Tottenham Hotspur need “more quality, experience and leadership” if they are to compete at the highest level, according to CEO Vinai Venkatesham.
Venkatesham, who was appointed in the summer of 2025, stressed that the club’s “priority” is “to make signings that genuinely move us forward.”
He explained such progress demanded a more “proactive” recruitment strategy, in addition to “a wage structure that supports our ambition”.
“We believe in our current squad, but must add more quality, experience and leadership to compete consistently at the highest level,” Venkatesham wrote in the match programme for Saturday’s Premier League fixture against West Ham.
“Doing so requires a more proactive approach to recruitment, alongside a wage structure that supports our ambition.”
Tottenham are 14th in the league, having won just one of their last six Premier League games, and their form under new head coach Thomas Frank has provoked wide-ranging criticism, aimed not just at Frank, but the club’s board as well, who have faced frequent accusations about a lack of ambition and poor communication.
Venkatesham also addressed recent fan unrest, with a confrontation between travelling supporters and the first team players taking place following the 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium in early January.
“We know there is distance between the club and our supporters and are committed to rebuilding the connection,” he added.
Tottenham have already been eliminated from both domestic cup competitions this season, losing to Newcastle United in the Fourth Round of the Carabao Cup in October and, last weekend, to Aston Villa in the third round of the FA Cup. Spurs remain in the Champions League and are on course to qualify for the playoff round ahead of the knockout stages.
A spate of recent injuries has built further pressure. Mohamed Kudus and Richarlison are both likely out until at least March, Rodrigo Bentancur had surgery this week on a hamstring injury, and they have been added to a long-term injury list that includes Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison, neither of whom have featured at all this season. Dominic Solanke has recently recovered from an ankle injury suffered in pre-season, with the England forward making a substitute appearance in the defeat to Aston Villa.
Venkatesham stressed that the club must become “world class in performance services” to ensure players are in the correct condition to compete at the highest level.
Spurs face West Ham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.