Spurs agree personal terms to sign £50m star

What a start to the summer window this has been for Tottenham Hotspur. It was about time some positivity was injected into proceedings, right?

While Spurs survived by the skin of their teeth, 2026 has proven to be one of the worst years in the club’s history to date.

They’ve had three different managers this year in the shape of Thomas Frank, Igor Tudor and Roberto De Zerbi, they’ve had a remarkable set of injuries and they were embroiled in a relegation battle.

However, the second half of the year promises to be better with Andy Robertson already a confirmed arrival and fellow defender Marcos Senesi set to sign a contract in the forthcoming weeks.

They are not the only defensive acquisitions on Tottenham’s radar. Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke is also reportedly closing in on a move.

Two Premier League stars moving close to signing for Spurs

After the arrivals of Senesi and Robertson on free transfers from Bournemouth and Liverpool respectively, a lot of progress has been made on a deal to sign Van Hecke.

The Lilywhites saw a bid rejected for the centre-back last week but are thought to be making breakthroughs in the negotiations.

Reports on Sunday suggested that personal terms had already been agreed with the Dutchman and that a deal was now in the final stages. All that’s left is to agree a fee with Spurs set to launch a £45m plus £5m in add-ons bid.

With Cristian Romero set to leave this would be a phenomenal acquisition. From having one of the worst defences in the league they could go on to have one of the finest around if De Zerbi can get a tune out of Van Hecke, Senesi and Micky van de Ven.

As it happens, Spurs are also in advanced talks to sign another Premier League talent. That is Manchester City’s Savinho.

The north Londoners tracked the Brazilian closely last summer but were not able to conclude a move. However, a year on, and it looks as though Tottenham are set to finally get their man.

Savinho is reportedly keen on the move and as per fresh reports, has now agreed a five year contract.

Valued at £50m, City are fine with selling the Brazilian this time around and Spurs look like the most likely of destinations. Reports from the continent suggest that an agreement in principle has been reached with Savinho on personal over a deal to move to Tottenham.

Why Savinho could be Tottenham’s new Xavi Simons

Can you blame the recruitment team for looking to do a lot of business early? Not really. Last summer turned into something of a farce and really, it set the tone for what was to come in 2025/26.

It all started with Morgan Gibbs-White. Spurs were confident of signing the English attacking midfielder but Evangelos Marinakis stepped in, called off the deal and was able to tie him down to a new contract at Nottingham Forest.

Then there was the Eberechi Eze debacle. Tottenham were confident once again but then Arsenal launched a bid at the 11th hour and he was never going to say no to his boyhood club. They did eventually end up with Xavi Simons but he was never first choice.

Therefore, the Lilywhites are keen to wrap up deals swiftly before they get beaten to the punch once again.

That has hastened a move for Van Hecke, as well as Savinho who is rightfully being met with a degree of scepticism. Aged 22, the Man City winger still has a lot of potential left to be extracted but it’s hard to ignore the fact he only scored once all season for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Now, the forward did only start seven Premier League games but even so, you’d expect better from a player who can be such a game-changer in the final third.

Last season, Simons may well have played the majority of his football in the no.10 role – featuring 17 times in that position – but it was on the left flank where De Zerbi preferred him before that cruel ACL rupture.

In those games, the Dutch star dazzled ever so brightly, scoring and assisting against Brighton as well as hitting the woodwork. That afternoon was perhaps his finest in Spurs colours and suggests he could well be the club’s main option on the left once he’s back from injury.

On the right, they could well sign a likeminded player in Savinho. Like Simons, he’s a very tricky customer and he’s particularly creative. In 2024/25 he produced 13 assists in all competitions and only ranked second to Kevin De Bruyne for key passes per game (1.6) in the league for City.

For context, Xavi managed just 1.2 in his debut campaign in England and 1.4 during his final season with RB Leipzig in Germany.

Both players are fabulous carriers too. They’re extremely productive and secure in tight spaces, often leaving the defenders with no answer with regard to how to stop them.

The two attackers are very progressive players with Savinho registering as many as 1.86 successful dribbles and a massive 7.45 progressive carriers per 90. Simons does lag behind but his numbers are evidence of a player who is always looking to make a difference.

The Dutch playmaker amassed 1.43 successful dribbles per 90 and 3.38 progressive carries per 90.

Nifty, fleet-footed and a danger in the final third, Spurs could do a lot worse than signing the Brazilian forward this summer. Simons may be more diminutive but the way the duo create chaos, just from different sides of the pitch make them very alike. Can you imagine Simons on the left and Savinho on the right? Premier League defences better watch out.