The chase has moved quickly, but Tottenham's late-window push for Savinho and Omar Marmoush is now as much about timing as recruitment. Spurs want Savinho from Manchester City, and they have a clear deadline if they are to sign and register him in time for their Premier League opener against Brentford this weekend. Marmoush is part of the wider conversation, though that looks less advanced.
What has changed in the last few days is the pressure around Savinho specifically. According to the Standard, he was not included in Enzo Maresca's squad for the 3-0 Community Shield defeat by Arsenal in Cardiff on Sunday. That does not confirm a transfer, and it should not be read that way, but it does fit the sense of a player whose situation is live late in the window.
Roberto De Zerbi has been open about Tottenham still needing more. Quoted by standard.co.uk, he said Spurs need "they need two or three further additions before the end of the transfer window". Goal.com also carried his one-word tease of "bomba", which only added to the expectation that another attacking signing could land before the deadline.
Savinho's move is the urgent one
Savinho is the deal with the immediate problem attached to it. Spurs are trying to get him through in time for Brentford, so this is not just a case of identifying the right player and waiting until the final days. The registration issue gives the story a harder edge.
His recent usage at City adds a bit of context. Savinho has only five recent tracked appearances in the available run, which points to him not being fully settled as a regular starter. At the same time, his most recent tracked Premier League outing lasted 101 minutes, so he has still been trusted for heavy minutes when selected. That makes him look available, but not irrelevant.
For Tottenham, that profile makes sense. They are not shopping like a club that think one addition fixes everything. Sky Sports reports that Spurs want to sign Savinho, Liverpool winger Cody Gakpo and a centre-forward. Even without getting into the exact pecking order, the message is obvious: De Zerbi wants more than one attacking answer before the window closes.
Marmoush remains an option rather than a done deal
Marmoush sits in a slightly different bracket. He is being discussed as part of Tottenham's late business, but the briefest reading of the reporting is still the right one here: interest is one thing, agreement is another.
The background helps explain why his name is in the mix. Marmoush joined City in January 2025 from Eintracht Frankfurt for £59million. He then played 21 times in the Premier League last term and scored three goals. Those numbers do not scream untouchable status, and they help explain why Spurs would at least explore the possibility.
Still, Savinho looks like the player tied most closely to a deadline. Marmoush feels more like a moving part in a bigger attacking plan, especially with Tottenham also looking at a winger from Liverpool and a centre-forward. That is why the two pursuits should not be treated as identical.
Tottenham's spending has not slowed the search
The other part of this story is how aggressive Tottenham have already been. Sky Sports says they have spent more than £200m on six first-team players this summer. The Standard's figure is £237million. The totals differ, so the exact number remains up for debate, but nobody can seriously argue Spurs have been cautious.
That is the interesting shift from where this window started. Big spending usually signals a squad close to completion. Tottenham's behaviour suggests the opposite. De Zerbi is still asking for two or three further additions, and the club are still chasing attackers from one of the strongest squads in the division.
Savinho's omission from the Community Shield squad, the registration deadline before Brentford and the fact Spurs are still scanning multiple attacking options all point in the same direction. Tottenham have not reached the tidy end of their summer yet. Their opener against Brentford is this weekend, and Savinho is the name most directly tied to that clock.
FAQ
Will Savinho be registered in time for Tottenham's opener against Brentford?
Tottenham are working against a clear deadline if they want to sign and register Savinho for their Premier League opener against Brentford this weekend. The deal is not done, so the issue is timing as much as agreement.
Why are Tottenham still chasing more attackers after spending so much this summer?
Roberto De Zerbi has said Tottenham still need two or three further additions before the end of the transfer window. Spurs want Savinho, Liverpool winger Cody Gakpo and a centre-forward, which shows the club still see the forward line as unfinished.
Are Tottenham signing Omar Marmoush as well as Savinho?
Marmoush is in the frame, but there is no confirmed agreement and it should be treated as a live option rather than a completed move. The stronger immediate push is for Savinho because of the registration deadline before Brentford.
How much have Tottenham spent in the summer transfer window?
Reports differ on the exact total. Sky Sports says Tottenham have spent more than £200m on six first-team players this summer, while the Standard puts the figure at £237million. The broad point is clear: Spurs have already gone big and still want more.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →
