Now that the disastrous 2025/2026 season has come to a close, we can all breathe a sigh of relief and look to the future. What better way than to look at some of the possible targets, particularly in the number 6 position? A position that Tottenham have needed to strengthen for some time now.
1. Nicolò Fagioli (Fiorentina, 25): The obvious choice for Tottenham
Averaging 62 passes per game with a completion rate of 89% and an 0.34 xA per 90, Fagioli is a standout candidate to get us started. These stats put him in the top 97th percentile of all Serie A midfielders, meaning Spurs would be getting a player who is already competing at an elite level. De Zerbi showed interest in the Italian while still at Marseille, when Nicolo Fagioli was still at Juventus with limited opportunities.
His current Fiorentina wage of just €1.8m per season makes a personal-terms deal straightforward (although you can never tell with Spurs), while his valuation sits at around €16–18m, though Fiorentina could demand higher given his influence. That being said, I think Fabio Paratici owes us a favour for jumping ship mid-season.
Nicolo Fagioli’s age and experience are also key for this Spurs team, as he’s a peak-age player with the requisite elite-level experience who can slot straight into the starting eleven.
Stylistically, a perfect fit for De Zerbi’s system, as this is a player who can receive under pressure, play third-man combinations, and switch the point of attack with disguise.
2. Lamine Camara (Monaco, 22): The statement signing
Lamine (no, not that one) ranks in the 90th percentile for touches per 90, the majority occurring in midfield, which tells us that he has a penchant for being press resistant while simultaneously ranking in the 83rd percentile for progressive passes among elite European midfielders. These facts alone will drastically improve a technically limited Spurs team.
In the season just gone, he has recorded 3 goals and 4 assists with a Sofa score average rating of 7.54. Monaco are open to selling for offers in the region of €45–50m and Spurs have watched him extensively over the last few years.
3. Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, 24) – A hidden gem Tottenham could unearth
Ask any Premier League fan who Raphael Onyedika is, and they would be left bewildered. The 24-year-old Nigerian has spent three seasons quietly building an elite statistical profile with Belgian side Club Brugge.
Take the following stats into account (all of which are key for a midfielder under De Zerbi): in the 95th percentile for duel win rate, 89th percentile for forward pass percentage, and 85th percentile for progressive passes among Belgian Pro League midfielders per 90.
While admittedly, the Belgian League is not the absolute peak of European football currently, it is not a league to be snuffed at. These statistics do carry weight, and the Premier League, with Spurs in particular, has a rich history of making stars out of hidden gems from the Belgian League.
In the Champions League this season, he posted a 94.75% passing accuracy, completing 172 of 184 passes, an extraordinary number for a defensive midfielder at Europe’s top table, often coming up against superior opposition. Club Brugge are increasingly open to closing a deal around the €20–25m mark.
The Verdict
Honestly, any one of these would drastically improve the tactical ceiling of the Spurs midfield ten times over, and I’d be happy to see either join the club. However, if I had to pick, I’d go with Fagioli mainly because of his experience at a higher level. However, I do think that Raphael Onyedika is the one with the highest ceiling.