Tottenham boss De Zerbi vows youth focus, transfer push

Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has emphasized his commitment to integrating young players while continuing a major squad overhaul, following a preseason victory in New Zealand. Spurs defeated A-League champions Auckland FC 2-0 at Eden Park on Sunday, July 26, 2026, in front of a record New Zealand football crowd of 40,112. The match highlighted De Zerbi's willingness to field youthful lineups and his ongoing plans to strengthen the team's attack in the transfer market.

De Zerbi named a remarkably young starting eleven with an average age of 20, captained by 20-year-old Archie Gray. The lineup featured several academy talents, with 27-year-old Manor Solomon the oldest outfield starter. De Zerbi stated that age is not a factor in his selection, focusing instead on quality, attitude, and behavior. He used the friendly to assess promising youngsters like Luca Williams-Barnett, whom he called a "big talent," and Mikey Moore, while giving senior players more time to acclimatize after the long journey.

The Italian coach confirmed that completing the attacking positions is now the priority for Tottenham's transfer activity. He said the club needs "another couple of important...