Tottenham Advances in Talks for Marmoush as De Zerbi's Rebuild Continues
Tottenham’s summer overhaul shows no sign of slowing, and the focus has now swung firmly towards the frontline.
After committing a combined £185m to reshape their midfield with Mateus Fernandes from West Ham and Sandro Tonali from Newcastle, head coach Roberto de Zerbi is driving the next phase of his rebuild: firepower.
Sources indicate negotiations for Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush are “progressing positively”, with Spurs increasingly confident they can prise the Egypt international out of the Etihad.
Marmoush, a £59m signing from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2025, slipped down Pep Guardiola’s pecking order last season and struggled for regular minutes, making him one of the more attainable names in City’s star-studded attack. Tottenham sense an opportunity and are moving with intent.
Savinho deal sets the tone
The push for Marmoush comes on the back of Spurs striking a major agreement with City for Brazil winger Savinho.
Tottenham have agreed a £75m fee, with a further £10m in potential add-ons, for the 22-year-old, who is now due to undergo a medical before signing a long-term contract in north London.
Savinho’s switch has been a long-running pursuit. Spurs tried to land him last summer, only for the player to stay at the Etihad. That decision did not bring the breakthrough he might have hoped for: he made just seven Premier League starts under Guardiola last term, and the chance of a more central role under De Zerbi has now proved decisive.
If Marmoush follows Savinho through the door, De Zerbi’s attacking options would be transformed in a single window.
Gakpo interest lingers – but at a price
Tottenham have not parked their admiration for Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo either. The Netherlands international remains on their radar, but the financial reality is stark.
With big outlays already committed on Fernandes, Tonali and Savinho, it is unclear whether Spurs can realistically fund a move for Gakpo on top of any deal for Marmoush. The hierarchy would need to juggle fees, wages and potential sales to make all three happen. For now, Gakpo sits in the “desirable but difficult” category.
Villa, Arsenal and Southampton locked in Harwood-Bellis stand-off
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Aston Villa’s defensive reshuffle has hit an early snag.
With England defender Ezri Konsa having undergone a medical at Arsenal ahead of a move worth more than £50m, Villa turned to Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis as a potential replacement. Their opening offer – around £18m plus add-ons – has been rejected.
Southampton, who finished fourth in the Championship last season before the Spygate scandal derailed their play-off hopes, value the 22-year-old at closer to £25m. Harwood-Bellis, initially at St Mary’s on loan in 2023 before making the switch permanent, has one senior England cap, earned in a 2024 Nations League match against the Republic of Ireland. Villa will have to decide whether to push their bid towards that asking price or move on.
Liverpool knocked back in Minteh chase
Liverpool’s own attempt to reshape their attack has also met resistance.
The Reds have seen a £50m bid turned down by Brighton for winger Yankuba Minteh. The 22-year-old Gambia international has developed into a key figure on the south coast, scoring 10 goals and supplying nine assists in 73 appearances for the Seagulls.
Minteh, signed from Newcastle for £30m in 2024, operates mainly from the right – the very zone Liverpool are desperate to strengthen after the departure of Mohamed Salah. He is currently recovering from a leg injury picked up in a friendly against Roma earlier this month, but that has not dulled Liverpool’s interest.
For new boss Andoni Iraola, wide attacking reinforcements are the priority for the remainder of the window, and Liverpool are expected to explore several alternatives as they test a market that is proving stubborn and expensive.
A frenetic build-up to kick-off
All of this plays out against the backdrop of a Premier League season about to spark into life.
Arsenal, the defending champions, open the campaign tonight at home to newly promoted Coventry, who return to the top flight with a daunting first assignment. Around that curtain-raiser, clubs are scrambling to finalise squads, close big deals and avoid losing key players at the last moment.
Tottenham’s pursuit of Marmoush, on top of the Savinho coup and their midfield outlay, captures the mood of a window where ambition is running high and patience is in short supply.
The question now is simple: who blinks first in this late scramble – the buyers, or the clubs holding the cards?
