Why Spurs want to sign £60m Premier League striker

Tottenham Hotspur have settled into the Roberto De Zerbi era with an almighty bang. This hasn’t been a quiet tenure so far, let’s put it that way. Then again, it never is with the Italian, is it?

The vociferous manager is just a matter of months into his time with Spurs but in that period, he has kept them in the Premier League and helped them break their transfer record on two occasions, firstly to sign Mateus Fernandes and then secondly, to welcome Sandro Tonali to north London.

Next up they are making an attempt to bolster their forward line. From AC Milan’s Rafael Leao to Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi, De Zerbi and Co have earmarked some big signings.

But, why are they required? Well, it’s safe to say Tottenham weren’t particularly good in attack last term.

Why Spurs are looking at Leao and Kroupi

Three years ago, Ange Postecoglou had just been given the job at Spurs. While it all ended in tears for the Aussie, he entered London at a completely different time.

When he first arrived, he had Harry Kane and Heung-min Son at his disposal but that did not last long. Kane was quickly shipped off to Bayern Munich where he has cemented his legacy as one of the game’s greatest ever goalscorers.

Tottenham were always going to struggle without him, of course they were, but no one expected them to fall by the wayside in quite the way they have done. Back to back 17th placed finishes tell a sorry story. Heung-min Son left last summer, as did Postecoglou. Then Thomas Frank quickly left and Igor Tudor followed suit.

It’s been a total whirlwind, one not helped by injuries and underperformance. The defence has been catastrophic at times but there have also been huge problems in the final third.

Last season, the club’s list of top scorers across all competitions rather said it all. The much-maligned Richarlison ended the campaign with 11 goals, more than anyone at the club.

Behind him sat Micky van de Ven and Joao Palhinha on seven apiece. Cristian Romero and Dominic Solanke were next up on six.

It’s safe to say you’re not going to finish in the top half or compete for many major honours if you are relying on a batch of more defensive players to score the brunt of your goals.

As a result, De Zerbi’s recruitment team are planning to go big on new forwards. The £90m-rated Kroupi is said to be keen on a move and would offer so much. His tally of 13 goals in 2025/26 was the most a teenager has ever scored during their debut Premier League season.

The more experienced Leao may well have never played in English football before but he has a habit of scoring regularly, netting more than ten goals in each of his last five seasons. Spurs have held talks with his camp over a move.

There’s another move in the pipeline, however, and he’s a bit like both Leao and Kroupi.

Spurs have a £60m solution in the pipeline

Kane and Son have both departed and it has not been the same since. No one was ever going to replace the former. He is the best striker in the world right now.

Son should have been a little easier to replace given his age but they did not do so and almost paid the ultimate price; relegation. As a result, the arrivals of players like Kroupi and Leao are necessities. Some might call Omar Marmoush a necessity too.

For much of this window, Spurs have been linked with his Brazilian teammate in the form of Savinho but Marmoush would certainly be a little more eye-catching judging his performance levels over the last two seasons.

The scorer of 28 goals back in 2024/25, the Egyptian certainly knows where the back of the net is and would make for an outstanding capture.

TEAMtalk report that Spurs and Newcastle have opened ‘formal’ talks with City to understand whether a transfer would be possible and what it might take to lure him away from the Etihad.

A deal could be done to the tune of £60m. That would not be a bad price at all, even if the 27-year-old struggled a bit last season.

For a variety of reasons, including injury and AFCON, 2025/26 was not the finest of Marmoush’s career. He started just eight league games and scored eight times in all competitions.

It wasn’t disastrous but it did raise alarm bells for the forward. Like those who have come before him and tried to play second fiddle to Sergio Aguero and Erling Haaland, he will ultimately take his leave. Spurs represent an ideal fit if he does exit.

In many ways, he’s like both the aforementioned Kroupi and Son. Like the pairing, he’s got the ability to play in multiple positions across the forward line.

He’s a truly fluid attacker, capable of playing as the central striker, on the flanks or as a second striker. Like Son, he’s an incredibly direct player, ranking among the top 17% of positionally similar players in Europe’s top five leagues for successful dribbles per 90 minutes with 1.29 last term. Son, by comparison, made 1.23 in his final year with Spurs.

Like the pairing, Marmoush has clever movement and he’s a ruthless finisher, as well as regular provider of chances. During that 2024/25 campaign, the one that earned him a move to England midway through, he also provided 17 assists.

Quick, fleet-footed, aggressive with his running and clinical in front of goal from central and wide positions, Spurs may well kill two birds with one stone here; find a cheaper alternative to Kroupi and also replace Son.