Tottenham Advances Talks for Marmoush as Savinho Deal Nears

Tottenham’s rebuild under Roberto de Zerbi is accelerating – and the focus has moved firmly to the front line.

After committing a combined £185m to reshape their midfield with Mateus Fernandes from West Ham and Sandro Tonali from Newcastle, Spurs are now driving hard to add firepower in attack. The headline move is close: an agreement with Manchester City worth £75m, plus £10m in add-ons, for Brazil winger Savinho.

Yet City may not be the only club De Zerbi raids.

Marmoush discussions gather pace

Talks over Savinho’s team-mate Omar Marmoush are, according to sources, “progressing positively” as Spurs explore a second attacking signing from the Etihad.

Marmoush, signed by City from Eintracht Frankfurt for £59m in 2025, slipped down Pep Guardiola’s pecking order last season and struggled for regular minutes, making him a realistic target as Tottenham look to deepen their options across the front line.

The Egypt international’s situation has alerted De Zerbi, who wants more goals and greater versatility in wide and central attacking areas. Spurs see Marmoush as a player who can operate across the front three and inject more direct running into their attack.

Gakpo interest complicated by finances

Tottenham’s recruitment team have also kept a watching brief on Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo. The Netherlands international remains on their list, but any serious move is complicated.

With Savinho’s £75m fee, potential add-ons taking the package to £85m, and Marmoush valued highly by City, there are real questions over whether Spurs can finance a third major attacking deal in the same window. For now, Gakpo is an admiration rather than an active negotiation.

Savinho finally on his way

Savinho’s move to north London has been a long chase. Spurs tried to prise him away from Manchester City last summer but the Brazilian chose to stay and fight for his place at Etihad Stadium.

That decision brought limited reward. The 22-year-old managed just seven Premier League starts under Guardiola last term, and with competition fierce in City’s wide areas, the opportunity to become a central figure under De Zerbi has proved too tempting.

He will now undergo a medical before signing a long-term contract, arriving as a marquee attacking addition just days before the new Premier League season kicks off.

Market moving around the Premier League

While Tottenham work on their forward line, the rest of the league is far from quiet.

Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa underwent a medical at Arsenal on Thursday ahead of a move worth more than £50m, a deal that has pushed Villa into the market for a replacement. Their first major attempt has been rebuffed: an offer of around £18m plus add-ons for Southampton centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis has been rejected.

Harwood-Bellis, who initially joined Southampton on loan in 2023 and has since become a key figure, has one England cap from a 2024 Nations League match against the Republic of Ireland. Southampton, who finished fourth in the Championship before the Spygate scandal derailed their play-off hopes, are understood to want closer to £25m.

On the continent, Inter Milan have struck a £30m agreement with Liverpool for England midfielder Curtis Jones, while Tijjani Reijnders has completed a £52m switch from Manchester City to Saudi Arabian side Al-Qadsiah.

At Anfield, the reshaping of Liverpool’s attack is gathering pace. A £50m bid for Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh has been turned down, with the Seagulls holding firm over the 22-year-old Gambia international, who has 10 goals and nine assists in 73 appearances since his £30m move from Newcastle in 2024. Minteh, primarily a right winger, is currently recovering from a leg injury suffered in a friendly against Roma earlier this month.

With Mohamed Salah gone, Andoni Iraola has made wide attacking reinforcements his priority for the remainder of the window, and Liverpool are expected to keep testing the market.

New season, new shapes

All of this plays out against the backdrop of a Premier League curtain-raiser that arrives tonight, with defending champions Arsenal hosting newly promoted Coventry in the first match of gameweek one.

Tottenham, watching their rivals move and spending heavily themselves, are trying to ensure De Zerbi starts his first full campaign with the kind of front line that can close the gap at the top.

Savinho is almost through the door. Marmoush could be next. The only real question now is how far Spurs are willing – and able – to go in this window to give their new head coach the attack he clearly wants.