Transfer 'shark' De Zerbi hopes to drag Spurs up from depths — SkimNews
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- Roberto De Zerbi took charge at Tottenham mid-season and described his first game, a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland, as so traumatic that players were crying and lying on their backs in the dressing room.
- Tottenham spent a club-record £237m on new signings after surviving relegation on the final day, including £100m Sandro Tonali from Newcastle and £85m Mateus Fernandes from West Ham.
- De Zerbi personally courted targets by texting Jan Paul van Hecke after Brighton's 2-2 equaliser at Spurs, visiting Tonali at his home in Brescia, and telling Fernandes' father he would be the midfielder's 'second dad' in England.
- Tottenham's new leadership includes chief executive Vinai Venkatesham (Lewis Family Trust), technical director Johan Lange, plus Rafi Moersen and Dan Lewindon who arrived from Manchester City's parent company.
- Spurs earned £45m from Luka Vuskovic's sale to Brighton and declined to sign Joao Palhinha permanently from Bayern Munich, with De Zerbi saying they are executing a five-season plan rather than spending irresponsibly.
- De Zerbi is still pursuing two more forwards, including Manchester City's Savinho, while managing uncertainty over captain Cristian Romero and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who could yet leave.
Why it matters: Tottenham committed a club-record £237m under a manager who openly calls himself a shark in the transfer market, with the Lewis family injecting £100m in June to fund the rebuild after a final-day survival. The aggressive spend is part of De Zerbi's stated five-season plan, with two more forwards targeted before the window closes.
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