Some former Tottenham Hotspur managers may be a little envious of the financial support Roberto De Zerbi is set to receive this summer. The Lilywhites are doing everything they can to build a star-studded team under the Italian’s leadership.
For example, where would this kind of investment have gone two years ago? After an honorable fifth place in Ange Postecoglou’s second summer in charge, the North London side have invested primarily in young players rather than ready-made reinforcements, with current club record-setting Dominic Solanke perhaps the only exception.
Players such as Archie Gray and Lukas Bergvall join in the 2024 window, making them two players who could face a battle for the N17 spot amid manager De Zerbi’s desire to bring in as many as three new midfielders to strengthen the ranks.
Bergvall & Gray – 25/26 PL Stats | ||
|---|---|---|
mountain wall | Statistics (*per game) | gray |
twenty three | game | twenty four |
11 | begins | 18 |
1 | the goal | 2 |
3 | assist | 2 |
0 | A big opportunity has arisen | 3 |
0.2 | Key pass* | 0.3 |
82% | Pass accuracy* | 83% |
1.09 | Tackles and interceptions* | 1.2 |
0/7 | It was successful. dribble* | 0.3 |
1.7 | Ball recovery rate* | 2.4 |
1 | Errors that lead to the goal | 1 |
As someone who brought the likes of Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister to life at Brighton & Hove Albion, the former Seagulls manager certainly knows how to get the most out of bright midfield talent.
Can he do it again?
Big-money midfield target wants to join Spurs’ De Zerbi
Yves Bissouma has already left on a free transfer, while Bergvall is said to be seeking increased game time elsewhere following interest from Nottingham Forest.
With loan star Joao Parinha also still to be determined, it’s easy to see why midfield would be such a priority, especially considering the long-standing injury woes of James Maddison and Rodrigo Bentancur.
The Lilywhites appear to have Matheus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali as two of their favorite targets, with an exciting update on the Newcastle United player in particular.
According to journalist Ben Jacobs, as it stands, “the general terms are in place”, but there are hints that personal terms are close to being agreed with the Italian.
The 26-year-old has been given the ‘green light’ to move after three seasons at St James’ Park, but negotiations between the club and the Magpies are expected to continue.
Further reporting from Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas states that Tonali is ready to sign for Spurs and is keen to play alongside compatriot De Zerbi, with contract offers of around £275,000-a-week said to be on the table.
Why Tonali could be De Zerbi’s new Caicedo
As mentioned earlier, De Zerbi has been committed to developing and improving midfield talent, having previously made the aforementioned Caicedo the centerpiece of Brighton’s squad.
The Ecuadorian played eight Premier League games at the end of the 2021/22 season, but his first full season in the top flight came under coach De Zerbi, making 35 appearances in the 2022/23 season.
Only 20 years old at the time, the South American quickly established himself as one of the country’s best midfield talents, ranking second in the category that season for both tackles and interceptions, and sixth for accurate passing.
A mobile and athletic midfielder, Caicedo was at the heart of all of Brighton’s team’s strengths, before proving a real shining light at Chelsea and now arguably being, in Enzo Maresca’s opinion, “the best defensive midfielder in the world”.
Tonali is already “one of the best midfielders in the world”, according to his agent, and it will be hoped that Tonali will be another midfield asset for De Zerbi to build his team around.
The 2025/26 season was a difficult one for Tyneside both overall and personally, but Tonali shone the previous year, scoring six goals and assisting in the league, creating four ‘big chances’ and boasting a solid passing accuracy of 86% in the top flight.
This record is not that different from when Caicedo himself returned to the team under De Zerbi in the 2022/23 season. The then-young player scored two goals and an assist, created three “big chances” and had a pass success rate of 89%.
A natural ball-winner, Caicedo has enjoyed far better tackle and interception rates (4.2 vs. 2.3) in each season, and while he is similar in that he is a powerhouse in the midfield, he is not as easily taken down in the middle of the park.
In fact, Tonali averaged just 0.7 dribbles per game in 2024/25, while Caicedo averaged a similar average of 0.6 dribbles per game in 2022/23.
Equally, both players are capable of great play from long range, with Tonali notably scoring home twice in the FA Cup victory over Aston Villa earlier this year.
An all-action, dominant presence in the midfield unit could help Spurs improve their standing after the division’s woes over the past few seasons, although some may still shudder at the thought of Oliver Skipp and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg lined up together not too long ago.
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