The transfer window isn’t even open yet, but Roberto De Zerbi is making a big move to strengthen Tottenham Hotspur’s ranks.
He promised not to take any time off at the end of the season, but he and his transfer team are already very busy.
In recent days, Spurs announced the arrival of Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson from Bournemouth and Liverpool respectively.
They were signed on free transfers at the end of their contracts and are two great value additions that will definitely improve this team.
If they can keep Robertson and Senesi around, won’t they drop to 17th again? If they complete a few more deals, that’s unlikely.
Spurs are in talks for two more transfers
Having released Senesi and Robertson, Spurs are now making further moves to acquire Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton & Hove Albion as their next potential big move.
The Lilywhites made an offer for the centre-back a few days ago, but this was rejected by the Seagulls, who wanted the defender for £70m. I have to say that the possibility of that happening is extremely low at this point.
That said, reports say there are no issues with personal terms between Van Hecke and Spurs as they commit to their first major signing of the summer window.
Behind the scenes, they are also working on re-signing Joao Parinha from Bayern Munich. The Portuguese will spend the 2025/26 season on loan at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Spurs having an option to buy him for £26m at the end of his loan.
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Now that loan has ended and he is a Bayern player again, he could return to Spurs in July. Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenburg reported over the weekend that Parinha wants to make a decision on his future “soon”.
Negotiations over his future are said to be “ongoing”, with it revealed there is a “good chance” the Londoners will bring him back to the Premier League in the coming weeks.
The pending move currently revolves around payment terms. Spurs are hoping to pay less than the £26m originally negotiated last summer.
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Why Parinha is a dream for Senesi and Van Hecke
Don’t get me wrong. Spurs need significant improvement in their backline. Especially if club captain Cristian Romero is to leave the English capital.
Tottenham have had no shame as a full-back in recent years. In the 2025/26 season, only three relegated teams conceded more than 57 goals in the Premier League.
As a result, the arrival of Senesi and Van Hecke, two proven players in England, will help that greatly. Both are attacking, front-footed defenders, but will also contribute a lot in the build-up.
For context, the former is very good at passing out from the back and ranks in the best 1% of center backs in Europe when it comes to progressive passing. Van Hecke, on the other hand, ranks in the best 1% of defenders on the continent in terms of progressive carries.
Senesi vs Van Hecke (25/26 PL stats) | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (per 90 minutes) | year | van hecke |
productive dribbling | 0.03 | 0.00 |
dribbling success | 0.16 | 0.08 |
progressive action | 9.00 | 8.58 |
progressive carry | 0.90 | 1.93 |
progressive path | 8.10 | 6.64 |
Win a Defense Ground Duel | 1.62 | 1.76 |
won an aerial battle | 2.49 | 3.08 |
tackles and interceptions | 2.50 | 2.56 |
Number of balls collected | 4.52 | 3.66 |
clearance | 3.28 | 2.80 |
blocked shot | 1.30 | 0.88 |
That said, it is also important for Spurs to address their midfield issues, with Palinha potentially able to release one of their best defensive midfielders to protect them, Senesi and Van Hecke, if both arrive.
The Portugal international is already part of the club’s lore as the man who scored the goal that kept them in the Premier League, and although he found the back of the net at times in 2025-26, that is not his main responsibility.
No, he’s the guy who usually sits in front of the defense, and he does a really great job of that as well.
No player in the entire Spurs squad has made more tackles (4.51 per 90 minutes) than Parinha this season. In fact, no player in England’s top flight has more tackles per 90 midfielders. In addition to that, he won 6.43 ground duels per 90, which was also the most of any player on the team.
It’s a testament to how much defensive work the team has done under Thomas Frank, Igor Tudor and De Zerbi, but it’s also a recognition of how strong Parinha’s defense is.
It would be a dream to see a player like him standing in front of Van Hecke and Senesi. We know how progressive they are and if they hit their stride up the pitch they will be relieved that the Portuguese star can drop back and help the defence.
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