adminPaul Merson has praised Tottenham Hotspur’s ambitious activity in the transfer market after the club smashed its transfer record twice in the same week as Roberto De Zerbi continues reshaping his squad ahead of his first full season in charge.
Spurs supporters were already celebrating on Tuesday after the North London club completed an £85 million deal to sign Mateus Fernandes from West Ham, setting a new club-record transfer fee.
However, the excitement reached another level just 24 hours later when Tottenham reportedly agreed a sensational £100 million move for Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali.
The back-to-back blockbuster signings have underlined Tottenham’s determination to challenge at the highest level next season, with the club sending a clear statement of intent to their Premier League rivals. Among those impressed is former Arsenal midfielder and football pundit Paul Merson.
Merson hails Tonali as the missing piece
Speaking about Tottenham’s latest acquisition, Merson described Tonali as one of his favourite players in the Premier League and believes the Italian is exactly the type of midfielder Spurs have been crying out for.
The former England international argued that Tottenham’s midfield has been their biggest weakness in recent seasons, often leaving them unable to control matches despite possessing quality defenders and attackers. He also credited Roberto De Zerbi for identifying the issue and acting decisively in the transfer market.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Merson said: “Tonali is a very good signing. He is one of my favourite players in the Premier League. He is a proper, proper midfielder. Whenever I’ve watched Tottenham, I’ve always felt they get overrun in midfield. They don’t dominate games.
“They’ve got good centre-halves and talented forwards when everyone is fit, but they’ve never truly controlled the midfield. The manager, Roberto De Zerbi, has recognised that problem and brought in two excellent midfield players.”
Merson believes Villa could regret missed opportunity
Merson also predicted an encouraging campaign for Tottenham, suggesting they could emerge as serious contenders for the Premier League’s Champions League places.
Reflecting on last season, he pointed to Spurs’ 2-1 victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park in May, claiming it could prove to be a defining moment. According to Merson, Villa had an opportunity to push Tottenham closer to relegation but failed to capitalise, and that decision could ultimately come back to haunt them.
He added: “I expect Tottenham to have a good season next year. I do wonder if Aston Villa’s performance against Spurs at the end of last season will come back to bite them. They were well beaten and probably had the chance to relegate Tottenham. That result could have a big impact if we’re talking about fourth or fifth place and the Champions League spots next season.
“From what I’ve seen so far, De Zerbi has recruited extremely well.”
With Tottenham investing heavily in strengthening the heart of their midfield, expectations are growing that the club will be far more competitive under De Zerbi as they look to climb back into the Premier League’s top positions.
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