The head coach was speaking after Tottenham’s 5-1 Carabao Cup second-round win over Charlton Athletic at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday, in which the 22-year-old came off the bench and needed 11 minutes to open his account for the club.

Savio was introduced in the 71st minute and swept a low finish into the bottom corner in the 82nd. Three minutes later his shot was deflected in off Ben Davies for Spurs’ fifth, capping a debut that Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp said had “lit the place up”.

De Zerbi is asking for far more.

“I spoke with him and we put the goal on 10 or 12 goals (target) because we need 10 or 12 goals from the wingers,” the head coach told reporters after the match.

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“Yes, it is a perfect day for him. I think his biggest step and biggest improvement is to increase the number of goals because as qualities, I think he is one of the best wingers, but the best wingers score many goals.”

The £85m gap Spurs need to close

Tottenham completed the deal with Manchester City this week for £75m upfront plus £10m in add-ons, making it Manchester City’s highest ever sale, surpassing Julián Álvarez’s £82m move to Atlético Madrid in 2024. The winger has changed his registered name from Savinho to Savio since arriving.

His two seasons at Manchester City delivered 7 goals and 13 assists in 84 appearances, well below the return De Zerbi is now demanding.

A £300m rebuild that has yet to click

Savio’s arrival pushed Tottenham’s summer outlay past £300m, a spend that also includes Sandro Tonali from Newcastle, Mateus Fernandes from West Ham, Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke and Liverpool full-back Andy Robertson.

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The rebuild is the first under the club’s new leadership after Daniel Levy stepped down as executive chair, and it follows a 17th-place Premier League finish last season. So far it has not translated on the pitch: De Zerbi’s Premier League opener ended in a 3-0 defeat away to Brentford on 22 August.

Newcastle United visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday 29 August, kick-off at 5:30pm local time.

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