There are three forward targets Tottenham Hotspur and Roberto De Zerbi have underlined as their biggest catches of the summer 2026 transfer window. The Italian manager really wants to pluck Cody Gakpo from Liverpool after a disappointing 2025/26 Premier League campaign, while the Lilywhites are in fierce negotiations to snag both Omar Marmoush and Savinho from Manchester City - two players they have had on their radar for more than six months now - for what could be a combined 150 million pound transfer.
Chelsea have two alternatives for Tottenham on the wing and in the middle of the attack, though. Fabrizio Romano and other transfer analysts have stated that Spurs are also looking at Portuguese right winger Pedro Neto and Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson as potential transfers should their current targets fall off the map.
It's clear looking at Jackson and Neto that Tottenham need to forge ahead with this Marmoush and Savinho deal and secure both players, because Jackson and Neto are massive downgrades who, knowing how Chelsea would treat Tottenham at the transfer negotiating table, are not going to be any cheaper either.
Tottenham's alternatives are not promising
While Jackson isn't as terrible as people think and would be a better striker than Dominic Solanke or even Richarlison, there is no way he is a better footballer than Marmoush. He may be faster, but Marmoush is stronger, more explosive, and so much better both technically and creatively. We have seen Marmoush single handedly cook Bayern Munich, which Jackson has never come close to in his career.
Meanwhile, Savinho vs. Pedro Neto is an even easier debate for Tottenham Hotspur to settle. Neto is both older and markedly worse. He has never been good in the Premier League outside of padding stats for a terrible Wolves team where he got to hog the ball. At Chelsea, he frustrates fans and is someone they actively want out, because he cannot play in a team context. Immediately, Estevao Willian was a better right winger.
Tottenham, of course, don't need a right winger. They would be signing Savinho or Neto to play on the left, as Spurs already have Mohammed Kudus (and Dejan Kulusevski) on the right side. Neto is horrendous on the left, as any Portuguese or Chelsea fan can attest.
Meanwhile, Savinho is the rare modern left footed winger who is better on the left than on the right, and he is a former La Liga Player of the Season candidate at lowly Girona. Neto and Jackson as options are making it even more clear to Tottenham that they need to get this deal done with Manchester City, because the alternatives are not great at all.
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