Spurs swing the axe and sharpen the cheque book: De Zerbi’s rebuild starts with bold Galatasaray raid
Tottenham haven’t just changed the manager — they’ve changed the mood music. Roberto De Zerbi was unveiled on Tuesday and, make no mistake, the Italian walks straight into a relegation dogfight with his first game away at Sunderland on April 12. Spurs sit a solitary point above the trapdoor and haven’t chalked up a league win in 2026. There’s no relegation release clause in De Zerbi’s deal, which tells you he’s backing himself — and being backed — to drag this club out of a mess.
Big talk, big targets
According to Turkish Football, Spurs are plotting a summer triple swoop on Champions League outfit Galatasaray for goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir, wide threat Baris Alper Yilmaz and playmaking midfielder Gabriel Sara. It’s an eye-catching shortlist that speaks to De Zerbi’s blueprint: technical quality, intensity, and players who can play through pressure.
Cakir as a goalkeeping target makes sense with whispers that Guglielmo Vicario could be on the move. Yilmaz brings end product from the flanks — 10 goals and 14 assists in 41 outings this term is no small beer — while Sara offers guile between the lines, operating as a No.10 or an advanced No.8. The Brazilian isn’t unknown to English fans after his Norwich stint, and he’s kicked on in Istanbul with a standout campaign and a first call-up for his national team.
Sara won’t be cheap — and there’s company at the table
Per the report, Spurs have scouted Sara extensively, including during Gala’s Champions League defeat to Liverpool earlier this month. Brighton are also circling and the fee being bandied about — roughly £34m — reflects his rise. If Tottenham want him, they’ll have to move decisively and sell the project hard.
De Zerbi’s demands and the survival caveat
Let’s be clear: Spurs have flirted with the bottom three for two seasons running. Wholesale change is overdue. De Zerbi’s on a five-year deal and won’t be shy about telling the hierarchy what he needs. But there’s a brutal truth here — the scale of any summer spree depends on staying up. You don’t raid Champions League squads if you’re shopping for Tuesday nights in the Championship.
How the pieces might fit
Think 4-3-3 that shifts into a 4-2-3-1: Cakir would offer a steady pair of hands and the passing range to start attacks. Sara slots as the advanced orchestrator, threading those vertical balls De Zerbi loves, while Yilmaz operates wide — either channel — sprinting beyond the ball to stretch teams and arriving back post for cut-backs. It’s a spine-and-speed combo designed to turn sterile possession into punch.
The pundit’s verdict
This is the right sort of ambition. Target a keeper comfortable under the press, a wide runner with numbers, and a creator who can receive on the half-turn and hurt teams. It won’t fix everything overnight, but it’s a proper start — provided Spurs handle the here-and-now. Beat Sunderland, bank some points, then you can talk treble swoops with a straight face.
For form guides and market movers as the summer unfolds, have a look at our best betting sites. Just remember: the only odds that matter to Spurs right now are the ones on survival.
Bottom line: De Zerbi’s in, the brief is clear, and Tottenham are finally acting like a club with a plan. Now they’ve got to play like one.
