Tottenham Hotspur narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League last season, finishing 17th with 41 points after a dramatic final-day victory over Everton.
Roberto De Zerbi guided Spurs to safety, but the Italian manager is now focused on rebuilding a squad capable of challenging for European football once again.
Spurs have spent two consecutive seasons languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League, a stark contrast to the 66-point, fifth-place finish they recorded in the 2023/24 campaign.
Despite the recent struggles, it is worth remembering that Tottenham lifted the Europa League just over 12 months ago, proving the club retains the framework to compete at a high level.
ENIC Group have already strengthened the defensive options this summer, but De Zerbi has made it clear that midfield reinforcements are the most urgent priority heading into the new season.
Premier League duo Mateus Fernandes of West Ham and Sandro Tonali of Newcastle have both emerged as top targets, though competition from Arsenal, Manchester United, and Manchester City complicates those pursuits.
According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham have now stormed into the race for Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, with the England international considered one of the most realistic targets available to the club.
Spurs are said to hold genuine confidence that a deal with Palace can be struck, even though any bid is expected to need to be substantial, with Wharton valued at around £70 million.
Wharton, who was omitted from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad, has developed significantly at Crystal Palace, creating 14 big chances in the 2025/26 season compared to just five the campaign before.
Journalist Henry Winter has hailed the midfielder as a “passing machine,” and his ability to dispossess opponents while retaining and distributing the ball has drawn considerable admiration.
His line-breaking passing and creativity draw comparisons to the role James Maddison has played at Spurs, though Wharton’s skill set is better suited to a deeper midfield position.
Wharton’s arrival could in fact challenge Maddison’s place in De Zerbi’s starting lineup, with the Spurs manager potentially open to signing three midfielders before the transfer window closes.
Joao Palhinha also falls into that category, with Tottenham working to make last season’s loanee’s move permanent before the summer deadline.
With Wharton, Fernandes, and Tonali all in consideration, Spurs are mounting one of their most ambitious midfield overhauls in recent memory as De Zerbi looks to push the club back toward the top six.