I have nussin to pay: What Daniel‌ Levy’s spending pattern during the Poch era means for Jose Mourinho’s future transfer dealings

International Features

21.11.2019

Skeptics of the recent news that Jose Mourinho was appointed as the next manager of Tottenham‌ Hotspur F.C. like to point out that the Mou - Levy relationship maybe doomed from the start thanks to the businessman's reluctance to splash out the cash for expensive signings. Let’s take a look the validity of that claim by examining what Pochettino spent during his time in the London club and maybe we can discover a pattern that will hint what Jose might be allowed to work with:

2019/2020

Before last season’s Champions League final Mauricio Pochettino hinted that if the club doesn’t allow him to spend more on the right players he may leave. In response to that, the following summer 4 new players were bought (all sums are in euro):

T. Ndombele: 60 m.
R. Sessegnon: 27 m.
G. Lo Celso: 16 m. (loan fee)
J. Clarke: 11 m.

The total value of these 4 players is 114 m. But Spurs also sold some players with the most notable exit of Kieran Trippier who left for Atletico Madrid. The total income from the outgoing deals was 35 m.
Net spend: -79 m.

2018/2019

This is the season that angered Pochettino the most since the club literally bought no new players. They however did sell Moussa Dembele.
Net spend: 5,35 m.

2017/2018

Tottenham were very active in the transfer market during the 17/18 season and they did spend around 121,5 m. on the following players:

D. Sanchez: 40 m.
L. Moura: 28,4 m.
Serge Aurier: 25 m.
F.‌‌ Iiorente: 15,1 m.
J. Foyt: 13. m

The total sum for these players indeed is impressive but we have to take into account the fact that a significant number of the footballers from the squad had to be sold in order to at least partially cover these expenses. Overall Spurs sold 6 for 103,8 m.
Net spend: - 17,7 m.

2016/2017

That year the London based team purchased new signings for 83,5 m:

Moussa Sissoko: 35 m.
V. Jansen: 22 m.
V. Wanyama: 14,4 m.
G. N’koudou: 11 m.
Pau Lopez: 1,1 m‌ (loan fee)

The income from sale of players was 52,3 m.
Net spend: -31,2 m.

Overall it seems that Levy is not afraid to splash out . Pochettino’s first two seasons were no different (net spend for 2015/2016: 16,5 m.; net spend for 2014/2015: - 4,32 m.).

Mauricio Pochetino was in charge of the London side from 2014 to 2019 and in that time he was allowed to pay a total of 438 m. on new players. The club also made 326 m. from the sale of outgoing stars. All this means that in total the net spend was -112 m. (22,4 m. average per season). It’s important to note of course, that a club’s income does not come only from transfers but also from the sale of tickets, sponsorship deals and broadcasting rights. Spurs’ profits have been growing for a number of years and after reaching the Champions League final last year they had record profits of over 120 m.

To have some context let’s compare what Jose Mourinho had to work with at his last job at Manchester United. During his first transfer window he broke club records to secure the services of Paul Pogba. The deal was reported to have cost 105 m. and the net spend for that summer was: -137,75 m.

Mou’s spending during his second year at the helm of the red devils was even more lavish. The team splashed out close to 200 m. on yet another batch of players to satisfy the manger’s expensive taste and the net spend was: - 152,9 m.

Jose’s spending during his third transfer summer was significantly reduced (something that he was very vocal about) and he was allowed to complete his deals for an overall cost of just 82,7 m.

Jose Mourinho was fired in the middle of his third season at the club even before he had a chance to spend in January, so his total net spend brings us to -342 m. This is almost 3 times as much as Mauricio Pochettino’s while he was in charge of the London club for over 5 years.

So overall Daniel Levy is not as cheap as the public perception suggests. He is not afraid to allow his managers to spend 80 to 110 m. as long as the money can be fully or at least partially be covered by the sale of players (and commercial income). We suspect that this is the sum that Jose will probably be allowed to work with and will definitely be interesting to see him in the role of ‘wheeler-dealer“ since these days 100 million can get you one or two star players. This may be enough but if the Portuguese want’s to the a complete squad overhaul him and his new employer may end up disagreeing in the long term. Jose has never been in that position even in his Porto days. Fascinating times are coming to White Heart Lane indeed.

_{Sources:

Mauricio Pochettino's transfers: https://www.transfermarkt.co.in/mauricio-pochettino/spielertransfers/trainer/9044/plus/0/galerie/0?station_id=93545

Jose Mourinho's transfers: https://www.transfermarkt.co.in/jose-mourinho/spielertransfers/trainer/781/plus/0/galerie/0?station_id=134947

Tottenham profit report: https://offthepitch.com/a/spurs-set-post-impressive-profit}