Spurs Target Saibari and Gonzalez for Rebuild: North London 2026

Key Points

• Summer wishlist: Tottenham Hotspur have identified PSV Eindhoven’s Moroccan international attacker Ismael Saibari and Manchester City’s Spanish midfielder Nico Gonzalez as targets for the upcoming summer transfer window.
• Managerial ambitions: The targeted acquisitions form part of a broader squad overhaul initiated by head coach Roberto De Zerbi, who is seeking to elevate the North London club into silverware contenders for the 2026–27 campaign.
• Midfield vacancy: The interest in reinforcing the central midfield arises after Tottenham decided against permanently activating their purchase option for Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha.
• Gonzalez’s situation: The 25-year-old Manchester City player has logged 58 appearances since his arrival in Manchester in 2025, but his lack of regular starting status means a move to London could be viable if regular first-team assurances are provided.
• Saibari’s competing interest: Saibari is coming off a highly productive season with PSV Eindhoven, registering 19 goals and nine assists. However, reports indicate that Bayern Munich have moved into an advanced position, submitting a package in excess of €50 million.
• Alternative options: Alongside Saibari and Gonzalez, Tottenham’s internal list of potential midfield reinforcements includes Juventus midfielder Khephren Thuram, Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba, and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott.

Tottenham Hotspur (North London News) June 13, 2026 – Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly placed PSV Eindhoven’s versatile attacker Ismael Saibari and Manchester City’s central midfielder Nico Gonzalez on their priority recruitment shortlist ahead of the summer transfer window. The Premier League club are attempting to engineer a comprehensive squad rebuild to support manager Roberto De Zerbi, who expects to restructure his playing staff to challenge for major honours next season. This recruitment drive follows a highly turbulent domestic campaign for the North London side, who only secured their top-flight survival on the final day of the season. Tottenham are actively seeking technical superiority in central areas after electing not to secure a permanent deal for Joao Palhinha following his loan spell from Bayern Munich. While internal discussions over multiple targets have commenced, formal negotiations for the primary options on the club’s shortlist have not yet reached an advanced stage.

Which midfield targets are Tottenham Hotspur exploring for the summer window?

As detailed in a transfer market report by OneFootball journalists, Tottenham Hotspur have compiled an extensive array of options to reshuffle their central layout, with Nico Gonzalez and Ismael Saibari emerging as prominent names under evaluation.

The club’s recruitment department is prioritising technical profiles capable of executing Roberto De Zerbi’s high-possession, fluid tactical system.

According to updates published by internal club source @HeardFromSpurs on Wednesday, 10 June 2026, the structural shortlist compiled by Tottenham includes alternative Premier League and continental options. The report states:

“Nico Gonzalez another midfielder option being considered. Carlos Baleba, Alex Scott, and Ismael Saibari also among the names being considered at #THFC. As mentioned before, no advancements yet.”

The hierarchy at Tottenham Hotspur is determined to rectify the deficiencies exposed during the 2025–26 season, where a lack of depth and tactical cohesion left the manager with limited variables during periods of fixture congestion.

The decision to pass on the permanent option for Joao Palhinha has freed up significant wage space and structural capital, allowing the club to pivot toward younger, more progressive profiles like Gonzalez and Saibari.

Why is Manchester City midfielder Nico Gonzalez considering a move to North London?

The primary obstacle preventing Nico Gonzalez from establishing himself as an indispensable asset under Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium has been the intense competition for regular starting places. Since completing his high-profile transfer to Manchester City in 2025, the Spanish midfielder has accumulated 58 appearances across all competitions.

Despite this considerable match volume, a significant portion of his game time has come via peripheral squad rotation or second-half substitutions.

Journalists at OneFootball noted that Gonzalez is not viewed as an un-rotatable starter within Manchester City’s star-studded midfield framework.

Consequently, a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium could represent a highly appealing career step for the 25-year-old, provided that Roberto De Zerbi can offer firm guarantees regarding a regular place in the starting XI. Gonzalez’s tactical profile—characterised by severe defensive discipline, high press-resistance, and spatial awareness—is understood to align cleanly with De Zerbi’s demands for his double-pivot engine room.

What is the current transfer status of PSV Eindhoven playmaker Ismael Saibari amidst heavy interest from Bayern Munich?

While Tottenham Hotspur hold a serious exploratory interest in Ismael Saibari to reinforce their attacking line, the north London club face immediate and severe competition from the Bundesliga.

The 25-year-old Morocco international enjoyed a standout 2025–26 season with Eredivisie club PSV Eindhoven, scoring 15 goals and providing eight assists in 27 league matches, finishing with an overall record of 19 goals and nine assists across all competitions.

According to a transfer update from football reporter Santi Aouna, published via OneFootball, Bayern Munich have already stolen a march on continental suitors by launching a formal economic package. Aouna stated that:

“Bayern Munich proposed a package worth €45M plus €5M in add-ons for Ismael Saibari. PSV are asking for a minimum fee of €50M. Talks continue between the clubs.”

Further reporting from Daniel Pinder of German Football News (GGFN) confirms that Saibari has already agreed to the provisional terms of a long-term contract with Bayern Munich extending until 2031. All negotiating parties are reportedly confident that an absolute financial agreement will be finalised shortly, with Bayern preparing a medical schedule for the Moroccan player.

This development indicates that while De Zerbi is highly appreciative of Saibari’s offensive versatility, Tottenham will likely have to advance other alternatives on their list.

Who are the alternative midfield options on Roberto De Zerbi’s transfer shortlist?

Recognising the complexities involved in competing with European heavyweights like Bayern Munich, Tottenham’s sporting directory has maintained dialogue regarding several parallel targets. Prominent among these alternative options is Juventus midfielder Khephren Thuram.

As reported by OneFootball, Thuram has established himself as an elite regular in Serie A with the Italian side, completing 96 first-team appearances over the previous two seasons.

Despite his consistent club form in Turin, the 25-year-old midfielder was omitted from France’s squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, a factor that could incentivise a high-profile move to England to elevate his international standing.

In addition to Thuram, Tottenham are keeping tabs on established Premier League talent. Brighton & Hove Albion’s dynamic midfielder Carlos Baleba and Bournemouth’s highly-rated youngster Alex Scott have both been heavily linked with moves to North London over recent weeks.

Baleba is well known to De Zerbi from their shared time on the south coast, making him a seamless fit for the Italian’s tactical expectations.

Background of the Tottenham Hotspur squad rebuild under Roberto De Zerbi

The necessity for a profound squad overhaul at Tottenham Hotspur stems directly from an incredibly difficult 2025–26 Premier League campaign. Roberto De Zerbi, who took over the managerial reins on March 31, 2026, under a contract running until 2031, inherited a squad in severe internal decline.

The team was forced into an unexpected and emotionally grueling battle against relegation, ultimately securing safety on the final day of the season with a narrow 1-0 home victory against Everton.

Following that final-day escape, which left Tottenham finishing just two points above the relegation zone, De Zerbi openly evaluated the structural health of the football club. Speaking to The Guardian football correspondent after the Everton match, De Zerbi delivered an unvarnished assessment of the season’s performance:

“We are Tottenham and we can’t suffer like this until the last second of the last game to stay up. For sure, we have to learn from our mistakes. We are happy because we stay up and we forget the past. Actually, no! Stupid people forget the past. The smart people, the people with value, can’t forget and keep in their mind the past. We have to improve from our mistakes. And we are looking forward to start to rebuild a team from this night, from tomorrow. We have no time to go on holiday.”

De Zerbi explicitly made it clear that while 10 to 12 players within the existing dressing room possessed the requisite technical quality and human values to remain part of his long-term plans, the squad lacked first-level elite operators.

The current pursuit of proven winners like Nico Gonzalez from Manchester City and explosive European talents like Ismael Saibari reflects a deliberate strategy by the Tottenham board to immediately lift the technical baseline of the squad, moving away from a period of systemic underachievement.

Prediction: How this transfer development could affect Tottenham Hotspur supporters and season expectations

If Tottenham Hotspur successfully conclude the signings of targets like Nico Gonzalez and secure elite alternatives such as Khephren Thuram or Carlos Baleba, the operational dynamic for the club’s supporters is likely to shift from anxiety to cautious optimism.

Securing a tactical linchpin from a direct rival like Manchester City would signal an immediate declaration of intent, reassuring a fanbase that was deeply unsettled by the club’s proximity to the relegation zone in 2026.

From a tactical standpoint, integrating a press-resistant midfielder of Gonzalez’s calibre would significantly reduce the defensive vulnerabilities that plagued Spurs last term, offering fans a more attractive, commanding style of possession football at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Conversely, missing out on primary targets like Ismael Saibari to clubs like Bayern Munich underscores the competitive reality that Tottenham faces without the lure of European football. Should the club fail to secure their primary targets early in the summer window, the fanbase may experience a period of renewed frustration, putting intense pressure on the board and Roberto De Zerbi to deliver on their promise of a competitive squad rebuild before the 2026–27 Premier League kickoff.