Tottenham Hotspur may have saved their most convincing pre-season performance for last, producing a commanding 3-0 victory over Hoffenheim on Saturday. Roberto De Zerbi’s side looked sharp, energetic and increasingly comfortable in possession, offering supporters plenty of encouragement ahead of the new campaign.
The Lilywhites controlled the contest and ultimately cruised to a comfortable victory, with Mikey Moore and Richarlison getting their names on the scoresheet. Mathys Tel was arguably one of the standout performers, playing a key role in the attacking moves and providing two assists.
However, there was an interesting twist to Tottenham’s impressive display. All three attacking players who made the biggest impact could find themselves fighting for their futures once the transfer window closes.
Moore’s place in De Zerbi’s plans could depend heavily on whether Tottenham manage to complete more attacking signings. Tel’s situation is similarly uncertain, while Richarlison could yet leave the club if a suitable offer arrives.
That is why Tottenham’s pursuit of Manchester City winger Savinho and Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo remains so significant. The two attackers could potentially transform Spurs’ frontline and provide the goals, creativity and consistency that have been missing in recent seasons.
Why Tottenham Want Gakpo and Savinho
Tottenham’s attacking requirements are fairly straightforward: they need more goals and greater creativity. Gakpo and Savinho would address both problems, albeit in different ways.
Gakpo could represent one of the most important additions of Tottenham’s summer recruitment drive. The Dutch international may not carry the same level of excitement surrounding some of Spurs’ other expensive arrivals, such as Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, but his record speaks for itself.
The Liverpool forward has developed a reputation for reliability and efficiency throughout his career. During his final full season with PSV Eindhoven, Gakpo scored 19 goals before making the move to England midway through the 2022/23 campaign.
He quickly adapted to Premier League football, scoring 20 goals across competitions during his first full campaign at Anfield. He followed that with another productive season, scoring 16 times in his first full year and then contributing 18 goals across league and cup competitions as Liverpool enjoyed a successful 2024/25 campaign.
That level of consistency is exactly what Tottenham have lacked.
Dominic Solanke scored only six goals last season, while Richarlison managed 12. Although Richarlison’s tally represented a significant improvement on the five goals he scored the previous campaign, Spurs still need greater attacking output if they are serious about moving up the Premier League table.
Gakpo could therefore offer De Zerbi a proven goalscorer capable of operating in several attacking positions.
Savinho, meanwhile, would bring a different dimension. The Brazilian is primarily a creator, capable of beating defenders, carrying the ball forward and producing chances for teammates.
His numbers in 2025/26 were not spectacular, with just three assists, but context is important. Savinho played only 1,502 minutes for Manchester City as Pep Guardiola struggled to give him consistent opportunities.
His first season at the Etihad Stadium provided a much clearer indication of his potential. During the 2024/25 campaign, Savinho registered 13 assists and established himself as one of City’s most exciting attacking talents.
His creativity was particularly impressive. In the Premier League, only Kevin De Bruyne averaged more key passes per game for City than Savinho’s 1.6 during that campaign.
A move to Tottenham could therefore give the Brazilian the regular playing time required to rediscover his best form while simultaneously giving Spurs a genuine creative outlet.
Tottenham Exploring Alternatives
Despite the appeal of Gakpo and Savinho, Tottenham are aware that both deals could prove difficult to complete. Their recruitment team has already been working on alternatives as the transfer window approaches its final stages.
One name considered as a possible alternative to Savinho is Chelsea winger Pedro Neto. However, that move appears complicated, particularly because Chelsea have placed an enormous valuation on the Portuguese attacker, reportedly around £100 million.
Another possibility is Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush, with reports suggesting Tottenham could potentially explore a deal involving both Marmoush and Savinho.
Marmoush would offer Spurs a slightly different profile from Savinho. While Savinho is more naturally associated with chance creation and wide attacking play, Marmoush has demonstrated a greater instinct for finding the back of the net.
Reports have suggested that Marmoush has already agreed personal terms with Tottenham over a long-term contract, with a fee of approximately £68 million being discussed.
If accurate, that would represent a major statement of intent from De Zerbi and Tottenham.
Marmoush Could Be the Wild Card
Marmoush’s 2025/26 season was not as spectacular as the campaign that earned him his move to Manchester City, but his underlying record remains impressive.
The Egyptian international played just 1,393 minutes last season but still scored eight goals. That works out at roughly one goal every 174 minutes, a respectable return considering his limited opportunities.
His true breakthrough came during the 2024/25 campaign with Eintracht Frankfurt. Before moving to Manchester City in January 2025, Marmoush scored 15 goals in just 17 Bundesliga appearances.
Across the season, he eventually recorded 28 goals in 51 appearances while also providing 17 assists.
Those figures demonstrated just how dangerous he can be when given regular minutes and responsibility.
In fact, Marmoush’s numbers during that period were superior to anything Savinho or Gakpo had previously produced over a single campaign. He was one of the most explosive forwards in European football, combining pace, direct running, finishing ability and creativity.
That makes him an intriguing alternative for Tottenham.
A Major Attacking Rebuild
Ultimately, Tottenham’s summer recruitment appears to be focused on solving a problem that has plagued the club for some time: a lack of reliable attacking production.
The 3-0 win over Hoffenheim showed that De Zerbi already has talented attacking options at his disposal. Moore, Tel and Richarlison all demonstrated their ability to influence matches, but Tottenham appear determined to raise the level of competition within the squad.
Gakpo would bring proven goalscoring consistency, Savinho would provide creativity and unpredictability, while Marmoush could offer a powerful combination of goals and attacking explosiveness.
With Spurs already investing heavily in other areas of the squad, their next major objective could be to complete the attacking overhaul.
If they can secure even one or two of these targets, De Zerbi could enter the new Premier League season with a considerably stronger and more versatile forward line.
For Tottenham supporters, the Hoffenheim victory was a promising glimpse of what the team can produce. But the bigger question is whether the club can now complement that performance with the attacking reinforcements required to turn encouraging pre-season displays into consistent Premier League results.
