Tottenham Hotspur are pushing to bolster both their midfield and attack before the summer transfer window shuts, with Roberto De Zerbi keen to add quality across multiple areas of his squad.
Fernandes and Tonali Lead Midfield Hunt
A primary midfield target remains West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes, whose availability follows the Hammers’ relegation to the Championship. Spurs are understood to have already sorted personal terms with the Portuguese midfielder, though a fee is yet to be agreed with West Ham, who are holding out for approximately £85 million.
Alongside Fernandes, Sandro Tonali has emerged as another serious option. Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Tottenham are actively working on a deal to prise the Italian away from Newcastle United. Tonali would bring energy, composure and defensive bite to the engine room — winning 55% of his duels last season — though his output in the final third remains modest, having failed to score throughout the entire Premier League campaign.
It is worth noting that De Zerbi already has capable central midfielders on his books in Conor Gallagher, Pape Matar Sarr and Rodrigo Bentancur, which perhaps explains why the club’s most exciting pursuit this window may be further forward.
Marmoush the Standout Attacking Target
Reports emerging from Italy suggest Spurs are preparing a formal offer for Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush, with a bid anticipated in the coming days. De Zerbi is said to be a firm admirer of the Egyptian international, and City are reportedly open to selling for a figure around £56 million — though Barcelona are also keeping close tabs on the 27-year-old’s situation.
Marmoush would address a glaring need. Last season, Richarlison was the only Tottenham player to reach double figures for combined goals and assists in the Premier League, ending the campaign with 15 contributions. The next best — Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons — managed just seven each.
Marmoush’s numbers, by contrast, tell a compelling story. Despite limited game time at City last season, he registered eight goals and three assists in just 1,438 minutes — a goal involvement roughly every 130 minutes. His peak came across the 2024/25 campaign spanning Eintracht Frankfurt and Manchester City, during which he racked up 28 goals and 14 assists across all competitions, averaging a contribution every 87 minutes. In league football alone, he produced 22 goals and nine assists in 33 appearances across the Bundesliga and Premier League.
For context, Tottenham’s two midfield targets combined for just three goals and six assists in the Premier League last season — solid additions, but unlikely to shift the balance in the final third the way Marmoush could.
The Bigger Picture
His relative lack of minutes at the Etihad had little to do with form and everything to do with the presence of Erling Haaland. That circumstance could hand Spurs a rare opportunity to land a proven match-winner at a reasonable price.
If De Zerbi’s side can secure Marmoush alongside their midfield reinforcements, they would be adding a forward capable of influencing games on a consistent basis — and potentially the most impactful signing of their entire summer.
