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Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on making a key addition for Roberto De Zerbi after reaching a verbal agreement behind the scenes.

De Zerbi has already made a big impact on the Tottenham training ground in his first week working with his players, with one individual believing his opening session was 'outstanding'.

The Spurs players now need to act upon the Italian's instructions, starting with the trip to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

The north Londoners slipped into the Premier League's relegation zone following West Ham United's 4-0 thrashing of Wolves in the capital on Friday night, which has left De Zerbi's men two points from safety with seven matches left to secure survival.

GIVEMESPORT sources revealed that De Zerbi's contract does not contain a relegation release clause, with the 46-year-old already confirming that he will be in charge next season no matter which division they find themselves in.

Behind the scenes however, Tottenham chiefs are already working on how they will give their new manager the best resources to work with next term, should they remain in the top flight.

Tottenham Reach 'Verbal Agreement' for Celtic-Linked Star

While Tottenham have been linked with a move for Celtic star Benjamin Nygren in recent days, they have also reached a 'verbal agreement' to sign Andy Robertson from Liverpool, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The move will happen, subject to Spurs preserving their Premier League status, with the Scotland international already giving the green light for a switch to London should that happen.

Tottenham came close to signing the 32-year-old during the January transfer window, but the Reds were unable to source a replacement for the Scot and he ended up remaining at Anfield.

However, his summer exit when his contract expires was confirmed recently, with a move to Spurs already lined up should De Zerbi stop them dropping into the Championship.

Robertson Agreement a Blow for Celtic

Given his exploits for Scotland and his previous Scottish Premiership experience, there appeared to be a feeling that Robertson could be tempted to move back north of the border with Celtic in the summer on a free transfer.

Reports in January suggested that Celtic were lining up an ambitious move to bring the defender back to Glasgow, after he grew up as part of the club's academy.

A separate report said that the left-back was open to a switch to Parkhead, given his emotional connections and the fact it could allow him to finish his career in his home country.

The Hoops secured the signing of Kieran Tierney in similar circumstances when he left Arsenal to rejoin the Glasgow giants in 2025, but they aren't set to repeat it with Robertson, as things stand.

Of course, the 32-year-old will be back on the table if De Zerbi is unable to save Tottenham, which could put Celtic back in contention for his signature.

If Robertson really is open to joining the Bhoys, they must go all out for him should he become available again.

Tottenham get back to Premier League action after a three-week break on Sunday as they make the long trip north to take on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

It is a huge weekend for Spurs with new permanent head coach Roberto De Zerbi taking charge of his first match, aiming to move the Lilywhites away from the relegation zone.

Spurs are staring down the barrel of a first relegation out of the English top flight since 1977, struggling at the bottom of the table with just seven games of the season to go.

Italian De Zerbi has been tasked with saving the club between now and the end of May and then rebuilding over the summer during the transfer window, with the former Brighton & Hove Albion boss handed a five-year contract in N17.

Tottenham Defenders Likely To Choose Themselves

All eyes will be on his starting lineup in his first match in charge of the club and who his immediate favourites in the squad are following a first week on the training ground.

The Italian has tended to favour a 4-2-3-1 formation in his previous roles, although he did transition to a 3-4-3 at Marseille too.

The first question comes in between the sticks, with Guglielmo Vicario undergoing hernia surgery during the international break in the hope of not missing too much time in the run-in.

The keeper will miss the game with the Black Cats, although could return to action for the game with Brighton next week. That means Antonin Kinsky is set to face Sunderland.

Ahead of him, De Zerbi should have a first-choice back line to choose from and it would be an unexpected decision if he did not pick Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie as his defensive quartet.

It's further forward where there are some more interesting question marks.

Choosing a double pivot comes next and one of the choices is a no-brainer: Archie Gray.

The youngster has been the standout performer in a struggling Spurs side for weeks and scored for England U21s during the break, giving him even more confidence heading into a first game under De Zerbi. He is one of the first names on the teamsheet.

The big question comes alongside him. De Zerbi could go for a very youthful double pivot and throw Lucas Bergvall in there, although the Swede is only just returning from injury.

Pape Matar Sarr was the one under Igor Tudor, although he flattered to deceive somewhat. Rodrigo Bentancur would be a seemingly obvious choice, but he's not ready to return from injury just yet, with Joao Palhinha perhaps not having the mobility that De Zerbi might demand.

New Signing Could Be Left On the Bench

Conor Gallagher was a big-money signing in January, but he may be ousted by a man unlikely to have a future at Spurs beyond the end of this season in Yves Bissouma should he be available on Wearside. He did not play under De Zerbi at Brighton, but has the bravery and ability on the half turn to fit perfectly into a De Zerbi system.

In the three ahead of those two, Xavi Simons has a huge role to play, having been pushed to the side somewhat under Tudor. The Dutchman can drive Tottenham forward and could be a crucial player for De Zerbi moving forward.

Either side of him De Zerbi likes his wingers high and wide and being direct, with the ability to come inside too. Mathys Tel should be a shoo-in for a start, as would Mohammed Kudus, were he not injured. As would Wilson Odobert, or Dejan Kulusevski.

De Zerbi may be forced to play a winger who does not quite fit his plans for these games in the form of Richarlison, with no other options, with Dominic Solanke the focal point up front.

Tottenham Hotspur are in close contact with the agents of Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi, and he is about to green-light a move, according to Italian journalist Matteo Moretto.

Tottenham slipped into the Premier League's relegation zone on Friday night as West Ham United recorded a convincing 4-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the London Stadium.

Spurs are now two points from safety heading into their crucial clash against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, in Roberto De Zerbi's first match in charge.

While optimism will be higher among Tottenham's ownership and the fans after they landed their top managerial target, this is still a team that is without a league win in 2026 and whose confidence is on the floor following a 3-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest before the international break.

De Zerbi must pick them up quickly with seven cup finals to come, as he will be desperate to avoid a devastating relegation to the Championship despite insisting he will manage the club there should the worst happen come what May.

Off the pitch, work will be beginning on giving the Italian the best tools possible to revive Tottenham in terms of squad changes.

Tottenham Ahead in Marcos Senesi Race

According to the journalist, Tottenham, along with Premier League rivals Manchester United and Chelsea, are in close contact to sign Bournemouth star Marcos Senesi ahead of the summer window.

The English trio are said to be 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.

Moving to Spurs would be a big leap of faith from the Argentine, given he is not close to knowing which division Tottenham will find themselves playing in next season.

It would take a De Zerbi-like commitment for the 28-year-old to pick the north Londoners over United or Chelsea, but perhaps his potential new manager can work his magic during talks.

Tottenham Facing Defensive Overhaul

Should Tottenham remain in the Premier League or not, it is clear that their defence could be an area where there is quite a lot of change during the summer.

Number one goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was said to be 'determined' to leave the club prior to De Zerbi's appointment, and has reportedly agreed personal terms to join Inter Milan in the summer.

Captain Cristian Romero has long been linked with a move away and there are surely doubts over his future, while Micky van de Ven will want to be playing Champions League football at this stage of his career, even if GIVEMESPORT sources understand that Tottenham could demand a potential British transfer record fee for his sale.

While Spurs and De Zerbi wouldn't want to lose either player, should a sale or two happen it would mean that a new centre-back is needed, and Senesi would bring a wealth of Premier League experience with him to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

A transfer decision appears to be close, so it will be interesting to see where Senesi ends up playing next term.

Tottenham Hotspur are actively scouting Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini ahead of the summer, according to reports.

The north London club have identified the 22-year-old Italy international as a potential reinforcement to Roberto De Zerbi’s backline, along with Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke.

De Zerbi is said to be particularly keen on Scalvini’s arrival, and Spurs are believed to be doing extensive background work on the defender.

Scalvini, who has three goals in 22 Serie A appearances this season, is under contract until the summer of 2028.

Tottenham Actively Scouting Giorgio Scalvini

According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham are looking to bring in a new central defender this summer and have discussed a number of names as part of their ongoing search.

Spurs are preparing for potential departures in the position, amid continuous uncertainty surrounding the futures of captain Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.

While there is optimism internally about Luka Vuskovic’s return from his loan at Hamburg, Tottenham have earmarked at least one new centre-back as their top priority, with Scalvini among those being eyed.

The 22-year-old, praised as a ‘world-class talent’, has no shortage of admirers in the Premier League, with Newcastle believed to be among those tracking him for several years.

Tottenham Open to Romero Exit?

Tottenham could seriously consider letting Romero depart following the Argentinian’s frustrating campaign in north London.

Amid the club’s poor Premier League form, Romero has been subject to criticism over his defensive displays, as well as discipline, having picked up eight yellow cards and two red cards in just 22 top-flight appearances.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Spurs could look into Romero’s future after the season amid continuous interest from La Liga giants Atletico Madrid.

The Lilywhites are in a strong position regarding the 27-year-old defender, who is under contract until the summer of 2029.

Why Scalvini Fits Into De Zerbi’s Plans

Amid Tottenham’s admiration for Scalvini, we asked ChatGPT to explain why the 22-year-old defender could be a perfect signing for De Zerbi:

Tottenham Hotspur have a verbal agreement in place to sign Liverpool star Andy Robertson this summer, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The north London side are frontrunners to land the Scottish international on a free transfer, with his end-of-season departure from Liverpool already confirmed.

Romano suggests Robertson has earmarked Tottenham as his preferred destination, provided they avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Spurs have dropped into the bottom three for the first time this season after West Ham’s 4-0 win over Wolves on Friday.

Tottenham Reach Agreement for Andy Robertson

According to Romano, Tottenham have verbally agreed a move for Robertson ahead of the summer, but the deal will depend on whether they are able to retain their Premier League status.

Robertson, along with star forward Mohamed Salah, will be departing Liverpool at the end of his contract in June and was targeted by Spurs during the winter transfer window.

Liverpool refused to entertain an exit as they were unable to secure a replacement in time, with a move to bring back Kostas Tsimikas from his loan at Roma falling through.

Robertson has been below summer signing Milos Kerkez in Arne Slot’s pecking order for much of the season, making just six Premier League starts and another 13 appearances from the bench.

The 'elite' Scotsman joined Liverpool from Hull City in the summer of 2017 and has lifted nine major titles during his stay at Anfield, including the Champions League in the 2018/19 season.

Tottenham Interested in Celtic Star

Amid their ongoing Premier League survival battle, Tottenham are starting to assess potential reinforcements to Roberto De Zerbi’s squad next season.

According to reports, the Lilywhites have registered their interest in Celtic star Benjamin Nygren and are among the clubs closely monitoring the Sweden international.

Spurs consider Nygren a cost-effective addition to the squad and could strike a deal in the region of £26m, with Celtic open to an off-season sale.

Nygren, who joined the Hoops from Danish side Nordsjaelland last summer, has registered 19 goals and eight assists in 50 appearances in all competitions this season.

Roberto De Zerbi will need, and expect, to make big changes to the Tottenham Hotspur squad in the summer transfer window, if he keeps the Lilywhites in the Premier League at the end of the season.

The Italian is set to arrive in N17 this week, signing a five-year deal to replace Igor Tudor as the club's new permanent head coach.

Having initially wanted to wait until the end of the season before assessing his managerial options, Spurs made a breakthrough in negotiations with the former Brighton boss earlier this week, with an agreement in place for the 46-year-old to take over immediately.

His first job is to get Tottenham out of trouble at the bottom of the Premier League table. With just one point and one place separating the club from the bottom three, Spurs are perilously close to relegation, which they simply cannot afford.

But if he does manage to guide them out of trouble, attention will soon turn to the transfer market and what he can do to turn the club's fortunes around after what will have been back-to-back bottom half finishes in the top flight.

GIVEMESPORT understands that De Zerbi will be given control when it comes to signings, so who could he bring in and what could the club's starting XI look like under the new boss?

New Goalkeeper Set To Sign

De Zerbi is well known for playing out from the back, with emphasis on ball-playing defenders and goalkeeper. He needs players he can trust with the ball at their feet in his back-line and that could lead to big changes in N17 this summer.

Guglielmo Vicario has been linked with an exit and is unlikely to fit into De Zerbi's style, given his poor distribution. Antonin Kinsky may not fit in either, given his poor performance in the Riyadh Air Metropolitano against Atletico Madrid.

Lucas Chevalier has been linked with a shock exit from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, having fallen out of favour at the Parc des Princes in the second half of this season. He has been linked with Tottenham and could join the De Zerbi revolution.

He would certainly fit the bill, with only Barcelona's Joan Garcia having a higher pass success rate in the top five European leagues so far this season.

In Defence Of The Spurs Defence

As a volatile character himself, De Zerbi may not want to butt heads with a fiery captain as well in the form of Cristian Romero. But as a World Cup winner he may be just what the Italian wants and needs at the club.

Romero has often been linked with leaving Spurs and while he has a long contract at the club still, GIVEMESPORT understands there is a willingness from Spurs to negotiate with interested parties over a transfer this summer.

If the Argentinian departs, Spurs will need a new right-sided centre-back, unless De Zerbi wants to promote Kevin Danso to the starting lineup. One player who shone under the Italian at Brighton, and would be an excellent addition in N17, is Jan Paul Van Hecke.

The 25-year-old would make it a young, all Dutch defensive duo alongside Micky van de Ven and would be a more than suitable replacement for Romero.

The full-back areas are where Spurs are quite blessed when it comes to players who can play in De Zerbi's system, with Pedro Porro, Djed Spence and Destiny Udogie all capable of shining in a new system.

Midfield Overhaul At Tottenham

The midfield might be where some real cosmetic work needs to be done in the transfer market, although perhaps not when it comes to the starting XI.

In a 4-2-3-1 formation, De Zerbi will find two fit, young players who are good on the ball and can work between the defence and attack that can easily slot into his favoured system. Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall are those two players. Gray has shown himself to be a leader, despite his tender years this season and some stability will see his star continue to rise. Bergvall has had a tough season, but will likely challenge for a spot in the double pivot with Rodrigo Bentancur, who has shown multiple times he can deal with the ball in tight situations.

Joao Palhinha's loan deal may not be made permanent, while Conor Gallagher may find his options limited under De Zerbi too. Yves Bissouma is out of contract and on the way out, leaving room for additions to come in.

Bournemouth's Alex Scott would be a canny signing, having been linked with Spurs in the past, too.

How The Frontline Might Look At Spurs

With players coming back fro injury in key areas, De Zerbi may feel like he does not need to do too much in the transfer market when it comes to the forward areas.

Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski should both be back in action by the start of the new season and can play in the wide areas, although it would be no surprise to see Tottenham go back in for Maghnes Akliouche, to hand De Zerbi another option.

Mathys Tel has stood out in a below part team this season, while Wilson Odobert is also to come back in sometime in the first few months of the campaign.

James Maddison will be back to fight it out with Xavi Simons for that No.10 role, showing Spurs do have good strength in forward areas when everyone is fit and players who can adapt to De Zerbi's philosophy too.

Up front De Zerbi has a player in Dominic Solanke who will do all the running, hold the ball up and knows where the back of the net is too, although with Randal Kolo Muani going back to PSG and Richarlison likely to be sold, another incoming striker may be on the cards. Samu Aghehowa or Dusan Vlahovic could fit the bill.

Roberto De Zerbi could be in line for a big summer transfer warchest at Tottenham - providing the Lilywhites stay in the Premier League come the end of the season.

The Italian joined Spurs during the international break, replacing the beleaguered Igor Tudor at the helm, after the Croatian failed to win any of his Premier League games in charge of the club, having replaced the sacked Thomas Frank.

De Zerbi was one of Spurs' top targets for a permanent appointment in the summer, but club chiefs moved up their approach for the former Brighton boss, asking him to come in now and save them from the threat of relegation.

De Zerbi Must Keep Spurs In The Premier League

He was handed a five-year contract in N17, showing the club's commitment to him and the head coach's commitment to the club, even if they were to be relegated to the Championship.

Spurs have seven games to preserve their Premier League status, starting at Sunderland on Sunday afternoon.

But if he does succeed in keeping Spurs in the top flight, De Zerbi could be handed a huge transfer kitty to improve the Tottenham squad that he has inherited.

Speaking to the United Stand, GIVEMESPORT's senior football correspondent Ben Jacobs explained how Spurs can exploit a loophole to go big on transfers in the summer window - but only if they stay up.

The Premier League's Profit & Sustainability Rules will be replaced by Squad Cost Ratio rules this summer and that allows clubs outside of European competition to spend 85% of their football-related revenue on player wages, transfers and agent fees, compared to 70% for clubs in Europe. And they can go even higher than that given it is the first year of the new rules.

New Premier League Rules Could Benefit Tottenham

He said: "Tottenham will be able to exploit this loophole of no European football, where you're under Squad Cost Ratio but not Financial Fair Play.

"You can spend 85% of your revenue on transfers and for Tottenham even without Champions League football they'll have pretty decent revenue because of the size of their stadium and their brand has always brought in decent capital and they won't be bound by Financial Fair Play but also they won't be bound by that many potential domestic sanctions because in the first year of Squad Cost Ratio you've got 30% extra leeway on top of that 85% number, so 115% of total revenue [can be spent] on transfers, without really incurring anything as it's viewed as a transition year."

That would be a huge benefit to De Zerbi as he looks to freshen up an ailing squad that has finished in the bottom reaches of the Premier League for the second season running.

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi may have dropped a hint that one of his players might not be starting this weekend against Sunderland.

It's a crucial game for the north London club as they hope to climb away from the relegation zone in the Premier League.

With just seven games remaining, Spurs are in serious danger of dropping down to the Championship, unless they can start finding wins from somewhere.

Tottenham are yet to experience a victory in 2026, and De Zerbi is now the third manager to be in the dugout this season.

De Zerbi has had the opportunity to work with some of his players over the international break, and all of his healthy players this week, and he's already dropped some potential hints about who could play.

De Zerbi Drops Selection Hint at Tottenham

Speaking to the media ahead of Tottenham's game against Sunderland, De Zerbi discussed a host of different players, praising, and even criticising some as he produced an honest assessment of his squad.

One player who was picked out was Randal Kolo Muani, with De Zerbi suggesting that he knows he's a good player, but he's not impressed him this season.

"I think we have a lot of very good attackers. Kolo Muani I know is not playing a good season but he is a good player."

De Zerbi didn't directly confirm whether Kolo Muani was going to be an important player for him or not, but reading between the lines, he recognises that the French forward has had a poor season, and he's going to need every player to hit the ground running.

Kolo Muani Struggling This Season

Unfortunately, Kolo Muani is someone who is unlikely to hit the ground running.

As De Zerbi mentioned, he's not hit the heights expected of him this season, and with the Tottenham boss listing a host of players who will be 'crucial' for him, but singling out Kolo Muani for criticism, it's not looking good for him ahead of Sunderland.

De Zerbi mentioned players like Dominic Solanke, Xavi Simons, Archie Gray, and Micky van de Ven as players who will be important for him over the coming weeks.

It's a bit of a blow for Kolo Muani.

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has spoken to the media ahead of their game against Sunderland this weekend, and he's named one player he will be looking to revive.

Spurs are preparing for a crucial game in the relegation race, as they travel to Sunderland searching for their first victory of 2026.

It's De Zerbi's first match in charge of the north London club, looking to steer them away from the relegation zone with seven Premier League games remaining.

There's a chance Tottenham slip into the relegation zone on Friday night, with West Ham hosting Wolves, ramping up the pressure ahead of their game this weekend.

A host of Tottenham's squad have massively underperformed this season, and De Zerbi will be looking to rejuvenate some of those players ahead of the run-in.

De Zerbi Can Revive Tottenham Star

De Zerbi discussed plenty of Tottenham's players individually during his first press conference ahead of their game against Sunderland this weekend.

One player who was picked out was Conor Gallagher. The English midfielder has struggled since his move to Spurs, but De Zerbi was quick to mention that he 'loves' him, and wants to get him back to the levels he was producing at Chelsea.

"I want to see again the same Gallagher I loved in Chelsea at the time."

De Zerbi could be looking to implement a high-intensity style in order to pick up results over the coming weeks, and Gallagher could be ideal for that.

The former Chelsea man is one of the hardest-working players in the Premier League, and he might be set for a crucial role after De Zerbi's comments.

Gallagher Slammed at Tottenham This Season

Gallagher has come under plenty of criticism since his move to the club from Atletico Madrid during the January transfer window of this season.

The England international has struggled to hit the heights expected of him, leading to being slammed in the media and by supporters.

Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara even labelled the midfielder 'absolutely awful', questioning how he ever played for a club the size of Atletico.

"Conor Gallagher, how he played for Atletico Madrid I’ll never know. He’s been awful, he’s been absolutely awful. He’s on £200,000-a-week apparently.”

It's time for Gallagher to start proving people wrong.

Tottenham reportedly made a move to appoint Aston Villa manager Unai Emery before bringing Roberto De Zerbi to the club, according to journalist Miguel Delaney.

Emery has done a phenomenal job with Aston Villa since he arrived, turning them from a relegation-threatened side to one that's competing for European places regularly.

De Zerbi was appointed as manager at the end of March, but he was initially against joining the club due to their precarious position in the Premier League.

Spurs were in the market for a new coach following the sacking of Igor Tudor, who was relieved of his duties with Tottenham sitting one point above the relegation zone.

The north London club ultimately landed on De Zerbi, offering him a five-year deal, and it remains to be seen whether it was a smart decision or not.

Tottenham Made Aston Villa Move

According to journalist Delaney, Tottenham made a move to appoint Aston Villa manager Emery when De Zerbi first turned down a move to north London.

It's unclear whether it was Emery, described as 'elite', or Villa who rejected the move, or both, but it was always going to be a long shot from Tottenham, who were in a desperate situation when looking for a Tudor replacement.

Hilarious Move From Tottenham

It's quite interesting to think about how the conversations went down when Tottenham made a move to appoint Aston Villa manager Emery before De Zerbi was brought to the club.

Villa will have had little interest in allowing Emery to leave the club with just a few weeks remaining in the season, as they battle to finish in the top four in the Premier League.

Emery has little reason to pack his bags and make the move to north London either, potentially adding a relegation to his CV, moving from a Champions League-chasing club to one battling to remain in the league.

Emery or De Zerbi Better Suited?

GIVEMESPORT asked ChatGPT whether Emery or De Zerbi will have been a better fit for Tottenham.