Had it not been for Roberto De Zerbi’s last minute witchcraft, Tottenham Hotspur would likely be preparing for a season in the Championship right now. But something started to change for the Lilywhites in the final few weeks of last season. They finally started to show that they cared. They started to care about going down. They started to care about playing for their manager. They started to care about playing their best football.
Embed from Getty ImagesRoberto De Zerbi managed to do something remarkable in quickly instilling a high intensity, press and possess 4-3-3, whilst predominantly just showing the players that they were cared for and looked after. With more time to properly employ his methodologies, we could see a Tottenham Hotspur side ready to challenge for the top four.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis line of thinking even more so rings true now that we’ve seen a summer of successive signings under a different model to seasons past. Previous iterations of Tottenham signed players that were relatively one-dimensional to fulfill a specific role. They didn’t look into durability or injury susceptibility, and they signed players without much rhyme or reason as to how they might all function together.
Embed from Getty ImagesQuite clearly, they haven’t taken the same approach this summer. They’ve secured clear upgrades at the back in Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul Van Hecke – both of whom I would have recommended to any top team in the league. Both led the league last season in line-breaking passes, and bring several seasons of Premier League experience behind them.
Embed from Getty ImagesIn attack, they’ve set their sights on Cody Gakpo, who would bring the right energy and intensity to a De Zerbi attack. They’ll have James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski to feel like new singings; and a new midfield pairing of Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali to run their midfield. Suddenly, this is a Tottenham Hotspur team with all the makings of a top four challenge.
Embed from Getty ImagesBehind them, Roberto De Zerbi seems like the perfect man to lead this team forward and bring all the right demands of the players, who so often underwhelmed and underperformed last campaign. With that, I take a look at each of their statement signings, and how they will fit into the team.
SOLIDITY AT THE BACK
Embed from Getty ImagesOne of the preeminent problems for Spurs last season was their inability to progress out from the back in a way that felt purposeful and productive. Going the other way, they struggled with discipline in defense, and the gaps that formed in transition. As one player would step out of position to cover the counter attack, the entire defensive structure would crumble and collapse until Vicario was left for dead.
Embed from Getty ImagesIn Jan-Paul Van Hecke and Marcos Senesi, Tottenham have two active, aggressive defenders, who are capable of being disciplined and controlled in their approach. They each have four seasons of Premier League experience behind them, and understand how to play in possession-based teams.
Embed from Getty ImagesJan-Paul Van Hecke has comfortably been one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League over the past few years, since breaking into Brighton’s first eleven back in 2023-24. He’s good on the ball, good at finding passes through the thirds and between lines, and loves a longer pass. Van Hecke found nearly 4 long passes per 90 last campaign, ranking him in the top 7% of those in his position.
Embed from Getty ImagesAs a combative aerial presence, the Dutchman also contributed with 3 goals and 3 assists last campaign, making him a key set-piece threat.
Defensively, he’s disciplined in his approach, reads the game well, communicative, and physical. Not in a nasty, Cristian Romero way. But in a way that can be unsettling for a new forward to the Premier League who doesn’t quite no how to contend with that level of physicality. The kind of forward Tottenham had in abundance themselves last season.
Embed from Getty ImagesMarcos Senesi on the other hand is more of a smooth operator. He’s really classy out from the back. A strong carrier of the ball, and someone that loves to join attacks, Senesi impressed for his ability to not only control possession for Bournemouth, but completely undo high presses with the variety at which he can hurt a defense. The Argentinean defender secured 5 assists last campaign, creating 0.6 chances per 90 (in the top 4% of players in his position). Senesi too is a wonderful long passer (hence his line breaking ability), and supremely comfortable making the shorter, simpler passes.
Embed from Getty ImagesDefensively, Senesi’s a quiet beast. He blocked 1.3 shots per 90 last campaign (in the top 7% again), and contributed heavily with his proactive approach to defending 1v1 situations and balls over the top. At the age of 29, he brings more experience than some of the young, up and coming defenders Spurs have been inclined to sign within the past few seasons.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhether De Zerbi wants to partner Senesi alongside Van Hecke or operate in a back-three that incorporates Mickey van de Ven, he now has more options as to how he can unravel various opponents. As we saw with the Netherlands this summer, Van de Ven could even go out to the left of a back-four, forming a back-three build as the right-back pushes up.
Meanwhile, Robertson, Porro, Spence and Udogie could all work well as wing-backs or full-backs, giving De Zerbi the option of a back-three or four. That decision may very well be informed by how many midfielders he wants to throw into the mix.
NEW MIDFIELD MASTERS
Embed from Getty ImagesWhile he now has the players to comfortably produce a back-three, De Zerbi has clearly added players with the intention of a three-man midfield. We saw him prefer a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 last season at the tail-end of the campaign, and both would suit his new signings well.
Embed from Getty ImagesJames Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are expected to return this season, and could be that line-breaking, creative force to play alongside a more defensive duo. Kulusevski can also operate quite comfortably on the wing, giving De Zerbi the chance to fit all of those players in at the same time.
Embed from Getty ImagesSpurs now have a greater capacity to give all that attacking thrust a proper go, thanks to the expensive pairing of Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali. Both are all-action-packed midfielders who can play as an ‘8’ or ‘6’, dominate possession, control the game, and hold their own when it comes to their defensive responsibilities. Fernandes is a bit more combative and creative, while Tonali has grown into a player more likely to hold his position.
Embed from Getty ImagesStarting with Sandro Tonali, you could certianly criticize the club-record £100 million fee. Tonali’s not a £100 million player. We can all agree on that. But if the Italian does play just about every minute this season at the base of De Zerbi’s midfield, helping to provide some solace and positional stability to the chaos and creativity ahead of him, it will be an extremely smart signing. Fernandes loves a tackle, he loves the ball at his feet, and he loves to spray passes around the field. He will be the one asking for the ball. He will also be the one stepping up higher to press and counter-press.
Embed from Getty ImagesBalancing him with a midfield partner like Tonali brings much of that same flavour the Italian had with Bruno Guimarães at Newcastle. Guimarães was the game-breaker. The guy that would run around like crazy, contribute goals, dribble past opponents, win fouls for his team, and get in the face of the opposition as soon as they lost the ball. Tonali provided that steady head in behind to hold position, support the defense, and help to recycle play in transition.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhat the Magpies really missed last season in the architecture of their midfield was a creative force. That’s where Dejan Kulusevski or James Maddison could prove so massive to this midfield. Or even someone like Conor Gallagher who can drive up the pitch and deliver crosses into the box.
Embed from Getty Images3 goals and 4 assists was a decent return for Mateus Fernandes last campaign, but his game is more about setting the tempo than playing the final pass. The Portuguese midfielder likes to ping the ball around the park with these sublime switches of play from one side to the other. He likes to dribble. He likes to get in the face of the opposition and make tough tackles. That works well with Tonali, who is more cautious in his approach and unlikely to dive into challenges. It also works well with someone that is more creative and inclined to float, like James Maddison. Suddenly, this has the makings of a supremely structured midfield.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt’s worth noting that not only do they work well together, but they work really well in a De Zerbi system. Fernandes is all about energy and intensity. He was one of the top runners last campaign in both distance covered and top speed reached (top 4% and top 3% respectively). Tonali’s also been part of that physical, high-press in Eddie Howe’s system. They both bring durability and consistency to a midfield that so often lacked exactly that last campaign.
Importantly, when Xavi Simons returns, or those other creative, dribbly wingers get on the ball, they now have a better base in behind to defend in transition.
FINDING THE RIGHT FORMULA IN ATTACK
Embed from Getty ImagesWhile Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor both failed to find a clear playing philosophy; they can be most criticized for failing to get the best out of all of Tottenham’s many forwards. So many of those new signings just didn’t work. Randal Kolo Muani barely scored any goals, Xavi Simons looked lively in some moments but then anonymous in others, and Mohammed Kudus and Mathys Tel were restricted to one-dimensional roles that couldn’t get the best out of their potential.
Embed from Getty ImagesNow Tottenham appear to have a more settled attack. They have Richarlison and Dominic Solanke as the preeminent striker choices, and have their eyes set on Cody Gakpo as a potential finalizer to the puzzle. Providing more of a direct threat out wide or that option to play as a false 9, Gakpo would give a different dimension to the Spurs attack.
Embed from Getty ImagesKulusevski, Tel and Simons all work best as inverted wingers. They will come inside onto their stronger foot, and work to create chances from the centre. Gakpo can go both ways, thriving off his running power, physicality, and directness. If they can get this deal over the line, I really like it as a balanced move to compliment the other wide men Spurs already have at their disposal.
Embed from Getty ImagesIf not, Richarlison might be useful off the left in the same sort of vein. Kulusevski will do all this nice work dribbling and carrying the ball inside, and Richarlison can use his pace and power to run in behind. Particularly, if paired with Solanke, who is good with his back to goal.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut the signing of the Liverpool forward still hangs in the balance. If they don’t get Gakpo, they may need someone else to support an injury-prone Richarlison. They may also need to cut their losses with one of the many other players they’ve signed over the years, from Mohammed Kudus to Lucas Bergvall to Wilson Odobert to Manor Solomon. None of these players have really worked at Tottenham, and might not get much of a chance to really cement their place in a world where Kulusevski and Maddison are both set to return to the pitch.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe alternative route to a direct winger could be a statement signing in the centre-forward position. You don’t want to rely on Richarlison or Solanke to be that 20-goal-a-season player, even if one or both could hit double figures. Getting an energetic, fire engine of a forward like Victor Osimhen would be the way to go, if there is any room left in the budget after a summer well spent already.
Whatever comes of the remaining weeks before the season, it’s clear that Tottenham are not entirely finished with their business. So for now, this is how De Zerbi’s men might line up next season, pending any more moves still to come.
If you enjoyed reading this preview, check out the others in this series, including Michael Carrick’s Manchester United, and Xabi Alonso’s new look Chelsea. Thanks for reading and see you soon!
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