Tottenham Hotspur supporters will have been extremely grateful to see the 2025/26 season come to an end with the final whistle of victory over Everton.
Joao Parinha’s goal ensured the Lilywhites secured their place in the top flight for another season, but Roberto De Zerbi will never allow them to finish 17th in the Premier League next season.
The Italian became North London’s savior, losing only two of his seven league games in charge, helping them avoid an embarrassing relegation to the second division.
The summer transfer window is a perfect opportunity for the new manager to push the Lilywhites back in the right direction and propel them towards Europe.
It remains to be seen how much of this period the leaders will tell De Zerbi to use, but that hasn’t stopped him and his staff from drawing up a list of potential targets.
£50m star says ‘yes’ to join Spurs this summer
After the recent relegation crisis, Spurs will certainly invest in different areas of the pitch to avoid experiencing the same fate again in the 2026/27 season.
Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleva has emerged as one of the potential targets, with the Cameroonian set to leave the Amex in the near future.
The Seagulls have placed an offer of £80m on the 22-year-old’s head as Manchester United continue to monitor his development ahead of the summer season.
With Manchester City’s winger Savinho once again attracting attention, the attacking team is expected to be strengthened over the coming period.
According to the latest report from TEAMtalk, the player himself wants to move to North London and join the Lilywhites in order to get the first-team minutes he needs.
According to reports, negotiations are progressing between the two clubs over the signing of the 22-year-old, who only scored five goals in all competitions during the 2025/26 season.
A transfer fee of around £50m could be required to secure the Brazilian’s contract, and his agent is already keen for the player to work with De Zerbi.
Why Sabinho is De Zerbi’s answer to Son Heung-min
Spurs have spent significant amounts of money on new attacking talent in recent seasons, but none have come close to the level produced by Son Heung-min.
He played a total of 454 games during his ten years with the club, scoring 173 goals and providing 101 assists for his teammates, making him the fourth-highest goal total in club history.
The South Korean left the Lilywhites around 12 months ago, but no senior left-winger has been able to come close to the level he produced in north London.
Spurs’ all-time leading scorer | |
|---|---|
player | tally |
harry kane | 280 |
jimmy greaves | 266 |
bobby smith | 211 |
son heung min | 173 |
Martin Chivers | 167 |
cliff jones | 159 |
Matthijs Tell has scored four goals in the league this season, the most of any Lilywhites winger, and subsequently demonstrated the struggles the club has endured within the attacking area.
However, if Sabinho leaves this summer, De Zerbi could end up signing a South Korean player of his own, but if the £50 million transfer fee is to be believed, it will cost a considerable sum.
Like Son, the Brazilian can play on either flank, but prefers to play on the right and cut with his favored left foot, something the fan favorite did from the opposite flank in North London.
While the City star has struggled for consistency this term, he has still managed to put together a number of impressive performances, many of which resemble Son during his prime years with the Lilywhites.
Dubbed a “superstar” by Paul Merson, the Brazilian completed 1.9 successful dribbles per 90 and had 1.3 shots on target per 90.
The aforementioned numbers highlight his ability to get past opponents before troubling goalkeepers, something Son often did during his decade in the capital.
Savinho has also succeeded in completing 83% of the passes he has attempted this season, creating 1.3 chances per 90 for his teammates at the Etihad.
His record since then shows the ability to find the back of the net on his own or even pick out teammates, making him the perfect all-round forward option.
There’s no denying that the Brazilian has struggled to live up to expectations at the Etihad in recent years, but has often had to rely on time off the bench to make an impact.
Sabinho is likely to star in the final third under De Zerbi, and his faith in the forward could pay dividends in the Premier League next season.
£50 million is a big deal for a youngster, but if he can approach the level Son achieved in north London, it could prove to be a bargain.
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