Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi could be interested in reuniting with a player he coached at Marseille.
Roberto De Zerbi’s arrival in March has seen a change of fortunes on the pitch for Tottenham Hotspur. The North Londoners are on the brink of securing their Premier League status for the next season, and that means plans are underway to revamp the squad that has royally underperformed.
Several key issues has to be addressed by the N17 bosses, chief among them being the absence of a dynamic box-to-box midfielder capable of influencing the game at both ends of the pitch. With Yves Bissouma set to depart once his contract expires in the summer, coupled with question marks over Joao Palhinha’s future, the Lilywhites must bring in a midfielder who can offer a greater impact next season.
Football finance expert Stefan Borson has indicated that Spurs will invest substantially into rebuilding their squad this summer if they avoid relegation from the Premier League. The Lewis family must demonstrate clear intent in the transfer market by backing Roberto De Zerbi in the forthcoming summer transfer window.
Tottenham interested in signing Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Tottenham have emerged as a surprise potential destination for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Matt O’Riley, with De Zerbi a big admirer.
Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund have been showing strong interest in the 25-year-old, who has not managed to cut the mustard at Brighton following his move from Celtic in 2024, mostly due to injuries. Once he recovered from a long-term injury, Matt O’Riley found opportunities hard to come by. This led to him leaving the Seagulls on loan for Marseille during last summer’s transfer window.
O’Riley joined Marseille when De Zerbi was their head coach, and he performed well. The box-to-box midfielder made 25 appearances in all competitions, chipping in with a goal and six assists, before Brighton cut short his loan spell in February to bolster their hopes for a European push. Since returning, though, he has made only six Premier League appearances under Fabian Hurzeler.
The report adds that Brighton are open to permanent offers for O’Riley if the price is right, hoping to recoup some of their funds and invest it in addressing their problematic areas of the pitch. They value the Dane in the region of £35million, with Celtic having a sell-on clause.
Should Spurs go for the Brighton outcast?
With O’Riley looking to leave Brighton permanently, and Spurs looking for midfield reinforcements, the player could add value to De Zerbi’s squad. The Tottenham boss enjoyed a strong working relationship with O’Riley during their time together at Marseille, and he could play an instrumental role in persuading him to join his project in N17.
In O’Riley, the Lilywhites would get a hardworking, gritty and smart central midfielder capable of adding both defensive steel and attacking flair. The ex-Celtic star is a calm and composed finisher in front of goal as well. He could become a potential long-term replacement for James Maddison, who has just returned from an ACL injury.
That said, it will be interesting to see whether the Tottenham bosses go all out for the signing of the Brighton outcast.