Every new regime or new manager has a different approach to squad building, with a new-look Tottenham Hotspur side starting to take shape under Roberto De Zerbi’s watch.
At rivals Chelsea, for instance, the BlueCo philosophy has seemingly been to spend big on the forward line and let the rest take care of itself, the Blues adding £117m man Morgan Rogers to an expensively assembled forward line, albeit while still left with a creaky defensive unit.
The opposite has so far been true of Spurs’ summer dealings, the Lilywhites investing heavily in the backline and midfield ranks, albeit while having yet to strengthen a forward line that was well below par last term.
Indeed, the north London side won’t be going anywhere fast with their current pool of injury-hit or inconsistent attackers, left yearning for the days of years gone when the club truly was powered by elite forwards.
Why Spurs still need major surgery in the forward line
Who’s going to be the Harry Kane, the Gareth Bale or the Rafael van der Vaart of this team? Someone who can win a game on their own and make the difference in such a fiercely contested Premier League.
Looking to the current crop doesn’t exactly make for pretty reading, not least with Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert both still sidelined with ACL injuries.
2025 arrival, Mohammed Kudus, hasn’t featured at all himself since January, the Ghanaian seeing his bright start to life at N17 swiftly curtailed by his own injury woes.
With Dejan Kulusevski also a long-term absentee, De Zerbi was forced to rely on the hapless Randal Kolo Muani at the back end of last term, the on-loan Frenchman ultimately scoring just one league goal all season before returning to Paris Saint-Germain.
It wasn’t exactly a fruitful year for Mathys Tel on the opposite side either, the ex-Bayern Munich man scoring only four league goals, having yet to really nail down a regular role for himself over the last 18 months or so.
Spurs – PL Top Scorers 25/26 | |
|---|---|
Player | Goals |
Richarlison | 11 |
Palhinha | 5 |
Romero | 4 |
Van de Ven | 4 |
Tel | 4 |
Solanke | 3 |
Simons | 2 |
Kudus | 2 |
Sarr | 2 |
Gray | 2 |
With Dominic Solanke another to have been shackled to the treatment table across 2025/26, now up to just 12 league goals in two seasons, it’s only really Richarlison who walked away with credit in the bank, after leading the way for both goals and goal involvements.
Something has to change sooner rather than later, although thankfully, it does appear that work is being done on that front.
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Despite suggestions that Spurs were among the interested parties, De Zerbi has had to watch the aforementioned Rogers move to Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea gazumping Arsenal to sign the 23-year-old.
Signings between Premier League clubs are becoming ever more commonplace, as Tottenham’s summer business so far points to, with it looking as if they could be ready to raid another rival, Manchester City, for the signing of Savinho.
As per reports in Italy, ENIC have already lodged a €70m (£60m) bid for the Brazilian, an indication that this deal might be heading in the right direction.
The 22-year-old has long been linked with a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, yet this summer might finally be the time when an agreement is reached, with the fleet-footed winger having fallen down the pecking order at the Etihad last term.
He did only score once and assist just a solitary goal in the Premier League in 2025/26, but there is plenty to like about what he offers, not least his versatility.
Indeed, Savinho can be deployed on either flank or in a number ten role, proving such a weapon at his best on his favoured left foot.
That certainly evokes memories of the aforementioned Van der Vaart in his Spurs pomp, the Dutchman such a hit in his two-season stay in England.
Like the South American, the now-retired playmaker was devastating either off the right or primarily through the centre, both an elite goalscorer and a sublime creative force at his best.
Across 2011/12 and 2012/13, the former Real Madrid man scored 28 and assisted 18 in 77 games for the Lilywhites, reaching double figures for league goals in each of his two seasons at the club.
Speaking recently on Stick to Football, Peter Crouch spoke glowingly about Van der Vaart as perhaps his favourite striker partner, such was the playmaker’s vision and creative genius.
Savinho, still only 22, might well be far more “explosive” than Van der Vaart ever was – as hailed by analyst and Como scout Ben Mattinson – but he too is someone who can supply the goods for those ahead of him.
The likes of Solanke could well flourish if the £60m man gets back to the form he showcased previously for Girona, having scored nine and assisted ten in LaLiga in 2023/24, while creating 14 ‘big chances’ and averaging 1.5 key passes per game.
Savinho is a match-winner and a game-changer like Van der Vaart, someone who can conjure up a moment of magic out of nothing.
As BBC Sport’s Nick Godwin wrote last year, Spurs are in need of a new Van der Vaart to help spark this team into life, with the Man City speedster potentially the player who can end that lengthy search.
