but the other one I think is also worth a shout is Dean Henderson at Palace. I could see Spurs also looking at him.

“I do think they will have an English goalkeeper next season, and I think it will be one of those two that Tottenham do go for, it would be a monumental improvement on what we’ve got now, which is a situation where I expect both Vicario and Kinsky to leave in the summer.”

Want more breaking transfer lines from original sources? Add TEAMtalk as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust.

Vicario must go

Kinsky was embarrassed when he was hooked in the first half of the first leg of a Champions League game against Atletico of late, when two mistakes led to goals for the Spanish side.

With Vicario injured for the Sunderland game, Kinsky returned between the sticks, and made just a single save from two Black Cats shots on target.

Whether both keepers do leave remains to be seen, but Wenham seems adamant that Vicario must.

He suggested of late that he and fellow Italian Destiny Udogie should be two of the first men out of the door this summer.

Wenham said: “It’s interesting, the two Italian players in the squad, being an Italian in De Zerbi, are still two that I think should be moved on this summer.

“Vicario, just for all manner of reasons, and Udogie, he’s a very good player, but he cannot stay fit; he’s just too unreliable.”

Reports have suggested that Henderson is indeed in the sights of Tottenham, so that move is one which may have legs.

Tottenham round-up: Rivals emerge for Robertson

After Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson announced he’d be leaving the club at the end of the season, it was suggested that Tottenham had a verbal agreement to sign him.

TEAMtalk is aware that while Spurs have stepped up plans to land him, they’re not the only side in the mix, with Celtic and Robertson’s former club Hull also interested in him.

Elsewhere, Spurs are believed to be in talks to land Premier League defender Marcos Senesi, from Bournemouth.

Clubs are reportedly “ready” to secure the services of a Tottenham stalwart who insider Pete O’Rourke states “wants to be playing at the highest level.”

Spurs could genuinely be a Championship club next season. For a lot of the season, they’ve not been good, and pressure has ramped up to the point that they are now in the relegation places and two points from safety.

With six games left, it’s now an uphill battle to survive, and should they fail to do so, some big players will be out the door quickly.

It’s been suggested Cristian Romero – who was visibly emotional when he had to be subbed off in the loss against Sunderland on Sunday – is going to be one of the first to go, and insider O’Rourke has suggested that his exit could be to a big club.

He told Football Insider: “Yeah, look, a move will be on the cards for sure if Tottenham do end up suffering relegation.

“Obviously, speculation’s rife again after his father came out and revealed that there is a release clause in Romero’s contract. Apparently, he could leave this summer for around £37million to £53million. We didn’t get an exact number on that.

“This Romero one will probably roll on into the summer and there’s an indication that the player is ready to move on, which I’m sure he wants to be playing at the highest level.

“I’m sure there’ll be clubs ready to sign the Argentina international.”

Want more breaking transfer lines from original sources? Add TEAMtalk as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust.

Romero’s father confirms exit potential

Indeed, there is no specific figure known in regards to Romero’s release clause, but that he has one in his Tottenham deal was revealed by his own father.

Victor Romero said of late: “He has two [three] more years on his contract with Tottenham and a very high release clause.

“The English club isn’t going to let him go for free; it’s between $50-70m [£37.8m-£53m].

“For me, they’ll want to recover what they invested.”

Should Tottenham drop down to the Championship, Romero will surely hope that there are clubs prepared to pay that clause, as a player of his quality shouldn’t be playing second-tier football, but his exit isn’t as simple as it could be.

Tottenham round-up: Barcelona star interest

Reports have stated that Tottenham are interested in Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado, with a fee of €40million (£34.9m) potentially enough to convince the Spanish club to sell.

Meanwhile, with Andy Robertson set to leave Liverpool in the summer, Spurs are the frontrunners for his signature, but TEAMtalk is aware Celtic and former club Hull are also on the left-back’s tail.

Also in defence, talks have reportedly begun for Tottenham to land Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi.

Tottenham are reportedly interested in a Barcelona midfielder, and it’s believed a low fee could see them consider the sale of the Spanish international.

Spurs are in a mire which, if they get out of, will likely see a lot of personnel change over the summer. Should they escape relegation trouble, new boss Roberto De Zerbi will surely want to sign some better players than the ones he’s got.

If Tottenham drop to the Championship, then most of their squad will leave.

The current plan is for option A, though, and some big names have been linked with moves to north London.

Tuttomercatoweb reports Spurs and fellow Premier League club West Ham are interested in prising midfielder Marc Casado away from Barcelona.

Atletico Madrid are also said to be keen on Casado, who this season has started just nine times for Barca in La Liga.

Expected change in the Tottenham side means they might be able to give the Spanish international more of a role than he currently has.

Want more breaking transfer lines from original sources? Add TEAMtalk as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust.

Low fee could tempt Barcelona to sell

The report suggests, though, that the ‘most concrete option’ for Casado could come from Saudi Arabia.

There, the PIF are reportedly ready to put €40million (£34.9m) on the table for the Barca man.

It is suggested that the sum could push the Spanish side to consider the sale of the 22-year-old.

It’s not a huge sum of money, though, and Tottenham could certainly pay that, so it’s by no means a certain thing that Casado will end up in Saudi Arabia rather than north London.

Tottenham round-up: Competition for Robertson move

Tottenham are believed to have struck a verbal agreement with Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson over a move to the club after he confirmed he’d be departing Anfield in the summer.

However, TEAMtalk is aware that Spurs will face competition for that signing from Celtic, and Robertson’s former club, Hull.

Elsewhere, reports suggest Tottenham have begun talks to bring Bournemouth centre-back Marcos Senesi through the door.

Tottenham Hotspur have reaffirmed their agreement with Andy Robertson – with Roberto De Zerbi now sanctioning the move – after the Scotland international confirmed his Liverpool exit this summer, TEAMtalk can confirm.

Spurs had already reached an understanding with Robertson earlier this year as they made a move to sign him in January, and sources have confirmed that the arrangement remains fully active following both De Zerbi’s arrival and the player’s confirmation this week that his time at Anfield is coming to an end when his contract expires.

Sources understand that Tottenham have now stepped up their plans to move for Robertson after De Zerbi made it clear he is keen to bring the experienced left-back to the club.

Indeed, the Italian believes Robertson’s leadership and top-level pedigree could prove invaluable as Spurs look to reshape their squad.

The 31-year-old is seen as a player who can immediately strengthen the dressing room as well as the starting XI, with Tottenham placing significant value on his Premier League and European experience.

However, Spurs are not the only club with interest. Celtic have not abandoned hope of bringing Robertson back to Scotland, while his former club Hull City are also monitoring the situation closely.

We understand that Hull have made it known internally that, should they secure promotion to the Premier League, they would be keen to put forward an offer. The Tigers currently sit in the final Championship play-off spot with four games of the regular season left to play.

Despite that, Robertson’s camp have reiterated that their agreement with Tottenham – first reached in January – remains in place and has not been affected by recent developments.

There is also an added layer of intrigue surrounding Spurs’ own situation.

Sources indicate that even in the event of relegation, Robertson would still consider a move to north London, underlining the strength of the agreement already in place – although all parties remain hopeful that scenario will not come into play.

With De Zerbi now fully on board and pushing for the deal, Tottenham appear well positioned to follow through on their long-standing interest – though rival suitors are ensuring the situation remains one to watch closely heading into the summer window.

Meanwhile, Spurs’ first test of their survival credentials under De Zerbi will come at Sunderland on Sunday afternoon, with the club having dropped into the bottom three after West Ham crushed Wolves on Friday night.

Want more breaking transfer lines from original sources? Add TEAMtalk as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust.

More Tottenham news: Centre-back signing talks; Serie A star targeted

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly in close contact with the agents of one of the Premier League’s top centre-backs, who is ready to green-light an exit this summer.

Elsewhere, Spurs are stepping up their plans to strengthen at the heart of their defence this summer, and TEAMtalk can reveal that a top Serie A defensive star is firmly on their radar.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly in close contact with the agents of one of the Premier League’s top centre-backs, who is ready to green-light an exit this summer, although they will have to beat out competition from Manchester United and Chelsea to get a deal done.

Should they secure safety under new boss Robert De Zerbi, Spurs are expected to undergo a massive overhaul to an under-performing and injury-ravaged squad in the upcoming transfer window.

Securing survival is, of course, that main objective, starting with Sunday’s trip to Sunderland, especially with Tottenham now having slipped into the bottom three after West Ham’s rout of Wolves on Friday night.

Defensively, the north London outfit have been pretty shambolic for much of the campaign, with much-vaunted centre-back pairing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven playing well below their usual standards – when they’ve not been suspended or injured.

Both will definitely leave if Spurs go down, while there is a chance they could even go if the club stay up. Either way, De Zerbi is expected to sign at least one new central defender this summer, and the latest reports suggest a move for Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi is very much on the cards.

Italian journalist Matteo Moretto claims that the club’s new Italian boss will be given the tools to oversee an overhaul of his squad, with Tottenham firmly in the mix to sign Argentina international Senesi, alongside United and Chelsea.

Indeed, Moretto reports that Spurs chiefs are in ‘close contact’ and that ‘talks’ are taking place to secure a deal for the 28-year-old, who has been outstanding for Andoni Iraola’s men this season.

Want more breaking transfer lines from original sources? Add TEAMtalk as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust.

Senesi ready to make huge transfer call

The Italian adds that the Premier League trio are ‘ahead of any other clubs in the race for his signature’, with the player now ‘about to’ make a decision on which club he is going to join.

Making that decision when it comes to joining Tottenham would be a big call from Senesi, although it’s hoped that De Zerbi will be a determining factor in that, given the free licence he gives centre-backs to play out from the back in his fluid system.

Of course, there is the major worry that Senesi could opt for Man Utd, given they are closing in on a return to Champions League football, though the way Chelsea hoard players these days is hardly an attractive selling-point for the Stamford Bridge outfit.

And while the report adds that Senesi’s transfer decision is ‘close’, it doesn’t make an awful lot of sense as to why he would want to make it now when there are still weeks of the season to go and so much remains undecided – especially when it comes to Tottenham’s Premier League status.

Any move for Senesi would almost certainly smash the club’s transfer record for a player TEAMtalk revealed earlier this month is also a major target for Liverpool.

However, objective number one is to remain in the top flight and then go to work on summer business from there.

Get the inside story first by joining our TEAMtalk Facebook channel to receive the latest breaking and exclusive news straight into your Messenger inbox.

More Tottenham news: Celtic raid; Romano revelation

Tottenham identify second summer signing with record-breaking Celtic raid lined up – report

Tottenham strike ‘agreement’ to sign legend as Fabrizio Romano reveals ‘all terms in place’