Tottenham Hotspur are quietly confident of securing up to three new striker signings before the transfer deadline to satisfy head coach Roberto De Zerbi, as the North London club prepares for its Premier League season opener against Brentford on Saturday tea-time.
Spurs are advancing talks with Manchester City for attacking pair Omar Marmoush and Savinho, while also keeping interest in Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo as part of a major squad transformation.
None of the three forward targets are prolific goalscorers in English football, although Marmoush operated at nearly a goal per game for German Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt before joining Manchester City in January 2025. The 27-year-old Egyptian international has scored 10 goals in 37 Premier League appearances, while 22-year-old Brazilian international Savinho has scored twice in 53 league matches. Gakpo, a 27-year-old Netherlands international who won a league championship in 2025, has 32 goals in 127 top-flight appearances. Any move for Gakpo is seen as unlikely to develop until Liverpool complete signings of their own, with Tottenham viewing him primarily as a wide player rather than a central striker.
Adding Premier League experience, leadership, and a winning mentality has been central to Tottenham's recruitment strategy. If Spurs successfully deliver all three forward targets, it would complete nine summer signings, all of whom played in the Premier League last season and represent senior internationals. That would mark a major summer overhaul unlike anything the club has attempted in recent years. Tottenham currently hold no interest in Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson or AS Monaco striker Folarin Balogun.
De Zerbi rebuilds squad momentum
The late push for attacking reinforcements follows steady progress under De Zerbi before the transfer window opened. The Italian head coach accumulated 11 points from seven games at the end of last season, reviving key squad members who had previously appeared spent under former managers Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor.
Czech goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky revitalised his form to claim the number one spot for the upcoming campaign. By the time Tottenham secured a victory over Everton to guarantee Premier League survival, the squad was no longer performing like a team in a relegation battle.
Dutch central defender Micky van de Ven refocused and signed a new contract despite looking for an exit six months ago, although a pre-season injury leaves him a doubt for the season opener at Brentford. Following post-match relief against Everton, De Zerbi was seen speaking with right-back Pedro Porro and owners Vivienne Lewis and Nick Beucher, stressing the importance of extending Porro's contract before the World Cup. Porro signed the extension and subsequently played a star role for Spain, returning to London as a World Cup winner. His return to training was marked by a guard of honour featuring players, first-team staff, academy personnel, and training ground workers, reflecting the new unity fostered by De Zerbi.
Pre-season training and club legends
Insiders describe the atmosphere behind the scenes as upbeat and positive. De Zerbi was granted extended time on the training pitch to compensate for a pre-season tour to New Zealand and Australia. Tottenham rejected lucrative offers to play prestigious friendly matches in Europe, electing instead to play two of their final three pre-season fixtures at the training ground and one at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, allowing De Zerbi to spend hours locked away with his staff in preparation.
The manager has reshuffled his backroom team, bringing in assistant coach Andrew Crofts from Brighton and fitness coach Agostino Tibaudi, who worked with De Zerbi at several previous clubs. The first-team squad has been based at The Lodge, the hotel accommodation located at the training ground, while renovations took place across the site. The shared living arrangement helped foster closer bonds among the new group of players.
Last week, Tottenham invited 25 former club legends to watch training and share lunch with the current squad and staff. De Zerbi hosted a table featuring Glenn Hoddle, Steve Perryman, and Gary Mabbutt. Midfielder Archie Gray spent time listening to former goalkeeper Pat Jennings recount past matches against Gray's father Frank and uncle Eddie, while teenage winger Mikey Moore discussed Scottish club Rangers with former striker Jermain Defoe.
A new transfer policy without Levy
Tottenham established the base of their squad early in the window during the club's first summer transfer period operating without former chairman Daniel Levy managing deal negotiations. Scottish left-back Andy Robertson, Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi, and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka arrived early, while Kinsky, Porro, Van de Ven, and Ben Davies signed contract extensions. Together with January arrival Conor Gallagher and captain Archie Gray, who led the team during pre-season, these players form the foundation of the defensive and midfield units.
De Zerbi has set up his team in a 4-2-3-1 formation in pre-season, with Gallagher operating as an industrious number 10. While uncertainty remains over the futures of midfielders Lucas Bergvall and Pape Matar Sarr, Tottenham's defensive structure appears more aggressive than last season, even if not yet watertight.
The club has also demonstrated a change in transfer strategy, moving decisively for targets and paying full asking prices rather than dragging out negotiations. While this approach left Tottenham more vulnerable to low-ball offers for departing players, moving squad members on remained the priority. Defender Cristian Romero was sold for £34.2 million after becoming a dissenting presence, while right-back Djed Spence was sold for £30 million following a solid World Cup campaign, avoiding a drop in value had he remained as a backup on the bench.
Squad clear-out and academy sales
Italian goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario joined Serie A side Juventus on loan without an obligation to buy for £8.5 million. Tottenham allowed the move to suit all parties rather than holding out for maximum profit, reflecting a mature approach to squad management.
This summer's efficient clear-out contrasts with the summer of 2022 under former Italian manager Antonio Conte. Conte wanted all new arrivals in place for the start of pre-season, but while six players arrived early, the club failed to move on unwanted senior figures, leading to a stalled market and managerial frustration.
This year, Tottenham have generated substantial fees from fringe players and academy prospects while inserting future sell-on clauses and buy-back options. Spurs could earn up to £20 million for Will Lankshear and Ashley Phillips if performance add-ons are met during their spells at Middlesbrough. However, Tottenham sold 19-year-old Croatian central defender Luka Vuskovic to Brighton for £50 million without him playing a single competitive match for Spurs, following a successful loan spell at German club Hamburg.
Injury updates ahead of Brentford opener
As the opening fixture against Brentford approaches, Tottenham face persistent injury concerns over striker Dominic Solanke. Solanke missed most of pre-season with an ankle problem after being sidelined for long stretches of last season.
Without new forward arrivals in place, De Zerbi may field an attacking line-up against Brentford that is no stronger than the side that finished last season. In Tottenham's final match against Everton, Spence and Mathys Tel flanked Richarlison in a front three. Two of those players are expected to start on Saturday, with 18-year-old Mikey Moore likely to feature on the right wing.
Richarlison has scored three goals in six pre-season matches, while Moore is lined up for a loan move to German Bundesliga club Cologne once new attackers arrive. Elsewhere in the squad, midfielder James Maddison played 45 minutes in Sunday's behind-closed-doors match against German side Hoffenheim, while new signing Mateus Fernandes completed 90 minutes and should be available. Winger Mohammed Kudus has returned to full training, though Dejan Kulusevski will require a longer recovery period due to the delicacy of his injury status.
