Tottenham Hotspur delivered a superior summer transfer window to Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool, according to an assessment by The Athletic. In its comprehensive ranking of the division's summer business, the outlet placed Tottenham 10th, ahead of Arsenal in 11th and a struggling Liverpool in 15th. The verdict highlights a massive shift in North London, with Spurs committing to a substantial rebuild under head coach Roberto De Zerbi, while their rivals failed to address key structural squad requirements.
Tottenham Break Records to Solidify Midfield
Spurs transformed their engine room by breaking their club transfer record twice during the window. According to reports from Football London, the club secured midfielder Mateus Fernandes for £85 million before completing a sensational £92.5 million deal for Sandro Tonali. The total expenditure formed part of an overhaul that exceeded £300 million on 10 players. Commenting on the scale of the business, The Athletic noted that "spending north of £300m on 10 players in a single transfer window is quite disorienting" for those accustomed to the club's historically conservative financial approach under chairman Daniel Levy. The acquisitions provide De Zerbi with elite tactical flexibility and physical presence in central midfield.
Flaws and Gaps Hamper Arsenal and Liverpool
In contrast, both Arsenal and Liverpool concluded the window with glaring squad deficiencies. Arsenal sanctioned the departures of attackers Gabriel Martinelli to Al Hilal for £60 million, alongside Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus. However, Football London reports that Mikel Arteta's side failed to land prime targets Vinicius Junior and Julian Alvarez, leaving them short of elite depth. The Athletic observed that while new signing Christos Tzolis has impressed, Arsenal ultimately failed to secure "the big 'difference-maker'" required up front. Meanwhile, Liverpool spent heavily on an estimated £120 million deal for winger Bradley Barcola and defender Ronald Araujo, but failed to address critical areas. The club left distinct gaps at specialist right-back, right wing, and defensive midfield, leading to their low 15th-place ranking in the review.
