Deadline day rush

Tottenham Hotspur are poised for a frantic finish to the transfer window, with as many as six deals potentially completed before the 11pm deadline, according to the Daily Express. The club has already spent over £300 million on eight new players for manager Roberto De Zerbi, though the north London side have started the Premier League season with back-to-back defeats.

Among the expected arrivals are two players from Chelsea. The Daily Express reports that Mykhaylo Mudryk is set to join on loan with an option, not an obligation, to make the move permanent next year. The Ukrainian winger has not played in the Premier League since November 2024 due to a drugs ban but has now been cleared to play. De Zerbi previously worked with Mudryk at Shakhtar Donetsk.

Football London adds that the loan deal for the 25-year-old includes a £75 million option to buy. The same report confirms the imminent arrival of 28-year-old centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo in a permanent deal that will initially cost £7 million before rising with add-ons. The Daily Express states Adarabioyo will undergo his medical to swap London clubs this morning.

A squad in transition

Tottenham have already been active this summer. Football London reports that Omar Marmoush was signed from Manchester City on a season-long loan with an obligation to make the move permanent for £50 million plus another £10 million in add-ons next summer. The same report says Savio also arrived from City in a £75 million deal with £10 million in add-ons, while £52 million was spent on Jan Paul van Hecke from De Zerbi's old club Brighton. Free transfers were agreed for Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka.

Departures have been equally numerous. Kota Takai, Souza and Mikey Moore moved to Sint-Truidense VV, Porto and Koln respectively, according to Football London. Will Lankshear and Ashley Phillips both went to Middlesbrough in £20 million packages, while Yves Bissouma left after the expiry of his contract. Randal Kolo Muani and Joao Palhinha departed after their loan deals ended, joining Juventus and Sporting respectively. The Daily Express separately reports that Pape Matar Sarr is set to join Juventus on loan, and that Porto will complete the loan signing of 20-year-old left-back Souza until June 2027, with the Portuguese club paying the Brazilian's wages in full.

Kevin Danso is also set to complete a loan move to Sunderland after requesting a transfer exit, with the deal including an option to buy, per the Daily Express.

Registration headache

Tottenham's squad planning faces a significant complication. Football London reports that all of Spurs' 10 signings this summer are too old to qualify for the under-21 list and must take spots in the non-homegrown list, apart from Adarabioyo who can go on the homegrown list. With the arrivals of Mudryk, Marmoush and Savio, and the departures of Sarr and Takai, Tottenham currently have 18 non-homegrown players when only 17 are permitted.

The club are reportedly looking to sell Richarlison, who could be the odd man out. The Brazilian forward took to social media to address his situation, saying: "After everything I've been through in the last few years, I've decided that never again will anyone decide my future for me." He added: "My intention was to go back to the place where I was very happy, yes, but the negotiations happened only in the way certain people wanted." He concluded: "Despite all this turmoil, I am under contract at Spurs and will remain at the club's disposal."

Another potential solution is leaving Xavi Simons out of the initial squad, but that would prevent the Dutchman from returning before January from his ACL injury, when the squad can be changed again. Dejan Kulusevski, meanwhile, has returned to full training this week after 477 days out with a complicated knee injury, and De Zerbi has said he wants the Swede in his Premier League squad this season.

Homegrown numbers are also tight. Robertson does not count as homegrown because he was first registered with the English FA at 20, but Wilson Odobert, currently out with an ACL injury, is now considered homegrown after spending three seasons in England before his 21st birthday. Football London lists seven homegrown players currently, against a minimum of eight, with Dane Scarlett set to leave for Leyton Orient on a permanent deal, meaning Spurs will either leave a space free or register a younger player.

Richarlison's future

Richarlison's statement comes amid reports of interest from Everton. The Daily Express says Everton have agreed a deal for striker Folarin Balogun and are looking to re-sign Jack Grealish, though it does not specify Richarlison's role in those plans. Football London reports that Tottenham are actively looking to sell Richarlison and that he could be the odd man out if he does not move in this window or in other windows that remain open beyond tonight.

With the deadline approaching, Tottenham face a race to resolve their squad balance while finalising the expected arrivals of Mudryk and Adarabioyo. The club's activity reflects both De Zerbi's desire to reshape the squad and the constraints of Premier League registration rules.