Tottenham Hotspur Football Club are finally a big club with May transfer move for Ivan Perisic - The Warm-Up

Wednesday's big stories Tottenham Hotspur making May moves Ad/> Tottenham Hotspur Football Club have signed an association football player in the month of May. And the player is experienced. This is not a drill.

Champions LeagueReal Madrid 'confident' of beating Liverpool despite Mbappe 'great storm' – Inside Europe27/05/2022 AT 14:43 #welcomeivan This is a departure from the club's modus operandi in terms of both the timing — and profile — of the signing*. The hierarchy at Tottenham, ENIC, have long been criticised for a perceived lack of focus on on-field matters. Which does not stand up to any sort of scrutiny when on-field progress is charted under their tenure.

Europe was the exception rather than the rule in the years prior to the purchase of the club in 2001. Tottenham have been in Europe every year since 2010. A fair critique of ENIC's tenure would be that they prioritised long-term stability over short-term bets — they were taking the long road to establishing the club as, well, big.

However, prudent club stewardship in an era of the benefactor fostered frustration within its support. ENIC have been in charge of Tottenham since the turn of the century. In that period they have laid the foundations for the long-term financial security of the club.

/> But the signing of Ivan Perisic is a statement of a club dealing in the here and now, rather than the future. Antonio Conte is revered as a training-ground manager, so signing players early on is crucial. Tottenham have slung out their modus operandi — young signings with potential made late in the window — to embrace the Italian's mentality of win at all costs.