Kulusevski Race Against Time: De Zerbi's Squad Deadline Dilemma!

Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has expressed a strong desire to include Swedish playmaker Dejan Kulusevski in his Premier League squad for the upcoming season, despite the player's lengthy absence due to injury. With the crucial squad submission deadline looming shortly after the transfer window closes on Tuesday, September 1, De Zerbi faces a significant decision regarding the 26-year-old's fitness.

Kulusevski has been sidelined for over a year with a complicated kneecap injury, preventing him from featuring for Tottenham. While he has recently begun light individual training, he is not yet integrated with the main team and remains a considerable distance from match readiness. The Premier League rules stipulate that once the 25-man squad list is submitted, clubs cannot make changes until after the January transfer window.

This puts Kulusevski in a race against time to prove his fitness before the cut-off.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, De Zerbi conveyed his admiration for Kulusevski's dedication.

He quoted,

I hope, and I will be very, very happy to see Kulusevski inside (the squad list), and I want to put Kulusevski inside of the list because he is working very well, very hard.

The manager further emphasized the human aspect of the situation, adding, "If he feels good like now, he's improving day by day. It's great watching him during the season and also because he deserves it because he suffered too much for his career for his age, for his level of human.

I'm not speaking of him as a player but as a human. He deserves to stay." De Zerbi's comments highlight the emotional weight of the decision, balancing the player's recovery and dedication with the team's immediate needs and Premier League regulations. #Kulusevski #Tottenham #PremierLeague #SpursSquad