Manager Roberto De Zerbi has strengthened his position at Tottenham, gaining power in player recruitment after the failure to appoint a new sporting director. Among the new signings are Matteus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali.
Tottenham Hotspur decided to continue with a co-sporting director model, but the attempt to replace Fabio Paratici with former Borussia Dortmund player Sebastien Kehl did not materialise. This led to coach Roberto De Zerbi gaining greater power in player recruitment. Matteus Fernandes is his fifth signing of the summer, after goalkeeper Martin Dubravka and defenders Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson and Jan Paul van Hecke. The latter is a player known to De Zerbi, having coached him at Brighton, while the Italian manager is a great admirer of compatriot Sandro Tonali, who is expected to join the club from Newcastle in a deal that could be worth up to £100m.
The club's ownership has shown a clear desire to recruit players with experience and leadership skills. Although Fernandes is only 21, both sporting director Johan Lange and De Zerbi highlighted his intelligence and maturity when announcing his arrival. Robertson, 32, has won every major trophy with Liverpool and has just captained Scotland at the World Cup, while Senesi, 29, has gained four years of Premier League experience with Bournemouth.
The new signings of Fernandes and Tonali, both also targets of rivals Tottenham, demonstrate that Spurs are increasing the team's salary cap, which under Daniel Levy had been a barrier to attracting elite players. As part of their new business model, there is also a goal to get better at generating revenue from player sales. This is also evident in Brighton's move for defender Luka Vuskovic, a 19-year-old who has not yet played in the Premier League and spent last season on loan at Hamburg. Vuskovic may not be the last player to leave Tottenham this summer and further sales will help Spurs reinvest in other areas of the squad that need improvement, with De Zerbi keen to add reinforcements in attack.
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