Tottenham are struggling to compete with their rivals in the Premier League this season
A lot has been said about Tottenham’s poor campaign as the club battles to maintain its top-flight status this season. The Lilywhites have struggled to get going in the Premier League and have found it difficult to produce positive results on a consistent basis. They remain the only top-flight team yet to win a single league game since the turn of the year, making it hard for fans to believe that the squad has what it takes to avoid dropping into the second division.
Just nine months ago, the North Londoners were on cloud nine after winning the Europa League against all odds. They defeated Manchester United in the final, ending a 17-year wait for a major trophy. It seemed like Spurs were finally turning a corner and heading in the right direction, with many fans hoping their side would compete on all fronts this season and close the gap on its rivals in the Premier League.
The Lewis family also made promises to supporters, claiming that the Lilywhites would show intent in the transfer windows and bring in top-quality players to help the club compete on all fronts. They also injected £100m into the club, which was intended to be used for transfers during the January window. However, it is clear that these proved to be false dawns from the ENIC shareholders, as the club has continued to spiral downward.
Tottenham have failed to show intent in the transfer window
Tottenham’s reluctance to spend heavily in the transfer market is one of the main reasons for their struggles in the Premier League. The Lilywhites have often been hesitant to show intent and have failed to sign ready-made players in recent years, making it difficult for fans to justify why the club should be considered among the ‘big six’. The North Londoners arguably have one of the lowest wage bills among the top-six clubs, which suggests a focus on developing players rather than investing in proven talent.
Jamie O’Hara has now stated that Spurs do not operate like a ‘big six’ club due to their poor recruitment strategy in recent years. Speaking on Sky Sports (via X), O’Hara said,
“I think it’s pretty obvious that Spurs do not act like a ‘big six’ club. They might have the revenue and they might have the money there, but when you look at the ‘big six’, they will sign players for £100m. They will pay the wages and they will get the player in that they think is going to take them to the next level.”
''Spurs do not act like a big six club''
Jamie O'Hara and Michael Bridge on Spurs not 'paying the money' for 'statement signings' ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/drJN9uCeqC
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) April 2, 2026
The pundit added,
“Spurs will spend £60m, that’s where we are at, but we won’t go above that. And if you want to act like a big club and you want to go to that next level, you can’t chance it. You have got to pay the money. Spurs haven’t spent the money and look where we are, it’s cost us because our recruitment’s been so poor.”
As O’Hara rightly points out, Spurs have often been reluctant to spend big on new players despite having the revenue and resources to do so. Unlike other ‘big six’ clubs, the Lilywhites tend to cap their spending at a lower level, making it difficult for them to take the next step. O’Hara also believes that poor recruitment and the club’s reluctance to invest heavily are major reasons why the Lilywhites are fighting for survival this season.
Looking at this season, the Lilywhites were already struggling for results before the January transfer window and were hovering in the bottom half of the Premier League table. Instead of strengthening the squad with new signings, the Lewis family chose not to spend during the winter window, forcing Frank to make do with the available players. The injury crisis at N17 only made matters worse, leaving many fans frustrated with the lack of intent shown by the ENIC shareholders.