Tottenham are reeling from a free transfer for World Cup winner Pochettino who almost signed them years ago

Tottenham are believed to be eyeing the chance to sign another free agent that Mauricio Pochettino almost brought to north London last year.

Spurs have already agreed conditional deals for Robertson and Senesi

If Spurs survive on Sunday – and a point against Everton will be enough – the summer rebuild will begin immediately.

Roberto De Zerbi has laid the foundation.

Verbal agreements are in place to sign Liverpool’s Andy Robertson and Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi on free transfers, with both deals dependent on the club retaining their Premier League status.

Robertson, 32, brings experience, leadership and nine years of competing at the highest level to Anfield.

Senesi, 29, adds proven top-flight quality to the defender after four impressive seasons on the south coast. No deal has been officially signed, but terms have been agreed, and both players are committed to joining the project if Spurs stay.

Now, a third free agent has entered the conversation, and this one carries a familiar history.

Tottenham shocks Paulo Dybala’s free transfer

According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Tottenham are eyeing Roma striker Paulo Dybala, whose contract at the Stadio Olimpico expires at the end of June as things stand.

The “top” Argentine has been wanted by the club for a long time, and sources have told Spurs that Spurs would want to take advantage of his presence as they rebuild the squad under De Zerbi.

Dybala had a frustrating last season at Roma.

Injury problems limited him to 26 appearances, 16 starts and just 1,504 minutes in all competitions.

Three goals and six assists represent a modest return by his standards, although his quality on the ball – the vision, the creativity, the ability to unlock the defense with one pass – has never been in question.

Roma have discussed a one-year extension on reduced terms, but nothing has been signed and Dybala is expected to explore all his options at the end of the season.

Boca Juniors are also interested in bringing him back to Argentina.

What makes this story so scary is the history.

In the summer of 2019, during Mauricio Pochettino’s final months, Tottenham came agonizingly close to signing Dybala from Juventus.

The deal was almost done – personal terms were discussed, the transfer structure was in place – before it collapsed on deadline day due to issues surrounding the player’s image rights.

It was one of the near misses of this window, and the idea of ​​what might have been has been circulating around the club ever since.

Seven years ago, the conditions are very different.

Dybala is no longer the 25-year-old who lit up Serie A as one of the most exciting players in European football. Aged 32, his body has let him down several times in recent seasons, and O’Rourke admits his age and injury record could put some clubs off.

But in a free transfer, with no fee involved and no negotiable wages, the risk-reward calculation changes dramatically.

De Zerbi is building a team that requires intelligence, experience and players who can play in high pressure situations. Dybala, for all the questions about his fitness, has 40 caps for Argentina, and a World Cup winner’s medal.

First, on Sunday. Then there are the contracts. Then, perhaps, the lost deal is finally over.