adminTottenham Hotspur’s miserable start to the new Premier League campaign took another turn for the worse on Saturday evening as they suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle United.
There was plenty of optimism surrounding Spurs heading into the season following a major summer recruitment drive that significantly reshaped Roberto De Zerbi’s squad. However, the opening two matches have quickly exposed the work still required at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
After being thrashed 3-0 by Brentford on the opening weekend, Tottenham have now gone two league matches without scoring. They currently sit at the foot of the Premier League table ahead of next weekend’s trip to Nottingham Forest.
De Zerbi handed starts to five of Tottenham’s eight summer arrivals against Newcastle, while Savinho would likely have made it six had the Brazilian not been ruled out with a muscle problem.
Despite the influx of new talent, Spurs once again struggled to find their rhythm. The early performances suggest De Zerbi’s revamped squad will need more time to develop an understanding and build the cohesion required to compete consistently.
Tottenham have already allowed several first-team players, including Cristian Romero and Djed Spence, to leave this summer. However, the manager’s selection against Newcastle could be another indication that further departures are on the cards before Tuesday night’s transfer deadline.
Pape Matar Sarr’s omission was perhaps less surprising given the Senegal international’s links with Juventus and Monaco, while Nottingham Forest and Everton have also reportedly shown interest.
However, the biggest talking point was the complete absence of Richarlison from the matchday squad.
Richarlison’s Tottenham Future Looks Increasingly Uncertain
Richarlison has been linked with an exit from Tottenham for some time, and his omission against Newcastle could be another major indication that his time in north London is coming to an end.
The Brazilian arrived from Everton for around £60m in 2022, but his Tottenham career has arguably failed to reach the heights expected following such a significant investment.
Across 134 appearances for Spurs, the 29-year-old has registered 32 goals and 15 assists.
Richarlison was given an opportunity to impress on the opening day against Brentford, starting the match before being substituted in the second half. De Zerbi was subsequently clear that the forward needed to improve his performance.
The Tottenham boss said:
“He’s another important player, but we stayed up with Richarlison last season.
“I also love him, but he has to play much better than against Brentford. Against Brentford, every one of us made mistakes, me first as always.
“But we need the striker to hold the ball when the opposition go man to man. But, Solanke is another important player.”
Despite Savinho’s absence against Newcastle, Richarlison was still left out of the squad altogether. That decision could prove significant when assessing where he currently stands in De Zerbi’s plans.
Interestingly, 18-year-old Mikey Moore, who has himself been linked with a potential departure in recent weeks, was named among the substitutes ahead of Richarlison.
That selection decision appears to underline the Brazilian’s current position within the manager’s hierarchy.
Tottenham are also reportedly still searching for another attacking option, with Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo among the names being considered.
With the transfer window rapidly approaching its deadline, Richarlison may now have to make a major decision about his future if he wants regular football during the 2026-27 campaign.
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