Tottenham Hotspur have secured Marcos Senesi on a free transfer from Bournemouth, agreeing terms for the defender to join once his contract at Bournemouth expires at the end of the month. Senesi arrives as Spurs’ second free signing of the summer, following the departure of Liverpool left back Andy Robertson. Robertson is yet to be assigned a jersey, while Senesi has been given the No. 5 shirt.

The club has not formally disclosed the length of the contract, though it was previously reported as four years, taking the deal to the end of the 2029–30 Premier League season. Senesi is 29 now and would be 33 by then.

There had been interest in Senesi from a number of quarters. Some expected an immediate reunion with Andoni Iraola at Liverpool, especially given the perceived centre back shortage at Anfield. Chelsea and Manchester United were also reported as possible destinations. Senesi said Spurs’ approach made the difference: “Spurs really showed me that they wanted me, why they want me and what they expect from me. I’m happy for that.”

Manager Roberto De Zerbi highlighted what he believes Senesi will bring to the squad, pointing to the defender’s “experience, quality on the ball and competitive edge.” De Zerbi added: “He’s comfortable playing in a possession-based team, reads the game very well and has the personality to thrive in a demanding environment. I also love his mentality and desire to keep improving and I’m looking forward to working with him and seeing the big contribution he can make to the team.”

Senesi has also described his style with the ball: “I like to have the ball at my feet and try to help the team build and be as offensive as we can, try to press as high as possible.

“I’ve just got that feeling of playing forward all the time. I don’t like to play too much to the sides. I just try to break the lines and try to be more offensive.”

Senesi did not make Argentina’s final 2026 World Cup squad and will therefore be available to begin preseason in early July. With lingering uncertainty surrounding captain Cristian Romero, Spurs may still pursue a second centre back. Reports from the Netherlands have linked Brighton & Hove Albion’s Jan Paul van Hecke to Tottenham, with Micky van de Ven said to have spoken with him.

Jürgen Klopp’s final words on the microphone were recycled as the first Anfield chant for Arne Slot. That affectionate handover masks a blunt truth Slot himself flagged last season — a template that thrives on turnovers can be dismantled when opponents stop offering the ball.

Andoni Iraola arrives from Bournemouth with a reputation for relentless pressing. The former Rayo Vallecano coach transformed the Cherries into one of the Premier League’s most potent high-pressing teams, but their output collapsed when they were denied the chance to press. The financial gulf between Bournemouth and England’s elite only sharpens the question of how Iraola will adapt to a club operating on a far larger stage.

Klopp accepted that Liverpool had to marry their counter-pressing with control in possession. “The high individual quality of our players allows us to control games in possession now,” Klopp’s assistant Peter Krawietz told The Athletic after Liverpool won the Premier League title in 2020, “and to take up positions close to the ball—to be able to win it back again quickly if we do lose it.” Slot inherited a side that combined possession and pressing, but opponents altered the contest and Liverpool suffered as a result.

“I don’t think we do things different, I do see teams doing a lot of different things against us,” Slot explained in October after three straight defeats. “Teams played in a completely different way against us in the first half of last season than they did when we were top of the league and the Champions League after half the season. And I can see this going now into this part of this season.”

Iraola captured the same dilemma: “Playing against elite sides gives you opportunities other teams don’t,” Iraola has admitted. “What you have to do is stay on top of them as they bring the ball out and make them so uncomfortable that you can maneuver them into losing the ball.” That worked infrequently when Bournemouth had at least 55% possession in 2025–26 — one win from 13 games, 14 goals for and 13 points — versus 12 wins, 44 goals and 44 points in the 25 matches where they had less than 55% possession.

Slot also highlighted a short-term answer: “We have to find answers to that,” he explained. “Last season, one of the answers was set pieces—like many teams unlock low blocks with set pieces—and this season we haven’t done that, yet.” Set-piece data underlines the shared vulnerability: Liverpool conceded a league-high 20 set-piece goals; Bournemouth conceded 18 and faced the highest set-piece xG in the division. Stats via Opta.

Andoni Iraola is the leading contender to succeed Arne Slot at Anfield after three strong years at Bournemouth that finished with a Europa League berth. His work on the south coast combined shrewd recruitment with his coaching to produce a team that overachieved, and those connections are now drawing interest from Liverpool.

Iraola developed a stellar relationship with his players at Bournemouth, and the suggestion that some might follow their manager to Merseyside has gained traction. There is an assumption that every soccer manager in the world is Harry Redknapp, but the modern coach relishes the discomfort of a fresh environment, and players do not always make the same leap as their boss.

Liverpool have long prioritised finding a replacement for Mohamed Salah and were reportedly considering options well before the 2026/27 season gets under way. RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande has been named as a top target, but the Ivorian is valued at €130 million ($150 million) by his club. That valuation, and the wider risk involved given that Liverpool’s two biggest recent signings endured difficult debut campaigns, make such a move a substantial gamble.

A clearer option could be Rayan. The Brazilian international joined Bournemouth in January and is described as a versatile wide player who is also comfortable operating infield. The 19-year-old has the physical tools to adapt to the Premier League. Liverpool were reportedly linked with him when he was at Vasco de Gama, and his performances on English shores have kept interest alive. Bournemouth have already stated their desire to retain the samba star.

If Liverpool do turn to Iraola’s contact book this summer, Rayan is the most fully described candidate in that conversation. Whether Liverpool will embrace the risk of a high-priced, unproven name like Yan Diomande or prefer the steadier route of pursuing a younger player who has arrived in England already will shape any moves tied to Iraola’s possible switch.