So often derided for not making a big play in the transfer market, Tottenham Hotspur are now facing question marks as to whether they are investing wisely this summer. Go figure.
‘Winning the window’ means little when the real stuff actually kicks off – just ask Liverpool – but for once, the Lilywhites truly look to be acting like an elite club, splashing the cash both in terms of wages and transfer fees in recent weeks.
Beating Manchester United to Mateus Fernandes’ signing represents a particular coup, although it is the club-record capture of Sandro Tonali that has really raised eyebrows, not least due to the reported £100m sum.
At 26, and as a reported Manchester City target, this feels like a deal that hasn’t been seen often enough in north London, particularly when Daniel Levy was holding a vice-like grip on the club.
It’s a different regime now, however, with there potentially more marquee signings to come before the window is out.
Spurs in the mix to seal £60m signing after Tonali deal
Tonali marks the sixth arrival at N17 already, although you can bet good money that he won’t be the last, as Roberto De Zerbi oversees a drastic overhaul of the playing squad.
Every addition so far has come from within the Premier League, a telling sign that the Italian coach wants ready-made, proven players who can immediately hit the ground running.
That is likely to apply to their pursuit of attacking reinforcements too, with Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi just one of the names to have been floated of late.
As revealed by Fabrizio Romano too, speaking on his YouTube channel, Spurs also hold significant interest in Liverpool winger, Cody Gakpo, with there a potential that a deal could develop as the summer progresses.
“Keep an eye on Tottenham for Cody Gakpo because Tottenham have interest in the player. I can tell you that Liverpool, as of the beginning of July, are not opening doors to an exit.
“So at the moment Liverpool are not telling Gako ‘okay you can leave’, are not telling Tottenham ‘okay let’s negotiate’, this is not happening now.
“So at the moment the door is closed from Liverpool, but we have to see later on this summer in case Tottenham really open talks by sending a proposal. At the moment, there is an interest, if they send a proposal we have to see what’s going to happen there. So, it’s a story to keep an eye on eventually.”
In terms of how much the Netherlands star would cost, prior reports have indicated that it might take around £60m to lure him to Anfield.
Why Gakpo could represent a bigger coup than Tonali
There’s no denying that the signing of Tonali is a statement for the ENIC regime, with those at the Etihad having also been watching the Italian closely of late.
|
Spurs midfielders – 25/26 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Games |
Goals (Assists) |
|
Palhinha |
45 |
7 (3) |
|
Simons |
41 |
5 (6) |
|
Sarr |
37 |
2 (4) |
|
Gray |
35 |
2 (3) |
|
Bentancur |
34 |
1 (1) |
|
Bergvall |
33 |
1 (5) |
|
Gallagher |
18 |
1 (1) |
|
Bissouma |
11 |
0 (0) |
|
Maddison |
3 |
0 (0) |
|
Olusesi |
2 |
0 (0) |
Speaking last year too, Man United legend Paul Scholes even went as far as to name the 26-year-old as the best midfielder in the Premier League, even “better than [Declan] Rice”.
That had come after a standout 2024/25 campaign at St James’ Park, although the concern would be that it hasn’t all been plain sailing for Tonali to date, missing almost the entirety of the 2023/24 season due to a gambling ban, while having failed to score during a muted 2025/26 league season last time out.
Of course, Gakpo hasn’t always had it easy on Merseyside either, but there is a greater body of work to be excited by, not least his role in Liverpool’s title success under Arne Slot.
That 2024/25 season saw the former PSV Eindhoven man score and assist 14 goals in just 23 league starts, while he followed that up by adding a further 12 in the most recent campaign.
In 2025/26 too, he also created ten ‘big chances’ and boasted a stellar average of 1.5 key passes per game, ensuring he would be a real upgrade on De Zerbi’s current options.
Indeed, take Mathys Tel, for instance, the Frenchman scoring and assisting only five goals last season, while creating just five ‘big chances’ and averaging just one key pass per game.
Gakpo could then be the solution on that left flank that Spurs have long been crying out for, while he also offers the benefit of his ability to feature through the middle, as he has done on occasion for both club and country.
He is a player who appears to come alive on the international stage, in particular, now up to six goals in just nine career World Cup appearances, having also scored three goals at Euro 2024 as Holland reached the last four.
Still only 27, Gakpo has already won a raft of domestic honours with both PSV and Liverpool, including three league titles, while Tonali has only one Serie A title and one EFL Cup to his name.
Of course, the Italian is a powerhouse of a midfielder at his best, although that best hasn’t been seen enough as yet in a Newcastle shirt, even if he was such a force in 2024/25.
Gakpo, meanwhile, has at times been a polarising figure at Anfield, but it’s difficult to argue with his regard for both club and country, having previously racked up over 100 goals and assists in just over 150 games for PSV.
If all goes to plan, this could be a signing that really does elevate the Lilywhites next season.
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Spurs may already have their very own version of Eli Junior Kroupi.