Darren Anderton exclusive: 'Tottenham must sign Igor Thiago, he is perfect for Roberto De Zerbi

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Evening Standard

·22 Juni 2026

Darren Anderton exclusive: 'Tottenham must sign Igor Thiago, he is perfect for Roberto De Zerbi

Spurs legend tips Brazil’s No9 to finally be the man to replace Harry Kane

Former Tottenham midfielder Darren Anderton believes Igor Thiago is the perfect summer signing for Roberto De Zerbi.

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Spurs are embarking on a huge squad overhaul this summer after back-to-back 17th-placed finishes.

Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson joined on free transfers before Jan Paul van Hecke arrived from Brighton for £52m to rebuild the defence. Spurs are said to have opened talks with £100m-rated Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali amid interest in West Ham’s £80m-rated Mateus Fernandes.

Marcus Rashford is the latest attacking player to be linked, amid confirmed interest in Manchester City’s Savinho, but it is an out-and-out striker which Anderton feels needs to be addressed by De Zerbi.

Thiago, 24, last season scored 22 goals for Brentford to finish behind only Erling Haaland in the Premier League golden boot race.

The striker is currently on World Cup duty with Brazil: he started in their opener against Morocco, but was dropped to the bench against Haiti in favour of Matheus Cunha.

Igor Thiago

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Anderton, speaking exclusively to Standard Sport via Ivy Bet, believes Thiago can help fill the gap in Spurs’ strike force since Harry Kane’s departure three years ago. He said: “I don't think anyone can [replace Kane] as such.

“Are we going to go out and buy the best striker in the world that's available and pay him crazy, whoever that guy is, crazy money? I don't think we are.

“It's going to be that one where we probably take a gamble on someone and try and do it that way. I mean, I love the boy at Brentford, Igor Thiago. I think he's done great.”

The striker joined Brentford in 2024 from Club Brugge, in a deal worth £28.5million, but suffered two long-term injuries saw his first-team debut delayed until August 2025. He has scored twice in five caps since his Brazil debut in March.

Anderton - who made 365 appearances for Tottenham - does not believe Spurs’ current Brazilian forward, Richarlison, is the answer to Spurs’ striker issues, but has not given up hope on Dominic Solanke despite injuries restricting him to 15 league appearances last season.

De Zerbi can get us back into the Champions League. I really do. I think he's that good.

Darren Anderton

On Solanke, he said: “I don't think he can replace Harry ... we desperately need a goalscorer. I hope that Solanke can come and be that.

“Richarlison, is not going to be a goalscorer. He's going to run around and upset defenders and be a pain in the arse to play against. Is he going to be involved in a team that gets into that top four or five?”

But the 30-cap former England international believes Roberto De Zerbi is the man to return Spurs to Europe this season.

De Zerbi joined in April on a five-year contract, replacing the disastrous interim appointment of Igor Tudor.

The former Brighton manager steered Tottenham to safety, securing their Premier League status on the final day with a 1-0 win over Everton, and is now leading an aggressive transfer spend.

Anderton said: “Honestly, as bad as it was, I think that De Zerbi can get us back into the Champions League. I really do. I think he's that good.

“If he gets the right players in, which obviously Senesi is, he wants us to play a certain way of passing the ball correctly.”

He added: “I don't see why Igor Thiago wouldn't fit the system.”