Tim Sherwood has delivered a scathing assessment of Tottenham Hotspur's summer transfer business, saying no new signing has impressed him. The former manager's comments come as Spurs, bottom of the Premier League, prepare to face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Sherwood, who managed the club in 2013-14, was blunt in his evaluation of the squad rebuild overseen by Roberto De Zerbi. "No, no one. I can't say anyone's really impressed me, and anyone would have done a better job than anyone who was there last season," he said. He added that the track record of signings over the last four or five years has not been fantastic, stating it has been a very long time since the club made a decent acquisition.

Lavish spending, dismal start

Tottenham invested £334m in new players during the recent window, more than double the £163m spent by this weekend's opponents. The marquee arrival was midfielder Sandro Tonali for a reported £100m, as De Zerbi was handed significant backing to reshape the squad. Yet the investment has yielded the club's worst ever start to a Premier League season. After five games, Tottenham sit 20th with just two points from five matches, having scored only two goals while conceding eight.

Their recent form shows no wins, two draws and three defeats, a run that includes last month's 3-1 loss at Liverpool and a 3-2 home defeat to Aston Villa. The dismal start has intensified scrutiny on the effectiveness of the club's strategy, especially with Manchester United adopting a more targeted approach focused on midfield reinforcements like Youri Tielemans.

Pressure builds at Old Trafford

The spotlight is also on United boss Michael Carrick, who is feeling pressure ahead of the clash. While his side sit 12th, their summer was defined by a need for multiple midfield additions rather than one headline signing. In contrast, analysis from broadcaster Michael Bridge suggests Tottenham's spending has not addressed fundamental gaps. "I think they need a striker - an actual No 9 - but how many are there out there?" Bridge said. He also questioned whether goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky is a long-term number one, noting that if the club spent such a vast sum and still needs a goalkeeper and a striker, there is still a way to go.

De Zerbi has made the most changes to starting line-ups in the division this season with 13, searching for a formula that works. The team's current league position, 13 points behind leaders Manchester City, shows the scale of the task. A look at the standings shows the mountain they must climb.

Tottenham travel to Manchester this weekend still searching for a first league victory of the campaign. Kick-off at Old Trafford is set for 5.30pm on Saturday.

Read the full report at Sky Sports Football