Tottenham Hotspur's hierarchy have made a clear pledge: the near-relegation nightmare of the past season will not be repeated. Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and non-executive chairman Peter Charrington have publicly committed to backing head coach Roberto De Zerbi with the resources he needs to reshape the squad before the 2026/27 campaign begins.
A new era under De Zerbi
De Zerbi's influence on Tottenham Hotspur's recruitment was evident almost immediately. Defender Jan Paul van Hecke, a player the Italian coached at Brighton, has already been secured for £52 million — a deal that under previous regimes at the club may have been allowed to drag on until late in the window or abandoned altogether. Van Hecke's early arrival means he will be available for pre-season, giving him precious time to settle alongside his new team-mates.
Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi had already agreed in principle to join Tottenham Hotspur months earlier — before De Zerbi had even secured the club's top-flight status. That both players were keen to come despite the uncertainty says much about the head coach's standing in the game. Senesi, who claimed the Players' Player of the Year award at Bournemouth, is trading European football next season for a fresh challenge in north London.
Sandro Tonali and midfield ambition
Sky Sports News understands that Tottenham Hotspur could complete as many as seven or eight signings this summer, with midfield identified as the priority area. De Zerbi is intent on overhauling the engine room entirely and also wants additions in attack and potentially between the posts.
Sandro Tonali is the headline target. The Italy international shares regional roots with De Zerbi — both are from Brescia — and that personal connection is considered a relevant factor. Manchester City are also weighing a move for Tonali, meaning Tottenham Hotspur face serious competition. Landing him would send an unmistakable message about the club's ambitions after back-to-back 17th-place finishes.
Mateus Fernandes is another name being discussed. Spurs fans will remember the sting of missing out on Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White last summer, making it all the more important for the current board to deliver on at least one marquee arrival this window.
Where the money comes from
Despite two difficult seasons, Tottenham Hotspur remain ninth in Europe by revenue, according to the 2026 Deloitte Money League. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — with its NFL fixtures, concerts, and large-scale events — continues to be a significant income driver. The Lewis family have also committed to offering wages in the top bracket, a structural change that previously cost the club when Bryan Mbeumo chose to go elsewhere and Antoine Semenyo had already agreed to join Manchester City before Spurs could finalise their offer.
Players who could leave
Outgoings are expected to help fund the rebuild. Yves Bissouma has already departed, freeing up considerable wage capacity. Pape Matar Sarr's future is unresolved, with Brentford among the clubs monitoring him. Guglielmo Vicario has attracted attention from Juventus and Napoli, according to Sky Sports' Italian partners, and Tottenham Hotspur could sanction his sale if the price is right — with a replacement, understood to be a goalkeeper already based in the United Kingdom, lined up to come in. Antonin Kinsky would then compete with that new arrival for the No 1 shirt.
Versatile midfielder Archie Gray is expected to stay, given his ability to cover multiple positions — a quality De Zerbi values highly, particularly with the club's injury record still under scrutiny.
