Tottenham Hotspur’s summer transfer activity shows no signs of slowing, with Roberto De Zerbi continuing to reshape his squad ahead of the new campaign.
Liverpool winger Cody Gakpo is reportedly the subject of direct talks between his entourage and Spurs, though his £250,000-a-week wage demands present a significant obstacle.
Tottenham already broke their wage ceiling to sign Sandro Tonali for £100million, making the Italian their highest-paid player at £200,000 a week.
De Zerbi will need to push beyond that benchmark again if Gakpo is to arrive, with the Dutchman also expected to cost well in excess of £60million in transfer fees.
Voetbal International has reported that Spurs have set aside a “substantial budget” to land Gakpo, reflecting just how seriously north London is pursuing the deal.
Should the Gakpo pursuit fall flat, Tottenham are also reportedly considering a move for Barcelona winger Raphinha as a backup option, alongside Savinho.
Raphinha has two years remaining on his contract at the Camp Nou, where he currently earns around £260,000 a week, and is not said to be actively pushing for an exit.
The former Leeds United man would bring Premier League experience to the role, which is understood to appeal to De Zerbi’s recruitment team as they weigh their options.
Defender Cristian Romero is simultaneously edging towards the exit door, with both Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan competing to secure his signature before the transfer window closes.
Reports out of Spain suggest Romero has already agreed personal terms with Atletico, with a four-year deal on the table that could extend until 2031, earning the Argentine around £180,000 a week.
Inter Milan are also in the running and reportedly have a deal worth between £35million and £40million structured and ready, though Benjamin Pavard may need to be sold to fund it.
Atletico themselves are working to raise funds, with Matteo Ruggeri closing in on a move to Aston Villa worth around £19.4million and right-back Nahuel Molina reportedly in talks to join Roma.
Spurs are understood to be seeking around £35million for Romero, meaning the race may ultimately come down to which club completes their own sales first.
Elsewhere, former Premier League striker Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink has publicly questioned whether Victor Osimhen is suited to English football, despite Tottenham’s reported interest in the Galatasaray striker.
“I’m not convinced by Osimhen for the Premier League,” Hasselbaink said on John Obi Mikel’s podcast. “For Spain? Yes. For Italy? Yes. But for the Premier League, I’m not 100% sure.”
Tottenham have also entered the race for Galatasaray winger Baris Yilmaz, but a £27million opening bid was rejected, with Galatasaray holding firm on a £40million asking price.
On outgoings, Spurs are close to surpassing £100million in sales this summer, with Ashley Phillips nearing a move to Middlesbrough in a deal structured at £7million up front with significant add-ons potentially taking the total to £20million.
Tottenham have already raised around £80million through the departures of Luka Vuskovic, Alejo Veliz, Alfie Devine, Tynan Thompson, and Will Lankshear, with the latter joining Middlesbrough in a deal that could double to £20million via add-ons.
Troy Parrott, who has scored 51 goals in 95 appearances for AZ Alkmaar since joining in 2024, is attracting interest from West Ham and Everton, with Spurs holding a 20 percent sell-on clause that could earn them £5million on a reported £25million deal.
Young forward Mason Melia has officially joined Lincoln City on a season-long loan, with the Championship club’s sporting director Jez George confirming they “beat up to 30 other clubs” to secure the 18-year-old’s signature.
