Roberto De Zerbi has delivered a clear message to Tottenham’s Premier League rivals: Spurs are not finished spending.
The Tottenham head coach believes the club must continue investing if they are serious about closing the gap on England’s biggest teams, with the arrival of Savio from Manchester City taking their summer expenditure beyond the £300 million mark.
Savio’s £85m move is the latest statement signing of Tottenham’s first summer transfer window following the end of the Daniel Levy era.
And despite Spurs suffering a disappointing defeat to Brentford in their opening Premier League fixture, De Zerbi insists the club should not hesitate to strengthen further.
Tottenham have already spent heavily this summer, but De Zerbi’s appetite for recruitment has not disappeared.
Ahead of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup second-round meeting with Charlton, the Italian made it clear that he sees spending as part of Tottenham’s attempt to compete at the very top.
“I don’t feel pressure about the transfer market. If I can, I want to spend more money again without problems, because the other teams don’t spend anything different.
“I feel pressure because I am working in one of the best clubs in the world and I would like to help this club to compete to win the titles.
“I don’t know (whether) this season or next season, but, in the end, it’s my big target, my personal target.”
The message is straightforward: De Zerbi does not believe Tottenham should be apologising for their spending.
Instead, he wants the club to use its financial strength to build a squad capable of challenging for major honours.
For years, Tottenham have found themselves competing for Champions League qualification while clubs such as Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal have regularly occupied the title conversation.
De Zerbi believes there is no reason why that hierarchy cannot change.
“We have nothing less than the other big clubs in the Premier League, especially now in my time. We are moving very well in the transfer market and why not?
“I can’t understand why Tottenham can’t compete with Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal. I don’t understand why Tottenham can’t spend the same money as Chelsea, Liverpool.”
That belief is now being backed by serious investment.
The £85m arrival of Savio is a particularly significant statement, while the club’s overall summer spending has crossed a major financial threshold.
Tottenham’s opening-day defeat at Brentford could have raised questions about whether the squad is ready to challenge immediately.
De Zerbi, however, appears to see the bigger picture.
One poor result will not change his belief that Spurs need to build aggressively and compete with the Premier League’s established powerhouses.
The challenge now is turning expensive recruitment into a team capable of delivering consistently on the pitch.
That pressure will increase quickly, with Tottenham facing Charlton in the Carabao Cup before continuing their Premier League campaign.
De Zerbi’s comments reveal something bigger than a desire for more transfers.
He wants Tottenham to change their mentality.
The target is no longer simply to compete for a European place.
De Zerbi wants Spurs to believe they belong in the same financial and sporting conversation as Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal.
That requires investment, but spending alone will not guarantee success.
Tottenham must now ensure their recruitment produces a balanced squad, while De Zerbi must turn those additions into a team capable of challenging for trophies.
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