Tottenham Target Pedro Neto as De Zerbi's Attack Rebuild Continues

Tottenham Hotspur’s response to a bruising opening-day defeat is clear: attack the transfer market as aggressively as they intend to attack opponents.

Roberto De Zerbi’s side were dismantled 3-0 by Brentford on Saturday, a sobering start to the 2026/27 Premier League season that underlined how much work remains. Spurs have already been busy, but they are not done yet.

Spurs load up in attack

The North London club are close to wrapping up deals for Manchester City pair Savinho and Omar Marmoush, two additions designed to inject pace and unpredictability into the frontline. They will join a squad already being reshaped under De Zerbi, who wants numbers and variety in the forward areas.

That still isn’t enough. Spurs are pushing for more.

Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo has emerged as a leading target as De Zerbi looks for a versatile attacker who can play across the front line. Interest is firm, but the deal is complicated. It is not yet clear whether Tottenham can reach an agreement with Liverpool for the Dutch international, and time in the window is running out.

So Spurs are working on alternatives.

Neto on the radar

If Gakpo proves out of reach, Pedro Neto is high on the contingency list. Sky Sports report that the Chelsea winger is among the forwards identified by Tottenham as possible late-window options.

Chelsea value the 26-year-old at around £100m. That figure reflects how highly they rate the Portuguese international, who has become an important part of Xabi Alonso’s new-look squad. It is a steep price for a player who is not officially on the market, but crucially, Neto is not considered untouchable at Stamford Bridge. For the right offer, Chelsea would listen.

Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal have already tested the waters. Their interest was serious, but, as reported by Fabrizio Romano, they have stepped back, viewing Neto as too expensive and turning their attention towards Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli instead.

Chelsea’s dilemma

Chelsea’s stance adds another layer of intrigue. Alonso is still piecing together his best XI, experimenting with Neto in multiple roles – as a wing-back and in advanced positions – to take advantage of his work rate and direct running. In a squad stacked with attacking options, Neto’s versatility has been a useful asset.

Would Chelsea really sanction a sale to a London rival at this stage of the window? That is far from guaranteed. The club have set their valuation with reference to other wide players sold this summer, and they are under no pressure to sell cheaply, especially to a direct competitor.

Neto’s own view cannot be ignored either. A move across the capital to Spurs would mean stepping into a side in transition under a demanding coach, with no guarantee of Champions League football. It would also mean leaving a Chelsea team where competition is fierce but ambition is obvious under Alonso.

Busy end to the window at Stamford Bridge

Around Neto, the rest of Chelsea’s attacking department is also in flux. The club have already rejected a loan offer from AS Roma for Jamie Gittens, a sign they are not willing to let young talent leave on the cheap.

Mykhailo Mudryk, back on the pitch this summer after the resolution of his doping case, is expected to head out on loan to reboot his career with regular minutes. Leeds United have already seen an offer turned down, with several other clubs monitoring the situation.

All of this points to a hectic final stretch of the window at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea are working to trim Alonso’s squad, clear pathways for key players, and lock in the group that will carry them through at least the first half of the season.

For Spurs, that chaos might present an opening. The question is simple, and brutal: can they turn Chelsea’s reshuffle into the marquee attacking signing De Zerbi needs, or will Neto remain one more name they could not prise loose?