Tim Sherwood believes that Tottenham Hotspur could surprise many people with how well they do under Roberto De Zerbi next season.
Finishing 17th once was supposed to be a warning for Spurs, but finishing just outside the relegation zone for two seasons in a row is unacceptable for a club of Tottenham’s size.
Coming so close to relegation has evidently sparked a reaction from the North London club’s hierarchy, who have decided to flex their financial muscle to raid many of their rivals for players who are proven at the highest level.
The club’s proactive summer business has transformed the mood around Tottenham heading into the new campaign, and one of the club’s former bosses believes that Spurs fans could be in for a treat next season.
Tim Sherwood backs Tottenham to push for Champions League qualification
Sherwood believes that the most significant change in the Lilywhites’ modus operandi is not the big fees they have paid for Sandro Tonali and Matues Fernandes, but the fact that the club have smashed their wage ceiling.
The pundit believes that with a full pre-season with the squad, De Zerbi will get the club challenging for Champions League qualification next season.
Sherwood told BetGoodwin (as relayed by TEAMtalk): “Tottenham have opened things up now because of the Tonali signing, not because of the £100million, but because they’ve smashed the ceiling and their wage bill now. So it opens up a completely different level of player who will maybe consider Tottenham now, knowing that they are willing to spend,”
“Tottenham can push for Champions League spots now. It sounds crazy saying that after the two seasons they’ve had, so it’ll be a huge jump. But De Zerbi knows full well that when he went in there and said, ‘Give me what I need,’ it looks like they’re doing that, and he’ll take us to where he believes we should be.
“When you’re the Tottenham manager, there is one objective: to finish in the top four. That’s a minimum requirement. For as long as I can remember, they will believe that they are on that path. I think with De Zerbi, he will believe that he’s got the tools and that he can produce that.”
Sherwood believes Spurs already have a top-class number nine in their ranks
There have been plenty of rumours about Tottenham’s willingness to break the bank to land Eli Junior Kroupi from Bournemouth this summer.
However, Sherwood believes that we must not underestimate De Zerbi’s ability to get the best out of Dominic Solanke and Richarlison, suggesting that the England international could be ‘the answer’ to the club’s woes upfront.
He added: “Do they need a striker? Well, perhaps he might kick-start Dominic Solanke, you just don’t know. You’ve got Richarlison as well. Whatever people think about Richarlison, he scored 11 goals in a really poor Tottenham team and helped them stay in the Premier League.
“I’m not saying he’s the answer, but I was crying out for him to play because I’ve seen him do it in that environment for Everton before and keep them in the league. I think he was a player who really stood up. I do think he might be moved on now, though.
“If there’s another striker out there, I will trust De Zerbi to go out there and find him, and he might be someone from left field. He’s shown that he likes the Danny Welbeck’s – a big nine, someone that holds the ball up. João Pedro was at Brighton; it will be someone with credentials like that.
Solanke might be the answer, though you don’t know…”