Spurs are set to sign the Premier League star for £100m

A few weeks ago, many Tottenham Hotspur fans would have been fearing the worst and facing the prospect of relegation from the Premier League.

Roberto De Zerbi’s arrival in North London gave the Lilywhites the injection of life they needed – after which they lost just two of their seven games in charge.

Supporters can now relax in the summer and watch the recruitment team work their magic to avoid a third successive season at the bottom of England’s top flight.

There is no doubt that the manager will be looking for his own additions to take the club to the next level, but it remains to be seen how much the officials will spend to help him fight for trophies in the coming years.

The transfer window doesn’t open until the beginning of June, but that hasn’t stopped the capital city’s workforce from making various targets ahead of the summer.

Spurs are preparing to sign the £100m star this summer

Spurs’ struggles during 2025/26 have been there for all to see, with the team managing to win three home games in the Premier League this campaign.

It didn’t stop management from looking up during the upcoming transfer window, with Manchester City midfielder Savinho re-emerging as a transfer target.

The Brazilian was regarded as one of the top players for the Lilywhites last season, but no deal was agreed – leading to De Zerbi’s men stepping up their efforts in 12 months.

However, the 22-year-old is not the only player they are currently eyeing, with Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba also highly recommended before the window opened.

According to The Independent, De Zerbi is very keen to reunite with the Cameroonian and is preparing to raid his former side for his signature this summer.

The report claims that Manchester United are still interested in signing the 22-year-old, which could lead to a transfer battle in the coming months.

Any deal would be a record deal for the Lilywhites this window, with Fabian Hurzeler’s side said to be seeking a fee in the region of £100m to offload the youngster.

Why Baleba will be Mousa Dembele 2.0 for Spurs

Despite struggling in the market in recent years, Spurs have done excellent business – as seen in the £15m deal for midfielder Mousa Dembele back in 2012.

He played 249 games during his seven years at the club, making himself one of the best midfielders.

From his incredible runs with the ball at his feet to his outstanding physical presence without handling it, the talent established himself as an important player during his time in the Premier League.

The Belgian is, to this day, still talked about among fans – and highlights the impact he made during his glorious time in North London.

De Zerbi must wish he could rely on a player of Dembele’s current stature, but he could find his own fan favorite by looking for Baleba.

The Cameroonian has been a regular for the Seagulls in recent seasons, often catching the eye with his ball handling and playmaking success – something Dembele is renowned for.

His statistics of the recent campaign highlight his quality at both ends of the pitch, which could see him prove invaluable to the Italian in his hunt for success in North London.

Baleba, known as the “world class” Ryan Adsett, managed to finish 58% of the dribbles he attempted, while achieving an 86% pass rate.

Both of the aforementioned figures highlight his composure with the ball at his feet, which would see him mimic the Belgian’s ability to get forward against the opposition.

Off the ball, the Cameroonian was also extremely strong, after which he topped 5.5 ground duels in 90 – putting him above 70% of European midfielders this season.

Baleba’s 2.1 clearances and 1.6 clearances per 90 shows his quality in winning the ball back for his team – just like Dembele did during his time in the Premier League.

Imitating a Belgian midfielder is not a bad thing, many midfielders have tried and failed in their time as a Spurs player.

Baleba may be the one to try his luck, but the Brighton star’s partnership with his former boss could be crucial to his success.

£100m would see a record transfer spent on the player by the Lilywhites, but it could be a worthwhile investment if he teaches Dembele’s standards in North London.