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Micky van de Ven says Tottenham's record spending highlights a "new ambition" after an "unacceptable" season - and backed the team to play "more enjoyable" football under Roberto de Zerbi.

Tottenham have finished 17th in the Premier League in back-to-back years and only narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of last season.

Under De Zerbi, who was appointed in late March, Spurs have spent a club record £237m this summer.

Defender Van de Ven is in talks over a new contract, having joined Tottenham in 2023 on a six-year deal.

"It's really good that you can see the club has made some changes," the 25-year-old told BBC Sport in Sydney, where the club are on their pre-season tour.

"You can see the club has a new ambition. It's something that's really important for players who have been here for a long time.

"Last season was a stressful season, unacceptable from our side, so to leave all of that behind and go into the new season fresh means a lot."

Tottenham had three managers last season, with Thomas Frank managing less than eight months in charge before being sacked after a dismal start to the season.

Interim manager Igor Tudor left the club after 44 days before De Zerbi took over with seven games of the season remaining.

Frank struggled to connect with the Tottenham fans and was criticised for playing with a "safety-first" approach.

Van de Ven believes De Zerbi will have the team playing better football, helped by the new signings and a full pre-season to drill the squad.

"It's going to be different compared to the manager we had last season," Van de Ven said.

"It's going to be more with the ball, I think, more about playing football. I think it's also going to be more enjoyable for people to watch because we'll be playing offensive football.

"You can see he [De Zerbi] has brought a lot of passion into our group, a lot in terms of mentality and passion on the pitch.

"It is something we needed because everybody was a little bit down.

"He brings a lot of good energy and, from pre-season, we have really had the time to bring his football into the team. That's really enjoyable."

Earlier this month Spurs broke their transfer record twice in two days, first signing midfielder Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for £85m before bringing in Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for £100m.

Jan Paul van Hecke, Van de Ven's Netherlands team-mate, has also joined from Brighton in a £52m deal, alongside the free transfers of experienced trio Marcos Senesi, Andrew Robertson and Martin Dubravka.

"The feeling of the team is really good, to be honest," Van de Ven added.

"I have really enjoyed working with him [De Zerbi]. That's what we have been doing in this pre-season, and the guys who are coming in have been unbelievable as well.

"They have fit in well to the group."

Tottenham are favourites to sign Brazil winger Savinho, 22, from Manchester City. (Sun), external

Meanwhile, Spurs boss Roberto de Zerbi has hinted that Mikey Moore, who spent last season on loan with Rangers, may be allowed to leave the club again this summer. (Herald - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi said he did not want to take any risks as he fielded a young side in a pre-season win against A-League champions Auckland FC in New Zealand.

Dane Scarlett and Richarlison scored the goals for Spurs as Mateus Fernandes, an £85m signing from West Ham, was the only one of the club's major summer arrivals to feature.

Sandro Tonali, who joined Tottenham in a £100m deal from Newcastle United, missed out with "one small problem", while defenders Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi also didn't figure.

"It's a chance for the young players," De Zerbi told TVNZ before kick-off.

"After a very long trip, we can't take a risk with the players who are not ready to play yet."

Scarlett put Spurs into an early lead before some of Tottenham's more experienced players in Ben Davies, Mathys Tel, Conor Gallager and Richarlison came on, along with Fernandes, just after the hour mark.

Richarlison added his side's second in a game watched by a record crowd for a men's football game in New Zealand.

There were 40,112 at Eden Park, a ground where usual occupants the All Blacks are unbeaten in 32 years, as the figure surpassed the previous best of 37,034 who turned up when the New Zealand men's team played a World Cup qualifier against Peru in 2017.

Tottenham's next game is against Sydney FC on 29 July (10:45 BST).

Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi says players who are not happy at the club this summer should move elsewhere.

The Italian, who took over at Spurs at the end of March and helped save them from Premier league relegation last season, made his comments amid doubts over Lucas Bergvall's future at the club.

Tottenham rejected a first bid of £38m from Nottingham Forest for Sweden midfielder Bergvall, with Forest set to up their offer to £45m.

"I was very clear at the start of my time in Tottenham. I said, who doesn't want to stay in Tottenham? Who is not happy, is not proud to stay here, has to leave," De Zerbi said, external before his side's pre-season friendly against Auckland FC in New Zealand on Sunday (04:30 BST).

"I want the players to be proud and happy to stay here, to go on the pitch in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with big motivation. Because now in football, if you think also in the World Cup, the motivation makes the difference.

"The motivation is to be happy to stay in one team."

Bergvall, who joined Spurs from Swedish club Djurgarden in 2024, played limited minutes at the end of last season under De Zerbi.

The 20-year-old started the Italian's first game in charge – a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland – and, after that, made four appearances as a substitute.

Spurs have since signed midfielders Sandro Tonali - in a £100m deal from Newcastle United - and Mateus Fernandes for £85m from West Ham.

"I have not spoken with Lucas yet," said De Zerbi. "I will in the next days and we will make the best decision for the club, for Lucas, for me, for every one of us, without problems. Lucas is a big, big talent.

"There will be a big competition to play because at the end, I think we will be two players for each position.

"If he wants to stay, I will be happy. Otherwise, we have to find a new solution with [sporting director] Johan Lange, with [chief executive] Vinai [Venkatesham]. It's not my business after the decision to leave."

Tottenham have also added defenders Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi to their ranks and De Zerbi says now the "target is to complete the attacking positions".

"First of all, I think it's not finished yet, our transfer market window," he added. "We have to finish, we have to bring another couple of, maybe more, maybe not less, but a couple of players."

Bergvall is part of Tottenham's squad in New Zealand but wingers Mohammed Kudus (thigh) and Dejan Kulusevski (knee) have not travelled as they recover from long-term injuries.

"Kudus is very close. I think when we come back to London he will be available to start working with us," said De Zerbi. "It's a great thing for us. Kudus is another important player.

"Kulusevski, we have to see in the next couple of weeks. He's another important player. After one season, one complete season, without a game, we have to analyse better and better, don't take risks, first of all for him and then for us."

Meanwhile, Spurs attacking midfielder Xavi Simons said "the first four days were the worst days of my life" as he recalled the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered in April.

The Netherlands international required surgery on the serious knee injury and missed the 2026 World Cup.

"I couldn't sleep, I didn't eat for one week," he told Tottenham's website. "I was in a lot of pain. I was vomiting and felt dizzy, it was everything. That pain, I don't wish no-one to go through that pain.

"I don't know what it's like for other players but, for me, it was like my whole body was saying like 'what happened?'

"This is what it is. I'm happy and in a good place now."

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Tottenham have confirmed that full-back Andy Robertson will wear number three during his time at the club.

This is common for left-backs but it is not the Scotland international's go-to number; at his past three clubs (Liverpool, Hull City and Dundee United), Robertson opted to wear number 26.

"When I came here, I knew that the number 26 hasn't been used since the legend that is Ledley King and I wanted to respect that. He was an unbelievable player and has done so many good things for this football club.

"Number three means a lot to me – that's my national team number. I've had so many good memories as number three for Scotland so when I knew it was going to become available, it was a no-brainer for me.

"The number 26 is a really important number to me in my life and it will always stay like that, but number three is just as important and hopefully I can make as many memories in the number three shirt as I did in the 26."

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Spurs confirm pre-season squad for New Zealand and Australia

Tottenham have confirmed a 35-man travelling squad for their pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia - with five injured senior players left behind.

Mohamed Kudus, Xavi Simons, Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert and Guglielmo Vicario will remain in England and continue their rehabilitation.

AS a result of their World Cup schedules, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr, Pedro Porro, Marcos Senesi, Cristian Romero and Djed Spence will miss the trip.

Out of the 10 Spurs players who featured in the World Cup, only Kevin Danso, Antonin Kinsky, Andy Robertson, Micky van de Ven and Lucas Bergvall will take part.

Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke, who joined Tottenham this summer, have all been named in the squad.

Spurs will play A-League champions Auckland FC at Eden Park on Sunday (04:00 BST kick-off).

Following that, they will then travel to Australia to take part in the Sydney Super Cup.

Tottenham's pre-season tour squad:

Damola Ajayi, Brandon Austin, Lucas Bergvall, Harry Byrne, Kevin Danso, Ben Davies, Jamie Donley, Martin Dubravka, Mateus Fernandes, Conor Gallagher, Archie Gray, Tye Hall, Tyrese Hall, Malachi Hardy, Antonin Kinsky, Rio Kyerematen, James Maddison, Mason Melia, Mikey Moore, Richarlison, Andy Robertson, Reiss Russell-Denny, Dane Scarlett, Dominic Solanke, Manor Solomon, Kota Takai, Mathys Tel, Dylan Thompson, Tyler Tingey, Sandro Tonali, Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven, Jan Paul van Hecke, Luca Williams-Barnett, Yang Min-hyeok.

Spurs' pre-season schedule:

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Pogon Szczecin have agreed a deal for Tottenham defender Alfie Dorrington to move to Poland in permanent transfer.

The 21-year-old's move remains subject to personal terms but Pogon have permission to conduct a medical.

Dorrington spent last season on loan at Salford City in League Two, narrowly missing out on promotion through both the league proper and later the play-offs, having also had two spells at Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen.

He has made a single appearance for Spurs since joining in 2018 and is an England under-19s international.

Pogon finished ninth in the Polish top-flight last season but typically harbour ambitions to compete for trophies and the European places at the top of the league.