The last 48 hours or so have seemed very un-Tottenham like.
Preparing to commit £115m on Mohammed Kudus and Morgan Gibbs-White isn’t behaviour you’d necessarily associate with Spurs in the Daniel Levy era.
The general feeling around Tottenham and their transfer market spending in recent years has been one of frugality – although those at Spurs would be quick to point out they did spend £55m on Dominic Solanke last season, in a deal that could eventually become a club-record £65m.
Yet you can’t escape the sense that the previous couple of days represents a change in narrative.
If Gibbs-White’s £60m signing from Nottingham Forest goes through – after some late legal issues – it will be the biggest initial fee paid by the club.
Tottenham remain hopeful the deal will be completed despite Forest looking at whether a confidentiality agreement in the player’s contract had been breached. It is also understood the club are claiming Spurs haven’t asked permission to speak to the player.
Heading into the summer transfer window, well-placed sources indicated the club would be limited in the amount they would be able to spend.
But the capture of Kudus for £55m and the potential arrival of Gibbs-White for £60m flies in the face of any such restrictions.
So what has changed?
It is no secret Tottenham chairman Levy has been canvassing for external investment into the club in recent months.
However, BBC Sport understands the current spending on transfers is more likely to be the result of an injection of cash from owners Enic, who are understood to have kept a closer eye on club operations in recent months, rather than any external investment.
There has been talk of overseas investment – particularly from the Middle East.
For fans, of course, the source of the finances is neither here nor there.
All they really care about is the assembling of a team that can eventually challenge for the title and qualify consistently for the Champions League.
In Kudus and Gibbs-White, they would have two players capable of helping fulfil supporters’ wishes.
Both are flair players that live up to Tottenham’s attacking traditions and crucially are players who have Premier League experience.
Indeed, that was the remit for the club’s recruitment team this summer.
The squad is already packed full of exciting young potential, but experience is what new boss Thomas Frank believes it needs.
While Kudus and Gibbs-White are relatively young – 24 and 25, respectively, they are well-versed in the rigours of England’s top-flight.
Kudus has two full seasons for West Ham under his belt, making 80 appearances across all competitions, while Gibbs-White has played in the last three Premier League campaigns for Forest and had prior experience while a teenager at Wolves.
Spurs’ interest in Brentford duo Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo is further illustration of Tottenham’s recruitment remit.
Source: BBC
