Tottenham Hotspur had a very busy summer transfer window for Roberto De Zerbi, but their season is not going to plan currently.

Spurs brought in ten new players during the window, with Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Martin Dubravka, Jan Paul van Hecke, Mateus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali, Savio, Omar Marmoush, Tosin, and Mykhailo Mudryk becoming part of the squad, as the team looked to move away from relegation battles after consecutive 17th-place finishes in the Premier League.

But the season so far has been poor, with the north London club yet to pick up a victory after six games, and already eliminated from the EFL Cup.

Roberto De Zerbi has been looking for solutions to turn their form around, with many changes to the starting lineup made within attack and midfield at different points.

But the defence has been leaky, conceding nine goals in six games in the top flight, while also conceding four in their two cup games before they were knocked out. That's despite several new arrivals coming into the club, and that has sparked some serious thinking about whether the right signings were made.

Micky Van de Ven is the captain and has now signed a new long-term contract, tying him to the club for several more years. But alongside him, both Van Hecke and Senesi arrived, and neither have particularly impressed so far.

The Netherlands international has been a starter in every game so far in the Premier League, but defensively he has looked shaky, despite knowing De Zerbi well from their time at Brighton, while Senesi has had to deal with being a substitute for the most part, despite signing for Spurs with lots of competition from some of Europe's top sides.

With Ben Davies and Tosin providing back-up, it's not a surprise to see the club being heavily linked with more defensive additions for 2027's transfer windows, and now it has emerged that they are keeping a close eye on a top-level defender for the squad.

Spurs Keen on Rudiger Despite Saudi Interest

According to a report by Football Insider, Real Madrid star Antonio Rudiger has emerged as a transfer target for Tottenham heading into the new year, with his contract at the Bernabeu due to expire at the end of the season.

The 34-year-old has been a regular under Jose Mourinho this season, and scored the winner for the team in their epic comeback against Roma in the Champions League in midweek. But a move away is expected in 2027, with the club having Eder Militao, Dean Huijsen, and Ibrahima Konate as options in their squad to replace him.

The German legend is being pursued by Spurs and Saudi clubs, and a move to the Middle east is believed to be far more likely. But if De Zerbi is able to convince the former Chelsea star to return to London and the Premier League, he would be an immediate upgrade on Senesi, Tosin and Davies.

His experience and quality would help performances, but his leadership would also help the squad in the changing room, and help to reset the culture. If a deal can be done, it would be a bit of a no-brainer for the club, but it will not be easy to seal.