Full Breakdown
Tottenham Hotspur’s Pre-Season Progress and Summer Transfer Outlook
8/3/2026, 11:33:26 AM
Pre-Season Tour Highlights
Roberto De Zerbi’s ten-day overseas tour took the Spurs squad to New Zealand and Australia. The team recorded a 2-0 win over Auckland FC, a shoot-out victory after a 1-1 draw with Sydney FC, and a win against Chelsea in London despite playing most of the second half with ten men. De Zerbi praised the “very important 10 days together” and the composure shown after defender Kevin Danso was sent off early in the second half. He emphasized the need to change “habits” that have hurt results in the previous two seasons, stressing winning duels, second balls and positional play.
Transfer Market Activity
Tottenham entered the window having already spent more than £200 million on arrivals such as Martin Dubravka, Andy Robertson, Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi and Sandro Tonali. The club remains active, targeting several attackers and midfielders while also fielding potential exits.
Incoming Targets
- Savinho – 22-year-old Manchester City winger, linked to a £60 million deal.
- Marcus Rashford – 28-year-old England forward, reportedly around £30 million.
- Cody Gakpo – Liverpool’s Dutch forward, valued at more than £70 million.
- Victor Osimhen – Galatasaray striker, identified as a “potential target” after a failed loan move to Chelsea in 2024.
Departures
- Cristian Romero – Spurs captain, with Inter Milan reportedly offering £34 million.
- Richarlison – Brazilian forward, with an asking price of around £25 million.
- Lucas Bergvall – 20-year-old Swedish midfielder, valued at roughly £60 million.
Official Statements & Responses
De Zerbi highlighted the tour’s role in giving game time to “promising youngsters” such as Malachi Hardy, Rio Kyerematen, Tye Hall and Kota Takai, and praised new signings Sandro Tonali, Archie Gray, Ben Davies, Andy Robertson and Lucas Bergvall for their contributions to the Chelsea win. He noted the importance of maintaining the fighting spirit shown after the red card as the squad prepares for the Premier League opener against Brentford on August 22.
De Zerbi also addressed Richarlison’s situation, stating that while the player’s attitude and behaviour are “unbelievable,” the club must respect his wish to depart.
Verbatim Quotes
- “As a guy, he's unbelievable [in] his attitude and behaviour, but in the end, we have to respect what he wants to do,” — Roberto De Zerbi
What’s Next
Tottenham’s first league match is scheduled for August 22 against Brentford. De Zerbi indicated the club may add two or three more players before the transfer window closes in September, though he clarified that the Italian term “bomba” does not directly translate to a blockbuster signing. The pursuit of attackers such as Gakpo, Savinho and Rashford, alongside potential exits, will shape the final squad for the 2024-25 Premier League campaign.
