Tottenham in talks to sell player to league champions as decision prompts backlash
Tottenham’s summer overhaul has been every bit as ruthless as it has been expensive.
Roberto De Zerbi has been handed several major signings, but Spurs have also cleared out players who were once expected to form part of their long-term future.
This is a full squad reset after consecutive 17th-place Premier League finishes.
Luka Vušković produced the biggest fee, joining Brighton in a deal worth £46 million with another £4 million available in add-ons. The Croatian defender departed without making a competitive senior appearance for Tottenham, but his sale generated a huge profit.
Cristian Romero also left for Atlético Madrid.
The Argentine’s £34.2 million exit forced De Zerbi to reorganise his leadership group, with Micky van de Ven named as the new captain and Pedro Porro installed as his deputy.
Djed Spence’s move to Inter Milan provided another £30 million package, with Tottenham also protecting themselves by securing a ten per cent sell-on clause for a player whose reputation grew considerably during his final two seasons in north London.
Guglielmo Vicario has joined Juventus on loan with an £8.5 million purchase option, while Radu Dragusin moved to Fiorentina on a temporary deal containing a £21.4 million obligation.
Will Lankshear joined Middlesbrough for a package worth £20 million and Manor Solomon signed for West Ham for £5 million, potentially rising by another £2 million.
Yves Bissouma left when his contract expired, while Randal Kolo Muani and Joao Palhinha returned to their parent clubs. Altogether, Tottenham could eventually receive around £213 million from this summer’s outgoing business.
Pape Matar Sarr could now become the next casualty of De Zerbi’s dramatic rebuild.
Tottenham in talks with Galatasaray to sell livid Pape Sarr
Sky Switzerland reporter Sacha Tavolieri claims Tottenham have told the 23-year-old that he is for sale, and that decision is said to have upset Sarr, who subsequently removed his Spurs-related posts from social media.
Tavolieri adds that discussions with Turkish champions Galatasaray are continuing, and that represents a considerable change from Tottenham’s public position earlier in the summer, when De Zerbi described Sarr as an important member of his plans.
His prospects have been transformed by Tottenham’s enormous investment in midfield.
Sarr still offers tremendous energy, defensive coverage and a willingness to make runs beyond the forwards. However, he is now competing with Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Rodrigo Bentancur, Conor Gallagher, Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray for minutes during a season without European football.
Sarr made 37 appearances across all competitions last season, recording two goals and four assists across 2,212 minutes. He also supplied the cross for Brennan Johnson’s winner in the 2025 Europa League final.
Those contributions explain why the reported decision has caused surprise.
Sarr is young, experienced and contracted until 2030, so Tottenham are under no financial pressure to accept a low offer.
Galatasaray could offer him Champions League football and a more regular starting role. His athleticism would suit the intensity of their midfield, while his ability to press could complement the more defensive Lucas Torreira.
Selling Sarr would make sense if De Zerbi can’t promise him meaningful minutes, and that is now looking pretty likely.
