Tottenham: De Zerbi’s Pre-Season Lessons
Traveloasisspot.com – Tottenham closed out an undefeated pre-season campaign with a pair of friendlies against Hoffenheim, finishing the preparation period with four victories and three draws across seven fixtures staged in England, New Zealand, and Australia. The weekend began with a 3-0 rout of the Bundesliga side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before a second-string XI — featuring James Maddison and Mateus Fernandes — settled for a 2-2 stalemate in a behind-closed-doors session at Hotspur Way. Now, with the Premier League opener at Brentford looming, manager Roberto De Zerbi faces a stack of unresolved questions as he attempts to launch a new era at the club.
The Transfer Window Has Not Closed
Spurs have already parted with £237 million this summer, an unprecedented outlay aimed at reversing two consecutive 17th-place finishes. Yet De Zerbi has made clear he still wants two or three further signings before the deadline, and the club’s drawn-out chase for Manchester City winger Savinho has done little to reassure supporters that the attacking shortfall will be resolved.
The situation is complicated by Mikey Moore. The 19-year-old homegrown winger netted a second-half brace against Hoffenheim, yet he remains slated for a loan departure before the window shuts. Should Spurs fail to land their forward targets while Moore walks out the door, De Zerbi will be left fielding uncomfortable questions about squad depth and planning.
“Campaigns are not won in the transfer market” — but without the reinforcements De Zerbi has requested, the optimism generated by the summer’s spending will quickly curdle.
Fitness Woes and the Test of a New Beginning
For all the positive results, the preparation period has been marred by injury and limited minutes for several key players. Destiny Udogie and Micky van de Ven did not feature at all; Dominic Solanke, Maddison, and Fernandes had their involvement carefully rationed. Mohammed Kudus has only just returned to training after a serious quadriceps injury, Dejan Kulusevski is back on the grass but remains well short of his first appearance since May 2025, and Wilson Odobert alongside long-term absentee Xavi Simons are still sidelined.
Those absences make this weekend’s trip to the Gtech Community Stadium a genuine trial. Brentford are a settled, experienced outfit, and De Zerbi will be stretched thin. Still, the ambition is unmistakable: after a club-record summer outlay and a self-assured managerial appointment, European qualification is the stated objective. The real measure of that ambition arrives when the first competitive whistle blows.
De Zerbi’s hands-on role in landing Jan Paul van Hecke, Sandro Tonali, and Fernandes signals that these are players he personally vetted and intends to build around. Tonali and Fernandes supply the midfield security and dynamism that were glaringly absent last season, while Van Hecke brings the defensive aggression the back line lacked. Together they form the skeleton of what De Zerbi hopes becomes a sustained period of success for Tottenham.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Tottenham’s Premier League season begin? Tottenham open their campaign away at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium this weekend, marking the first competitive test under De Zerbi.
How much has Tottenham spent in the summer transfer window? The club has committed approximately £237 million so far, though De Zerbi has indicated he still wants two or three additional signings before the deadline.
Which Tottenham players are still unavailable due to injury? Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons remain out long-term. Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski have returned to training but are not yet match-ready, while several first-team players had their pre-season minutes managed.
What is Tottenham’s stated target for the new season? Following a club-record spending spree and the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi, the club’s objective is European qualification — a step up from the survival scrap of last term.
