Jamie Carragher has now had his say on Tottenham Hotspur’s summer business, with the former Liverpool defender also weighing in on a potential move for one of Spurs’ key transfer targets.
Tottenham Hotspur have certainly approached this transfer window differently after narrowly avoiding relegation last season.
In what was supposed to be a new era following the exit of Daniel Levy, Spurs came dangerously close to losing their Premier League status, one they had held for almost a decade, after being embroiled in a relegation scrap.
It took the intervention of Roberto De Zerbi, after two failed managerial appointments in Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor, for the Lilywhites to salvage their season and finish just on the right side of the dotted line.
Jamie Carragher praises Tottenham’s new transfer approach
With the season now behind Tottenham, the focus has since turned to rebuilding their squad as they aim to avoid a repeat of last season’s 17th-place finish.
Spurs have moved swiftly in the summer market and have so far signed three players, with Jan Paul van Hecke moving from Brighton and Hove Albion to Tottenham for £52m, while Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi joined on free transfers after their contracts with Liverpool and Bournemouth expired.
Spurs Web revealed that Tottenham’s fourth signing is edging closer as they target a backup goalkeeper. All of this business has come less than a month after the transfer window opened.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Carragher discussed Tottenham’s transfer activity under De Zerbi and explained why he believes the club’s approach has changed significantly since Daniel Levy’s departure, highlighting the influence the Italian appears to have behind the scenes.
“I like what Spurs is doing, I like what De Zerbi is doing. I mean Spurs for a long time had the reputation of going to the last minute of the transfer deadline trying to get the best deal possible under Daniel Levy.
“Since Daniel Levy left it has not gone particularly well, so I think they are under a lot of pressure as well. De Zerbi has done a really good job. I mean, he has probably got a lot of power at that club right now.
“He is probably the most powerful he will ever be unless he wins a big trophy. So he has put his foot down. He wants players in quickly, probably to start pre-season.”
Spurs handed Sandro Tonali transfer encouragement
While three signings have come through the door and just £52m has been spent, the feeling is that Spurs are still not done yet.
Tottenham have been linked with Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes as they look to turn their attention towards rebuilding their midfield.
In fact, if Spurs were to land all of their preferred top targets this summer, it could see them spend £225m in the coming weeks.
That would smash their spending from last season and could make this one of the biggest transfer windows in the club’s recent history.
Carragher also opened up on Spurs’ pursuit of Tonali while discussing the midfielder’s qualities and why he believes the Newcastle United star would be a strong addition in north London.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the pundit explained that he has long admired the Italian and even viewed him as a player capable of improving Liverpool’s midfield.
“Tonali is a midfielder I really rate and he has got great pace and power in that midfield. It was not his best season last season, but it is difficult not playing for a team that is playing well, and he is certainly a player I was thinking about for Liverpool as well.
“Yeah, I think he would be a good move all round. I understand what Newcastle are doing. They have built a great team under Eddie Howe, they won the Carabao Cup, they got to the Champions League twice, which is fantastic for them, and now it is like that team is coming to the end.
“An era almost, and they want to start again. I think a lot of those players not playing Champions League football next season, or European football, will want to move, so they just want to cash in. They have done it to Anthony Gordon, they have done it to Tonali, and that may just be it. The other big names they have may stay.”