De Zerbi Seeks Late Transfer for Tottenham's Attack
Roberto De Zerbi has made his position clear. Tottenham’s squad, reshaped and refreshed across a hectic summer, is still one piece short.
And everyone knows exactly which piece he wants.
De Zerbi pushes for late-window firepower
Spurs are working on a move for Cody Gakpo and are expected to ramp up their pursuit of the Liverpool forward in the final days before Tuesday’s 11pm deadline. The interest is real, the timing tight, and De Zerbi is openly pushing for that last addition.
“I didn't expect a transfer window like we have done,” he admitted on Friday, reflecting on a busy first market in charge. “I think we can do one player more in one specific position.”
That “specific position” is no secret. Tottenham want more cutting edge in the final third, and Gakpo fits the profile: versatile, direct, and already Premier League-tested.
De Zerbi spent Thursday night at dinner with the club’s powerbrokers – owners, sporting director Johan Lange and chief executive Vinai Venkatesham – and came away with a shared stance.
“Yesterday we went to dinner with the owners, Johan and Vinai and we spoke about this,” he said. “All of us are on the same page and a very good connection.”
The message: Spurs are aligned, and they are not done yet.
Departures still on the table
While Tottenham chase one marquee arrival, the exit door remains half-open. De Zerbi has tried to strip away any uncertainty inside the dressing room.
“I've been very clear with all the players: if you speak clearly you can't expect surprises,” he explained. “The players who wanted to leave have left. We maybe have some players who want to leave and they are waiting, we are waiting for an offer.”
It is a blunt standard. Stay, but only if you truly want to.
“You have to feel proud to stay here. It's an emotional project we are building with new players.”
That “emotional project” will not suit everyone. It demands commitment as much as talent, and the final days of the window will test that resolve.
Sarr’s future in the balance
One of the most intriguing names in that bracket is Pape Matar Sarr. The midfielder has drawn interest during the window but has yet to play a minute in Spurs’ opening two league games.
On fitness, De Zerbi removed any doubt. On Sarr’s future, he left the door ajar.
“Pape is good,” he said. “We have to see in the last days of the transfer market what can happen with him.”
So Tottenham head into deadline week with a clear to-do list: secure the attacking reinforcement De Zerbi craves, resolve the futures of those hovering on the edge, and lock in the core of this “emotional project”.
If Gakpo walks through the door and the fringe noise quietens, De Zerbi will have the squad – and the clarity – to attack the season on his terms.
