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Dominic Solanke, James Maddison, Destiny Udogie and Mateus Fernandes are all fit enough to be in the squad for Spurs. However, Micky van de Ven, Pedro Porro and Pape Matar Sarr will miss the game because of injury.

De Zerbi has named Van de Ven as his new captain for the 2026-27 campaign, and also listed Porro, Ben Davies, Maddison and Archie Gray as replacement skippers.

The Italian said it was "not right to speak about players until they are official" when asked about Tottenham's links to Manchester City's Savinho.

De Zerbi confirmed he and the board are "working very well" in the closing stages of the transfer window, during which six players have joined so far.

He explained: "We have spoken a lot of times in the summer. It is a connection. It is the connection between the people inside the club and I think we are closing out the first target we ever had in our plan."

De Zerbi said Spurs "can't forget what happened" last season and that it was a "big lesson" for his side. "We're building a new project. The first target is very clear: to find the soul of the team. The second target is to improve in our organisation with and without the ball. Our style has to be the key to our season."

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Omar Marmoush is primarily a number nine, but he has rarely been confined to one role across the front line.

At Frankfurt, he was used predominantly through the middle but also appeared as a second striker and from the left. Manchester City have followed a similar pattern, using him mainly as a central attacker while also deploying him from the flank and just behind another forward.

That flexibility could suit Roberto de Zerbi. His teams have often relied on forwards changing positions, dropping towards the ball and then attacking the space created when opponents are drawn out. Marmoush is comfortable doing both.

Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha sees the Egyptian as most dangerous when he is able to threaten the space beyond the defence.

"As much as he is good dropping towards the ball, I think he is better when he plays on the shoulder," he said.

"He needs to be in a team that will constantly play balls in behind and force the opposition to run back towards their own goal. That's when you see a better version of Marmoush."

Opta's Premier League numbers from last season show he averaged 11.46 runs in behind per 90 minutes, almost identical to Dominic Solanke's 11.61 and ahead of Richarlison's 10.03. But he also offered considerably more with the ball.

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Tottenham's 1961 Double-winner Terry Dyson has died at the age of 91.

Spurs have paid tribute Dyson, who made 209 appearances and scored 55 goals for the club across a 10-year spell.

The forward was a key figure in Bill Nicholson's 1960-61 side who were the first English team in the 20th Century to achieve a First Division and FA Cup double.

One of his defining moments occurred two years later when he scored twice in a 5-1 victory over Atletico Madrid to secure European Cup Winners' Cup success.

"The club is extremely saddened to learn of the passing of our former player Terry Dyson at the age of 91," a Tottenham statement read.

"Our deepest condolences are with Terry's family and friends at this incredibly sad time."

Dyson remains the only Tottenham player to score a hat-trick against north London rivals Arsenal - at the start of the 1961-62 campaign.

Tottenham are in talks with Manchester City over a double deal for forwards Savinho and Omar Marmoush.

Sources have told BBC Sport that negotiations between the clubs are progressing, although an agreement is yet to be reached.

Spurs' interest in Brazilian winger Savinho dates back to 2025, when the 22-year-old opted to remain at Etihad Stadium, but he was limited to just seven starts in the Premier League last season and he is now minded to leave the club.

Marmoush fell out of favour under Pep Guardiola in 2025-26 and the 27-year-old has managed eight goals in 36 appearances in all competitions.

City's valuation for the pair is unclear, but the club would expect to make a significant profit on both.

Would you like to see the pair at Tottenham this season? Where would they fit in Roberto de Zerbi's plans?

Tottenham are in talks with Manchester City over a double deal for forwards Savinho and Omar Marmoush.

Sources have told BBC Sport that negotiations between the clubs are progressing, although an agreement has yet to be reached.

Spurs' interest in Brazilian winger Savinho dates back to 2025, when the 22-year-old opted to remain at Etihad Stadium.

But he was limited to just seven starts in the Premier League last season, and is now minded to leave the club after joining for a £30m fee in 2024 from French club Troyes.

Marmoush, a £59m signing from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2025, fell out of favour under Pep Guardiola in 2025-26 and the 27-year-old managed eight goals in 36 appearances in all competitions.

City's valuation for the pair is unclear, but the club would expect to make a significant profit on both.

Tottenham head coach Roberto de Zerbi has revamped his midfield this summer, signing Mateus Fernandes from West Ham and Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for a combined £185m.

But the Italian has stressed the need to strengthen his attack following the side's 17th-placed finish in the Premier League last term, scoring just 48 goals in 38 games.

Spurs remain interested in Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, but it is unclear whether the club could finance a deal for the Netherlands international as well as moves for Marmoush and Savinho.

City have already sold a host of players this summer, including Rodri, midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and second-choice goalkeeper James Trafford.

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When you look at Roberto de Zerbi, his first stint at Brighton was something that was very transformative to the Premier League.

Many of the coaches adopted his baiting-style of build-up and his idea to punch the passes through the middle of the pitch really quickly.

What we have seen in pre-season is an adaptation and a focus on building upon what he did at the end of last season, which is a more simplistic view.

But he did not come in and simply try to shut up shop and get easy points, he looked to build out from the back and use that short build-up. That tactic is still very key to his side.

What I have noticed is his awareness that teams are pressing man-for-man in a really aggressive manner. There has been a focus on building through the middle, but also on building out under pressure using the same ideas in wide areas.

Those moves tend to finish with the wingers one-v-one, so De Zerbi is not just using his principles through the middle but also through the wide areas to still arrive in the final third really quickly and really aggressively.

A lot of the top coaches have one set style of play in mind - and De Zerbi has certain principles - but a few years ago he said: "When you're building the play, if the rival doesn't pressure us intensely then we slowly move the ball up the pitch. When they do pressure us, then we can make some passes, dribble and play more vertically."

He is a coach who adapts how his team builds up and plays depending on how the opponent defends, which is slightly more reactive and adaptable.

The biggest challenge is teams will increasingly sit back and almost ask his players to break them down, knowing what De Zerbi prefers to do, so it is all about how he then looks to break down stubborn defences that sit lower.