Credit: Imago

Jonathan Burnett

Sat 22 February 2025 8:30, UK

Tottenham Hotspur are already laying the groundwork for a significant summer of transfer activity with several big names lined up.

Ange Postecoglou‘s side have encountered a horror season on the pitch, languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table and being dumped out of both domestic cups within four days.

Spurs still have the Europa League to play for after being pitted against AZ Alkmaar in Thursday’s round-of-16 draw, and going all the way in this competition would secure Champions League qualification.

Playing in Europe’s premier competition next term would certainly help Tottenham’s cause when it comes to pursuing their first-choice transfer targets, with at least two young starlets firmly in their sights.

Jamie Gittens and Tyler Dibling both wanted by Tottenham

Those two names, as reported by GiveMeSport on 21 February, are Southampton teenager Tyler Dibling and Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, with Tottenham looking to bring in homegrown talent.

That’s part of a new transfer strategy in North London with a strong homegrown core at its heart, and while Dibling’s intentions to join Tottenham have already been established, Gittens will be harder to sign.

The Lilywhites anticipate an “uphill battle” to bring in the 20-year-old wideman, having deemed it “impossible” to sign him in last month’s window due to his £83million asking price at Dortmund.

Tottenham did almost make a breakthrough in their efforts to sign Dibling – the shining light for lowly Southampton this season –last month, but weren’t confident of making such an acquisition mid-season.

Tottenham can pull off huge double transfer statement

Tottenham are at times criticised for their youth-first transfer approach – particularly given how often they’ve relied on youngsters this season – but there’s little doubting the ability of Gittens and Dibling.

While Archie Gray – signed for £40m from Leeds United last summer – has been thrown in to play across several different positions with no Premier League experience, Gittens and Dibling are proven talents.

Dibling, despite being in his first campaign at the top level, has looked a level above his Southampton team-mates and looks destined for a big-money move away – and Tottenham is his prefered destination.

Gittens has been one of Dortmund’s star performers in both the Bundesliga and Europe this term with 11 goals from 34 matches in all competitions, making interest from Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal no surprise.

Gittens’ form surely warrants and England call-up which will only elevate his valuation further, and if a surprise Tottenham star also enters the international setup, the Reading-born Dortmund star may see the Lilywhite half of North London as a place where his future Premier League career could flourish.