Roberto De Zerbi quickly identifies his first Tottenham Hotspur signing target—an international player who has never featured in English football before 👀

 

 

Roberto De Zerbi has reportedly already set his sights on his first major signing after taking over as Tottenham Hotspur manager, replacing Igor Tudor.

Tudor’s brief spell ended after just seven matches, failing to win any of his five Premier League games, with only a 1-1 draw against Liverpool as his sole point before being dismissed.

Following his exit, a number of candidates were linked with the job, including Harry Redknapp, Tim Sherwood, Chris Hughton, Glenn Hoddle, and even current player Ben Davies. However, Spurs have now officially appointed De Zerbi on a five-year deal reportedly worth between £12m and £15m per year, making him one of the highest-paid managers in the Premier League.

With Tottenham battling for survival, the new manager is expected to make an immediate impact—and reports suggest he has already identified his key transfer target.

According to Calciomercato IT, De Zerbi wants Manuel Locatelli, a player he previously coached at Sassuolo, believing he could be the midfield leader Spurs desperately need.

Locatelli has been in strong form at Juventus this season, captaining the side, making 39 appearances in all competitions, and contributing five goals while dictating play from midfield.

It is also reported that before officially taking the Spurs job, De Zerbi held discussions with the club’s hierarchy about transfer plans and outlined Locatelli as a priority signing—on the condition that the club avoids relegation.

Locatelli remains under contract at Juventus until 2028, and while his long-term future is uncertain, any potential departure would attract strong interest.

If he becomes available, Tottenham could face competition from Manchester United and other Premier League clubs also monitoring the Italian midfielder.