European Star Decides To Join Spurs As Big Tottenham Transfer Move Closer
The wait is finally over. After weeks of transfer rumours, speculation and endless talk about potential arrivals, Tottenham Hotspur can finally put all of that aside for 90 minutes when they face Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
For Spurs, this is the moment when the focus shifts from what could happen in the transfer market to what needs to happen on the pitch. Roberto De Zerbi’s reign gets underway, and Tottenham will be hoping the Italian can immediately provide signs of the progress supporters are expecting.
However, history has already taught the Lilywhites not to get carried away by a strong start.
Tottenham famously began the 2023/24 campaign unbeaten in their opening 10 Premier League matches, raising hopes that Ange Postecoglou could lead the club back into the Champions League. Those expectations eventually faded as the season unravelled and Spurs ultimately missed out on Europe’s elite competition.
Thomas Frank also enjoyed an impressive beginning during his time in north London, guiding Tottenham to third place after just nine Premier League games last season. Yet, as Spurs supporters know all too well, that early position meant very little by the end of the campaign.
That makes Saturday’s meeting with Brentford important, but it would be unwise to judge De Zerbi’s Tottenham too quickly. The squad is still being reshaped, with major attacking reinforcements expected to arrive before the transfer window closes.
Spurs finally move for Savinho and Marmoush
Tottenham’s attacking department is expected to undergo a major transformation, with moves for Manchester City pair Savinho and Omar Marmoush reportedly moving closer.
An £85m deal for Savinho would represent a huge investment in the Brazilian winger, particularly considering his relatively modest Premier League scoring record. The 22-year-old has managed only two league goals across his two seasons in England, meaning there are still questions over whether he can consistently produce at the highest level in the Premier League.
However, judging Savinho purely by his goals would be unfair.
During his first season at Manchester City, he contributed eight assists in the Premier League and created 11 big chances under Pep Guardiola. His opportunities became more limited last season, with just nine league starts as he found himself competing against an extremely talented group of wingers.
That lack of regular football does not necessarily mean Savinho has failed. Instead, Tottenham appear to be betting on the player who impressed at Girona and showed enough potential to convince City to invest in him.
The same argument can be made for Marmoush.
The Egyptian forward made an immediate impact after joining Manchester City from Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2025, scoring seven goals in 14 Premier League appearances during the remainder of the season.
But his opportunities became restricted during his second campaign at the Etihad, with just eight league starts. Competing with Erling Haaland for the central striker role was never going to be easy, while Guardiola’s attacking options gave Marmoush limited room for consistency.
Before moving to England, however, Marmoush had established himself as a prolific forward in Germany, scoring 37 goals in 67 appearances for Frankfurt.
Tottenham are therefore hoping that both players can rediscover the form that made them highly sought-after talents before their moves to Manchester.
Could Spurs still add an elite striker?
There is growing talk that Tottenham want to bring in three new forwards before the transfer deadline — two wide players and another central striker who can compete with Dominic Solanke and Richarlison.
That would make the attacking department one of the biggest areas of change under De Zerbi.
Savinho can operate on either wing, while Marmoush is capable of playing from the left or through the middle. His versatility could make him particularly useful in De Zerbi’s system, especially if the Italian wants his forwards to interchange positions and attack spaces.
But there is still an argument that Tottenham need a proven Premier League goalscorer.
That is where Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta could become a particularly interesting option.
According to Football Insider, Spurs are reportedly considering a move for the French forward. With Mateta entering the final year of his current contract, Palace could face a difficult decision if Tottenham make a substantial offer.
The 29-year-old has already attracted interest from elsewhere, with a proposed move to AC Milan collapsing in January. His contract situation could therefore make a departure increasingly likely.
And unlike Marmoush and Savinho, Mateta already knows exactly what it takes to score consistently in the Premier League.
Mateta offers Spurs something different
Marmoush certainly has an impressive goalscoring history. His 37 goals in 67 matches for Frankfurt underline his ability in front of goal, while his 22 league goals across Frankfurt and Manchester City during the 2024/25 season showed the level he can reach.
However, his Premier League record remains less convincing.
Mateta, meanwhile, has steadily developed into one of the division’s most reliable strikers.
After initially struggling to find his rhythm following his arrival in England in 2021, the Palace forward has transformed his reputation. He has scored at least 12 Premier League goals in each of the last three seasons, registering 42 league goals during that period.
Last season alone, Mateta scored 12 goals in just 25 starts for Palace. His scoring rate was also superior to Marmoush’s, with the Frenchman averaging a goal every 185 minutes compared with Marmoush’s one every 245 minutes.
Mateta’s most productive Premier League campaign came in 2023/24, when he found the net 16 times for the Eagles.
Marmoush, by comparison, scored 12 Bundesliga goals during his first season with Frankfurt before exploding into life in the following campaign.
There is no question that Marmoush has the talent to become a major Premier League star, but Tottenham may feel that Mateta represents a safer option if the priority is guaranteed goals.
Tottenham may need a proven goalscorer
The biggest question surrounding Spurs is simple: do they need another forward who offers versatility and potential, or do they need a striker who has already proven himself in England?
With Solanke and Richarlison struggling for consistency at times, adding a player capable of producing goals on a regular basis could make a huge difference to De Zerbi’s plans.
Mateta could provide exactly that.
Since the beginning of the 2023/24 Premier League season, only five players have scored more league goals than the Palace striker. That statistic alone demonstrates how far he has come and why Tottenham could see him as an attractive target.
Marmoush may offer greater flexibility and still has plenty of room to grow, while Savinho could bring pace, creativity and unpredictability from the wings. But if Tottenham want to add a ruthless finisher who can immediately make an impact in the Premier League, Mateta could be the missing piece.
The Brentford clash will provide De Zerbi with his first real opportunity to assess his squad in a competitive setting. But with Tottenham still active in the transfer market, the starting XI at the Gtech may look very different from the one that eventually carries the club through the season.
