Tottenham went big in the summer transfer window, while Manchester United held back, but both are struggling.
Two clubs with very different summer strategies now find themselves facing a remarkably similar problem after poor starts to the season as the pair meet at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.
Spurs spent £334m, including £100m on Sandro Tonali, as Roberto De Zerbi was given significant support to reshape his squad.
United, on the other hand, were more frugal with their spending, with £163m committed to their rebuild.
However, ahead of this weekend’s crucial game, Spurs are bottom of the Premier League and still waiting for their first win, while Michael Carrick is already feeling the pressure at Old Trafford.
So the scrutiny cannot simply be limited to the two managers. At both clubs, the contrasting decisions made on them this summer are beginning to require scrutiny.
Saturday, October 10, 5:00 p.m
Departure at 17:30
Man Utd are yet to break the £100 million mark for a single player
Manchester United have refused to follow the modern Premier League trend of putting £100m into a signing, but this is not understood to reflect a reluctance to spend. Instead, it reflects the club’s approach to rebuilding the squad.
like Sky Sports News’ Dan Khan explains, the £100m figure itself can be misleading.
“I actually think it’s too much to use that £100m figure. If you look at the valuation, Paul Pogba, if you signed him now from Juventus, like United did, it would probably be over £100m.
“The question is, can Man Utd spend money on Elliot Anderson? Not necessarily the figure, but more if they are in the market for these top midfielders.
United’s priority this summer has been midfield, with three additions needed rather than a marquee arrival. Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba thus accounted for most of the expenses.
A left-back was also considered, with United monitoring Myles Lewis-Skelly and Lewis Hall, but neither was realistically available. Instead, the club doubled down on the midfield, with the hope that the left-back will be dealt next summer.
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Sky Sports News Manchester United correspondent Danyal Khan joins Stretford Paddock’s Adam McKola to discuss whether the club are still a force in the transfer market.
There is also a need for United to improve their ability to sell. “Their highest sales were Toby Collyer and Radek Vitek, who hadn’t played a senior game,” says Khan.
“I don’t think there is a reluctance to spend a lot, having spoken to people in and around the club. But it was quite clear that this summer they needed to increase the size of the squad to compete in different competitions.”
The result is a deliberate preference for squad depth over a successful signing. Whether this will be strategic patience or an incomplete rebuild will depend a lot on the results.
Why the pressure shouldn’t just be on Carrick
Carrick is the man on the line, but scrutiny at United will begin to climb the chain.
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Sky Sports’ William Bitibiri and Callum Bishop discuss whether Michael Carrick’s job will come under pressure if Man Utd lose to Spurs.
For Khan, the focus will shift to director of football Jason Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada, who have been entrusted with the direction of the Sir Jim Ratcliffe era.
“There will be a big microscope on Wilcox and Berrada, especially because they have been entrusted with leading this era of Ratcliffe forward. They went out on a limb to appoint Ruben Amorim. It must be said they gave him plenty of time.”
This management history is important. Under the current regime, United have gone from Erik ten Hag to Amorim to Carrick, but Khan does not expect another sudden change.
“When we’re talking about Carrick, I wouldn’t imagine there will be any sudden decisions about his future. First of all, everyone decided to give Ten Hag a new contract. Then they moved on to Amorim and then they came out for Carrick.”
But this does not mean that hierarchy escapes scrutiny.
“I’m not saying it’s a bad decision. However, when the slogan is we’re going for best in class and we’re doing everything based on data, I can’t imagine Ratcliffe is too happy at the moment in terms of results and performance.”
Sherwood is unimpressed by Spurs’ new signings
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In a special Spurs Sky Sports podcast, former manager Tim Sherwood questions the club’s latest signings
Despite spending more than twice as much on signings as Man Utd, Spurs have made their worst start to a Premier League season after five games.
They head to Old Trafford still looking for their first league win of the season, and their woeful start has already raised questions over their lavish summer spending.
Asked in a special Sky Sports Spurs Podcast Asked if any of the 10 new recruits had impressed, former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood replied: “No, nobody,” he insisted. “I can’t say anyone really impressed me and anyone would have done a better job than anyone who was there last season.
“They’ve achieved a bit, they really have. We always judge on results, so I don’t look at any individual player and think, ‘well, you’re missing out on some credit here’, because the team is losing and I’m not sure there’s been any standout performers.”
The lack of success from Spurs’ pre-summer signings has Sherwood worried about recent recruitment.
“Maybe the last four or five years, Tottenham’s signing record hasn’t been fantastic,” he said.
“It’s been a long time since they’ve made a good signing. Now, I’m not saying they’re poor signings; I’m saying they haven’t yet, and there’s still a long time to be able to gain some confidence and show what they can really do.
“We’ve seen them in games and starts and small appearances for other teams, but it’s a different kettle of fish playing for Tottenham.”
“De Zerbi does not know his best team”
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Tim Sherwood and Michael Bridge believe Roberto De Zerbi is not under pressure despite a poor start to the season.
Following the summer arrivals, De Zerbi has more options at his disposal, but this appears to have led to indecision about his best starting line-up.
The Italian has made the most changes to starting lineups in the Premier League this season (13).
Sherwood said: “If you were a Man Utd fan and Bruno Fernandes was missing, you’d be devastated.
“But I’m not sure any Tottenham fans would be devastated if any of their players are missing because I’m not sure the manager knows their best team at the moment.
“The fans certainly don’t, and you’re asking me, and I’m not!”
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In a special Sky Sports podcast, Tim Sherwood and Michael Bridge believe Spurs lack leaders in the squad.
Sky Sports News’ Tottenham reporter Michael Bridge believes the team are still short in two areas despite their big summer spending spree.
He said a special Sky Sports Spurs podcast: “I think they need a striker – a current number 9 – but how many are there?
“It doesn’t help that Will Lankshear scores every week for Middlesbrough because he looks like an old-fashioned centre-forward and he’s young and English. That’s my concern.
“I’m also not 100 per cent sure if Antonin Kinsky is Tottenham’s No.1 for years to come.
“He did a tremendous job keeping the club in the Premier League with his goalscoring. I’m still not sure if he’s still No.1 though.
“If you’ve spent that much money and you still need me, a goalkeeper and a number 9, then there’s still a way to go.”
Watch Man Utd vs Tottenham on Saturday from 5pm, live on Sky Sports; departure at 17:30.