Spurs summer spending spree 'not finished yet' - De Zerbi

Roberto De Zerbi says he wants to build a team with "soul" at Tottenham and insists the summer spending is "not finished yet".

Spurs have already spent £237m on Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke, while Martin Dubravka, Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi have also signed as free agents.

De Zerbi believes everyone is fully bought in to the "project", after he guided Spurs to safety at the end of last season with a final day win over Everton.

"I feel very good because we are working well," the Italian told club media.

"I think we are building a very good team, with some very important new players, and we are starting the project in another part of the history of the club.

"I spent a lot of time [understanding the club] before joining in April and I knew very well the ideas of the owner of the club and the plan was clear before the Everton game.

"Now we are inside (the project), we are excited with the idea to build a very strong team. Now we have to finish as it is not finished yet, our transfer market, in and out, but at the moment I am very happy, very proud and very positive.

"To build a soul, to build a new team with the qualities for sure but with soul, with passion, with all the values we have.

"Football now is not just on the pitch, it's not just with the ball, it is before in the private life, it is how many hours during the day you think you are doing your job and they have to be happy and proud to stay in Tottenham."

After consecutive 17th-place finishes, De Zerbi harbours higher ambitions for next season.

"I think Tottenham deserve to compete for the top of the Premier League," he added.

"I know very well the Premier League is very tough, but if you have a good motivation inside of the players, a good organisation on the pitch and outside of the pitch, I think you work well and at the end you reach your target."