Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes still have a huge point to prove at Tottenham
For as long as Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes are at Tottenham, they will be viewed through the prism of £185m.
Spooked by a near-catastrophe, Spurs ditched frugality at the start of the summer transfer window, knowing that to appease the manager who's quickly garnered a lot of power in North London, they'd have to pay premium prices to secure desired targets.
We overpowered Manchester United to sign Fernandes, then handed Tonali a financial package that Arsenal and Manchester City weren't willing to offer.
We know we've overpaid, although Man Utd supporter (and expert football accountant, seemingly) Adam Joseph likes to remind us at every opportunity. He's been riding his high horse recently, lapping up his club's savvy midfield rebuild while condemning Spurs' brash spending. Our current work has been compared to their Ed Woodward era.
His beloved Red Devils are set to spent £150m on Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba. So canny, so astute! Deep down, he's gutted United didn't land Fernandes, whom I have no doubts will outperform all of United's new arrivals.
Anyway, the mammoth price tags Spurs paid for their two new midfield additions means scrutiny will be rife from the outset. Every loose touch will be seized upon by the social media hyenas, and narratives will quickly be formed.
The pair have plenty to prove.
Tottenham's two huge midfield signings must expect immediate heavy scrutiny
It's funny that after rival supporters mocked Spurs for daring to even put themselves in the hat for Tonali this summer, he suddenly became the worst footballer ever once it became clear that he'd chosen De Zerbi's project.
His lofty price tag has led to plenty underrating the Italian. While Tonali is somewhat functional in possession, Spurs supporters are bound to be taken aback by what the former AC Milan and Newcastle United midfielder can offer without the ball. He's a menace in transition, and far from the neanderthal with the ball that some have painted him out to be.
There have been glimpses of his limitations in preseason, notably in the build-up phase, yet Tonali also impressed higher up the pitch against Hoffenheim, igniting the move that led to our opening goal.
Fernandes is perhaps easier on the eye, and more likely to garner greater acclaim for his superior aesthetics. His rise has been meteoric over the past couple of years, and few are concerned that the Portuguese midfielder won't be a hit in North London, based on what we've seen this summer.
Fernandes and Tonali complement each other nicely, and we should see the pair in action at Brentford on Saturday to kick off our Premier League campaign. Supporters are expecting fast starts from the two midfield transformers, and they're each well-placed to blossom from the outset after enjoying near-full pre-seasons with a meticulous coach.
