Roberto De Zerbi has warned Tottenham fans to expect another major signing before the transfer window closes, declaring that the club has completed only 60 percent of its summer business despite already spending nearly £250 million.
"The transfer market, it's not finished for sure," De Zerbi said. "We completed 60 per cent of our project in the transfer market. Now we have another bomba."
Bomba is short for "bomba di mercato", an Italian phrase meaning "market bombshell". De Zerbi specified that the new arrival must help Spurs score more goals and increase their physical presence. Tottenham managed just 48 Premier League goals last season, with nearly 40 percent of those coming from corners, the highest ratio in the division.
Spurs have already signed defender Jan Paul van Hecke for more than £50 million, midfielder Mateus Fernandes for £85 million, and Sandro Tonali for £100 million. Talks over winger Savinho from Manchester City are ongoing, but he is not believed to be the bomba.
Omar Marmoush
De Zerbi is said to be a strong admirer of the Egypt international, who made eight league starts for Pep Guardiola last season. The striker fits De Zerbi's preferred profile: a forward who drops deep to link up play, pulls defenders out of position, and then attacks the space created. Marmoush can also operate as a left winger and recorded a top speed of 21.9mph at the World Cup, placing him among the 25 fastest players at the tournament.
Bournemouth striker Eli Junior Kroupi had been a target all summer but has been ruled out for up to four months with a foot injury.
Cody Gakpo
Tottenham are understood to be interested in the Liverpool forward. At 6ft 4in, Gakpo would address De Zerbi's stated desire to increase the height of his squad. The Dutchman likes to drift in off the left and also drop towards the halfway line when leading the line, which suits De Zerbi's build-up style.
However, Gakpo managed just seven goals and five assists from 32 Premier League starts last season as Liverpool suffered a difficult title defence. That record means many Spurs supporters would not regard his signing as the bombshell they are hoping for.
Dusan Vlahovic
The 26-year-old Serbian is a free agent after leaving Juventus, where he scored 68 goals in 168 appearances and reached double figures in each of his last six campaigns. He would also satisfy the height requirement at 6ft 3in.
There are, however, significant concerns. Vlahovic missed large portions of last season with adductor and calf injuries, and Tottenham already have injury-prone strikers in Richarlison and Dominic Solanke. He was also the highest-paid player in Serie A last season, meaning wage costs would be substantial. Crucially, his style, as an out-and-out centre forward who rarely drops deep, does not align with how De Zerbi likes his attackers to operate.
Marcus Rashford
Barcelona declined their £25 million option to sign Rashford permanently despite him scoring 14 goals and contributing 14 assists in all competitions, including nine league goals as the club won La Liga. He returns to Manchester United, where he has not featured since 2024 and is unlikely to figure under Michael Carrick.
Rashford's ability to shift from the flank into central areas has prompted speculation about a move to Spurs. He ranked behind only Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Raphinha for shot-ending carries in La Liga last season. However, De Zerbi's system relies on patient build-up and constant pressing rather than fast breaks, and his Brighton side produced the fewest fast breaks of any Premier League team in 2023-24. That approach is considered a poor fit for Rashford's game.
Lautaro Martinez
The Inter Milan captain was Serie A's top scorer last season with 17 goals and ranked third in the division for open-play assists. His movement, dropping off the front line to combine before attacking vacated space, is described as tactically ideal for De Zerbi's system.
Signing him would be extremely difficult. Martinez has stated publicly that he wants to remain at Inter and has said he would like to retire at the club.
Julian Alvarez
The former Manchester City forward has declared his desire to leave Atletico Madrid, but the Spanish club have already rejected a bid of £129 million from Real Madrid. Alvarez carries a 500 million euro release clause.
He scored 20 goals and registered nine assists in all competitions last season, including 10 Champions League goals, a tally bettered only by Mbappe and Harry Kane. He presses like a midfielder, drops deep, drags defenders, and links up play, fitting De Zerbi's requirements more closely than any other name in circulation. During his final season at City, he won possession in the final third more often than any other striker.
He would, by any measure, be a bombshell signing.
