Roberto De Zerbi is keen to add one more signing to his Tottenham squad and has said outgoing deals are also possible before Tuesday night’s transfer deadline.
De Zerbi had dinner on Thursday night with Spurs’s owners and key executives and they discussed a final push to a window that has already exceeded his expectations. The manager welcomed Omar Marmoush to the club on Thursday from Manchester City and is preparing to involve him in Saturday’s home game against Newcastle. Spurs have also been linked with a move for Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo.
“I didn’t expect a market like we have done,” De Zerbi said. “I think we can do one player more and in one specific position. Yesterday we went for dinner with the owner, with Vinai [Venkatesham, the chief executive], with Johan [Lange, the sporting director] and with Enrico [Venturelli, De Zerbi’s assistant]. We spoke about this.
“It can be possible out or in. The transfer market is crazy and we have to be able to find the new players. If some players go out, leave, or to make another player [come] in … I don’t know. We are very happy with the market we have done until now. It has been more than my expectation at the beginning.”
De Zerbi is open to trimming his squad and mentioned midfielder Pape Sarr as one possible departure. “We have to see in the last day of the market what can happen with him,” he said. “I’ve been very clear with every player. If you speak clearly at the beginning you can’t expect a surprise. The players who want to leave, they left. Maybe we have some players who want to leave and they are waiting for the offer. We are waiting for the offer. To stay here, they have to feel proud and happy.
“If you want to leave and you have not found the offer, it’s your problem, not my problem. I give respect, I kiss you, I hug you, but at the end [they] have to stay calm inside the dressing room. And not to speak too much because the rules have been clear.”
De Zerbi said Mohammed Kudus, who has been out since January with a thigh injury, could return to the bench against Newcastle. He added that Micky van de Ven was “right to play” – in other words to start. He will make a decision on whether to start Pedro Porro and Sávio or use them as substitutes. “Marmoush is available to play, maybe also [at] the beginning of the game,” he said.
