Tottenham's Roberto De Zerbi expectations 'couldn't be higher' with more marquee signings coming in
Tottenham Hotspur will expect Roberto De Zerbi to transform the club's performance in the Premier League next season after backing him extensively.
The Lilywhites have already spent £237million this summer on Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke, with more marquee signings expected.
Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson and Martin Dubravka have also arrived on free transfers, in what has been an overhaul of the defence and the midfield.
De Zerbi was appointed in March and signed a massive five-year contract that would likely have kept him in position even if he had not managed to keep Tottenham in the Premier League.
Ultimately, the drop was avoided on the final day of the league season, with the North London club finishing 17th for the second consecutive campaign.
That cannot be allowed to happen again, and Tottenham are reportedly capable of spending upwards of £400m to equip De Zerbi with the tools to prevent it.
But Tottenham have not appointed him for his success, but rather his brand of football.
De Zerbi's teams play with bravery, excitement and speed - three things Tottenham have massively lacked as they have tumbled down the table.
The Italian will not be immune to bad results, however, and the huge spending has only intensified the pressure.
"They [the expectations on De Zerbi] couldn't be any higher. Could not be any higher, because him himself has come in and said what he's going to do and players he's going to bring in and the way he's going to change things," King told Football Insider.
"So two years finishing 17th in the premiership and one trophy, anything's going to be better than that, and it's going to be pressure on him to get the players right, the team selection right, the shape, the way the team's going to play.
"Tottenham have got to be in the top six. They've got to finish in the top six, otherwise it'll be cheerio to him as well, I tell you."
What De Zerbi has said about next season
For the first time in a long time, the situation at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium looks and feels positive.
In De Zerbi, Tottenham have an exciting manager who appears to have convinced the decision-makers to back his plans with hard cash.
"From today, we have to start to work," the Italian said in May. "Look, my target when I came was today, to arrive today, after the last game and planning the next Premier League. I'm sure we have not to change too many players. It's not right. It's not right because we are lucky to have a lot of good players, a lot of good guys.
"I think we have to complete the squad in the best way, with the first level of players, with the right behaviour of the players, because now the qualities of the players are important, but more important is the spirit, the mentality of these players - and now the job starts."