Roberto De Zerbi has his work cut out for him at Tottenham Hotspur as he aims to steer the club away from the Premier League drop zone.
The Italian has signed a five-year deal at the club, allaying fears that he could leave if the club drop down to the Championship.
De Zerbi doesn’t have a relegation clause in his contract. And while his primary focus will be to avoid relegation, he will have one eye on the summer transfer window to breathe new life into a squad that has lacked quality this season.
And if reports from Italy are to be believed, one of Igor Tudor’s trusted players from his time at Juventus has quickly emerged as his primary transfer target.
Tottenham want Manuel Locatelli
Archie Gray has been Tottenham’s Player of the Season so far, with the youngster showing experience and ability well beyond his years, particularly in 2026.
However, most of the other Tottenham midfielders have flattered to deceive, while they have also suffered a handful of major injuries in the centre of the park.
Midfield reinforcements will undoubtedly be a priority this summer, and it appears as if De Zerbi has his heart set on one man: Manuel Locatelli.
According to Calciomercato, the Italian held a meeting with Tottenham’s hierarchy to discuss potential incomings, where the Juventus skipper’s name was mentioned.
Locatelli’s current deal expires in 2028 and Juventus haven’t yet been able to make him commit to a new deal, so a new challenge could be in the offing for the Euro 2020 winner.
Tudor knows the midfielder well after his stint with Juventus, so Tottenham can always pick up the phone and ask their former boss about him if they decide to press ahead with a deal.
De Zerbi and Locatelli have a history
When De Zerbi was at the helm at Sassuolo, Locatelli was just coming through the ranks. Under the Italian, his game developed leaps and bounds as he went on to secure a move to Juventus while also becoming a key player for Italy.
Tottenham’s midfield has too many players of the same profile. They need a player who can sit deep and control the tempo of the game, which is exactly where Locatelli would come into play.
The elegant midfielder is also capable of playing through the lines, making him the ideal No. 6 for De Zerbi’s 4-2-3-1 formation alongside Gray.
At the age of 28, Locatelli is well and truly in his prime and has a wealth of experience under his belt, so if the opportunity arises and he’s willing to swap Italy for England, Tottenham would be stupid not to try.
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And everyone’s aware Tudor’s stint ended unceremoniously, but the Croatian conducted himself with utmost dignity and class during his time at the club. Tottenham, too, for their part, can’t put too much blame on him as the damage was already done before he took over the reigns.
So if they were to ask him for his opinion on Locatelli, or if the Italian rings his former boss to enquire about Tottenham, there isn’t likely to be any bad blood from any of the parties involved.
