Roberto De Zerbi has explained why two players can be important to Tottenham this season.
Tottenham Hotspur confirmed the signing of Savio from Manchester City on Tuesday afternoon, taking their summer spend over £300million. He has become the club’s seventh signing of the transfer window.
Savio is expected to be soon joined by Omar Marmoush from Man City. The two clubs have reached a loan agreement for Marmoush, with £50million obligation to buy under certain conditions. The duo will significantly enhance Tottenham’s attack, which was lifeless and uninspiring in the 3-0 defeat to Brentford on the opening weekend of the season.
In addition, recent reports suggest the North Londoners are plotting a late swoop for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. Should Mateta arrive, it would leave the futures of Dominic Solanke and Richarlison uncertain at the club.
Roberto De Zerbi makes admission on Tottenham strikers
Although Dominic Solanke bagged 16 goals and eight assists in his first season at Tottenham, he has since seriously struggled with fitness. The centre-forward missed major chunks of the 2025/26 season with an ankle problem, and his participation in the pre-season games was also limited.
Richarlison was the Lilywhites’ top scorer with 12 goals in all competitions last season. Yet, the 29-year-old’s future is also up in the air amid links with an emotional return to Everton. The Brazilian international is into the final year of his contract, although the club has an option to extend his stay by a further 12 months.
Ahead of the EFL Cup second-round tie vs. Charlton Athletic, De Zerbi was asked how important Solanke and Richarlison can be for him this season. To which he responded in his press conference (h/t Football London):
“He [Solanke] is another important player, but we stayed up with Richarlison last season. Richarlison, also I love him but he has to play much better than Brentford. In Brentford, every one of us we made mistakes, and we were wrong in the game.
“Me as the first always, but for us, the number 10 and especially when the opponent defend man-to-man, we need the striker to keep the ball, defend the ball and give us the time to go up, but Solanke is another very important player.”
Solanke, Richarlison have to stay fully fit
Solanke and Richarlison’s opportunities to play regularly could be reduced following the arrival of Marmoush from Man City. Internal competition is a must for the betterment of the club, and De Zerbi will be bound to pick the player up top who stays fit and delivers the goods consistently.
The first step to cement a spot in the XI is to stay injury-free, something neither Solanke nor Richarlison have managed to do so at the club. Once the duo start staying healthy and get more involved on the pitch, consistency will automatically return.
Indeed, as De Zerbi states, both the strikers will be important for the club in their ambitions to clinch a Champions League spot.
