Gareth Bale has seen Tottenham Hotspur at their best. He was, for a stretch, the reason they were at their best. So when he looks at a club that has finished 17th in the Premier League for two consecutive seasons, flirting with relegation like it’s a hobby, his concern carries a certain weight.

In comments made on June 17, the former Spurs forward laid out what he sees as the path back to relevance under new manager Roberto De Zerbi: buy attackers, and buy them now.

Bale’s diagnosis: defense is handled, attack is not

Tottenham have not been idle this summer. The club has already completed or advanced deals for defenders Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi, along with left-back Andy Robertson.

The club is reportedly pursuing Savinho as an attacking option and midfielder Sandro Tonali, both of whom would inject quality into a squad that has been desperately short of it in the final third. Bale’s message was clear: De Zerbi needs players who can actually do something with the ball in dangerous areas.

Two years of near-disaster

Two consecutive 17th-place finishes. For a club that was playing in a Champions League final not too long ago, that is a staggering decline.

Bale acknowledged the struggles while also noting positive signs from De Zerbi’s early work at the club. The Italian’s appointment represents Tottenham’s latest attempt to reset, and Bale stressed the importance of a productive summer transfer window to provide necessary player reinforcements.

Robertson brings Premier League experience and leadership. Van Hecke and Senesi add depth and competition at center-back. The question, as Bale framed it, is whether the club will show the same urgency in the attacking market.

Why De Zerbi needs more than a defensive patch job

Savinho, if Tottenham can land him, would represent exactly the type of profile De Zerbi needs. A quick, creative wide attacker who can take on defenders and create chances in tight spaces. Tonali, meanwhile, would provide the midfield platform that connects defense to attack.

Bale spent some of the best years of his career at Tottenham and clearly cares about the club’s trajectory. Former players often stick to vague platitudes about “backing the manager” without getting specific. Bale went further, identifying the attacking market as the area where Tottenham’s summer will be made or broken.