Tottenham have splashed the cash this summer and plenty of pundits think they'll greatly improve on last season's 17th-place finish in the Premier League
Tottenham will be looking to put recent relegation scraps firmly behind them under Roberto De Zerbi this Premier League campaign. And a handful of pundits think the club's summer business could even lead them into Europe.
Spurs fans could have been forgiven for thinking the 17th-place finish under Ange Postecoglou was a blip, irrespective of the Europa League win. But last season felt for many like a nightmare they couldn't wake up from.
Beginning the term under Thomas Frank, Tottenham dangled far too close to relegation for comfort and needed a last-day win against Everton to confirm their safety under De Zerbi, who had taken up the reins in March from interim boss Igor Tudor.
The club's hierarchy evidently felt enough was enough and have opened up their wallets this summer, spending a combined £237million on Jan Paul van Hecke (£52m), Mateus Fernandes (£85m) and Sandro Tonali (£100m). Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson and Martin Dubravka have also arrived on free transfers.
With Tottenham's curtain-raiser against Brentford on the horizon, football.london looks at a host of pundits who feel Spurs are capable of securing a top-five finish - which would likely yield Champions League football under UEFA's expanded coefficient rules - with a former manager heaping praise on one of their free-agent acquisitions.
Harry Redknapp - 5th
Redknapp told Sky Sports: "I would be surprised if they weren't in the top five. I think with that squad and that manager, they are very, very capable [of finishing fifth]. I have no doubt about that.
"[Andy] Robertson, the left-back from Liverpool. What a professional. Just the type you want in your dressing room and on the pitch. He's been there and done it all. He's a great signing. A bit understated."
Tim Sherwood - 5th
Sherwood told Metro: "I think Arsenal win it. I think Man City are still second, just on the history of what they've done previously. I'll go Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and then Man Utd just missing out on Champions League in sixth."
Paul Merson - 5th
"There's not too much between Spurs and Manchester Utd at the moment - but I might just go Spurs fifth," Merson wrote for Sky Sports. "Spurs are my dark horses. Well, they're definitely going to finish above 17th! They've bought well and again, they're playing once a week."
Joe Cole - 4th
"It [fourth] is a toss-up between Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham – and I'm going with the latter," Cole told Paddy Power. "The business that Spurs have done has been brilliant and they also don't have European football to worry about.
"Roberto De Zerbi is top drawer too and although it pains me to say it, I can see them finishing in the top four now there's a feel-good factor back at the club."
Owen Hargreaves - 6th
"Tottenham, big-spending Tottenham," Hargreaves told the Premier League. "De Zerbi is one of the best tactical managers. I'm gonna go with sixth for them."
Jamie O'Hara - 6th
"Arsenal will win the league, Man City will finish second, Man United will finish third, Chelsea will finish fourth, Liverpool will finish fifth and Spurs will finish sixth," O'Hara said live on talkSPORT.
Jeff Stelling - 5th
"I'm going Arsenal to win it. Chelsea in second, Manchester City third and Manchester United fourth. I'll put Spurs fifth and Liverpool sixth," Stelling said on talkSPORT.
Clinton Morrison - 6th
"I've got Arsenal, Manchester City second, Liverpool third. I'm 50/50 with fourth. I've gone for United but Chelsea could finish in there. Tottenham will finish in the top six," he told Sky Sports.
Troy Deeney - 6th
"After finishing 17th two seasons in a row, expecting Spurs to be in the top five is a big ask," said Deeney. "It is Nottingham Forest who are my surprise package this year - I know people will say they have lost Anderson but, the way they play, I don't think he is a massive loss. The owner is ambitious and so is Oliver Glasner, so it is a marriage made in heaven.
Ashley Young - 13th
Ex-Manchester United star Ashley Young was tasked with predicting the final Premier League table in a social media clip for Sky Sports and ended up putting Tottenham in 13th.
He has United winning the league with Arsenal second, too, but in fairness, was given the teams in a random order and then asked to pop them into a spot on the table with no chance to change.
Glenn Murray - 3rd
"Tottenham are going to be much better than last season. They have made some great signings and James Maddison is back fit. My only worry for them is that they still need a goalscorer," Murray told the BBC as he predicted Spurs to finish third.