adminIf supporters of Tottenham Hotspur are searching for reasons to be encouraged by the arrival of new head coach Roberto De Zerbi, his track record of developing elite midfield talent could be one of the most compelling.
During his time at Brighton & Hove Albion, De Zerbi played a key role in the emergence of Moises Caicedo and formed a strong working relationship with fellow midfielder Alexis Mac Allister after taking over from Graham Potter in 2022.
Although he did not sign Mac Allister himself, De Zerbi was central to the Argentine’s development and rise, culminating in a high-profile transfer to Liverpool in 2023.
Mac Allister later described De Zerbi as the “best manager I’ve ever had” — a remarkable endorsement given his experiences under elite coaches such as Jürgen Klopp and Arne Slot.
That level of praise underlines the Italian’s reputation for improving technically gifted midfielders, something Tottenham may now hope to benefit from.
Tottenham eye midfield reinforcement for De Zerbi project.
While Spurs’ immediate focus remains Premier League survival, planning for the future is already underway, particularly with a potential squad rebuild expected in North London.
Reports suggest that Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford has been considered as a target regardless of Spurs’ division next season. However, other transfer options may depend on top-flight status.
According to recent reports, Tottenham are also monitoring Belgian midfielder Arthur Vermeeren, currently on loan at Olympique de Marseille from RB Leipzig. De Zerbi is said to be particularly keen on a reunion with the 21-year-old, who is also understood to be open to the move.
Leipzig are reportedly willing to sanction a permanent sale for around £25 million, making the youngster an attainable target if Spurs decide to push ahead.
Why Vermeeren fits De Zerbi’s system
Vermeeren’s career has been unusually eventful for a player still in his early twenties.
After breaking through at Royal Antwerp FC, he moved to Atlético Madrid in early 2024, before a loan spell at Leipzig eventually turned into a permanent transfer. His latest move to Marseille has seen him continue his development under De Zerbi, where he has already shown promising signs in a deeper midfield role.
In 20 appearances this season, he has contributed two assists and demonstrated the kind of tactical intelligence and versatility that De Zerbi values. Like Mac Allister, Vermeeren is capable of operating in multiple midfield roles and offers a blend of creativity and defensive discipline.
Statistically, his profile also mirrors Mac Allister’s development path at Brighton, particularly in terms of passing accuracy, defensive work rate, and creative output in the final third.
At Antwerp, he recorded 11 goal contributions in 66 appearances, underlining his potential to grow into a more decisive attacking midfielder over time.
Previously compared to playmakers such as Kevin De Bruyne, Vermeeren is still viewed as a high-upside talent searching for stability after a series of short spells across Europe.
If De Zerbi is given time to work with him, Tottenham could hope to replicate the kind of midfield transformation he previously achieved on the south coast.
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