Tottenham Hotspur must act quickly if they are to improve Roberto De Zerbi’s prospects of claiming a trophy this campaign.
Omar Marmoush and Savinho(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Spurs are facing a tight deadline to secure Savinho and Omar Marmoush. The Manchester City pair could make their first appearances for the north London club as early as Wednesday evening when De Zerbi’s team entertain Charlton Athletic in round two of the Carabao Cup.
football.london has learned that Tottenham are keen on acquiring Savinho and Marmoush, both of whose positions at the Etihad appear precarious. Discussions between the two clubs are ongoing as Johan Lange seeks to finally land an attacking player, having only recruited three defenders, two midfielders and a goalkeeper during the close season.
Spurs have long admired Savinho, with initial optimism at the club’s training base that an agreement could be reached during the pre-season trip to Australasia. Last month, football.london also reported that De Zerbi held Marmoush in high regard.
It remains uncertain at this stage whether Tottenham will successfully complete both transfers. The club have until 11pm on Tuesday, September 1, when the summer window closes, to finalise any signings.
However, should Lange wish to see the Manchester City pair feature on Wednesday night when Spurs meet Charlton in the Carabao Cup, they must be registered by noon on Tuesday.
According to EFL regulations, paperwork must be lodged before midday on the day preceding a fixture. For matches taking place on a Tuesday, forms need to arrive by the noon deadline on the preceding day.
Any submissions made after the midday cutoff but before the window shuts will still be handled, though players will not become eligible until the following day.
The same registration requirements apply in the Premier League. Therefore, were Tottenham hoping to have Savinho and Marmoush available for the match against Newcastle United on Saturday, August 29, the club would need to register them by noon on Friday, August 28.
Following the dispiriting loss to Brentford in the season’s opening Premier League fixture, De Zerbi acknowledged areas requiring work. At the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon, the Spurs manager explained that for many reasons the team is not yet formed, they are not at the right point in physical condition, but there are no excuses. He noted that when building a new project he does not want time, but they have to pass through these problems. He expressed belief in his players, his club and himself, stating that they are working well but are late for the start of the Premier League. He acknowledged this is a step they have to improve quickly, that they could have fought stronger than they did and that they lost too many duels. The target, he said, is to become a team and to find the spirit and the soul is a process.
While Tottenham may not necessarily require Savinho and Marmoush to defeat Charlton, having the Manchester City pair available would provide De Zerbi with a significant boost as he aims to make his mark in his first full season at the helm with silverware…
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