Tottenham supporters have found themselves at odds with each other after Fabrizio Romano reportedly dampened talk of a big-money swoop for Rafael Leão. With Roberto De Zerbi continuing to reshape the squad, the left-wing slot has stood out as one of the few remaining gaps, and Leão had looked like one of the most thrilling names in the frame. The Milan winger has been tipped for an exit after seven years in Serie A, with suggestions he’d be receptive to a move to Spurs and that a fee around £51 million could get a deal done — a number many fans saw as a bargain for a player of his calibre.
The mood shifted, though, once Romano’s update landed. He reportedly indicated Leão has been made available to Tottenham, but that the club aren’t currently pursuing him, with Cody Gakpo and Savinho instead viewed as the preferred targets out wide. That sparked plenty of frustration online, with some fans questioning the logic of turning down a player of Leão’s profile, and others expressing disbelief that Gakpo might be rated above him.
Not all reaction was negative, though. A portion of the fanbase backed the club’s reasoning, pointing to Gakpo’s versatility and his ability to drift inside and create space within De Zerbi’s system as a better tactical fit than simply bringing in a marquee name. Others praised the manager for apparently resisting the temptation to sign a player purely on reputation, seeing it as a sign Spurs are finally recruiting with a clear identity in mind rather than just chasing star power. Leão’s defensive contribution and pressing intensity were flagged as legitimate concerns too, with some fans conceding that even though they’d love to see him at the club, he might not suit what De Zerbi demands without the ball.
Savinho’s link generated more excitement, with his dribbling and unpredictability seen as a real asset out wide — though several fans noted Tottenham’s bigger issue is a shortage of clinical finishing, arguing Savinho could work well as a starting winger but that the club still needs another consistent goalscorer to go alongside a potential striker addition like Eli Junior Kroupi. With the defence and midfield already reworked this summer, attention is turning to whether the attack will get the firepower needed to finish the rebuild.
Some supporters were also wary of the idea that signing Leão would be a guaranteed hit, warning that his profile could create expectations he might struggle to meet in the Premier League, drawing comparisons to past big-name attacking signings who never quite delivered. For that group, the priority should be players who fit De Zerbi’s demands from day one rather than pure star power.
Statistically, the comparison between the two is close. Leão has racked up 103 goals and 71 assists in 345 appearances, while Gakpo has posted 132 goals and 82 assists across 402 games and roughly 26,000 minutes — giving him the edge in output, even though both have shown positional flexibility across their careers. Leão developed from a more central role into one of Europe’s most feared wide threats, while Gakpo’s experience across multiple frontline positions could give De Zerbi more tactical options. Price adds another layer to the debate, with Leão reportedly available for around £51m against considerably higher valuations attached to Gakpo and Savinho.
Ultimately, the split among Spurs fans reflects a broader question about the club’s direction: should they jump at the chance to land a recognisable global talent like Leão if the price is right, or trust De Zerbi’s system-first approach and back the players he specifically wants? Whichever way Tottenham go, the decision is likely to be picked apart for a long time — especially if Leão ends up thriving somewhere else.
