Spurs Keep Matanovic Chase Alive Despite Marmoush Arrival – A Proper Transfer Tug‑of‑War

Tottenham may have bagged Omar Marmoush on a loan that becomes a £60m buy, but don’t think for a second that ends their hunt up top. Roberto De Zerbi is still casting an eye at Freiburg’s Igor Matanovic, a towering presence who’s turned Bundesliga heads — and Spurs aren’t alone in fancying him.

Why Matanovic still fits the brief

Matanovic isn’t just tall; he’s a menace. At 6ft 5in with a bruiser’s frame and a poacher’s knack, he netted 11 league goals last term across 31 outings (14 starts), clocking 1,561 minutes. Add 2 assists, 51 shots with 21 on target, and a tidy 21.6% conversion rate, plus 22 key passes and 12 successful dribbles — it’s the profile of a modern battering ram who can also link play. The Mandzukic comparisons aren’t lazy; they’re earned.

Even after an expensive summer and a bright midweek 5-1 thumping of Charlton where £85m man Savinho found the net, that drab 3-0 opening-day loss at Brentford screamed that Spurs still lack a reliable focal point. Marmoush helps, sure, but De Zerbi’s blueprint thrives on options — and Matanovic offers a different, more direct threat.

United and Fiorentina lurking

From Italy, Gazzetta dello Sport whispers that Fiorentina have tossed their hat in, calling a deal tricky but not out of reach. Yet the Viola are now grafting on a move for Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee, which smells like a pivot. Meanwhile, United have put Matanovic on their own watchlist, and with Michael Carrick eyeing cover before the window slams shut, this one’s shaping into a proper three-way arm wrestle.

Marmoush turning up in N17 could, ironically, hand United a nudge if Spurs hesitate. The sense is Tottenham want another forward — but they’ll need to clear the decks first.

Spurs’ striker logjam: someone has to go

Let’s be blunt: if Tottenham push for Matanovic, one of Richarlison or Dominic Solanke has to make way. The hierarchy won’t green-light another centre-forward unless a No 9 exits. Richarlison, 29, started at Brentford but didn’t convince and is into the final year of his deal, with a preference to stay in England. Solanke, 28, came on from the bench, but persistent knocks have stalled his North London impact. With the clock ticking on the window, shifting either isn’t straightforward.

And that’s the rub. De Zerbi craves a bully of a frontman for certain match states, but squad balance and wages matter. If a bid lands for either current striker, expect Spurs to move fast for the Croatian.

The market dominoes

Savinho’s early sparkle offers width and goals, yet the squad still misses that dependable late-game finisher who turns one point into three. Elsewhere, Liverpool’s push for Bradley Barcola could cause ripple effects across forward lines — pricing, availability, and who blinks first in this window’s final days.

If you’re keeping tabs on the odds around this three-horse chase for Matanovic, take a look at the best betting sites before the market swings. The smart read? Spurs must sell to strike — but if they do, the big Croat feels tailor-made for De Zerbi’s more pragmatic Plan B.

Pundit’s verdict

Spurs are playing the margins. Marmoush is a savvy get, Savinho adds sizzle, but Matanovic supplies the steel. Should a buyer surface for Richarlison or Solanke, expect Tottenham to pounce. Until then, United and Fiorentina hover — and this saga stays live.