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Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly plotting an ambitious move to sign Paris Saint-Germain defender Illia Zabarnyi, after captain Cristian Romero completed his move away from the club.

Tottenham now have a decision to make over whether they replace the Argentina international or not, with fellow centre-backs Radu Dragusin and Ashley Phillips also departing the club this summer.

Spurs have already signed Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke to boost Roberto De Zerbi's central defensive options, with Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso and Ben Davies the other options able to play there.

That might be seen as being enough depth, given one of Senesi and Van Hecke are unlikely to start ahead of Van de Ven, but the north London outfit will also always be open to adding the very best players to a squad they want to launch up the Premier League table again after successive 17th-placed finishes.

According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham are showing interest in an ambitious move for PSG centre-back Zabarnyi, who only joined the Champions League holders last summer from Bournemouth.

Despite that, a move away from the Parc des Princes remains a possibility for the Ukraine international, although he could be forced to wait for other dominoes to fall first before an exit can materialise.

With Chelsea and Liverpool both showing previous interest but both currently not in the market for new centre-backs, there could be an opportunity for Spurs.

Zabarnyi Would be a Better Signing Than Tonali

Tottenham have made some hugely ambitious moves in the summer transfer market, especially given they only avoided relegation to the Championship on the final day last term.

Breaking their transfer record twice in a matter of days to sign Mateus Fernandes and then Sandro Tonali is proof of that, and they look well set up - in defence and midfield at least - to push for the European spots again next term.

De Zerbi wants to strengthen his attack next with Savinho and Cody Gakpo two key targets, but adding Zabarnyi to his backline would be a touch of genius.

PSG are the best team in Europe right now, and the Ukrainian centre-back started 26 of their Ligue 1 matches last term as they won the title.

Speaking after his PSG debut against Nantes, Luis Enrique said:

His technical and physical condition is perfect for the style of play I like. He's comfortable with the ball. And without it, he usually wins it back. He's had a very good game.

The 23-year-old was also part of a squad that won the Champions League for the second consecutive year, with that experience something that could prove invaluable to a Tottenham team who want to be on the up and ambitious again.

Zabarnyi now has that winning feeling and mentality that can be so attractive in a player, and he will have that hunger to keep winning titles and medals now.

Tonali is a great player and a great signing for Tottenham, don't get us wrong. But there is a reason why PSG signed Zabarnyi and Luis Enrique has shown big trust in him, and it's because he is a top operator who oozes class.

The quality and added competition he would bring at centre-back, with Tottenham's defence a real weakness in recent years, could be another game-changer for De Zerbi.

Newcastle United have reportedly made Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Lucas Bergvall their prime target to strengthen their midfield this summer.

The Magpies have been rocked this summer after losing Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes to Spurs and Arsenal, respectively, while Anthony Gordon, Kieran Trippier, and Eddie Howe have also all departed since the end of last season, with Matthias Jaissle stepping into the dugout.

The club had been looking at bringing the Sweden international into the club prior to Howe's departure, with a £46m bid rejected by the north London side, despite the player having asked to leave for more regular football elsewhere.

But after Howe departed St James' Park, there were question marks about whether they would continue to pursue their interest, while there were some suggestions that Roberto De Zerbi may have been able to convince him to stay until January.

However, according to The Sun, new boss Jaissle has come into Newcastle and has made the 20-year-old central midfielder a prime target to help with his midfield rebuild in this transfer window.

Tottenham are understood to value Bergvall in excess of £50m, and Newcastle must decide whether they will be willing to match that asking price to get a deal done, amid competition from the likes of Brighton and Nottingham Forest.

De Zerbi Wants Bergvall to Stay

Speaking earlier in the summer, De Zerbi made it clear that he wanted Bergvall to stay at the club, but also that he wouldn't stand in the Swede's way if he wanted to leave.

"I said 'Who doesn't want to stay in Tottenham, who is not happy, is not proud to stay here, has to leave'. I want proud players who are happy to stay here and to go on the pitch at Tottenham Stadium with a big motivation," he said.

"If you think also in the World Cup, the motivation makes the difference. The motivation is to be happy to stay in one team.

"I have not spoken with Lucas [Bergvall] yet, I will in the next days. And we will make the best decision for the club, for Lucas, for me, for every one of us. Without problems, Lucas is a big, big talent. There will be a big competition to play because, at the end, I think we will be two players for each position. If he wants to stay, I will be happy.

"Otherwise, we have to find a new solution with Johan Lange, with Vinai (Venkatesham). It's not my business after the decision to leave (if that happens)."

Since then, Bergvall has been a regular in pre-season, racking up 274 minutes across Tottenham's eight pre-season games. That was less than only eight other players.

Little Known Rule Plays Part in Deal

Newcastle's interest in Bergvall is long-standing this summer, and it has now emerged that they may have been forced to wait to push for his signing due to a little-known rule that has come into effect in this transfer window.

Under the newly enforced regulations from FIFA, if two clubs buy and sell from one another within a 45-day window, the transactions are officially classed as a 'swap deal' for accounting purposes. That will have had a big impact on Newcastle's books, considering they needed to sell to help balance them.

As of today (August 18), 43 days have passed since that deal went through, meaning the Magpies are all-but in the clear to get a deal done if they want to.

Jamie O'Hara has given his prediction of how the Premier League table will look at the end of the upcoming 2026-27 season and he's backing Tottenham Hotspur to majorly improve.

Spurs were last season's biggest disappointment, finishing 17th and avoiding relegation by the skin of their teeth on the final day. Roberto De Zerbi has since been backed in the transfer market with six new signings, including the club-record £100 million arrival of Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United.

The new campaign kicks off on Friday when defending champions Arsenal host newly-promoted Coventry City at the Emirates. O'Hara has also revealed whether he sees the Gunners lifting the title again come May next year.

O'Hara Predicts Premier League Top Six

Predicting the Premier League is a difficult task, given that there are often many surprises, such as Sunderland qualifying for the Europa League last season. Most fans are always keen to hear from former players and how they see their respective club performing over the course of 38 matches.

O'Hara gave his verdict on talkSPORT, starting with the top six and he believes his former club Spurs will be returning to European football: "Arsenal will win the league, Man City will finish second, Man United will finish third, Chelsea will finish fourth, Liverpool will finish fifth and Spurs will finish sixth."

The former Spurs midfielder won't have enjoyed choosing Arsenal as his champions but Mikel Arteta's men are heavy favourites to successfully defend their crown. They eased to a 3-0 victory over Manchester City in the Community Shield last Sunday and the Citizens have been expected to be their closest challengers.

City put in a lackluster performance that raised alarm bells as they enter a new era without Pep Guardiola in charge. Former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca succeeded the Spaniard earlier this summer and is tasked with building on the most successful period in the club's history.

Manchester United and Chelsea complete O'Hara's top four and that will be a job well done for Xabi Alonso at Stamford Bridge if it comes to fruition. The Blues faltered last season, missing out on Europe in dismal fashion before turning to the Spaniard.

Perhaps O'Hara's most controversial take is that he sees Liverpool finishing fifth. The Reds head into the new season with Andoni Iraola at the helm and the former Bournemouth boss is tipped to be a success at Anfield after replacing Arne Slot.

O'Hara explained to co-host Rory Jennings, who disagreed with his stance on the Merseysiders: "Liverpool ain't gonna be that great. The team's not there... I think he's (Iraola) a good manager but they've got a long way to go."

Spurs may be splashing the cash to rebuild De Zerbi's squad, but the North London outfit are outsiders to achieve European qualification. But without midweek football, they could enjoy a season similar to United's, who finished third last term under Michael Carrick.

O'Hara's Relegation Picks

Two newcomers avoided the drop last season after Sunderland pulled off a remarkable seventh-placed finish and Leeds United claimed 14th. West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers' spells in the top flight ended, while Burnley, were sent straight back down to the EFL Championship.

Coventry, Ipswich Town and Hull City will be hoping to replicate the Black Cats and the Peacocks and remain in the Premier League. While O'Hara believes Frank Lampard's Sky Blues are the strongest of the three newly-promoted sides, he doesn't have much confidence in any of them:

"Hull, Ipswich, I don't want to say Palace cos I think Palace will be alright. I don't think it's Newcastle (one of Jennings' picks)... I like Frank Lampard and I really want him to do well, I think they'll go down but I think they'll put up one hell of a fight."

Should Coventry stay up, O'Hara has concerns over Crystal Palace and believes they could be in trouble. But he has predicted all three newcomers to be relegated for just the third time in Premier League history.

Tottenham Hotspur have suffered a fresh blow in their bid to sign Manchester City winger Savinho, with new reports on Tuesday evening suggesting Jeremy Doku has suffered an injury.

Tottenham have been trying to bring the Brazil international to north London for most of the summer, as they also did this time last year, but they have so far failed to make a breakthrough in negotiations with the eight-time Premier League champions.

The word is that Enzo Maresca's want to land a replacement for the South American winger before they consider letting him join Spurs, which they are yet to do, with a fortnight to go until the transfer window closes.

Other reports have suggested that the 22-year-old could cost Tottenham as much as £85m, the same fee they paid for Mateus Fernandes, despite other stories earlier in the summer that he could be purchased for closer to the £60-70m mark.

Now, Belgian outlet Nieuwsblad are now reporting that Doku suffered a calf injury during his team's 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal on Sunday, and will be out for 'several weeks'.

While no timeframe has been given by the report from the winger's home country, it is said that he will definitely miss them hosting Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday in their Premier League opener.

Doku and Savinho both feature from the left-hand side for City, and should the former be confirmed to be out for weeks, it could increase the need for the club to keep hold of the Brazilian, especially as they are yet to sign his replacement.

Tottenham Suffer Double Winger Blow on Same Day

After a successful summer in the transfer market, frustrations will be high that Tottenham have failed to make progress on deals for Savinho or Gakpo.

Spurs will be hoping that the latest update on Doku doesn't completely kill a deal, but with a fortnight to go until the window shuts, it certainly raises more doubts over a deal they have failed to seal despite months of negotiations.

TalkSPORT journalist Alex Crook delivered more bad news for Tottenham fans on Tuesday, with his latest information about Gakpo.

All the talk has been that the Dutchman is keen on a move to north London and that the Reds would be willing to sell if they land Paris Saint-Germain duo Ibrahim Mbaye and Bradley Barcola, who they are in talks to sign.

However, Crook suggests that, after talking to Liverpool sources, the Reds believe that Gakpo could be a big player under Andoni Iraola this term, and that a move to Spurs is currently considered unlikely.

It won't be long before Tottenham need to turn to alternatives if they are unlikely to land either Gakpo or Savinho, and Pedro Neto of Chelsea could be a name to look out for.

The Portugal international is one of the players linked with a move to Manchester City in recent days as they look to land a new winger, but Fabrizio Romano has confirmed previously that he is also on Spurs' list as an alternGative option to Gakpo and Savinho.

Raiding their London neighbours would certainly be an interesting move, but Tottenham have shown already this summer they aren't afraid to show big ambition, as they did when they prised Sandro Tonali away from Newcastle.

Former Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior was certainly a huge fan of the former Wolves man.

“Pedro Neto brings us so many different qualities that we need.

For me, he’s a world-class player, a world-class winger. And what I love about him, as talented as he is and as gifted as he is, what he sacrifices for the team is top.

“He's going to be really, really important for us for where I think we can get to and what we can achieve for the rest of the season.”

Tottenham Hotspur's hopes of signing Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo before the September 1 transfer deadline are fading, according to one journalist.

After wrapping up six summer signings by July 6, Tottenham haven't made another signing in the 43 days since, albeit not for the want of trying.

Roberto De Zerbi has been determined to add both Manchester City winger Savinho and Liverpool attacker Gakpo to his squad ahead of the new Premier League season, although they have so far failed to make any progress in negotiations with their Premier League rivals, even though both players are said to be keen on a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs chiefs will still have high hopes of getting deals over the line considering the business they completed successfully earlier in the summer, but it is also getting to the stage of the window where they might have to consider alternatives.

As well as wanting to add two new wingers to the squad, there is also the chance that a new centre-forward arrives too, especially if Richarlison leaves.

The Brazil international is once again being linked with a move away from north London, with his former club Everton the latest to show an interest in the 29-year-old.

While a move for a striker could still happen, talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook has claimed, after speaking to sources at Liverpool, that Gakpo is expected to shine under Iraola at Anfield and that a move to Tottenham before September 1 is currently deemed unlikely.

If true, it could force Tottenham back to the drawing board, as frustrations continue over the time it is taking to get a deal for Savinho over the line.

Forget Osimhen: Tottenham Should Move for Ivan Toney

One of the strikers Tottenham have been heavily linked with in recent weeks is Victor Osimhen, who is said to be looking to play at an elite level again following a stunning spell with Galatasaray in Turkey.

There are some major obstacles in the way of Spurs, or any other Premier League team, completing a deal for the Nigeria international however, with the main issue being his high wages, according to GMS sources.

GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs played down links between the north London outfit and Osimhen on the Last Word on Spurs podcast last week, and then suggested that Ivan Toney could be a name to keep an eye on.

I would just keep half an eye on Ivan Toney as well, and the only reason I say that is because Matthias Jaissle has left Al Ahli.

"He's won back-to-back Asian Champions leagues. Yep, he got into the England squad being in Saudi Arabia, but at the moment, with a new manager and a lot of change at Al Ahli, is there a point where Toney says, 'I want to come back to England'.

"Whether it's this summer remains to be seen. Simply because when you speak to people around the player side, they go, 'He's just happy in Saudi Arabia, period, and he's well compensated'. But it's one just to keep a small eye on, because you may remember when Tottenham had that bid for Dom Solanke, and the first offer was turned down. Toney was the other alternative."

While there is no doubting Osimhen's ability after he was instrumental in Napoli winning Serie A, before netting 61 goals in 75 appearances for Galatasaray, it appears as though it would be a very difficult deal to pull off.

That might not be the case for Toney, who would also bring the Premier League experience that De Zerbi has shown he so often craves.

All of his signings have that, as do Savinho and Gakpo, and it is clearly something he values highly as he looks to take Tottenham back up the table.

Toney may be 30 years of age, but 72 goals in 94 games for Al Ahli and the fact he made England's 2026 World Cup show how highly he is still rated, with Al Ahli sporting director Rui Pedro raving over him earlier this year.

Tottenham star Guglielmo Vicario's move to Juventus is set to become official in the coming hours. It has been a busy summer for Spurs, who have been on a transfer rampage, splashing out more than £235million on Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke.

But Spurs have also done some smart free business that has included the signings of Martin Dubravka, Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson. Attention is now turning to the attacking positions, with wingers at the top of Roberto De Zerbi's list of priorities.

At this point, it's unclear whether Spurs will sign a new goalkeeper, but with Dubravka presumably signed as a number two, it looks likely Antonin Kinsky will be given the chance to be the number one based on some impressive performances at the back-end of last season.

Coming into the summer, it was always likely that previous starting stopper Vicario would be sold, with the Italian having been keen to return to his home country, and it now looks as though he will get his wish, but initially on a loan deal.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano wrote on X: "Guglielmo Vicario has signed his contract as new Juventus goalkeeper from Spurs. Free loan, €8m buy option clause not mandatory, €2m add-ons."

Spurs will have wanted to bring in some immediate cash for Vicario, but they have settled for a loan deal with the potential of a future sale. Vicario has been a fine servant for Tottenham, although he battled injury issues last season. The Italy international has been with Spurs since 2023, making 93 league appearances so far.

“You talk about a sweeper keeper, I've never seen anything like that. He's been an absolute revelation since he came to Tottenham.” - Jamie Carragher in 2023

Even amid reports of wanting an exit last season, Vicario clearly cared plenty about Tottenham's fate, seen watching the season finale intensely on the sideline, rather than the bench, and celebrating with De Zerbi as though Spurs had won a title rather than securing Premier League safety.

Vicario has been an important player for Spurs

Former Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou regularly described Vicario as 'outstanding'. He said after one game in 2023: "Vic was outstanding today with a couple of brilliant saves. He’s been brilliant from day one for us.”

Spurs legend Les Ferdinand said in 2025: “Not the best at crosses but in terms of shot stopping he’s up there with the best and he showed that tonight. We looked at his percentage of when he plays and you can see why Spurs were desperate to get him back – he makes those important saves.”

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly eyeing a surprise move to sign Aston Villa star Emi Martinez this summer.

The Lilywhites have had a busy summer window with six new arrivals at the club, including breaking their transfer record twice to bring in Mateus Fernandes from West Ham, and then Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United for a combined £185m.

Spurs have also completed a deal to bring in goalkeeper Martin Dubravka on a free transfer, while they have now also agreed a deal with Italian giants Juventus that will see Guglielmo Vicario depart on an initial season-long loan deal, with an option to make the move permanent next summer.

Goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky has signed a new long-term contract in north London and has been expected to be the new number one goalkeeper for the 2026/27 campaign after his strong end to last season, but it is now claimed that they could be looking for someone more established.

According to a report by Football Insider, Spurs are now exploring a move to sign Villa's World Cup-winning stopper Martinez before the September 1st deadline.

Villa had been adamant that they were going to keep the experienced goalkeeper this summer, rejecting a number of offers earlier in the window. However, Martinez has made it clear that he wants to leave for a new challenge, and Unai Emery has now moved to bring in a new number one in Zion Suzuki, as exclusively revealed by GIVEMESPORT.

With the Japan international now set to be first-choice at Villa Park, Martinez is allowed to leave, but Juventus' interest in the former Arsenal man has now ended following talks, with Vicario set to head to Serie A instead.

Reports claimed that Aston Villa wanted just €10m (£8.7m) to let him leave for Juventus, but it's unclear if they would be willing to accept the same fee from a Premier League rival.

Spurs are still in the market to strengthen their squad, with the attack understood to be a main priority for Roberto De Zerbi. Talks are ongoing with Man City over an £85m deal for Savinho, who has asked to leave, while there is big interest in Liverpool star Cody Gakpo too.

Martinez Move Would Be Odd for Spurs

Martinez has been widely considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world for a number of years, being described as 'world-class' by Sky Sports pundit Dan Bardell in the past.

But over the last 12 months in particular, Martinez has struggled to recapture the form that made him so good, being open to more errors and being less reliable fitness wise.

Spurs have shown that they believe in Kinsky by handing him a new contract, and the manager has praised him massively publicly as recently as this month, saying:

“I think he can improve in build-up a lot. A lot. But he will reach, for sure, the top," he said.

"Working with the goalkeeper coach and me, we will create the training just for him to better understand the free player, to understand better everything he needs. He is very clear with the pass, but he can become faster in the decision in build up.

"He has all qualities to become one of the best, also in the build up, the distribution."

All of that suggests that Kinsky is someone Spurs want to hand an opportunity too, and bringing in Martinez would just block that pathway once more. There's no doubting his ability, but at this stage of the squad's rebuild and transformation, it would simply be a very odd move.

Tottenham Hotspur have been busier than ever before in this transfer window and six new players have arrived in North London.

As it stands, the Lilywhites have spent £237 million to give Roberto De Zerbi a squad that can compete for Europe next season. Sandro Tonali (£100m), Mateus Fernandes (£85m), Jan Paul van Hecke (£52m), Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson and Martin Dubravka (all free) have joined the club.

The main goal for De Zerbi and his players is to return to the top four or five but some of his squad are now under pressure to prove their worth. The Lilywhites' transfer business doesn't look to be finished amid links with Liverpool's Cody Gakpo and Manchester City's Savinho.

Should the attacking duo arrive, that will only further leave several Spurs players battling for their futures. Here are four members of De Zerbi's squad who need to shine or risk heading for the exit door this time next year.

Rodrigo Bentancur

There has already been talk of Tottenham looking to sell Rodrigo Bentancur during this summer transfer window, let alone next year. The Uruguayan midfielder endured an injury-ridden season last time out, making 26 league appearances.

With Spurs splashing the cash on Tonali and Fernandes, Bentancur is now at risk of falling down De Zerbi's pecking order. On his day, he was a marvelous footballer, but fitness struggles have been all too constant, and he hasn't exactly become one of the best midfield talents in the top flight.

Tonali is set to anchor the midfield, handing Bentancur a rotational role that he'll have to make the most of. The 29-year-old's days in North London look numbered unless he can win De Zerbi over ahead of the final year of his contract.

James Maddison

Spending the majority of last season on the sidelines, it's been a tough year for James Maddison, who watched his teammates nearly suffer relegation. The English attacking midfielder only appeared three times due to a cruciate ligament tear but he's back ahead of a fourth season with Spurs.

Maddison could be handed the captain's armband following Cristian Romero's move to Atletico Madrid. He is a hugely popular figure at the club and now 29 will be a leader in De Zerbi's squad.

That said, if the former Leicester City man doesn't quickly get back to his best he might lose his place in the starting XI. Xavi Simons will be desperate to take the number 10 role, and it could lead to the Englishman bidding farewell next summer.

Dominic Solanke

As it stands, Dominic Solanke looks likely to be De Zerbi's starting number nine this season, but he needs to prove he can deliver prolific numbers. With just three goals in 15 league games last season, his availability is a concern, as is his consistency.

Spurs spent £65m on Solanke in the summer of 2024, bringing him to North London from Bournemouth. They seem keen to pull off a similar deal for one of the Premier League's rising stars Junior Kroupi.

Fortunately for the English frontman, the Lilywhites have reportedly shelved their pursuit of Kroupi until next year due to his pre-season injury. That gives him the opportunity to impress De Zerbi and fire his side back into Europe, but his future will be thrown into doubt if he doesn't soon replicate his form shown at the Vitality.

Richarlison

One of English football's most villainised players, Richarlison gets too much flak compared to other attackers and that's because of his larger-than-life personality. The Brazilian registered a decent tally of 11 goals in 32 league games last season but it will have to be a special season for him to still be at the club next summer.

Richarlison's contract is up next year and there's been no indication that an extension is on the way. There's been more talk of a possible exit this summer, with Everton continuously linked with their former forward.

The 29-year-old left the Toffees for the Lilywhites in the summer of 2022 for £60m. De Zerbi could benefit from his versatility, but with Gakpo and Savinho on the club's radar, he could face an uphill battle for game time and a new contract.

The new Premier League season is almost upon us and Tottenham Hotspur open their account with the short trip across London to take on Brentford on Saturday evening.

Pre-season is complete, everything now is geared towards that season opener and Roberto De Zerbi getting the new season up and running with three points.

After back-to-back 17th-placed finishes in the Premier League, things could not get much worse for Spurs, save for suffering relegation, which they just managed to avoid on the final day of last season by beating Everton 1-0.

De Zerbi will be tasked with getting Tottenham back towards the top of the table once more and challenging for the UEFA Champions League spots.

In trying to do that he has made a swathe of changes to the squad he inherited from Igor Tudor at the end of March. Eleven players have been moved on, with the two loanees - Joao Palhinha and Randal Kolo Muani - not returning to the club either. Six new players have arrived and there are expected to be more incoming and outgoing deals completed before the summer transfer window closes on September 1.

With the new season just five days away for Spurs have completed their pre-season preparations and GIVEMESPORT takes a look at what we and De Zerbi will have learned from it.

Tottenham need a striker

Ok, so this is hardly something we learned in pre-season, we knew this before the summer, but with the season almost here, it's crystal clear that one piece of transfer business remains unattended.

Spurs had Richarlison and Dominic Solanke in their ranks last season, with Kolo Muani able to play through the middle too. Now, with the ineffective Frenchman gone, the emphasis is on just Richarlison and Solanke.

De Zerbi remains unsure as to whether Richarlison actually wants to stay at the club, while Solanke has hardly played in pre-season - continuing to have injury problems that blighted his 2025/26 campaign.

Solanke can be the perfect No.9 for De Zerbi, if he stays fit, but there is a clear need for another striker to arrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer.

Central defence hint

There has been no sign of Micky van de Ven in pre-season so far. And with Cristian Romero departing the club for Atletico Madrid this summer, you would have thought the Dutchman would be the first name on the teamsheet at the back against Brentford.

New signings Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi were paired together in the 3-0 win over Hoffenheim on Saturday and played 81 minutes together.

It appears they will be the first choice pairing for the opening game of the season, with van de Ven edged back into contention as the weeks go on and increasing his minutes over time.

Sandro Tonali is the real deal

Tottenham supporters will be expecting a lot from Sandro Tonali, since he has become the club's first £100million player - providing the add-on bonuses are met over time.

Speaking after the win over Hoffenheim on Saturday, football.london's Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold said: "The 26-year-old will become Spurs' metronome. He will dictate their rhythm, their tempo and the way that Roberto De Zerbi's team will play. The Tottenham boss has wanted Tonali to play for him for years and finally he has taken charge of a club with the means and willingness to make it happen.

Tonali is not a headline maker. He won't score many goals or crunch into tackles but he is the conductor of the orchestra.

The Italian will have got up to speed with 90 minutes in that match and will be a key component of the way De Zerbi wants his Spurs team to play football.

Who else plays in midfield?

Tonali was joined in the middle of the park by Conor Gallagher and Lucas Bergvall on Saturday, with fellow new signing Mateus Fernandes, James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr playing against the same opposition on Sunday.

De Zerbi has a wealth of options in that area of the pitch and it will be interesting to see who gets the nod alongside Tonali. If De Zerbi plays his 4-2-3-1 formation, you'd imagine Tonali will play in one of the more reserved roles, with Maddison, if deemed fit enough, the creative link to play in the 10. That means Bergvall, Bentancur, Fernandes, Sarr and Gallagher, as well as Archie Gray who filled in at right-back on Saturday, are all fighting for one other position. The strength in depth is hugely encouraging.

Attack needs work, but it could be very exciting

If Spurs do sign a new No.9, they will not stop there. There are plans for the Lilywhites to bring in three new signings before the transfer window shuts, with two side forward also on the agenda.

It just would have been nice to get all of the business wrapped up before the season began, after starting the window so promisingly with that influx of defensive and midfield signings.

Tottenham are in advanced talks with Manchester City and Liverpool over the signings of Savinho and Cody Gakpo respectively and it would make for a very exciting frontline and squad in general if Spurs do get three attacking signings over the line before September 1's deadline.

Tottenham are still looking to add at least three new faces to Roberto De Zerbi's squad before the summer transfer window closes. And those three new signings will all be in forward positions.

Spurs have done some excellent business in the transfer market already this summer, backing their new head coach with more than £230million of investment in the playing staff.

Six players have arrived at the club, with Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke the big-money arrivals. But as with any overhaul, departures are necessary and 11 players have also been allowed to leave.

Forward signings are a necessity at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Tottenham are in talks with Manchester City over the signing of Savinho - someone they came close to signing last summer only for a deal to fall through at the last moment - and are also in talks with Liverpool over a move to sign Cody Gakpo.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Spurs want to sign both, and are keen on adding a central striker to their ranks too.

Ask any Spurs supporter and they will tell you the side is lacking firepower and that a club looking to make inroads at the top of the table again cannot be going into a new Premier League season with only Dominic Solanke and Richarlison as the recognised strikers.

De Zerbi is not even sure if the Brazilian will still be at the club once the transfer window shuts on September 1.

I like him as a player and as a guy. He's unbelievable in terms of attitude and behaviour. But, in the end, we have to respect what he wants to do. I didn't understand well because sometimes he says he wants to stay, sometimes he wants to leave. We have to speak anyway. There is not any problem. He's a lovely guy.

Richarlison was the club's top scorer in what was a dismal 2025/26 campaign, netting 12 goals - 11 coming in 32 Premier League appearances, although nine of them came in just 20 starts.

Solanke's season was beset by injury, meanwhile, with Spurs' record signing before the arrivals of Fernandes and Tonali only managing 12 starts, scoring six goals.

And while Spurs may be in the market for a new No.9, it is Solanke who has already shown, despite the lack of minutes last season, that he can be the answer to De Zerbi's problems...providing he is fit.

Speaking about Solanke during Spurs' pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia, De Zerbi said: "I like him as a player, I like him as a guy. There are not many strikers better than Dom Solanke in the Premier League.

"I think he changes the quality of performances depending on the confidence he feels. First of all, we have to finish the transfer market and then we speak better about Solanke.

Anyway, I want to keep him, because I like him as a player, he's complete as a striker. He can attack the space, he can cover the ball, he's able with the ball to link, he's able to score 15 to 20 goals in the Premier League.

Solanke will run and run, pressing high and working hard for his team, something De Zerbi demands in his players at a very basic level. And he has shown, with six goals in 12 starts last season and 16 goals and eight assists in 37 starts in 2024/25 that he can be the main man for the Italian.

In fact, he is one of the most accurate strikers in the Premier League, according to the stats.

His numbers for 2025/26 are skewed somewhat by his lack of minutes, but it is clear when he gets chances he scores them, according to StatsMuse at least.

Spurs have been linked with the likes of Mateta and Thiago in this window, as they look to add firepower to their attack. With question marks over Richarlison's future, and with Solanke still seemingly not fit, De Zerbi cannot make the decision not to sign another centre-forward.

However, when he is fit, it is clear to see that in Solanke, De Zerbi has a striker who can do exactly what he needs him to do.