Roberto De Zerbi’s influence on Tottenham’s summer transfer plans is becoming increasingly clear, with Spurs now exploring a move for another player the Italian knows well from his previous jobs.
After finishing just one place above the relegation zone for a second consecutive season, Tottenham Hotspur know they cannot afford to repeat the mistakes that nearly cost them their Premier League status.
A lack of quality, depth and support in the transfer market were all major factors behind Spurs’ struggles, but the early signs suggest lessons have been learned.
Less than a week after the season ended, Tottenham had already secured two major additions in Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson, with further arrivals expected in the coming weeks.
The Spurs hierarchy have promised to back Roberto De Zerbi heavily this summer after the Italian admitted he wants to “build a new team”. And now, another familiar face has emerged on Tottenham’s radar.
Tottenham considering move for Matt O’Riley amid growing competition
According to talkSPORT, Tottenham are keeping tabs on Matt O’Riley’s situation as the midfielder looks increasingly likely to leave Brighton this summer. The Seagulls are believed to be open to offers for the Denmark international after it became clear he does not feature prominently in Fabian Hurzeler’s plans going forward.
Brighton reportedly want to recover as much of their £25 million investment as possible following O’Riley’s difficult spell on the south coast, where he managed only 5 goal contributions across 27 appearances in the Premier League.
De Zerbi knows O’Riley well, having pushed for his move to Marseille last season, and the Tottenham head coach is still understood to be a huge admirer of the midfielder. One reason for that is O’Riley’s versatility, with the Dane having featured in defensive, central and attacking midfield roles under De Zerbi this season.
However, Spurs are not alone in the race, with Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund both believed to be ahead of the North London club in their attempts to secure O’Riley’s signature.
| Stats | O’Riley Totals |
|---|---|
| Apps (Starts) | 15 (6) |
| G/A | 3 |
| Chances Created per 90 | 1.46 |
| Pass Accuracy % | 88.3% |
| Tackles per 90 | 2.19 |
| Duels Won per 90 | 2.8 |
Roberto De Zerbi continues to look towards Brighton for reinforcements
De Zerbi’s growing obsession with raiding his former clubs is becoming hard to ignore, and O’Riley is far from the only former Brighton player linked with Tottenham. Recent reports suggest the Italian would ideally like Spurs to strengthen three key areas this summer with players from his former club.
Carlos Baleba is understood to be one of Tottenham’s midfield targets this summer, despite Brighton’s reported £100 million valuation, while Jan Paul van Hecke has emerged as a potential replacement for the departing Cristian Romero.
In goal, Bart Verbruggen is another player admired by De Zerbi and is thought to be one of the names under consideration if Tottenham decide to reshape their goalkeeping department.
Realistically, Spurs are unlikely to land all three players in one window, particularly given Brighton’s reputation as difficult negotiators.