Roberto De Zerbi has finally cleared up the mystery surrounding Tottenham's so-called "bomba" signing, and it seems supporters may have read a little too much into his comments.

Speaking to reporters in Sydney on Thursday, where Spurs are preparing to face Chelsea in a pre-season friendly, the head coach admitted his word choice had been lost in translation.

He wants two or three more additions before the window shuts, but the word itself was never meant to point at one blockbuster name.

Tottenham have already broken their transfer record this summer, spending £237 million, but De Zerbi suggested the club's recruitment drive is far from over. Strengthening the attack remains the focus, with Manchester City duo Savinho and Omar Marmoush understood to be among the leading targets.

The comments matter because they reset expectations. Spurs fans had spent 24 hours speculating over a superstar arrival. What they actually got was a coach explaining the club's business so far.

De Zerbi Clarifies What "Bomba" Really Means For Spurs

"Bomba in Italian is different from bomba in English," De Zerbi told reporters, addressing the confusion his own words had created 24 hours earlier.

Asked directly to define it, he pointed at players already in the building rather than one still to arrive. "[Sandro] Tonali, [Mateus] Fernandes, [Marcos] Senesi, [Andy] Robertson are bomba. Top players for us," he said.

That answer reframes everything said earlier in the week, when De Zerbi first used the phrase "we have another bomba" and set off a wave of transfer guesswork among supporters and pundits. He wasn't teasing a surprise arrival.

He was pointing to the level of Tottenham's recruitment so far, a club-record £100 million move for Tonali, an £85 million deal for Fernandes, and free transfers for Robertson and Senesi. Still, De Zerbi didn't rule out further business.

"But I said we have to complete the transfer market," he added, confirming talks are ongoing for further arrivals. "I think we have some other players to complete the squad, and the players who will be here in the next days are for me, top players."

Pressed on numbers, he settled on a figure. "I think two, maybe three. We have to see," De Zerbi said, leaving the door open on exactly how many deals Spurs can get done before deadline day.

Savinho And Marmoush Head De Zerbi's Attacking Wishlist

Tottenham are expected to turn their attention to the attack next, with Savinho still regarded as a leading target. The Brazilian has already informed Manchester City of his desire to leave the Etihad this summer.

While Fabrizio Romano reports that the winger "wants to play more and develop in his career." City value him at around £60 million. Spurs have tracked him since last summer's failed approach, and AC Milan are also monitoring the situation.

Though talks between the two Premier League clubs are understood to be ongoing. Omar Marmoush is the second name De Zerbi is said to rate highly. The Egypt international has struggled for regular City minutes since his move from Eintracht Frankfurt.

And Spurs see an opportunity similar to the one they're pursuing with Savinho. Both deals depend on City's willingness to sell to a direct Premier League rival, which has historically been a sticking point in negotiations between the clubs.

De Zerbi was explicit about where the gap remains. "The idea in the transfer market is 24 hours a day you think what is the best player to put inside," he said, describing his level of personal involvement in Tottenham's recruitment this summer.

Why De Zerbi Believes Tottenham Must Keep Spending

Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League in successive seasons before this summer's overhaul, and De Zerbi was asked whether that history puts extra weight on his new signings. His answer, delivered with a story from London traffic, suggested otherwise.

"Zero pressure," he said. "You know why? Because one day the taxi man in London stopped me to congratulate me on the transfer market. He said, 'Eh, you are spending a lot of money'. I said, 'But who are you a fan of?' Arsenal."

The point, De Zerbi explained, is that heavy spending is now simply what it costs to compete at the top of English football. "Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, to stay at the top of the table, they have spent money," he said.

"If you want to compete now, for the top of the Premier League, and to put Tottenham in the highest level, I think we need to bring top players, like we are doing."

That framing extends to the club's sporting director, Johan Lange, who has overseen close to £250 million in spending on six players this summer, three of them free agents. De Zerbi's message is that the outlay isn't reckless, it's the baseline for clubs chasing the Premier League's top four.

Spurs face Chelsea in Sydney on Saturday, with further transfer movement expected either side of the friendly as De Zerbi looks to close out what he's already called 60 per cent of a completed rebuild.