Tottenham Hotspur are set to complete a flurry of departures ahead of the transfer deadline, with three players poised to leave the club on loan moves before the window shuts.
According to reports, Spurs have reached an agreement with Juventus over a loan deal for midfielder Pape Matar Sarr, which includes an option for the Italian giants to make the move permanent for £25.7 million at the end of the season. The north London club have also sanctioned a loan switch for winger Mikey Moore, who is heading to Bundesliga outfit Koln, while young left-back Souza will join Porto on a loan deal running until the end of the campaign.
The departures come after head coach Roberto De Zerbi revealed at the weekend that several first-team players had approached him about leaving the club. Speaking publicly, the Italian confirmed that forward Richarlison, alongside Sarr and defender Kevin Danso, had all expressed a desire to move on before the deadline.
"He said too many times [that] he wants to leave," De Zerbi said of Richarlison. "Danso came to me two days ago, and he said he wants to leave, and Pape Sarr, the same, but he suffer[ed] a small injury, but he is almost ready to train."
De Zerbi made clear he held no personal grievance against the departing players, stressing his admiration for them as individuals and professionals. However, he insisted that any exit would need to make financial sense for the club.
"I love these players, they are great guys, I have very good relationships, but if they want to leave, they have to bring the solution, the economic solution, to the club, and they can go, and we find other players," he explained.
Danso, who has struggled for regular game time this season, has reportedly drawn loan interest from Championship side Sunderland as he looks for a fresh start elsewhere. Meanwhile, Richarlison's situation appears to be developing into a reunion story, with his former club Everton said to be working on terms to bring the Brazilian forward back to Merseyside.
Amid the outgoing business, Tottenham are also continuing discussions over a potential incoming deal for Everton attacker Iliman Ndiaye. The Senegalese international has been the subject of interest from Spurs, though his path to a move has been complicated by his contract situation at Goodison Park. Ndiaye has turned down several extension offers presented by Everton over the past year, a stance that has fuelled speculation about his long-term future at the club.
With the deadline fast approaching, Tottenham's recruitment team appear focused on balancing the books through a wave of exits while simultaneously pursuing reinforcements. The simultaneous nature of the Ndiaye pursuit and the Richarlison-Everton dynamic adds an intriguing subplot to the day's proceedings, as both clubs look to finalise business that could see players effectively swap directions between north London and Merseyside.
Spurs fans will now be watching closely to see whether the Ndiaye deal can be tied up before the window closes, as De Zerbi looks to reshape his squad following a summer and January window that has seen significant turnover in personnel. The coming hours are expected to bring further clarity on both the outgoing loan deals and any progress on incoming targets as clubs across the Premier League scramble to complete their business.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.