Tottenham are planning to upgrade their goalkeeping department under new boss Roberto De Zerbi.
Tottenham Hotspur have rolled their final dice in their attempts to avoid relegation by appointing Roberto De Zerbi.
The Italian’s arrival was confirmed on Tuesday afternoon, with his first game in charge of the Lilywhites set to be at the Stadium of Light against Sunderland on April 12. He will have seven games to guide his team away from the dreaded drop zone, with the North Londoners currently being just one point above 18th-place West Ham.
Tottenham haven’t won in the Premier League since the turn of the year, which is extremely worrying, but the supporters and the club’s board will hope Roberto De Zerbi’s appointment will result in a new manager bounce, unlike Igor Tudor.
A five-year contract without a relegation clause demonstrates that De Zerbi is here for the long haul. It is also expected that he will have input into the club’s recruitment strategy, which will be very important in changing Tottenham’s culture as we advance. And it looks like our new gaffer has already set his sights on a player he knows very well to address a problematic position in the squad.
Roberto De Zerbi greenlights move for Brighton goalkeeper
According to talkSPORT’s transfer notebook, Tottenham could plan to sign Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen if they stay up.
The Italian managed Bart Verbruggen at Brighton and remains a huge fan of the shot-stopper. The 23-year-old has established himself as one of the exciting young goalkeepers in the Premier League, impressing with his distribution skills, reflexes and command in the box. He has also become the Netherlands’ first-choice goalkeeper under Ronald Koeman, and if the Brighton star enjoys a strong World Cup in the summer, his stocks would further ascend.
Spurs were already considering signing a new No.1, even prior to the appointment of De Zerbi, with ongoing doubts over Guglielmo Vicario’s status at the club. Vicario has not been consistent at all across three seasons in the Premier League and could be moved on in the summer amid Inter Milan interest.
Bart Verbruggen would be a cracking signing for Tottenham
Verbruggen would be a smart option to replace Vicario at the start of the 2026/27 season. Having played in De Zerbi’s system at Brighton, he should have no problems adapting to it if he moves to the capital in the summer. The two enjoyed a strong working relationship at the south coast, with the Dutch glovesman praising the new Tottenham gaffer as a “brilliant manager” in 2024.
The 23-year-old’s previous appreciation of De Zerbi and the role that he played to shape the start of his career with the Seagulls could have a huge impact on his future this summer. De Zerbi’s relationship with Verbruggen might see Tottenham get an advantage, but negotiating with Brighton won’t be easy at all. As he is contracted until 2028 (Transfermarkt), the Sussex-based outfit are in a fine position to demand a premium for their No.1’s services.
Nonetheless, the rising star of Dutch football would be worth it. At 23, he is still very young for a goalkeeper, and with more time, maturity and experience, Verbruggen could actually become the best in his position. Given Verbruggen’s admiration for De Zerbi and the fact that the Italian tactician signed him for Brighton in the first place in 2023, this move could be one to watch if Tottenham manage to avoid relegation.