Tottenham’s Transfer Strategy Under Fire, But Redknapp Backs De Zerbi for a Turnaround
As Tottenham Hotspur prepares for their 2026-27 Premier League opener against Brentford at home, the club finds itself in the spotlight—not for ambition, but for questionable recruitment.
With a disappointing calendar year behind them and a near-miss with relegation, Spurs are eager to avoid a repeat of last season’s 17th-place finish.
Efforts to rebuild are already visible. Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson, and Jan Paul van Hecke have joined the squad, and the club is actively pursuing more names, including Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes. Under new manager Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham is expected to undergo a significant transformation—provided the board follows through on their promise to back him fully.
However, former Spurs boss Harry Redknapp isn’t convinced that more spending is the answer. In an interview with GOAL in association with BuzzBallz, Redknapp argued that the root of the problem lies in poor squad building, not a lack of investment.
“They need a big change,” Redknapp stated. “The squad has to be overhauled. I don’t know De Zerbi personally, but I like what I’ve seen. He won’t tolerate what’s been going on for the last two years. He’ll push them hard, and if players aren’t up to it, they’ll be out.
But a lot depends on recruitment—and whoever has been in charge of that recently hasn’t done a good job.”
Redknapp didn’t hold back when assessing Tottenham’s recent transfer activity, pointing out that the club has splashed massive fees on players who have failed to deliver.
“£60 million here, £50 million there—average players who haven’t performed,” he said. “Finishing 17th twice in a row is inexcusable. They were fortunate this year—Villa put out a weakened side just before a European semifinal, and Spurs capitalized. That win kept them up, but overall, they’ve been shocking.”
Despite his criticism, Redknapp is optimistic about the future under De Zerbi. “I think he’ll push them on,” he added. “I expect them to finish in the top six next season.”
With the summer window still open, Tottenham now has a crucial opportunity to correct past mistakes and fully back their new manager in reshaping the squad.
