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Young Tottenham Hotspur defensive midfielder Archie Gray was one of the most important players on the team in the 2025/26 Premier League season, and while Roberto De Zerbi relied more on the veterans, reverting back to the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur and even Yves Bissouma when he took over, so that the experience would help them stay up, it's fair to say that without Gray, Spurs would have been relegated, too.

The gem midfielder from Leeds United was easily Spurs best player when they were at their worst as the calendar flipped, and his leadership, courage, and quality on the ball helped Spurs eke out points where they did not deserve them.

Tottenham have made sweeping midfield upgrades this summer transfer window in the form of a 185 million pound double swoop on Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, who are two of the top 10 players in the position in the Premier League right now.

Archie Gray is going to be playing right back more

But Tottenham fans are still hoping for a big role for Archie Gray. And on the one hand, Roberto De Zerbi made him the captain in most of Tottenham's preseason matches this summer. But on the other hand, most of Gray's minutes came at right back to give Pedro Porro rest with Djed Spence getting sold to Serie A giants Inter Milan.

Speaking to the press before Tottenham's first game of the 2026/27 Premier League season this weekend against formidable local rivals Brentford, Roberto De Zerbi confirmed what Tottenham Hotspur fans were suspecting for several weeks but did not want to hear admitted by the manager: Gray is going to be the backup right back.

De Zerbi stated that Spurs currently have no plans to sign a backup right back for Pedro Porro after the Djed Spence sale to Italy, as RDZ wants a lean squad and sees no need to go for a new signing. Notably, Tottenham have not been credibly linked to a single right back transfer target either before or after selling Spence to the Nerazzurri.

The manager told reporters, via Alasdair Gold of Football.London, "In this moment no, we have Archie Gray, he prefers playing in the midfield position, but he can play very well also as a right-back. I think we are good. I don't want 25, 26 players, I want 21, 22, that's enough."

While playing a brilliant young footballer out of position is hardly great for their development, Gray is already the fifth captain of the team and a future leader; he is not going to make a stink about this. And while it is not ideal, it is not as bad as Ange Postecoglou playing Gray at center back for no good reason - and if anyone can get something out of being used out of position in the right side, then it is Gray. Far from ideal but not the worst thing, as long as he still gets minutes in midfield - and this doesn't become a regular thing next year.

With Tottenham Hotspur going hard after the trio of Premier League Big Six forwards Cody Gakpo, Omar Marmoush, and Savinho before the summer 2026 transfer window officially comes to a close, the current crop of promising young Spurs attackers is becoming a bit marginalized.

Although French left winger Mathys Tel remains somewhat in the spotlight after being the best player on the team during the preseason, his countryman Wilson Odobert feels like a completely forgotten man after suffering a torn ACL in the second half of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.

Odobert, though, is one of the organization's best young players and was also a major investment from Burnley in 2024. Just 21 years of age, Odobert flashed potential in games during the 2024/25 and 2025/26 season on the left wing and even the attacking midfield, but he really came into his own just before his injury last season.

Wilson Odobert can be a quality piece for Tottenham

With new star man Mohammed Kudus injured on the right wing, Odobert stepped in to the starting position on the opposite flank with Brennan Johnson sold to Crystal Palace, Kudus out, and Dejan Kulusevski down for the count, too.

Wilson Odobert ended up playing his best football as a Tottenham Hotspur player during that brief time period when he switched flanks to the right side, and when thinking about how his skill set as a winger is that of more of a hybrid playmaker who carries the ball and create chances rather than someone who cuts inside and scores like the more physical Mathys Tel, his improved play as a right winger actually makes a lot of sense. It was not a fluke.

Tottenham need to make big upgrades to their starting lineup of attackers if they want to return to the top five of the Premier League and play in the Champions League again next season, but it is also important to make sure to give minutes and opportunities to young players both with upside and who have already proven they can be assets to the team.

Of course, Odobert is going to be back at some point, hopefully before the end of the 2026/27 season, from his ACL tear, and if Tottenham are able to fulfill their top five destiny in Roberto De Zerbi's first full season, the Champions League will afford Odobert with more Premier League and League Cup and FA Cup minutes to build on what he showed to fans earlier this year.

James Maddison, Mateus Fernandes and Destiny Udogie have all been training ahead of Tottenham’s Premier League opener at Brentford, giving Roberto De Zerbi some welcome options as he plans his first competitive team selection of the season.

The trio’s involvement was confirmed in a Yahoo Sports preview of Saturday’s fixture at the Gtech Community Stadium, kick-off 5.30pm BST. Maddison made his long-awaited return from a knee injury in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Hoffenheim, playing 45 minutes in his first start in almost a year – a fairly significant marker given how long he’s been out.

Udogie is a slightly different case. He’s been training, yes, but he didn’t manage a single minute of pre-season, which means his availability for Saturday is far from a formality even if he’s back in and around the squad. Anyone expecting him to slot straight into the XI after a summer of managed minutes should temper that instinct – De Zerbi has shown no appetite for rushing players back given how last season’s injury pile-up unfolded, as covered in our look at Spurs’ pre-season absences under De Zerbi.

Fernandes and the wider picture

Fernandes, one of the summer arrivals in a squad overhaul that has reshaped Tottenham’s midfield alongside Sandro Tonali, is also among those who have trained ahead of the trip across the capital. His arrival and the context around it are worth revisiting via our piece on Fernandes’ move to Spurs.

Elsewhere, Micky van de Ven remains a doubt after returning late from an extended break following the World Cup and not featuring at all in pre-season. He wasn’t spotted in Tuesday’s training session either, which De Zerbi will need to resolve before Saturday. The defence already looks markedly different following the exits of Cristian Romero and Djed Spence, so further uncertainty at the back is hardly ideal timing.

What happens next

Tottenham head into the opener unbeaten in seven pre-season matches, but training involvement is not the same as a starting berth, and De Zerbi has decisions to make across midfield and defence. Confirmation of the actual team news, along with any late calls on Van de Ven, is expected closer to kick-off – worth checking our match officials preview for the rest of Saturday’s build-up.

Transfer window excitement

Fabrizio Romano has delivered his verdict on the future of Egypt's Omar Marmoush, with the Manchester City star closing in on a move to Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

Romano said, on his YouTube channel: "Omar Marmoush is the next player to move from City to Tottenham after Savinho".

The transfer expert added: "Marmoush already has an agreement on the personal terms of his contract with Tottenham Hotspur, and he is also excited about this move and about the new project at Tottenham, with the possibility of becoming a very important player for Roberto De Zerbi".

Game time has been hard to come by for Marmoush. "Marmoush found very limited space to play at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, and the situation is expected to remain this way during this season too with Enzo Maresca present", Romano continued. You can discuss the topics and news in more depth in the Kooora forums He concluded: "Tottenham are expected to be able to complete the signing of Marmoush, most likely not today but in the coming days, and there is a state of optimism regarding the completion of the deal".

Tottenham Hotspur sold one of the best left backs in the Premier League this summer in England international Djed Spence to Italian champions Inter Milan after his insane World Cup, but assuming Souza does not leave for FC Porto or another notable club on loan this summer transfer window, Spurs are still going to be three deep at the left back position.

In addition to the young future star Souza, Spurs have veteran Andy Robertson coming in as a free agent from Liverpool, too, and Robbo looked quite sharp for a change in the final preseason fixtures for the Lilywhites.

But the main man at left back will be Italian international Destiny Udogie, who, when healthy, is one of the best players in the position in the Premier League with a high degree of technical quality and athelticism. Djed Spence was the hero of the World Cup for England, but when Udogie was healthy, he couldn't get a sniff of the Tottenham XI over the superior attacking quality that the former Udinese man brought to the table.

Destiny Udogie's outlook for 2026/27 is uncertain

The problem is that Tottenham Hotspur have not seen the best of Udogie in months. He suffered injury after injury in the 2025/26 Premier League season, going from stalwart in the first half of the season to liability by the end of the campaign when he showed up back in the lineup, clearly still hobbled from all the ailments he sustained.

Tottenham are only just getting Destiny Udogie back on the practice field days before the Matchday 1 battle against Brentford this weekend to kick off the 2026/27 Premier League season, and while Roberto De Zebri is high on the Italian star, the reality is that Spurs still have a lot of questions about what exactly the 23 year old can provide to them this season.

Udogie is still very young, very talented, and very important to Tottenham. But Tottenham now have Andy Robertson and potentially Souza as options to spell the player if he isn't up to his 100 percent, and after a preseason where he did not contribute anything while Robbo had nifty plays for striker Richarlison, the questions about Udogie remain totally unanswered.

His injury status will be one of the minor storylines worth watching closely as the 2026/27 Premier League season begins for Tottenham, and Spurs fans will be hoping that Udogie can healthy and stay healthy so Spurs can be at their best as a back four - and as an attack.

Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on the signing of Omar Marmoush from Manchester City.

The Egyptian International has struggled for regular opportunities at the English club, and he needs to leave in order to play more often.

Omar Marmoush could join Tottenham

Marmoush can operate as a centre forward as well as a wide player. He could be a dynamic attacking option for Tottenham. They need more goals and creativity in the final third, and it remains to be seen whether they can get the deal across the line.

According to Sky Germany, Tottenham have already agreed a verbal move with the player and negotiations between the two clubs are currently advanced, with a conclusion expected soon.

Marmoush is a quality player, and he could add a new dimension to the Tottenham attack. He has previously shown his quality in Germany, where he scored 37 goals and picked up 20 assists in 67 matches with Eintracht Frankfurt. At Manchester City, he has picked up 16 goals and six assists in 62 matches.

Regular football at Tottenham will bring out the best in him. He is at the peak of his career and well settled in England. Regular opportunities at Tottenham could help him rediscover his form and confidence.

Although Tottenham Hotspur fans are beyond fired up about the signing of Sandro Tonali, who is going to be the club's most talented deep lying midfielder in ages, fan around the rest of the Premier League and Europe have been a little bit more critical due to the price tag and his lack of stellar performances at Newcastle United compared to AC Milan.

Spurs spent 100 million pounds to make sure Roberto De Zerbi landed his fellow Brescia native ahead of strong interest from Premier League title contenders Arsenal and Manchester City, but the fact that a team that went 17th in the league in back to back seasons took home Tonali over both Arsenal and Man City deserves a lot more praise than it is getting.

The crux of the criticism centers around the price and whether or not Tonali will be worth it, but Tottenham fans have this funny feeling after watching this Rolls Royce of a midfielder go to work in the preseason that the opposite question may be poised in about six months time. And that question will be not if Tonali was worth 100 million pounds, but rather how Spurs managed to sign him for only 100 million pounds.

Sandro Tonali can still outplay his price tag

Declan Rice, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, and other top defensive midfield targets in and outside of the Premier League have gone for exorbitant fees exceeding what Spurs paid for Tonali, and Tottenham Hotspur may have actually gotten a rare bargain here because the Newcastle system was so poor at getting the most out of Tonali's technical and passing gifts.

Sandro Tonali was the leader, anchor point, main defensive cover player, and deep lying playmaker for that 2021/22 AC Milan side that reascended to the top of Italian football and won the Scudetto for the first time in ages. And since leaving the Rossoneri behind for the Magpies up north, Milan have won precisely nothing.

Tottenham had to be looking at that with eyes as big as saucers, knowing that Tonali can offer them so much more in the Roberto De Zerbi system than he was Newcastle in the boring, pedantic style of Eddie Howe that catered more to Bruno Guimaraes than it did the Italian international.

Tonali is entering the prime of his career, and he is a unit of an athlete and an intelligent defensive midfielder with better technique than anyone on Tottenham right now. He is bound to have a massive year, and he really might have people wondering if Spurs just landed someone closer to 120-150 million pounds in transfer value.

Tottenham are still waiting on an answer from Liverpool after making a ‘bid’ to sign Cody Gakpo, according to reports.

Spurs have already completed six new signings this summer with ENIC making sure the club doesn’t find themselves in relegation trouble once again next season.

Tottenham survived by two points on the final day of last term by beating Everton 1-0 with their top-flight status secure for another campaign.

Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka all signed on free transfers, while Tottenham forked out £237m in total on Mateus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali and Jan Paul van Hecke.

And Spurs are now closing in on signings seven and eight with Romano revealing an “agreement in principle” with Manchester City for Savinho, while Omar Marmoush has agreed personal terms ahead of a potential move from the Etihad Stadium.

Romano said on his YouTube channel: “Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement in principle with Manchester City for the Brazilian winger, Savinho. He has always been the top target since day one of the summer transfer window for Tottenham Hotspur at right winger.

READ: Brentford v Tottenham: Prediction, team news, lineups and odds

“Roberto De Zerbi wanted him. The backup was Pedro Neto, but again, backup with maximum respect for Pedro Neto, who is a fantastic player and who is an option for Al Hilal. But Roberto De Zerbi wanted Savinho as an absolute priority, and he is getting Savinho.

“The transfer fee is going to be more than the £75 million that was rumoured over the recent hours. My understanding is that the actual fee is going to be £80m plus £5m in add-ons. This is the fee, so totally £80m plus £5m.

“A big sale for Manchester City and an important signing for Tottenham. For sure, a big, big movement this summer.

“Savinho has verbal authorisation to travel for medical tests and contract signing. Let’s wait for the documents to be exchanged, of course, to make sure everything will be fine in the next 24 hours. But Savinho is on his way to Tottenham Hotspur as he wanted because he strongly wanted this move.”

Romano added: “Don’t forget Omar Marmoush. It’s not over at all, the summer transfer window for Tottenham, because I always told you: Savinho, Gakpo, centre striker. Savinho, done. Gakpo, we will talk in the next days. And then now we have the striker.

“For Omar Marmoush, Tottenham have an agreement on personal terms, done already a few days ago. Marmoush is open to joining Tottenham, so this deal is advancing already on the player side.

READ: Tottenham told they have their own Max Dowman as former boss highlights ‘one to watch’

“Then, on the club-to-club side, my understanding is that it’s not closed yet as Savinho is, but there is a very big optimism to get the deal done also for Omar Marmoush.

“So a big, big one for Tottenham. Savinho done and Marmoush expected to be completed in the next days if everything goes to plan. The negotiations are advancing.”

Tottenham bid for Gakpo has not yet been rejected

Liverpool winger Gakpo is their next big target with Tottenham hoping they can sign the Netherlands international as their final summer signing.

Algemeen Dagblad (via Voetbal Primeur) insists that Gakpo’s future ‘remains uncertain’ with Liverpool hesistant to agree to his exit while they still haven’t secured the signing of Bradley Barcola.

It is understood that Liverpool winger Gakpo ‘has already spoken with Spurs and is keen on the move to London’.

And report adds: ‘Spurs have reportedly already submitted a bid to Liverpool, but no follow-up has been given yet. During the friendly against Italian side Como last weekend, Gakpo was the Reds’ big star.

‘The winger scored and provided an assist. His performance was so good, in fact, that it has made Liverpool’s decision-makers have second thoughts again.’

READ NEXT: Big Weekend: Newcastle v Liverpool, Spurs, Fernandez, Maresca, Mourinho’s Real Madrid

Tottenham's £100m move for Sandro Tonali is framed as one that could soon look a bargain, with his pre-season form raising hopes of a major impact under Roberto De Zerbi.

Tottenham are waiting on Liverpool's response to an offer for Cody Gakpo, who has spoken to Spurs and is ready to join, but his future hinges on Liverpool signing replacements.

Tottenham could lose Pape Matar Sarr to Galatasaray in a busy end to the window, while Savinho's arrival from Manchester City edges closer.

Tottenham face an injury blow before the new season, with Roberto De Zerbi providing a fitness update on key players ahead of their opener.

Former Spurs scout Mick Brown has urged Tottenham to target Jean-Philippe Mateta, citing his 50 Palace goals and contract situation, while talks for Omar Marmoush continue.

Ahead of Brentford, Tottenham are judged to need at least a top-seven finish after heavy spending, positive pre-season and De Zerbi's first full summer in charge.

Tottenham's opener at Brentford is tipped to be a high-scoring derby, with Spurs backed for a 2-2 draw amid injury doubts in De Zerbi's new-look defence. Livescore

Tottenham may need to lower expectations of James Maddison after his ACL tear, with doubts over his fitness and ability to be more than a useful squad option this season.

Destiny Udogie's fitness remains a concern for Tottenham after an injury-hit 2025/26, with Andy Robertson and Souza adding pressure before Brentford.

Tottenham want three more forwards before the deadline, including a winger and a centre-forward, as talks with Manchester City continue after more than £200m spent this summer.

Tottenham are testing Manchester City's willingness to sell as talks continue late in the transfer window.

Conor Gallagher's improved form under Roberto De Zerbi is the main reason for Tottenham fans to be optimistic, with his work rate and role-player value highlighted.

Micky van de Ven has been appointed Tottenham captain after Cristian Romero's move to Atletico Madrid, with Pedro Porro, Ben Davies, James Maddison and Archie Gray in the leadership group.

With so many unknowns and almost half the Premier League under new management, it’s hard to know where to look on this opening weekend.

It’s massive beyond the Barclays and these borders too, with must-see matches in the Championship and La Liga too.

Just cancel your plans, ignore your obligations, and gorge on it all…

Game to watch – Newcastle v Liverpool One of three opening games to feature new managers in both dug-outs, we winced when the fixture computer pitted Newcastle, in such a delicate state, against Liverpool.

Even before the Magpies had been pillaged of their best players and shorn of their most popular manager since Sir Bobby Robson, they had not managed to beat the Reds at St James’ Park in their last nine attempts. In the Premier League, home or away, Liverpool are 19 unbeaten against Newcastle.

So Matthias Jaissle could have few tougher tests to begin his Newcastle reign before we all rush to judgement on the new manager.

But the Reds seem no more optimistic for the new season under Andoni Iraola than their Geordie hosts.

At least Jaissle is spared the expectation carried by Iraola. Both clubs may claim to be in transition, but circumstances mean the Newcastle manager has more licence to fail early than his Liverpool counterpart.

Not that many would blame Iraola if Liverpool get off to anything less than a flying start. The Reds’ problems are not of his making, but his to navigate.

Liverpool have been slow to plug the holes in their squad and even if they do so by the deadline, here is a window of opportunity for Newcastle to exploit.

Team to watch – Tottenham Hotspur Two thirds of the brand new, surely-not-sh*t-anymore Spurs kick off their campaign on Saturday evening with a revamped defence, overhauled midfield and the same old attack.

Around their London derby at Brentford, where they haven’t lost in their last five, Tottenham will be spending the rest of their weekend trying to tie up a double deal with Manchester City while egging on Liverpool to get their business done so they can take Cody Gakpo off their hands.

So most of the focus of the inevitable kneejerk-ery will be on Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes. Brentford’s record signing, Mamadou Sangare, will certainly have the £185million pair in his sights, desperate to highlight why so many think the Bees have got a bargain.

But even if Tonali and Fernandes pull the strings, Spurs have to find a way to score goals until they get their new forwards through the door.

Player to watch – Enzo Fernandez So many debutants to watch excitedly this weekend, but just as fascinating will be the players still hoping to get their moves.

Chief among them is Chelsea’s vice-captain.

Fernandez is the focus of interest from Manchester City with the Argentina midfielder keen to follow Enzo Maresca up to the Etihad – a desire he’s not too shy to hide.

Which prompted a mixed reaction from Chelsea supporters when Fernandez featured in their last pre-season friendly last weekend. Those dissenters were perhaps the Blues fans stared down by Fernandez at the AmEx last season, when it seemed clear he would be away this summer if he could.

With City and Chelsea still someway apart in their valuations, the former ignoring the latter’s deadline last week, Fernandez will be fascinating to watch.

How much is he prepared to push for a move? How will that affect his demeanour and performance at Fulham on Monday night? Fernandez seems the sort to overegg it, either performatively proving his commitment to his current club, or not-so-subtly hinting at his preference to join a new one.

Manager to watch – Enzo Maresca The new Manchester City manager has had a rough week.

It began with a pummelling at the hands of Arsenal in the Community Shield and continued with the release of Pep Guardiola’s searingly-honest documentary, reminding City fans of the manager and the love they lost this summer.

The new fella already had a tall task to win over those wary that City have replaced Pep with Diet Pep. Those sceptics will feel emboldened by the startling difference last week in Cardiff between the champions and the runners-up.

Arsenal did not have to play particularly well to pummel a City side that seemed to exist of many more strangers than the single new signing – their new £115million midfielder – on show.

In all aspects of their play, City seemed a long way from being ready for their first post-Pep season. How much can Maresca remedy in one week?

European game to watch – Espanyol v Real Madrid Four of the big five leagues kick off this weekend, with Inter v Monza on Saturday evening worth keeping an eye on around Spurs’ trip to Brentford with a couple of England defenders due their Serie A debuts.

As ever, though, it’ll be all eyes on Jose Mourinho on Saturday night when he kicks off his second stint as Real Madrid boss at Espanyol.

It’s been an oddly low-key return to the Bernabeu from Mourinho so far. Actually, he seems to avoided the limelight which, from everything we know of Jose, cannot possibly be a long-term arrangement.

With Mourinho having avoided media duties after Real’s pre-season friendlies and the club swerving from tradition by not staging an unveiling of any sort, we know very little of how he intends to begin the rebuild at the Bernabeu.

Real have also taken a similar approach with their new signings, including £115million Yan Diomande, perhaps to demonstrate a single-minded focus on performance, rather than indulging in the usual bluster Mourinho and Florentino Perez have rarely ever previously shunned.

Which makes their opener at Espanyol our first opportunity to gauge the scale of Mourinho’s task and what he’s been able to achieve so far.

EFL game to watch – West Ham v Charlton Lincoln’s first home game against Portsmouth is one of three Championship games on the box on Saturday lunchtime, but we’re more intrigued to get a look at West Ham back at the London Stadium in a London derby.

The Hammers are favourites to secure promotion back to the Premier League but much may depend on how they handle those expectations.

The pressure from outside the club will pale in comparison to that from within their own fanbase. If the team can get the London Stadium onside, then this season could be a successful, fun excursion in the second tier.

But if they don’t… oh, boy. And West Ham are already on the backfoot somewhat after chucking in a two-goal lead at Burnley last week.

The Hammers also have to deal with the burden of being seen as the Championship’s biggest scalp. Charlton supporters, coming six miles across London, will occupy the first of a few sold-out away ends at the London Stadium, and visiting players will relish the opportunity as much as the fans.

West Ham can’t allow their stadium to again become more hostile for themselves than visitors. A positive start to the home campaign is essential.