Brad Friedel has reacted to Tottenham Hotspur’s record spend in their first summer transfer window of the post-Daniel Levy era.
Spurs have spent a club record £237m on six new signings so far, and they have broken their transfer record twice already.
Additionally, Tottenham have also broken their wage structure, with Sandro Tonali being handed a salary of £250k per week, making him comfortably the highest-paid player at the club.
At the end of last season, several senior Spurs officials had promised that the club would show ambition this summer, and they have certainly done so, marking a clear departure from how the Lilywhites used to operate under the previous regime.
Bred Friedel claims Daniel Levy operated under major restrictions at Tottenham
Friedel believes that Roberto De Zerbi was promised a major squad rebuild this summer if he kept Tottenham in the Premier League.
However, he suggested that Levy’s departure is not the main reason for the club loosening their purse strings, suggesting that such funds were never made available for the former Tottenham chairman.
The former Spurs goalkeeper told 101GreatG oals: “I was really surprised that De Zerbi took the job at the time he did, because he is one of the better managers out there and he knows the Premier League really well.”
“What it is showing me is that he had assurances with the board that if he did take over, they would back him in the transfer window. That discussion obviously occurred.
“I feel a little bit sad for Daniel Levy in a sense, because the money was never Daniel’s. It was always the board’s, and he was always under restrictions of spend, even though they spent a lot during his tenure.
“He was always tasked with building a training ground and building a stadium at the same time as building squads, and I think a lot of people think it was Daniel that wasn’t spending the money. You can only spend what’s given to you by the people that have the money.”
Friedel expects Spurs to challenge for Europe
Friedel suggested that the Lilywhites may have overspent on a couple of their signings, but opined that all of their additions so far have been good ones.
The pundit believes that Spurs have handed De Zerbi the tools to challenge for a top-six finish next season following back-to-back 17th-place finishes.
The American added about Tottenham’s transfer business: “I think most of their signings have been very good. I worry a little bit that they are going from sort of no spend to crazy spend. If the numbers are right for Tonali, up to £100million and £270,000 a week, that is a big difference from the contractual stances that Tottenham have had in the past.
“Tonali is a good player, I am not saying he is not a good player, it is just a lot of money. However, I think Tottenham with De Zerbi and the signings they are making, they are putting themselves in a position to be a top-six finisher. To be honest.”
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