Roberto De Zerbi, the newly appointed manager of Tottenham Hotspur, has signaled the club’s intent to maintain its heavy investment in new talent as they prepare for the upcoming Premier League season. Speaking during Tottenham’s pre-season tour in Sydney, Australia, De Zerbi confirmed that the club’s summer spending spree, which has already seen a record-breaking £237 million outlay, is expected to continue with potentially two or three more signings.
Tottenham set new club records this summer by signing Mateus Fernandes for £85 million and Sandro Tonali for £100 million. De Zerbi indicated that the club is close to securing Manchester City winger Savinho and hinted at another high-profile acquisition to bolster his attacking options, though he refrained from naming the player.
Addressing the pressure that often accompanies large transfer budgets, the Italian coach dismissed concerns, recalling a conversation with a London taxi driver who criticized Tottenham’s spending but admitted to being an Arsenal supporter. “I said, ‘You have spent money for a long time in the last three or four years’,” De Zerbi recalled. He stressed that competing at the highest level in the Premier League requires substantial investment, citing clubs like Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal as examples of teams that have also consistently spent to maintain top-tier status.
De Zerbi also emphasized the importance of competition within the squad, reinforcing Tottenham’s philosophy of having strong contenders for every starting position. Midfielder Conor Gallagher echoed this sentiment, describing the competition in the team as robust and positive. Gallagher praised the new signings not only for their footballing ability but also for their personalities, highlighting the significance of team character. Reflecting on the previous season’s challenges, he expressed the squad’s determination to improve collectively.
The head coach also provided an update on key players recovering from injury. James Maddison, sidelined for much of pre-season due to an ACL injury, is currently managing a minor issue, and De Zerbi stated the club would not rush his return. The manager underscored the importance of not taking risks with Maddison’s recovery, a stance he applies equally to new signing Mateus Fernandes.
Tottenham’s pre-season preparations include a high-profile match against Chelsea, scheduled to take place at Sydney’s Accor Stadium before an expected crowd of 80,000. This marks the first occasion the London rivals have faced each other in a derby outside their home city, providing an early test for De Zerbi and his heavily reinforced squad ahead of the new campaign.