Three Tottenham Hotspur players — Richarlison, Kevin Danso, and Pape Matar Sarr — have formally asked to leave the club, head coach Roberto de Zerbi confirmed following Saturday's 2-0 Premier League defeat to Newcastle United at home.

None of the trio featured in De Zerbi's matchday squad for that loss, and the manager was candid when asked to explain their absences after the final whistle.

"Richarlison, I don't know. He said too many times he wants to leave. Danso came to me two days ago and he said he wants to leave, and Pape Sarr the same — but he suffered a small injury and is almost ready to train," De Zerbi said.

The coach added that any player wishing to depart must bring their own economic solution to the table: "If they want to leave, they have to bring the solution, the economic solution, to the club — and they can go."

A turbulent summer at Spurs

Tottenham have invested more than £300 million this summer as the club sought to reverse two consecutive 17th-place Premier League finishes. Despite that enormous outlay, they sit bottom of the Premier League table with no goals scored and two defeats — against Brentford and Newcastle United — from their opening two fixtures.

Richarlison, who struck 11 goals last season to finish as Tottenham's top scorer and played a prominent role in their final-day survival, has seen his position under pressure. Earlier in August, De Zerbi acknowledged the Brazilian's uncertain future, describing him as not easy to replace. Last week, Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush arrived at Spurs on loan and slotted straight into the starting XI in place of Richarlison against Newcastle United.

Competition blocking Danso and Sarr

Danso faces a crowded central defence this season following the arrivals of Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke, while Micky van de Ven has secured his starting berth through a new contract and the club captaincy. Sunderland submitted a season-long loan offer for Danso — who has earned 36 caps for Austria — but Tottenham rejected it.

Sarr, meanwhile, has found his path to first-team football narrowed by the summer signings of Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, recruited as part of a record-breaking transfer window in which Spurs broke their club transfer record twice within a single week.