Tottenham readying audacious swap move for “superstar” Cody Gakpo alternative

Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi has been speaking to the media ahead of Saturday’s Premier League game against Newcastle, and as ever, transfer business was high on the agenda.

New signing Omar Marmoush is available to play, as is Micky van de Ven, while Mohammed Kudus may have to settle for a place on the bench.

Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

James Maddison, meanwhile, is a doubt after picking up pain in his left shoulder during the defeat at Brentford, though De Zerbi struck a positive tone on his playmaker: “With James, I think we have to find the right plan. He is really positive guy. We are lucky to have James in our team.”

On the market, De Zerbi said he’s “very happy” with Spurs’ business so far, admitting it has exceeded the expectations he had at the start of the window, and praised both the potential of the younger arrivals and the “atmosphere and behaviour” the more experienced signings have brought with them.

Asked if there was more to come, he pointed to “one player more in one specific position” – and revealed he and the owner sat down for dinner on Thursday and are “on the same page” over what’s needed.

Pape Matar Sarr’s future also came up, with De Zerbi keeping his cards close to his chest: “He’s good, (but) we have to see in the last day of the market what can happen with him.”

That one specific position De Zerbi referenced appears to be a winger – and, per Football FanCast sources, Spurs have been forced to change tack on who fills it.

Tottenham planning player-plus-cash winger bid

For much of the window, Cody Gakpo has been the long-standing target, but Liverpool’s own business has complicated that pursuit. The Reds want a second winger in alongside Bradley Barcola before they’ll sanction Gakpo’s exit, and they’ve had bids knocked back for both Ismaila Sarr and Yankuba Minteh in that pursuit. With Liverpool unable to resolve their own situation, Gakpo will for now stay put, with Andoni Iraola praising the Dutchman during his own press conference on Thursday.

Spurs’ attention has now turned Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye, FFC sources understand, and the Lilywhites are even preparing an offer.

Manchester City are also credited with interest in the Senegal international, but Spurs believe they hold an advantage few other suitors can match: Richarlison, a player Everton have long been keen on bringing back to Goodison Park.

Tottenham chiefs are willing to offer £50m plus Richarlison, who is out of contract next summer, as part of the deal – a package the north London club value at more than £70m in total.

Richarlison himself is said to be open to the move back to Merseyside, though it remains unclear whether Ndiaye would be as willing to make the switch to Spurs.

Whatever the outcome, Spurs clearly rate Ndiaye highly, and it’s not hard to see why. He’s been one of the Premier League’s standout performers over the last 12 months, with Jamie Carragher among those to heap praise on him – fittingly, after a display against Spurs.

It’s exactly that kind of directness and end product that’s made Ndiaye such a coveted target this summer, and with City lurking and the deadline closing in, Spurs may need to move fast if they want Richarlison’s Everton connection to prove decisive. For De Zerbi, the message from his pre-Newcastle press conference was clear: he’s had a good window already, but the business isn’t done yet.