Roberto De Zerbi has made his position clear. Tottenham’s summer is not finished yet.
The Spurs head coach wants one more signing before the transfer window shuts on Tuesday night, with the club pushing to prise Cody Gakpo from Liverpool in the final frantic days of the market.
Spurs are understood to be serious about the Dutch forward and are preparing to ramp up their efforts, sensing an opportunity late in the window. De Zerbi, who has already overseen a far busier summer than he anticipated, admitted even he has been surprised by the scale of change.
“I didn't expect a transfer window like we have done,” he told reporters on Friday, before making his remaining demand plain. “I think we can do one player more in one specific position.”
That “one specific position” is driving the final stretch of Tottenham’s window. To underline the point, De Zerbi revealed he had sat down on Thursday night with the club’s powerbrokers – owners, sporting director Johan Lange and chief executive Vinai Venkatesham – to align on the plan.
“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 from that meeting is simple: expect movement. Spurs intend to be active right up to the 11pm deadline, not just on arrivals but on exits as well, with several players still eyeing the door.
De Zerbi has tried to strip away any uncertainty inside the dressing room.
“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.
“You have to feel proud to stay here. It's an emotional project we are building with new players.”
That “emotional project” has already seen significant churn in the squad, and the next few days could reshape it further. One of the most notable names in the shop window is Pape Matar Sarr.
The midfielder has attracted interest throughout the window yet has not played a single minute in Tottenham’s first two league games of the season. His absence has only fuelled talk over his future, but De Zerbi insists the issue is not physical.
“Pape is good [fitness-wise],” he said. “We have to see in the last days of the transfer market what can happen with him.”
So the picture is clear. Spurs want Gakpo. De Zerbi wants one more key addition. Several players, Sarr among them, could still depart.
Tottenham’s squad is not settled yet. The real shape of De Zerbi’s first season in north London will be decided in these last, restless days of the window.
