De Zerbi targets Baleba, Van Hecke and Verbruggen as Spurs plan Brighton raid

Roberto De Zerbi has identified three Brighton players as his primary transfer targets at Tottenham Hotspur, according to a report from The Telegraph, as the Italian moves quickly to rebuild a squad that narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

Midfielder Carlos Baleba, centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke, and goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen are said to top De Zerbi’s wishlist. The trio were all key figures under the Italian during his time at Brighton, and he is now looking to reunite with them at Spurs after picking up 11 points from his seven matches in charge since taking over.

Verbruggen is understood to be a priority in goal. Despite Antonin Kinsky performing well since De Zerbi’s arrival, the manager is reportedly keen on a ball-playing goalkeeper to better suit his build-from-the-back system — a role in which the Dutch international is seen as the ideal fit.

In defence, Spurs are already expected to finalise the signing of Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi, and Van Hecke is viewed as the natural partner for him at the heart of De Zerbi’s rebuilt backline.

The Baleba pursuit, however, faces significant competition. Manchester United have tracked the Cameroonian midfielder for several months and are still considered favourites to sign him, with Brighton reportedly valuing the player at £100 million. Tottenham’s own hierarchy have acknowledged that landing all three targets in a single window would be a difficult task.

Beyond the Brighton trio, Tottenham are also reported to be in line to sign Liverpool’s Andy Robertson on a free transfer following his departure from Anfield. Manchester City winger Savinho is described as a long-term target, with his availability potentially depending on the direction taken by City’s incoming manager.

Tottenham chiefs have pledged significant investment following the club’s brush with relegation, and De Zerbi appears to have been given the backing to act decisively in the summer window.