Tottenham fans finally get a break from transfer chatter as De Zerbi’s reign kicks off away at Brentford. After a summer dominated by speculation, attention shifts to what happens on the pitch, though recent history suggests caution — both Postecoglou’s unbeaten opening run in 2023/24 and Frank’s strong start last season eventually gave way to disappointing campaigns. With the squad still very much a work in progress and more attacking signings expected before deadline day, judging this new era too early would be premature.
The bigger story remains in the transfer market, where Spurs are reportedly closing in on a double swoop for Manchester City’s Savinho and Omar Marmoush. An £85m move for Savinho would be a bold statement given his modest Premier League goal return of just two in two seasons, though his underlying numbers tell a fuller story — eight assists and 11 big chances created in his debut City campaign before game time dried up amid fierce competition for wing spots.
Marmoush’s situation reads similarly. He burst onto the scene with seven goals in 14 league games after his January 2025 move from Eintracht Frankfurt, but found starts hard to come by last season while battling Erling Haaland for central minutes. His pedigree in Germany is undeniable, having netted 37 times in 67 Frankfurt appearances, and Tottenham will be banking on both players rediscovering that earlier form.
Reports suggest De Zerbi wants three fresh forwards before the window shuts — two wide options plus a central striker to challenge Dominic Solanke and Richarlison. Savinho and Marmoush’s versatility across the front line would fit that brief, but there’s a case that Spurs still need a striker with a proven Premier League scoring record, and that’s where Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta enters the picture. Football Insider has linked the Frenchman with a move, with his contract entering its final year and a prior switch to AC Milan having fallen through in January.
Unlike City’s pair, Mateta has already shown he can deliver consistently in England. He’s hit at least 12 league goals in each of the last three seasons — 42 in total — including 12 from just 25 starts last term, at a considerably better scoring rate than Marmoush managed. His standout campaign came in 2023/24 with 16 Premier League goals, a tally that puts him among the division’s top five scorers since that season began.
That track record raises the central question facing Spurs: do they prioritise the flexibility and ceiling of Marmoush and Savinho, or the guaranteed output of a striker already proven in the league? With Solanke and Richarlison both inconsistent at times, a reliable finisher like Mateta could be exactly what De Zerbi’s attack needs.
Savinho brings pace and unpredictability out wide, Marmoush offers adaptability across the front three, but if Tottenham want a ruthless goalscorer capable of making an instant impact, Mateta may be the piece that ties it all together.
Saturday’s trip to Brentford gives De Zerbi his first real test, but with the transfer market still very much alive, the XI that starts the season could look markedly different from the one at the Gtech Community Stadium.
