Everything was hopeless at Tottenham Hotspur last season, and rightly so, but now they have a clean slate and a chance to get back on track under Roberto De Zerbi.
Not since the departure of manager Mauricio Pochettino in 2019 has there been such a whiff of planning in N17, and so much confusion and confusion among the playing and coaching staff.
The North Londoners are in need of stability right now, and the club’s early summer signings could very well provide that stability after pushing forward with Premier League-proven additions in Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke and Martin Dubravka.
So far, that investment for Van Hecke is just £52m, but it seems to be just the beginning for De Zerbi and co, with the club clearly looking to sign a fifth player.
Spurs ‘push like crazy’ to seal fifth summer deal
As these four additions demonstrate, there is an emerging theme regarding Spurs’ business, with De Zerbi seemingly intent on signing players who are already active in the Premier League.
No matter how you look at it, there is movement towards a range of attacking targets, but only three are in the spotlight: Codi Gakpo, Marcus Rashford and Sabinho.
A bid has already been submitted for Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali, but there is perhaps greater intrigue surrounding West Ham United’s Matheus Fernandes, with the Lilywhites hoping to beat Manchester United to his signature.
As Fabrizio Romano revealed on his YouTube channel, both clubs are still “pushing like crazy” to conclude a deal, despite there being currently no clear front-runner.
“Manchester United and Tottenham are still in contention. Tottenham have been in talks with the player for days and are trying to make a push with his agent, while Manchester United remain in contact with West Ham. Manchester United are still working on signing Matheus Fernandes.”
“West Ham have therefore made it clear to the player’s agent that the player will be sold with the best offer to the club that offers the most money.”
“…so many clubs are interested in Matheus Fernandes, but May United and Tottenham are currently pushing like crazy to get a deal done.”
Why signing Fernandes could be bad news for Spurs’ Maddison
Exciting times may lie ahead in north London, but such is the nature of this ongoing recruitment drive that a significant number of the current squad may be looking over their shoulders.
Spurs midfielder – 25/26 | ||
|---|---|---|
player | game | Goal (assist) |
straw | 45 | 7(3) |
simmons | 41 | 5(6) |
Searle | 37 | twenty four) |
gray | 35 | 2(3) |
Bentancourt | 34 | 1(1) |
mountain wall | 33 | 1 (5) |
gallagher | 18 | 1(1) |
Bisouuma | 11 | 0 (0) |
madison | 3 | 0 (0) |
younger sister | 2 | 0 (0) |
Yves Bissouma is set to leave on a free transfer, but Lukas Bergvall appears to be pushing for his own departure, with his involvement already limited and likely to be further reduced with the arrival of the young Fernandes.
There could also be something of a changing of the guard, as De Zerbi could phase out players who have struggled in recent years, particularly due to injuries, and build an exciting new squad.
James Maddison, clearly a fan favorite at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, is likely to be one of the casualties of Fernandes’ signing, with the 29-year-old having another disappointing experience last season.
The Englishman made just three appearances in total at the end of the season, missing out on the club’s Europa League title the year before.
Of course, when he’s fit and thriving, Maddison has been spectacular at times in a Tottenham shirt, racking up up to 37 goals and assists in just 78 games in all competitions.
Still, the former Leicester City man is set to turn 30 later this year and with Fernandes posing a direct threat to his role in the team, whether at No. 10 or No. 8, it would be no surprise if his influence and involvement begins to wane.
In fact, the young Portuguese is a man of momentum, scoring and assisting seven goals in the Premier League for the Hammers last season after moving to Southampton.
According to one prominent analyst, Fernandes could indeed emerge as “the world’s most perfect No. 8”, so it’s no wonder there’s so much interest in him.
Much of Fernandes’ appeal centers on his physical attributes, as he averaged 3.9 tackles and tackles and 5.1 ball recoveries per game last season.
He will likely provide a real infusion of energy and mobility, something Madison lacks at the center of the park. For example, in the top flight in 2024/25, the same two metrics averaged just 1.4 and 2.5 respectively.
Perhaps De Zerbi can still find a role as Spurs’ number 10, but with Fernandes and Tonali now signed, and Conor Gallagher also starting to hit his stride last season, there’s a good chance there’s a fresh feel for the midfield unit moving forward.
Personal signing: De Zerbi’s new Caicedo wants to sign with Spurs
Roberto De Zerbi could embark on a new midfield project at Spurs.
