Tottenham's Transfer Plans: Savinho, Marmoush, and Gakpo
Tottenham’s transfer spree may not be close to finished – in fact, it might be about to escalate.
Savinho is already in the bag after Spurs struck an £85m agreement with Manchester City, the headline move in a summer built around a clear plan: two wingers and a central striker. Fabrizio Romano laid that strategy out on Thursday, naming Savinho and Cody Gakpo as the wide targets, with a new No 9 to follow.
That striker now looks set to be Omar Marmoush.
The Egypt international has agreed personal terms on a five-year deal and, by all accounts, is eager to work under Roberto De Zerbi. Talks between Tottenham and his club have been described as “very close”, with an agreement expected in the coming days. If and when that deal drops, Spurs’ outlay for the window will surge towards the £400m mark – a staggering figure for a squad already heavily reshaped over the past year.
And yet, the suggestion is this might still only be the prelude.
“May yet go bigger”
According to The Independent’s chief football writer Miguel Delaney, Tottenham “may yet go bigger than Savinho and Omar Marmoush”. Writing in his Inside Football newsletter, Delaney hinted that the north London club could still have a major move left in them.
The obvious name is Cody Gakpo. Romano has repeatedly framed the summer as a three-man attacking rebuild: Savinho, Gakpo and a central striker, now seemingly Marmoush. Savinho is done. Marmoush is close. That leaves one piece missing.
Gakpo has been linked with Spurs throughout the window, even if the Marmoush chase has dominated recent headlines. Romano has been adamant that the Dutchman remains firmly in play.
“It’s not over at all, the summer transfer window for Tottenham. I always told you Savinho, Gakpo, and a central striker. Savinho is done. Gakpo: we will talk in the next few days,” he said.
If Gakpo is not the “bigger” move Delaney alluded to, then Tottenham are hiding another attacking target extremely well. At this stage of the window, that level of secrecy would be some feat.
Gakpo deal faces major hurdles
Several dominoes still need to fall before Gakpo can realistically walk through the doors at Hotspur Way.
Personal terms are not the problem. Gakpo has already agreed those with Spurs and is understood to be keen on the switch. The obstacle is Liverpool. The forward remains part of their plans, and the club have proved stubborn in negotiations.
His form has not helped Tottenham’s cause either. Gakpo impressed in Liverpool’s pre-season, strengthening the belief inside Anfield that new manager Andoni Iraola can unlock his full potential. That optimism makes the idea of cashing in far less appealing.
Tottenham, for their part, have not yet lodged a formal bid. That could change quickly if Liverpool move decisively in the market. Interest in Paris Saint-Germain pair Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye is being closely watched in north London. The arrival of either at Anfield would crank up competition in Gakpo’s area of the pitch and might soften Liverpool’s stance.
For now, Spurs wait, armed with an agreed contract and a willing player, but no green light from Merseyside.
The transfer window is into its final week. Tottenham have already shaken up their attack with Savinho and are closing on Marmoush. The question now is simple: do they stop there, or do they land the statement signing that turns an ambitious rebuild into something far more explosive?
