Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that three first-team players have requested to leave the club. Striker Richarlison and defenders Kevin Danso and Pape Matar Sarr were all omitted from the squad for Saturday's 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle United after asking for transfers.
De Zerbi stated all three will be allowed to seek new clubs before Tuesday's deadline. "I love these players, and they are great guys," the manager said. "But if they want to leave, they have to bring the economic solution to the club, and they can go and we find other players." The news compounds a difficult start for Spurs, who sit 17th in the Premier League with zero points and a minus-three goal difference after one game.
Richarlison's desire for a move has been simmering. De Zerbi revealed earlier in pre-season that the Brazilian striker 'sometimes wants to leave'. Despite being the club's top Premier League scorer last season with 11 goals, he started the opening 3-0 loss to Brentford before being replaced by debutant Omar Marmoush against Newcastle. Competition for places is a key factor for the other two. Kevin Danso, who arrived from Lens in February 2025, has been pushed down the centre-back pecking order following the big-money signings of Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke. Pape Matar Sarr faces intense competition in midfield after Tottenham invested £185 million in Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes this summer. Sources told reporters that Juventus are considering a move for Sarr, who is also nursing a hamstring issue.
The potential departures create immediate gaps. Richarlison's absence leaves Dominic Solanke as the primary striking option off the bench. Danso's exit would remove a versatile defensive cover, comfortable on both the left and right side, who was once seen as a reliable alternative to van Hecke. Sarr's possible move would further thin a midfield that has seen significant investment. This comes after a summer where Tottenham have spent around £380 million on eight new players, including the £85 million arrival of Savio from Manchester City earlier this week. Savio missed the Newcastle game with a minor muscular problem but may train next week.
The off-field uncertainty mirrors problems on the pitch. The loss to Newcastle means Tottenham have lost their first two league games without scoring for the first time since 1974. They currently trail league leaders Manchester City by six points already. The club's heavy spending has not yet translated into results, creating a tense atmosphere. Danso, who has been at the club for 18 months and played under four different head coaches, exemplifies the recent instability. His situation changed rapidly after the signings of Senesi and van Hecke, for whom the club paid £52 million.
The immediate focus is the final days of the transfer window and integrating new signings. De Zerbi and the board must decide whether to sanction the exits and potentially seek replacements before Tuesday night. The team then faces a key match away to Nottingham Forest, who are 15th, on September 5th. A positive result is vital to kickstart their season and climb from the bottom reaches of the standings. How the club manages this period of player unrest will be critical for their campaign ahead.
