Tottenham are intensifying their work on Espanyol striker Roberto Fernandez as the club looks to address a glaring attacking issue under Roberto De Zerbi, according to TeamTalk . The 24-year-old has emerged as a leading target after an excellent start to the season, and there is a growing sense that Spurs see him as a player capable of changing the balance of their forward line.

The background is clear. Tottenham have opened the campaign in deeply troubling fashion and the pressure to improve the attack has already become a major part of the internal discussion. As reported, Spurs’ recruitment staff have been instructed to identify a new striker for De Zerbi, with the club desperate to move away from the foot of the Premier League table.

Fernandez has quickly moved from a watched option to a priority one. TeamTalk reports that Tottenham have carried out extensive checks on the Espanyol frontman and have been “hugely impressed” by his recent development. That work appears to have gathered pace following a run of six goals in his first seven matches this season, form that has also earned him senior recognition with Spain.

His debut on the international stage came when he appeared in Spain’s 3-1 win over Czechia during the latest break, another indicator of a player whose stock is rising quickly. For Tottenham, timing may become important. Once a striker begins attracting Premier League-wide attention and senior international status follows, the market tends to move fast.

There is a reason Fernandez is being framed as such a strong fit. Premier League scouts, according to the report, believe he looks “very much like a striker built for English football”, a description that will resonate with clubs searching for a genuine reference point in attack. His physicality, direct running and capacity to operate as a focal point are clearly key elements in Tottenham’s thinking.

Those traits matter because Spurs are still seeking a dependable central presence. Dominic Solanke has “struggled for form”, while Omar Marmoush is “not viewed as an archetypal central striker”. In practical terms, that means De Zerbi may be working with forwards who offer movement and technical variety, but not always the penalty-box certainty or hold-up profile associated with a classic No.9.

Fernandez’s broader numbers also help explain the attraction. He has 52 goals in 207 appearances, and while that tally alone does not define a transfer, it adds weight to the feeling that he is progressing into a more complete and reliable striker. Last season, seven goals for Espanyol first placed him on Tottenham’s radar. This season has pushed him significantly higher on their list.

Tottenham are expected to enter the January transfer window with an eye on another attacker, and Fernandez “very much fits the profile they are looking for”. If a move materialises, one obvious consequence could be a tactical reshuffle around Marmoush.