Tottenham's Ambitious Transfer Plans: Savinho and More
Tottenham are closing in on one of the most audacious transfer windows in their history, with a £75million deal in place to sign winger Savinho from Manchester City — a fee that could rise by another £10m in add-ons — and an eye also fixed on his City team-mate Omar Marmoush.
If Savinho completes his move, Spurs’ summer outlay will smash through the £300m barrier. They have already broken their transfer record twice in a matter of weeks: first with the £85m capture of Mateus Fernandes, then with the headline-grabbing £100m signing of Sandro Tonali from Newcastle.
This is not tinkering. It is a rebuild at full throttle.
De Zerbi plays it cool – publicly, at least
Roberto De Zerbi, though, refused to be drawn into any victory laps over Savinho when asked about the Brazil international.
“It is not right to speak about players until they are official,” he said, stopping any attempt to present the deal as done and dusted.
He allowed himself a glimpse behind the curtain, though.
“Just to say, I am very happy. We have not finished yet in the transfer market. It is an important part.
“So far, we have had a great [summer for] signings. Great players and personalities. But you don’t win the game with big-name players. We have to deserve to win games.”
The message was clear: the chequebook might be open, but the standards will be higher still.
De Zerbi also underlined the alignment behind the scenes, name-checking the key figures driving this expensive overhaul.
“We are working very well with Johan Lange, with Vinai [Venkatesham], and with Nick [Beucher] — with the whole board.”
Money, yes. But also structure, and a manager who wants the squad built to a clear idea.
Three months that felt like ten
De Zerbi only arrived in March, yet his impact has already been heavy. He took over a team staring at the trapdoor and dragged them clear of relegation on the final day of last season.
“It feels like I’ve been here ten years, but just three months,” he said. “Three very intense months. We can’t forget what happened last season. It’s a big lesson for us. We are building a big project.”
Those scars are shaping this summer. Tottenham are not just spending to excite; they are spending to make sure they never flirt with that kind of danger again.
Two big challenges at Spurs
Amid the frenzy of arrivals and record fees, De Zerbi has boiled his vision down to two “big challenges” for the club in the coming months.
“Now the big challenge — the first two targets — we are very clear in ourselves, is to find the soul of the team. The second target is to improve in our organisation of football, with the ball and without the ball.
“Our style has to be the key of our season. These two characteristics I want to find as soon as possible.”
Savinho, Fernandes, Tonali, and potentially Marmoush are the headline acts. De Zerbi’s system, and the identity he demands, will decide whether this becomes the summer Spurs talk about as the start of something, or the one they remember as an expensive missed chance.
