Roberto De Zerbi has made clear that Tottenham Hotspur's hopes of climbing back up the Premier League table will depend as much on the character and unity within the squad as on the club's summer spending.
The 47-year-old Italian, who arrived at the helm in March and steered Spurs to safety on the final day of last season, has been open about his belief that recruitment alone cannot solve the issues that have left Tottenham languishing near the bottom of the table for the past two campaigns.
This summer has already seen considerable investment in the squad, with Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Cole Ramsey and Martin Dubravka all arriving at the club. Yet De Zerbi has signalled that further additions could follow before the transfer window closes.
"In the transfer market, we're not finished yet. We're looking forward to start another season with different ambitions and results," De Zerbi said, speaking on the Men in Blazers YouTube channel.
The former Brighton boss stressed that assembling a competitive squad on paper will not be enough if the players fail to forge a genuine bond and shared purpose.
"We have to find the condition to build a strong team, than the last seasons to compete again for the top of the table," he said.
De Zerbi elaborated on his broader philosophy, explaining that he places heavy emphasis on the intangible qualities of a squad rather than focusing purely on short-term results.
"I usually think about the soul, passion, spirit and mentality of the team and then the improvement we can do in the future, because I can't stay with the focus just on the present," he explained.
The coach also spoke about the identity he wants his Tottenham side to project to supporters, insisting that commitment and character should be as visible as tactical style.
"I would like when we go to play in the Premier League... the people recognise one's soul, passion, value of the player," De Zerbi said. "The qualities of the players are not enough. If you don't put something more, something of yourself, something you feel inside of you, it's very tough to now compete with the top teams in the world, in the Premier League."
Tottenham received a further boost this week when centre-back Micky van de Ven agreed a new long-term contract, securing one of the club's key defensive assets amid a summer of change. The move offers some stability at the back, even as uncertainty continues to surround his defensive partner Cristian Romero. The Argentine international's future remains in doubt, with speculation mounting that he could depart this summer — reports in recent days have even linked him with a sensational switch to fierce rivals Arsenal.
De Zerbi's comments suggest he is fully aware of the scale of the rebuilding job ahead, both in terms of personnel and in cultivating the resilience needed to compete at the top end of English football again. With several new faces already integrated and the possibility of further signings before the window shuts, the Italian appears intent on blending fresh talent with a renewed sense of collective identity.
Tottenham will open their Premier League campaign away at Brentford on 22 August, giving an early indication of how far the rebuilding process has progressed under their new manager.
Based on reporting from The Independent.