Tottenham have survived and their first transfer move has already been made at Fiorentina

Tottenham have made a concrete approach for Fiorentina midfielder Nicolo Fagioli, with Corriere Fiorentino reporting that the approach has already taken place and that Spurs are currently ahead of AC Milan in the race for the 25-year-old Italian international, with survival confirmation providing the green light for De Zerbi to accelerate his midfield rebuild.

The timing is significant. Sport Witness had already reported that Tottenham were growing serious about Fagioli and that De Zerbi specifically wanted to bring him to north London. Sunday’s 1-0 win over Everton, which confirmed Premier League safety, removes the final obstacle that had been holding the pursuit back.

Nicolo Fagioli Tottenham approach: what Corriere Fiorentino report

The Italian newspaper cover the futures of several Fiorentina players and identify Fagioli as one attracting significant external interest. Tottenham are flagged as the club that has stepped forward most concretely, with an approach noted and Spurs positioned as the frontrunners ahead of Milan.

Fiorentina’s director Fabio Paratici would prefer to keep Fagioli, viewing him as central to the club’s project going forward. The counterargument from a financial standpoint is compelling: Fagioli’s contract runs until 2028, which means this summer is their strongest window to generate a meaningful capital gain from his sale. Waiting another year only reduces the leverage they currently hold.

Fiorentina finished 15th this season, which makes the “central to our project” argument harder to sustain. A club that has just survived in mid-table is in a weaker negotiating position than one with European ambitions, and Tottenham know it.

Why De Zerbi’s connection to Fagioli runs deeper than most

De Zerbi‘s track record with technical Italian midfielders adds real credibility to this pursuit. During his time at Sassuolo he was instrumental in the rise of Manuel Locatelli, developing the midfielder from a promising young player into one of Serie A‘s most coveted talents and eventually facilitating his move to Juventus. Fagioli is a similar profile at a similar stage of his career.

He can operate across multiple midfield roles, having played in attacking midfield at Juventus before settling into a slightly deeper position at Fiorentina. That versatility makes him a natural fit for how De Zerbi builds his systems, with technical players asked to shift between positions depending on the phase of play. At a current wage of €1.8m per season, he is also straightforward to tempt with a Premier League contract that would represent a significant step up.

What this means for Tottenham’s summer rebuild

Fagioli would be the first confirmed move of what promises to be an extensive summer overhaul at Hotspur Way. De Zerbi needs a midfield that can dictate tempo, press intelligently and contribute in the final third. Xavi Simons is out until late 2026 with his ACL injury. Conor Gallagher is expected to be sold. The starting positions are effectively vacant.

Getting Fagioli through the door early sends a message about intent and gives De Zerbi a technical foundation to build around before the more expensive and competitive pursuits of the summer take shape. The approach has been made. The negotiation begins now.