Tottenham's Transfer Pursuit: De Zerbi Eyes Gakpo Signing

Roberto De Zerbi has made his position clear. Tottenham’s squad is close, but not complete – and the head coach wants one more signing before the window slams shut.

At the centre of it all sits Cody Gakpo.

Tottenham are pushing to bring in the Liverpool forward and are expected to ramp up their efforts in the final days before Tuesday’s 11pm deadline. Gakpo, versatile across the front line and proven at the highest level, fits the profile of attacker Spurs have been tracking all summer. Now, with the clock ticking, the pursuit is set to sharpen.

De Zerbi, speaking on Friday, admitted even he has been taken aback by the churn of his first Spurs window.

“I didn't expect a transfer window like we have done,” he said. The work is not finished, though. “I think we can do one player more in one specific position.”

This is not a manager fighting the board. Quite the opposite. De Zerbi described a united front at the top of the club, revealing a dinner summit with the hierarchy as plans for the final stretch of the window were laid out.

“Yesterday we went to dinner with the owners, Johan [Lange, sporting director] and Vinai [Venkatesham, chief executive] and we spoke about this,” he explained. “All of us are on the same page and a very good connection.”

The message from that meeting is already visible: Spurs will be busy until the deadline. Incoming business, headlined by the Gakpo chase, will run in parallel with exits, as players on the fringes look for a way out.

De Zerbi has drawn a hard line with his squad. No illusions. No excuses.

“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.”

That clarity feeds into how he frames the project at Tottenham. This is not just a rebuild on a spreadsheet; it is, in his words, something to feel.

“You have to feel proud to stay here. It's an emotional project we are building with new players.”

One of the most intriguing names in the departure column is Pape Matar Sarr. The midfielder has drawn interest during the window and has yet to feature in Spurs’ opening two league games, a notable absence for a player of his potential.

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 stage is set. A manager demanding one last key signing, a club aligned behind him, a major attacking target in Gakpo, and a handful of unsettled players waiting on late bids.

By 11pm on Tuesday, Tottenham’s squad – and perhaps their season’s ceiling – will look very different.