Tottenham Hotspur head into the new Premier League season hoping to draw a line under two miserable campaigns, backed by one of the most eye-catching transfer outlays in the club's modern history and a manager many believe can restore stability at White Hart Lane.
Spurs finished 17th in each of the last two seasons, a run that included the chaotic mid-season reign of Igor Tudor, who steered the club to safety only in the campaign's dying embers after replacing Thomas Frank. That turbulence has now given way to the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi, whose arrival has been accompanied by a significant shift in how the club operates behind the scenes.
De Zerbi reportedly demanded, and received, greater control over transfers and recruitment than he held at either Brighton or Marseille, along with assurances of proper investment in the squad. Tottenham have responded by becoming one of the division's biggest spenders this summer, bringing in Jan Paul van Hecke, Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, with Savinho and Omar Marmoush also expected to arrive from Manchester City. Andy Robertson has joined to add experience, while Cristian Romero has departed the club.
The marquee addition is Tonali, a £100m signing from Newcastle who at 26 is entering what should be his peak years. The Italian midfielder said De Zerbi's presence played a part in his decision to move to north London. "The gaffer was Italian, I knew him," Tonali said of his reasoning for choosing Spurs over other suitors. De Zerbi, in turn, spoke highly of the player, recalling watching him as a teenager at Brescia. "At the age of 18, he already looked like a veteran," the manager said.
Despite the optimism generated by the spending, De Zerbi has been keen to manage expectations, stressing that identity and cohesion must come before results. "We need to create a clear playing style and give a soul to this team," he said in pre-season. "So many talk about 'projects', but very few manage to see them through."
One glaring omission from the summer business is a top-level striker, an issue that could prove costly given how reliant Tottenham were last season on overperforming their underlying numbers. Statistically, Spurs scored 7.91 goals more than their expected goals total suggested they should have, while also conceding significantly more than their defensive metrics implied — a discrepancy that flattered their final league position.
In goal, Antonin Kinsky is expected to be first choice following Guglielmo Vicario's departure, having earned the trust of De Zerbi after a difficult night against Atlético Madrid under Tudor. Kinsky's crucial save against Leeds' Sean Longstaff last season played a part in keeping Spurs up. "He forces you to believe in yourself," Kinsky said of his manager, who described the goalkeeper as someone with "great personality, strong character."
Off the pitch, the club continues to navigate change at ownership level following the removal of Daniel Levy as chairman. The Joe Lewis family trust has faced pressure from supporters, while chief executive Vinai Venkatesham admitted in May that "a complete reset" was needed. A £100m share issue in August has provided financial cushioning, alongside revenue from hosting major non-football events at the stadium.
On the international stage, full-backs Pedro Porro and Djed Spence were among Tottenham's most prominent performers at the World Cup, with Porro scoring twice for champions Spain, including in the semi-final win over France. Spence has since departed for Inter, while Porro signed a new contract despite reported interest from Manchester City.
With De Zerbi handed considerable resources and freedom, this season is being viewed as a genuine test of whether Tottenham can move beyond years of underachievement and build something more sustainable under a coach widely respected across the football world, including by Pep Guardiola.
Based on reporting from The Guardian and The Independent.