Tottenham are closing in on the free transfer of Marcos Senesi as the Bournemouth defender looks set for a move to north London.
Personal terms still need ironing out. But the deal is well into its closing stages. The 29-year-old is one of two free agents Spurs hope to land quickly.
Roberto de Zerbi is wasting little time now that survival is secured. Bournemouth had pushed hard to keep their man.
They tabled a third contract offer in December. Senesi turned it down and opened talks with clubs abroad.
LaLiga and Serie A sides then queued up with bids. Yet the three-cap Argentina international now looks set to stay in England, barring a late twist.
Spurs close in on Senesi free transfer as De Zerbi rebuild begins
His Premier League pedigree explains the queue. Senesi played all but one league game for Bournemouth this season. The Cherries finished sixth, a club record, and qualified for Europe for the first time in their history.
Across four years on the south coast, he made 128 appearances after joining from Feyenoord in 2022. Six goals and 10 assists in all competitions show his range too.
Spurs need exactly that profile. They finished 17th for a second straight season. De Zerbi only took charge in March, yet his arrival sparked a clear upturn.
Marcos Senesi will become a new Tottenham player, decision made.
The Argentine defender, already in talks with Spurs for over a month, has now agreed all terms and is expected to sign his contract soon.
A 1-0 win over Everton on the final day kept them up. With safety sealed, the long-running deal can now go through, reportedly on a four-year contract from 1 July.
Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham has been blunt about the scale of the task. “The squad needs work and the squad hasn’t got the right balance,” he told BBC Sport this week.
“We need experience and leadership and also that kind of physical robustness to play in the most demanding league that exists.”
He added: “We need to strengthen the club over multiple transfer windows but this transfer window, in particular, is going to be critical.”
Senesi looks like the first answer to that brief. Doubts hang over Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven too, both linked with summer exits.
Marcos Senesi will become a new Tottenham player, decision made.
