Tottenham are reportedly considering a surprise move for highly-rated Brazilian centre-back Jonathan Jesus as Roberto De Zerbi looks to make further changes to his squad before the September 1 transfer deadline.
Spurs have already been active this summer, signing attacking duo Savio and Omar Marmoush from Manchester City. Both players are expected to play key roles under De Zerbi after struggling for regular minutes at the Etihad.
However, despite their spending, De Zerbi is believed to be pushing for at least one more major signing. Tottenham’s 3-0 opening-day defeat to Brentford highlighted concerns over squad depth and their attacking options.
Brazilian outlet RTI Esporte claims Spurs are monitoring Cruzeiro defender Jonathan Jesus. The 22-year-old has also attracted attention from Chelsea and Nottingham Forest. Cruzeiro have reportedly rejected a bid worth around £8m (€8m) from Zenit St Petersburg and are believed to be holding out for more than €20m.
Jonathan is reportedly interested in making the move to Europe, potentially giving interested clubs encouragement to pursue a deal.
Since arriving from Ceara in 2024, the defender has made 68 appearances for Cruzeiro, scoring twice and providing one assist. He has already featured 32 times this season as Cruzeiro challenge near the top of the Brazilian Serie A table.
Tottenham’s interest could be linked to the uncertain future of Kevin Danso. Spurs have reportedly rejected a loan proposal from Sunderland, but the Austrian defender has fallen down the pecking order following the arrivals of Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi.
With competition for defensive places increasing, Danso could seek a move before deadline day. Should he leave, Tottenham would likely need another centre-back to strengthen their options.
Jonathan Jesus could potentially fill that role. The Brazilian would not necessarily be expected to become an immediate starter due to his lack of Premier League experience, but Spurs could see him as a promising long-term investment.
With Chelsea and Nottingham Forest also interested, Tottenham may face strong competition if they decide to make an offer. Whether their reported interest develops into a formal bid remains unclear, but with Danso’s future unresolved, Jonathan Jesus could emerge as a surprise name on De Zerbi’s shortlist before the transfer window closes.
