Spurs agree personal terms to sign £50m star player

It was a great start to the summer for Tottenham Hotspur. Isn’t it about time to inject some positivity into the proceedings?

Although Spurs barely survived, 2026 turned out to be one of the worst years in the club’s history to date.

Three different managers took over this year – Thomas Frank, Igor Tudor and Roberto de Zerbi – but a series of injuries left the club embroiled in a relegation battle.

But with Andy Robertson already confirmed and fellow defender Marcos Senesi set to sign in the coming weeks, the second half of the year promises to be even better.

These are not the only defensive signings Tottenham are eyeing. Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke is also reportedly close to a move.

Two Premier League stars close to signing with Spurs

A number of developments have been made regarding the signing of Van Hecke after Senesi and Robertson arrived on free transfers from Bournemouth and Liverpool respectively.

The Lilywhites had their offer for the centre-back rejected last week, but it is thought they will make a breakthrough in negotiations.

According to reports on Sunday, personal terms have already been agreed with the Dutchman and the deal is currently in the final stages. All that remains is for Spurs to agree a fee, with Spurs expected to put in £45m plus a further £5m bid.

This would be an incredible signing as Cristian Romero is set to leave the club. If De Zerbi can get some form out of Van Hecke, Senesi and Micky van de Ven, then the team with the worst defense in the league will have one of the best.

Coincidentally, Spurs are also in talks to sign Premier League talent. That’s Manchester City’s Savinho.

The north Londoner followed the Brazilian closely last summer but was unable to conclude a move. However, a year on, Tottenham finally seem ready to sign the player.

Sabinho is reportedly keen on a move, with the latest reports suggesting he has now agreed a five-year deal.

Despite being valued at £50m, City have no problem selling the Brazilian this time around, with Spurs appearing to be the frontrunner. According to reports from the continent, it appears that he has reached a personal agreement in principle with Sabinho regarding his move to Tottenham.

Why Sabinho could be Tottenham’s new Xavi Simmons

Can you blame the hiring team for trying to do a lot of business early? Not much. Last summer became something of a farce, and indeed it set the tone for what was to come in 2025/26.

It all started with Morgan Gibbs-White. Spurs were confident of signing the English attacking midfielder, but Evangelos Marinakis intervened and canceled the deal, allowing him to sign a new deal with Nottingham Forest.

Then there was the Eberechi Eze debacle. Tottenham were confident again, but in the 11th hour Arsenal made a bid and he was never one to say no to his boyhood club. He ended up going with Xavi Simmons, but he wasn’t his first choice.

So the Lilywhites will want to get a deal done quickly before they find themselves in a bad situation again.

This has accelerated Van Hecke’s move, as has Sabinho, who has understandably been met with some skepticism. The 22-year-old Man City winger still has plenty of potential, but it’s hard to ignore the fact he has scored just one goal all season for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Now, the forward has started just seven games in the Premier League, but you still expect more from a player who can be such a game-changer in the final third.

Simmons may have played the majority of his football in the number 10 role last season, playing 17 times in that position, but it was on the left that De Zerbi preferred him before his brutal anterior cruciate ligament tear.

In these matches, the Dutch star shone brighter than ever, scoring and assisting and then scoring a goal against Brighton. That afternoon was perhaps his best time in Spurs colors, suggesting he could well become the club’s main left-sided option once he returns from injury.

On the right side, there is a good chance that they will sign a player with the same aspirations as Savinho. Like Simmons, he is a very difficult customer to deal with and is particularly creative. In the 2024/25 season, he provided 13 assists in all competitions, ranking City second in the league for key passes per game (1.6) behind Kevin De Bruyne.

For comparison, Xavi scored just 1.2 goals in his debut season in England and 1.4 goals in his final season with Germany’s RB Leipzig.

Both players have had great careers. They are so productive and safe in tight spaces that defenders often have no answer as to how to stop them.

Both attackers are very progressive players, with Savinho having a progressive career rate of 1.86 successful dribbles and 7.45 per 90. Simmons is behind the curve, but his numbers are evidence of a player who is always looking to make a difference.

The Dutch playmaker recorded 1.43 successful dribbles per 90 and 3.38 progressive carries per 90.

Nimble, quick-footed and dangerous in the final third, Spurs could do much worse than sign the Brazilian forward this summer. Simmons may be smaller, but the way the duo creates havoc from different sides of the pitch is very similar. Can you imagine Simmons on the left and Sabinho on the right? Premier League defenders should be careful.