Tottenham’s 3-0 defeat at the weekend was a sharp reminder that big spending doesn’t guarantee instant results. For all the excitement around Spurs’ summer business, Roberto De Zerbi’s side found out that new arrivals need time to bed in and that an expensive squad still has to build chemistry — something Tottenham fans have seen before, most notably in the scattergun spending spree that followed Gareth Bale’s sale, when several signings failed to live up to expectations.
This summer’s rebuild has felt far more considered, but Saturday exposed gaps still to be filled before the window shuts. While the defence and midfield had their own struggles against Brentford, it was the attack that raised the biggest concerns — short on creativity, sharpness, and a consistent cutting edge. Two of the summer’s most-hyped forwards, Richarlison and Mathys Tel, both failed to hit the heights they’d shown in pre-season.
Tel in particular had arrived at the new campaign full of promise after a lean statistical season (just four goals and two assists in all competitions) was followed by a lively pre-season — a stunning free-kick against Sydney FC, three assists against Auckland FC, and more encouraging touches against Hoffenheim. He looked sharper, more confident, and more clinical. Against Brentford, he wasn’t Tottenham’s worst performer — his six completed dribbles led the match — but he had no shots on target, only three touches in the box, and failed to complete either attempted cross. It wasn’t a disaster, and he played the full 90 minutes, but it underlined that Spurs can’t lean on him alone.
Attention has now turned to reinforcing the forward line. Having already brought in Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, De Zerbi is pushing for more pace, creativity and goals up front, with Spurs reportedly closing in on Manchester City’s Savinho and Omar Marmoush — additions that would boost both quality and depth on the wings. Names like Nicolas Jackson and Folarin Balogun have also been mentioned, while Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo remains a long-standing target, though his recent goal against Newcastle and Liverpool’s own need for a replacement winger make any departure unlikely for now.
That’s pushed Tottenham to explore other routes, including Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk. The Ukrainian, signed for a huge fee, has struggled badly in England and hasn’t played competitively since October 2024 following a positive test for the banned substance meldonium. He did feature in Chelsea’s pre-season and has reportedly agreed to leave on loan for 2026/27, with Leeds also interested — but Tottenham have made enquiries of their own, even if a permanent deal looks unlikely given the circumstances.
Ultimately, Tel has shown enough to suggest he can be part of De Zerbi’s plans long-term, but Saturday proved Tottenham can’t rely on potential alone or pin their attacking hopes on just one or two players — not with ambitions of competing on multiple fronts. Savinho and Marmoush would add real strength in depth, Gakpo would bring proven Premier League quality, and Mudryk offers a fallback if the preferred targets don’t materialize.
The 3-0 loss shouldn’t spark panic — one bad result doesn’t undo the progress of the summer, and new signings like Tonali and Fernandes still need time to settle. But it’s a clear signal to De Zerbi and the recruitment team: midfield has been strengthened, but the attack still needs work before deadline day, or performances like the one against Brentford risk becoming a pattern.
