TOTTENHAM have too often been the butt of the jokes in the Premier League these past two years following back-to-back 17th-placed finishes.
But this term they look like they could be a serious outfit again, after relegation escape artist Roberto De Zerbi was given free reign in the transfer market.
Sandro Tonali has arrived from Newcastle for a club-record £100m Credit: Alamy
Roberto De Zerbi has overhauled his Spurs squad this summer Credit: Getty
Spurs fans will not want to get ahead of themselves after their horrendous last two domestic campaigns that have seen Ange Postecoglou, Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor all sacked.
Yet there is cautious optimism that better times following their summer squad churn and their charismatic Italian patrolling the dugout.
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The bookmakers have Tottenham as sixth favourites to finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League, offering odds of 3-1, behind the rest of the Big Six.
And there are a number of reasons to believe that is a decent bet to take on as resurgent Spurs head into the new campaign.
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The first is the uncharacteristic recruitment drive the club have undertaken this summer to identify oven-ready, Prem-experienced players.
They have smashed their transfer record not once but twice, following up the signing of £85million Mateus Fernandes from West Ham with £100m Sandro Tonali from Newcastle.
More heavy spending looks to be on its way with the club in negotiations with Manchester City over an ambitious double deal for Omar Marmoush and Savinho for up to £140m.
Jan Paul van Hecke has also arrived from Brighton for £52m, knowing De Zerbi well from their time together at the Amex.
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But it is not just the transfer fees that have been eye-catching, but the wages on offer too.
Spurs made a conscious choice to up the salaries on offer after relatively low pay on former chairman Daniel Levy’s watch, compared to their rivals.
Not only has it helped land players like Tonali, but it has seen a number of existing stars renew their contracts such as Micky van de Ven and World Cup winner Pedro Porro.
JattvibeSport understands goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky’s new deal has increased his salary significantly.
Premium freebies Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi have also been attracted.
Spurs have raised significant funds from a number of sales including captain Cristian Romero to Atletico Madrid, England star Djed Spence to Inter Milan and a host of kids.
De Zerbi wants two top players in each position and he is not far away from getting it.
Antonin Kinsky has turned around his Tottenham career Credit: Getty
LIGHT SCHEDULE
Spurs will be looking at how former star Michael Carrick capitalised on Manchester United’s free midweeks last term and be hoping they can replicate his success.
The league has become so competitive that is becoming a regular occurrence that one or two big beasts miss out on European qualification altogether.
It is an embarrassing blow at the time – but then a huge advantage domestically the following campaign because it eases the fixture schedule significantly.
Tottenham are in that situation this season, having failed to qualify for Europe at all, and will be looking to make the most of it.
They did three seasons ago when Postecoglou had them finishing fifth in a campaign with no Europe, despite Harry Kane leaving on the eve of the season.
In all campaigns since, that would have been enough to qualify for the Champions League but back then fifth meant the Europa League – albeit Spurs did go on to win that competition.
Ambitious De Zerbi will be targeting Europe’s elite club competition and has the time and space to do it.
Though, ironically, he will have a job on his hands keeping all his players happy given the lack of matches this term.
Just in central midfield, the Italian currently has Tonali, Fernandes, Archie Gray, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall, Pape Matar Sarr, James Maddison and Conor Gallagher at his disposal – plus the injured Xavi Simons.
Spurs fans will be hoping Micky van de Ven sticks around long-term Credit: Alamy
Mateus Fernandes snubbed plenty of other interest to sign for Tottenham Credit: Getty
COMMITTED KEY PLAYERS
For too long there have been question marks over Spurs’ key men and how much they really wanted to be there.
Captain Cristain Romero epitomised that doubt by openly admitting he wanted a move to La Liga in April 2025 – 16 months on from getting his switch to Atletico Madrid.
Fellow centre-back Van de Ven is believed to have been questioning his own future at points last season given how badly it was going. Porro, the same.
But De Zerbi has transformed the place with his passion and has had a number of stars buy into his vision.
Yes, Romero has left but Van de Ven and World Cup winner Porro have signed new deals, putting to bed any concerns over their loyalty.
In fact, Spurs’ starting backline this term will all effectively be new ‘signings’ – either ones who have literally signed for the club, or ones who have signed new deals.
Goalie Kinsky, Van de Ven and Porro fall into the latter category, Van Hecke, Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi – when he plays – the former.
Nailing their colours to the mast could be the basis for a top-four campaign.
THE DE ZERBI FACTOR
IT was Tottenham’s very own Project Hail Mary bringing in De Zerbi with seven games to go.
They parted with a king’s ransom to make it happen too, paying the Italian the third highest managerial wages in the league.
But De Zerbi backed it all up brilliantly, rescuing Spurs with a thrilling finale that ended successfully with a 1-0 win over Everton on the final day.
Now we will see what a De Zerbi Spurs side is really like, as the clear and present danger of the drop is gone and he can have his team playing just as he wants to, with his players.
The ex-Brighton chief may have a history of combustibility at previous clubs, but when the going is good it is great.
His energy, desire and standards will keep his players on their toes striving for more.
UNCERTAINTY ELSEWHERE
DE ZERBI was only appointed on March 31 and yet compared to other clubs, he has been in post an age.
Last season’s rescue mission gave him time to assess the squad he inherited before presiding over a busy summer window and a full pre-season.
His players will know what to expect by now, as do we – but can you say the same about a number of their rivals?
Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool all have new managers this summer, as do Newcastle.
Carrick faces the juggle of a Champions League campaign and the Premier League for the first time.
While Unai Emery has lost a number of key players at Aston Villa AND has the Champions League to contend with.
Brighton, Brentford and Everton have continuity but Jattvibederland are in Europe now, while Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Fulham all have new bosses.
Only Arsenal look a safe bet to excel – which is why they are most people’s tip for the title.
There is a real opportunity here for Spurs and De Zerbi will be hellbent on seizing it.
