Roberto De Zerbi kept Tottenham in the Premier League by the narrowest of margins, but the hard work is only just beginning.
The squad that limped to 17th place and narrowly avoided a nightmare drop to the Championship needs wholesale change, and the summer will be defined by how quickly the club can reshape the group around the Italian’s vision.
The early moves have been encouraging.
Marcos Senesi has agreed in principle to join on a free transfer from Bournemouth, adding proven Premier League quality at centre-back.
However, the deal for Andy Robertson, which appeared close to completion after weeks of advanced talks, has been thrown into jeopardy.
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The Italian is a big fan.
Fabrizio Romano, Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio and others reported on Monday night that Juventus have made a proposal to hijack the move, leaving the 32-year-old Scotland captain with a decision to make between remaining in England or heading to Turin.
Spurs still hold priority, but the deal is not signed, and the uncertainty is unwelcome.
Amidst all of the news on incomings, Vuskovic remains a major target for elite clubs.
Tottenham set Luka Vuskovic price tag as Barcelona push for deal
The Croatian spent the season on loan at Hamburg, where he emerged as one of the most coveted young defenders in European football.
According to SportsBoom, Tottenham have set an asking price of between £51m and £59m for the teenager, who they signed from Hajduk Split for just under £10m.
The profit margin is enormous, and the queue of clubs willing to test Spurs’ resolve is growing by the day.
Barcelona are leading the charge.
SportsBoom report that the Catalans are pushing for a permanent deal and have ruled out any loan deal, wanting to position Vuskovic as the long-term anchor of their defensive project.
Bayern Munich have adopted an identical stance — no temporary fixes, only a full transfer. Liverpool have quietly entered the race too, while Chelsea, Manchester United, Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund are all monitoring the situation.
Dortmund’s interest comes with a caveat.
The Bundesliga club want Vuskovic on a one-year loan with a buy-out clause as a replacement for the retiring Niklas Sule, but Spurs are blocking that structure entirely, refusing to entertain any deal that does not involve a permanent sale at their valuation.
Vuskovic’s Bundesliga numbers explain the frenzy.
Six goals in 28 league appearances for Hamburg — a sensational return for a teenage centre-back — along with four senior Croatia caps and a call-up to their World Cup squad.
He was named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season, won Rookie of the Month four times, and recorded the best duel success rate in the division.
At 1.93m, he dominates aerially, but it is his composure in possession and willingness to carry the ball forward that sets him apart from defenders twice his age.
De Zerbi reportedly wants to assess Vuskovic in pre-season before making any decision, and Football Insider reported earlier this month that the club are preparing a lucrative new long-term contract to fend off suitors.
But if Barcelona or Bayern table an offer north of £50m, the temptation to cash in on a player signed for less than £10m would be enormous — particularly for a club that needs significant investment across every area of the squad.
The Robertson saga, the Vuskovic bidding war, the Senesi deal — it is shaping up to be one of the most consequential summers in Tottenham’s recent history.
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