Five free transfers Tottenham should sign this summer

Tottenham Hotspur have spent more than £1 billion on transfers over the past decade, the fourth-highest total in European football, and yet they have spent the majority of this season embroiled in a relegation battle. This summer, the free transfer market offers a rare and genuinely significant opportunity to add quality, experience and leadership without compounding the financial damage already done.

The young talent is there. Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Luka Vuskovic represent a promising foundation for whatever comes next under Roberto De Zerbi. What has been missing over the past two seasons is the maturity and leadership that young players need around them to develop properly. Several of this summer’s most compelling free agents could provide exactly that.

Assuming Spurs retain their Premier League status, here are five free transfers the club should be seriously considering.

Leon Goretzka would be a statement signing for Tottenham this summer

The German midfielder, 31, is set to leave Bayern Munich when his contract expires this summer after a long and decorated spell at the club. His quality on the ball, range of passing and box-to-box energy are all well documented, and his experience in a high-pressing, possession-based system makes him an immediately appealing fit for De Zerbi’s methods.

The benefits go beyond what Goretzka would provide on the pitch. His presence alongside Bergvall and Gray would give both young midfielders the kind of senior reference point that is currently absent from the dressing room. That intangible value is as important as anything he contributes technically.

The obstacles are real, though. Tottenham’s absence from European football makes this a harder sell than it would be for Arsenal or AC Milan, both of whom have been linked. Recruiting a player of Goretzka’s standing and career trajectory into a side that has been fighting relegation requires a serious pitch around the De Zerbi project and where the club is heading. It is achievable, but it would take significant work from the recruitment team.

Potential impact: 8/10
Chance of landing: 3/10

Marco Senesi is the most realistic and sensible free transfer available to Spurs

The Argentine defender has rejected Bournemouth’s latest contract offer, making clear his intention to pursue a bigger move this summer. Tottenham should be at the front of the queue.

Senesi is a composed, ball-playing centre-back who progresses possession efficiently and reads the game at a high level. His profile fits a De Zerbi system perfectly, and the prospect of a partnership with either Cristian Romero or Micky van de Ven is genuinely exciting. His Argentine nationality also means he would slot into a dressing room dynamic that already includes Romero without any cultural friction.

With Radu Dragusin potentially moving on this summer and questions remaining over both Romero and Van de Ven’s futures at the club, there is a plausible route to Senesi featuring regularly. Vuskovic’s return from his loan spell complicates the picture slightly, but at zero cost, Senesi represents one of the cleaner pieces of business Spurs could do.

Potential impact: 6/10
Chance of landing: 9/10

Dusan Vlahovic would give Tottenham a like-for-like Solanke replacement

The Serbian striker, 27, is entering what should be the peak years of his career and his future at Juventus remains uncertain due to the club’s ongoing financial constraints. If they cannot structure a deal that works for both parties, Vlahovic will be available on a free.

His profile is clear: a powerful, physically imposing centre-forward who is deceptively mobile for his frame, holds the ball up well and finishes with authority. His record in Serie A is strong and his ability to link play makes him compatible with a possession-heavy system. The comparison with Dominic Solanke is fair, which is both the case for and against pursuing him. He would be an upgrade on a player who has struggled this season, but whether he represents the transformative number nine Tottenham genuinely need is a more complicated question.

Juventus retain the upper hand in negotiations, but Spurs are likely to feature on Vlahovic’s shortlist should he leave.

Potential impact: 6/10
Chance of landing: 8/10

Julian Brandt is the highest-ceiling option Tottenham could realistically target this summer

The German attacking midfielder is expected to leave Borussia Dortmund this summer after seven years, and he is the kind of player who does not come available at zero cost very often. Brandt’s ability to find and exploit the half-spaces between defensive and midfield lines is among the best in European football, and his seven goals and five assists this season undersell the quality of his overall contributions.

In a De Zerbi system built around vertical passing combinations and overloading central areas, Brandt’s profile would be close to ideal. He would provide a level of technical quality and creativity that Tottenham have been sorely lacking in the middle of the pitch throughout this difficult campaign.

The realistic obstacles are significant, however. With James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski returning and Xavi Simons already in the squad, the attacking midfield positions are not obviously short of bodies. More critically, without European football to offer, persuading a player of Brandt’s calibre and options to choose Tottenham over the clubs that will inevitably come calling will be extremely difficult.

Potential impact: 10/10
Chance of landing: 3/10

Harry Wilson would be an underrated piece of business if Tottenham can move quickly

The Welsh winger, 29, is out of contract at Fulham this summer, though reports suggest he is closing in on a new deal at Craven Cottage. If that collapses, Spurs would be well-advised to make their move.

Wilson has had one of the best seasons of his career, combining technical quality with consistency in a way that has not always been present throughout his career. His left foot is genuinely exceptional, his delivery from wide positions is accurate, and his ability to cut inside and create from tight angles makes him a difficult player to defend against. He scored a spectacular goal against Spurs back in December that served as a sharp reminder of exactly how good he can be on his day.

The primary concern is that with Fulham pressing for a renewal, the window to act may be narrow. Wilson would also likely favour a move to a club higher in the table, which is an honest reflection of where Tottenham currently stand in the eyes of prospective signings.

Potential impact: 7/10
Chance of landing: 4/10

Other names Tottenham should have on the radar

Beyond the five above, there are several more prominent free agents whose exits from their current clubs appear likely. Bernardo Silva and John Stones are both expected to leave Manchester City, while Ibrahima Konaté and Andy Robertson could depart Liverpool. The realistic chances of any of them choosing Tottenham in their current situation are slim, but Robertson in particular is worth keeping tabs on.

Malang Sarr, who has quietly rebuilt his reputation at Lens after an underwhelming spell at Chelsea, could represent smart defensive depth. Oscar Mingueza, set to leave Celta Vigo, is an exciting Spanish right-back who would be worth pursuing if Pedro Porro or Djed Spence depart in the summer window.

This summer may be the most consequential of the ENIC era. De Zerbi is a genuinely exciting appointment with a clear footballing identity, and the squad needs to reflect that. The free transfer market is not a shortcut, but used well it can accelerate a rebuild significantly. Tottenham have the opportunity to do exactly that. Whether they take it is another matter entirely.