After narrowly escaping relegation on multiple occasions over the past few seasons, Tottenham Hotspur supporters are desperate to make huge progress in the 2026/27 season.
Roberto De Zerbi has been given a pre-season opportunity to work with the first-team squad in north London as they build on last season’s success in avoiding relegation to the Premier League.
The Italian even secured £400m worth of funding in the recent summer transfer window to improve his first-team squad and help him compete for a European place in 2026/27.
However, with the Lilywhites sitting at the bottom of the table after five games and zero wins this season, it’s safe to say management have paid a huge price for one of their latest additions.
Why Spurs spent big money to sign Tonali this summer
Ahead of the start of the summer transfer window in early June, many Spurs fans are desperate to add midfielders to help strengthen the core of Dezebbe’s side.
It’s safe to say the board have responded to such calls in recent months, spending a reported £100m including add-ons to sign Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United.
The Italian’s experience in England’s top flight is believed to be an important part of Tottenham’s success at this level in the coming years.
He may only have played five games in his career in north London, but it’s safe to say the midfielder has already attracted criticism for his failure to impress.
How much do Tottenham Hotspur midfielders earn? | ||
|---|---|---|
player | weekly salary | contract expires |
Sandro Tonali | £200,000 | June 30, 2032 |
Matthews Fernandez | £200,000 | June 30, 2031 |
James Madison | £170,000 | June 30, 2028 |
Connor Gallagher | £160,000 | June 30, 2031 |
Rodrigo Bentancur | £75,000 | June 30, 2029 |
Archie Gray | £75,000 | June 30, 2030 |
Lucas Bergvall | £60,000 | June 30, 2031 |
The 26-year-old has started all five of the club’s league games in 2026/27 but has won just 0.4 aerial duels per 90 games on average, putting him below the 80th percentile of players in the league this season.
Even in possession, Tonali is extremely ineffective, subsequently conceding 1.3 times per 90 minutes, which puts him at a better than 84% rate among players in his position in 2026/27.
For a player worth £100 million, you’d expect the Italian to perform well in every game he plays, but it’s safe to say that all he has proven so far is a colossal waste of money.
Why Spurs paid too much for Tonali
Spurs have made huge changes to the first-team as part of a huge investment this summer, giving De Zerby the tools he needs to ensure success.
However, the first few games of the season have shown that it will take time for the new arrivals to adapt to the manager’s plans and life in north London.
Players like Omar Mamouche and Savio will likely play important roles in the attacking third for many years to come, but the same cannot be said for other senior players.
Forward Dominic Solanke has been given numerous opportunities to prove his worth in recent times but there is no denying that he has struggled to live up to his huge price tag.
The Englishman is reported to have arrived in north London in the summer of 2024 for a club-record fee of £65m, but has only scored 23 times in the past two years.
De Zerbi clearly has little confidence in him at the moment, as the 29-year-old has started just two of the Lilywhites’ five league games so far this season.
One of his latest starts came against Aston Villa last weekend, but Solanke only played 65 minutes and was substituted after a poor showing in the attacking third.
Solanke managed just 26 touches in his poor performance, a number fewer than goalkeeper Antonin Kinski, which shows his lack of influence in north London.
He was called upon to be a target man last Saturday, but during this defeat he won only 50% of all the duels he participated in, with the opposition’s defense able to suppress the attackers.
His only goal in the last six months came against Championship side Charlton Athletic in the second round of the Carabao Cup, further demonstrating his struggles in the final third.
It’s clear that the Englishman is no longer at the level required to succeed in the Premier League and the club could be losing a small fortune on a huge investment.
According to the transfer marketit is said that his current worth has dropped significantly to 28 million euros (£24 million), a significant drop from the price tag of 65 million pounds. For context, Tonali is thought to be worth around €80m (£69m).
Tonali is a player who will have time to correct his early struggles in north London, but it’s safe to say Solanke won’t be afforded the same luxury in the coming months.