Football London

Roberto De Zerbi has been speaking before Tottenham's Premier League opener against Brentford

Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that defender Micky van de Ven will not be available for the Premier League season opener against Brentford.

Spurs take on the Bees at the G-Tech Stadium on Saturday (5.30pm) kick-off. Van de Ven has missed every minute of pre-season and has not been spotted in training, the centre-back has been ruled out of the game against Brentford alongside Pedro Porro.

Porro has been back in training for a matter of days after returning from winning the World Cup with Spain. There are also doubts over James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Destiny Udogie, Mateus Fernandes and Pape Matar Sarr.

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Speaking in his pre-match press conference, De Zerbi gave the latest on the fitness of his squad.

"Micky is not on the list tomorrow like Pedro Porro," he said. "James Maddison is inside, Solanke inside, Udogie, Fernandes also. Sarr not because he felt some pain, but nothing big."

Speaking specifically about Van de Ven, he added: "Today he worked with us, with the group and he is going very well. He suffered a problem during the pre-season of Australia, I don’t know if it was the flight, but not a big problem.

"We have Senesi, we have Ben Davies and in the right condition to play the game tomorrow."

De Zerbi also gave the latest transfer update, claiming that Spurs are 'not done' this summer. While he refused to speak specifically about a potential deal for Man City winger Savinho, the Spurs boss outlined three conditions for any new arrivals.

Spurs have been active in the transfer window with Mateus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali, Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson and Martin Dubravka all arriving at the club. Tottenham are also closing in on the signing of Savinho.

It's reported that a £75 million, plus £10 million in add-ons fee has been agreed between the two sides. Savinho will undergo a medical before signing a long-term deal.

Speaking about a deal for the Brazilian, and the wider transfer activity, De Zerbi said at his press conference: It's not right to speak about players until they are official. Just to say I'm very happy.

"We have not finished in the transfer market. It's an important part.

"So far we have brought in some great players, great spirit and great personality. You know better than me you don't win the games with big names and big players, you have to deserve to win the game. To do that we have to reach the level in character, intention and value and style of play."

The Tottenham Hotspur head coach is holding his first press conference of the Premier League season with plenty to speak about

Roberto De Zerbi has a mountain of Tottenham topics to tackle in his opening press conference of the Premier League season on Friday afternoon.

Spurs open their new campaign with a trip to Brentford on Saturday but there could be some new faces in the building before that as the club close in on signing Savinho from Manchester City in a deal worth £75million plus another £10million in add-ons. The north London outfit are looking to seal a double deal from the Citizens with talks advancing over the transfer of Egypt international Omar Marmoush.

That would secure another two players on De Zerbi's wishlist and make it eight new arrivals so far this summer, with the departure of players like captain Cristian Romero, Djed Spence and Guglielmo Vicario as part of the rebuild.

Romero's exit means De Zerbi must select a new captain and he could announce that during his press conference on Friday as well as discussing what remains for the club in the summer transfer window.

The Italian will also provide an update on the various players returning from injury, including Mohammed Kudus, who appears to have travelled home to Ghana this week for family reasons, Dejan Kulusevski and also Micky van de Ven, who did not play a minute of pre-season football.

Our Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold is among those putting the questions to De Zerbi. Scroll down for his latest updates from the press conference at Hotspur Way.

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On Van de Ven missing pre-season

Today he worked with us, with the group and he is going very well. He suffered a problem during the pre-season of Australia, I don’t know if it was the flight, but not a big problem. We have Senesi, we have Ben Davies and in the right condition to play the game tomorrow.

Injury news

Micky is not on the list tomorrow like Pedro Porro. James Maddison is inside [it], Solanke inside, Udogie, Fernandes also. Sarr not because he felt some pain, but nothing big. Kudus is almost ready.

The Spurs boss was asked about Savinho

It's not right to speak about players until they are official. Just to say I'm very happy. We have not finished in the transfer market. It's an important part. So far we have brought in some great players, great spirit and great personality. You know better than me you don't win the games with big names and big players, you have to deserve to win the game. To do that we have to reach the level in character, intention and value and style of play.

De Zerbi on people talking about Spurs' spending

I heard too many times, Tottenham money, Tottenham money. I've loved football for a long time. I have seen all the teams that compete spend money. Maybe it's a problem if Tottenham spend money in the Premier League.

Your new Tottenham captain

The new captain is Micky van de Ven. Second Pedro Porro, third Ben Davies, fourth James Maddison and fifth Archie Gray. Why five? because I want as many captains as possible and they all deserve to be captains.

The Spurs CEO signed off on it

In case you were wondering what the new document Spurs filed with Companies House was, we've got an explainer right here.

Spurs are getting some money back

Every little helps when Spurs are trying to get those attacking deals done and you can find out what transfer is bringing in money to the north London club right here.

Double deal incoming

In case you're wondering why Spurs are looking to wrap up a double transfer for Savinho and Omar Marmoush, you can read all about them and De Zerbi's desire for the duo by going right here.

Here's our early predicted team

We asked our Tottenham reporters Alasdair Gold and Ryan Taylor to name the team they reckon De Zerbi could select to face Brentford on Saturday. You can find their different starting XIs by heading right here.

Welcome to Hotspur Way

Our first Premier League press conference of Tottenham's season awaits with plenty for Roberto De Zerbi to speak about.

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Tottenham are on the verge of signing Manchester City forward Savinho but face a race against time to get him registered for their Premier League opener against Brentford

Everything you need to know about the new signing registration rules

Registration deadline: According to the Premier League's official rules, clubs must complete all necessary paperwork and formally register a new player by 12pm on the last working day before a scheduled fixture. This strict administrative cut-off ensures that all teams have a set squad ahead of the weekend's matches.

Next match against Brentford: Spurs are preparing to face Brentford in their opening match on Saturday, with kick-off set for 5.30pm. This means that any new signings must have completed the required paperwork by 12pm on Friday in order to feature in the match.

Pursuit of Savinho: Tottenham are closing in on snapping up long-term target Savinho from Manchester City. This deal is anticipated to cost £75million plus add-ons, but they are unlikely to be able to register him for the Brentford match, as they would need to complete a medical and have everything signed by the 12pm deadline.

Double transfer: Negotiations between City and Spurs are advancing positively for a double swoop, too. Omar Marmoush is being targeted.

Roberto De Zerbi's wish: The Spurs boss has called for the club to improve their attack and previously made it clear that the club were working on marquee moves. During pre-season, he said: "The transfer market, it's not finished for sure, but we completed 60 per cent of our project in the transfer market. Now we have another bomba!"

Importance of new attacking signings: Pushing these expensive deals over the line has become important due to Tottenham's growing injury list, with Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons all sidelined for the Brentford match. If Spurs cannot complete the Savinho move in time, Mikey Moore and Mathys Tel are expected to start out wide against the Bees.

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We asked our Tottenham reporters Alasdair Gold and Ryan Taylor to name the team they reckon De Zerbi could select to face Brentford on Saturday

Tottenham open their Premier League season on Saturday with a trip to Brentford and Roberto De Zerbi has plenty of selection decisions to make.

Spurs have so far brought in six new arrivals, all of them Premier League proven, to bolster De Zerbi's squad in the shape of Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka. The north London side will be without captain Cristian Romero, Guglielmo Vicario, Djed Spence and Radu Dragusin among those sold or loaned out this summer.

De Zerbi must decide on what his new-look Tottenham side will look like as they travel to the Gtech Community Stadium for a tough opening game to the competitive action. During the summer he has been without various players who have missed the pre-season matches as he's taken it cautiously with those who have had long-term injuries in recent years.

We asked our Spurs correspondents Alasdair Gold and Ryan Taylor to name the starting XI that they reckon the Italian could select to face Brentford on Saturday evening. Here's what they came up with:

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Alasdair Gold - Tottenham Hotspur correspondent

De Zerbi will provide an update on Micky van de Ven at his press conference on Friday with the Dutchman signing a big new contract with the club but in a summer in which he hasn't been spotted training in any of the sessions watched by the media, let alone played a single minute if any pre-season game.

That means Van Hecke and Senesi are likely to make their competitive Spurs debuts together while Andy Robertson should do the same on the left as Destiny Udogie has not played a minute in pre-season either.

At right-back, Pedro Porro will have been back in training for 10 days or so after his World Cup-winning exploits. Archie Gray has been deputising for him in pre-season and captaining the side and De Zerbi must decide whether Porro, who is a machine, is ready to start on Saturday or holds him until the midweek Carabao Cup game against Charlton.

The same decision comes for whoever should start alongside Sandro Tonali, with Mateus Fernandes, Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall, with the Swede having played more minutes in pre-season than the Uruguayan and Portuguese, although the £85million man has got plenty of minutes in the past two weekends to top up his legs.

In the front three, unless Spurs can push through a deal for either or both of Savinho and Omar Marmoush before Friday's 12pm registration deadline and miraculously sort work permits that quickly, with both fit after having played through most of Manchester City's pre-season, it will likely be the same attack that started against Hoffenheim last Saturday with Conor Gallagher in behind.

Gold's Tottenham XI: Kinsky; Gray, Van Hecke, Senesi, Robertson; Bergvall, Tonali; Moore, Gallagher, Tel; Richarlison.

Ryan Taylor - Football reporter

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Tottenham have splashed the cash this summer and plenty of pundits think they'll greatly improve on last season's 17th-place finish in the Premier League

Tottenham will be looking to put recent relegation scraps firmly behind them under Roberto De Zerbi this Premier League campaign. And a handful of pundits think the club's summer business could even lead them into Europe.

Spurs fans could have been forgiven for thinking the 17th-place finish under Ange Postecoglou was a blip, irrespective of the Europa League win. But last season felt for many like a nightmare they couldn't wake up from.

Beginning the term under Thomas Frank, Tottenham dangled far too close to relegation for comfort and needed a last-day win against Everton to confirm their safety under De Zerbi, who had taken up the reins in March from interim boss Igor Tudor.

The club's hierarchy evidently felt enough was enough and have opened up their wallets this summer, spending a combined £237million on Jan Paul van Hecke (£52m), Mateus Fernandes (£85m) and Sandro Tonali (£100m). Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson and Martin Dubravka have also arrived on free transfers.

With Tottenham's curtain-raiser against Brentford on the horizon, football.london looks at a host of pundits who feel Spurs are capable of securing a top-five finish - which would likely yield Champions League football under UEFA's expanded coefficient rules - with a former manager heaping praise on one of their free-agent acquisitions.

Harry Redknapp - 5th

Redknapp told Sky Sports: "I would be surprised if they weren't in the top five. I think with that squad and that manager, they are very, very capable [of finishing fifth]. I have no doubt about that.

"[Andy] Robertson, the left-back from Liverpool. What a professional. Just the type you want in your dressing room and on the pitch. He's been there and done it all. He's a great signing. A bit understated."

Tim Sherwood - 5th

Sherwood told Metro: "I think Arsenal win it. I think Man City are still second, just on the history of what they've done previously. I'll go Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and then Man Utd just missing out on Champions League in sixth."

Paul Merson - 5th

"There's not too much between Spurs and Manchester Utd at the moment - but I might just go Spurs fifth," Merson wrote for Sky Sports. "Spurs are my dark horses. Well, they're definitely going to finish above 17th! They've bought well and again, they're playing once a week."

Joe Cole - 4th

"It [fourth] is a toss-up between Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham – and I'm going with the latter," Cole told Paddy Power. "The business that Spurs have done has been brilliant and they also don't have European football to worry about.

"Roberto De Zerbi is top drawer too and although it pains me to say it, I can see them finishing in the top four now there's a feel-good factor back at the club."

Owen Hargreaves - 6th

"Tottenham, big-spending Tottenham," Hargreaves told the Premier League. "De Zerbi is one of the best tactical managers. I'm gonna go with sixth for them."

Jamie O'Hara - 6th

"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," O'Hara said live on talkSPORT.

Jeff Stelling - 5th

"I'm going Arsenal to win it. Chelsea in second, Manchester City third and Manchester United fourth. I'll put Spurs fifth and Liverpool sixth," Stelling said on talkSPORT.

Clinton Morrison - 6th

"I've got Arsenal, Manchester City second, Liverpool third. I'm 50/50 with fourth. I've gone for United but Chelsea could finish in there. Tottenham will finish in the top six," he told Sky Sports.

Troy Deeney - 6th

"After finishing 17th two seasons in a row, expecting Spurs to be in the top five is a big ask," said Deeney. "It is Nottingham Forest who are my surprise package this year - I know people will say they have lost Anderson but, the way they play, I don't think he is a massive loss. The owner is ambitious and so is Oliver Glasner, so it is a marriage made in heaven.

Ashley Young - 13th

Ex-Manchester United star Ashley Young was tasked with predicting the final Premier League table in a social media clip for Sky Sports and ended up putting Tottenham in 13th.

He has United winning the league with Arsenal second, too, but in fairness, was given the teams in a random order and then asked to pop them into a spot on the table with no chance to change.

Glenn Murray - 3rd

"Tottenham are going to be much better than last season. They have made some great signings and James Maddison is back fit. My only worry for them is that they still need a goalscorer," Murray told the BBC as he predicted Spurs to finish third.

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