# Tottenham's £300m gamble has backfired spectacularly

> Despite record spending, Spurs are bottom of the Premier League after five games with just two points and two goals.
- Title: Tottenham's £300m gamble has backfired spectacularly
- Summary: Despite record spending, Spurs are bottom of the Premier League after five games with just two points and two goals. Money alone cannot fix systemic…
- Keywords: tottenham hotspur, premier league, roberto de zerbi, transfer spending, sandro tonali, jan paul van hecke, aston villa, dominic solanke, joao palhinha, manchester united, relegation form, leadership crisis
- Source: Sky Sports — https://skysports.com/football/news/12040/13590421/tottenham-bottom-of-premier-league-despite-300m-summer-spend-where-do-they-go-from-here
- Author: Ron Walker
- Published: 2026-09-21T12:36:00+00:00
- Read time: 3 min
- Topics: tottenham hotspur, premier league, roberto de zerbi, transfer spending, sandro tonali, jan paul van hecke, aston villa, dominic solanke, joao palhinha, manchester united, relegation form, leadership crisis
## Spurs hit rock bottom with record spend
Tottenham are bottom of the Premier League after five games with just two points and two goals, despite spending over £300 million in the summer transfer window.
## First time bottom in 18 years
This marks Tottenham's first time sitting at the bottom of the Premier League table after five games in 18 years, with only two consolation goals scored across the campaign.
## Missed chances against Aston Villa
Spurs had several presentable first-half chances against Villa but failed to convert them, losing 3-2 and heading into the international break with mounting pressure.
## Consistency problems extend three seasons
Tottenham's struggles to find consistency have now extended into a third consecutive season, with just 18 points picked up in 2026 so far.
## Worse record than relegated West Ham
Since the start of the 2024-25 season, Tottenham have picked up one fewer point than West Ham, who were relegated at the end of last season.
## De Zerbi cannot escape scrutiny
Manager Roberto De Zerbi was given relative freedom in the transfer market and got most of what he asked for, so he cannot avoid responsibility for the poor start.
## Van Hecke replacement struggling badly
Jan Paul van Hecke, signed for £52 million to replace Luka Vuskovic, was dribbled past three times and was culpable for a calamitous second goal against Villa.
## Leadership void in the squad
De Zerbi identified five leaders but none are considered natural leaders who can inspire teammates. The loss of Cristian Romero and Joao Palhinha has left a significant gap.

> "We can't lose games in this way," De Zerbi said after the Villa defeat.
## Cannot win when conceding first
Tottenham have not won a league game when conceding first in approaching two years and have picked up only nine draws from losing positions since.
## Tonali yet to hit Newcastle heights
Sandro Tonali, signed for £100 million to break the transfer record, should be fresh after a summer off but has not yet reached the form that made him a fan favourite at Newcastle.
## Solanke out of form and unfit
Dominic Solanke has still not returned to full fitness and is out of form. De Zerbi was almost apologetic for his striker's performance, saying he is much better than what he has shown.

> "he's much better than this Dominic Solanke"
## Lowest expected goals in the league
Tottenham have the lowest average expected goals of their shots across the Premier League, with their overall total better only than Coventry's.
## Over half the squad is new
More than half of Saturday's starting line-up were not at the club last season, so some teething problems are expected as the squad integrates.
## De Zerbi's track record of sour endings
While there is undoubted quality in the squad and De Zerbi's abilities are recognised, his spells elsewhere have a habit of ending on a sour note.
## Man United next, but bigger issues remain
Even one win against an under-pressure Manchester United on October 10 would lift Tottenham out of the bottom, but it will not address the deeper systemic problems plaguing the club.
## Key takeaway

Money alone cannot fix systemic problems. Tottenham's struggles stem from lack of leadership, inconsistency, and poor finishing, not just squad quality.