Even the most pessimistic Tottenham Hotspur fan could not have predicted their start to the 2026/27 season.
Five Premier League games in, Roberto De Zerbi’s side are still without a win. They have just two points on the board after defeats to Brentford, Newcastle and, most recently, Aston Villa, while their only goals were more or less consolation strikes in that defeat.
That lack of firepower continues to be a big talking point, with De Zerbi asked point blank whether Spurs should have signed an out and out striker in the mould of Nicolas Jackson following the Villa star’s dominant display last weekend.
“The transfer market is long to explain, because I’m happy for the squad first of all. Otherwise we create polemic,” he said.
“The transfer market was long. The situation changed many times. There was also the financial fair play at the end of the transfer market. We had to respect the financial fair play.
|
Previous Club |
Fee |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Sandro Tonali |
Newcastle |
£100m |
|
Mateus Fernandes |
West Ham |
£85m |
|
Savinho |
Man City |
£75m |
|
Jan Paul van Hecke |
Brighton |
£52m |
|
Marcos Senesi |
Bournemouth |
Free |
|
Andy Robertson |
Liverpool |
Free |
|
Martin Dubravka |
Burnley |
Free |
|
Cole Ramsey |
Aston Villa |
Free |
|
Omar Marmoush |
Man City |
Loan |
|
Mykhailo Mudryk |
Chelsea |
Loan |
“We didn’t sell the players who we thought in the beginning there was the possibility and the chance to sell. There are a lot of reasons.
“I think the club and the coach, we are not sleeping. We know the characteristics of the players. We know everything. If we didn’t make any different decisions, it was because we couldn’t.”
Tottenham’s loan stars thriving
While the first team struggles, some of Spurs’ summer departures are doing little to ease tenions, thriving away from the chaos at Hotspur way and leaving fans wondering why might have been.
Will Lankshear is smashing goals in for fun after his permanent move to Middlesbrough, Kevin Danso has quickly become a fan favourite on loan at Sunderland, while Mikey Moore is impressing in a number ten role during his temporary spell at FC Köln.
Alasdair Gold has shared an update on some of Tottenham’s young loanees during the international break, reserving particular praise for 21 year-old Yusuf Akhamrich, who is yet to earn his first senior appearance in North London.
“A terrific young winger is Yusuf Akhamrich, he’s at Leyton Orient, spectacular player,” Gold said in his latest Youtube video.
“Mostly plays on the right, he’s got three goals and three assists so far from his first seven games, he’s doing superbly in League One.
“He got two assists the other week against Wycombe. Not quite as good at the weekend (against Stevenage) but he is a really exciting young player. When you watch him play he’s a gets-you-out-your-seat kind of winger. And I know what you’re saying, ‘why don’t we see it at Spurs?’
“We’ve got Savio and (Mohammed) Kudus in his position so he’s never going to get a shot is he at Spurs, unfortunately. I don’t know whether he (ever) will.”
Gold’s point about the competition Akhamrich faces is a fair one, but it also raises a question about the man in front of him.
Savio arrived at Tottenham in a £75m deal, making him one of the most expensive signings in the club’s history. So far, the return hasn’t matched the price tag – the winger is still waiting for his first goal or assist in the Premier League this season.
Kudus offers competition on the right, but Spurs need far more from their big-money signing if they’re going to turn this season around. Otherwise, fans might start asking why they’re not seeing a 21-year-old who’s lighting up League One.