Tottenham are planning a major overhaul of their playing squad this summer following back-to-back 17th-place finishes in the Premier League.

Spurs avoided relegation to the Championship on the final day of the season this year, beating Everton 1-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to stave off dropping down to playing second tier football for the first time since 1978.

Roberto De Zerbi was the saviour – Spurs’ third head coach of the season doing the one thing that was asked of him when he arrived at the club at the end of March – rescuing them from the drop.

Now, the Italian will want to put his stamp on the squad and ensure the 2025/26 season never happens again. Owners the Lewis Family have already pledged investment in the playing squad, and it will need to be significant if De Zerbi’s comments after the end of the season are anything to go by.

The Spurs boss said that he had “10, 11, 12 players good enough to stay”. With a 25-man squad available for the Premier League, that suggests he might need at least 13 new players to come in, although he may not have been counting long-term injured stars or those out on loan in his assessment of the squad he inherited.

Tottenham have already agreed deals to sign defenders Andy Robertson from Liverpool and Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth, with the pari free agents after their contracts at Liverpool and Bournemouth respectively came to an end.

But where else does De Zerbi need to strengthen?

Goalkeeper and defender deals

It looks like Guglielmo Vicario will depart the club, with Inter Milan his most likely destination this summer. Club captain Cristian Romero is also expected to leave, while Spurs could also look to cash in on Radu Dragusin, who does not seem to fit under De Zerbi – nor any other manager truth be told.

Highly-rated centre-back Luka Vuskovic could be given a chance, but the likelihood is he will get another season on loan under his belt after signing a new contract with the club. Ben Davies looks set to stay and sign a new deal too.

A new No.1 goalkeeper, or another keeper to challenge the reinvigorated Antonin Kinsky is a must this summer. The likes of Bart Verbruggen, Anatoliy Trubin and Lucas Chevalier have all been linked.

With Robertson and Senesi coming in, there’s probably space for one more centre-back. Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton would be the obvious – and best – choice, having played under De Zerbi before.

Robertson will be competition for Destiny Udogie at left-back, with Pedro Porro and Djed Spence the right-back options.

Midfield moving pieces at Tottenham

Joao Palhinha will return to Bayern Munich following the end of his loan spell, but De Zerbi has already admitted that he “100%” wants to sign him permanently. Palhinha also wants to return, with his preference on coming back to Spurs before heading to Sporting CP, who also want him.

With Conor Gallagher already signed in January and Rodrigo Bentancur showing his importance to the team when he returned from injury, there may not be too many more deals to be done in the two positions in front of the defence in De Zerbi’s famous 4-2-3-1 formation.

Youngsters Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall will surely be trusted more following a pre-season with the Italian.

One other player from Brighton has been linked – Carlos Baleba. He is likely to cost upwards of £80million, but is another who knows how to play in De Zerbi’s system and would be an upgrade on what Spurs already have.

Moving into the forward positions

De Zerbi has a plethora of options in the trio of positions behind the main striker in his new squad, although he is waiting on many of them to be fit.

Xavi Simons will probably be out until 2027, with Wilson Odobert not back until October at the earliest. Dejan Kulusevski was not see all season, but it is hoped he will return for the start of the season. Mohammed Kudus suffered a setback in his recovery, but he should be back for the start of the season too.

De Zerbi was able to call upon James Maddison in the final few weeks of the campaign, coming off the bench to make good cameo appearances when Spurs needed it most.

With Mathys Tel and the returning Mikey Moore to add to the mix, there is strength in depth in the positions in and around the main striker – particularly if they sign Savinho from Manchester City – but it is perhaps that No.9 that Tottenham need to upgrade the most.

Dominic Solanke has been another who has suffered with injuries this season and has not been able to get into any sort of rhythm, while Richarlison was Spurs’ top scorer, but never really got into proper goalscoring form.

Both could leave, both could stay, but it is imperative that De Zerbi signs at least one, maybe two new frontmen this summer.

Liverpool have been offered the chance to sign Paris Saint-Germain star Iliya Zabarnyi this summer, according to Dave OCKop.

The Reds are in the market to bolster their squad this summer after a disappointing campaign, which saw them opt to part ways with manager Arne Slot over the weekend, and advance in their move to bring in Andoni Iraola as his immediate replacement.

But now the club is looking at the transfer market to strengthen the squad and shape it in the image of the new manager, and that has seen them presented with a chance to bring in a former player of his.

Liverpool Offered Ilya Zabarnyi

Zabarnyi, who has been described as ‘unbelievable’, was a key part of Iraola’s Bournemouth side in the 2024/25 season and earned himself a big-money move to Paris Saint-Germain last summer as a result.

But the Ukraine international has struggled for regular game time under Luis Enrique, falling behind Marquinhos and Willian Pacho in the pecking order, and featuring for just 213 minutes in the Champions League, while he made 26 starts in Ligue 1.

The lack of minutes in the Champions League campaign has seen the player open up to a potential exit from the Parc des Princes, and the French champions are also open to letting him move on if they can recoup the £57m fee they paid to sign him.

It’s reported that the player’s representatives, who also represent Curtis Jones, offered the defender to Anfield chiefs during talks about the midfielder’s future recently, and exploratory talks have since been held as a result.

A new centre-back is expected to be brought in after Ibrahima Konate departed the club following the expiry of his contract, and while Jeremy Jacquet is set to arrive, Zabarnyi would be an exciting addition to the squad.

Zabarnyi Would Be Expensive Gamble

Iraola will know better than anyone else what Zabarnyi can offer to the Liverpool squad, but it would still represent a rather expensive gamble to bring him in for what the team need currently.

Virgil Van Dijk is still one of the first names on the team sheet, despite turning 35 before the new season begins, and while Jacquet is young and inexperienced, Liverpool clearly trust him as they spent £60m on him.

The Reds also have Giovanni Leoni once he returns from injury, and Joe Gomez in the squad. Zabarnyi has the quality to compete with them, but if he wants to be first-choice, then it may not be the right fit.

Liverpool could make a move for a ‘world-class’ £100m-rated striker once the appointment of Andoni Iraola is confirmed, journalist Fabrizio Romano has hinted.

Liverpool sacked Arne Slot out of nowhere on Saturday after previous briefings from the media that he would be staying next season, despite a disappointing 2025-26 campaign.

The Reds now want to bring Andoni Iraola in as the Dutchman’s replacement, with the Spaniard a free agent after he left Bournemouth following the expiry of his contract.

Romano has already given the ‘here we go’ to the move, with a deal expected to be completed this week for the 43-year-old to take charge at Anfield.

Should that be confirmed, then work will get underway off the pitch to give Iraola the squad he needs to improve Liverpool’s fortunes after their fifth-placed finish this term.

One area they look to need reinforcements in is in attack, especially with Mohamed Salah’s exit confirmed and the fact that Hugo Ekitike could be missing through injury until 2027.

The Reds’ current options up top include Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa, Alexander Isak and RIo Ngumoha, but they will need more strength in depth if they want to compete in the league and Champions League.

Romano Hints at Liverpool Move for Eli Junior Kroupi

Eli Junior Kroupi is attracting interest from the very biggest clubs across Europe following an outstanding breakthrough campaign with Bournemouth, under the leadership of Iraola.

The Frenchman scored 13 goals in 33 Premier League appearances for the Cherries at the age of 19, which has led to contact from the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain ahead of the summer transfer window.

Romano has hinted that Liverpool could get involved in the race too, should Iraola’s appointment at Anfield be confirmed.

The Italian journalist issued the latest on the £80-100m-rated Junior Kroupi’s future on his YouTube channel.

He said: “I can tell you for sure, Arsenal have called, Manchester City have called, and more clubs are interested. Let’s see if Iraola goes to Liverpool. But also Paris Saint-Germain are in the mix for Eli Junior Kroupi.

“Paris Saint-Germain had some contacts. Paris Saint-Germain took some information on the player, and Paris Saint-Germain really appreciate him, and have a very good connection with his agents.

“So, Premier League giants, Arsenal, Man City, let’s see what happens with Liverpool, with Iraola, and now also Paris Saint-Germain in the mix.”

Liverpool In Talks to Sign Yan Diomande

While Liverpool could decide to join the race for Junior Kroupi in the coming weeks, one player they are holding talks to sign now is RB Leizpig sensation Yan Diomande.

Another 19-year-old who has had a remarkable breakthrough season with Leipzig, he is also in demand among some of the biggest club teams in Europe.

Reports suggest that the Reds are in talks regarding personal terms with the Ivory Coast international’s representatives, although they will face competition from Champions League winners PSG.

The Merseysiders may hold an advantage though, with it believed that the teenager currently favours joining them because he has been guaranteed more first-team minutes than he would get at the Parc des Princes.