Writers’ predicted position: 6th (Note: this ranking reflects the average forecast from the writing team rather than John Brewin’s individual prediction)
Last season’s position: 17th
Prospects
Tottenham’s outlook can best be assessed by considering the failures of the previous two campaigns. A year ago, Thomas Frank’s arrival brought renewed energy and genuine optimism. It seemed unlikely that Spurs could perform even worse in the Premier League than they had in 2024-25, yet that is exactly what happened. Although their Champions League group-stage campaign was respectable, European competition could not rescue a manager who never looked like the right fit or a leadership structure that continued to raise doubts.
Frank has already faded from memory, partly because the disastrous spell under Igor Tudor quickly overshadowed him. Tottenham remained in serious danger of relegation until the closing days of the season, turning their struggle into compelling viewing for neutral observers. Appointing Roberto De Zerbi represented a necessary change of course and answered years of supporter frustration over the club’s reluctance to invest fully. The Italian demanded more than a substantial salary: he wanted greater authority than previous managers, considerably more control than he had at Brighton or Marseille, and meaningful investment in established players. Most of those requests have been met, although the absence of an elite striker remains an obvious weakness.
Tottenham have consequently become one of the transfer window’s heaviest spenders, an unfamiliar position for the club. The arrivals of Jan Paul van Hecke, Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, with Savinho and Omar Marmoush also expected from Manchester City, recall earlier periods of ambitious recruitment. There are echoes of the late 1980s, when Terry Venables brought Paul Gascoigne and Gary Lineker to White Hart Lane, as well as the glamorous overseas influx of the mid-1990s led by players such as Jürgen Klinsmann and Ilie Dumitrescu. Adding the experienced Andy Robertson further suggests that this is a different Tottenham, one built to pursue immediate results rather than merely promise future improvement. Cristian Romero, a gifted defender whose costly lapses regularly harmed his teammates, has moved on and leaves as a symbol of the inconsistent era in which he played.
Tottenham’s finishing positions across the previous five seasons
Off-field picture
Consecutive 17th-place finishes have inevitably damaged the club’s finances. Tottenham’s 2025 accounts showed that the £34.7m earned by winning the Europa League was more than offset by a £38.9m reduction in Premier League revenue. Last season’s Champions League participation generated £71.6m, but the club will receive no European competition income this term. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium continues to provide alternative revenue, with Jay-Z scheduled to perform during September’s international break after System Of A Down appeared there in July. The venue will also stage two regular-season NFL games in October. These commercial activities provide valuable protection, alongside an August share issue that raised £100m.
Owner-fan relationship
Many Tottenham supporters had called for Daniel Levy’s departure, but his removal also left a leadership void. Attention subsequently shifted towards the family trust of former majority shareholder Joe Lewis. In January, Lewis’s daughter Vivienne was approached by a supporter who demanded Frank’s dismissal and urged the family to sell the club. Instead, the Lewis trust has reinforced its position. Levy’s former 29% holding was diluted after he missed the deadline to participate in the August share issue, while reports suggest the two sides are also disputing control of a potential NBA Europe franchise. Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham, who faced intense criticism, acknowledged in May that the club required “a complete reset”. Supporters must now wait to see whether this new direction produces meaningful results.
The manager
De Zerbi’s tactical work is widely respected throughout football, with Pep Guardiola among his known admirers. However, the breakdown of relationships during his spells at Brighton and Marseille provides reason for caution. The key question is whether his legacy will extend beyond keeping Spurs in the Premier League and whether he can deliver the kind of sustained progress not seen since Mauricio Pochettino took charge in 2014. De Zerbi has attempted to balance excitement over the club’s spending with a realistic message. “We need to create a clear playing style and give a soul to this team,” he said during pre-season. “So many talk about ‘projects’, but very few manage to see them through.” Few managers at major clubs have received such a broad opportunity to rebuild a team in their own image.
Star signing
Sandro Tonali said that familiarity with Tottenham’s Italian manager was one of the factors behind his decision to join the club despite interest from several other teams. De Zerbi explained that he had followed Tonali since the midfielder represented Brescia, his hometown side and the club he supports, adding that Tonali already displayed the maturity of an experienced professional at 18. Now 26, Tonali arrives during what should be the prime of his career. He ranked among the finest midfielders in English football two seasons ago, although his final campaign at Newcastle was less consistent. An offer worth £100m ultimately proved impossible to reject.
Stat attack
Tottenham were the only Premier League team to outperform their attacking expected-goals figure by at least four while falling short of their defensive expectation by the same margin or more. The most notable difference came in attack, where Spurs scored 7.91 more goals than the quality of their opportunities suggested. Without that unusually efficient finishing, they might have been competing in the Championship this season.
A comparison of teams that exceeded their expected-goals totals in 2025-26
Set for a breakthrough
Expectations remain high for Mikey Moore, although another loan spell appears likely after his season with Rangers. Antonin Kinsky endured one of the lowest moments of Tudor’s tenure when he was substituted after only 17 minutes against Atlético Madrid. The new manager later placed his faith in the goalkeeper during Tottenham’s successful fight against relegation. Kinsky’s save from Leeds midfielder Sean Longstaff proved particularly important in securing survival. Following Guglielmo Vicario’s departure, Kinsky is expected to begin the season as first choice. “He forces you to believe in yourself,” Kinsky said of De Zerbi, who described the goalkeeper as someone with “great personality” and “strong character”.
World Cup impact
Tottenham’s full-backs were among the club’s most prominent performers in the United States. Djed Spence has since joined Inter, but Pedro Porro remains after agreeing to a new contract despite interest from Manchester City. Porro scored twice during the tournament, including a goal in Spain’s semi-final victory over France. The 26-year-old received a guard of honour when he returned to Tottenham’s training ground as a world champion, having helped defeat the Argentina side featuring the now-departed Romero in the final. Nine Spurs players travelled to North America, although new central-defensive partners Van Hecke and Micky van de Ven did not play together. Van de Ven was instead deployed at left-back during a disappointing campaign for the Netherlands.
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