The Big Picture

Roberto De Zerbi is playing the waiting game. While Tottenham Hotspur are desperate to bring the Italian tactician to North London immediately, reports indicate he will delay his return until the summer. This gives him months to plot a massive squad overhaul. The current Spurs squad is bloated with mismatched profiles from three different managerial regimes. If the early enquiries for Pervis Estupinan are anything to go by, De Zerbi is already drafting his shopping list. Here are the top 10 players he needs to target.

Top 10 Transfer Targets for De Zerbi

10. Pervis Estupinan (AC Milan)

The obvious starting point. Estupinan knows De Zerbi's system inside out from their successful time together at Brighton, before his recent move to Italy. Tottenham's current full-back situation is a mess of overlapping profiles, with Destiny Udogie needing serious competition. De Zerbi requires a reliable outlet on the left flank who understands his complex, bait-and-switch build-up structures. Estupinan offers exactly that, bringing aggressive overlapping runs and immediate tactical familiarity. Early enquiries have already been made by the Spurs hierarchy, making this the most likely reunion on the cards. It is a pragmatic move that sets a serious tone for the window.

9. Lewis Dunk (Brighton)

De Zerbi's system relies heavily on a ball-playing center-back who can confidently step into midfield and break defensive lines with a single pass. Dunk was the undisputed linchpin of that exact strategy at the Amex Stadium. While his advancing age might deter the typical analytics-driven recruitment model at Spurs, bringing in a trusted lieutenant would instantly stabilize the defense. The Tottenham backline has been painfully erratic this season, often caught in possession when trying to play out from the back against high-pressing teams. Dunk fixes that specific vulnerability immediately, bringing calm leadership and pinpoint distribution.

8. Manuel Locatelli (Juventus)

Before the tactical revolution at Brighton, there was the brilliant Sassuolo project. Locatelli was the steady engine of De Zerbi's exciting Italian side, dictating the tempo from deep midfield areas. Tottenham have severely lacked a deep-lying playmaker who can control the rhythm of a game since Mousa Dembélé departed years ago. Locatelli's time at Juventus has been a mixed bag of inconsistent performances and managerial turmoil. Reconnecting with the manager who originally unlocked his best form could be the solution to a massive midfield problem in North London. He offers technical security that Pierre-Emile Højbjerg fails to provide.

7. Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton)

If you want to play true De Zerbi-ball, you need wide players who can isolate full-backs and ruin their afternoons. Mitoma is the premier example of this exact profile currently operating in the Premier League. Tottenham's wide options are often far too predictable, constantly cutting inside into heavy traffic rather than taking their man on the outside. Mitoma would instantly rip apart the left flank with his sudden acceleration and elite close control. Prising him away from Brighton will be incredibly difficult given his current valuation. However, it would be a massive statement of intent from the Spurs board.

6. Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen)

To balance the left-sided threat, De Zerbi needs a dynamic, relentless attacking force on the right flank. Frimpong has been tearing up the Bundesliga under Xabi Alonso, operating as an unstoppable wing-back. While De Zerbi often uses his full-backs to invert, he also appreciates raw pace and natural width when the tactical situation demands it. Frimpong offers a terrifying offensive output, registering 12 assists last campaign, which would stretch opposition defenses to the breaking point. His defensive frailties in a flat back four are a legitimate concern. But the attacking upside is simply too immense for Tottenham to ignore.

5. Evan Ferguson (Brighton)

Tottenham are still desperately searching for the definitive heir to Harry Kane's vacant throne. Richarlison remains far too inconsistent in front of goal, and Son Heung-min isn't a natural focal point for a heavy-possession system. Ferguson initially blossomed under De Zerbi's careful guidance, showing incredible flashes of becoming a complete, modern center-forward. He holds the ball up with immense strength, links play intelligently with the midfield, and possesses a ruthless finishing instinct in the box. A massive, club-record bid this summer could secure Tottenham's undisputed number nine for the next decade. It solves their biggest problem overnight.

4. Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus)

De Zerbi absolutely loves versatile midfielders who can operate cleanly in tight spaces and contribute heavily in the final third. Koopmeiners is a complete tactical problem solver, highly capable of playing as a deeper double pivot or pushing up as a true number ten. His left foot is an absolute wand, capable of unlocking stubborn deep blocks and providing lethal set-piece delivery. Tottenham desperately need more goals and direct assists from their central midfield trio, and the Dutchman essentially guarantees that output. His recent dominant form in Serie A proves he is absolutely ready for the Premier League jump.

3. Julio Enciso (Brighton)

Sometimes you need unpredictable attacking output to break a deadlock. Enciso is an erratic wildcard who thrives operating in the half-spaces and pockets that De Zerbi specifically engineers. Tottenham's attack often looks entirely sterile and predictable against low blocks, lacking a creative player who can produce a moment of pure magic from nothing. Enciso's spectacular long-range shooting and aggressive dribbling make him an absolute nightmare for center-backs to defend against. He is admittedly still very raw and prone to poor decision-making in the final third. But under De Zerbi's tutelage, he genuinely has world-class potential.

2. Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan)

If Tottenham want to truly compete at the very top of the table, they need a genuine marquee defensive signing. Bastoni is widely considered arguably the best ball-playing, left-sided center-back in world football right now. He fits De Zerbi's demanding philosophy perfectly, highly capable of stepping into midfield areas to create numerical overloads. Inter Milan's persistent financial situation means their top players are always potentially available for the right, aggressive price. It would undoubtedly require breaking the bank and fighting off massive competition. But Bastoni would immediately become the untouchable cornerstone of De Zerbi's project.

1. Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)

The absolute dream acquisition for the new era. Mac Allister was the undisputed tactical brain of De Zerbi's brilliant Brighton side, the exact player who made the entire complex system tick. While prying him away from Anfield seems almost impossible right now, stranger things have constantly happened in the modern transfer market. If De Zerbi demands full, uncompromising backing from the Spurs board, launching a massive, disruptive bid for the Argentine would severely test Liverpool's current resolve. He is the absolute perfect De Zerbi midfielder. He is highly intelligent, incredibly press-resistant, and completely capable of dictating the entire tempo of a match.

Honorable Mentions

Moises Caicedo, Billy Gilmour, and Joao Pedro. These players all thrived heavily under De Zerbi's intense tactical demands. However, they are either completely out of reach financially due to recent massive transfers, or they wouldn't quite fix Tottenham's immediate, glaring starting eleven issues right now.