Tottenham Hotspur head into the new Premier League season with renewed optimism after an unbeaten pre-season campaign and a summer of heavy investment.

Roberto De Zerbi’s side finished their preparations with four wins and three draws from seven friendlies across England, New Zealand and Australia, including a double-header against Hoffenheim over the weekend. Yet despite the positive results, the Italian head coach has plenty to ponder ahead of Saturday’s opening fixture away at Brentford. Here, Meziesblog assesses three major lessons De Zerbi will have taken from a busy pre-season.

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Attacking reinforcements still needed

Tottenham have already embarked on an unprecedented spending spree, shelling out £237 million to overhaul a squad that had recorded back-to-back 17th-place Premier League finishes. But De Zerbi believes the work is far from complete. With only two weeks remaining before the transfer deadline, he is still pushing for two or three further additions.

The club’s protracted pursuit of Manchester City winger Savinho has done little to reassure supporters. The 19-year-old is still expected to leave on loan before the window closes, and if Spurs fail to land their attacking targets, De Zerbi will be left with difficult questions to answer. While campaigns are not won in the transfer market, the squad currently looks short in attack — and the manager knows it.

Fitness issues threaten to derail momentum

A new season brings fresh hope, and for Spurs, this truly feels like a new beginning. The club’s aggressive recruitment, combined with De Zerbi’s self-assurance, has raised expectations to the point where European qualification is now the stated target — despite last season’s narrow escape from relegation.

Talk is cheap, however, and the real test comes this weekend at the Gtech Community Stadium against a settled and experienced Brentford side. Making matters worse, De Zerbi has been left sweating over the fitness of several key players. Destiny Udogie and Micky van de Ven did not feature at all during pre-season. Dominic Solanke, James Maddison and Mateus Fernandes had their minutes carefully managed. Mohammed Kudus has yet to play since returning to training from a serious quad injury. Dejan Kulusevski is back on the grass but remains a long way from his first appearance since May 2025. Wilson Odobert and long-term absentee Xavi Simons are also still sidelined. A new campaign has brought familiar frustrations, and De Zerbi will have been deeply frustrated by the lack of pitch time for some of his most important players.

New signings look like perfect fits

Much of the optimism surrounding Spurs’ summer business can be traced directly to De Zerbi’s personal involvement. His hands-on approach in the arrivals of Jan Paul van Hecke, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes suggests these are targets he personally approved — and for whom he has a specific plan. As De Zerbi looks to carve out a new identity for Tottenham, these are the players who will help define his new era.

Tonali and Fernandes offer the security and dynamism in midfield that was sorely lacking last season, while Van Hecke’s aggression and leadership will help steady a revamped defence. All three have already showcased during pre-season what they will bring to the team. Van Hecke’s vocal presence has marked him out as a leader within the group, while Fernandes has shown composure under pressure that should complement Tonali’s energy and directness. Andy Robertson has also proven a threat with his first-time crosses, and Marcos Senesi’s line-breaking passes will aid Spurs in the build-up to attacks. What has been most impressive about Tottenham’s recruitment, ultimately, is the careful consideration behind each deal — backing De Zerbi with the players he feels he needs to implement his preferred style.