The days continue to tick by without Tottenham Hotspur making a single addition to their frontline in the summer transfer window.
It all started so well for Spurs, operating with the ruthlessness that had deserted them for much of Daniel Levy's tenure as Executive Chairman to sign Jan Paul van Hecke, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes for a combined £230.
Overpays they may have been, but the club entered the window knowing they'd have to pay premiums to convince the level of talent they wish to acquire to boost Roberto De Zerbi's project. The Italian also pitched his vision superbly, even promising he'll be a "second dad" to £85m arrival Fernandes.
But Tottenham's market momentum has stalled for a while. Selling has been prioritised, and there's an expectation that we'll reassert ourselves once more after Cristian Romero and Djed Spence move to Atlético Madrid and Inter Milan, respectively. Those deals are all but done.
The club has been linked with a plethora of attackers in the rumour mill, from Georges Mikautadze to Folarin Balogun. However, the two priority targets remain unchanged: Savinho and Cody Gakpo.
The pursuit of the former has been tiresome, yet there's still an expectation that the Brazilian will end up in lilywhite. As for Gakpo, Spurs are waiting patiently for a domino to fall.
Bradley Barcola deal holds key to Spurs signing Cody Gakpo
We know that Liverpool are reluctant to sell the Dutchman, and if they do, it'll be for a huge fee. We're talking £70m+, which is the figure that's starting to float around the Savinho deal.
Gakpo's agent is said to be offering his client around, and Spurs are doubtless interested. While Savinho got the club's attention last summer, Gakpo is a De Zerbi-led pursuit. The Italian recently called himself a "shark" when he hones in on a player he wants to sign, but his predatory instincts are being put to the test.
Spurs are having to wait for Liverpool to land a deal for Bradley Barcola. While reports haven't yet suggested that the two potential deals are linked, you have to suspect that the Reds would be more willing to give Gakpo up if they sign the Paris Saint-Germain star for a mammoth fee.
Florian Plettenberg believes Liverpool are confident about landing their man, who didn't feature at all in PSG's UEFA Super Cup victory over Aston Villa on Wednesday night.
Fabrizio Romano adds that the Reds could sign two wingers before the transfer deadline, especially if Gakpo heads to Tottenham. Personal terms are unlikely to be an issue, but Spurs must wait for the first domino to fall.
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