Spurs in talks to sign a “mini Rodri”

Tottenham Hotspur fans have been through somewhat of an emotional rollercoaster over the last 12 months – but the light is starting to appear at the end of the tunnel.

From the lows of multiple Premier League relegation battles to the highs of last season’s Europa League triumph, it truly has been an unpredictable period to follow the Lilywhites.

Countless managers have tried their luck in North London, but to no avail. However, Roberto De Zerbi appears as though he may be the right man to lead the club in the right direction.

The Italian only suffered defeat in two of his seven games after taking over from Igor Tudor – subsequently preventing an embarrassing relegation to the Championship.

Such struggles are now firmly behind them, but it’s crucial that the hierarchy and the manager work in tandem this summer to secure the right additions for the football club.

Spurs enter talks to sign £50m Premier League sensation

Over the last couple of days, Spurs have been in constant talks with Manchester City over the possibility of a deal to land Brazilian winger Savinho this summer.

The Lilywhites entered talks with the Citizens over the possibility of a transfer last summer, but the transfer failed to materialise, and the 22-year-old remained at the Etihad.

However, things could change this window, as the player himself is claimed to want a move to North London – leading to a £50m transfer fee being mooted for his services.

De Zerbi’s hunt for added reinforcements could also stretch into the midfield department, as Savinho’s teammate Nico Gonzalez has also emerged as a potential target.

According to Sky Germany, Spurs have made an enquiry and entered talks with City over the possibility of securing a move for the Spanish international.

It remains unclear whether the 24-year-old will be available this summer, but he’s only made 17 starts, which could suggest he’s only an impact player in Manchester.

Any deal could likely cost a pretty penny for the Lilywhites, as the midfielder only joined the Citizens for a reported £50m from Porto back in January 2025.

Why Gonzalez would be better than Palhinha for Spurs

The 2025/26 campaign may not have gone the way many fans anticipated, but loanee Joao Palhinha has certainly been one of the shining lights in North London.

The 30-year-old midfielder, who spent the season on loan from Bayern Munich, was brought in to be a deep-lying operator and was often tasked with regaining possession for the Lilywhites.

However, the Portuguese international has often popped up with key moments in attacking areas – as seen by his impressive tally of five goals in his 33 league outings.

Two of his strikes came in the final five games of the campaign, with his strikes against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton both securing 1-0 wins for De Zerbi’s men.

As a result of his impressive temporary stint in the capital, the Lilywhites have been linked with a possible permanent move for Palhinha during the summer window.

However, the hierarchy should look past the Bayern star this window and pursue a move for Gonzalez when the transfer market opens in less than two weeks time.

The Spaniard may have been confined to limited minutes in the Premier League this term, but he’s still managed to produce numerous impressive stats – many of which are better than those of Palhinha.

Gonzalez, who’s been described as a “mini Rodri” by Pep Guardiola, has completed 90% of the passes he attempted this season – subsequently averaging 68 passes completed per 90.

Both of the aforementioned figures are higher than the tallies produced by the current loanee, which could hand De Zerbi a needed quality ball-player at the heart of his side next term.

The City star also managed to complete 71% of his dribbles during 2025/26 – bettering Palhinha in such an area – whilst also ranking him in the top 5% of all players in the division.

The Portuguese star’s biggest asset is undoubtedly his ball-winning ability, but Gonzalez has even managed to better him in such an aspect over the last few months.

He made 1.4 interceptions and 5.2 ball recoveries per 90 this campaign – with the aforementioned numbers highlighting his phenomenal ball-winning ability.

Gonzalez is a player who would undoubtedly improve the options at De Zerbi’s disposal next term, but a deal would have to be reached with City before it can be completed.

It’s unclear if the player would even entertain a move to North London, but it’s safe to say that the hierarchy have set their sights high for the upcoming window.