He’s like Mousa Dembele: Spurs line up move to sign £100m Premier League star

Just a couple of weeks ago, many Tottenham Hotspur fans would have been fearing the worst and facing the prospect of relegation from the Premier League.

Roberto De Zerbi’s arrival in North London handed the Lilywhites the injection of life they needed – subsequently losing just two of his seven games at the helm.

The supporters can now relax over the summer and watch the recruitment team work their magic to avoid a third season in a row at the bottom of England’s top-flight.

The manager will no doubt be wanting his own additions to help take the club to the next level, but it remains to be seen how much the hierarchy will spend to help him compete for trophies in the years ahead.

The transfer window doesn’t open until early June, but it hasn’t stopped staff behind the scenes in the capital from drawing up various targets ahead of the summer.

Spurs prepare move to sign £100m star this summer

Spurs’ struggles throughout 2025/26 have been there for all to see, with the side only managing to win three home outings in the Premier League this campaign.

It’s not stopped the hierarchy from aiming high during the upcoming window, with Manchester City winger Savinho once again appearing as a transfer target.

The Brazilian was seen as one of the Lilywhites’ top targets last term, but no deal was agreed – leading to De Zerbi’s men ramping up their efforts 12 months on.

However, the 22-year-old isn’t the only player currently in their sights, with Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba also admired ahead of the window’s opening.

According to The Independent, De Zerbi is extremely keen on a reunion with the Cameroonian and is preparing a raid on his former side for his signature this summer.

The report states that Manchester United still remain interested in signing the 22-year-old, which could lead to a potential transfer battle in the months ahead.

Any deal could be a record-breaking one for the Lilywhites this window, as Fabian Hurzeler’s side are said to be demanding a fee in the region of £100m to offload the youngster.

Why Baleba would be Mousa Dembele 2.0 for Spurs

Despite struggling in the market over recent years, Spurs have previously conducted superb business – as seen by the £15m deal to land midfielder Mousa Dembele back in 2012.

He racked up a total of 249 senior appearances during his seven-year spell at the club, arguably cementing himself as one of their best ever midfielders.

From dazzling runs with the ball at his feet to dominant physical displays out of possession, the talent cemented himself as a key player during his spell in the Premier League.

The Belgian, to this day, is still spoken about amongst supporters – further highlighting the impact he made during his impressive period in North London.

De Zerbi must wish he could rely upon a player of Dembele’s quality at present, but he could land his own version of the fan-favourite with a move for Baleba.

The Cameroonian has been a consistent performer for the Seagulls in recent seasons, often catching the eye with his ball-carrying and duel successes – something which Dembele became renowned for.

His stats from the recent campaign highlight his quality at both ends of the pitch, which could see him be an influential asset to the Italian in his hunt for success in North London.

Baleba, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by Ryan Adsett, managed to complete 58% of the dribbles he attempted, whilst achieving an 86% pass completion rate.

Both of the aforementioned figures highlight his composure with the ball at his feet, which could certainly see him emulate the Belgian’s ability in gliding past the opposition.

Without the ball, the Cameroonian has also been extremely dominant, subsequently coming out on top of 5.5 ground duels per 90 – ranking him above 70% of midfielders in Europe this term.

Baleba’s tally of 2.1 tackles and 1.6 interceptions made per 90 further demonstrates his quality in regaining possession for his side – just as Dembele did during his own time in the Premier League.

Emulating a midfielder of the Belgian’s quality is no mean feat, with countless midfielders trying and failing during their respective periods as a Spurs player.

Baleba could well be the next to try his luck, but the partnership of the Brighton star and his former boss could prove to be crucial in his attempts to be a success.

£100m would see a record transfer being spent on a player by the Lilywhites, but it could be a worthwhile investment should he teach Dembele’s levels in North London.