Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has indicated that another major transfer is expected soon, following the club’s substantial spending in the current window. The Italian coach also addressed the potential departures of several key players, including captain Cristian Romero and midfielder Lucas Bergvall.
De Zerbi stated that the transfer market is not yet closed for Spurs, despite the club having already invested significantly. He described the upcoming acquisition as “another bomba,” suggesting a high-impact signing is imminent. This follows the arrivals of Sandro Tonali, who became the club’s first £100 million player, and Mateus Fernandes, acquired for £85 million.
Transfer Market Activity
The manager confirmed that the new arrival would be an attacking player, though he did not provide specific details on the deal’s completion. De Zerbi mentioned that his list of transfer targets was compiled during discussions with sporting director Johan Lange before he took on the role. The club is reportedly anticipating a deal for Manchester City winger Savinho in the coming weeks, but De Zerbi hinted that another significant signing could materialise beforehand.
Spurs have been linked with several prominent attackers this summer, including Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo, Milan’s Rafael de Leao, PSG’s Bradley Barcola, and England international Marcus Rashford. De Zerbi is also understood to admire Savinho’s City teammate Omar Marmoush.
De Zerbi emphasised his approach to player recruitment, stating, “In the transfer market when I want one player I become like a shark, No chance to say no!” He added that the club has completed approximately 60 per cent of its transfer project.
Player Departures and Commitment
The manager also discussed the futures of players who may wish to leave Tottenham. He confirmed that he would respect the wishes of players like Cristian Romero and Guglielmo Vicario, who have been linked with moves to Inter Milan and Juventus respectively. De Zerbi clarified that Romero’s reported desire to leave for Argentina to prepare for the World Cup was not accurate, praising his commitment during the previous season.
De Zerbi explained his philosophy regarding player commitment, stating that he would not try to convince players to stay if they are not fully committed to the club’s project. He recounted having numerous individual meetings with players in April, where he told them, “Yes, help me to stay up, and then I help you to leave.”
Midfielder Lucas Bergvall and full-back Djed Spence are among other players whose futures are uncertain. De Zerbi expressed his desire for both players to remain at the club, but acknowledged that they might seek regular playing time elsewhere. He stated, “I would like you stay if you want to stay. If you don’t want to stay, if you want to leave, you have to leave.”
Bergvall, who is 20 years old, reportedly informed the club in June of his desire for a new challenge, attracting interest from Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest. De Zerbi confirmed that he cannot guarantee a starting role for any player, including Bergvall, due to the strong competition within the squad. He believes Bergvall is potentially a top player and would like him to stay, but respects the player’s ideas and projects.
De Zerbi also noted that Mateus Fernandes, one of the club’s recent signings, was not included in the squad for a recent match due to a calf fatigue issue. Fernandes is expected to be ready for pre-season training in London next Wednesday.
The manager highlighted the importance of considering full-backs when signing wingers, stating, “Before bringing in a winger, we have to consider the full-back, because we start from the full-back, from the player we already have, no?”
De Zerbi also mentioned the need to increase the team’s goal count through improved play, midfielders, and attackers, and by bringing in players capable of scoring goals. He finds working in the transfer market to be one of the most enjoyable aspects of his job.
De Zerbi concluded by saying that if players choose to stay, they must adhere to his rules and decisions on the pitch, learning from past seasons to avoid mistakes if a player becomes unhappy due to lack of playing time.
Source: football.london
Daniel Fairbrother is the Senior Football Correspondent at Latest News UK, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with over a decade of reporting experience. He spent eight years on the football desk of a Yorkshire daily before moving into national coverage. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Sunderland and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Leeds, he watches non-league football and runs a five-a-side league. “The best football stories are won in the week, not on the whistle.”