£51m Spurs signing would be an even bigger coup than Gakpo & Savinho

It's been a quiet month or so on the transfer front for Tottenham Hotspur, yet with the new season just a week away, the Lilywhites are expected to explode into life again.

Indeed, the end appears to be in sight with regard to the club's search for further firepower, having lasered in on Liverpool's Cody Gakpo and Manchester City's Savinho.

The latter has long been linked with a move to N17 and looks particularly keen to join Roberto De Zerbi's side, while for Gakpo, the potential arrival of Bradley Barcola could impact his future at Anfield.

By all accounts, De Zerbi has hand-picked the two men to re-invigorate an underwhelming forward line in north London, although how will he utilise them this season?

Where Gakpo and Savinho could play under De Zerbi this season

Starting with Savinho, considering the Brazilian appears particularly likely to sign before the deadline, the 22-year-old would be a useful addition to pep up a depleted pool of wingers.

Randal Kolo Muani has departed following the end of his dismal loan stint, with both Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert are still facing an extended period on the sidelines.

In the short-term, the left-footed Savinho might well be the replacement for Mohammed Kudus on the right flank, the Ghanaian having played no part in pre-season, albeit while making a return to training of late in more positive news.

In the long-term, the Man City man may well be an option off the left instead, having been lauded by analyst and Como scout Ben Mattinson in the past for his Gareth Bale-esque driven finishes from that side.

Quite what that would mean for Gakpo remains to be seen, considering the Dutchman has predominantly been a left-winger at Liverpool, yet there is a school of thought that he may well be deployed as a false nine.

The 27-year-old isn't exactly a flying winger who beats his man with speed or dribbling prowess, with his game largely centred around goalscoring, hence why that switch could make sense.

As per Transfermarkt, he's scored 18 goals in 66 games when lining up as a striker or false nine on Merseyside, a solid, albeit somewhat unspectacular, record in that role.

Perhaps that suggests a new number nine to lead the line will still be needed before the window is out.

Spurs handed boost in race to sign £51m sensation

With regard to Tottenham's current centre-forward options, there is still a feeling that one of Richarlison or Dominic Solanke could depart before the deadline.

In Richarlison's case, the Brazilian only has a year left on his deal, with De Zerbi admitting the 29-year-old is mulling over whether to stay or go. Football FanCast exclusively reported earlier this summer that he looks set to be sold.

As for Solanke, an exit appears less likely, although there has been apparent interest from Nottingham Forest, the 28-year-old hardly setting the world alight with 12 league goals in two seasons at the club.

As per TEAMtalk, ENIC would look to offload either player before ramping up their pursuit of Folarin Balogun, having emerged as the 'frontrunners' to sign the Monaco striker.

A deal is likely to cost in the region of £51m, with the former Arsenal man keen to make a return to the Premier League, even outlining a willingness to join Spurs, as per the report.

It is said that a deal isn't advanced, with talks at an early stage, but this could mark a fine way to round off the window, with Balogun likely to prove an even bigger coup than signing either Gakpo or Savinho.

Indeed, Gakpo has been a slightly polarising figure at Anfield, while he's never scored more than ten goals in a Premier League season, since arriving from PSV Eindhoven.

As for his potential new teammate, Savinho ended 2025/26 with just one goal and one assist to his name in the top flight, yet to really find his groove in recent years.

In Balogun's case, the United States international enjoyed a particularly fruitful year in France, scoring 13 goals and registering four assists in Ligue 1. Gakpo, for comparison, scored just seven and registered five assists in the Premier League.

Balogun, despite ending his World Cup on a controversial note, did score three goals from just four outings in the competition, looking like a real handful at the tip of Mauricio Pochettino's attack.

A man in form, it would seem, the Hale End graduate also netted five times in just ten Champions League appearances last season, looking back to the player who scored 21 Ligue 1 goals on loan at Reims in 2022/23.

There's been injury woe since then, but the £51m-rated star is a talent, no doubt about it, with Spurs able to ensure Arsenal are left to rue their decision to sell him, should he go on to flourish in Lilywhite.

That fact alone - like a certain Harry Kane before him - should well ensure Balogun proves an even bigger statement capture than that of Gakpo and Savinho, with this a man who has real momentum behind him.

Richarlison and Solanke better watch out.

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