Why Spurs' statement spending looks set to continue

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Roberto de Zerbi helped Tottenham survive relegation with three wins and two draws from seven games By Sami Mokbel , Senior football correspondent  and  Ben Collins , BBC Sport journalist Published 3 hours ago After flirting with relegation in the past two seasons, Tottenham have made a statement of intent. They are set to break their club-record transfer fee for the second time in a matter of days, taking their summer spending to £237m - their previous biggest outlay across one season is £235.8m (2023-24) - and there could be more to come. Spurs' owners are determined to turn the tide and show they remain a 'big six' club. That term was coined not just because of on-field success, with those clubs - Spurs, Arsenal , Chelsea , Liverpool , Manchester City and Manchester United - having dominated the upper echelons of the Premier League table over the past 15 years. It was also because of their income. The big six simply generate a higher amount of revenue than the rest of the Premier League clubs. That has allowed them to out-spend their rivals, and Tottenham are to invest more than ever before in their first-team squad. After completing a £52m move for Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton , they signed Mateus Fernandes for a club-record £85m on Thursday from relegated West Ham . They have also agreed a deal with Newcastle for Sandro Tonali worth up to £100m. Spurs have finished 17th - one place above the relegation zone - in each of the past two seasons. There is now a clear desire from Tottenham 's owners and club hierarchy to make statement signings. They also want to spend early in the transfer window and decisively. And new spending rules, higher revenues, owner cash injections, and freeing up more money to spend on wages are enabling the club to make that desire a reality - with the potential for a further £250m to be spent this summer. Tonali was the top midfield target for local rivals Arsenal but the reigning Premier League champions found the asking price prohibitive, while Spurs also beat off competition from Manchester United for Fernandes. What prompted change in approach? Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Vinai Venkatesham and Peter Charrington have been handed key roles in Tottenham's rebuild The change in Tottenham 's transfer policy began with Daniel Levy ending his near 25-year reign as executive chairman in September. In an open letter in May, new chairman Peter Charrington said that last September the club "recognised that something seismic had to change". "What has been put in motion is real, and it marks a genuine break from what had come before," he added. "We must be in the fight with the best teams in this league, every season, and we are rebuilding this club with that standard in mind." Investment group Enic, which is run by the Lewis Family Trust and is the club's majority shareholder with 86.58%, "authorised a full reset". For the second time in 10 months, it has i