Sports Mole

Ahead of Tottenham Hotspur's Premier League opener against Brentford, Sports Mole's Site Coordinator discusses Roberto De Zerbi's team.

Ben Knapton, Site Coordinator: "Pre-season has been very positive"

It is so difficult to pinpoint what Tottenham should be aiming for this season. If they finish 17th again, that would be extraordinary. That is not going to happen.

Top half, as a minimum, must be assumed. Top four and Champions League might be too big a jump, but top seven and a return to European football has to be the minimum goal.

Especially given their unprecedented summer spending. They have broken their transfer record twice in the space of a few days with Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali.

More could still arrive; there are reports they are pushing for Savinho and Omar Marmoush. Gakpo, who they were pursuing, looks likely to stay at Liverpool.

With the new defence, the new midfield, and the likely new attacking additions, it will take time to gel. Pre-season has been very positive, though, and they went through it unbeaten.

There was a standout win against Chelsea in the Sydney Super Cup. The attacking injury concerns will linger, even if they sign Savinho and Marmoush.

Maddison is back but still has a slightly uncertain fitness record. Kulusevski has been out for an entire season. Kudus, Odobert, and Xavi Simons are also among those who have been out for the long term.

If they do not push for at least top seven this season, that has to be considered a poor return. They have no European distractions this season, unlike last season when they reached the Champions League knockout rounds.

De Zerbi has now had an entire summer to implement his methods and his unique playing style. If they cannot get back into Europe with the outlay and the De Zerbi effect, that would be a poor season for Spurs.

Galatasaray winger Baris Alper Yilmaz has emerged as one of the most highly sought-after players in European football following an outstanding domestic campaign.

The 26-year-old was a standout performer in helping his club secure another Super Lig title last term.

An impressive return of eight goals and 11 assists across 30 league appearances has inevitably attracted significant attention from the Premier League.

Everton reportedly saw a formal approach rejected earlier this summer, as the Turkish heavyweights demanded a much higher fee for their prized asset, while Arsenal have also recently been linked.

Now, Sport Witness reports that a bidding war appears to be brewing as the fast-approaching transfer deadline forces interested parties to accelerate their respective pursuits.

Spurs and Everton make 'verbal offers' for Yilmaz

© Imago / BSR Agency

The above source hints that both Tottenham Hotspur and Everton have officially knocked on the door to register their concrete interest.

The Premier League duo are believed to have made verbal offers approaching the €40m (£34.2m) mark to test the resolve of the Istanbul giants.

It remains entirely unclear whether those proposed figures include performance-related bonuses or if the Super Lig champions have formally responded to the latest approaches.

Significant developments are widely expected to occur within the next 10 days as both English clubs push to finalise an agreement before the market closes.

While Yilmaz has not yet made a definitive decision regarding his immediate future, he is reportedly extremely open to testing himself in England.

Yilmaz's Galatasaray future: Will late Spurs or Everton summer sale be sanctioned?

© Imago

The reigning Turkish champions are supposedly determined to retain the versatile attacker, who still has two years remaining on his current contract.

However, domestic journalists recently claimed that boardroom executives are secretly desperate to raise funds by selling Yilmaz and teammate Gabriel Sara this month.

Galatasaray initially slapped a hefty €50m (£42.8m) valuation on the Turkey international to deter suitors, largely because former club Ankara Keciorengucu hold a significant sell-on clause.

Those steep financial demands could drastically soften during the closing stages of the window if the player actively pushes for a lucrative departure.

Manchester City are reportedly working on a deal to sign Palmeiras winger Allan Elias, who could replace Savinho at the Etihad Stadium this summer.

Savinho is a primary transfer target for Tottenham Hotspur who are currently in talks with the Citizens over a double deal to sign the Brazilian and his teammate Omar Marmoush.

Some reports have suggested that Spurs are advancing on a deal to sign Savinho for a fee in the region of £85m, though an agreement is yet to be reached between the two clubs.

Should Man City agree to sell Savinho in the coming days, the club may step up their pursuit of 22-year-old Allan, who is one of multiple targets identified, as per The Athletic.

However, Palmeiras sources have indicated that the winger’s release clause is set at €100m (£85.6m), a fee Man City are unlikely to fork out for a player without any experience playing in a European league.

© Iconsport / SUSA

Allan identified as Savinho replacement by Man City

Allan joined Palmeiras’ academy in 2019 and broke into the senior side six years later, making his debut in January 2025.

The right-sided winger has since made a total of 48 Brasileiro Serie A appearances, recording six goals and five assists.

Allan has made a notable impression for Palmeiras in 2026, scoring six goals in all competitions for a side who currently sit pretty at the summit of the Brazilian top flight.

Although Allan is yet to make an international appearance for Brazil, he was named the 2025 Bola de Prata Breakthrough Player and is rated highly at club level.

The potential arrival of Allan at the Etihad would represent Man City’s latest from the South American market, after spending £29m to sign defender Vitor Reis from Palmeiras in January 2025, as well as Claudio Echeverri from Argentine giants River Plate for £12.5m.

Man City also signed Gabriel Jesus from Palmeiras for around £38m in 2017, with the forward going on to score 95 goals and win 11 trophies over a five-year period before joining Arsenal in 2022.

Who else could Man City sign this summer?

As well as Allan, Man City are also keen to bring in at least a couple of midfielders before the September 1 deadline, with Enzo Fernandez and Ayyoub Bouaddi high on their list of targets.

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi faces being without Micky van de Ven for Saturday's opening Premier League showdown with London rivals Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.

The Netherlands international did not play a single minute of pre-season following the World Cup, although he was only reported to be feeling "fatigue" by De Zerbi at the end of July.

However, Van de Ven was not seen in Wednesday's training session, heightening fears that he will be unavailable for the derby alongside known absentees Xavi Simons (ACL), Wilson Odobert (knee), Dejan Kulusevski (knee) and Mohammed Kudus (thigh).

Should Van de Ven miss out as expected, new signings Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke will make their competitive debuts in defence, alongside fellow summer arrival Andrew Robertson; Destiny Udogie should be spared amid his own fitness concerns.

Pedro Porro is back at Hotspur Way following a sensational World Cup campaign with Spain, but De Zerbi has no reason to demote Archie Gray while the former returns to complete match fitness.

After rumours of a serious injury were quashed, Mateus Fernandes is also being put through his paces in training, and the £85m man is in line to partner £100m acquisition Sandro Tonali in a new-look double pivot.

Conor Gallagher should therefore operate in a more advanced position, in spite of the return of James Maddison, whom De Zerbi ought to err on the side of caution on given his injury-disrupted year.

Mathys Tel and Mikey Moore - whose loan move to Koln has been delayed due to a lack of fit wide options - are primed to start on the flanks, likely either side of Richarlison as Dominic Solanke is also kept in cotton wool.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Kinsky; Gray, Senesi, Van Hecke, Robertson; Tonali, Fernandes; Moore, Gallagher, Tel; Richarlison

Brentford host Tottenham Hotspur in their opening 2026-27 Premier League match on Saturday evening, when record signing Mamadou Sangare will get his first taste of English top-flight football.

The £41m midfielder - signed from Lens in the summer transfer window - was on target in Brentford's final pre-season friendly, a 7-0 crushing of Eintracht Frankfurt at the Gtech Community Stadium on August 15.

Despite the presence of the attack-minded Mikkel Damsgaard, Sangare is already a midfield shoo-in alongside Vitaly Janelt and Mathias Jensen, two of the longest-serving players in the Bees' squad.

The midfield triumvirate will operate behind a menacing attacking unit of Dango Ouattara, Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago, who registered an exceptional eight goal involvements between them in the obliteration of Frankfurt.

Thiago found the net twice in that friendly, little surprise given the Brazilian boasted the best conversion rate of any Premier League player to have 25+ shots last season, putting away 26.2% of his opportunities en route to scoring 22 goals in total.

Head coach Keith Andrews does have one defensive concern to work around, though, as Sepp van den Berg is expected to spend three months on the sidelines with an unspecified injury sustained over the summer.

As a result, Kristoffer Ajer and Nathan Collins will act as the central barrier for Caoimhin Kelleher, who will also be protected by Michael Kayode and Keane Lewis-Potter on the opening day.

Brentford possible starting lineup:

Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Lewis-Potter; Sangare, Janelt; Ouattara, Jensen, Schade; Thiago

One of two all-London showdowns in gameweek one of the 2026-27 Premier League season, Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur cut the ribbons on their new campaigns at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday evening.

Not since the days of Thomas Frank have the Bees come up trumps against Spurs, whose permanent successor to the Dane now 'officially' begins his capital conquest in his first full season in charge.

Match preview

Clinging onto their perpetual Premier League status by the skin of their teeth, Tottenham would have already commenced their competitive business had the unthinkable occurred last season, but De Zerbi's long-term loyalties will not be tested in the Championship in 2026-27.

In a desperate bid to ensure that the back-to-back 17th-placed finishes of 2024-25 and 2025-26 are consigned to the back pages of the annals, Spurs have splashed the cash like never before this summer, breaking their transfer record twice in the space of a few days on £185m midfield duo Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali.

Another nine-figure outlay could yet be on the cards, as De Zerbi aims to reinforce a depleted attack with Manchester City duo Savinho and Omar Marmoush, although his current crop fared just fine in pre-season; seven games, four wins, three draws, zero defeats.

A 2-1 success over London rivals Chelsea in the Sydney Super Cup stood out for Spurs during their summer programme, which concluded with a 3-0 triumph and 2-2 draw against Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim, the former of which took place in front of an increasingly optimistic Tottenham Hotspur Stadium crowd.

The Lilywhites faithful have also seen their side lost just one of their last 10 opening-day Premier League fixtures - a behind-closed-doors defeat to Everton in 2020 - and every Tottenham trip to Brentford in the Premier League has at least proven semi-fruitful thus far.

© Iconsport / Lucas Bronchart, Iconsport

Only two teams have played more than one Premier League game at the Gtech Community Stadium and never lost, those clubs being Chelsea and Saturday's visitors Tottenham, whom Brentford have failed to beat at home since returning to the big time in 2021.

A 0-0 draw on New Year's Day marked the fourth stalemate from five Premier League games between Brentford and Tottenham at this venue, one that extended the Bees' scoreless run against Spurs to three matches but also snapped a four-game losing sequence against their London rivals.

Keith Andrews's men could not replicate Tottenham's unbeaten pre-season run either, suffering a 1-0 loss to Watford on August 1, but the Bees responded in the most emphatic manner possible; winning each of their final four friendlies and netting a sensational 17 goals in the process.

Seven of those strikes came during an extraordinary 7-0 annihilation of Eintracht Frankfurt in their closing contest, further heightening hope of a long-awaited European campaign in 2027-28 after Brentford only missed out on a Conference League place on goal difference last season.

A paltry return of one win from their last 10 Premier League matches of 2025-26 hampered Brentford's continental ambitions, but Andrews's men did not lose a single home London derby in the top flight last season, and their last two opening-day wins have both come against capital rivals - vs. Arsenal in 2021-22 and Crystal Palace in 2024-25.

Brentford pre-season form:

Tottenham Hotspur pre-season form:

Team News

© Imago / Mark Pain

Alongside their well-documented attacking issues, Tottenham have a fresh defensive concern to manage for the opening day, as Micky van de Ven is reportedly a major doubt for the derby having not been seen in training during the week.

New signings Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke should therefore join forces for their full debuts, alongside Premier League winner Andrew Robertson, expected to start at left-back while Destiny Udogie returns to full fitness.

Xavi Simons (ACL), Wilson Odobert (knee), Dejan Kulusevski (knee) and Mohammed Kudus (thigh) will also play no part in Saturday's showdown, but Dominic Solanke, Mateus Fernandes and James Maddison have been practicing with the team and are on course to feature.

Brentford are not heading into the new campaign with a clean bill of health either, as Sepp van den Berg (unspecified) and Antoni Milambo (knee) are out of contention with no firm return dates.

Andrews's men are in good shape otherwise, though, especially in the final third, where Igor Thiago and Kevin Schade both bagged braces and registered seven direct involvements between them in the battering of Frankfurt.

Record signing Mamadou Sangare also found the net in that demolition job, and the ex-Lens man is expected to play in tandem with Vitaly Janelt and Mathias Jensen in a midfield trident.

Brentford possible starting lineup:

Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Lewis-Potter; Sangare, Janelt; Ouattara, Jensen, Schade; Thiago

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Kinsky; Gray, Senesi, Van Hecke, Robertson; Tonali, Fernandes; Moore, Gallagher, Tel; Richarlison

We say: Brentford 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham's attack may have a ravaged feel to it, but with Mikey Moore, Mathys Tel and Richarlison all shining in pre-season - alongside the returns to fitness of Solanke and Maddison - De Zerbi's front-footed men will come out firing.

However, as a number of new defensive signings become accustomed to each other, a goal-happy Brentford side should give as good as they get in a dramatic opening-day draw.

Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live Tottenham Hotspur transfer news blog on Thursday, August 20!

The Lilywhites have a little over 48 hours before they visit Brentford in their opening Premier League game of the new term, and Roberto De Zerbi is now accelerating his efforts to bolster his depleted attacking ranks.

Stay entirely up to date with the latest Tottenham done deals and rumours with our social-led live blog below!

Today's Tottenham transfer headlines

Tottenham target three attackers before transfer deadline

Tottenham want Paris Saint-Germain defender as Cristian Romero replacement

Tottenham transfer news today: What's happening on August 20?

The search for a Cristian Romero replacement took a concrete shape on Wednesday when it was reported that Spurs are monitoring Ilya Zabarnyi of PSG, the 23-year-old Ukraine centre-back who joined the French champions from Bournemouth for £57m just 12 months ago but whose involvement in European competition was limited.

Zabarnyi's Premier League familiarity - he spent two and a half seasons at Bournemouth - is a significant attraction, with De Zerbi's team having already signed Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke in defence this summer, though a new arrival would need to be comfortable with potentially competing for a place rather than entering as a guaranteed starter.

No formal offer has been made, and PSG's valuation is expected to make any negotiation complex, particularly in the final weeks of the window.

Cody Gakpo's move from Liverpool for around £65m, however, appears to have stalled, despite De Zerbi seemingly convincing the Dutchman to make the move to North London; Reds boss Andoni Iraola, on the other hand, feels that he can get the best out of Gakpo, who is now looking increasingly likely to stay on Merseyside.

Seemingly discouraged in their pursuit of the former PSV Eindhoven man, Spurs are now stepping up their interest in Manchester City's Savinho and Omar Marmoush, two men who have been on the Lilywhites' radar for some time.

The Lilywhites are supposedly growing in confidence of completing a mammoth double swoop for the Brazilian and Egyptian attackers, who are intrigued by the Tottenham project but may not arrive for less than a combined £140m.

Following a summer of change at Tottenham Hotspur, the North London side are back in Premier League action for the first time since narrowly avoiding top-flight relegation, when they face cross-town rivals Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday.

Roberto De Zerbi finally guided the Lilywhites to safety last term after Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor seemed out of their depth at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the capital club were in real danger of losing their top-tier status until the Italian steered them to safety by finishing 17th.

Having signed Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes from Newcastle United and West Ham United for big money, and brought in Andrew Robertson on a free transfer from Liverpool, while still keen on making a few attacking signings, Spurs ostensibly appear equipped to avoid the dangers of the previous two campaigns.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up all of Tottenham's latest injury and suspension news before their London derby showdown with Brentford.

Xavi Simons

© Iconsport / SUSA

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: Unknown

Xavi Simons remains absent with a long-term knee injury sustained in late April and is likely absent for the rest of 2026.

Dominic Solanke

© Imago

Status: Minor doubt

Type of injury: Ankle

Possible return date: August 22 (vs. Brentford)

Solanke has been in and out of the side throughout pre-season, having not featured since the victory over Chelsea at the start of the month, and is touch-and-go for Brentford on Saturday.

Destiny Udogie

© Imago

Status: Out

Type of injury: Thigh

Possible return date: Unknown

Destiny Udogie last appeared for Spurs on the final day of the 2025-26 season, having missed the entire pre-season due to a muscle issue. The wide defender is close to a return, but Brentford will come too soon for the Italy international.

Mohammed Kudus

© Iconsport / Harvey Murphy/News Images/Alamy

Status: Out

Type of injury: Thigh

Possible return date: Unknown

Mohammed Kudus has not played for Spurs since January due to a thigh issue, and while he is closer to a return, an appearance against Brentford is unlikely.

Micky van de Ven

© Imago / Visionhaus

Status: Out

Type of injury: Fatigue/Fitness

Possible return date: Unknown

Having stated that Van de Ven was suffering from fatigue after last season and the World Cup, the centre-back is believed to be close to a return. However, his lack of involvement in the off-season suggests he will sit out the visit to Brentford.

Dejan Kulusevski

© Iconsport / BILDBYRÅN

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: Unknown

Kulusevski missed Spurs' tune-up matches due to a knee injury, likely ruling out the Swede against the Bees on Saturday.

Wilson Odobert

© Imago / News Images

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: Unknown

Like Simons, Wilson Odobert's serious knee injury could keep him out until 2027.

TOTTENHAM SUSPENSION LIST

Tottenham have no players banned for their Premier League opener.

Tottenham Hotspur are planning an ambitious final few weeks of the summer transfer window.

Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi wants to add further quality to an attack that remains short of goals and depth.

The north Londoners are now reportedly targeting as many as three new forwards before deadline day.

Tottenham hope to sign three new forwards before deadline day

© Imago

Sky Sports News' Lyall Thomas reports that the 'ideal end' to Spurs' window would see them sign Savinho, Cody Gakpo and a new centre-forward.

Savinho is ready to join Tottenham, but Manchester City are yet to sanction the move as they look to replace the Brazilian following a period of significant change at the Etihad Stadium.

Spurs are also waiting for Liverpool to complete their pursuit of Bradley Barcola, which could open the door for a move for Gakpo. Should that fail, Chelsea's Pedro Neto is among the alternatives being considered.

Gakpo could also potentially operate as a No.9 under De Zerbi, but that is not the primary plan. Spurs want an out-and-out striker capable of scoring goals while also linking the rest of the attack together.

Another City player, Omar Marmoush, is one player on their shortlist, though Enzo Maresca's side would first need to find a replacement.

Spurs are already one of the Premier League's biggest spenders

© Iconsport / PA Images

Tottenham have already spent more than £235 million on as many as six first-team stars, including a £185 million outlay on midfielders Sandro Tonali and Matheus Fernandes.

Jan Paul van Hecke has also arrived from Brighton for £52 million, while Spurs have added smart free transfers in the form of Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson and Martin Dubravka.

Adding three more forwards would therefore represent an extraordinary level of spending, but there is a clear rationale behind it.

Spurs narrowly avoided a disastrous campaign last season, and De Zerbi is clearly determined not to leave anything to chance as he rebuilds the squad.

Adding Savinho's explosiveness, Gakpo's proven Premier League exploits, and a genuine talisman would completely transform the attacking options available to him.

After such a huge investment already, Spurs are clearly trying to ensure there is no repeat of last season's relegation near-miss. If they can complete even two of those three deals, De Zerbi's squad should look considerably stronger.

Following the departure of Cristian Romero, Tottenham continue to explore further options in central defence.

According to TEAMtalk, Spurs are monitoring the situation of Illia Zabarnyi at Paris Saint-Germain, who could become available this summer.

The London club have not yet submitted a concrete offer, and it remains unclear whether PSG would even be willing to negotiate the sale of the Ukraine international.

Zabarnyi only joined Paris just a year ago, for £57 million. He was given regular game time in domestic competitions and produced strong performances, although his involvement in European competition was less significant.

Tottenham monitoring Illia Zabarnyi

© Iconsport / Philippe Lecoeur / FEP

Spurs have already responded to changes in defence this summer with the arrivals of Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke. However, that may not mark the end of Roberto De Zerbi's defensive rebuild.

A major advantage for the Ukrainian is his experience of the Premier League. Before his move to PSG, he spent two and a half seasons at Bournemouth, meaning a return to England would not require a lengthy period of adjustment to the pace and physical demands of the competition.

At the same time, at 23, he remains a player with plenty of room for further development.

Any potential transfer does, however, come with one possible complication. Micky van de Ven and summer signing van Hecke are currently considered Tottenham's expected first-choice centre-back pairing.

As a result, Zabarnyi may not automatically secure a starting role, even after a potentially very expensive transfer. Regular game time could well play an important part in the Ukraine international's decision-making.

Should he leave PSG just a year after joining, it is likely that one of his priorities will be a club where he can play regularly.

Chelsea and Liverpool have already strengthened their defence, leaving Tottenham as favourites

© Iconsport / Alex Ferrelly / Crystal Pix / Sports Press Photo / Alamy

Zabarnyi's situation was also monitored by Chelsea and Liverpool over the summer, but both clubs have since brought in other centre-backs.

The Blues signed Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace, while Liverpool loaned Ronald Araujo from Barcelona. Tottenham therefore currently appear to be the most concrete English suitor, although their interest has yet to progress into an official offer.

Any potential deal would also not be straightforward from a financial perspective. PSG invested £57 million in Zabarnyi just a year ago, and the Ukrainian defender remains an important member of the squad.

For now, Spurs are simply monitoring whether an opportunity to negotiate genuinely opens up around him in the closing stages of the transfer window. If it does, Zabarnyi could represent the next step in rebuilding the defence following Romero's departure to Atletico Madrid.