£302m spent, no wins: what has gone wrong at De Zerbi's Tottenham?
Tottenham spent more than any club bar Manchester City and Chelsea this summer, yet have three points from six games and three goals. Here is what the numbers say before Monday's home game with Coventry.
Only two Premier League clubs spent more money this summer than Tottenham. Six games into the season, only Fulham have fewer points.
Spurs have three points from six matches — three draws and three defeats — and have scored just three league goals. Roberto De Zerbi, who arrived in March and kept the club up last season, still has the board's backing: the club has said it has no plans to make a change. But Monday's home game with promoted Coventry City already feels like a match they need to win.
The results so far
| Opponent | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Brentford | Away | Lost 3–0 |
| Newcastle | Home | Lost 2–0 |
| Nottingham Forest | Away | Drew 0–0 |
| Everton | Home | Drew 0–0 |
| Aston Villa | Home | Lost 3–2 |
| Manchester United | Away | Drew 1–1 |
Premier League 2026-27, before matchweek 7.
Spurs went 445 minutes without a league goal before Conor Gallagher finally scored against Aston Villa — by which point they were already 3-0 down. At Old Trafford last weekend, Dominic Solanke's header in the second minute of stoppage time earned a point after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off.
The spending
According to Transfermarkt, Tottenham spent about £302m, third only to Manchester City and Chelsea. The headline signings came from Premier League rivals:
- Sandro Tonali from Newcastle, in a club-record deal reported at up to £100m
- Mateus Fernandes from West Ham, about £85m
- Savinho from Manchester City, about £75m
- Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton, partly funded by the sale of Luka Vušković
- Andy Robertson, on a free transfer from Liverpool
Problem one: the build-up is not automatic yet
De Zerbi's football depends on precise patterns. The goalkeeper and centre-backs invite the press, then quick vertical passes break through it, with wingers arriving in the half-spaces. When it works, as it did at Brighton, it is devastating. When players are still learning the patterns, it is risky.
So far the final pass has often broken down, possession has been recycled wide without end product — Spurs had 17 shots against Newcastle and did not score — and mistakes playing out from the back have been punished.
Problem two: no focal point
Solanke's late header at Old Trafford was a reminder of what the side has lacked. Without a striker to pin centre-backs and attack crosses, the wide players — Savinho and Omar Marmoush — have produced plenty of touches but little end product. Spurs were reported to have looked at Freiburg striker Igor Matanović before the window closed.
Problem three: confidence
De Zerbi has admitted that conceding first hurts his players. Against Newcastle the opening goal changed the game; against Villa they were 3-0 down before they responded. "We win the game if we play as a team," he said after the United draw. "I am very happy because I have seen the right spirit and character."
What next?
Coventry arrive full of belief after beating Newcastle 4-1, but have lost four of their six games. Spurs will be without Bentancur, who is suspended after his red card, while Dejan Kulusevski has been working his way back from a knee injury — and his creativity is exactly what this side has missed.
Spurs' next run of fixtures will decide whether this is a slow start or something worse. Follow their fixtures and results and the Premier League table.
FAQ
Have Tottenham won a Premier League game in 2026-27? Not in their first six. They have three draws and three defeats.
How much did Tottenham spend in summer 2026? About £302m, according to Transfermarkt — the third-highest in the league.
Is Roberto De Zerbi going to be sacked? Tottenham have said they have no plans to make a managerial change.
