The bizarre £43.5m transfer gamble Tottenham should think twice about this summer

Whatever impact the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi might have on Tottenham Hotspur’s on-field performances, it’s already had an impact on the frequency with which they’re mentioned in the gossip columns. If you believe the rumourmongers, the Italian head coach arrived in North London with a long list of transfer targets.

The chances are that many of the stories currently circulating about Spurs are fanciful, even if they do stay in the Premier League. Are they really after both Galatasaray’s Gabriel Sara and Juventus’ Manuel Locatelli? Perhaps, perhaps not. But one particularly intriguing story, which suggests that they could be targeting a player who has played (and struggled) in England before is worth looking at more closely: Would it make sense for Spurs to sign Moise Kean?

Why signing Moise Kean would represent a huge gamble for Tottenham Hotspur

Few players have enjoyed – or endured – quite such a rollercoaster career as Kean. Heralded as one of Italy’s brightest prospects from a young age, Kean’s fortunes seem to have waxed and waned almost by the month. He has struggled at Everton and with injuries. He has shown sudden bursts of form at PSG and Juventus, only to fall apart thereafter. The only constant throughout his career has been his inconsistency.

In 2024, the now 26-year-old Kean pitched up at Fiorentina, and immediately found himself ascending another one of his sporadic peaks. He scored 25 goals in 44 appearances in all competitions, and rumours that a bigger side would once again take a chance on him began to circulate – but this time, Kean stayed put. For now, at least.

Now, Calciomercato report that Spurs could make a move for the centre-forward, with his supposed €50m (£43.5m) asking price not necessarily a barrier. Sign the best version of Kean, and it could be a bargain. Catch him on the downswing, and it would look like a waste of money.

The timing of the story, which has been picked up by any number of gossip websites since it was published over the weekend, is interesting given that Kean’s formed has slumped again. He scored just two goals in his first 16 club games of the 2025/26 season and while a burst of better form in February means he’s now up to eight Serie A strikes for the season, he’s struggling by last year’s standards and hasn’t scored in purple in over a month.

The stats make rather grim reading. In the league, Kean’s eight goals have come from 15.06xG, a testament to pace and guile which still puts him in dangerous positions but also to his lack of confidence and form in front of goal. Sensible sides would think twice, at least, before spending €50m on a player underperforming his expected goals by such a significant margin.

There is a curiosity, however, in that his form for Italy remains entirely undiminished. He scored in both of the Azzurri’s recent World Cup qualifiers against Northern Ireland and Bosnia & Herzegovina, and while the national side contrived to miss out on a trip to North America, the striker himself now has eight goals in his last seven caps. Put him in a blue shirt, and the most lethal version of Kean seems to reassert himself.

There is, in other words, a striker in there who scores for fun at the top level, but he doesn’t seem to stick around for very long. One season, he can be unstoppable. The next, he seems to lose himself in the penalty area rather than losing his marker. If Spurs really are interested in signing Kean, then they would also be signing themselves up for a huge – and potentially very expensive – gamble.

How likely is it that Spurs sign Moise Kean this summer?

So what are the odds, then, that Spurs choose to play the odds and make a move for Kean in the summer transfer window? It’s difficult to say, but the fact that this remains a single-source story is cause for some scepticism.

While a number of outlets have reported Spurs’ interest, Calciomercato appear to be the only original source for the rumour, and it’s wise not to put too much stock in such a story until other, more reliable media sources start to throw their weight behind it too.

It’s worth noting that De Zerbi’s appointment has sparked a rash of stories from transfer ‘experts’ keen to make it clear that they have the inside track on the new regime at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Given that the Italian has barely had time to take his first training session, it seems unlikely that many reporters have a handle on the shape of his transfer shortlist just yet. It’s likely that the club are only in the early phases of any discussions about what the summer might look like.

In short, the story linking Spurs with Kean should be taken with a substantial pinch of salt, at least for now. But there is every chance that Spurs are in the market for a new striker of some stripe, and perhaps Kean really is on their radar in some capacity.

Leading goalscorer Richarlison seems highly likely to leave, Randal Kolo Muani has been linked with a move to former club Juventus, and Mathys Tel appears quite likely to try and force his way out too – and if Spurs end up getting relegated, than there could be an even broader exodus.

Should they go down, then a move for Kean certainly won’t be on the cards, but there is a chance that they stay up and find themselves left with Dominic Solanke as the only traditional centre-forward on the books. That would create a hole a player like Kean could fill.

Leaving form and confidence aside, De Zerbi’s strategic vision will dictate how effective of a signing Kean could be. He may have spent much of his early career out wide, but he’s developed into a true number nine, one who plays off the shoulder of the last man and needs strong service from attacking midfielders behind him. Maybe that’s the kind of striker that would suit Spurs once De Zerbi settles in. Maybe not. But either way, signing Kean would represent one of the biggest risks that Spurs could feasibly take this summer.