Tottenham have entered discussions to sign a former Barcelona player for Roberto De Zerbi after their verbal agreement with Andy Robertson.
Spurs seal verbal agreement with Robertson over free transfer
Robertson's pact to join Tottenham this summer, if they avoid the drop, could be a significant piece of business.
It would be a zero-cost acquisition of a player approaching 400 Premier League appearances and 69 top-flight assists, who would bring immediate leadership to a dressing room that has badly lacked it.
Liverpool's Andy Robertson during training
The deal, confirmed by Fabrizio Romano with all personal terms in place, hinges on one condition: Spurs must secure Premier League survival. If they go down, Robertson goes elsewhere.
That context matters in understanding why the January window move fell through.
Tottenham came close to bringing Robertson in mid-season, with both parties open to the transfer.
Tottenham's final six Premier League games in relegation run-in Date
Brighton (home) April 18
Wolves (away) April 25
Aston Villa (away) May 2
Leeds (home) May 11
Chelsea (away) May 17
Everton (home) May 24
The obstacle was at Liverpool's end — the club could not recall Kostas Tsimikas from his Roma loan, leaving Robertson without cover and Liverpool unwilling to sanction his departure.
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The Italian wants him to roll back the years.
Robertson himself handled the situation professionally, seeing out the second half of the season without incident. He now leaves Anfield in the summer regardless, as confirmed, having lost his first-team place to Milos Kerkez.
For Spurs, Robertson is also not the only player being lined up as part of what is shaping up to be some active summer recruitment under De Zerbi.
Tottenham 'enter discussions' over signing Celta Vigo's Oscar Mingueza
According to TEAMtalk's Graeme Bailey, Tottenham are among the clubs to have entered discussions with agents over Oscar Mingueza, the Spanish right-back whose contract at Celta Vigo expires at the end of the season.
Celta Vigo's Oscar Mingueza in action with Olympique Lyonnais' Steeve Kango
More than half a dozen Premier League clubs have now been approached by intermediaries representing the 26-year-old, with Spurs among those in whom there is reported "interest and intrigue" on both sides.
Mingueza came through the Barcelona academy and made 46 La Liga appearances across two seasons for the first team before joining Celta in 2022.
He has developed considerably since leaving the Camp Nou, establishing himself as a consistently reliable performer in La Liga.
He operates primarily on the right side, functioning as a full-back or wing-back with the technical quality expected of a Barcelona product, and has featured in European competition throughout his career.
Celta Vigo's Borja Iglesias celebrates scoring their second goal with Oscar Mingueza -1
Barcelona have also made contact, exploring the possibility of bringing him back to Catalonia. A return to his former club would carry obvious appeal, and the prospect of Champions League football next season gives the Spanish giants a natural advantage in the conversation.
For Tottenham, Mingueza's availability as a free agent makes him an attractive option as they attempt to reshape their squad without significant outlay, with Bournemouth's Marcos Senesi also linked recently.
Whether or not Premier League survival changes the scope of what is possible financially, the combination of Robertson on the left and a right-sided addition of Mingueza's calibre would address two pressing positional needs De Zerbi has inherited.
Nothing is agreed though, and Mingueza's priority will be finding the club that offers him the best chance of regular football.
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The Italian has personally shortlisted him as a summer target.