Tottenham Hotspur survived relegation on the final day of the Premier League season with a nervy 1-0 victory over Everton at White Hart Lane, securing their top-flight status for another year. The nervy win, sealed by Son Heung-min’s 89th-minute strike, ended a turbulent campaign marked by managerial upheaval and inconsistent performances. But as the celebrations faded, manager Roberto De Zerbi made it clear the club’s attention was already fixed on the future.

Speaking to reporters just minutes after the final whistle, De Zerbi, 54, delivered a message that will unsettle some supporters. “I am happy, yes, but happiness is not enough,” he said. “We must build now. The squad needs to change, the mentality must change. The club is ready to make the decisions required.” His comments come amid reports from multiple sources that the club’s hierarchy has already begun identifying targets for the summer transfer window.

The result leaves Everton in the Championship for the first time in 68 years, a bitter pill for a club that once dominated English football. Meanwhile, Tottenham’s relief is tempered by the knowledge that their performance this season has not matched the ambitions of their ambitions. De Zerbi, appointed in September, has been praised for arresting the slide but criticized for failing to inspire consistent attacking play.

Sources close to the club say the board has already approved a more aggressive transfer budget, with a focus on midfielders and creative playmakers. De Zerbi, a former manager of Brighton and Shakhtar Donetsk, is known for his tactical flexibility and preference for possession-based football. He has repeatedly stressed the need for technical players who can execute his system with precision.

One club insider, who requested anonymity, revealed that the first contact with potential targets has already been made. “The club is not in panic mode, but there is urgency,” the source said. “They know the margins are thin. A repeat of this season’s inconsistency would not be tolerated.”

Supporters, however, remain divided. Some have rallied behind De Zerbi, citing the club’s long-term investment in a manager known for developing young talent. Others argue that after two failed seasons under Antonio Conte and Eddie Howe, the club needs a proven winner—not another project. “We survived this time,” said lifelong Spurs fan Maria Patel, 32, outside the stadium. “But if we go through another summer of uncertainty, I won’t be as forgiving.”

The next 90 days will define whether De Zerbi can turn relief into a platform for growth—or whether Tottenham’s near-miss becomes another chapter in a growing list of nearly men. The club’s leadership has made it clear: they are not interested in another season of scraping by. The rebuild starts now.