Tottenham have sent out a warning to the rest of the Premier League following an aggressive start to the summer transfer window. With Spurs having wrapped up a club-record £100 million deal for Sandro Tonali to add to the £85 million they paid for Mateus Fernandes, their spending on fees alone is set to reach approximately £237 million.
Early Moves Set the Pace
While many clubs are still scrambling to get their first deal over the line, Tottenham are expected to have six new players through the door before they start pre-season next Friday. The names Spurs have been able to attract, and the fees they are willing to pay, have produced headlines, but it is the pace at which they are finalising these deals that has been most impressive.
This time last year, Spurs had made just two signings, with the club making permanent their options for Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel, who had spent the previous campaign on loan in north London. Those deals felt like mere formalities, and it was not until Mohammed Kudus joined for £55 million from West Ham on July 10 that former boss Thomas Frank had the first statement signing of his tenure.
Learning from Past Mistakes
Kudus' arrival was supposed to be the start of an aggressive push to remodel the squad in Frank's image, but failed moves for Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze left Spurs scratching around for options towards the end of the window. They eventually brought in Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig for £51 million, but not before they had lost James Maddison to an anterior cruciate ligament injury that would rule him out for the majority of the season. Loan deals for Joao Palhinha and Randal Kolo Muani helped bulk out a threadbare squad, but ultimately Tottenham felt undercooked heading into last season.
Spurs learned the hard way last year that without a thorough plan in the transfer market, their squad was both physically and mentally underprepared. That is an issue they were clearly keen to avoid this summer, and with the steadfast Roberto De Zerbi leading negotiations, the club have quickly identified targets, convinced them of the project, and backed up their promise that actions speak louder than words.
De Zerbi's Influence and Pre-Season Advantage
In a World Cup summer when many clubs are deliberating over which direction the market will head in, Spurs have set the pace and given themselves a head start in their preparations. Both Tonali and Fernandes should be able to enjoy the benefit of a full pre-season, while early World Cup exits for new signings Andy Robertson and Jan Paul van Hecke will also give the pair ample time to adapt.
It cannot be overstated how important it will be for De Zerbi, who has been tasked with integrating an almost entirely new spine into his team, to have time on the training ground with Spurs' new arrivals. Much of the work De Zerbi did last season focused on changing the mentality of his squad to ensure Premier League survival. Now, though, comes the more intricate job of introducing a brand of football to give this new money-spinning era a final flourish on the pitch.
According to those who have played under De Zerbi previously, it takes time for the Italian's ideas to fully register with players. Van Hecke, for example, said that while De Zerbi's tactics "changed his life," Brighton's squad had to be patient - De Zerbi had to wait five games before securing his first win as Seagulls boss.
Opportunity Amidst Rival Uncertainty
That is why Spurs getting their business done early, though they are by no means finished yet, will undoubtedly help them to be ready for next season. With so much uncertainty among the so-called 'Big Six' teams - Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City have all changed managers this summer - next season presents an opportunity for Tottenham. Remarkably, despite successive 17th-place finishes, Spurs can now count themselves as one of the more stable teams in the division.
They have given themselves an almighty advantage by being first out of the blocks in the transfer window, and will feel that come the start of the new campaign, their squad is fully in tune with what De Zerbi demands.
