Roberto De Zerbi has praised Tottenham's latest transfer activity, describing new arrivals Savio and Omar Marmoush as top-level talents, while suggesting the club could still make one more addition before Tuesday's 11pm deadline.
Spurs completed a striking double swoop from Manchester City this week, landing long-term target Savio in an £85million deal and bringing in Marmoush on a season-long loan that includes an obligation to buy, with the overall fee potentially climbing to £60million. The moves push Tottenham's summer outlay beyond £350million, a figure that has surprised even the club's head coach.
"I think Savio and Marmoush are bomba. I don't know what name or how you can call them but players of a high level, for sure," De Zerbi said ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Newcastle. "I didn't expect one transfer market and one window like we have done."
De Zerbi revealed that discussions about further business took place just a day before speaking to reporters. "I think we can do one player more and in one specific position, but yesterday we went for dinner with the owners, with Vinai (Venkatesham), with Johan (Lange) and with Enrico (Venturelli). We spoke about this, but we have all of us on the same page and there is a very good connection," he explained.
Marmoush becomes Tottenham's eighth signing of the summer, adding depth to an attacking unit that has been short of options given James Maddison's fitness issues and Mohammed Kudus only recently returning from a lengthy tendon injury. The forward built an impressive goal-scoring record before his move to England, netting 37 times during an 18-month spell at Eintracht Frankfurt and adding a further 16 goals during his time at Manchester City. Despite his pedigree, he could begin Saturday's fixture from the substitutes' bench.
"A great signing for us. A great player, another great player and every one of us loves him as a player," De Zerbi said of Marmoush. "We hope he can do what he is able. I think he can give more solutions in attack. We need players in attack capable to score goals, to play well with the ball also, a very fast player, great qualities and we are all happy."
The Italian coach also outlined how he envisions using his new forward. "I think he can play as a central striker. He is a different number 10 than (Conor) Gallagher or Maddison, more of an attacker, but he is a player of big qualities. The most important thing is to have players with qualities," he added.
Tottenham's squad is also seeing several key figures return to fitness ahead of the Newcastle match. New captain Micky van de Ven and full-back Pedro Porro both played roles in Wednesday's 5-1 Carabao Cup victory over Charlton and are in contention to start. Savio could make his first full appearance for the club, while Kudus may be included in the matchday squad for the first time since January.
On the subject of Pape Sarr, whose future at the club has been the subject of speculation, De Zerbi struck a composed tone. "Pape? No, he's good. We have to see in the last day of the transfer market what can happen with him," he said. "If you want to leave and you have not found the offer, it's your problem, not my problem. I give respect, I kiss you, I hug you, but at the end have to stay calm inside the dressing room."
Based on reporting from Independent (football).