Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed he wants one further addition before Tuesday night’s transfer deadline, while making clear that departures could shape whether that deal is completed.
The Italian held discussions with Spurs’ ownership and senior recruitment staff on Thursday, shortly before the club announced the arrival of Omar Marmoush from Manchester City. De Zerbi indicated that the window has already gone beyond what he initially anticipated, but that there remains a targeted gap in the group.
Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo has been linked with Tottenham in reports this week, although no outlet has established that he is the player De Zerbi had in mind. That distinction matters: the manager described a requirement in a particular area, whereas Gakpo’s name has emerged separately from the public briefings.
A final arrival is not simply about numbers
Marmoush gives De Zerbi another senior option in the attacking unit and is available for Saturday’s home match against Newcastle. That makes the Gakpo speculation less straightforward than a conventional late-window pursuit of a forward.
Gakpo can operate centrally or from the left, qualities that would make him adaptable in a fluid attacking structure. But Marmoush’s recruitment already points to Tottenham seeking greater variation in the final third. If Spurs do intensify their interest in the Liverpool player, it may reflect an opportunity in the market as much as the exact positional need identified by De Zerbi.
Neither the manager nor the club has named the outstanding position. That leaves open several possibilities, including a role that could be vacated by a late sale rather than one Tottenham have considered deficient throughout the summer. De Zerbi’s comments repeatedly connected incoming and outgoing business, rather than presenting another signing as unconditional.
This is a significant nuance amid deadline-week reporting. The headline is an expected last addition, but the more revealing message is that Tottenham are still assessing the balance of a heavily reshaped squad. A player leaving could change both the financial room and the football case for a replacement.
Sarr situation illustrates the calculation
Pape Matar Sarr is the clearest senior player whose future remains unresolved. De Zerbi said the midfielder is fit but did not rule out a move, while reports have noted that Sarr has yet to play in Tottenham’s opening two matches.
Football London has reported that De Zerbi currently has 29 senior players available, before accounting for one young prospect, and described a number of academy players as candidates for loans. Its account also portrays Spurs as having generated substantial income through sales and loans over the summer, despite significant spending on arrivals.
That context explains why Tottenham’s final days are likely to be as much about reducing congestion as adding quality. A deep squad can be an advantage across a long campaign, but it can also leave players with little route to minutes and create uncertainty around the dressing room. De Zerbi’s emphasis on commitment appears directed at that risk.
The manager has taken a firm position: players who remain must be engaged with the project, while those seeking moves need suitable offers to materialise. It is not a guarantee that all unsettled players will leave. Rather, it suggests Tottenham will not force exits merely to create activity before the deadline.
Recruitment meeting points to alignment
The meeting involving De Zerbi, chief executive Vinai Venkatesham, sporting director Johan Lange and club owners is notable because it signals that the manager’s request has reached the highest level of the club’s decision-making structure. De Zerbi described the group as aligned, following a window in which Spurs have moved decisively in both directions.
That does not mean an agreement is close. Late-window discussions often identify preferred profiles without producing a feasible deal, particularly when a selling club must find its own replacement. The reports linking Gakpo underline that difficulty: Liverpool would be under no obvious obligation to sell an established attacker simply because Tottenham have room for one more player.
The immediate focus remains on Newcastle, where De Zerbi could hand Marmoush an early involvement. Mohammed Kudus may also return to the matchday squad after his thigh problem, while Micky van de Ven has been declared ready to start. Decisions are still pending on whether Pedro Porro and Sávio begin the game or are used later.
Those selection calls reinforce the broader transfer picture. Tottenham have options, returning players and a new signing ready for use, yet De Zerbi still sees a precise opportunity to improve the group. Whether that opportunity becomes Gakpo, another unnamed target or no one at all may depend on what happens to Sarr and other potential departures before Tuesday’s deadline.