Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi is reportedly targeting a summer move for Marseille forward Mason Greenwood, according to transfers journalist Nico Schira. The Italian would be reuniting with a player he worked with closely during their shared spell in Ligue 1.

De Zerbi took charge at Tottenham earlier this year after his successful stint at Marseille, where Greenwood flourished under his management following a permanent move away from Manchester United. The 24-year-old established himself as one of Ligue 1's most dangerous forwards during that period.

A reunion not without controversy

Any move to bring Greenwood to north London would be contentious. When De Zerbi was appointed Tottenham manager, the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust and supporter groups including Women of the Lane publicly objected to his hiring, citing remarks he had made in France about Greenwood.

De Zerbi had described Greenwood as a 'good guy' who had 'paid a heavy price,' comments the fan groups dismissed as 'ill-judged' and 'deeply offensive.' In his first official interview as Tottenham manager, De Zerbi issued an apology, stating he had never intended to minimise the issue of violence against women.

Greenwood's background

Greenwood departed Manchester United permanently in 2024, ending a turbulent chapter that began with his arrest in January 2022. He was charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. In February 2023, the Crown Prosecution Service announced all charges had been dropped, citing the withdrawal of key witnesses and the emergence of new material that left no realistic prospect of conviction.

Manchester United and Greenwood subsequently agreed that a fresh start elsewhere was the best course of action. A loan spell at Getafe preceded his permanent transfer to Marseille, where he rebuilt his career under De Zerbi's guidance.

With De Zerbi now shaping his Tottenham squad ahead of a busy summer transfer window, Greenwood has reportedly been identified as a key target. The prospective transfer is certain to draw intense scrutiny from supporters, though De Zerbi remains a firm admirer of the forward's qualities on the pitch.