Tottenham Hotspur have already reshaped several parts of their squad in an ambitious summer rebuild, but Roberto De Zerbi has signalled that boosting the attack remains the next big priority as the club’s recruitment drive continues.
So far, the focus in North London has been on rebuilding the spine of the side. The midfield has been overhauled through the marquee arrivals of Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, while the backline has been strengthened by Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke following Cristian Romero’s exit.
Even with those additions, De Zerbi feels there’s still work to do. He has repeatedly pushed for further attacking reinforcements before the window shuts, arguing they’re essential if Spurs want to fight their way back into the Premier League’s top five.
Having already spent close to £200 million rebuilding midfield, fans are now hoping for similar investment up front. Goals were hard to come by last season, with Richarlison the only truly reliable source, while Mohammed Kudus and Mathys Tel showed moments of brilliance without consistently delivering across the campaign.
One name that has suddenly become a realistic target is PSG winger Bradley Barcola. Reports indicate he has told Paris Saint-Germain he won’t be extending his contract, opening the door to a summer exit. That stance has caught the attention of several top European clubs, with Barcola now weighing up his options.
For Tottenham, it’s a chance to land one of the continent’s most electric young forwards — someone who brings the speed, invention and finishing De Zerbi wants for his rebuilt attack.
The competition, though, is fierce. Liverpool are said to be front-runners for his signature and currently his likely preferred destination, viewing him as an upgrade on Cody Gakpo, who has himself been tied to a possible Spurs move. Many supporters feel a direct move for Barcola would be a bolder statement than chasing other targets — and while it would come at a steep price, he’s seen as the kind of difference-maker who could transform Tottenham’s forward line.
Savinho, meanwhile, remains Spurs’ top attacking priority. The Brazilian has been on the club’s radar for over a year, with talks with Manchester City ongoing through the summer but yet to produce a breakthrough.
The holdup has since been explained: Tottenham and City have reportedly been in direct dialogue for weeks, and Spurs are confident a deal can eventually be struck. The sticking point isn’t Tottenham’s intent to buy, but City’s reluctance to let Savinho leave before lining up a replacement. Despite already having options like Jeremy Doku, Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo, City are said to value keeping strong depth across the wings for a season competing on multiple fronts — and that caution is what’s dragging the negotiations out, even as Savinho stays Tottenham’s number one wing target.
Beyond wide areas, De Zerbi is also keen to bring in another striker. While Spurs have been strongly linked with wingers, concrete interest in a top-tier centre-forward has been thinner on the ground. Richarlison’s long-term future keeps drawing speculation, Randal Kolo Muani has gone back to PSG after his loan ended, and there are lingering doubts over whether Dominic Solanke can hit the goal numbers the team needs.
With the midfield and defence already overhauled, sharpening the attack is now the final piece of Tottenham’s summer puzzle. Whether that arrives via Savinho, Barcola or another top forward, De Zerbi wants his squad armed with enough firepower to compete at the top when the new season kicks off.
