Why Tottenham’s Summer Transfers Could Be Among Premier League’s Worst

The first weekend of the Premier League season offered fans a spectacle filled with familiar disappointments and a dose of schadenfreude. Clubs in transition quickly showed signs of looming troubles, with Tottenham Hotspur’s summer dealings standing out as particularly concerning.

With the additions of Omar Marmoush and Savinho, Tottenham’s transfer activity might rank alongside some of the worst in Premier League history, reminiscent of the disastrous summer following Gareth Bale’s departure to Real Madrid in 2014. That period took years for Spurs fans to recover from, and although it's early to predict Tottenham’s fate for the 2026/27 season, this summer could mark a pivotal moment for the club.

Big Spending, Poor Returns

Tottenham has already poured around £350 million into new players, with most acquisitions looking questionable. The poor showing against Brentford only reinforced doubts about the quality of these signings.

• Sandro Tonali: A talented midfielder who might enhance Spurs' midfield, but £60 million seems an excessive price.
• Jan Paul van Hecke: Has experience under coach Roberto de Zerbi and could fill Christian Romero's role, yet a swap deal with Brighton would have been a warning sign.

These two might be considered partial successes, but the rest of the incoming players raise concerns.

• Omar Marmoush: Known for one standout half-season at Frankfurt, but otherwise has struggled to find his place on the pitch.
• Savinho: Has shown flashes but often fades, similar to Mateus Fernandes, who has faced relegation in consecutive Premier League seasons.
• Andrew Robertson: Once a Liverpool player, his signing to replace the gifted Djed Spence—who left for Inter Milan—seems puzzling.
• Marcos Senesi: Looks decent but largely benefited from Andoni Iraola’s coaching at previous clubs.

The overall investment exceeds £360 million, spent on players who do not appear to be upgrades and whose combined market value likely tops out at £200 million. This does not factor in the hefty wages that probably accompany these fees.

Managerial Gamble

Roberto de Zerbi is now the highest-paid club manager worldwide. Tottenham made this bet despite questions about his track record and a temperamental side exposed after the heavy defeat to Brentford. His public criticism of his players’ lack of fighting spirit was telling.

“The team didn’t fight in the right way,” de Zerbi said after the loss.

The performance was lifeless: Tottenham lacked intensity, control, and direction—qualities reminiscent of past struggles under managers like Igor Tudor, Ange Postecoglou, and Thomas Frank. A missed penalty spared them an even heavier defeat, which could have reached six or seven goals conceded.

Other teams also experienced rough starts after summer shakeups, including Aston Villa, but Tottenham faces extra pressure. They must kick off strongly to build momentum for de Zerbi’s era and break free from a pattern of mental fragility that has gripped the club recently. Just a few more poor results could cause morale to collapse again, much like when Frank came under scrutiny despite an initially good run last season.

De Zerbi benefits from no Champions League distractions, giving him time during the week to focus on tactics. That might help or add pressure depending on how weekend matches unfold. Yet, everything depends on the squad’s quality, and Tottenham spent three years’ worth of budget all at once. It must pay off, though all signs point otherwise.

Transfer Missteps and High Stakes

In trying to show a fresh approach following Daniel Levy's exit and to satisfy fans hungry for big moves, Tottenham’s transfer team fell for a common trap: assuming that spending £100 million on a player means they are worth that amount.

Tonali, Fernandes, Marmoush, and Savinho arrived with fees suited for top-tier talents but look far from it. This isn’t quite as bad as splashing Bale money on the likes of Soldado, Paulinho, and Lamela years ago, but if de Zerbi doesn’t last the season—a frequent outcome in his career—it could trigger a deeper crisis at Spurs with long-lasting effects.