Tottenham's 'extremely well paid' stars told how long they have to win over De Zerbi
The first three months of Tottenham Hotspur's first full season under Roberto De Zerbi will be critical to his chances of long-term success.
That is the opinion of former senior Tottenham scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
The Italian was appointed in March and won three of seven Premier League games to keep his team in the top flight.
De Zerbi signed a huge five-year deal when he arrived and he has been subsequently backed heavily in the transfer market, with £237million worth of new players having arrived so far.
Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson and Martin Dubravka have arrived in recent weeks, with more to follow.
Decision-makers in North London are desperate to see a revitalised Tottenham after two consecutive 17th-placed finishes in the Premier League.
Roberto De Zerbi's most important period revealed
De Zerbi's left a big impression on the Premier League when he was in charge of Brighton between 2022 and 2024.
Arriving in September 2022 after Graham Potter's departure, the Italian quickly stamped his impression on the team to superb effect.
Brighton's sixth-place finish and 62 points that season is their best in the club's 125-year history.
De Zerbi faces a very different job at Tottenham - one of recovery, rather than a continuation.
"He's got to change that football club completely around to a winning attitude, because for two years they finished 17th in the bloody league twice," King told Football Insider.
"It's hardly a team that's spent a lot, a lot of money. There's a magnificent stadium and a team which at the end of the day look as though they've been extremely well paid and they don't look as though they're giving 100% for the shirt or the club, do they?
"His job is to get that lot playing for Tottenham Hotspur and winning matches. The first three months are going to be critical. I mean, they were fighting for survival till the last day of the season. It can't happen at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, if they're serious."
What would success look like for De Zerbi?
It is unclear just how much Tottenham expect from De Zerbi's first season at the helm.
Qualification for some form of Europe should be expected, but even returning to the top half would be huge progress.
A run in one of the cups could also be a demand, with Tottenham without European football completely next season.
De Zerbi will approach the campaign with a main goal, and that is to start winning football matches immediately.