Tottenham Hotspur wrapped up their pre-season campaign without a single defeat, closing out preparations for the new Premier League season with a double-header against Hoffenheim. Across seven matches played in England, New Zealand and Australia, Roberto De Zerbi's side recorded four wins and three draws, giving supporters reason for optimism heading into the first full campaign under the Italian coach.
Despite the encouraging results, the summer has not been without complications. Spurs travel to Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium this weekend for their league opener, and De Zerbi is left with several selection headaches related to player fitness and squad depth.
The club has spent heavily this transfer window, committing £237 million to reshape the squad following two consecutive 17th-place Premier League finishes. Yet De Zerbi has made clear that the rebuilding work is not finished, indicating he still wants two or three more attacking additions before the transfer deadline closes in two weeks. Without those reinforcements, questions will inevitably be asked about whether the club has done enough to support their manager's ambitions.
One player caught in the balance is a 19-year-old winger who remains expected to depart on loan before the window shuts. That departure, and the futures of other fringe players, may hinge on whether Tottenham can land the forward targets De Zerbi is pursuing. Among those whose situation depends on incoming business is a homegrown academy talent who is popular with fans and viewed as ready to contribute at Premier League level, though his path to regular action could be blocked or cleared depending on further signings.
Fitness has been another persistent concern throughout pre-season. Destiny Udogie and Micky van de Ven did not feature in any of the warm-up fixtures, while Dominic Solanke, James Maddison and Mateus Fernandes all had their minutes carefully managed. Mohammed Kudus has only recently returned to training following a serious quad injury and is yet to feature, and Dejan Kulusevski, though back on the grass, remains some distance from making his first appearance since May. Wilson Odobert and long-term absentee Xavi Simons also remain sidelined.
These absences leave De Zerbi facing a familiar dilemma as the season begins: how to build momentum when key contributors are unavailable or short of match sharpness. The trip to Brentford, a well-organised and experienced Premier League outfit, will be an early test of how Tottenham cope without several first-team regulars.
On a more positive note, the club's summer recruits have shown promising signs of settling into De Zerbi's system. The manager was reportedly closely involved in the signings of Jan Paul van Hecke, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, suggesting each was brought in with a defined tactical purpose. Tonali and Fernandes are expected to provide the midfield balance and dynamism that Spurs lacked last season, while Van Hecke's leadership and physicality are seen as important additions to a reshaped backline.
Other new arrivals have also impressed during the warm-up period. Andy Robertson has looked dangerous delivering first-time crosses from wide areas, while Marcos Senesi has shown an ability to break defensive lines with progressive passing, a trait that should aid Tottenham's build-up play. Van Hecke, meanwhile, has already emerged as a vocal presence within the squad.
With European qualification set as the target after such significant investment, the opening weeks of the season will offer the first real indication of whether De Zerbi's vision for Tottenham can translate into results on the pitch, starting with Saturday's away fixture against Brentford.
Based on reporting from standard-football.