Over the last few years, Daniel Levy has received criticism from the Tottenham Hotspur supporters for his ownership of the club, with protests held ahead of games in recent weeks.
The fanbase have been campaigning for change, wanting a new owner to take them forward and transform the side into a Premier League-winning outfit - understandable given the facilities in place in North London.
His lack of spending during his time at the helm has often come into question, with the recent injury crisis that has depleted Ange Postecoglou’s side evidence that more needs to be done to help the Aussie.
However, admiration needs to be handed Ange’s way in the manner he’s conducted himself through the situation, with the recent wins in the league evidence of what he’s capable of with a full quota.
Despite the protests around Levy’s future, the 63-year-old has spent big in certain situations, but it remains to be seen if his big-money additions are worth the fees paid.
Tottenham’s record signings under Daniel Levy
In the summer just gone, the Spurs owner forked out a club-record £65m for the signature of striker Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth, handing the manager the forward he craved after Harry Kane’s departure.
The Englishman has been missing since the middle of January with a knee injury, halting his progress in North London after his impressive start to life, registering 17 combined goals and assists in his first 29 matches.
The 27-year-old moved to the club after Richarlison failed to nail down the regular role at the top end of the pitch, scoring 18 times across the last three seasons with the Lilywhites.
He cost a whopping £50m from fellow top-flight outfit Everton, but the big-money fee spent hasn’t been worthwhile, undoubtedly going down as a miss for Levy.
However, the Brazilian isn’t the only player to fail to live up to his mammoth fee in North London, joining another player who only demonstrated his quality in glimpses.
The Spurs flop who’s now similar to a £100m talent
Back in the summer of 2019, Spurs spent big on midfielder Tanguy Ndombele from French side Lyon, costing £63m, a then-club record, before Solanke’s rival.
After such a fee, there’s no denying that excitement built among the fanbase over his move, but unfortunately, the now 28-year-old was only able to showcase his skillset on a consistent basis.
He would feature a total of 91 times for the Lilywhites over a three-year period, spending two separate spells on loan at Napoli and Galatasaray before his contract was cut short - allowing him to depart on a free transfer last summer.
Whilst he produced some moments of magic, including his superb effort against Sheffield United, unfortunately, he was unable to produce such levels on a regular basis - leading to his departure with concerns around his attitude and fitness.
However, in the last few months since his departure, he’s moved back to France, joining Nice on a free transfer, recapturing his form which saw Spurs fork out such a hefty fee for his services.
Such is the impressive nature of his performances, the “unbelievable” Ndombele, as dubbed by journalist Jack-Pitt Brooke, he’s been compared by FBref as a similar player to Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes - who previously had a £100m release clause in his deal.
When comparing his figures to the Brazilian in 2024/25, the Frenchman has matched or bettered the Magpies star in numerous key areas, highlighting how impressive he’s been since leaving North London.
It’s great to see a former first-team star after such a tricky period during his time as a player in North London - potentially needing more time to adapt to life in England.
However, after such an impressive run, some of the fanbase may wish they had kept hold of him, with Ndombele having the skill set to feature amid the recent injury troubles.