Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi is reportedly pushing the club’s hierarchy to make a significant appointment ahead of the January transfer window, with former Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio emerging as a leading candidate to take charge of the club’s recruitment operations. The Italian coach is believed to want an experienced football executive alongside him as Spurs prepare for another potentially important period of squad building.

The reported development comes after Tottenham invested heavily in their playing squad during the summer, attempting to reshape the team and establish a stronger foundation for the future. Despite the substantial financial commitment, the early stages of the campaign have highlighted several areas that may still require attention, leaving the North London outfit facing fresh questions about the effectiveness of its recruitment strategy.

According to reports, De Zerbi believes appointing the right sporting director could be crucial to Tottenham’s plans, particularly as they look to identify a reliable centre-forward capable of improving their attacking output. Ausilio’s experience in the transfer market is understood to be one of the reasons he has attracted interest, with the potential appointment expected to have implications for the club’s recruitment priorities.

Tottenham’s expensive summer rebuild has not solved every problem

There was considerable optimism surrounding Tottenham’s business during the summer transfer window, with the club making a series of ambitious moves to strengthen several positions.

The Lilywhites pursued an extensive overhaul, bringing in experienced professionals and promising attacking players while also moving on a number of members of the existing squad. The scale of the activity represented a significant change in approach compared with the more cautious transfer strategy associated with former chairman Daniel Levy.

Among the reported arrivals were Andrew Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka, who were brought in on free transfers. Tottenham also committed substantial sums to several players, including Jan Paul van Hecke, Mateus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali, Savinho and Omar Marmoush.

Tosin Adarabioyo joined in a deal reportedly worth £12 million, while Mykhailo Mudryk arrived on loan as the club explored additional attacking options.

The reported transfer figures placed Tottenham’s total expenditure at approximately £394 million, underlining the ambition behind their recruitment drive. The intention was to build a more competitive squad capable of challenging stronger opponents and providing the manager with greater tactical flexibility.

However, the club also generated considerable income through player departures.

Luka Vuskovic was reportedly sold for £50 million, while Will Lankshear and Radu Dragusin generated £20 million and £21 million respectively. Other departures included Alejo Veliz, Alfie Devine, Tynan Thompson, Manor Solomon, Cristian Romero, Ashley Phillips, Djed Spence, Kevin Danso and Pape Matar Sarr.

Taken together, those transactions were reported to have generated approximately £254.8 million, leaving Tottenham with a net transfer outlay of around £139.2 million.

Although the figures demonstrate the scale of the club’s activity, spending heavily does not automatically guarantee immediate success. Building a balanced squad requires more than signing recognisable names; it also depends on identifying players who suit the manager’s system, filling the right positions and ensuring that new arrivals complement those already at the club.

That appears to be one of the challenges facing Tottenham as the season progresses.

The early results have reportedly exposed weaknesses that the summer recruitment drive was expected to address. Consequently, further additions could be required when the January market opens, with the club potentially looking beyond individual signings towards a broader restructuring of its football operations.

De Zerbi reportedly wants Piero Ausilio to take charge of recruitment

Ausilio has emerged as a potential solution to Tottenham’s search for a new sporting director, with reports suggesting that the former Inter Milan executive is among the leading candidates for the position.

The experienced Italian has built a reputation through his work in football recruitment and squad planning. His previous association with Inter makes him an attractive option for a club seeking someone with knowledge of the European transfer market and experience operating within a high-profile football organisation.

According to a report attributed to Mundo Deportivo, Tottenham’s interest in Ausilio has received particular encouragement from De Zerbi, who is said to have urged the club’s leadership to pursue his appointment.

If accurate, the development would indicate that the Spurs manager wants a closer working relationship with the person responsible for identifying targets, negotiating deals and shaping the squad over successive transfer windows.

Such an appointment could be especially important as Tottenham attempt to avoid repeating the problems that can emerge when recruitment decisions fail to align with a manager’s tactical requirements.

A sporting director typically works alongside the head coach to establish transfer priorities, evaluate potential signings and help maintain a consistent long-term strategy. The role can also involve overseeing contract decisions, player sales and the development of a squad capable of competing across different competitions.

For De Zerbi, having an experienced executive involved in those processes could provide additional support as he attempts to establish his preferred style of football at Tottenham.

The report suggests that Ausilio could be particularly useful in helping the club identify a new striker. Tottenham’s search for a dependable number nine is understood to be one of the priorities being considered ahead of January, although no appointment or transfer agreement should be treated as confirmed at this stage.

Endrick emerges as a potential target — but Mourinho complicates the picture

One of the names reportedly linked with Tottenham’s search for a centre-forward is Brazilian youngster Endrick, whose future at Real Madrid has attracted attention amid concerns about his opportunities for regular first-team football.

The teenager has previously been associated with a possible move to Spurs, with the North London club reportedly monitoring his situation during the January 2026 transfer window. The prospect of another opportunity in January 2027 has consequently generated renewed interest.

Endrick’s potential availability would offer Tottenham the chance to pursue a young forward with considerable long-term potential. Regular competitive football could be an important consideration for the Brazilian as he seeks to continue his development and establish himself at the highest level.

Earlier reports suggested that Real Madrid were considering a temporary departure for the youngster during the January window, potentially allowing him to gain more experience away from the Spanish giants.

However, that possibility has become less straightforward following comments attributed to Jose Mourinho, who reportedly dismissed the prospect of allowing the forward to leave on loan.

Mourinho’s reported position could complicate Tottenham’s hopes of securing Endrick if the club decides to make a formal approach. Even if Spurs identify him as an ideal candidate, they would need Real Madrid to be receptive to negotiations before any potential deal could progress.

As a result, Tottenham may have to maintain several alternative options rather than focus exclusively on the Brazilian.

Four other strikers reportedly remain on Tottenham’s radar

Endrick is not the only forward linked with a possible move to North London. According to a separate report from TEAMtalk, Tottenham are also monitoring Vangelis Pavlidis, Roberto Fernandez, Igor Matanovic and Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Each represents a different potential route for strengthening the attack, giving Spurs a broader pool of candidates to consider if their preferred target proves unavailable.

Pavlidis has been mentioned as another possible option as Tottenham assess the market for a proven goalscorer. Fernandez and Matanovic could provide alternative profiles, while Mateta would represent another experienced attacking candidate.

Nevertheless, reported interest in these players does not mean Tottenham have submitted offers or reached agreements with their respective clubs. Their inclusion on a reported shortlist simply illustrates the range of possibilities being considered as the January window approaches.

The eventual decision will depend on several factors, including transfer fees, salary demands, availability and the type of striker De Zerbi believes would work best within his tactical system.

An experienced sporting director could play an important role in evaluating those options and determining which deal represents the best balance between immediate improvement and long-term value.

January could become a defining period for Tottenham

Tottenham’s reported pursuit of Ausilio suggests that their next transfer window could involve more than simply adding another striker. The club may also be looking to establish a clearer structure for recruitment and ensure that future decisions are coordinated with the manager’s plans.

The summer’s reported £394 million expenditure demonstrated a willingness to invest heavily, but the challenge now is to turn that spending into consistent performances and results. With a reported net outlay of £139.2 million, Spurs have already committed significant resources to the rebuild.

The priority will be ensuring that any further investments address genuine weaknesses rather than adding players without a clear role in the team.

For De Zerbi, the appointment of a sporting director who understands his ambitions could prove valuable. Ausilio’s reported candidacy offers one possible solution, although Tottenham’s hierarchy would still need to make a final decision before the situation becomes official.

Meanwhile, the striker search is likely to remain a central talking point, particularly if Endrick continues to face uncertainty over his opportunities at Real Madrid. Mourinho’s reported stance means Tottenham may need to consider alternatives, with Pavlidis, Fernandez, Matanovic and Mateta also featuring in reports about the club’s recruitment plans.

The big question is whether Tottenham will back De Zerbi’s reported request and appoint an experienced sporting director before January — and whether that move will finally help Spurs identify the centre-forward they need to take their rebuild to the next level.