givemesport.com

Not much more needs to be said about Tottenham Hotspur's dreadful start to the Premier League season, which sees them lying bottom just months after avoiding relegation to the Championship on the final day of the campaign.

Better things were expected from Spurs under Roberto De Zerbi after a huge summer spend that saw 10 new players arrive, all of whom have Premier League experience.

While Tottenham's defence and midfield were transformed, and they have good options in most positions when everyone is fit, there is one position that will be causing concern for supporters of the North London outfit.

It seemed clear to many that Spurs needed to sign a recognised new centre-forward during the summer, but they failed to do so.

It was hoped that Omar Marmoush could fill the role, but he has started the club's last two matches out wide, with Dominic Solanke preferred through the middle.

With Richarlison not named in the 25-man Premier League squad and unable to feature in the English top flight between now and January, a lot of pressure is on Solanke's shoulders to perform.

Given the former Bournemouth star's injury issues, that is a concern, and the signs from his first two league starts of the season are that he isn't in the right physical condition or form to make a difference for Tottenham right now.

Given Spurs have scored two Premier League goals this season, with both coming in their last game against Aston Villa and from Mohammed Kudus and Jan Paul Van Hecke, there are already big concerns about their attacking output.

Still, Football London have suggested that De Zerbi is ready to hand Solanke a major role in his side going forward, with the Italian having previously said earlier this month that he believes the striker can score 15 goals for Tottenham this term.

"I spoke with him and I would like to manage him in the best way I can, in the physical aspect and in the mental aspect, because he's a sensitive guy. He needs to feel full confidence, and from myself he has big, big confidence.

I believe he can score 10-15 goals for sure. He's already scored at Bournemouth, so why can't he score at Tottenham?

"It's the same sport, different stadium, no pressure, because in our stadium, if we push, if we play well, the fans are with us."

Solanke Needs to be Upgraded in January

If Tottenham really intend to push on to where they want to be under De Zerbi, it is clear that Solanke cannot be their first-choice centre-forward, and it would be a big mistake to consider him in that way.

He has shown glimpses of his quality during his time in north London, but it hasn't been enough, and the injury issues have only compounded how he is viewed by the fanbase.

He has netted 23 goals in 72 matches for Spurs, which comes in at just under a one-in-three average, but he hasn't scored a Premier League goal since March.

De Zerbi will want a striker who can press and be intense, and we just haven't seen that from Solanke, especially in his appearances this term.

Tottenham Striker Links From the Summer:

Victor Osimhen

Jean-Philippe Mateta

Folarin Balogun

Nicolas Jackson

Tottenham were linked with some established strikers during the summer transfer window, and it remains to be seen if they have the budget to put their summer failure behind them in January, or whether they will have to wait until next summer.

Jackson is off the market following his switch to Aston Villa, but Osimhen, Mateta and Balogun are all still at the same clubs they were last season, meaning there could be opportunities there.

De Zerbi has certainly made mistakes during his Tottenham tenure to date, but believing Solanke is the answer to the club's centre-forward issue would be the most catastrophic one yet.

Tottenham defender Jan Paul van Hecke has withdrawn from the Netherlands squad due to injury and is now returning to north London, according to The Athletic.

Van Hecke has been involved in the Netherlands' previous two games on international duty, starting against both Germany and Serbia.

Xavi Hernandez's side drew 1-1 with Germany in their opening game, before beating Serbia 2-1.

The Netherlands are now set to travel to Greece for their next UEFA Nations League clash, but it appears that they will be without Tottenham's centre-back.

Spurs supporters will be waiting nervously to discover whether the injury is going to be enough to keep him out of their next Premier League clash, but there's still plenty of time remaining for him to make a full recovery.

According to The Athletic, Van Hecke has now withdrawn from the squad after picking up a foot injury. The former Brighton centre-back trained with the squad on Wednesday, but withdrew from the session and will now travel back to London for treatment.

Van Hecke has been ever-present for Tottenham so far in the Premier League this season, with Spurs struggling at the foot of the table.

Tottenham's next game sees them travel to Manchester United in the Premier League on October 10th, but it remains to be seen whether Van Hecke will be fit enough for that one.

Roberto De Zerbi does have options to replace Van Hecke, who made the move to Spurs in the summer transfer window.

A blessing in disguise for Tottenham?

There's an argument to suggest that this could be a blessing in disguise for Tottenham.

De Zerbi won't want Van Hecke out for an extended period, but a small amount of time that allows someone else to prove themselves could be beneficial.

Van Hecke hasn't enjoyed the start to his time at Tottenham that De Zerbi might have expected, and with Spurs struggling, a change in the defence could be what they need.

It's a real opportunity for someone like Marcos Senesi to grab his chance with both hands and prove to the manager that he deserves more minutes.

Having both players available for selection would undoubtedly be De Zerbi's preference, but even Van Hecke being unavailable for just one game could force him into a change that helps improve Tottenham's struggles so far this season.

Aston Villa and Tottenham are both being linked with a move for a Champions League centre-back in Kim min-Jae. The Bayern Munich defender has been a staple under Vincent Kompany, with the German giants becoming one of the very best teams in Europe over the last year or so, in particular, likely only second to PSG.

Min-jae joined from Napoli back in 2024, and he was linked with plenty of Premier League clubs back then, but his Bayern decision has certainly paid off, leading to two Bundesliga titles, and he and his teammates will be eyeing Champions League success this season.

But now 29 years of age, there are some early conversations about what Bayern will do when it comes time to agree a new contract, with the South Korean out of terms in 2028.

Speaking to FC Bayern Insider, BILD journalist Christian Falk has provided an update on the centre-back's situation, claiming both Villa and Spurs have recently shown interest.

Falk said: “I can say it’s still true that Bayern Munich will be the first club he opens any kind of talks with. But it will depend on a number of things, like what Bayern are offering this Autumn when they open talks over his future? Will they say Min-jae Kim can sign a new contract? Or is he still one of the players the club would consider selling to bring in some money?

“This is why other clubs have Kim in their focus. Aston Villa is interested, and I heard both Tottenham and AC Milan are also looking at the South Korean international.

"In fact the three clubs in question already made contact in the summer for Kim, but in the end there was no offer.

“So, nothing concrete at the moment. I wouldn’t expect a January move or anything. Everything will depend on what Bayern Munich will tell Kim in contract talks this year.”

Min-jae a 'defensive monster'

Speaking about Min-jae during the summer, Bayern boss Kompany said: “He is really a defensive monster and really fast. I think very highly of him as a footballer. He also has a great sense of humour. That’s certainly something that very few people know about him.”

Tottenham Hotspur may enter the race for Sunderland target Geny Catamo in January, should this summer's spending spree continue to look wide of the mark.

After four outings, Spurs are still yet to score in the Premier League this season, and it's caused an attacking crisis for Roberto De Zerbi. The North London outfit invested in Manchester City winger Savio, with Omar Marmoush and Mykhailo Mudryk both arriving on loan. So far, the trio have added little impetus.

The fact that Tottenham are not committed to paying permanent fees for Marmoush and Mudryk may offer some wiggle room in January, and Portuguese outlet Record reports that Catamo could be recruited in a Hail Mary.

Tottenham Hotspur linked with Sporting winger Geny Catamo

Sporting winger Catamo has two goals and three assists in five outings so far this season, returns that will make mouths water at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium given the club's current predicament.

Spurs are reported to have expressed interest in the 25-year-old, who held talks with Sunderland over a potential move to the Stadium of Light this summer. Saudi Arabian clubs are also said to be following the case, alongside preliminary enquiries from Serie A side Como.

Catamo was reported to have a £51 million release clause in his Sporting contract in the summer, which was not activated by the Black Cats. The Mozambique international picked up eight goals and five assists last season and has become a reliable force for Sporting in recent seasons.

Speaking about transfer speculation this summer, Sporting boss Rui Borges said: “Geny is happy at Sporting, he has played well, clearly demonstrating his commitment and happiness playing for Sporting.

"The interest from him is natural, he is a great player."

"He has always known the confidence he has from his coach and the technical team. Therefore, I am very happy with the response he has given daily and in matches."

Jamie Redknapp: Spurs attack has been 'diabolical' this season

Tottenham woes in front of goal continued with a 0-0 draw against Everton on Saturday evening. Speaking after the match, former Spurs man Jamie Redknapp slammed the efforts of his former side.

He told Sky Sports: “After spending £300million, I didn’t think there would be a problem scoring goals.

“I thought that they might struggle to win games, a few teething problems, but I thought with the players they’ve got in midfield… surely they have goals in this team.

“To not score in the Premier League in six hours of football is absolutely diabolical, whatever way you look at it."

De Zerbi started new boys Marmoush and Savio against Everton, but both failed to catch the eye, and their wait for a first goal involvement goes on. Spurs are without fellow summer signing Mudryk, who is now sidelined until October with an ankle injury.

The Tottenham manager, who has also axed striker Richarlison from his squad, labelled that Mudryk niggle as a 'stupid injury' after it was picked up in training.

Tottenham Hotspur felt as though they had an excellent summer transfer window, but after four games in the Premier League they are in real trouble.

The north London club were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Everton on Saturday evening, making them winless in the 2026/27 Premier League season so far without a single goal scored in the process, despite spending over £400m to bolster their squad.

Savio, Omar Marmoush and Mykhailo Mudryk all joined Spurs in the window, but while the Ukraine international missed the game due to injury, the former two were both part of the starting lineup and failed to deliver when they needed to.

With Richarlison exiled from the squad after failing to find an agreement for a move away, despite Spurs being happy to let him move on, the club's attacking options are relatively limited.

Mohammed Kudus is only just on his way back from a long-term injury, as is James Maddison, while Dejan Kulusevski remains unavailable after more than 16 months since his last appearance.

That means that De Zerbi has players to choose from to build his attack, and the new signings should be right at the top of the pecking order following their arrivals. That includes Marmoush, who arrived on an initial season-long loan with an obligation to buy for £60m.

The Egyptian was handed a start on the left wing against Everton, rather than centrally where he had played in previous appearances for the club, but was horrendous throughout.

Despite playing the full game, Marmoush completed just 12/13 passes, had just one shot, lost possession 11 times, and won just three of 11 duel attempts across the game. It was a shocking performance, and earned him a measly 4/10 rating from The Standard.

Plenty have given him the benefit of the doubt, but it's time to admit the uncomfortable truth - he just isn't good enough.

Marmoush Is a Waste of Money

Marmoush arrived at the club with plenty of hype. Having scored an astonishing 20 goals in 26 games for Frankfurt in the first-half of the 2024/25 season he earned a big-money move to Man City, where he then scored eight goals in his first half season at the Etihad.

But he struggled beyond that with limited game time behind Erling Haaland, and many believed that with a regular run of games and minutes he would improve and rediscover his previous form.

However, it's evident that he simply isn't that player. The space he had in Germany he doesn't get in the Premier League, and technically he isn't secure enough to create it for himself. Spurs need quality, not just the idea of being at a certain level, and Marmoush can't offer it.

It's early days, but based on what we have seen so far from the 27-year-old's time in England, he simply isn't good enough.

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to score their first goal of the Premier League season at the fourth attempt when they host Everton in north London on Saturday evening.

Having added the likes of Mateus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali, Omar Marmoush, Savio and Mykhailo Mudryk to their attack during the summer transfer window, the expectation would have been that Tottenham wouldn't have had any issues in front of goal.

Instead, they have gone goalless and generally offered little attacking threat, especially in terms of efforts on target, and that needs to change quickly if they are to improve upon last season's 17th-placed finish.

New boy Marmoush has played in the centre-forward role against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, but he has yet to get off the mark for his new employers following his loan move from Manchester City, which will become a permanent £60m transfer at the end of the season.

Richarlison and Dominic Solanke shared the responsibility on the opening day at Brentford, prior to the Marmoush signing, but none of them have managed to make the breakthrough and the former, according to GMS sources, has contacted FIFA as he looks to terminate his contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

In terms of which other options De Zerbi could turn to if Richarlison does leave? Well, there aren't a lot.

Will Lankshear was the most promising young centre-forward at the club, but he left for Middlesbrough in the summer and has since gone on to score seven goals in seven games for the Championship high-flyers.

The likes of Savio, Mudryk and Mathys Tel are all better suited to playing out wide, but there could be a wildcard option for the position in Mohammed Kudus.

The Ghana international has come on from the substitutes' bench in Spurs' last two games, having been absent since January with a hamstring issue.

De Zerbi confirmed in his pre-match press conference on Friday that the 26-year-old is almost ready to start again, and the Italian manager has even touted him for the centre-forward role.

I wanted Mo Kudus when I was in Brighton. I pushed a lot to bring him before he went to West Ham. He can play as a winger, as a number 10 and as a striker also and he is an amazing player.

What is clear is that if Tottenham have a fully-fit Kudus up to speed imminently, it could be a huge for them.

Kudus Can be the Game-Changer for De Zerbi

There was a lot of excitement at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when they prised Kudus away from London rivals West Ham United in a £55m deal last summer, but fans only got to see him for half of the season before he suffered a serious injury.

The 25-year-old still registered two goals and six assists in 19 Premier League appearances last term, showcasing his talent and ability at the same time.

With a manager who absolutely loves him, this could be the season Kudus really explodes at Tottenham, and his versatility is interesting.

He is more well known for playing as a 10 or on the wing, which has led to previous comparisons with legendary Spurs players.

Writing about the Ghanaian star 11 months ago, Football London correspondent Alasdair Gold had the following to say:

There's a more advanced and goal-threatening Mousa Dembele vibe to Kudus with his ability to twist and turn with the ball at his feet. He's going to become a Spurs star because there's even more to come.

Dembele was one of the most technical and talented players Tottenham have had this century, and being compared to him is a signal of how good Kudus is.

The official Premier League website described him as an 'elite dribbler', while the fact he is left-footed means he also been compared to another Tottenham icon in Gareth Bale.

Journalist Oliver Young-Myles wrote in July 2025 that Kudus is the 'closest thing Tottenham have had to Gareth Bale' since his first spell at the club.

While we should expect to see Kudus in the No.10 position or on the wing more often than not, De Zerbi's admission about him playing as a striker could see him contribute in other ways too.

Tottenham have confirmed their squad for the Premier League season, making a decision on Richarlison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Xavi Simons, among others.

Richarlison, who made the move to Tottenham for a fee of around £60 million from Everton, has reportedly agreed to join Turkish side Trabzonspor if the two clubs can agree a fee.

The Brazilian was also close to joining Everton in the summer transfer window, but a move fell through on deadline day.

Richarlison took to social media to stress that he wanted to join Everton, which would undoubtedly not have gone down well at Tottenham.

Spurs then had a decision to make when it comes to naming their squad for the season. Premier League clubs are only allowed to list a maximum of 25 senior players over the age of 21, and there also must be eight homegrown players.

Tottenham's squad for the 2026/2027 season in the Premier League has now been confirmed, with Brazilian forward Richarlison missing from the squad.

Tottenham have also made a decision on Kulusevski, Simons, and Wilson Odobert, despite their injuries, listing them in the squad.

Spurs will, of course, have the option to add players to the squad during the January transfer window, so there could be a chance for Richarlison to rescue his career at Tottenham.

Exit now inevitable for Richarlison

An exit for Richarlison certainly feels inevitable in the coming days after his omission from Tottenham's squad.

There are a limited number of teams that Richarlison can head to, due to many transfer windows now being closed, but there could be an opportunity for him to head to Turkey.

As previously mentioned, Trabzonspor are showing an interest, but Tottenham are believed to have rejected two bids so far.

With Richarlison omitted from the squad, Tottenham's hand has been weakened, as they will clearly be desperate to get him off the books.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to say goodbye to another one of their first-team stars after reports emerged on Monday morning that a deal had been agreed with Juventus for the sale of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

The Italian keeper has long been linked with a move away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the 29-year-old keen on a move back to his homeland.

Inter Milan were linked, but it is Juventus who appear to have won the race, just hours after the Old Lady saw a move to sign Aston Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez collapse when nearing agreement. Juve had made a bid of around €10million for Martinez, with €7million fixed and €3million in add-ons.

Vicario could yet make a return to Tottenham despite Juve agreement

However, after that move fell through, the Italian giants quickly turned their attentions back to Vicario, whom they had been linked with earlier in the window and according to Italian football journalist Gianluca di Marzio, Juve have now reached an agreement with Spurs over a move to sign the Italian, with the deal set to be a loan with an option to buy at the end of the season. There will not be an obligation to make the deal permanent, according to Di Marzio, meaning Vicario could return to N17 next summer.

Vicario will be the 12th player to leave Tottenham this summer, with De Zerbi clearing the decks in regard to the squad he inherited from the beleaguered Igor Tudor.

Tottenham departures this summer: Vuskovic (Brighton, £52m), Romero (Atletico Madrid, £34.2m), Spence (Inter Milan, £30m), Lankshear (Middlesbrough, £10m), Veliz (Bahia, £7.8m), Phillips (Middlesbrough, £7m), Devine (Preston, £6m), Solomon (West Ham, £5m), Dragusin (Fiorentina, loan with obligation), Yang (Westerlo, loan), Bissouma (Released), Vicario (Juventus, loan)

Vicario underwent hernia surgery when De Zerbi arrived at the club at the end of March and did not play under his compatriot, despite the new head coach saying he was the Spurs No.1.

Antonin Kinsky took over between the sticks and delivered some fine performances, made all the more impressive by what happened when he was thrown into the Champions League encounter with Atletico Madrid by Tudor, only to be hooked after 17 minutes after a couple of horrific mistakes.

And Tottenham will go into the 2026/27 campaign - which starts away at Brentford on Saturday - with Kinsky as the new No.1.

Tottenham Hotspur continue to pursue Manchester City winger Savinho and Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, but Roberto De Zerbi's headline signing might ultimately come from elsewhere.

The Lilywhites have been active so far this summer, spending £237million in an attempt to rejuvenate a squad which has delivered back-to-back 17th-place finishes over the last two seasons. Sandro Tonali has signed for £100million from Newcastle United, while Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke have also arrived for significant fees.

On top of these big-money investments, De Zerbi has added free agents Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka to his ranks.

Having significantly strengthened their defence and midfield with these signings, attention now turns towards bolstering the forward line for Spurs. Savinho is a primary target, while Gakpo continues to be linked with a switch to North London.

However, De Zerbi also wants a new striker, and Tottenham have reportedly held preliminary talks over the potential signing of Real Madrid's Endrick.

Roberto De Zerbi wants a 'bomba' signing at Tottenham this summer

De Zerbi is clearly intent on reversing Spurs' fortunes next season. Another season flirting with relegation won't suffice, and the Italian is therefore pushing his higher-ups to make a number of significant investments.

While the defence and midfield at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium now look set up for several years, considerable work still needs to be done on the attack.

De Zerbi is eyeing ceiling raisers, and has referenced the transfer buzzword 'bomba' in recent interviews.

"In the transfer market, when I want one player, I become like a shark, no chance to say no!" he told Football.London at the end of July.

"The transfer market, it's not finished for sure, but we completed 60% of our project in the transfer market. Now we have another bomba!"

Endrick could be De Zerbi's marquee signing

Many have speculated that Savinho and Gakpo are seen as the potential 'bomba' signings for De Zerbi. With the latter netting one league goal for City last term, and the former's stock declining significantly over the past 12 months, neither of these prospective additions is likely to get the pulses of Lilywhites fans racing.

However, it's very possible that neither proves to be the marquee signing that De Zerbi has spoken of so regularly.

Instead, it may well be Endrick. The North London club have expressed their interest in the Brazilian, and are said to be optimistic about their chances of luring him to the English capital. Having spent the second half of last season on loan at Lyon, there evidently isn't a clear role for the prospect at the Bernabeu.

The addition of Yan Diomande is only going to hinder Endrick's chances of becoming a regular for Los Blancos. It therefore wouldn't be a surprise if the Spanish giants sanctioned his departure this summer.

Whether Spurs can attract him is a different question. Arsenal have been loosely linked with Endrick, and the Premier League champions' interest would certainly concern Tottenham if they are serious about landing the young superstar.

The 20-year-old forward enjoyed a fruitful temporary stint in France, netting eight goals and providing eight assists in 21 appearances across all competitions for Lyon. This output highlighted that he's certainly capable of producing at the highest level; he just needs a home where he can develop and hone his craft. Spurs could provide him with this home.

If De Zerbi can pull this deal off, it would indeed be a statement of intent from Tottenham, acquiring one of the brightest young talents on the planet, likely ahead of a number of other top potential suitors.

Former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti was effusive in his praise of the youngster during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu.

He is spectacular. He has these amazing characteristics he has shown whenever he has a chance. His accuracy is off the charts, he's quick and he still has a lot to improve with the ball. But, wow, his dribbling, his runs, the shot he has, he is just spectacular

Tottenham are said to be expecting to get the green light from Liverpool over the signing of Cody Gakpo. Spurs are now looking to strengthen their attack after spending hundreds of millions on their defence and midfield this summer.

Roberto De Zerbi has overseen a club-record spend, with £237million spent on Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke, while some smart free signings have been made, including Martin Dubravaka, Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson.

De Zerbi now wants attacking recruits to complete what will surely be seen as a dream window, and Spurs are even said to be willing to buy two new singers, with another £160million or so potentially being spent.

Manchester City star Savinho is a key target, but so is Liverpool winger Gakpo, who looks to be a realistic target, as long as the Reds can find a replacement first, keeping in mind the Merseyside club also need to replace Mo Salah.

As far as Tottenham's hopes of signing Gakpo go, reliable Spurs source szyexcl wrote on X: "Gakpo is happy with personal terms presented by #thfc. no issues there. liverpool demand £70M. green light once an attacker arrives. understood to be soon."

Another £70million would be a big investment from Spurs, who could also spend £80million or so on Savinho. The departures of Cristian Romero and Luka Vuskovic have helped, while Guglielmo Vicario will depart, and Lucas Bergvall is being linked with an exit.

"He can go inside, outside, he has his qualities, he's strong." - Ronald Koeman

But having balanced spending very well over recent years, Spurs have the room to spend, although that's not to say there won't be an impact in future windows, with Profit and Sustainability rules often coming back to bite when so much money is being spread over future years, which will be the case with Spurs.

Gakpo's Premier League seasons so far

Gakpo is a 'dangerous player' and proven Premier League commodity

Former Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman has previously described Gakpo as a 'dangerous' player. He said: "His starting position is on the left side because he is really dangerous if he comes one against one with the right full-back. He can go inside, outside, he has his qualities, he's strong. He's playing a great level this tournament, maybe the most important player until now. I hope that the rest can come to that level.”

Gakpo may be coming off a lass than ideal season, but he still managed seven goals and five assists in the Premier League, down from 10 goals and five assists the year before. Gakpo is a very productive winger for the most part, and a proven Premier League player, which should mean he hits the ground running should he arrive at Spurs.