Chris Waddle Exclusive Interview with NewBettingSites.uk

Waddle: Spurs should implement Man City transfer strategy

Former Tottenham midfielder Chris Waddle has told NewBettingSites that Spurs must reshape their recruitment strategy to best back new manager Roberto De Zerbi next season and should take inspiration from Manchester City’s transfer policy.

“The Tottenham celebrations after beating Everton took me back to when they won the Europa League last season after finishing 17th in the Premier League,” he said. “It was an unbelievable moment for the supporters because winning a European trophy had been such a long wait for the club, but it also showed how unusual the last couple of seasons have been for Spurs.

“They’ve had two really disappointing league campaigns by their standards and, while the Europa League success was a fantastic achievement, it probably masked some of the bigger issues within the squad and the overall consistency of the team.

“The good news for Tottenham is that they now appear to have a very good manager in Roberto De Zerbi. He’s shown in previous jobs that he can improve players, implement a clear style of football and make teams extremely competitive against stronger opposition. Spurs need to fully support him during the summer because there are signs that the club can move back in the right direction under his leadership.

“We know De Zerbi probably won’t have an unlimited cheque book, because that’s not really how Tottenham have operated in recent years, but they do need to add more quality and experience to the squad. There are talented young players there already, but you can’t rely solely on potential if you want to compete consistently at the top end of the Premier League and in Europe. De Zerbi will know exactly the type of players he needs to improve this side and help push them back towards the top five or six. The key now is whether the club are prepared to give him the tools to do that.

“I don’t really see why Tottenham wouldn’t back him. Given the size of the club, the stadium they’ve built and the amount of revenue they generate commercially, Spurs should be in a position to compete for established top-level players. At some stage, they need to move away from this policy of only buying younger players in the hope that they develop into elite talent a few years later.”

Man City the club to copy

“You look at why clubs like Liverpool and Manchester City have stayed at the top for so long, and a huge part of it is recruitment. They identify top players who are already capable of performing at the highest level and then keep them there during the peak years of their careers.

“Man City are the perfect example of that approach. They brought in players like John Stones, Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne and got years of top-class performances out of them while consistently winning trophies. Those players became the backbone of one of the best sides the Premier League has seen. By the time they eventually move on, the club feel they’ve already had full value from them because of the success they delivered on the pitch.

“That’s the kind of thinking Tottenham need to adopt if they genuinely want to challenge again. Spurs have often looked like a club trying to build for the future rather than one trying to win immediately, and there has to be a better balance. The supporters will accept a long-term vision if they can also see ambition in the present. Bringing in one or two experienced, high-level players during this transfer window could make a huge difference, not just in terms of performances but also mentally within the squad.

“There’s no question Tottenham have the foundations to become a major force again. The stadium is world-class, the fanbase is enormous and there is already talent in the dressing room. The next step is proving they are prepared to match those advantages with real ambition in the transfer market. If they do that and give De Zerbi proper backing, there’s every chance Spurs can re-establish themselves among the Premier League’s leading clubs over the next few seasons.”