Where will Tottenham Hotspur finish in the Premier League this season?
After ending last campaign in 17th place, Spurs will be desperate for a significant improvement. Given the amount of money they have invested in strengthening the squad, another disappointing finish would represent a major failure.
However, their chances of securing Champions League football could depend heavily on what they do before the transfer window closes.
Tottenham have strengthened their defence and midfield impressively, but their attack has yet to receive the same attention. That is an area Roberto De Zerbi will surely want to address.
There have been ambitious rumours linking Spurs with Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen, although a move for Folarin Balogun appears considerably more realistic.
The concerns surrounding Folarin Balogun
Tottenham are actively searching for attacking reinforcements, particularly on the wings, but adding another striker would also make sense.
Dominic Solanke’s fitness and performances have raised concerns over the past year. He managed only 20 appearances last season, scoring six goals, and has featured for just 45 minutes during pre-season.
Balogun, meanwhile, could offer Spurs greater competition and potentially an upgrade in front of goal. The USA international has reportedly been open to the possibility of moving to north London.
His recent form has certainly been impressive. Balogun scored 19 goals for Monaco during the 2025/26 campaign and also found the net three times in four World Cup appearances.
There are still reasons for Tottenham to be cautious, though. Despite his improvement, Balogun has struggled for consistency throughout his career in France.
During his loan spell at Reims in 2022/23, he scored 22 goals in 39 appearances. His numbers then dropped considerably after joining Monaco permanently, with eight goals in 2023/24 and only four the following season.
The former Arsenal academy product is clearly developing, but Spurs may prefer a more established striker, particularly one with proven Premier League experience.
Cody Gakpo could be the safer option
That is why Tottenham’s interest in Premier League-proven attackers could prove significant.
A fee is reportedly close to being agreed with Manchester City for Brazilian winger Savinho, but Spurs are also attempting to bring Cody Gakpo from Liverpool.
The Gakpo deal is complicated, however, because Liverpool are already searching for attacking reinforcements. With Mohamed Salah’s departure leaving a significant gap, the Reds may be reluctant to allow another forward to leave unless they can bring in suitable replacements.
Gakpo himself is reportedly receptive to a move to Tottenham, but Liverpool’s stance remains that he is not currently for sale.
Everything could therefore depend on whether Liverpool manage to sign multiple new forwards before the deadline.
If Tottenham were able to complete deals for both Savinho and Gakpo, their spending could rise by another £150 million or so. That would represent another huge investment in De Zerbi’s squad.
Nevertheless, Gakpo could arguably represent the lower-risk option. Unlike Balogun, he has already demonstrated that he can perform consistently at the highest level of English football.
The Dutchman played an important role in Liverpool’s 2024/25 Premier League title-winning campaign, scoring 10 league goals and 18 across all competitions.
With Spurs desperate to improve their attacking output, a proven Premier League performer such as Gakpo could ultimately make a bigger difference to their chances of returning to the Champions League.
