Tottenham's Summer Transfer Strategy: Savinho, Marmoush, and More

Tottenham are already ripping up the script of a normal summer window. And they might not be done yet.

Savinho is on his way after Spurs struck an £85m agreement with Manchester City, Omar Marmoush is edging closer, and the spending is pushing towards the £400m mark. For most clubs, that would be the crescendo. At Tottenham, it might just be the build‑up.

Savinho done, Marmoush next – but Spurs eye more

Fabrizio Romano set the tone on Thursday: Tottenham’s plan is clear. Two wingers and a central striker. Savinho and Cody Gakpo have been earmarked as the wide options, with a new No 9 to complete the set.

The first piece has fallen into place. Savinho is effectively tied up, a huge outlay to prise him from Manchester City. Tottenham then moved straight onto Marmoush, the second prong of that attacking overhaul.

The Egypt international has already agreed personal terms on a five-year contract and is described as very keen to work under Roberto De Zerbi. Talks between Spurs and his club are said to be “very close” to a full agreement, with a deal expected to be wrapped up in the coming days.

If and when that happens, Tottenham’s summer outlay will be approaching the £400m mark. Yet the noise around the club suggests the ambition stretches beyond Savinho and Marmoush.

“May yet go bigger” – Gakpo or a mystery name?

According to The Independent’s chief football writer Miguel Delaney, Tottenham “may yet go bigger than Savinho and Omar Marmoush”, as he wrote in his Inside Football newsletter.

The obvious name is Cody Gakpo. Romano has repeatedly framed the plan as Savinho, Gakpo and a central striker – with Marmoush now emerging as that striker option. Gakpo has been heavily linked to Spurs all summer, even if Marmoush has dominated the headlines in the last few days.

Romano insists the Dutchman remains very much in play. “It’s not over at all, the summer transfer window for Tottenham. I always told you Savinho, Gakpo, and a central striker. Savinho is done. Gakpo: we will talk in the next few days,” he said.

If Gakpo does not become available, the suggestion from Delaney is that Tottenham could pivot to another major attacking signing, one that has not yet surfaced publicly. With the window entering its final week, any such move would have to develop quickly – and quietly.

What has to happen for Gakpo to move

For now, several hurdles stand between Spurs and Gakpo.

The forward has already agreed personal terms with Tottenham and is understood to be keen on the move. The problem is Liverpool. They still see him as part of their plans and, so far, have proved extremely tough to deal with.

Gakpo’s strong pre-season has only strengthened Liverpool’s hand, as has the belief inside the club that new manager Andoni Iraola can unlock even more from him. Tottenham, for their part, have not yet put a formal offer on the table.

That could change fast if Liverpool complete deals for Paris Saint-Germain duo Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye. Either arrival would increase competition in Gakpo’s area of the pitch and might shift Liverpool’s stance from resistance to at least listening.

For now, Spurs have Savinho in the bag, Marmoush almost over the line and a war chest that shows no sign of closing. The question is no longer whether they are going big this summer.

It’s whether they are about to go bigger still.