Everything seems to be changing at Tottenham. After completing the deals with Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, the North London team is said to break the spending record in a transfer window and still shows no signs of stopping.
The two contracts Fernandes and Tonali cost a total of about 185 million pounds, raising Spurs' total spending this summer to 237 million pounds, surpassing the record of 225 million pounds set in the summer of 2023.
After consolidating the midfield and defense, coach Roberto De Zerbi is expected to shift his focus to strengthening the attack.
If Tottenham had been relegated last season, this scenario probably wouldn't have happened. The team finishing in 17th place but still being able to attract top stars and spend heavily surprised many opponents.
De Zerbi's mark is very clearly shown in transfer work. Right at Linate airport (Milan), Tonali admitted that his compatriot coach played a very big role in the decision to join Tottenham. The same thing is also said to happen to center-back Jan Paul van Hecke.
Ambition in the transfer market also reflects De Zerbi's philosophy. Tottenham persistently pursued Fernandes and Tonali despite doubts about the transfer fee as well as the possibility of successful recruitment. More importantly, these deals were all completed before July 1st, completely contrary to Spurs' slow image in previous transfer windows.
Last summer, Tottenham failed in the Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White deals. Therefore, surpassing Manchester United to recruit Mateus Fernandes, after losing to this opponent in the race to win Bryan Mbeumo a year ago, is of great significance.
One of the reasons why Spurs have failed many times in the transfer market before is due to limited salary funds. However, that has changed and the London team is now capable of offering competitive remuneration with top clubs.
According to many sources, Tottenham is determined to defeat Man United in the Fernandes deal and has done everything to complete the deal. This success is not only of professional significance but also considered an affirmation of the team's ambition.
The change at the top of the "Roosters" created a turning point. After Daniel Levy left the position of President at the beginning of last season, Vinai Venkatesham and Peter Charrington took over the management under the Lewis family.
The new leadership once pledged to reinvest heavily in the first team after the season ends. What Tottenham is doing in the transfer market shows that promise is gradually becoming a reality.
Although there is still much work to be done, Tottenham has made a strong impression right from the beginning of the transfer window by bringing in experienced players in the Premier League, ready to make an immediate impact.
That is also what De Zerbi wants to help Spurs quickly return to the race to win tickets to European cups.
After a summer of many upstage upheavals, Tottenham is showing that they are truly entering a new phase with greater ambitions both on the pitch and in the transfer market.
