De Zerbi names three Tottenham players who want out as Spurs sink to the bottom
Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that Richarlison, Kevin Danso and Pape Matar Sarr have all asked to leave the club — and he has told them to find buyers before they go.
De Zerbi's remarks came after Tottenham's 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle on Saturday, a result that left Spurs bottom of the Premier League having lost their opening two matches without scoring. The three players were absent from the matchday squad entirely.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, De Zerbi was direct about each case. Richarlison, last season's top scorer with 11 goals, "has said many times he wants to leave," the Italian said. Danso, a central defender, came to him two days before the Newcastle match to voice the same desire. Sarr, a midfielder, also wants out but is recovering from a minor injury and is nearly ready to return to training BBC Sport.
De Zerbi drew a firm line on the exit door. Any player who wants to leave, he said, must bring the club an "economic solution" — meaning a transfer fee or loan arrangement that satisfies Tottenham — before a move can happen. The Telegraph reported that De Zerbi wants funds secured so the club can find replacements before letting anyone go The Telegraph.
Sunderland have already tested that resolve. They made an offer to take Danso on a season-long loan, which Tottenham rejected BBC Sport.
The unrest follows a summer in which Tottenham spent more than £300 million on new signings Reuters. Among the arrivals was Omar Marmoush, a striker who joined on loan from Manchester City and replaced Richarlison in the starting XI against Newcastle. The club also signed winger Sávio and are running a fan competition to celebrate his arrival.
De Zerbi was appointed in March on a long-term contract after the departure of Igor Tudor by mutual consent Reuters. He inherited a team that had not won a Premier League game in 2026 and was battling relegation Reuters. The hope was that heavy investment and a fresh voice would turn the page.
So far, the page is still blank. Two matches, two defeats, no goals. And now three players pushing for the door before the summer transfer window closes.
For fans, this is the part that stings. A club that spent freely to back its new manager is watching the dressing room wobble before the season has properly found its rhythm. De Zerbi's public stance — name the players, demand a fee, no favours — is a clear attempt to keep control of the narrative. Whether it settles the squad or unsettles it further is the question Tottenham face in the days ahead.
