adminTottenham Hotspur are charging into the new Premier League season like a thoroughbred in top form, clearing every obstacle with remarkable ease.
It has been an extraordinary start to the transfer window for Spurs. Roberto De Zerbi has already reinforced his backline with the additions of Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, and Jan Paul van Hecke.
But this feels like a full-scale squad overhaul. The midfielder Mateus Fernandes has been secured in an £85m deal, and a staggering club-record £100m move for Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali is on the verge of completion.
And let’s not overlook the goalkeeping department. Just before those high-profile midfield arrivals were finalised, Martin Dubravka was brought in to provide cover for Antonin Kinsky.
What comes next in De Zerbi’s Spurs rebuild?
The immediate priority now is to bring in fresh attacking talent. While defence was a clear weakness last season, creativity and goalscoring have also been persistent issues.
To that end, Tottenham have set their sights on Manchester City’s Savinho to strengthen the flanks. A year ago, Spurs pushed hard to sign the Brazilian but came away empty-handed after City rejected several bids.
Twelve months on, however, the outlook is far more promising. Savinho has barely featured this season, following the arrivals of Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo at the Etihad. Tottenham are now in talks over a deal that could be worth around £60m.
Yet Savinho isn’t the only wide player on their radar. According to Miguel Delaney of The Independent, Rafael Leão has also emerged as a viable target for Spurs’ hierarchy.
It is understood that the north London club have already held informal discussions with AC Milan regarding a summer move for the Portuguese winger. Leão has signalled his intention to leave San Siro, and as Football FanCast has previously reported, he could be available for a cut-price fee of around £43m.
How Rafael Leão compares to Savinho
A year ago, Savinho looked like an ideal signing. He had just come off a superb season under Pep Guardiola, with 3 goals and 13 assists across all competitions—and was among the Premier League’s most creative wide players, matching Bernardo Silva’s 1.6 key passes per game and trailing only Kevin De Bruyne’s 2.1.
But this season has been a different story. Limited minutes—partly due to Cherki and Semenyo’s arrivals, but also because of his own dip in form—have hampered his impact. In 2025/26, he managed just 4 goals and 3 assists in all competitions, with only 7 league starts to his name.
At just 22, Savinho still has huge untapped potential, but the more established Leão would arguably be the smarter acquisition for De Zerbi.
Described by Como scout Ben Mattinson as “one of the best left-wingers in the world,” the 27-year-old has consistently delivered elite-level performances over recent years. His end product is notably more reliable than Savinho’s.
Leão has reached double figures for goals in each of the last five seasons, underlining his superior prolificacy. He has also been a strong creative force—2025/26 marked the first campaign in five years in which he failed to register double-digit assists.
Where Savinho excels is in ball-carrying and dribbling. He ranks in the top 1% of wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for progressive actions and progressive carries per 90 minutes, and in the top 5% for successful take-ons.
Leão may not quite match those numbers, but he remains an electrifying talent who can leave defenders scrambling. He sits in the top 4% for progressive actions and the top 2% for progressive carries.
Add to that the fact he is entering his prime years, and with a price tag of just £43m—especially given Spurs’ spending spree so far—this deal looks like an absolute no-brainer.
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