Roberto De Zerbi's Target for Tottenham: One More Signing
Roberto De Zerbi has made his stance clear. Tottenham’s squad is not finished yet – and the head coach wants one more signing before the window slams shut, with Cody Gakpo firmly on the radar.
Spurs are pushing to bring in the Liverpool forward and are expected to ramp up their efforts in the final days of the window as they look to add a high-impact attacker to De Zerbi’s evolving side.
“I didn't expect a transfer window like we have done,” De Zerbi admitted on Friday, reflecting on a busy summer of change in north London. Then came the key line. “I think we can do one player more in one specific position.”
This is not a manager casually browsing the market. It is a targeted request.
De Zerbi revealed he had sat down for dinner on Thursday night with the club’s hierarchy – owners, sporting director Johan Lange and chief executive Vinai Venkatesham – to align on the final steps of the window.
“Yesterday we went to dinner with the owners, Johan and Vinai and we spoke about this,” he said. “All of us are on the same page and a very good connection.”
The message is that Tottenham’s recruitment drive is coordinated, not chaotic. But it is not over.
Spurs are expected to stay active right up to Tuesday’s 11pm deadline, with outgoings likely to shape the final hours as much as any marquee arrival. Players who want to leave have been told where they stand – and De Zerbi has not sugar-coated it.
“I've been very clear with all the players: if you speak clearly you can't expect surprises,” he said. “The players who wanted to leave have left. We maybe have some players who want to leave and they are waiting, we are waiting for an offer.”
That line cuts to the core of De Zerbi’s approach. No passengers. No half-committed squad members.
“You have to feel proud to stay here. It's an emotional project we are building with new players.”
It is a revealing phrase: an “emotional project”. Tottenham are not just stockpiling talent; they are trying to build a group that actually wants to live through the pressure, the scrutiny, the expectation.
One of the players whose future hangs in the balance is Pape Matar Sarr. The midfielder has drawn interest during the window and has yet to feature in either of Spurs’ opening two league games, a notable absence for a player of his profile and promise.
De Zerbi, though, insists the situation is not about fitness.
“Pape is good [fitness-wise],” he confirmed. “We have to see in the last days of the transfer market what can happen with him.”
So the picture is clear. One more key arrival targeted. Several potential exits on hold. A manager demanding clarity and commitment.
Tottenham’s window has already been busier than De Zerbi anticipated. The real question now is whether those final days, and that “one more player”, give his emotional project the edge it needs for the season ahead.
