Tottenham’s summer rebuild is taking shape under Roberto De Zerbi as the club works to completely overhaul its defensive options ahead of next season.
The Italian head coach has already secured two significant free transfers, bringing Champions League winner Andy Robertson from Liverpool and Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth to north London.
Robertson, 32, spent eight trophy-laden years at Anfield, and his experience is expected to be pivotal in helping reset the culture at a club that narrowly avoided relegation last season.
Senesi, meanwhile, has established himself as one of the most consistent performers in the Premier League during his time at Bournemouth and offers immediate quality in the backline.
De Zerbi is far from finished, however, with Spurs having seen two bids rejected for Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke as the south coast club hold out for a £70 million fee.
Football.london understands the Lewis family, who own Spurs, have pledged further funds to push through the required changes this summer, reflecting the club’s serious ambition.
Van Hecke is currently part of the Netherlands squad for the World Cup in the United States, and attempts to agree a deal before the tournament have so far proved unsuccessful.
Doubts over the futures of captain Cristian Romero and star defender Micky van de Ven have added urgency to the club’s pursuit, with De Zerbi preparing to pair Van Hecke alongside Luka Vuskovic.
The 19-year-old Vuskovic enjoyed a sensational loan spell with Hamburg in the Bundesliga, scoring six goals in 28 appearances despite playing primarily as a centre-back last season.
Vuskovic has already hinted that a return to Hamburg is off the table, telling Nova TV: “Playing with my brother [Mario] at HSV would be a dream and a dream come true for me, but it’s hardly possible. I don’t know what else to say except… impossible.”
The Serbian teenager also gave a glowing assessment of his new manager, adding: “I think he’s a top-class coach. He likes attacking football, he likes build-up play, and I really like that. I hope we’ll work well together in the future.”
De Zerbi is known for handing first-team opportunities to young players, making Vuskovic’s profile a strong fit for his project at Spurs as the club looks to move forward.
In terms of departures, Kevin Danso could leave if Van Hecke is signed, while Radu Dragusin is expected to return to Italy on a permanent deal and young left-back Souza may head out on loan.
With a deal for Manchester City winger Savinho also reportedly advancing, the dreadful memories of the 2025/26 campaign under Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor are gradually fading into the distance.
The club’s defensive unit, anchored by Robertson’s experience and bolstered by the potential arrival of Van Hecke, looks significantly stronger than what was on offer just weeks ago.
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