Read our 2026/27 season preview for Tottenham as Roberto De Zerbi attempts to get to grips with a perennially underperforming squad.
Consecutive battles with relegation have given the Spurs hierarchy the wake-up call that they needed; forced to take a big swing in the transfer market.
One can’t help but feel that this is at the demand of manager De Zerbi, who rode to Tottenham’s rescue as they were staring Premier League relegation in the face for the very first time. However, it takes a lot more than just eye-watering transfer fees to make a cohesive team, and fans will expect results fast.
Key question
Can De Zerbi resist a high-profile fallout?
When it comes to the excellence of De Zerbi’s coaching abilities, there is little room for doubt.
However, there is a huge question mark hanging over his temperament, with a track record of high-profile skirmishes that ultimately impair his capabilities to manage at the elite level.
There is no better example of this than De Zerbi’s previous job with Marseille. A string of fallouts with players, backroom staff and club officials snowballed out of control, impacting the performance of the team and leading to the announcement of his dismissal at a peculiar time in the early hours of an otherwise insignificant Wednesday morning in February.
Prior to his time in France, the 47-year-old had shown with both Sassuolo and Brighton that he was capable of assembling a team that could punch well above its weight.
Aspects of his tactical blueprint have been copied by the likes of Pep Guardiola and he definitely left his mark on English football following his two-year spell on the south coast. But, however good he is as a coach, the question still remains: can De Zerbi maintain a healthy relationship with staff and boardroom members alike?
Key transfer
Sandro Tonali
Spurs were littered with issues both on and off the pitch last season but their inability to progress the ball out of defence and through the midfield was chief amongst their tactical woes. In this respect, it is the capture of Tonali that stands out.
Despite possessing a technically gifted group of midfielders, Tottenham struggled to maintain comfortable possession and were caught out time and time again in compromising positions.
Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur are brilliant when required to break up the play and regain the ball, but aren’t too useful on it.
In Tonali, Spurs now have a player who is able to drop between the centre-backs, receive the ball and pick out a forward pass. It’s the type of profile that they lacked last term and will instantly make them a better side.
With James Maddison and Mateus Fernandes occupying spaces beyond the first line of pressure, Spurs could be very dangerous in transition.
Breakout star
Antonin Kinsky
Just a few months ago it would've been unfathomable to think that Antonin Kinsky would have any future at Tottenham, let alone head into the coming campaign as the club's No 1.
After largely serving as Guglielmo Vicario's understudy after joining Spurs in January 2005, Kinsky was thrown in at the deep end during Igor Tudor's short-lived spell in North London.
Entrusted with just his third start of the season in a UEFA Champions League last 16 clash with Atletico Madrid, the 23-year-old made two crucial errors in the opening 15 minutes before being unceremoniously substituted shortly after.
While such a nadir could be devastating for a young goalkeeper's confidence, Kinsky rebounded impressively after being called into action for the final seven Premier League games of the season.
Against Leeds United in May Kinsky pulled off one of the saves of the season to deny Sean Longstaff a certain winner deep into stoppage time.
With Vicario departing the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after three years as the club's first-choice it appears that Roberto De Zerbi will entrust Kinksy with the No 1 shirt for the 2025/26.
If his performances towards the end of last season are anything to go by the Czech has what it takes to make the position his own going forward.
What is a good season?
Qualification for European football
The money spent by Tottenham over the course of the summer brings with it the expectation of rapid improvement.
Tonali, Fernandes, Van Hecke have cost the club well in excess of £200m and given they aren’t burdened by the added pressure of European football, the league will be their absolute, unwavering priority.
Prior to the beginning of the 2024/25 Premier League season, Spurs’ last five finishes had been 6th, 7th, 4th, 8th, 5th; a level of performance that the hierarchy will be absolutely desperate to recreate.
Vibes in preseason have been good and Tottenham fans will be hopeful that they can improve past the likes of Sunderland, Brighton and Bournemouth and qualify for Europe.
Bold prediction
Dominic Solanke to be the top scoring Englishman
A combination of Spurs’ terrible form and a constant battle to stay fit has resulted in Dominic Solanke becoming an extremely underrated forward.
Just two years ago the 28-year-old was seen finishing fourth in the race for the Premier League Golden Boot, all whilst plying his trade for mid-table outfit Bournemouth.
His real injury struggles began last season, missing 33 matches between August and January after undergoing ankle surgery and two more at the back end of the campaign. Despite not being at full tilt when on the pitch, Solanke showed flashes of his brilliance. The former Chelsea man scored Champions League goals against Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt and Atletico Madrid, also making his mark in domestically with a crucial brace against Manchester City.
Thomas Tuchel even had a look, calling him up for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, but ultimately decided against including him in the World Cup squad.
A fully fit Solanke, allied with a decent coach and a raft of new signings, has the potential to be game-changing for Tottenham.
Will they be better than last season?
Yes!
Of all 20 Premier League clubs, the answer to this question is surely most straightforward when asked of Tottenham ahead of the upcoming campaign.
De Zerbi’s coaching ability – providing he can resist a fallout – is certain to result in massive improvement and there is no denying that they have recruited fantastically well.
They needed centre-backs; in came Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi.
They needed midfield reinforcements; in came Tonali and Fernandes.
They needed experience; in came Andrew Robertson.
If they gel, and there is no reason to think that they won’t, Tottenham could not only finish top half but they could even force their way back into the top six.
