After the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi at Tottenham Hotspur, there’s no doubt a newfound sense of hope that the club can maintain their Premier League status.
The Lilywhites have been in a desperate state for many months, with the Italian the man chosen to help lead the side away from the relegation zone in the next seven matches.
Given the small timeframe remaining in the campaign, it’s crucial that the 46-year-old makes an immediate impact after taking the reins in North London.
Given the club’s exit from the FA Cup, he will have an extended period to work closely with the first team players to give them the best chance possible of turning their form around.
However, regardless of the ongoing relegation battle, the new boss will certainly be working closely with the board over the potential plans in place for the summer window.
Spurs burst into race to land £42m star
Spurs have been credited with an interest in landing numerous top talents over the last couple of months, with no deals yet in place before the summer window.
Over the last couple of days, West Ham United star Crysencio Summerville has emerged as a potential target, with his form for the Hammers no doubt catching the eye.
The 24-year-old has netted five times in 24 league appearances so far this term, with such a record playing a key role in their hunt to secure their own top-flight status.
However, Summerville isn’t the only player who’s currently in their sights at present, with 18-year-old centre-back Karim Coulibaly another name admired by staff behind the scenes.
According to Football FanCast sources, the Lilywhites have emerged as key contenders to land the Werder Bremen star, who’s featured 22 times in the Bundesliga this season.
The report also states that the player could well be keen on a move during the summer, but only if a deal is beneficial for himself and his current employers.
A deal could prove to be an expensive one for De Zerbi’s men during the off-season, with the German side currently demanding as much as €50m (£42m) for the youngster.
Why Coulibaly would be De Zerbi’s next Caicedo
During his managerial career to date, Spurs boss De Zerbi has become known for his ability to develop young talents – as seen with Moises Caicedo during his time at Brighton.
The Ecuadorian international arrived as an unknown teenager to many back in 2021, with the Italian handing the 24-year-old his breakthrough season back in 2022/23.
Such a campaign would see the midfielder feature in all but one Premier League match, arguably being one of the manager’s star players as the Seagulls finished sixth.
As a result of his time under the manager, Caicedo would join Chelsea for a staggering £115m in the summer of 2023 – a deal that was an English record at the time.
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After his appointment at Spurs, De Zerbi will no doubt be hoping to have a similar impact with the youngsters on the books, or even with the potential arrival of Coulibaly.
Whilst the 18-year-old evidently operates in a slightly different position, he could hugely benefit from the manager’s ability to get the best out of young stars.
A deal could well be an expensive one for the Lilywhites, but it would also allow them to land yet another impressive prospect for the immediate and long-term future.
His stats from the current campaign at Bremen certainly make for interesting reading, with the teenager able to be a huge asset for De Zerbi in North London.
Coulibaly has started 20 times in the Bundesliga this campaign, even netting his first senior goal during the 3-3 draw with Bayer Leverkusen back in August.
He’s gained a reputation for being a competent option in possession, subsequently completing 86% of the passes he’s attempted so far in the 2025/26 season.
The German has also completed 71% of the dribbles he’s attempted, which could make him a perfect option for De Zerbi in his preferred possession-based system.
However, without the ball, he’s been just as impressive, subsequently winning 1.2 tackles and making 7.8 defensive contributions per 90 – despite his tender age.
|
Karim Coulibaly – Bundesliga stats (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90) |
Tally |
|
Games played |
22 |
|
Goals & assists |
1 |
|
Pass accuracy |
86% |
|
Dribbles completed |
71% |
|
Tackles made |
1.2 |
|
Defensive contributions |
7.8 |
|
Clearances made |
4.8 |
|
Aerials won |
48% |
Coulibaly has also made 4.8 clearances per 90 and won 48% of his aerial battles – which already demonstrates his excellent ability without the ball at his feet.
It’s unclear if the Lilywhites would be willing to meet his current asking price, but the aforementioned stats highlight the star quality he possesses at both ends of the pitch.
Should he make the move to North London and thrive as much as Caicedo did, the deal would be a tremendous one and would see the club acquire another top-level youngster.
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