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Once the wave of relief had washed over the final day of a miserable 2025–26 campaign for Tottenham Hotspur, Roberto De Zerbi was articulate in his assessment of what must change in north London.
"We closed one page and we opened another page today, because we have no time; we have to organize the next season. We have to build a stronger team," the Italian told Spurs' in-house media team less than 24 hours after Premier League survival was secured.
"Now we have to move on and to prepare the future of our club."
De Zerbi, in essence, pulled off a minor miracle to keep Spurs in the top flight, having taken over a shattered squad that appeared to be in freefall after barely 40 days under Igor Tudor. The Italian's remarkable efforts have made him the most influential figure in N17, with an unpopular hierarchy quickly getting to work to keep him satisfied.
Years of Daniel Levy-driven frugality have been swept aside in one decisive move. Spurs' divisive former executive chairman now watches from a distance as the Lewis family capitalizes on his self-sustaining vision. Levy's considerable work transformed Tottenham Hotspur into a financial powerhouse, yet the club had long operated beneath a glass ceiling.
Levy's approach meant there was always a limit on what could be accomplished.
Now, however, Spurs are stepping into uncharted territory. Having narrowly avoided the catastrophic outcome of relegation, the club is aiming to return to more familiar ground in quick fashion.
Spurs Are Finally Acting Like A Serious Club
Gone are the days of drawn-out negotiations and tedious transfer sagas. Levy's relentless desire to outmaneuver his counterparts, often souring relationships in the process, ultimately proved a stumbling block when it came to landing Spurs' primary targets.
The Lilywhites so frequently settled for second—or third—best, while their rivals paid whatever was required to strengthen their squads. Levy was shrewd for so long, but he lost his edge toward the end of his tenure. The overwhelming majority wanted him out when ENIC made their stunning announcement last August, with his legacy still very much open to debate.
Back in 2019, Levy was confident that Spurs would become "one of the biggest clubs in the world." Yet rarely did he operate with the ruthless conviction of a true superpower.
His successors are operating without restraint and perhaps more boldly, but supporters can finally believe that those at the helm are willing to do whatever it takes for Spurs to fulfill their considerable potential. ENIC's recent financial injections—£235 million ($314 million) in 18 months—have eased a rather precarious financial situation and enabled an early summer spending spree.
Free agents Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi were joined by Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton & Hove Albion, who, according to Levy via Simon Jordan, had "pulled Tottenham's trousers down" by getting them to spend £52 million ($70 million) on a center back entering the final year of his contract.
No, Daniel. That's simply what it takes.
After that, it seemed as though Spurs were arriving at battlefields armed with little more than a slingshot. Sandro Tonali had Manchester City and Arsenal in pursuit, while Mateus Fernandes was being courted by Manchester United and Real Madrid. Reports of Lilywhite interest were met with laughter and dismissal, but Spurs' slingshot carried a serious punch fueled by an unfamiliar sense of ambition.
Hardly in a position to barter and bicker, Spurs first ensured the players were committed by De Zerbi delivering his most persuasive pitch. Then the required funds were thrown at Newcastle and West Ham United without hesitation. Too much? Perhaps, but the club has long been consumed by the obsession of "winning" transfers and avoiding risk.
In the wake of near-catastrophe, now is the time to break free. They say that survivors of a near-death experience carry a transformed outlook on life, and Spurs' brush with relegation appears to have stripped away their former inhibitions in the transfer market.
How Tottenham Could Line Up With Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes
There were numerous problem areas for Spurs last season, none more glaring than the midfield. It returned to a basic level of functionality when De Zerbi took charge, but it comes as no surprise that the Italian has been so proactive in securing the right profiles for his first full campaign with the club.
Tonali and Fernandes are versatile midfielders capable of operating as a No. 6 or No. 8. Fernandes brings tenacity, press-resistance in possession and an ambitious passing range. He developed significantly in a deeper midfield role at West Ham, and is more likely to serve as Spurs' build-up orchestrator than Tonali.
The Italian, who shares a personal connection with the manager, is more high-energy and combative. Few can match his engine, and Tonali, on English soil, has been most effective with reduced responsibilities in possession and greater freedom to cause problems with the ball. That may shift under De Zerbi, who simply won't allow Tonali to coast—not at that price!
Together, they appear to complement one another well, and the fact that Spurs have wrapped up both deals so early in the window should mean the pair are firing on all cylinders by gameweek 1 of the 2026–27 season.
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Around them, Van Hecke is expected to replace Cristian Romero alongside Micky van de Ven, while James Maddison will reclaim his No. 10 role after recovering from an ACL injury. Mohammed Kudus should also be fit for the start of the new campaign, and Antonín Kinsky's contract extension suggests he will be Spurs' new first-choice goalkeeper.
There is still work to be done in attack, with Rafael Leão among the wide options reportedly under consideration. This new-look Spurs will also test Bournemouth's resolve over Eli Junior Kroupi, who netted 13 Premier League goals last season and is the dynamic, clinical center forward that De Zerbi typically values highly.