Tottenham Hotspur will back new manager Roberto De Zerbi in the summer transfer window after failing to sufficiently invest in the squad in January.
That is according to former Everton and Aston Villa chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, after De Zerbi was announced as Spurs’ new boss on a five-year deal.
The Italian, who has previously managed Brighton in the Premier League, does not have a relegation release clause in his contract if Spurs drop down to the Championship.
Spurs spent around £48million in the January window under former manager Thomas Frank, but that investment has not seen any improvement in results or performances.
It is set to be an active summer window rebuilding the squad at Spurs, with De Zerbi set to be faced with key departures no matter what league the club find themselves in.
✈️ Tottenham Hotspur Transfer News ✈️
Breaking news on deals in progress, signings, departures, and contract news from the Spurs boardroom.
VISIT THE TRANSFER HUB
MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES
Tottenham must make ‘statement’ signing in summer window
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Spurs will spend in the summer in hope of not enduring a relegation battle ever again.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks that even if De Zerbi isn’t the manager, the club will back whoever is in charge.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Before the January window this year, we thought Spurs were going to go quite heavy into the January window and back Thomas Frank.
“Now, I think this has really scared the Spurs owners and if they do manage to stay up, they will have no choice but to really get the chequebook out and support De Zerbi, if he’s the manager, which I’m sure he will be, and to really go forward and get the fan base back united.
“Again, this showed me a bit of naivety in January. I was surprised that they didn’t back Thomas Frank further. Conor Gallagher was really the only move of any merit that I remember at the time. They are going to have to make a statement because they will have lived through these last few weeks.
“I haven’t actually been through a relegation. I took over at Villa when it was relegated. It’s not a pleasant time, and they have the resources, and they will want to make sure that this never happens again.
“I do expect De Zerbi, or whoever the manager is, if he keeps them up, to get serious backing next year and get things moving, because for a club like Spurs this should never be happening.”
Who could Tottenham sign this summer?
De Zerbi’s arrival at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium may mean the 46-year-old joins with his own list of transfer targets, which could include players from Premier League rivals Brighton.
The likes of Dominic Solanke, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Guglielmo Vicario are all players who may leave and need to be replaced in the summer.
Sources have told Football Insider that Spurs face delays in the transfer market due to their uncertain situation in the Premier League, including in their pursuit of Juventus forward Jonathan David.
Anderlecht midfielder Nathan De Cat and Sporting full-back Maxi Araujo are also on the club’s radar ahead of possible moves.
Don’t Miss a Beat: Your Tottenham Hotspur Insider Access
Get the full story from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Hotspur Way with our dedicated expert hubs:
Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from N17 and Hotspur Way.