Spurs have done some excellent business in the transfer market already this summer, backing their new head coach with more than £230million of investment in the playing staff.
Six players have arrived at the club, with Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke the big-money arrivals. But as with any overhaul, departures are necessary and 11 players have also been allowed to leave.
Forward signings are a necessity at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Tottenham are in talks with Manchester City over the signing of Savinho – someone they came close to signing last summer only for a deal to fall through at the last moment – and are also in talks with Liverpool over a move to sign Cody Gakpo.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Spurs want to sign both, and are keen on adding a central striker to their ranks too.
Ask any Spurs supporter and they will tell you the side is lacking firepower and that a club looking to make inroads at the top of the table again cannot be going into a new Premier League season with only Dominic Solanke and Richarlison as the recognised strikers.
De Zerbi is not even sure if the Brazilian will still be at the club once the transfer window shuts on September 1.
I like him as a player and as a guy. He’s unbelievable in terms of attitude and behaviour. But, in the end, we have to respect what he wants to do. I didn’t understand well because sometimes he says he wants to stay, sometimes he wants to leave. We have to speak anyway. There is not any problem. He’s a lovely guy.
Richarlison was the club’s top scorer in what was a dismal 2025/26 campaign, netting 12 goals – 11 coming in 32 Premier League appearances, although nine of them came in just 20 starts.
Solanke’s season was beset by injury, meanwhile, with Spurs’ record signing before the arrivals of Fernandes and Tonali only managing 12 starts, scoring six goals.
And while Spurs may be in the market for a new No.9, it is Solanke who has already shown, despite the lack of minutes last season, that he can be the answer to De Zerbi’s problems…providing he is fit.
Speaking about Solanke during Spurs’ pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia, De Zerbi said: “I like him as a player, I like him as a guy. There are not many strikers better than Dom Solanke in the Premier League.
“I think he changes the quality of performances depending on the confidence he feels. First of all, we have to finish the transfer market and then we speak better about Solanke.
Anyway, I want to keep him, because I like him as a player, he’s complete as a striker. He can attack the space, he can cover the ball, he’s able with the ball to link, he’s able to score 15 to 20 goals in the Premier League.
Solanke will run and run, pressing high and working hard for his team, something De Zerbi demands in his players at a very basic level. And he has shown, with six goals in 12 starts last season and 16 goals and eight assists in 37 starts in 2024/25 that he can be the main man for the Italian.
In fact, he is one of the most accurate strikers in the Premier League, according to the stats.
His numbers for 2025/26 are skewed somewhat by his lack of minutes, but it is clear when he gets chances he scores them, according to StatsMuse at least.
Player
Team
Shot conversion
Gabriel Jesus
Arsenal
63.2%
Benjamin Sesko
Manchester United
55.7%
Dominic Solanke
Tottenham
55.0%
Taiwo Awoniyi
Nottingham Forest
53.3%
Lukas Nmecha
Leeds United
53.3%
Will Osula
Newcastle United
52.2%
Igor Thiago
Brentford
51.2%
Jean-Philippe Mateta
Crystal Palace
50.8%
Bryan Brobbey
Sundeland
50.0%
Danny Welbeck
Brighton (now Chelsea)
50.0%
Spurs have been linked with the likes of Mateta and Thiago in this window, as they look to add firepower to their attack. With question marks over Richarlison’s future, and with Solanke still seemingly not fit, De Zerbi cannot make the decision not to sign another centre-forward.
However, when he is fit, it is clear to see that in Solanke, De Zerbi has a striker who can do exactly what he needs him to do.
Rodri is set for Barcelona after Manchester City agreed a €76.5m deal in principle, and City are already working on their midfield rebuild.
Ben Jacobs breaks down Manchester City’s advanced talks for Ayyoub Bouaddi and explains why a fresh move for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez remains possible following Rodri’s departure.
There are also major updates across the transfer market, including Aston Villa’s move for Zion Suzuki, Juventus choosing Guglielmo Vicario over Emi Martinez, Liverpool’s ongoing Bradley Barcola situation and Al-Hilal’s interest in Chelsea winger Pedro Neto.
Plus, the latest on West Ham, Sunderland and Ipswich as Premier League clubs accelerate their business ahead of the new season.
Manchester United have no interest in allowing Bruno Fernandes to leave the club this summer despite interest from Galatasaray, GIVEMESPORT sources understand.
Fernandes’ future has been in the spotlight throughout the summer, with the Red Devils’ midfielder having a year left on his contract. He previously turned down a mouth-watering £65 million contract proposal to join Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal last summer.
The 31-year-old later insisted that he wanted to stay at United because of the difficult situation they found themselves in. His team finished 15th in the previous campaign, and he told Wayne Rooney that he didn’t want to jump ship during a crisis.
Last season, the Old Trafford outfit bounced back and sealed Champions League qualification after finishing third. INEOS handed Michael Carrick the managerial job full-time and these factors were thought to have led to Fernandes staying put and even signing a new contract.
Galatasaray Ready Offer For Man Utd’s Fernandes
via Reuters
GIVEMESPORT sources understand that Galatasaray are ready to test the waters with an offer of £42.8 million including add-ons for Fernandes. The Turkish giants are prepared to offer the Portugal international a lucrative four-year contract.
Fernandes has not indicated to United he wants to leave to date, and the club are not looking to engage with any club over a sale. Their stance is that he is not available for any price with just days until the new campaign begins.
The Portugal international remains Carrick’s most important player heading into his first season as permanent head coach. A release clause in his current contract, worth £55.6m, expired in July, meaning interested clubs must now make offers for the player.
Man Utd transfer targets
Given that Fernandes turned down a more lucrative offer from Al-Hilal last year, it might not be a hugely concerning situation for the Red Devils. He has the chance to captain Carrick’s team in a new Premier League era, which is perhaps the most open it has been since the now-departed Pep Guardiola arrived at Manchester City back in 2016.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
INEOS Need To Get Fernandes Future Sorted
Galatasaray’s interest in Fernandes is a wake-up call for United to sort out their skipper’s contract. While his current deal does include the option of a further year, heading into a season with his future still the subject of speculation is something INEOS should look to avoid.
Perhaps the higher-ups are prepared to part ways next summer but it doesn’t make much sense given he’s just enjoyed the best season of any post-Sir Alex Ferguson player. His record-breaking assist numbers prove he is the one whom they should be looking to build the team around.
Carrick made his feelings clear during pre-season when asked about Fernandes’ future (via BBC Sport):
“Every good team has players that have made a major impact. That’s how it is. Bruno has had that for a period of time here. We want to keep pushing and want to get the best out of Bruno and the team around him… As much as the performances, it’s how he has been around the group, how he leads and takes time to help others, especially the younger players. That comes into play.”
Bruno Fernandes (Premier League 2025-26)
Total
Appearances (Starts)
35 (35)
Goals
9
Assists
21
Goal Involvements (G+A)
30
Penalty Goals
4
Shots (On Target)
85 (24)
Touches
2,689
Pass Accuracy
82%
Corners Taken
90
Discipline
5 Yellows, 0 Reds
United are in a strong negotiating position but so far there has been no agreement over an extension for Fernandes. He’s been with the club since January 2020, arriving from Sporting CP in a £68m deal.
The Red Devils’ legendary striker is trying to forge a path as a top manager, most recently managing Leicester City in 2025. Sadly for the Dutchman, he couldn’t prevent the Foxes from relegation and he’s since been out of a job.
It’s been a big few years for the Van Nistelrooy household as Ruud had spells in charge of Man Utd and Leicester, before his son was handed a first-ever professional contract by Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven. There has been little fanfare surrounding the offspring of one of the Premier League’s greatest strikers as he used his mother’s surname, ‘Slaats’, for the majority of his youth career.
Van Nistelrooy’s Son’s Name Inspired by Man Utd Teammate
Alan Smith, Alex Ferguson and Liam Miller
During a conversation with Gary Neville on The Overlap three years ago, Van Nistelrooy was asked where the name Liam came from. A typically British and Irish name, it was an unusual choice for a Dutch family to select for their child.
The retired striker was quick to point out that he had been inspired by a former teammate at Old Trafford, Liam Miller. The Ireland-born midfielder was signed from Celtic in 2004 and clearly left a big impression on some members of the dressing room. Van Nistelrooy told Neville:
“We played with Liam at United. Liam Miller. I remember that name and I liked the name.”
Miller would only make 22 appearances for the Red Devils in two years before embarking on a journeyman career in England, Scotland and Australia. Tragically, the ex-United man passed away in 2018 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
After the devastating news of Miller’s passing, a match was played between Celtic and Manchester United, with the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs playing a part. Liam van Nistelrooy will now look to make a mark on PSV, whom his father represented for three years before moving to Old Trafford.
Liam Van Nistelrooy Goes Viral After Scoring For PSV
Ruud watched on with a beaming smile on his face as Liam, 18, scored an impressive goal for PSV’s Under-19 side to send them into the Otten Innovation Cup final.
Released with a long ball, Van Nistelrooy broke free and couldn’t be caught before delicately chipping the ball over the goalkeeper. The ice-cold finish wasn’t the only thing that mirrored his father, as many commented on the striking resemblance between the two strikers.
Statistics in this article are courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 17-08-26.
