Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi is pushing for one more signing before the transfer window closes on Tuesday night. The Italian revealed his desire after a dinner with the club's owners and executives, where a final push was discussed.
De Zerbi paid for the meal at an Italian restaurant on Thursday night. He sat down with chief executive Vinai Venkatesham, sporting director Johan Lange, and his assistant Enrico Venturelli. The manager praised the executives for driving an expensive squad reboot that has already cost £304.5 million this summer. That figure includes a £50 million obligation to buy Omar Marmoush from Manchester City next summer, with the forward joining on an initial loan last Thursday.
De Zerbi stated he is open to trimming the squad before the deadline. Midfielder Pape Sarr is mentioned as a possible departure. The manager was blunt about players who might want to leave, saying, "If you want to leave and you have not found the offer, it’s your problem, not my problem."
Injuries continue to shape the squad. Mohammed Kudus has been out since January with a thigh injury but could return to the bench for the next match. Wilson Odobert is out long-term after ACL surgery and is not expected back before February or March. Xavi Simons is also recovering from ACL surgery and is not ready before March or April. Dejan Kulusevski, who last played on 11 May 2025, is returning from a knee problem with no set timeframe. De Zerbi wants to include him in the squad submitted to the Premier League after the window closes.
Tottenham host Newcastle United on Saturday, a team currently 11th in the table. De Zerbi confirmed defender Micky van de Ven is right to start. A decision will be made on whether to start Pedro Porro and Sávio or use them as substitutes. Marmoush is available to play.
The manager has considered his established, senior options for the front line, excluding No 10s. That group includes Kudus, Sávio, Marmoush, Dominic Solanke, Richarlison, Mathys Tel, and the injured Odobert. De Zerbi noted that one of these players might leave before the transfer window ends.
The club's activity has far surpassed the manager's initial hopes. "I didn’t expect a market like we have done," De Zerbi said. "I think we can do one player more and in one specific position." He highlighted Lange's role, calling the sporting director brilliant for ideas. De Zerbi also recalled how Venkatesham made a video call to him about the Sandro Tonali deal while the manager was on holiday.
This rebuild comes as Tottenham seek their first points of the season. They sit 18th in the Premier League with 0 points from one game, having lost their opener. The team has scored 0 goals and conceded 3, leaving them with a -3 goal difference and already 3 points behind early leaders Brighton.
The immediate focus is a double challenge: preparing for the Newcastle fixture and concluding transfer business. De Zerbi's wish for a final addition suggests the club could be active until Tuesday's deadline. After that, the submitted squad will be locked in for the coming months.
Fans can check the latest team news on our injuries page and view the full roster on the squad section. The result against Newcastle will be vital for building momentum after a difficult start.
